War may still be raging in Europe and the Middle East, but a historic peace deal has just been sealed much closer to home.
uncertain
deal → rag → home
In Sydney, the bitter battle between dumpling doyenne Nahji Chu and Lord Mayor Clover Moore has come to an end after the City of Sydney council finally conceded that new street lights above a buzzy Potts Point restaurant strip are far too bright and will now be significantly dimmed.
asserted
lights → dumple → strip
The backdown represents a major victory for Chu, who has long complained the “interrogation” lights are more intrusive than those in nearby streets and claimed they were installed as punishment for her ferocious criticism of Moore’s leadership.
asserted
they → represent → leadership
“I’m just glad it’s over,” Chu said when contacted on Wednesday.
asserted
Chu → ’m → Wednesday
“I feel heard and I feel strong.
asserted
I → feel → ?
They should have just listened in the first place, but they have now, they’ve acted, and that’s the main thing
asserted
that → listen → place
But just as the lighting stalemate is resolved, a new flashpoint has emerged: Chu has recently acquired an electric open-top “Junior Rover”, complete with “Chu Chu” number plates, and eyebrows have been raised by footage of the mini vehicle zipping along local footpaths.
asserted
vehicle → resolve → footpaths
The fight between two of Sydney’s most prominent women has captivated the city’s eastern suburbs, becoming a proxy for a broader debate on whether the 80-year-old lord mayor has stayed too long in the job.
asserted
mayor → captivate → job
It has also bolstered the business community’s belief that government rules and regulations are strangling the city’s late-night economy.
asserted
rules → bolster → economy
Chu, the eccentric owner of the popular Lady Chu Vietnamese restaurant which dominates Roslyn Street, first took up the fight against new “smart” LED street lights last year, criticising Moore and the council’s chief executive officer Monica Barone on social media, and enlisting celebrity diners to help her cause.
asserted
which → dominate → cause
At one point, customers were given sun visors to wear during dinner.
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customers → give → dinner
Umbrellas were deployed at night.
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Umbrellas → deploy → night
Chu this year painted over four lights which were blinding customers and ruining the street’s moody vibe.
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which → paint → vibe
The council sent a cleaning bill for $10,659.
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council → send → 10,659
Independent MP Alex Greenwich stepped in to mediate the escalating dispute and secured victory this week.
asserted
Greenwich → step → victory
The mission was awkward terrain for Greenwich; he was Moore’s anointed successor in the state seat of Sydney in 2012, and is a regular at Lady Chu.
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he → anoint → Chu
“This issue has been a hot topic in Potts Point, and I’m pleased we’ve reached a resolution that reflects the City of Sydney’s commitment to outdoor dining and preserves the vibe Lady Chu has created,” Greenwich said.
asserted
Greenwich → ’m → vibe
“Roslyn Street has changed over time and is now a vibrant dining destination, thanks in large part to Lady Chu.”
asserted
Street → change → Chu
In a letter delivered to Greenwich on Wednesday, Barone revealed the organisation had recently commissioned an independent review of the lighting above the street.
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organisation → deliver → street
“The review found the lights meet current standards and also identified opportunities to further reduce light levels, to improve energy efficiency and extend the life of the lights,” Barone wrote.
asserted
Barone → find → lights
“We are happy to let you know that we have been able to reduce the light levels further.”
asserted
we → let → levels
The council has previously argued the lights could not be dimmed because of the risk of injuries and lawsuits.
uncertain
lights → argue → injuries
The once down-and-out Roslyn Street has become a test tube for Chu’s hedonistic business model.
asserted
Street → become → model
Many Sydneysiders love it, but some aren’t so enamoured by the high jinks, or Chu’s take-no-prisoners demeanour.
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some → love → prisoners
Online reviews continue to be mixed.
asserted
reviews → continue → ?
Some diners say the dining strip is a fabulous slice of Paris in Sydney.
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strip → say → Sydney
On Google Reviews, Peter Tsakonas called Chu “the most diva, house-down-boots, slay queen in the whole world”.
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Tsakonas → call → world
Of the venue, he said: “It has something that so many restaurants are missing these days: personality.”
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restaurants → say → that
One critique by a diner named Carolyn complained about the “terrible experience” and foul-mouthed fortune cookies served after dinner.
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critique → name → dinner
Chu replied: “Carolyn, it’s 9.01 pm … you’d better get to bed babes.
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you → reply → bed
Chu expects her new mini car, which she ordered from Vietnam, to trigger some complaints.
asserted
she → expect → complaints
“If anyone says anything, I will say ‘what have you got against my wheelchair?’.
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you → say → wheelchair
I like to dress well and this is my well-dressed wheelchair,” Chu said.
asserted
Chu → like → ?
“But it has already brought so many smiles to our faces, and in this economy we need something to brighten our lives.”
asserted
we → bring → lives
The Aporia
