Cushy Ride

CUSHY RIDE… Squid, being a creature of the sea, prefers shrimp over sausage, but Squid has little interest in how shrimp gets made – it’s an animal, it gets made in animal ways. Sausage, however, is a human creation, and watching how humans make it is an enduring subject of fascination for Squid.

So Squid’s interest was piqued when Squid saw that on Dec. 9, Monterey-Salinas Transit’s board of directors would hear an update about recent federal lobbying efforts, by consultants on the agency’s behalf. Don Gilchrest, of the firm Thomas Walters and Associates, Inc., provided a tidbit on President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation, retired Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy. At least so far, unlike other Trump cabinet nominees, no scandals have yet surfaced about Duffy, but Gilchrest noted another trend. While “[Duffy] does not have much hands-on, detailed experience with transportation legislation and policy… this is not that unusual… It is notable, though, that several names that were floated in the media for this job in the Trump Administration did have more substantial resumes of involvement in federal transportation policy issues.”

Squid thinks maybe that is by design – in Trump’s first term, Squid lost count of how many times then-vice president Mike Pence announced it was “infrastructure week,” though Squid doesn’t recall any funding or legislation to build said infrastructure.

KIDS ZONE… Squid oozed Squid’s way into the Carmel City Council Chambers on Monday, Dec. 9, for the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Mayor Dale Byrne and councilmembers Hans Buder and Bob Delves. Before they could take the dais, outgoing mayor Dave Potter and now-former councilmembers Bobby Richards and Karen Ferlito said their farewells and were lauded for their service by their colleagues.

It was standing-room-only in the tiny chambers for both Carmelites and – predictably in dog-loving Carmel – their four-legged friends. One doggo in the crowd joined in on the excitement, giving a rousing single-bark after each round of applause and cheers welcoming the new members.

That there were dogs present was not lost on Buder’s 1-and-a-half-year-old son, who happily declared “Puppy!” a few times upon seeing one nearby pup, in between sucks on a small lollipop, as Buder was being sworn in by City Clerk Nova Romero.

That a councilmember has very young children – Buder and his wife Meghan have three – warms Squid’s cold three-chambered heart. So many local leaders tend to be generations older and, at times, out of step with the needs of young families. Squid is happy to see a younger generation take the lead, and a City Hall get warm and fuzzy.