Skip to main content

Twinkies


 

I must say I am impressed. Apparently it is not particularly useful for Columbia to incorporate and have its own elected system of governance because it is impossible to dismantle the Columbia Association. Smarter people than I can explain to you why this is so - - and believe me, they will - - but I am left somewhat bemused. 

It puts me in mind of the cream-filled sponge cake in the movie WALL-E. Earth is uninhabitable, there appears to be nothing left but one robot and a cockroach. And a seemingly endless supply of Twinkies.

Columbia’s Pioneers have grown old in the place that they love.  The first children of the new American City are adults with children of their own. A new wave of Downtown development is bringing new people to town. 

But the CA Board, set in motion by Jim Rouse (lo, these many years ago) has long been dysfunctional. And, no matter what happens, year in and year out, it’s going to keep on keeping on. I guess the scene we don’t see in WALL-E is an ongoing meeting of the CA Board, trying to reach consensus.

Nothing is certain except death, taxes, and the CA Board. It is the HOA that will not die. My goodness this feels dystopian to me.

If you believe that incorporation is not the solution, fine. Tell me what is.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teacher Gifts

Today is the last day of school before the Winter Break. It’s a good time to remember the far-reaching nature of our public school system. You may not have children. You may have sent your children to independent schools. It matters not. You will be impacted one way or another. Yesterday I read a long thread on Facebook about several waves of illness in the schools right now. There’s influenza A and norovirus, I believe. And of course there’s COVID. Apparently in some individual schools the rate of illness is high enough for school admin to notify parents.  When I was little the acceptable holiday gift for a teacher was one of those lovely floral handkerchief squares. (I don’t know what it was for male teachers. They were rare in my elementary years.) These days the range of teacher gifts is wider and I have fond memories of Target gift cards which I have written about before. I think it’s safe to say that giving one’s teacher Influenza, norovirus, or COVID is not the ideal holiday...
1 comment
Read more

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
1 comment
Read more

F ³: Who Belongs at the Library?

  One of these things is not like the others One of these things doesn't belong Can you tell which thing is not like the other By the time we finish our song?* Did you guess which thing is not like the others? Did you guess which thing doesn't belong? If you guessed this thing is not like the others Then you're absolutely right.  Our library promotes equity. Our library promotes literacy for adults who have come here from many places. Our library promotes accessibility to materials and opportunities. Our library is hosting multiple Harry Potter themed events?  Tell me this isn’t so. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, has and continues to use the profits from those books to advocate for laws that diminish the rights of trans people. She has and continues to use her fame to influence public opinion to view and treat trans people negatively. In short, Ms. Rowling is using the Harry Potter book series to make transgender people around the world less safe....
1 comment
Read more