Pics

The real highlight of the day was a sound, not an image-- the sound of two great horned owls "talking" to each other in the woods. But there are pics too.....

( Five. )

How bizarre can politics get?

Roseland is a small independent suburb on the north edge of South Bend, near a little university called Notre Dame. The town council of Roseland consists of 3 people. Two years ago, right after elections, two council members got married. They had kept their relationship secret while Dorothy ran for re-election. The two, David and Dorothy Snyder, have ruled Roseland with an iron fist ever since. The council has passed ordinances that blatantly favor real estate deals by the Snyders; they have anyone who speaks in opposition to any measure in council meetings ejected and sometimes arrested for "disruptive behavior" though the prosecutor has long since stopped prosecuting any of them; it goes on and on. (Google "Dorothy Snyder Roseland" if you really want the details.)

Dorothy Snyder's term is up, and she's not running for re-election. (She is instead running for State Representative, basically on a platform of "my husband shouldn't have to pay child support"). A friend of mine is running unopposed for the seat, and presumably she and the helpless third council member will now make up a reasonably sane majority, right?

Not quite. The Snyders have made a show of giving in to pressure to enlarge the council to 5 members; that initiative is on the ballot tomorrow. If it passes, guess how the two new members are picked?

The currently sitting council appoints them. Yes, the Snyders. They could simply reappoint Dorothy, and add some patsy/relative, and rule for at least another year.

My friend and the third council member are trying desperately to get the news out, and have of course promised to reintroduce the measure to increase the council size in January when they take office.

Yes, please vote... IF you have taken the time to educate yourself about the candidates and the issues.