Going Mobile: Recession Pies takes brick-oven pizza on the road

Bill Me Later

After taking a thumping over the past year, which has been characterized by cutbacks and staff layoffs, the city is ready to put the final stamp on its budget blueprint for the next two years. The council meets Wednesday night, after this issue has gone to press, to approve the final version of the 2009-11 City Budget. And it isn't pretty, especially for ratepayers who are getting socked with hefty increases for water and sewer services next year. Residents will see an additional 8.25 percent tacked onto their water bills and a hefty 14.5 percent increase in their sewer rates. Councilor Jim Clinton said he opposes both increases because the staff has failed to provide any incentive for conservation in the rate structure.
Clinton said he's particularly miffed about the new sewer rates, which are totally unrelated to actual water usage.
"It doesn't matter if you're the most heavy water user dumping millions of gallons down the drain, or you're the most frugal person on a fixed income who flushes your toilet twice a day," Clinton said.

courting race on the court."All of these folks are capable or they wouldn't have been considered for confirmation," offers Mathew McCoy as we start our discussion of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's ongoing confirmation to replace Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court. Sitting in his COCC office, I have obviously come to the right person for an insider's perspective on the process. McCoy witnessed the 27th failed nomination to the Supreme Court in our country's
history, and the most virulent - personal and political – attacks on otherwise qualified and respected judges.