Winding down

Municipal politics can be tedious and messy, but that's the reality of part-time legislators expected to make expert decisions on complex matters on a weekday night.

During Monday's back and forth over shifting (trading? transferring? adjusting?) development rights in Pasadena's Central District, it was obvious the two outgoing council members were handling the looming end of their political lives differently.

Insiders have suggested Joyce Streator, who is stepping down from her long run representing the Northwest, has had it. That seemed clear during the sometimes-redundant and esoteric debate last night. At one point, Joyce turned to Victor Gordo with an exasperated look, sighed audibly and dropped her head down into her hands on the desk.

Councilman Paul Little however seemed more gregarious and upbeat than usual, even stepping down from the dais in the midst of deliberations to chat about Poopgate.

After the council hashed out a compromise measure to deal with the matter at hand, Paul offered his own "friendly amendment" to Councilman Chris Holden's motion:

"I was going to ask for a friendly amendment and ask the Sergeant at Arms to put us out of our misery right now."