LINDEN – The local rivalries here in this hard knock factory town have had all the puny dynamics of New Jersey politics: legal pushing and shoving, devious dynamiting, and egos run absolutely amok –  all of it like so much Roadrunner cartoon child’s play alongside the nightmare going on right now in Ukraine.

Maybe that’s why the two main “combatants” said to hell with it today and – with civilians getting bombarded and killed over there in Europe on orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin – stood in close proximity, in mutuality, in the name of standing with Ukraine. Not too many other N.J. spaghetti western showdowns have played out quite like this one in Linden, between Senate President Nick Scutari and Mayor Derek Armstead.

The fact that they’re both still standing after all the mayhem is probably a miracle in and of itself.

Perhaps it was only going to be Ukraine – and the ongoing horror of violence in Europe not seen on this scale in 100 years – that brought them together on the steps of City Hall, for a Ukrainian flag raising ceremony in honor of the people of Ukraine.

In any event, there they stood huddled outside in the March cold: Armstead and Scutari; Scutari and Armstead, brandishing a sign that read “Linden Stands with Ukraine” in a crowd of Ukrainian immigrants and allies amassed on the avenue.

“Russia has attacked a democratically elected country,” Armstead said. “We the people of Linden, of the county of Union and the state of New Jersey, will continue to support sanctions against Russia for the the targeting of innocent civilians and schools, using bombs.

“This is unacceptable,” the mayor yelled, “and Putin must be held accountable. Despite the sanctions and despite the heroic efforts of the Ukrainian people, Putin has stepped up his efforts. We must do everything to  stop this aggression, everything possible to stop Vladimir Putin, including a total boycott off all Russian products.”

In the face of Putin raining terror from the skies on his people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a no-fly zone over his country, which Putin said would amount to an act of war by whatever forces – presumably NATO – would impose the no-fly zone. NATO, for the record, has ruled out the no-fly zone option.

As his old foe Armstead covered the local angle, Scutari stepped up to the microphone on behalf of the Legislature.

“On behalf of the state senate, we have passed a resolution condemning this war against Ukraine,” the senate president said. “Democracy is on the decline. People of free nations need to push back against that. I fear the additional things that are going to happen, and a bill is pending in the legislature to cease the State of New Jersey doing all business dealings with anyone with ties with the country of Russia.”

He added, “We stand with you; thank you, mayor.”

There they stood, the mayor who dropped a ton of legal bricks on Scutari over the latter’s alleged “serial absenteeism” from his prosecutor’s job here; and the senator who bitterly sued Armstead for defamation. Any other event might have prompted fisticuffs.

Instead, Father Thomas Koszalka of St. Theresa Church stepped up to the microphone. “Loving God,” said the priest, “We gather together with humbled hearts. We’re asking you for the gift of peace. We pray for the people of Ukraine. We pray for world leaders’ strength and compassion.”

Moments later, the mayor bid the crowd release into the sky yellow and blue balloons in honor of the colors of Ukraine, just before he hoisted aloft the flag of the besieged nation amid sustained cheers from the tough and hopeful men and women of Linden, in honor of their brethren, the criminally ravaged people of Ukraine.