Bristol lawmakers said Friday they’ll fight any effort to repeal a statute that guarantees the city’s courthouse will remain open.
“It would be crazy for anyone here to vote against it,” said state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat.
State Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat and former mayor, said he would “fight tooth and nail to keep that law on the books. I’m going to protect our city as much as I can.”
Legislators said they’re ready to fend off efforts by judicial officials who said this week they’d seek to wipe from the books the law protecting Bristol’s courthouse. Judicial officials argue that to meet required budget cuts, they need to shutter the downtown courthouse as one of many spending cuts.
State Rep. Chris Wright, a first-term Bristol Democrat, said the city already lost its priority school funding this year “so it’s not like we’ve gone unscathed” in the budget process.
He said that targeting the courthouse goes too far.
“It seems Bristol is beging asked to give more than most,” Wright said. “It’s a question of fairness. It’s a question of equity.”
The speaker of the state House, Democrat Christopher Donovan of Meriden, said Friday that Gov. Jodi Rell “assured us there would be no courthouse closings.”
“We’re certainly not talking about overturning a law that keeps” the Bristol courthouse operating, he said. “We want to keep the Bristol courthouse open.”
State Rep. Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose district includes a portion of Bristol, said he’s glad the judicial branch recognizes the law guaranteeing that Bristol’s courthouse will operate at least 40 weeks per year. It should stay in the statute books, he said.
Donovan said the governor shouldn’t have vetoed the budget measure last week that ensured enough funding for Bristol’s courthouse.
“What we are talking about is overturning the governor's veto of legislation that would have protected this courthouse,” he said, “and we could use the help of Representative Hamzy and others to override that veto.”
“I doubt we’re even going to have that veto session,” Hamzy said, adding that he wouldn’t vote for the measure anyway given the extras the Democrats larded it with.
Nicastro said he would talk with other legislators in the month ahead to make sure they support Bristol’s position.
“I’m not going to have Bristol singled out,” Nicastro said.
Colapietro said it’s crucial to keep the courthouse open.
“I just don’t want to see a ghost town here,” the senator said. “Everything is going to New Britain. What are we going to call ourselves? New Bristol?”
He pointed out that Bristol has already lost its unemployment office, social services office and more to the slightly larger city.
“What are these poor people do to? Go to New Britain?” Colapietro asked.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
28 comments:
I don't get it, for a mere 175000/yr. we want to keep the biggest reason for criminals to come to town. The average tax payer will never use the court for anything, however the average criminal uses it often. I say we get rid of this big incentive for criminals to come downtown. We want to build the new down town center across from this criminal hangout. I bet this will really be a major selling point for shoppers. Wake up politicians you ain't in Kansas anymore.
You elected them, you can unelect them!
Last one to leave .... Turn off the lights .... Bristol is dying quickly .As a matter of fact ... Connecticut ain't far behind .
Grow up and stop your bitchin will ya ?
I agree Cletus. The court house is an economic generator? And the fools running city hall are taking the reigns for economic development? This is a joke.
The lazy lawyers just don't want to commute to New Britain every day. Sure, maybe a couple offices will pack up and move to New Britski, but that's hardly a blow to Bristol compared to the loss of New Departure, Accurate Forging, Yarde Metals or (now maybe someday) Theis. Get your priorities straight here.
We're in a multi-billion dollare state deficit/ economic crisis for crying out loud! The governor has to make cuts somewhere.
And like Cletus states, maybe the street will look better with out all the crooks and bums (speaking of perps here not the lawyers, haha)?
This article is unbelievable. The legislators list all the things that Bristol lost in the last year. Hello, wake up, and look in the mirror. When you have a weak legislative delegation, this is what happens. When you have a strong legislative delegation like New Britain, they get the bacon. I can't our legislators are pointing fingers at everyone but themselves. The priority school funding was there for over a decade - congrats on not being able to figure out how to keep that.
What did Bristol do earlier this year that has the governor so angry with Bristol that it appears she's targeted the city for all sorts of pullbacks like priority school funding, Bristol Tech and other items? There had to be something since it is a complete turnaround from her treatment the previous year.
They need common sence good judgement they don`t have that right from the top down that`s the promblem with this city.A great town with very little common sence
Bring back Stortz
9:10 - quite obvious that wherever you came from was never entered into a spelling bee.
7:12
Earlier this year, Ward and his democrat friends shat upon one of Rells friends.
Not a good thing to do when one needs help!
And we are paying for it!
Yeah 9:10, "common sence" is important, but as you've made painfully clear, so is education.
9:10 First you can learn how to spell and just maybe you might be understandable. SENSE Cry some more we love to hear you naysayers find fault with everything. Ya gotta be a republican but what's new on this republican whining blog!
They won't find any common sense on here.
Any progressive city would NOT want this type of activity drawing in criminals and their ilk. New Britain has a very large, modern courthouse. It also has made the effort to develop the surrounding area with coffee shops and small restaurants for the lawyers, and others. Bristol on the other hand, has nothing. The only people who want a courthouse in Bristol are the lawyers who don't want to put the mileage on their cars.
The only whining that goes on in this town is the democratic party,but this whole town will be crying in Nov if Art is the mayor.
1:48 One only has to watch this blog and see for themselves that the republicans are the real babies ......always whining.
see for themselves that the republicans are the real babies ......always whining.
October 12, 2009 7:51 PM
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As a lifelong Democrat I am doing a great deal of whining since my beloved party turned socialistic .
It seems like it is in fashion to believe that as long as Democrats get elected, that's a good thing--no matter what they actually believe in. But, it also seems so often that, ultimately, that is a failed strategy. What good does it do the labor movement if it supports candidates who will not be 100% behind unions on the core issues of organizing? For that matter, what good does it do workers and the public generally if we don't "get" that what people want is a clear vision that takes on corporate power, not cowers before it in a search for the elusive "center?"
No more saying one thing, doing another. Go Ken, Go Mary, Go Republicans! It is time to help Bristol, it's time for a change.
BRISTOL SHOULD LET GO. WE DONT NEED ANY MORE LAWYERS AROUND. LET THEM SPEND SOME MONEY TRAVELING.
3:11, Unfortunately, it's because of people like Mary and Kenny (especially Kenny)that the republicans can't even get their foot in the door. As we've come to learn the hard way, sometimes change isn't always for the better.
Let the criminals go to New Britain.
Close the court house and turn it into needed space for City Hall. We keep hearing they need more room, storage for City Clerk's files, etc...well, here's your chance!
New Bristol or New Britain Annex?
Impeach M. Jodi Rell!
Or at least get her to retire/resign already.
We've been without a real Governor for too long!
Enough is enough.
Send that M. Lisa Moody packing, too!
They're both M-M-M-M-Maladies!
Time for Change in Connecticut!!!
Hey 3:11 If you want change so bad change your republican strategy. Hitler and his idea's died a long time ago!
Kenny is out for Kenny.
I hope that the people start to see that!
to poster 3:11 pm on Oct. 13: You are truly clueless!!!! None of our local officials, meaning our councilmen or the mayor, can do anything about the courthouse. This is a legislative agenda item that is a state issue hence the reason why Nicastro and Wright are involved. Your precious Cockayne and Alford can't do a thing for you. You'll have to call Hamzy if you're truly interested in saving the courthouse or is this just another attempt by the republicans to try to trick people into thinking that your local candidates can fix a state problem. Pathetic!
Hey 12:20 What do we need ? More insurance salesmen ?
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