Another press release today, this one from Republican mayoral hopeful Ken Johnson:
Ken Johnson, the Republican nominee for Mayor of Bristol today called on the City of Bristol to consider leaving the Roberts property as passive recreation space for years to come. Johnson, seeking to replace Bill Stortz as Mayor of Bristol, said, “Leave it alone.”
The Republican nominee stated today that he would prefer that the Roberts property remain as open space, but he did acknowledge that in future years the city may have good cause to use this property for other purposes. In addition, Johnson said he would favor a sports complex “when the city can afford it” and “somewhere other than a residential neighborhood.”
Johnson called the proposal for a $30M+ sports complex in Bristol on the Roberts property “an expensive pipedream.” “These are good thoughts and I applaud the discussion however, it is not practical in today’s financial environment.” Johnson added, “Bonding for this ultimately puts Bristol further in debt and would have our children and grandchildren paying the bill.”
“Right now residents of Bristol are telling me they are looking for tax relief from their local leaders,’ Johnson continued, “constructing a multi-million dollar sports complex is not going to provide the relief that the citizens of Bristol need.”
Johnson stated, “My opponents are long-time politicians and members of the City Council. I am disheartened at the lack of commitment to prioritizing our spending -- and that means focusing on what we need, not what we want. The safety and security of our citizens is a need; the education of our children is a need; the construction of a sports complex? Come on!”
Johnson is pushing for several government reforms in his campaign for Mayor with one of them being a referendum on large bonding or capital projects. “This project is one that would require a citywide referendum if my proposal is implemented,” Johnson said.
Johnson added that it should ultimately be the citizens of Bristol who decide what to do with the Roberts property, but with the aging condition of our schools and the need for an influx of cash to address this important need, I believe it is in Bristol’s best interest to leave the Roberts property as it is.
“Bristol could always use more open space,” Johnson said.
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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
10 comments:
Yes it was a "pipedream" of Zoppo's
which would have cost the taxpayers big taxes. We need more fields this it true, but not to the tune of $11 million.
Careful Mr. Johnson you are going to "upset" Ellen, and well...you know her reputation for nay-sayers.
K.C.
This is why the city of Bristol needs Ken as the next Mayor.
haven't seen any ideas of johnson's yet that weren't proposed by ward or zoppo earlier
I have yet to hear an original thought or idea come from Ken. Quite frankly I'm a bit disappointed. I expected more from him out of the gate.
Gee, I believe he does have an original thought; let’s save the tax payers some money. This is a hell of a lot more than the spend and tax proposals of the present council.
Bravo Ken, you have my vote.
RRM
Zoppo and or Ward called for expanding the council to nine mebers? They have been roadblocks ever since they got on the council.
When did they propose this?
Neither Art nor Ellen stated they wanted a 9 member council. This topic came up four years ago when Couture ran for office. Charter Revision dismissed it. It's not Ken's original idea, he's just following what others have said in the past.
Actually genius this issue has been debated by the politicans since the 70's.
Its now time that the people of Bristol get to debate the issue as a bonda fide referendum questions in the 2008 election.
Art Ward and ellen Zoppo have not had an original idea as well, unless you call raising taxes, buying run down property, curtailing our qulaity of life as an original idea, than maybe they have.
Remember, people want change this year, and they want a government who will finally listen to what thier saying, instead of ramming more taxes and spending down thier throats.
???? is Ken related to former Congresswomen Nancy Johnson.
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