Last Fall, news broke that Cinniapolis Fire Protection Services (CFPS) intended to privatize their trash pickup services beginning July 1, 2024 even though their current contract expires at the end of December 2025. At the time, City Council dismissed this as a negotiating tactic. As July 1 moves closer, Council members are hardening their tone towards the CFPS.

Mayor Gondola’s office released a statement to the Chorus this morning, “We are committed to providing a clean, safe city for all Cinniapolitans and our out-of-town guests. The CFPS is a vital cog of Cinniapolis. We expect them to honor their contract. We have attempted to enter into good-faith negotiations as we understand the CFPS is unhappy with their very lucrative and fireman-friendly contract. However, we continue to bang our heads against a wall since CFPS representatives are unwilling to compromise. Their unskilled, unprofessional, and inexperienced representatives are not treating this as a negotiation. They are approaching the government as if this is a Make-A-Wish project. We will not be held hostage by their outrageous demands.”

CFPS reps chose not to comment on this statement. However, the Chorus has learned that members of the influential Murphy Family are partnering with the CFPS in these negotiations. There are whispers within Cinni inner circles that they have already made an offer to fund the CFPS in its privatization but have given the organization permission to work with the Cinniapolis government to match their deal or negotiate a more favorable deal. An anonymous source familiar with the negotiations said, “The government can’t match the Murphy’s offer. CFPS will be private this Summer, without a doubt. In the ever-present cold feud between the Gondolas and the Murphys, the Murphys will win this battle.”

The Gondolas and Murphys have had famous dust-ups over the years with the most recent being the Mayoral Special Election in an unsuccessful attempt to remove Mayor Gondola from office. The Murphys own the premiere waste management and construction companies of Cinniapolis. Their attempts to usurp government power from the Gondolas has failed many times over the years. But, they continue to chip away privatizing services that were once publicy-funded through the government.

It has been a quiet Winter for these two families. But, as the temperatures rise for Spring and Summer, this feud may take center-stage again to the delight of some and disappointment of others.