They're talking more about schools. Nothing interesting yet.
Ken Cockayne said the city should look at renovating schools.
"The schools are our first priority," he said.
I'm not sure I understand what the question is getting at it, something about a temporary fix for the schools.
"I believe that the new schools are the way to go," Kevin McCauley said.
Spending "millions more" because of the delays already, he said. He said the money to be pumped into the schools "becomes too ineffective" to renovate when new is better.
"We'd be putting money into buildings that in the end have to come down," McCauley said.
Bruce Lydem said it's time to build new schools.
"It's time to build new schools," Lydem said.
Now a new question: have housing and code enforcement made a difference?
Cockayne said that Zoppo's housing code "was a great thing," but would like to take it to state level so it would be possible to crack down on tall grass. "It's bringing down neighborhoods," he said.
Geladino said he also favors the codes. "They should be enforced and fines should be levied," Geladino said.
McCauley said he is co-chair of the panel that did the work. With the committee, supervisors realized they could do more to work together and put together the ticketing program, he said.
Hundreds of unregistered cars have been hauled out, McCauley said, and a range of improvements made. He said tall grass will also be addressed.
"We do see an improvement," McCauley said. Community groups are organzing "because they do see" that the city is helping.
Lydem called the work "long overdue" and praised Zoppo for her leadership and vision. Blaschke agrees, too. He wants stiffer fines and he wants to see crummy landlords arrested to "make them pay big time. ... Hit 'em where it hurts, in the pockets where it belongs."
Next question is the ties that candidates have to fire, police, etc.
Cockayne said he has no ties. "I could vote in good faith" on anything that comes to the council. He said he won't have to recuse himself because he has no conflict of interest.
McCauley said he's a firefighter and hasn't voted on fire votes as a councilor. "I do not vote on anything in regard to that," he said, because it would be a conflict of interest. But, he said, he has an input on any other departments and issues.
Geladino said he has no family working for the city and could vote on anything.
Lydem said it's a great question. He said he's proud of being a union carpenter. "In life, in general, we wear many hats" as a father, big brother, coach. He said he'll act in city's best interests.
Blaschke said he would only answer to constituents. He aid he has no conflicts, then added, "I do have a cousin, but he's not that close anyway."
Now a brief break, thank God.
Who's next for a pie in the face?
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
11 comments:
Kevin gets the pie this time as well. He doesn't see the conflict. Even though he abstains from fire dept votes there is still a conflict.
unbelieveable! I believe anonymous gets the pie. Prove to everyone that because you are a city employee or have a relative who is a city employee that you are going to be biased and are going to do anything differently because of it. Look at Mr. McCauley's track record. You will see he abstained from every vote regarding the fire department. How is it a conflict when you're abstaining? Not only that, not once did he vote for something that padded the pockets of the fire dept., police dept., or any other department in the city. In fact, I believe that his being a city employee helps with regard to knowing what is happening in the city. Let's face it. The republican mantra has always been they're related so they're helping each other out. Unless you can give us proof that this has happened, the argument falls flat on its face.
It didn't take long for the Republicans to get on here and start spinning the forum. ATTENTION EVERYONE !!!! look at the televised forum yourself and make your own judgements ... NOT listen to stupids who are so one sided it's pathetically obvious!
Having heard the forum first hand, there were other things that were left off from what each person said. Understanding that Mr. Collins cannot take down what everyone said, the issue of city relationships was an important one. I don't see a conflict of interest with Mr. McCauley being on the fire department. I've not seen him use his position to his or anyone on the department's advantage. That says it all right there. How do we know that Mr. Cockayne or Mr. Geladino or Mr. Blaschke or Mr. Lydem don't have connections thoughout city hall where they can use them to their advantage? Being related or working for the city is the least of this city's problems at the moment. Let's get on with bigger issues.
I doubt very much that Ken Cockayne does not belong to any union-like associations. He is an insurance salesman, they all sell the same products at about the same price. How do you think happens?
Lydem didn't answer any questions tonight. He danced around each question!
Blaschke is clueless! You can't just go around locking up landlords because they aren't taking care of their properties. Lord, the city would have huge lawsuits on their hands! We're all angered at what they've done to this town, but that's why we have code enforcement. The city can attack them by enforcing codes and zoning regs thus forcing them to pay through the nose to fix their dilapidated houses. They don't want to pay so they leave and take their scummy tenants with them. That's how you clean up the city especially the west end.
Then, again, there are those who stereotype everyone in this world. From color, nationality, smokers, families, race, and now (no surprise) professions. To assume that all landlords are bad landlords. Think about what you would do without the majority of Bristol landlords most of whom live in Bristol and invest in your community. There are times to invest in stocks, companies, the government - and real estate. Where would the non-homeowners go without the people who invest directly in the community of Bristol - landlords? Your mother, sister, daughter. You, the former mayor Nicastro, your brother? The best friend who just got a divorce or your neighbor who went bankrupt after heavy medical bills? The son who just got married or who has to move after having another baby. What about when he loses his job and there is no room at your inn? Those are the people you call when someone you care about needs a place to live. What if your nephew made one mistake and went to jail but truly changed - doesn't he deserve a chance, a home of his own? Or your father who is on a fixed income that, at one time, would have supported him but by today's standards just can't? Does he deserve to be on the streets because of that depression when the love of his life passed on? Your stereotyping is why many good intentioned landlords are selling out to absentee landlords who don't care about any of us nor the good city of Bristol. Instead of blaming landlords, blame the laws that give all kinds of rights to deadbeat, villanous, unhonest, disrepectful people who rent and either don't pay or trash an apartment. Help pass some laws that make these people accountable as well as the landlords trying to keep up with it all.
My heart goes out to the slumlords.
This blog is really going down the tubes, with people defending landlords.
How about landlords doing better screening? You can chime in all day about how landlords contribute to this city, but years ago there were landlords and they took pride in their properties. Now it's all about getting their money and not putting anything back into the properties. That's why sec. 8 is so attractive. You don't have to collect from the tenants so you don't have to deal with them. After all, I'm sure they make numerous phone calls, but after awhile they get tired of no responses and just live with the problem. I know that for a fact and so do the landlords.
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