April 20, 2009

Is Bristol spending too much?

On his blog, 2nd District Republican City Council hopeful Richard Scarola makes his case.
A couple of highlights:

"$75,000 to install security cameras at Rockwell park. It is at this point I must say something. Weather we were, are or will be the city of parks that money that has already been spent is unjustifiable to me. We have had to increase police presence in Brackett Park for fear or the equipment vandalized and Rockwell has already bee graffiti a few times plus the "Minuteman" who is a monument to all veterans has had his gun bent and been in need of fixing a few times. That is a shame. I see no seniors in Brackett Park ever or in Rockwell. Why? They are afraid to go. So we've spent all this money on parks to get them up to the they used to be 50 years ago and the very people that would still like to use them the most won't because they are afraid."

"There is a $300,000 grant on the books to fix street lights. Yeah the big yellow things that have a red, a yellow and a green bulb in them. I understand equipment wears out over time but again when times are like this you have to make due with what you have. Great, we have a city full of new stoplights so that one of the 12 consulting firms that are coming in to tell us what to do with the mall property will see them."

But I suggest you read his entire entry. It's nice to have a candidate laying it out there for everyone.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

44 comments:

Oh, well said...

glad that he is laying it out too, demonstrates his lack of English and grammar skills along with no concept of city government or sources of getting money to do stuff - great intro.

Anonymous said...

DOA!

Anonymous said...

His grammar indicates a need to invest more money into our school system.

Anonymous said...

The problem with blogs is that anyone can have one!

Anonymous said...

OMG, is this guy for real?

Anonymous said...

You can tell he is a rookie.

He will soon learn that words really do matter, especially in politics!

Unless, of course, you're GEE DUBYA.

Steve Collins said...

He doesn't claim to be a writer. At least he's laying out what he thinks. That's what's really important.

Anonymous said...

Hope he doesn't win and end up on the ordinance committee. Sorry Steve, Readin' and Writin' still count along with "Rithmatic.

Besides street lights are different from traffic signals.

Sorry, this jamoke just said enough for me to make a decision.

My response to him is, "I the hope you can't, okay just win the then in the whether we faced tomorrow."

See Yah!

Anonymous said...

We obviously need to spend more on education.

Anonymous said...

Steve, you are an idealist!

Anonymous said...

I'm definately moving out of the city now.

Anonymous said...

We obviously need to spend more on education.

April 20, 2009 5:27 PM
``````````````````````````

How about competency tests of the teaching staff . WASTING money on incompetence will NOT improve the system . Please pay attention to the results over the prior several DECADES and you will soon notice $$$$ does NOT help AT ALL !!!!!

Anonymous said...

Ok he might need some grammar classes, but he can at least say that he is stepping up to the plate to better the city. What can you say?

Anonymous said...

If the city wants to save money - they should start my turning off every other street light in the city. I wonder what the savings would be?

Anonymous said...

Oh, well said...

You demonstrated your point well yourself. Before you throw stones, you might want to proof read your own comments. Then again, they are only comments on a blog that you, like most other people probably enter quickly and haphazardly, worrying mostly about content and making a point quickly, rather then the grammatical stuff.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

I'd love to be able to critique the writing and spelling abilities of a number of elected and former elected Bristol Democrat officials, but that's not the point.

This fellow has the right train of thought (in regards to fiscal spending)it just happens he has no idea who or what he's actually talking about (in regards to issues). People love Rockwell Park and letting vandals destroy it is very unpopular, which makes being against the cameras equally unpopular. I don't think he's getting very good political advice, which is typical seeing the Republicans running the 3rd Council District are either ignorant or ambivalent or both

Anonymous said...

He makes Ward look good by comparision.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

Now that they have a young lawyer running for council, the local Dumb-o-crats are the party of the "educated". Let's give their other council candidates an IQ test then, OK?

go for it said...

go for it richard, disprove the thought that all republicans are highly educated, self-centered, egotistical, self-serving, elitest snobs.
Well, at least disproving the highly educated part is within reach for you.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Steve, but on this one you are wrong, wrong, wrong! Mr. Scarola is probably a nice guy and all, but his inability to clearly articulate his ideas in writing is symptomatic of his fuzzy thinking. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks that Mr. Scarola's communication skills are sorely lacking. Bristol needs more smart politicians, not more dumb ones.

wondering said...

"nice to have a candidate laying it out there"; too bad that no one has ever seen him at a city meeting/city or organizational function.
Does he think that involvement only begins AFTER election?

Anonymous said...

"Does he think that involvement only begins AFTER election?"

Well, that does seem to be the Ken Johnson school of thought!

Anonymous said...

$75,000 for cameras to protect a park that cost $6 million to renovate is nothing. This guy needs to get a clue regarding the city and its parks. Better yet - how about a class on proper grammer!?

AnonymousWestconnStudent said...

So...Mr. Leone's not for the government expanding its employee's pool, but he's for telling everyone else the have to own insurance.

Especially when they can't afford
it!

And since the Speaker's plan involves expanding the pool the state has with private insurers, how does Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates play into it?

It's a nice distraction but I'm afraid Mr. Leone is doing nothing more than blowing smoke.

Anonymous said...

Concerned Conservative,

Richard is running in the 2nd district so what does the leadership in the 3rd have to do with anything????

Anonymous said...

Concerned Conservative,

This gentleman is running in the 2nd District not the 3rd.

Anonymous said...

I expect another posting from Mr. Scarola about the mayor's ridiculous intent to fill the Veterans position. How interesting that he is waiting for the fall to do so - maybe he wants to give it to a buddy or keep it for himself if he loses the election. Has the city NOT been managing the needs of veterans over the last year? I doubt it. So why can't it just continue to be handled this way and eliminate a position?

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Also love how he bashes the streetlight grant (they are actually called traffic lights; streetlights are those big lights everyone thinks we should turn off for some odd reason)

First off, it's a grant. Consider it a gift.

Secondly, leaving old bulbs in is a waste of energy... the newer LED traffic light fixtures have a 4-8 year return on investment as a result of the electricity you save.

Sounds like some old coot who thinks everyone's an idiot and he's got all the answers. Easily the worst kind of politician to have in a municipality, and all too common.

That's great that someone's putting some ideas out there... but it would be even better if we could see some GOOD ideas.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

And the Second District is not much better.

Anonymous said...

2:28

Turning some OFF completely is an even bigger saving!

Why isn't Ward doing that as has been suggested?

Anonymous said...

WARD NEEDS UNION PERMISSION TO DO ANYTHING. REMEMBER ITS ALL ABOUT VOTES NOT SAVING TAX PAYERS MONEY.

Anonymous said...

TO THE GUY WHO SAID HES GOING TO MOVE YOU DONT PAY TAXES IN BRISTOL SO BY BY .

Anonymous said...

When will the layoffs start that is spending issue start in city hall first and work your way out.PLENTY COULD BE SAVED. HOW DID SOME OF THESE DEPT HEADS GET THEIR JOBS. PERSONAL PUBLIC WORKS SCHOOL SUPER. NOT BECAUSE THEIR QULIFIED.FAVORS OWED. THATS THE ANSWER.

Anonymous said...

LETS BUY SOMEMORE PROPERTY. JUST WHAT BRISTOL NEEDS .

U Flunk said...

6:00 - none of these people whom you mention are from Bristol, so where did the "favor" idea come from or is this a pop quiz??

Anonymous said...

Ward doesn't need union permission to turn off street lights.

Ward doesn't need union permission to cut back on most overtime.

Ward doesn't need union permission to lay people off.


Ward just needs a little backbone!

Anonymous said...

6:00

Thats how Ward got his job too: favors owed.

Sorta in a closed loop, aren't we?

lonely said...

sounds as though the only friends that 8:27 has managed to nurture, linger on this site.
If 8:27 ever decides to expand his date book, he might even consider patronizing BristolCT. com - they won't know him either but he can "anonymously" claim them to be some of his closest buddies.

Anonymous said...

8:27, Ward's backbone is fine. He got the job because the majority of Bristol's citizens wanted him to have it. He's done a good job and will probably get it again...especially since his opposition appears to be a no show (where has Ken been?).

You go on every topic on this blog repeating the same old tired jabs, criticisms and insults...instead of a closed loop, you're sorta a fruit loop, aren't ya?

Anonymous said...

Innovations Abound- take your own advice.

Don't presume anything about how "dead" my "ass" is... I might be a lot more involved than you think.

And if the website is a waste of time, then what brings you here? I think "hypocricy abound" would be a more fitting handle for you.

Anonymous said...

"I might be a lot more involved than you think"

We know Ken.

Anonymous said...

7:35

Then why doesn't Ward take a stand?

Why is he afraid of the unions?

And, would he get re elected if he had ANY opposition?

The people are unhappy, he just happens to be the lesser of two evils!

Anonymous said...

HAs Scarola pulled a Johnson and faded into the woodwork?