For whom the bell tolls, and what it means in Norwich
As I walk around Chelsea Parade near the Park Congregational Church at the top of each hour, the bells in the steeple toll to mark the time. When they do, various birds whom I presume live in the rafters (or are vacationing through a pigeon BNB) frantically fly out, just ahead of the sound waves of the pealing bells. I would say it happens as regularly as clockwork but then you might think less of me for offering such an obvious pun (what do you mean "not possible"?).
My point (I removed my ballcap so it’s easier to see) is the reaction never varies, no matter the time or the season. I often wonder, since the tolling of the bells obviously disturbs and disrupts the birds, why some or all of them don’t relocate. Nope, there they nest and do the "fight or flight" fandango every hour on the hour.
Even the trees across the street at Chelsea Parade, I’d wager, brace for the tolling of the church bells. Admittedly they have no choice but, nevertheless, I do admire their acceptance and stoicism even as fleeing birds perch among their branches.
Both the birds and the trees remind me of posted opinions/reactions of our Norwich neighbors to last Monday’s start in City Council chambers on the process of seeking voter approval for construction of a new and more suitable police station, with a projected price tag of a shade under $45 million.
Of course, there were going to be outcries if the cost had been 45 cents to say nothing of $45 million. I’ve already read/heard outrage and apoplexy at "spending that kind of money" from many residents and others on social media and call-in radio. Mostly that’s sticker shock as folks in auto sales say, and, between us, absolutely nothing has been decided. But ....
I’ve yet to encounter anyone so far with an opinion about a new police station who thinks if we wait maybe another decade as we did the last time around on this same question (https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/news/politics/government/2012/11/07/voters-reject-norwich-police-station/65029300007), perhaps this time the cost will come down.
Not that the continued and repeated mention of the projected cost won’t provoke flights of fancy and fantasy about what to do instead, which, in turn, will spark more arguments about how we could seriously risk having a police station too small to accommodate future requirements and public safety growth, much less one already deficient for our present force.
I should point out that the current station reportedly got a head start on its obsolescence as it was considered inadequate and too small from the time its construction was completed. I’m expecting we’ll begin the “Search for the Guilty” phase of the problem-solving matrix soon because that’s how we roll around here.
More: For Norwich to succeed we need to stop the moaning over what's not and celebrate what is
The matrix has six steps: Enthusiasm, Disillusionment, Panic, the previously mentioned Search for the Guilty, Punishment of the Innocent, and finally Praise and Honor for the Non-Participants. We’ve seen this movie before. The part of the new police station has been previously played by the Mercantile Exchange, the Transportation Center, and the former YMCA building, among others. That’s why this should all feel so familiar but more importantly why we must change the ending.
A new police station is required. Whether you fly away or stand stone-like at midnight, you don’t have to hear the bells to know it’s time. The need is now. And nothing changes unless and until we do.
Bill Kenny, of Norwich, writes a weekly column about Norwich issues. His blog, Tilting at Windmills, can be accessed at https://tiltingatwindmills-dweeb.blogspot.com/.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich police station is needed, but residents are already balking
