Red Boots, Shovel And Now A Serpent – Making A Point To The City Council

Financial interrogator John Marshall Lee beholds a mischievous side underneath the Yale degree, bowtie and studious observations. A member of the Charter Revision Commission, he has poised pointed accoutrements over the years addressing the City Council during the public speaking portion of the meeting: red boots representing bloody budgets, a shovel signifying mountainous snow on the streets, or perhaps government shoveling you-know-what.

The snow shovel.

But now, a serpent. Yes, a serpent.

Arguably, there’s a serpentine nature to city politics, but on this occasion, Monday night, JML brought historical context to the lectern addressing the legislative body and the expected low voter turnout this cycle.

Check it out.

The banner that you see portrays the first political cartoon to appear in King George’s colonies of America. It was a publication in Ben Franklin’s Philadelphia newspaper on May 9, 1754. JOIN OR DIE catches attention. Doesn’t it? The message to converse about CIVICS, citizen rights and responsibilities, was present 20 years before the American Revolution.

Mass gatherings to exercise First Amendment Bill of Rights language about gathering and protesting peaceably became part of our Bridgeport history last weekend as some gathered to participate in NO KINGS activity and traveled to Hartford  while others stayed home with signs listing their issues to protect democracy by words and presence on the bridge between Bridgeport and Fairfield. Among those who I spotted were former Mayor, Bill Finch, and retired Library Board member, Don Greenberg.

I held high the double-sided sign we display tonight. It is available to each of you as Council representatives of the 150,000 citizens in this ‘Land of Steady Habits.’ Out of this number, about 70,000 residents have registered to vote each time we gather to answer a question or elect officials. But in off-year elections like November 2025, where no mayor will appear on the ballot, though a Charter proposal will be presented for approval, will we see 90% stay home as happened in 2021?? Have we lost this right already?

Or will you appear in your District, on several occasions, at locations well known by your constituents, at a variety of times convenient for them, and communicated by you to them. No agenda. No official record. No materials unless you count the Bill of Rights on one side and opposite, suggestions to fellow citizens with duties or obligations with which you are familiar. Only five City Council people have indicated serious interest in this project. Success can mean an increasingly informed public, who are respected for listening and quality responses, who vote this year, increasing the % participating that can cause us to further emphasize CIVICS as a subject. Will you participate? Time will tell.