Another Main Street Study.

(A NOTE FROM HARRY: This is the first of a three part series about the invitation running below. The next part will run on Monday. Have a great weekend. Go spend your Christmas money as fast as you can. Read on and See why.) Leeann Lorono, pictured in pink, is the Executive Director of MainStreet Martinez, Inc.


I have just gotten off the phone with the Sign Development Director in Sacramento. I inquired what it takes to have a designated moniker placed underneath the name of a community's sign, welcoming one to a city.

Apparently, it is pretty easy to do. Of course the community must meet certain criteria - the Elm Tree Capital of Arizona, for example would have to have more Elm trees Than any other city in the state. The Hub Cap Capital would also have to have more hub caps than any other municipality. I proposed to Mr. Karmekurian that he research the possibility of Martinez adding "The Study Capital of California" underneath the city statement signs along the highways.

He said he would have to get back tome on that but that it certainly sounded like a good idea. When asked what spurned my curiosity I informed him that yet another study was being performed in Martinez, even though the outcome is as obvious as a closed strip mall.

Once again it is that time of year in Martinez - the holiday parade, the tree lighting, and Santa Claus comes to town. But, there is also another event that takes place in November that stirs the hopes of few. The Mainstreet Martinez "Let's get something done" event. This year the organization has gone out into the community to ask people to come to downtown Martinez and do Christmas Shopping- as a type of research project, so that a report can compiled, given to various civic groups and organizations, and better retailers can be recruited to the community.

Has this group completely lost their vision, footing, and minds? Here is a copy of the email. I would like you to read it.

Dear Harry,
You have been chosen to participate in a fun Main Street Martinez Business Recruitment and Business Retention Program called "“Shop Talk"”. The purpose of Shop Talk is to provide Main Street Martinez with "“real lifeÂ" information and input on what Martinez Downtown offers now that is utilized by your shopping and dining demographic. We will discuss and ask for
your experiences in utilizing the existing options and also document your desires for additional shopping and dining opportunities.
According to the National retail demographics studies, purchases are made almost evenly between men and women ages 30-60. We decided it was time to hear what you had to say about your downtown community.
We have sought individuals who meet the following criteria:
Between the ages of 30 and 60 who —work and live in Martinez
Work outside of Martinez, but live in Martinez
Live outside of Martinez, but work in Martinez
Live within a 30 minute (non-commute time) drive radius

We hope to have individuals participate that represent our largest job forces as well —examples being Shell Oil, County employees, hospital employees, stay at home parents —in the hopes of having a good representation of Martinez participate.

The Shop Talk group will meet in two sessions. The first is scheduled for NoNovember er 30th at 6-7pm (location to be determined). This session will be designed as a "“meet and greet time"” and to layout the remaining
sessions, goals and objectives. You will be given the homework assignment of trying our downtown with your shopping list first and then documenting what gift items you had to leave the area for or situations that caused you to
shop elsewhere. During the month of December you will shop on your own time
with your Christmas list for your home, family and friends. If you are an early shopper that is done after Thanksgiving, you can still participate. Purchasing items is not required.

Participants must attend one of two remaining session held in January, place and date to be determined when we meet in November. It is imperative that participants commit to attending one session in order to gather a strong amount of data. If you cannot attend, please let us know, so that we can replace your seat. We feel that 50 participants will provide us with a
substantial overview of downtown.
We look forward to getting to know all of you and to discussing the
future of downtown shopping and dining. Not only will these be "“working
sessions"”, we plan them to be lots of fun too and we are sure relationship
building and networking will take place. We value your input and visions
tremendously.
The information we gather from all of you will be compiled into a retention and recruitment recommendation report to be distributed to the Mayor, City Manager, City Council, and Downtown Property Owners. Downtown Martinez
is the hidden jewel of Contra Costa County —let'’s make it a little less hidden.
Please RSVP for the program by November 21, 2005 by calling
925-228-3577 or email director@mainstreetmartinez.org. We need to hear from you either
way.

Sincerely,
Leeann Lorono
Executive Director

It seems ironic that Mainstreet Martinez does not know what the problems with the downtown shopping district are. The community has an Economic Development Director, of sorts, doesn't she see the problem? How many more studies can be produced out of Martinez that all have the same answer to the question. REDEVELOPMENT. For God's sake, are the residents just breathing too many fumes? Are the meetings, and the studies, and the forums all just a sporting event for those who enjoy wasting time? What happened to the great leaders of the city council who have yet to accomplish one thing that they promised in any of their campaign platform promises?

If anyone wants to see what is wrong with downtown Martinez- go to Walnut Creek, Concord, or Pleasant Hill.

This study is just another way for Mainstreet to get more funding from the city council. Ammunition. A report to turn in so that everyone will assume the organization has done something this past year. It really is pathetic.

Shopping in downtown Martinez for Christmas is going to be a tough task. But, somebody has to do it. Why not do a survey and find out how many dollars the city council, the Mainstreet Martinez board, and the City Hall employees spend in the downtown district. And, the answer would probably be "very little". There is nothing there to buy for the most part.It is simple supply and demand economics. There is no traffic- foot, car, or otherwise. When you look to see what the anchor store of Main Street is, you can pretty much figure out the problem. And that is the problem that will take more than a study to solve.

Koch the bi-coastal Carpetbagger

On Sunday I was in downtown Concord and as I approached Starbucks I came across three people rolling, apparently in some type of pain, around the tables of the coffee cafe. When I inquired as to whether or not I could be of some assistance, they all stopped rolling and told me they were fine. They needed no help.

When I asked what the problem was they said that they didn't have one. The people of Delaware now do. Inquiring further, they went on, telling me that they had just read the paragraph in Lisa Vorderbrueggen's column appearing in the Sunday Times about local campaign puppeteer, Tom Koch, who is running for the Senate in Delaware. The trio was hysterical. I couldn't understand why.

Koch's campaign platform is based on making developers pay their fair share of developer's fees. The coastal carpetbagger claims that builders are not charged adequate amounts for permits in Delaware. He claims this will bring in more money for municipalities to add to there coffers.

That's a pretty humorous statement, coming from Koch, who is the coastal coffer king.

Apparently the bi-coastal, bi-personality, self centered senatorial candidate is running for carpetbagger of the year in the 2006 campaign Delaware State Senate race.

Now it wouldn't be prudent to go into Koch's political thinking and vision for the future. Whoever comes to him with the best contract will change that vision. Koch has built his reputation on lobbying for those who come to him with the largest-project. And, it is way too early in the game to analyze what strings Koch had pulled in Contra Costa County. But something was amiss between Koch and Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier and we look forward to that all being aired in the wash over the next twelve months.

Lest we say Koch is a political persuader on the same level, in many respects, as those suited men who show up at City Council and Planning Commission meetings attempting to clear the foggy vision of politicians so that they can see why a Taco Bell or Burger King is so pertinent to a residential neighborhood.

Don't get me wrong, Koch has not hooked-up with the fast food industry as of yet. He has constantly been the guy who represents developers in their quest to built controversial communities. And, he has been very successful with that. Now it is not that Koch is smooth or seemingly very nice, he works behind the scenes more than in the public eye. And, we all know what goes on behind those political curtains. Don't we?

There is a certain irony here. West- Coast Koch long ago decided to represent the developers, gaining a reputation for being the friend of builders who could get anything approved. East- Coast Koch, (that has a nice ring to it), decided that he would rather be a friend of the people. For they are the group that will send him to the state capital.

Beware Delaware of wise men bearing gifts from the coast. Koch's campaign is going to be based on the premise that developers should pay more fees than they are already being assessed. From the examples set in California, where they are still building $40,000 homes, and just charging $850,000 for them, developers do not pay developer fees. Of course they do initially, eventually however, those who buy the homes pay the fees. It may seem like a wonderful way to raise money for communities, but it is merely a taxation process slapped on the new home buyer. Therefore is Koch really a friend of the people? Koch is no dummy.

Here is the hypothetical plan that Bi-Coastal man has drummed up. He will walk the neighborhoods of tiny Delaware, shaking hands and talking about how the developers are not paying their fair share. He will speak of new developer fees and how they can be used to built parks, and green areas, and all the other amenities that people believe developers should now develop before they built a community. The people of Delaware will love what they hear, and the people could very well elect him.
And, it is Koch's plan to be Governor of Delaware one day. Of course, that could be something to build on. Once there, however, he will have a friend or someone who he has mentored dress in a suit and speak very smoothly. Koch will pull a few strings, and the suited friend will become a lobbyist for the developers. Koch will have then gone bi-coastal full circle. The developers will then be paying higher fees so they can built more houses and pass the fees on to the buyers. That's the bi-coastal platform for Koch's politics.

It will be a very interesting election. Koch has been writing this novel idea for years.

The trio in front of Starbucks was still laughing as I came out of the building moments later. They claimed the humor was brought on by the memory of Bobby Kennedy and Hillary Clinton moving to New York to run for the U.S. Senate.

What's so funny about that, I inquired. Koch could accomplish that, eventually.

Koch is no Kennedy, or even a Clinton they claimed.

Ouch.

Glover Should Leave the line-up, Again

According to Pittsburg lore, when Federal Glover tried out for his high school football team, he was constantly dropping the ball. Therefore, he wasn't in the line up.

Today, the Contra Costa County Supervisor, representing Pittsburg, is still dropping the ball.

Although Tuesday's election results showed 51.6% of the voters approved measure P in Pittsburg, and 59.3% approved Measure K in Antioch, Glover said he is going to vote against the annexation for Pittsburg of the 1400 acres approved in the passing Measure. Both measures extent the urban limit line around the cities. In Pittsburg, the additional acreage will allow for the development of approximately 1400 homes, in 550 of the approve acres. The rest would be green space. Supporters claim that the new development will bring in millions of dollars in developer fees and property taxes. And the developer, Albert Seeno III has promised to build local bypasses.

Obviously, Glover has a problem paying attention and understanding numbers, or business. The city is in dire need of an increased tax base. The developer fees are also a bonus that the city can make tremendous use of. But Glover doesn't get any of that. He thinks the city is just fine.

Yesterday was a beautifully bright day. (That's just the way it was planned, I didn't mean to bring the word bright into a Glover article.) I decided to spend a major portion of the day it in Pittsburg. I wanted to see what the people thought of the initiative passing, and how they felt about the changes that were occurring. It was a difficult task to accomplish. The beautiful facades of the old buildings were brightly shining in the afternoon sun, but there were no people downtown. Pittsburg is one of the few communities in Contra Costa that makes Martinez look like a thriving metropolis - but that's another story.

One of the major luxuries that the people of Pittsburg have in their favor is the Marina that shines in the afternoon sun. One of the nicest boating facilities in the Northern California recreational water system, its geographical location to downtown will be used to bring people to the core of the city. And, although the downtown district has suffered through the years from blight, and gangs, and those familiar with a lesser prosperity, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the redevelopment of this could-be- quaint, retail, specialty area. But the two things the community needs in order to make downtown Pittsburg, and the city as a whole entity prosperous, is people.

If Glover doesn't know that, he's stupid. If he does know it, and refuses to accept it, he's ignorant. Both liabilities in the life of a politician. That, of course, is giving him more credit than he deserves.

Glover, although constantly playing the part of the humble person, meek and meager, looking out for "the people" is anything but stupid. That's the card he plays to stay on the board. But looking at what he has done for the people of Pittsburg doesn't take much time. He hasn't done a thing for those he claims he represents.

Glover, never one to talk to the press, claims that his number one priority is traffic relief. And, we must hand it to him, he has done a great job and relieving the traffic that once bottlenecked the streets of downtown Pittsburg. There is no trafic today. The downtown is almost a ghoat town.

Why doesn't he get off his traffic bandwagon and start looking into the gang problems that Pittsburg has become so known for? Why doesn't he look into the future, and see that the county has to expand, and that it is in the community's best interest to gain tax dollars so that the Marina will continue to thrive, that downtown will continue to give rebirth to business and that Pittsburg can once again be a major destination for people in East County.

Maybe its because he is nothing more than a pawn for special interests who do not want growth. True environmentalists? No. They wouldn't touch Glover. Maybe someone should look into who he is answering to. It may be interesting.

Glover boasts of his accomplishments with the Antioch Woman's Club and the abandoned baby program. But yet, as early as last November, when Executive Director Tony Colon had a major problem with the County's Head Start Program, specifically at the Antioch location, Glover did little to give Colon the boot or even head up an investigation to look into the problem.

This should be Glover's last term. Unfortunately, for the voters, he has a few years left. I am sure that he doesn't want to see new residents moving into Pittsburg for fear they will find out what a liability he is to the community and rally around a candidate with foresight.

And, if you don't agree with me, let's look at the numbers. Over 51% of the voters claimed they want to extend the urban limit line in Pittsburg and Glover says no, he will vote against annexation. Great representation-but not of the people he represents. It is a better representation of the Pittsburg Unified School Districts math education program. Glover just isn't good with numbers.

Go figure.

A Free Pass for the Supes?

I spent a majority of the day yesterday at the polls inquiring as to what people thought, and how they felt about the election. Everyone is fed up. We can assume that the 7 million some odd voters have had enough, and we can also be certain that those who didn't vote are equally discouraged. The only people who made out during this election are the broadcast media executives who definitely added to their already hefty advertising coffers.

When all is said and the results are in, how much did the proposition fiasco actually cost? Nobody will ever know for sure, even though a number will be offered to the public, but the entire exercise is rather discouraging as the state barely has enough money keep the lights on, and the government leaders are out there staging elections.

Now the big wigs, especially Arnold, will say that a lot of the money for the advertising came from private sources. Great. Where did their money come from?

While we're on the subject of money, I have not heard back from the county in regards to my job application for the newly created Communication Director's position. I know it has only been a day, and that they were probably busy yesterday, but I assumed they would have called me by now.

My sources on the eighth floor have informed me that the county already has an eye on a possible candidate for the position.

Lynton Johnson, Public Information Officer for BART for the past two years, was contacted as many speculate the new position will be filled with a BART spokesperson veteran. According to sources, someone in Johnson's department is on the short list for the spokesperson position.

In a conversation with Lynton this morning, he was not aware of anyone in his department searching out the new position and when asked if he was considering it his response, in true communication Director's style, was " If I were, I wouldn't tell you."

I like that response and think I will now withdraw my application for the position. Johnson should get the job, instead of me.

Having a real professional in front of the media, especially if it were someone from BART, who probably has free BART passes as a professional perk, could fend of questions that possibly be incriminating for the County Supes and Administrator. And, that my friends, would give them a free pass.

An Application for Employment

These people could be my new bosses. I would like this to be my formal application for employment for the Communication Director's position for Contra Costa County.

This is a very touchy letter to write. If I am not honest about my qualifications and the needs of the board and the county, what good will I be standing in front of the reporters and taxpayers firing questions at me? So, sit back and read this and then think about the merits it has, and that I have, for the position.

Simply stated, my experience with communications began at a very early age. I was 13 months old. My first words, according to my scrap book were "mmm, ahhh." From that day on I have accumulated experience through numerous one on one situations, where I had to either ask or answer a question, comment on a statement, or make an observation. I know that these qualifications do not entitle me to stand at the podium in front of the office of some larger than life, respected statesman or professional politician, but I can assure all of you making the decision on this position, Supes DeSaulnier, Glover, Gioia, Uilkema,and Piepho, and of course, County Administrator John Sweeten, that my loyalty to your cause will be exemplary. My ability to handle touchy situations , stellar. Plus, I can work on your level of incompetence. I know that had to sting a little, but we must be honest with each other if we are to have a happy, healthy, and successful relationship. Remember, whatever goes on behind closed doors stays here. I am aware of that.

Basically, you are looking for a spin doctor that can make the most out of really bad situations. Let's face it, you guys have really screwed up the county, and now you need someone to stand in front of the press and the public and take the heat, dodge the arrows, and come up with some bullshit answer to reasonable questions. You need confusion. I can do that. I read a lot of newspapers and know what the public wants to hear.

Realistically speaking, and don't worry, that will not enter the conversation after this letter, you need someone who has the things that Joe DiMaggio used to catch in the outfield. None of you guys have them, so you need me. If anyone on the board, had the balls, the situation at the county level never would never have gotten to this point. Now, Mr. Sweeten, with all due respect, and remember I can still be your puppet even if I do not see eye-to-eye with you, you have fouled up big time. But, I know that you need to stay here for a few more years because of the big pension and buy-outs and perks, so you want to do everything you can to get the board in line without communication blunders. Don't worry, I will kiss your butt better than anyone if you give me this position. I can use the money and because of that I will keep my mouth shut on whatever happens that nobody wants the public to know about.

I will confess, however, I am a bit concerned about the news media picking up the story that Supervisor DeSaulnier is using this position to mold a campaign spokesperson for his upcoming Assembly run for Joe Canciamilla's seat. I know how to cover that, ( and if the pay was as good, with all the perks and stuff), I certainly would entertain going half-way to Sacramento with you, Mark. And, if you should get closer than Placerville, I would consider the longer journey. As we all know, once my immediate boss, if I am hired, (kiss,kiss,kiss,) is replaced with someone who can speak in public, I will need a job, because the position will be terminated as the new county administrator would be open to the press. But, I understand that.

I certainly hope that we can come to terms with this new position. I am available immediately and would like you to contact me at your earliest convenience. I look forward to protecting you and to coming up with the answer to all of the questions. Which by the way, were my first words spoken, mmmm, ahhhh.

Sincerely submitted,

Harrison Melbourne

A Bad Week, by George

An anonymous email appeared in my mailbox yesterday claiming that the girls on the 10th Floor of the county administration building, ( which by the way is where many of the great looking people of the County work, go figure), didn't get any chocolate for Halloween and that the floor has a problem with mice. The author also claimed that she had nobody trick or treating at her house on Halloween eve. A terrible situation to be faced with. I would say she is having a less than great week.

But not nearly as bad as President George Bush has had in the lst few weeks. Or maybe months. And, as Doctor Phil said lst night on Jay Leno, the President just needs to get the job done. The problem is that nobody has told him how to do the job.

Sure, he is sourounded by a gaggle of great men. And, in the beginning, I will admit, I had a lot of hope for W. But, that has dissipated over the past few years as he continually blunders, drops the ball, the fumbles and stammers at the site of a reporter. He is beginning to act a lot like another president who had a guy close to him whose name sounded like Libbey,

While we are on the subject of Libbey, what is with this guy? There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that after the indictment was handed down someone asked how he was doing. His reply was, "At least I didn't fall off my scooter."

Who in their right mind, in 2005, is still running around with a nickname llike "Scooter?"

WHow did he get it? Who gave it to him? Didn't George see there was going to be trouble when you hire a guy with a nickname? Does he think he is still at the clubhouse for Skull and Bones? He is in the White House for God's sake. And then there is Carl Rove. Get some sun. He spends way too much time in the office. And that is a bad sign. Rove is actually beginning to look a lot llike Vice President Cheney.

If W watches any T.V. at all he will realize that Hillary is going to be the next President according to the producers, advertisers, and writers of Commander in Chief. Bill is going to be the baseball commissioner, and the country will be just fine- according to T.V.

W has to get of his high horse and begin to run the country instead of living in the shadows of a group of guys who have a buddy named Scooter.

Rove should go. Now, before anything else happens. And, George should sit down, presidential like, and tell DIck that although he has a heart problem, his actions are giving W ulcers. Cheney should go too. Give him the boot. Let him go to Scooter's trial on his days with nothing to do. And, someone should then investigate the refineries and the oil companies and get their profits in check.

George should then fill the VP spot with someone who can go on to give Hillary a bit of fight in the next election. It is time to clean house, end the nonsense, end the spending and get down to business.

Or else, we could just wait for Rudy.

Painting a Different Picture

As each morning begins here, at Confidential Central, the phones ring off the hook. County employees recently out of the shower, call and vent about what the day ahead holds. If there is a Supe meeting on the daily agenda, the phone rings twice as many times as usual and the voices are three times as loud. But not all of our tips are political. Thank God.

A commuter, who wished to be remain anonymous, called first thing this morning and said that the traffic on 101 South was backed up for miles. Once she approached the apparent accident, she saw a car was in the car pool lane, surrounded by two CHP officers. On the ground, next to the car, was the half torso of a naked man. There were no dents in the car, no spilled motorcycles on the ground, and there were no other vehicles around. The half-torso, lying face down, had a pole protruding from its lower section. There was no obvious blood on the pavement. Somebody actually used the mannequin-in-the-car pool lane trick and got caught.

Danville resident Layton Judd is searching for a Pizza franchise with the intent of opening in Walnut Creek. In an interview yesterday, Judd, an experienced restaurant owner who must have forgotten the trials and tribulations of the six juice bars he once owned, claimed that another pizza place would do extremely well in Walnut Creek. Judd and his lovely wife have two beautiful children. The pizza parlor entrepreneur is a very good father, who has raised his son, Monty, extremely well. I am sure that Judd is thinking of placing Monty in the parlor as a manager. I know that Judd is just passing on the disciplinary lessons he learned from his dad.

But discipline is diminishing all around us.

There was a blog posting yesterday,claiming that the national press had blown the Pamela Vitale murder out of proportion. The national coverage hasn'’t even begun. There are currently reporters here that will paint a picture of this community that may be so embarrassing people may not want to look at it. Or, they may wake up and see that there is a problem within. It was just eight months ago that Lafayette was pegged as Methamphetaminene center. Was that the only problem in the county or community? Abslutely not. The problem, locally, is that nobody can believe that something like the Vitale murder can happen in beautiful, bucolic, Lafayette. Why not?

Is nobody looking around? The root of the community's problem lies in the public schools and everyone is aware of it. From the drug problems, to the racism, to the way the students- some of them- show up, clad in costume, with an attitude that they can do whatever they want, public schools are on a downward spiral that will take more than a few good educators to repair. Teachers, under payed, under appreciated, and over stressed, because of the work and the problems they face each day, are not the solution to fixing the problem.

The parents are the only solutiuon. And the discipline they practice with their children is the foundation of the soluition.

I am a firm believer in a firm hand on the ass of a problem child. I know that all the liberals are now saying "throw the guy in jail- he hit his kid." I believe It's better to administer the slapped ass at home, rather than have somebody else administer it when the kid involuntarily checks into the crowbar hotels that are gaining occupants faster than anyone can imagine.

Take a look at the schools across the county and tell me that there are not some very scary things going on. If you don'’t have time to visit one of the schools look at your local Safeway, or Long's. Look at the kids in line. Go to a mall. There are so many human canvasses walking around that many of the arms and legs, stomachs and necks, should be hanging in a museum for Tat artists. I have always had a theory- if Tat artists are so talented, why not put the art on canvas and make a fortune, rather than sitting on a stool, in the back room of a run down building, squirting ink into the flesh of a less than good looking person, in an attenpt to make them hot? I don't know what is happening to our paint and pierce happy generation. Could it be that at 37 I am just old?

Possibly. But it is time to really analyze a few things within the communities of the county. And, once the media circus begins on the front steps of the courthouse, if there is a Vitale trial, the picture painted of Contra Costa should be one we all look at, and decide if we like what we see.

Where was the bottom half of the torso?

Invited to a Party and the Hosts Weren't Home

Last evening, as the sun setting light reflecting of Diablo faded, I donned my chicken mask and prepared for an eve of Ghosts and Goblins, Tricksters, and Treaters. The costumed sect began arriving on my porch promptly after dinner hour, if that still exists, making their presence known by ringing the bell next to my front door, rapping on the glass, or pounding the frame, letting their desire for chocolate and sugar, Tootsie Rolls, Dum-Dum suckers and other confectionery compilations be known. It has, I admit, been a while since I have participated in the celebration of Halloween.

There are few kids in my neighborhood so I knew front porch occupants were being driven in from another land. However, since I was not traveling to distant assignments this October, the thought of taking part in the celebration seemed enticing. It was an eve of a national party. I don't know who invited them to begin with, but every year kids show up on porches across America and adults play host. Actually an incredible concept.

Standing in front of the massive, packaged candy counter at Long's Drugs was a perplexing experience. Not knowing how many Goblins to plan for I didn't know whether to buy candy that I didn't like, so that if nobody showed up I wouldn't eat it. I knew I could give it to the girls on the 10th floor, but I am very fond of them, so it would have to be shipped up to the 11th. If I bought a nice variety of chocolate, Reeses Cups, Kit Kat Bars, and miniature Milky Way and Snickers, they may not make it home. I have been known to consume massive amounts of confection on both my best and worst days. The perplexity was solved as the clock ticked and I realized I didn't want to be late for the party on the porch. I grabbed five bags of appropriately wrapped sugar, got little change back from my fifty and darted home.

I decided early on that a Foster Farm chicken look-a-like would be an appropriate costume since my chicken clucking has become quite professional over the years. Columnists are very similar to chickens- no matter how much you cluck you are still ignored. The mask fit perfectly.

The first knock, a slight bang, on the lower portion of the door was heard at 6:05 p.m. The toddler, and his sister, and a friend stepped back after the chicken opened the door. Swapping Halloween greetings, my fist full of candy, sticks from suckers protruding through the gap of my fingers, found its way into what appeared to be a pillow case, a plastic pumpkin, and a homemade drawstring sack. Everyone was thankful that the first wave went off without a hitch.

The stream didn't flow steadily. The next knock came some fifteen minutes later, and then in intervals that seemed further and further apart. The candy bowl, which was originally heaping was still hearty after three or four groups had left the porch. My hand couldn't scoop much more at one time. So as the night went on many of the masked got more than a handful.

As I looked around my upper middle class neighborhood, most of the lights were out for the entire night. It was a depressing sight.

As Americans we have become complacent when it comes to our social obligations. And Halloween is a social obligation to the children. But yet, we shirk our duties and disguise them under the guise that it is dangerous to go door to door. We claim it is safer to have parties, to go to pre-planned functions. All of that may be true. But the spirit of Halloween, as so many know it, is to run up to the porch, bang on the door, and when it opens be able to grab a handful of junky candy.

Kids haven't nixed the festivities of Halloween. Its the adults who have decided it is easier to turn off the light, darken the neighborhood, hide in the great room under the darkness of only a TV. Its easier than it is to buy a few bucks worth of candy and join in on the fun.

Yes, complacent adults have put the damper on Halloween. Someone invited the kids to our porches in celebration and we are not home. I say buy a mask, turn on the lights, and next year join in on the fun.

Now I have to deliver this bucket of Dum-Dums to the 11th floor.