April 12, 2012
Ward speaks to union rally at City Hall
Here is Mayor Art Ward speaking to a union rally outside City Hall before this week's City Council meeting:
And here is Mayra Sampson, the union leader for City Hall's workers, speaking at the same union rally (sorry about the wind):
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor to Cockayne: "Shut the f*** up"
And God knows that many have privately indicated they wish city Councilor Ken Cockayne in particular would zip it.
But Mayor Art Ward made the mistake of letting the understandable thought slip out of his mouth during this week's City Council meeting. Here's the story, in case you missed it.
Plus, there's the must-see video:
Now newspaper people are famously crass -- the word f*** rolls off some editors' tongues as often as twice per sentence -- so the mayor's words barely registered with me. Until I got a copy of the tape, I really wasn't sure what Ward had said.
But we all recognize the mayor shouldn't curse in a televised, public meeting. That he's never done it before is all the proof anyone needs that he knows better -- and is better, since he's been there a long, long time as a councilor and the city's top elected official.
The Urban Dictionary helps clarify the "shut the f*** up" comment.
It says that people use the phrase "when someone is talking, there is too much noise or when someone is talking shit. It is the upgrade of 'shut up' and is used mainly when you are angry and annoyed to the extent the you could lose it at any moment."
I don't really think Ward was about to lose it -- why would he? he had as much support in that union-filled chamber as he's ever had in his life -- but he was probably pretty angry that Cockayne was leaping in to try to tell him how to do his job.
At its root, what's happening between the GOP-dominated council and Ward is a power struggle.
The mayor runs the city, by charter and tradition, but this council is determined to try to force him to follow its dictates, something he's unwilling to do except grudgingly and slow.
What that moment of frustration when the mayor cursed at Cockayne really shows is how deep the divide between them has become in the last few months.
In a war, after all, you don't usually sweet talk the enemy.
April 11, 2012
City councilors explain their police pact votes
During last night's City Council meeting, the GOP majority managed to shoot down a proposed contract with the police union that would have granted officers an 8.3-percent raise over a four-year period beginning last July.
The four opponents -- Ken Cockayne, Henri Martin, Derek Czenczelewski and David Mills -- said the city couldn't afford to be so generous.
One Republican, Eric Carlson, joined the two Democrats in favor of the pact.
Its failure means the issue will head to arbitration -- which Mayor Art Ward said will cost more than $10,000 just to deal with.
It is also likely, officials said, the city will wind up being forced to give workers a more generous package than the one the council rejected.
In any case, here are videos from last night's council session in which Mills, Democrat Kevin Fuller, Carlson and Cockayne explain their votes on the issue:
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Union head bashes GOP privatization bid
Mayra Sampson, who heads the union local representing union workers at City Hall, spoke during a windy outdoor rally at City Hall before Tuesday's City Council meeting:
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor Ward addresses union rally Tuesday
Mayor Art Ward spoke to about 200 city union members and supporters during a rally before Tuesday's City Council meeting. Here's what he had to say:
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 27, 2012
Minor to become Newington's town planner
Former city Councilor Craig Minor is leaving his longtime job as Cromwell's planner.
He posted on Facebook that he'll begin working as town planner in Newington on April 17.
Have fun with the busway, Craig!
Christie's coming to Connecticut
Gov. Dannel Malloy might want to barricade the interstates, but like it or not, his New Jersey nemesis is coming to Connecticut.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is slated to head for Bristol in late April or May for a fundraiser at the home of Wally Barnes and Barbara Franklin, followed by an appearance at a long-postponed Lincoln Day Dinner for Bristol Republicans."Be on the lookout" for solid news of the event, said TJ Barnes, the city's GOP chairman.
Barnes said the logistics are a bit daunting -- apparently coordinating it all with the Romney presidential campaign is less than simple -- but it will all come together. "Chris Christie is worth waiting for," Barnes told the Bristol Republican Town Committee this week.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Barnes said the logistics are a bit daunting -- apparently coordinating it all with the Romney presidential campaign is less than simple -- but it will all come together.
Primary looms for Democratic registrar
Kilbourne is new city Democratic chief
March 15, 2012
Esty calls ethanol 'a disaster' driven by politics
Commissioner Dan Esy said the state is planning better on energy.
It is also looking to ensure the state has enough capacity to generate power.
Shaving the peak loads can save money, Esty said, because it costs a lot to have “dirty, old plants” that can kick in on high use days.
“This state has underinvested in replacing wires, replacing poles,” Esty said. Nearly half the wires in the state are not coated, he said, and some poles undersized.
The new deal with Northeast Utilities will help, he said, to create “a more resilient system.”
The goal is to make sure the next big storm doesn’t have the same impact. One way of fending off the problem is to create microgrids so that at least key institutions and downtowns have power, he said.
Microgrids would be “an island within the greater sea” of the entire grid, he said.
Bristol could be one of the pilot areas, he said, “to isolate and protect those critical infrastructure elements,” he said.
He said the state also has to invest more in energy efficiency. Containing demand is part of the equation, Esty said.
Investing in energy conservation in state buildings is part of the answer, he said.
A lot of older housing stock would really benefit from efficiency efforts, he said, especially among lower income and senior housing where a lot of savings is possible. It’s not just lighting, he said, it’s also air conditioning, heating, windows and more. It can save up to 40 percent of the use.
Esty said a wider power supply would also help protect against cost spikes and changing economics.
“We need to be more diverse in the state of Connecticut,” he said, that includes renewable power. He said the goal is to create a platform “for the entrepreneurial spirit to play out.”
Esty said the state is taking many steps to bring clean, renewable power.
“Fuel cells need to compete with everybody else,” Esty said. Unless they become cheaper, they’ll have a tough time, he said.
“I’d like to facilitate a race” among different sources to bring down costs and deliver scale, he said.
Innovation and bringing down costs is crucial.
Fossil fuels are in the mix, he said, “but they have to become cleaner.”
Nuclear power, too, “could be the winner” if it can solve safety and disposal problems.
Corn-based ethanol “is a joke of a policy,” Esty said. There is almost no benefit, he said, and pushes up the price of food.
He called ethanol “a disaster” that occurs only because of the Iowa caucuses every four years, Esty said.
It is also looking to ensure the state has enough capacity to generate power.
Shaving the peak loads can save money, Esty said, because it costs a lot to have “dirty, old plants” that can kick in on high use days.
“This state has underinvested in replacing wires, replacing poles,” Esty said. Nearly half the wires in the state are not coated, he said, and some poles undersized.
The new deal with Northeast Utilities will help, he said, to create “a more resilient system.”
The goal is to make sure the next big storm doesn’t have the same impact. One way of fending off the problem is to create microgrids so that at least key institutions and downtowns have power, he said.
Microgrids would be “an island within the greater sea” of the entire grid, he said.
Bristol could be one of the pilot areas, he said, “to isolate and protect those critical infrastructure elements,” he said.
He said the state also has to invest more in energy efficiency. Containing demand is part of the equation, Esty said.
Investing in energy conservation in state buildings is part of the answer, he said.
A lot of older housing stock would really benefit from efficiency efforts, he said, especially among lower income and senior housing where a lot of savings is possible. It’s not just lighting, he said, it’s also air conditioning, heating, windows and more. It can save up to 40 percent of the use.
Esty said a wider power supply would also help protect against cost spikes and changing economics.
“We need to be more diverse in the state of Connecticut,” he said, that includes renewable power. He said the goal is to create a platform “for the entrepreneurial spirit to play out.”
Esty said the state is taking many steps to bring clean, renewable power.
“Fuel cells need to compete with everybody else,” Esty said. Unless they become cheaper, they’ll have a tough time, he said.
“I’d like to facilitate a race” among different sources to bring down costs and deliver scale, he said.
Innovation and bringing down costs is crucial.
Fossil fuels are in the mix, he said, “but they have to become cleaner.”
Nuclear power, too, “could be the winner” if it can solve safety and disposal problems.
Corn-based ethanol “is a joke of a policy,” Esty said. There is almost no benefit, he said, and pushes up the price of food.
He called ethanol “a disaster” that occurs only because of the Iowa caucuses every four years, Esty said.
Esty touts progress on energy, environment
BRISTOL -- Speaking this morning to a business group in Bristol, state Commissioner for Energy and the Environment Dan Estay said, “We are working in Hartford to really transform how government does business."
He said it is a partnership, especially with municipal leaders. “We are trying to conduct a partnership with Washington, and that’s a lot harder,” he added.
Esty said government has to operate under restrained resources “and this is not going to go away.”
He said people are always upset when changes are required.
Domestic natural gas “is a huge opportunity,” he said, because shale gas extracted from rock is now possible through fracking. He said it will ultimately provide us with a huge quantity of natural gas and prices are consequently at an all-time low.
“For those who have natural gas, you are seeing a real” reduction in costs, Esty said. Those using oil, though, are seeing high costs.
“We are thinking hard about how to manage in those circumstances,” Esty said. He said Connecticut is “very serious” about thinking through these changing times to take advantage of the situation.
“We are making progress,” Esty said.
On the environment side, we are focused on environmental standards. We can lighten the burden and speed up the process, Esty said.
Esty said the department is trying to strip away unnecessary time, burden and other measures that delay permitting.
He said that permits were issued in one day during storm emergencies.
“It doesn’t mean we walk away” from environmental concerns, Esty said.
But “our focus on speed,” Esty said, is now a goal. “Speed, clarity, predictability” are things that matter, he said.
Permits used to sit for months or years, but now they are usually done in 60 days. Even a faster “no” helps, he said.
On the energy front, he said, state is focused on cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy.
Esty is speaking before about 50 people at an Eggs & Issues breakfast sponsored by the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce at the Clarion Hotel.
Mostly, it’s the usual crowd of city business leaders, city officials and the sorts of folks who show up for most everything, such as former Mayor Bill Stortz. Among those here are Mayor Art Ward, city economic development chief Jonathan Rosenthal, city Councilor Henri Martin, state Rep. Whit Betts, former state Rep. Bill Hamzy, former Burlington First Selectman Ted Scheidel and Police Chief Eric Osanitsch, who can keep everyone else in line if the need arises.
The first order of ducks for the duck parade was just put in for 27 ducks “scattered throughout the region,” said Mike Nicastro, the president of the chamber. He’d like more people to buy a duck for the second round of orders. It’s all a fundraiser for a business incubator program pushed by the chamber.
You’ll be glad to know the chamber will have its duck done soon, with “all sorts of vignettes of the city” painted all over it, Nicastro said.
Ward said Esty promised accessibility and “getting rid of the red tape” before taking office. He said he’s actually followed through.
“The commissioner has delivered,” Ward said.
When the mayor saw Stately Floors hanging into the river the morning of the first flood last summer, he called Esty’s office and got through to him directly. “Never once did he shy away from the phone,” Ward said. He said the commissioner came out and walked “from one end of Bristol to the other” and hit all the worst-hit spots.
“For this community, that was so uplifting,” Ward said, because it showed he cared and would be looking out for the city.
Ward said Esty is also on top of the issues related to the Bristol Resources Recovery Facility Committee, which oversees the Covanta trash burning plant in town.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Esty said government has to operate under restrained resources “and this is not going to go away.”
He said people are always upset when changes are required.
Domestic natural gas “is a huge opportunity,” he said, because shale gas extracted from rock is now possible through fracking. He said it will ultimately provide us with a huge quantity of natural gas and prices are consequently at an all-time low.
“For those who have natural gas, you are seeing a real” reduction in costs, Esty said. Those using oil, though, are seeing high costs.
“We are thinking hard about how to manage in those circumstances,” Esty said. He said Connecticut is “very serious” about thinking through these changing times to take advantage of the situation.
“We are making progress,” Esty said.
On the environment side, we are focused on environmental standards. We can lighten the burden and speed up the process, Esty said.
Esty said the department is trying to strip away unnecessary time, burden and other measures that delay permitting.
He said that permits were issued in one day during storm emergencies.
“It doesn’t mean we walk away” from environmental concerns, Esty said.
But “our focus on speed,” Esty said, is now a goal. “Speed, clarity, predictability” are things that matter, he said.
Permits used to sit for months or years, but now they are usually done in 60 days. Even a faster “no” helps, he said.
On the energy front, he said, state is focused on cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy.
Esty is speaking before about 50 people at an Eggs & Issues breakfast sponsored by the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce at the Clarion Hotel.
Mostly, it’s the usual crowd of city business leaders, city officials and the sorts of folks who show up for most everything, such as former Mayor Bill Stortz. Among those here are Mayor Art Ward, city economic development chief Jonathan Rosenthal, city Councilor Henri Martin, state Rep. Whit Betts, former state Rep. Bill Hamzy, former Burlington First Selectman Ted Scheidel and Police Chief Eric Osanitsch, who can keep everyone else in line if the need arises.
The first order of ducks for the duck parade was just put in for 27 ducks “scattered throughout the region,” said Mike Nicastro, the president of the chamber. He’d like more people to buy a duck for the second round of orders. It’s all a fundraiser for a business incubator program pushed by the chamber.
You’ll be glad to know the chamber will have its duck done soon, with “all sorts of vignettes of the city” painted all over it, Nicastro said.
Ward said Esty promised accessibility and “getting rid of the red tape” before taking office. He said he’s actually followed through.
“The commissioner has delivered,” Ward said.
When the mayor saw Stately Floors hanging into the river the morning of the first flood last summer, he called Esty’s office and got through to him directly. “Never once did he shy away from the phone,” Ward said. He said the commissioner came out and walked “from one end of Bristol to the other” and hit all the worst-hit spots.
“For this community, that was so uplifting,” Ward said, because it showed he cared and would be looking out for the city.
Ward said Esty is also on top of the issues related to the Bristol Resources Recovery Facility Committee, which oversees the Covanta trash burning plant in town.
Police union votes down proposed contract
Details of the deal remain uncertain, but the fact that police voted it down is both unusual and a sign that Mayor Art Ward may be pushing for reforms that might well impact other municipal unions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)