I Did Hear That

Stamford, Connecticut based internet service provider Frontier Internet wants my hometown to know that if you sign up for their five-gig service you get a free $300 Visa gift card.  So excited are they to share the news that a representative of Frontier shouted it through my door last week, after I had refused to open it. 

THE reverse ding-dong-ditch had me back at my desk in less time than my father would have needed to throw out a sales rep who came into the store without an appointment, an affect he was known for. Out the window I saw them approach the next house, tasked by Frontier to ring every bell.

Or die trying.

Since teaching my now 27-year-old daughter not to open the door for strangers I’ve been taking that advice myself, as I suspect most do leaving me to wonder if the practice is worth the inherent dangers of the task. One which puts young people in peril and where their only chance for a commission comes after they can coax a stranger into opening the door.    

At which point they would all be less safe.

Mamdanisbad

We spent Saturday in New York City, the first in since Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor in an election which catapulted the Mamdani onto the national stage.

Perhaps aware of my New York bona fides several of you reached out asking what I thought of the election of a Muslim as mayor of Jew City who is also a democratic socialist in the heart of American capitalism.

In the 62-years of my association with New York my native city has been allowed to crumble as politicians from both parties argued which one was at fault.  City, state and federal governments conspiring against progress for the enrichment of their political classes.  A fleecing which has left New York bereft; its infrastructure deteriorating, schools failing with insufficient housing for the more than 8,000,000 Americans who live there.   

It’s hard to imagine how Mamdani could be any worse, eliminating inexperience as a concern I might otherwise have for his administration.  His religion and political beliefs being no basis to judge him I find myself hopeful he might bring much needed change.  

Like his promise to end New York’s war on small business, which I fought for more than 30-years from behind the counter in my Bronx, New York paint stores. Just that he recognizes the problem makes him better than the alternative, considering the current state of our politicians it's reason enough to give the kid a chance.

Last week I mentioned changes to the automobile policy at Pittsburgh, which I had known about for weeks but never mentioned thinking it was too niche as compared to my broader coverage of Pittsburgh, though what do I know?

I appreciated the perspective of those who reached out, though the discourse did not change my thinking.  Common amongst the boosters of the practice was their seniority with the company, and the larger paychecks that come with it. Extra dollars which allow a more casual perspective on the transactions most others can't allow and are at a stage in life where they might appreciate a nice drive.

But most of the employees impacted by this practice are reps in the field, earning an average of $60,000 per year. To keep their jobs they must sign on to Brian Carson’s vision of capitalism, one where workers provide the means of production so that management can keep the change.

I'd rather have free busses.