Thanks to Jim Leahy for point this out to me. But this is very interesting. Our "fearless" Rosa DeLauro has only committed to a conference call and online chat when it comes to talk to residents about these issues.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Police Seek Food Donations
The local police union is seeking help in brightening the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays of those who cannot afford a full traditional meal.
“We’re looking for assistance with the donation of turkeys,” said North Haven officer Michael Compare, president of local police union 3087, “The union is giving 20 turkeys for Thanksgiving, and we’re looking for anybody to match our 20 turkeys.”
The union is donating the turkeys to the Town Hall food bank, run by the Department of Community Services. The food bank gives away the turkeys to North Haven families that cannot afford a full holiday meal on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Any donations can be brought to the lobby of the North Haven police department, 18 Church St. Community Services hands out the turkeys to needy families on Nov. 23 and 24, Compare said, and any donated items need to be brought in by Nov. 18.
For more information, contact Compare at (203) 988-1149.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veterans Still Appreciated
This morning, Veterans Day, we salute the men and women who have, and continue to, serve our country in uniform. And we hope everyone would take a moment today to say thank you to a veteran, a small gesture, but one that carries a special meaning. It means their service is appreciated.
The late President Ronald Reagan once said "democracy is but one generation away from extinction. We have been truly fortunate that no generation, since the very beginnings of this great nation, has chosen to be that generation."
Throughout our history, Americans have consistently answered the call when our liberties were being threatened and continue to do so today. They deserve our thanks, and should know how much their sacrifice is appreciated.
And as we honor those still among us, let us not forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. There is a special display on exhibit at the Old State House in Hartford through Nov. 20, honoring the 45 Connecticut residents who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sponsored by the state Department of Veterans Affairs, the “Faces of Connecticut” traveling tribute is a video tribute to their patriotism and sacrifice.
Sadly, we will need to continue to ask this generation to make that sacrifice as we battle enemies abroad determined to do us harm.
As President Barack Obama said during his visit to the national Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoenix in August, "the war against terrorism is not a war of our choosing, but rather one of necessity." The decision to send young men and women to war is the most difficult decision any president has to make.
We know of no veteran who cherishes the idea of young men and women being sent into harm’s way. On the contrary, the vast majority of veterans we know wish that they could have been the last.
So let us all take a moment today and thank them.
DTC: Who's Next?
While things in town are a little slow before Mike takes office on Dec 1st, I thought it would be a fun to take some time and see who the Democrats might push for 2011 for First Selectman. As I have said before, if the Democrats ever want a shot again at Town Hall, they need to change their leadership and get positive. Rather than looking at the Republicans as scum and evil, they need to look at them as healthy rivals. The message needs to be, "We're all good people, we just have different opinions on how the town should be ran". This attitude might give them a shot in winning at some point, added with a major Freda mistake. But if they continue down the road they have been with negative actions of Criscuolo, McCarty and "Whine"berg, they'll never get anywhere. But let's take a look at they party and see who could be an up and coming star within the party and their strengths and weaknesses in running.
Dean Volain ~
Bio: A 17 Year Resident, served as Board of Finance Chairman from 2007-2009, he is the President of Volain and Volain P.C. Certified Public Accountants and is the principal of Volain Financial Services. Dean is a past President of the Connecticut Association of Public Accountants. He is also the treasurer and an executive board member of Fellowship Place, a charity that provides mental health services. He is a member of the North Haven PTA and was a founding contributor to the North Haven Education Association. His wife, Deborah, served on the Board of Education and they have two sons who were graduates of North Haven High School.
Strengths: First would be that he embodies the attitude the DTC should have in this town. He is non-political when it comes to issues that involve the town. He was open and honest during BOF meetings and didn't resolve to tricks that some of the others on that board did. He was able to work with Republicans to produce a somewhat bi-partisan budget which included the 0% tax increase. His background in accounting and finance would serve well as First Selectman. He is also my #1 suggestion for Third Selectman if Steve Fontana declines. If Volain is asked to be Third Selectman, that will pretty much show their plans for him in 2011.
Weakness: Despite any good work he did while on the Board of Finance, he lost. Also the hard left might be reluctant to vote for him because his actions show he's more moderate than liberal. And in terms of personality and charisma, two things that Mike Freda masters, Volain lacks.
Theresa Ranciato-Viele ~
Bio: Besides having the most Italian name I've heard since I met Gina Marie D'Angelo in college, Theresa was currently elected to the Planing & Zoning Commission. She was first elected to the Zoning Board of Appeals in 1997, and now serves as its secretary. Her service on ZBA was interrupted briefly in 2001-03 while she spent one term as the minority member of the Board of Selectmen. Theresa has been Town Meeting Moderator since 2007. She is heavily involved with Big Sisters as well as National Marrow Donor Program.
Strengths: She already has experience on the Board of Selectman. She also ran a good positive campaign against Kopetz in 2001. Her years of experience in community service to the town greatly outweigh Mike Freda's. a race between these two in 2011 would basically be voting between two likable people.
Weaknesses: She ran a positive campaign in 2001, but lost and lost big time by nearly 4 to 1. She is also my top choice to replace Criscuolo as Chairwoman of the DTC. Also another race could bring up her record as Third Selectman.
There are other names that bring up some intrigue such as Michael O' Connor but just like the RTC the DTC needs to move in a different direction if they ever want a shot again.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
DC Sniper Set To Be Executed
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
This video, brought to my attention by Jim Leahy, gave me some thought about the death penalty in this country. If you remember I wrote about this on May 27th, 2009 in the post "Why I support the Death Penalty".
There is plenty of controversy surrounding the use of the death penalty in the United States, but debating aside, it is still used in 25 states. In most states, the death penalty is exercised by administering the lethal injection, though some states still allow such methods as hanging, electrocution, firing squad and gas chamber on the books. But what exactly merits the death penalty in the United States?
The United States has the death penalty only for crimes involving premeditated murder and treason, though it is allowed for a wide variety of violent crimes. In recent years, many lobbyists and politicians have spoken for the use of the death penalty against pedophiles and other sexual offenders who target children. In many cases, capital punishment is handed down as a sentence when a conviction of murder is connected to other related charges, such as rape or kidnapping.
In most cases though, the death penalty is reserved for murder in the first degree in the United States, and is frequently used as a bargaining tool for prosecutors. The prosecutor might guarantee life without parole as an alternative to capital punishment in exchange for a guilty plea. However, if there is sufficient evidence to convict, most prosecutors will attempt to convict on capital charges.
Rell's Move No Surprise
Gov. M. Jodi Rell's announcement late Monday afternoon that she will not run for re-election next year is big news but not a complete surprise, considering the heavy baggage she'll be lugging around for the rest of her term. Foremost are budget and economic problems that plague state chief executives all across the country and a quarrelsome relationship with majority Democrats in the General Assembly. Mrs. Rell, might deny that she lacks the appetite for four more years of open budget warfare with the Democrats, but we'll bet it played a part in her decision.
Mrs. Rell wants to see Connecticut prosper and develop to its full potential and although she has been one of most popular governors in the state's history, her poll numbers have dipped some of late, a reflection of bad economic times, the prolonged budget battle this year and perhaps allegations that her office might have used state money to pay for personal political advice. The question of the possible misuse of focus-group data interpreted for her by University of Connecticut political science professor Ken Dautrich is being investigated by a UConn ethics office, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and the bipartisan state auditors. It could also be the subject of an inquiry by the Office of State Ethics. Such investigations can hobble a campaign.
Further, she has been too loyal to aides such as chief of staff M.Lisa Moody who have not always served her best interests.
All that said, Mrs. Rell's record is on balance a positive one. She came into office at the right time, a well-received replacement for John G. Rowland. Her emphasis on ethics and her strong support for campaign finance reform serve the state well. Her appointments to high administrative and judicial posts generally have been excellent. She developed a strong environmental record, moving the state into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and attacking low-density development known as sprawl. She has performed her ceremonial duties with dignity and humor. One example would be her very personable visit to North Haven last month to stump for Mike Freda.
Mrs. Rell has by and large met the public's expectations, at least thus far, but I understand her desire to return to private life after her term expires.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Breaking News!!!
Gov. Rell decides not to seek
another term
HARTFORD — Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says she will not seek re-election next year.
Rell made the announcement in a news conference with reporters Monday at the statehouse in Hartford.
Rell has been Connecticut’s governor since 2004, when former Gov. John Rowland resigned in a corruption probe. She was elected to her own term in 2006, becoming the first Republican woman elected the state’s chief executive.
“It’s time to get a new chapter in your life,” said Gov. Rell. “I am truly blessed. I want to thank the people of Connecticut for allowing me to serve them as their Governor.”
Her job approval numbers have dipped in recent Quinnipiac University polls, due mostly to the state’s budget problems. A Sept. 16 poll showed 59 percent approve of how she’s handling her job while 34 percent disapproved — the lowest approval number during her tenure as governor.
Her all-time high was 83 percent job approval in a Jan. 13, 2005 survey.
Freedom Still Faces Threats
On June 1987, President Ronald Reagan, speaking at a rally at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, issued a challenge to then-Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, "Tear down this wall".
Twenty years ago today, Nov. 9, 1989, two years after Reagan issued that challenge, the Iron Curtain of the Cold War was cracked when the Berlin Wall, separating East from West Berlin, fell. During the next several days, tens of thousands of East and West Berliners were reunited for the first time since the end of World War II. It was not just an historic moment in time, it was an epic moment, the demise of communism in Eastern Europe.
The Berlin Wall stood as a line in the sand for 28 years. Its demise marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War, a period when global war between the world’s two super powers was a constant and daily threat.
The Cold War is not often looked upon in the same light as other global military conflicts, but yet it was a time of great danger and sacrifice for many.
During those 28 years, more than 5,000 people, captives to a hard line Communist ideology in the East, risked their lives to escape to the West and freedom. Another 3,200 were arrested attempting to do so, and at least 136 were killed making that attempt with another 120 injured and captured.
American lives were lost as well, in Berlin and along the length of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe, in isolated incidents, each time escalating the ever-present threat of full confrontation. At least 62 American servicemen were killed in action during that time along the European front. As a world, we have made much progress in the pursuit of world peace and global cooperation in the 20 years since the Berlin Wall fell. Yet, today we face different, and just as deadly and dangerous threats to our freedom.
The front lines are no longer as clearly marked as they were when the Iron Curtain existed. Today, the threat to freedom exists everywhere. And that threat is just as real today as it was when men in uniform stared at each other across the wall.
Mike Freda's Laundry List
On Dec 1st, Mike Freda will report to Town Hall for his first day of work. By the way I should mention that the inauguration is schedule for November 30th. I don't know the time or place but I will get that to you as soon as I learn of it.
As we all know Mike will becoming into a Town Hall that needs some fixing up. During the campaign trail Mike mentioned how certain items would be at the top of his agenda. If I was his Chief Advisor, here is what I would suggest doing in his first 30 days on the job:
- Hire replacements as soon as possible. I am going to assume that Barbara Feinberg is out, add to it that Leigh Gomez's position hasn't been replaced yet either. Also, Michael Betz, I am being told is leaving as well. In the first couple of weeks, Mike should make these replacements at the top of his list. Personally I don't think the First Selectman needs 2 administrative assistants so hiring only one would be just fine. I would advise Mike to hire a North Haven citizen and not someone who is on the RTC. One of the big criticisms I had of Janet was that she hired Barbara for that job, Mike can't do the same. I also would ask him to heavily consider whether this town needs a Finance Director. I don't think it does. With a Board of Finance, Asst. Finance Director and a Town Treasurer I don't see why we need to spend $100,000 on a Finance Director. My suggestion is to keep ed Swinkowski as Asst. Finance Director and not have a Finance Director. What Mike should also do is hire a Chief of Staff of Chief Advisor, you could hire this person at half the cost of a Finance Director. This person needs to be a political savvy person as well. That's what was missing from Janet's administration, someone to tell her who what she was doing could look politically.
- Appoint new Town Attorneys and settle cases as soon as possible. If the attorneys for both Leigh Gomez and Bob Burns are willing to come to the table and talk, Mike needs to do this very soon. With that said he needs to appoint a new Town Attorney. Parrett and Duby are out. But once again Mike cannot appoint Jeff Donofrio to that position because the Republicans railed that Janet had appointed DTC members to that as well. But seeing how both cases have been ruled to have enough merit to move to trial, these need to be settled before that. As long as neither Burns or Gomez aren't asking for the Farm, and I don't think they are, then these need to be settled to avoid major legal costs.
- Sit down with Economic Development Commission, Board of Finance & Board of Education and lay out 2 year strategy. This is key, letting each board know what his plans are for the next two years. This way each board knows the level of involvement that the First Selectman will have over the next 2 years. I don't know how much involvement he is allowed to have with the Board of Education but emphasizing savings as well as administrative cuts is key to keep personnel and materials in the classroom. With a Republican hold on the Board of Ed, I can see this becoming a very real possibility.
- Find out what emergency expenditures are down the road. We've already talked about the high school boiler situation but what else is out there? Does it need an emergency expenditure right now? Now that the fund balance is almost back to a healthy state, do we need to use any of it right now?
Now these are just 4 things that should be done in the first 30 days, but you can bet there will be plenty more to do. I think Mike also needs to keep his Freda's Focus going, make it more of a weekly update on what he is doing.
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