Just one question: Wasn't recusal, or at the very least abstention, the ethical course?

re·cuse
tr.v. re·cused, re·cus·ing, re·cus·es
To disqualify or seek to disqualify from participation in a decision on grounds such as prejudice or personal involvement.

The fact that the 5th district's Diane McCartin Benedetti tonight voted twice against approval of one of her brother's greenfield development projects isn't really the issue, is it?

After all, it's easy to feign independence when the results are preordained.

My question: Should she vote at all on matters that pertain to her brother?

Jeff Gahan's the president, the honeymoon is in effect, and I'll be back tomorrow with more on the year's first council meeting.