Cheesecake Lightens the Mood in City Hall

A day after Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced a total of 36 lay offs—18 police officers and 18 employees from other departments—city employees took their minds off of the impending cuts by focusing on cheesecake. 

IT Assistant Jonathan Dennis, who has worked for the city for five years, said he helped organize the Iron Chef throw down to boost morale in the building, which he said has been "way down." The event was planned last week, before the mayor announced the lay offs. 

"It encourages people," said Dennis, 29. "It gives co-workers an outlet."

The (as Dennis called it) "first ever cheesecake throwdown," started at 2 p.m., and was preceded by a soul food buffet. And as city employees scooped fried chicken, mac and cheese or a piece of cheesecake on their plates, many noted that the mood lightened.

Three city employees—Patrick Riccardi, Maryann Valente and Helen Pompliano—baked their signature cheesecake. A team of four judges then tried them all, before announcing a winner. 

Pompliano's cheesecake, which she called "just an ordinary cheesecake," was chosen to be the winner. The only special thing she puts in the cheesecake is "just a lot of love," said Pompliano, who works in the City Hall mailroom. 

After the judging, when most of the cheesecake had been eaten, Mayor Dawn Zimmer stopped by the second floor lobby to try a piece herself. "It's delicious," said Zimmer about a piece of chocolate cheesecake. 

Zimmer said she usually chooses the marble cheesecake from Carlo's Bakery for birthdays and other occassions, which has become harder because of the long lines to get into the bakery. "I don't cut lines!" she said.

After the judging and the eating, everyone retired back to their offices. And although the reality of impending lay offs may have sunk in as soon as everyone sat back down at their desks, the event provided a much needed break.

"Cake makes everything better," Dennis said.