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A Citizen Photojournalist image
— News and commentary about elsewhere covered by Quincy Quarry News
Peeking over the top of the podium
A Citizen Photojournalist image
The topping off ceremony for the building of a mostly new Squantum Elementary School was held earlier this week on a cold spring day.
A bitterly cold spring day
Needless to say, the event was subjected to full photo op enhancement to bolster Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch’s stature at a time when he has deservedly talking hits on all manner missteps to expensive mistakes.
That and even more ugly is barreling down the tracks in comings weeks to arguably at least likely into the end of this year, if not also for years to perhaps even decades yet to come.
Buzz cutted
A file photo
Accordingly, the mayor went with a bold topless display in the wake of his annual shearing at locally headquartered Granite Communication Saving by Shaving fundraiser for targeted healthcare financial support, bold if for no other reason that his love of his all but always perfectly coiffed helmet hair.
No word, however, if hizzoner suffered a case of brain freeze.
Perhaps arguable indications, however …
Oh, look, another shiny new bond slapped onto the city’s ever-growing mountain of debt.
But of course! Mayor Koch has donors to please and cronies to keep fat and happy.
I just adore scrolling through his campaign donor list -— it’s like reading the city’s unofficial payroll.
Everyone knows the rules in Quincy: if you want a job, a promotion, that construction project rubber-stamped, a sweet land deal, or a lucrative city contract, you’d better have your checkbook ready. And not just once. Entire families dutifully pony up like it’s some twisted version of tithing.
It’s not because they’re overflowing with civic pride, mind you. No, it’s because when they need to call in a favor, good ol’ Tom can quickly verify they’ve made their quarterly protection -— I mean, donation -— payment.
Wouldn’t it be something if a devout Catholic like Mayor Koch actually encouraged his loyal flock to skip the campaign checks and give that money to their local church or temple, the food pantry, or a struggling family instead? Imagine that!
But no — apparently the path to heaven runs straight through Koch’s campaign account.
I’d bet my last dollar that precious few of these generous “public servants” and developers are dropping a thousand bucks every quarter into the collection basket at church. Yet somehow or other they always find a way to make sure Tom gets his cut first.
Oh, and I checked the state campaign finance website and what is pretty comical is that while many of Koch’s campaign fund “contributors” live in other municipalities most of these kochsters don’t donate in their own communities but they don’t miss their Koch payments.
I wonder why?
NEW FLASH
Former Councilor Devin was just given a city job secretly under the covers just like Margaret LaForest.
Howard,
Great shade: LaForest under the covers …
Devine must have given Koch the maximum donation and then promised he and his family would vote for Koch forever. Is he also going to get a Police retirement package?
Reality, the City has no money and yet Tommy Taxes makes up another new position for a coat holder. Imagine if LaForest, Hines, Graz, Fat Larry or any other koched-up hacks ever had a job in the real world — They would not last a minute.
LaForest in particular is always stealing other’s ideas and pretending that they are hers, only to then not complete the job. Next up, does Graz even know when asphalt plants are open and he can work on repaving a road or two. He has no idea what he is doing.
I also wonder if Tommy realizes that they are all going to cost him his mayorship and will be remembered as the short fat guy who bankrupted the City?
Ah, the Topping-off Ceremony.
Of course there will be at least one more photo-op — the completion and then maybe the opening-up ceremony of the school.
And recall — how many years ago was it? — the much ballyhooed ceremony for the much ballyhooed Generals Bridge, which has never really carried any traffic but has become nothing more than scaffolding for who knows what various construction schemes are being worked on. No doubt more “ceremonies” will be forthcoming.
Here’s a ceremony that actually makes sense: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7wffrl
But, but — our peerless mayor loves photo ops, parades, and statues — ESPECIALLY statues.
True, true. Would a perp walk qualify as a photo op?