 |
| Linda McMahon |
October 31, 2012
McMahon to end campaign in Southington on Monday
October 29, 2012
Some Republicans charge McMahon betrayed GOP, say they won't vote for her
Bristol ready for whatever Sandy delivers
As the first
winds of Hurricane Sandy began to blow in Bristol, officials scurried to make
sure the city is as ready as possible for the hammering the storm is expected
to deliver during the next 24 hours.
 |
| Emergency shelter at Chippens Hill Middle School ready. |
“It’s scary
thinking about what could happen,” said Cheryl Frearson, who was buying gas on
Farmington Avenue. “They make it seem like the end of the world.”
Bristol
officials, though, don’t expect anything close.
But they do take the warnings seriously.
Before noon
Monday, power outages had already knocked out hundreds of customers in
Forestville, including the Manross branch library. Plainville also had about
600 residents without power.
Officials
anticipate widespread outages as wires come down in the strong winds later
Monday and Tuesday.
Flooding is
likely, they said, in parts of town that normally wind up inundated when there
are heavy rains, including portions of Frederick Street near Coppermine Brook.
An emergency
shelter at Chippens Hill Middle School opened at noon Monday, ready to take in
anyone displaced by the storm.
Some
companies, including many small businesses, have closed or scaled back their
operations as the storm nears Connecticut, including ESPN.
It told many
workers to stay home Monday and shifted some SportsCenter broadcasts to its Los
Angeles studio to ease the crunch.
Craig
Bengtson, vice president for SportsCenter said, “The safety of our
Bristol-based employees is paramount. It just makes sense to take advantage of
our team in Los Angeles. It’s one of the
reasons why
ESPN has a facility there.”
After
hearing that state highways would close mid-day to non-essential travel, Mayor
Art Ward said that city workers who didn’t have a role to play in dealing with
the storm should be sent home early.
The public
works department won’t pick up trash, recycling, yard wastes or leaves on
Tuesday. Instead, it is pushing collections back one day for the rest of the
week, with Friday routes being done on Saturday.
Richard
Ladisky, the city’s emergency management director, said the city is planning
for a major crisis bt hoping that Sandy brings only “localized flooding ad
pockets of outages.”
He said officials,
who conducted a major hurricane planning exercise last month, are ready statewide and in Bristol to cope
with the storm.
“There have
been a lot of changes and a lot of training and a lot of dedication” to making
sure everyone is ready, he said, and “these people have been spot-on” in their
responses so far.
“We’re
blessed in Bristol,” Ladisky said, to have such professional police, fire and
public works personnel and leadership, all of whom recognize they have to work
together.
City
Councilor Ken Cockayne, who stopped by
the shelter in late morning to see if he could lend a hand, said that Monday morning
was little more than “a regular rainstorm” but that worse weather was likely
coming.
“We can’t be
any more prepared than we are right now,” Cockayne said.
Southington
has banned on-street parking Monday and Tuesday. It also closed its library
until Wednesday. Stay updated on Southington developments with its police
Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Southington-Police-Department/164075689755.
October 28, 2012
Sandy shuts down Bristol schools for two days
Bristol schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday.
Superintendent Ellen Solek decided Sunday morning that forecasts justified the closure of the schools for two days.
The city plans to open its emergency shelter at Chippens Hill Middle School at noon Monday.
Mayor Art Ward said Sunday that he intends to open an emergency operations center at 9 a.m. Monday to coordinate Bristol's response to Hurricane Sandy. The shelter would open three hours later, he said.
Ward said that he expects heavy winds to start Sunday night and to see a prolonged storm during the next couple of days that could bring power outages, flooding and other woes.
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| Chippens Hill Middle School |
Ward said that plans could shift if there is new information about the storm. He said city crews are getting ready to cope with the problems they anticipate after seeing what happened during several major storms a year, including the pre-Halloween snowstorm that knocked out power for many residents for as long as a week and a half.
Ward said one thing he won't do this year is declare Halloween cancelled.
If that happens, he said, it's going to be Solek's call. It's a school night after all, the mayor said.
Anyone who thinks they may need to use the city's emergency shelter should make preparations ahead of time.
If it's possible, bring clothing, bedding, sanitary supplies and other necessities. It's especially important to bring medications, oxygen and other critical health-related supplies that are not available at the shelter, officials said. The shelter will have cots, food and water.
The city's backup shelter, at the Beals Senior-Community Center on Stafford Avenue, is not available this month because of ongoing construction there. Only Chippens Hill Middle School is ready to handle residents seeking shelter.
One thing that officials hope people will do to help themselves is to clear leaves and debris from storm drains. That will allow storm water to flow off the roads and prevent some flooding and keep streets open that might otherwise be unavailable.
They also urge residents to check on elderly and frail neighbors if the storm gets bad. They may need help.
October 20, 2012
Nicastro, Betts and Welch gain CBIA's backing
October 19, 2012
Fundraiser slated to help Nate Peabody
October 16, 2012
New Citigroup boss is a Bristol native
October 15, 2012
Wright: No raises for judges
REP. WRIGHT SAYS THIS IS NOT THE TIME
TO BE RAISING JUDGES’ SALARIES
 |
| State Rep. Chris Wright |
State Representative Chris Wright (D-Bristol) says this is not the time to be considering raising the salaries of judges and he opposes a proposal that would hike the salaries for judges by an estimated $45,000 or more over the next four years.
Rep. Wright found a news report in the Connecticut Law Tribune disturbing that said Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers, in a 20-page report, called for the state’s judges and judicial magistrates to receive a pay raise of 11.3 per cent next year and 5.5 per cent for each of the following three years.
“I have nothing against our judges, but this is not the time to be raising anyone’s salaries in state employment,” Rep. Wright said. “There are thousands of state employees who are now in the second year of a salary freeze and raising the pay of judges who are already earning high salaries makes no sense.”
“We have just witnessed the fiasco of the pay raises awarded to employees of the state Department of Higher Education that has resulted in the resignation of the two top administrators and the revoking of other salary hikes,” Rep. Wright continued. “We are still facing a serious budget challenge, so let’s take pay raises off the table.”
“While there are judges who may have left the bench to join the private sector, the fact is there are lawyers in every court room in Connecticut yearning to be appointed a judge,” Rep. Wright said. “Judges probably deserve a pay raise, but there are people everywhere, both in the private and public sector, who deserve pay raises, but do not earn as much as judges.”
Rep.Wright is Vice Chair of the Housing Committee and serves on the Environment and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees.
October 14, 2012
Democrats: What is Senator Welch hiding?
State Republicans Pushing for More Secret Money in Politics
State Senator Jason Welch, others, display a chronic failure to
tell voters who is funding their campaigns
tell voters who is funding their campaigns
(Hartford, Connecticut) Republican state Senator Jason Welch, running for re-election in the 31st Senatorial District (Bristol, Harwinton, Plainville, Plymouth and Thomaston), has accepted a CEP grant for his campaign, but is refusing to disclose the names and occupations of his donors on the last two filing reports, a requirement very clearly spelled out in the CEP guidelines.
Not only did Senator Welch—a practicing attorney—not disclose this important information in this election cycle, he also failed to disclose it in 2010.
Is Senator Welch hiding the names of his donors from voters for a reason? Is he just unable to follow the guidelines and practices applied to all candidates? Or, is it both?
The CEP guidelines provide that candidates must report: “The principal occupation of the contributor, and the name of the employer (if the contributor is unemployed, retired, a student, or a homemaker, he or she must be reported as such).” See SEEC 2012 Guide at pg. 83 (http://www.ct.gov/seec/lib/seec/2012generalelection/2012_participating_c...)
Nancy DiNardo, Chairwoman of the State Democratic Party, called for all candidates participating in CEP to fully comply with the guidelines and disclose the occupation and name of the employer for all their donors. “It is critical that voters fully know and understand who is funding the candidates seeking their support. The CEP was put in place to provide the citizens of our state with a level of transparency necessary for them to make informed choices at the polls. Without full disclosure, our democracy suffers. All you have to do is turn on TV and see how the airwaves are filled with ads funded by special interest money that, under the Citizens United ruling, is now allowed to flow unchecked into our state and distort the electoral process.”
Unfortunately, Senator Welch is not the only Republican flagrantly ignoring the CEP guidelines while also accepting grant money. A scan of the latest filing shows several Republican state Senators failing to comply: http://seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/SearchingCommittee.aspx
###
October 11, 2012
Mudrys rack up miles campaigning for Murphy
 |
| Josephy Mudry, campaigning for Chris Murphy |
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| Joella Bouchard Mudry in Rocky Hill |
Pink shirts to be sold at city fire stations
Showing
a newfound willingness to lend public support to a nationwide push to raise
breast cancer awareness, Mayor Art Ward announced Thursday that he would fling
open the door of all five city fire stations later this month to help
firefighters raise more money .
Ward said
the city’s fire houses will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28 “so
that the public can buy pink t-shirts in support of the efforts toward breast
cancer awareness.”
“I will be
the first in line to buy a t-shirt,” the mayor said, “and encourage all
residents to join me in supporting this important cause.”
The move was
announced at a press conference during which Ward gave up his opposition to
firefighters wearing the shirts on Thursdays in October and threw his support behind
their bid to raise awareness and funds.
Firefighters
said they are seeing a surge in t-shirt sales aimed at raising money for the
Susan G. Kormen for the Cure, which is receiving all the proceeds. They said
they will have to figure out how to make sure there are enough shirts available
to meet the demand.
Sean Lennon,
the fire union president, said he’s been getting calls and emails from all over
the country from people who want to buy a shirt to show their support for the
firefighters and finding a cure for the deadly disease.
“My hope is
that this controversy ends with a positive result and I look forward to lending
my wholehearted support toward this effort,” Ward said.
Mayor gives in on pink shirt controvery
 |
| Mayor Art Ward, right, and Sean Lennon, president of the Bristol firefighters union. |
Why did Mayor Ward decide to bar pink shirts on firefighters?
Mayor Art Ward is expected this morning to defend what seems on its face to be indefensible: his refusal to let firefighters wear pink shirts once a week during October in order to raise awareness about breast cancer.
So far, obviously he hasn't done a very good job of making his case.
In fact, the absurdity of the position is what has made it national news: Look, folks, there's a place in Connecticut that's so backward and silly that its mayor won't even let firefighters wear pink shirts like almost every other department in America.
For the major media, it's always nice to have such quirky tales happen someplace other than Florida or Long Island.
Most of the people who see something about this pink controversy in Bristol no doubt just figure its mayor is some kind of neanderthal, a knuckle-dragging moron who could care less if women drop dead of cancer.
We know better, of course.
The mayor himself explained it right off the bat, in his response to resident Regina von Gootkin's open letter that burst the whole issue into a public controversy.
"This is less about breast cancer and more about my relationship with the fire union," the mayor said.
Exactly.
It's not really about concerns that one department will take up this cause and another that cause, that employees will wind up in a vast array of shirts promoting the cure of this disease or that one. Such management issues haven't been much of a problem, if any, and don't appear likely to become one.
No, this is all happening because the fire union and the mayor loathe one another.
The union has censured Ward, sued the city and generally had sour relations with the mayor about all sorts of things.
But the union didn't make this issue explode onto the public stage. It actually tried pretty hard to keep it all hidden away, in the hope of a quiet resolution.
Ward, too, said nothing.
But von Gootkin blew the whistle. Once I posted her letter online, the thing escalated immediately -- thanks to Capitol Report -- and by the end of the weekend, Bristol was in the spotlight.
So why does Ward get along so poorly with the firefighters?
Like so much else in his administration, it goes back to the bitter 2007 primary in which he defeated former city Councilor Ellen Zoppo to claim the party line on the general election ballot.
Zoppo was -- and probably is -- tight with the fire union.
Neither side has ever been able to get past that showdown, one that ripped the local Democratic Party in half, one that remains a gaping wound that has cost it elections and helped hand the Republicans control of the City Council, Board of Education and more.
Ward surely cares about breast cancer victims, however much it may appear otherwise. He's helped raise money and attract attention for other diseases, too. He's not some sort of insensitive brute.
But his deep-seated disgust for those who fought him back in 2007 -- the people who currently control his own Democratic Party's town committee -- blinded him to the consequences of standing against something as seemingly harmless as pink shirts on firefighters.
Sometimes it just isn't worth picking a fight, but Ward couldn't see that. And now he's likely done more political damage to himself than Zoppo and her allies ever could.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
So far, obviously he hasn't done a very good job of making his case.
 |
| Bristol Mayor Art Ward |
For the major media, it's always nice to have such quirky tales happen someplace other than Florida or Long Island.
Most of the people who see something about this pink controversy in Bristol no doubt just figure its mayor is some kind of neanderthal, a knuckle-dragging moron who could care less if women drop dead of cancer.
We know better, of course.
The mayor himself explained it right off the bat, in his response to resident Regina von Gootkin's open letter that burst the whole issue into a public controversy.
"This is less about breast cancer and more about my relationship with the fire union," the mayor said.
Exactly.
It's not really about concerns that one department will take up this cause and another that cause, that employees will wind up in a vast array of shirts promoting the cure of this disease or that one. Such management issues haven't been much of a problem, if any, and don't appear likely to become one.
No, this is all happening because the fire union and the mayor loathe one another.
The union has censured Ward, sued the city and generally had sour relations with the mayor about all sorts of things.
But the union didn't make this issue explode onto the public stage. It actually tried pretty hard to keep it all hidden away, in the hope of a quiet resolution.
Ward, too, said nothing.
But von Gootkin blew the whistle. Once I posted her letter online, the thing escalated immediately -- thanks to Capitol Report -- and by the end of the weekend, Bristol was in the spotlight.
So why does Ward get along so poorly with the firefighters?
Like so much else in his administration, it goes back to the bitter 2007 primary in which he defeated former city Councilor Ellen Zoppo to claim the party line on the general election ballot.
Zoppo was -- and probably is -- tight with the fire union.
Neither side has ever been able to get past that showdown, one that ripped the local Democratic Party in half, one that remains a gaping wound that has cost it elections and helped hand the Republicans control of the City Council, Board of Education and more.
Ward surely cares about breast cancer victims, however much it may appear otherwise. He's helped raise money and attract attention for other diseases, too. He's not some sort of insensitive brute.
But his deep-seated disgust for those who fought him back in 2007 -- the people who currently control his own Democratic Party's town committee -- blinded him to the consequences of standing against something as seemingly harmless as pink shirts on firefighters.
Sometimes it just isn't worth picking a fight, but Ward couldn't see that. And now he's likely done more political damage to himself than Zoppo and her allies ever could.
October 10, 2012
Woman who started it all calls Ward "a dictator"
"It's clearly a political vendetta" by Ward, she said, adding that "the fact that he can use his power like this is atrocious.
She said he is basically acting like "a dictator."
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ward to tell media... something
Carlson apologizes for 'ta-tas' comment
Statement from City Councilor Eric Carlson:
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
To all those I have offended I want to take this opportunity to apologize. I used indelicate and irreverent humor in referring to a serious organization, with an irreverent name. Save the Ta-ta’s is a serious organization dedicated in the fight against breast cancer through research. They wisely choose an irreverent name because it is a great marketing strategy that grabs your attention. Their name does not make light of a serious problem but instead allows us to step back from the horrors of cancer and perhaps gain a little more humanity through humor. It’s something we all need when facing the problems that life throws our way. Dr. Patch Adams used humor in his work; he also got in trouble with some people in his profession by not appearing serious.
There are many organizations that deal with breast cancer, Susan B. Komen being one. The Firefighters Union chose wisely to support them. I had only one concern with the pink shirts, and before the council meeting I asked the fire chief if there could be any OSHA violation if the shirts did not meet uniform standards. He said the material on the tee shirt was not going to be a problem. With that answer I have no problem with firefighters wearing pink on Thursdays. I would encourage the off-duty fire fighters to wear the shirts around town while grocery shopping or doing other activities. It is a great opportunity to spread the awareness.
With this tempest stirred way beyond the Teapot the issue is solely with Mayor Ward. He has the final decision.
I ran for office one year ago promising to be honest and thoughtful. When the thoughtful train left the station with this issue, I clearly was not on it.
Eric Carlson
1st District Councilman
|
Alford: Nicastro failed to 'exhibit any leadership' on budget, taxes
Mary Alford, the GOP candidate for the 79th District state House seat, who is taking on incumbent Democrat Frank Nicastro, issued this press release:
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Nicastro Needs To Explain Budget Votes!
(Bristol) 79th
Assembly District candidate Mary Alford, endorsed by both the Republican and
Independent parties today challenged her opponent’s votes on the state budget
that increased taxes by two billion dollars.
“From the night of my
endorsement, I have said that Representative Nicastro needs to explain his
voting record.” Alford continued, “As Election Day nears, the time has come to
ask the questions that Bristol residents deserve to have answered.”
While Nicastro voted against the
overall budget, he voted “No” on the proposed Republican budget that would have
paid the bills without raising taxes. He also voted “No” on every Republican
amendment that removed the most troubling tax hikes from the budget. “If Mr.
Nicastro was truly opposed to the sales tax increasing to 6.35%, or clothing
getting taxed from dollar one, he had a perfect opportunity to say so by voting
yes on those amendments. He didn’t.”
“His votes against a budget that
included these taxes while also voting against the Republican proposals to
eliminate these taxes is an inconsistency that demonstrates a lack of
leadership. “ Alford added.
Alford said, “We need and deserve
representatives who are going to stand up and be leaders in Hartford. We need and deserve representatives who will
develop proposals that do not require constantly raising taxes. Mr. Nicastro,
as an Assistant Majority Leader, was well positioned to be a leader in this
debate. Yet, he did not exhibit any leadership qualities. By simply voting No
he abdicated his responsibilities to Bristol residents.”
“As your next State
Representative, I will hold quarterly town hall meetings to keep you informed
and seek your opinions and thoughts on what is happening in Connecticut so that
I can be your voice in Hartford.
October 8, 2012
Republicans support Ward in breast cancer t-shirt battle
“I agree with the mayor’s call,” said city Councilor Eric Carlson. “This really is a tempest in a teapot.”
Ward refused to let Bristol firefighters join their brethren across the country in wearing pink t-shirts once a week this month – which is designated as a time to raise breast cancer awareness – in order to benefit the Susan B. Komen Fund for the Cure. The shirts sell for $20 apiece.
Union leaders said the mayor’s decision to bar the shirts was clearly a personal and political jab at firefighters who have clashed with him repeatedly. Click here for the full story.
October 6, 2012
Firefighters: Ward turns breast cancer into 'political football'
The city's firefighters' union sent this along to add its voice to the firestorm surrounding Mayor Art Ward's refusal to let union members wear pink uniform shirts to increase breast cancer awareness this month:
Bristol Firefighters Take Mayor Ward to task for Breast Cancer Awareness Position
After overruling the Fire Chief on whether the Bristol Fire Department could join thousands of other firefighters across the country in wearing pink uniform shirts to increase breast cancer awareness on Thursdays in October, Mayor Ward stated on Friday that it is the Fire Union who is making the issue "political.
Mayor Ward recently told reporters that he believes this is more about his relationship with the Fire Union and less about Breast Cancer.
This is absolutely correct. However, the only person making THIS ISSUE political and personal is Mayor Ward.
Why would Mayor Ward respond to a recent letter written by a citizen criticizing his decision by, in turn, ataicking the Bristol Firefighters? Answer... Because he chose to make this issue of Breast Cancer awareness personal. I find it both troubling and somewhat sad that when a citizen criticized his actions in a letter to the newspaper, as is her First Amendment right, the Mayor reacts by attacking the Fire Union.
Mayor Ward writes that he supports breast cancer awareness, yet he put a stop to the Firefighters wearing awareness shirts. He also writes "How much more awareness do you need than the pink ribbons at City Hall". Really Mayor Ward? There can never be enough Breast Cancer Awareness. This makes no sense to me. Unless of course it was personal. By taking a meaningful community event and politicizing it, Mayor Ward has reduced this issue to a political football.
As Union President, I have one point to make to the community we serve: the Bristol Firefighters set out on this campaign with one goal which was to increase breast cancer awareness. When we were originally told yes by the Fire Chief and then no by the Mayor, we did not approach the media - we simply asked the Mayor to reconsider which he refused to do.
At no time did we sensationalize this issue. Nor did we pack the meeting of the Fire Board last month with supporters and breast cancer survivors to take the Board to task as many suggested we do. We worked through the process in hope the that Mayor Ward would change his stance and allow Bristol to participate along with most Connecticut fire departments, as well as thousands more throughout our country.
We will continue our efforts to raise awareness in honor of our wives, mothers, sisters and friends who have battled this disease. We apologize to all those affected by this disease and to the Susan G, Komen Foundation who encouraged us to partner with them that this important conversation about early detection and mammograms has gone astray. To date, we have raised several thousand dollars and will continue to do so throughout the month. I hope the community will join us in these efforts.
Respectfully,
Sean Lennon, President
Bristol Firefighters
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