Scarola scolds some blog commenters

I didn't want anyone to miss this classy post by unsuccessful City Council contender Richard Scarola:

Say what you will, like me or not, I really don't care. I ran a campaign on what I believed in and 1,059 people voted for what I believed in. Thank you to all of them and congratulations to the candidates that got elected.

What disturbed me most is how this blog attacked Terry Parker. Shame on the conservatives that attacked him because we are supposed to be above that and shame on anyone else to comment on what their "perception" is. He was one of the few democrats that was truly gracious towards me and all I can say is God forbid that you have a child born with a neurological disorder or some sort of handicap. You are a disgusting lot to tease and insult him about whatever his problems may be. At least he had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight for what he believed in. Right or wrong, you attack him on that, not the way he carries himself or speaks. I am embarassed for those of you that criticized him relentlessly and then go to church on Sunday and pretend to be of God. Each and every one of you (including conservatives) that slandered him really should step up, print your name and offer an apology. If this is politics in this town, then I can see why nobody chooses to become involved. For those of you that might have a handicap or know someone with a handicap, shame on you, walk a mile in that man's shoes before you can even appreciate what he has been through. Self-righteous pompeous asses, you should be discusted with yourselves for calling someone out like that. I hope you don't live your lives like that on a daily basis.

*******

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

Scarola lays out case for voters

Open letter from Richard Scarola, GOP candidate for City Council in the 2nd District:

Dear Voters:

I just wanted to take this time as the election draws near to emphasize some thoughts that were never touched upon at the debate.

In reference to code enforcement:

As a taxpayer, I find it quite disturbing that Mr. McCauley represents district 2 but seems to have virtually done nothing for code enforcement in the West End. Of course, Federal Hill where he lives looks great. As a home improvement contractor, I have had numerous clients in the West End that have told me its been years since the fire department came through for fire doors or 42” railings and nothing has been done since. Mr. McCauley is a fine person but I believe his needs are better suited for trying to make his own department more efficient and streamlined than as a city councilman claiming he is on top of code enforcement. Drive down West St. or Divinity St. and look how many railing violations that there are. Look at the de facto landlords. Look at the way the neighborhood is now. Are we in district 2 better off than we were 4 years ago.? We have a long, long way to go to bring Bristol into the 21^st century. You are not a councilman just because you are waiting for it to be “your turn” to be mayor.

Concerning the budget:

As of the end of last fiscal year, we were approximately 8 million dollars in the hole and that included raiding the rainy day fund. I have heard bits and pieces of how much we are in debt now, but I find it disturbing that the majority party to include the Mayor and Mr. McCauley refuse to open the books or give a specific figure as to exactly what the next fiscal year is going to cost us as taxpayers. We are going to have a serious budget crisis that is looming over us and I refuse to be a lemming falling off the cliff. At this point, I am still a taxpayer and I expect and demand more from my elected officials. I demand integrity, honesty and transparency. For the average taxpayer, none of this seems to be happening. They try to make you believe it is happening but it is nothing more than a shell game in the end.

As a Marine and Army National guard Veteran, I found it absolutely disgraceful that nobody talked about opening the community to our veterans. We are one of the largest suppliers of men and women to this state and country and each and every one of them comes home with pride, honor, integrity and a nice GI. Bill. This money can be used to start a business, buy a house and be used for higher education. They deserve more than a plaque on the boulevard. They deserve to understand that Bristol believes in them and supports them and in turn hopefully we can convince them to call Bristol home. Bristol vitally needs to attract small business and younger families to this town and this is one way to do it. As all things change, I appreciate the sacrifice that has been made by past and present city employees that have actively served in combat. I have walked in these shoes and I feel that I am greatly more in touch with the needs of the younger, combat experienced veterans. I want them to believe that Bristol is a place they can believe in.

If you watched the debate, I believe I answered each question effectively and with new and fresh ideas. Yes, some of them we will need help on at the state level, but I had multiple ideas for each and every question. Heck, if you noticed when the moderator asked us the question about Bristol Hospital closing, Mr. Marko went off on a diatribe that didn’t even nearly answer the question. He was followed by Mr. McCauley who also didn’t answer the question and when it became my turn, I asked the moderator the question over to ensure it wasn’t me. I then answered it and I answered it with appropriate reasons that Bristol Hospital needs to stay in this community.

That is why I am asking for your vote on November 3^rd. I am battle tested, have experience within the Federal Government Law Enforcement (and with the unions as well) and have run numerous businesses by myself. I believe for the sake of the taxpayer and developing this town, I am the right choice. God bless our men and woman in theatre. May they stand courageous in the face of danger. May they deliver our wrath to an unseen enemy. God Bless Bristol.

Thank you, Richard P. Scarola

Candidate, city council, District 2

*******

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

City Council debate, part 4 (District 2)

The candidates are Democrats Allen Marko, Kevin McCauley and Republicans Ken Cockayne and Richard Scarola.
The questions, written by the chamber, are standard....

Route 72 question....
Cockayne said the project has "been going on, I believe, longer than I've been alive."
He said the road will provide easier access to downtown. "This is going to be a great thing for Bristol," he said.
McCauley said one of the principal hindrances to development has been the lack of highway access. Now it's time to coordinate between the chamber and BDA "to capitalize and promote" opportunities.
Scarola said the street "is a great change for Bristol," but "it's only a great change if we act on it."
He said the studies have been shelved. But if Riverside Avenue is going to be a gateway, the city needs to take the good ideas off the shelf and act.
Marko said Route 72 "was a solution for the 70s."
"It will be a great plus for Forestville. It will help some of the traffic problems there," Marko said.
But the long-term solution is going to be rail, he said. Marko said the busway s "very much like a light rail system" and if it is built, the city needs to make sure its buses "tie into that busway" as an intermediate solution.
Marko called for better bus service.
"It's time to look to the future," he said.

Q re rail...
McCauley said the chamber is pushing rail to remove traffic from the roads.
He said the city has been looking at rail options. He poined out there was once a train depot near Depot Square, the new name for the former mall site.
McCauley said the city needs to focus on getting rail and tying that into the neighborhood like lower Summer Street. That has to be a piece of revitalization effort, he said.
"It is the future of this city," McCauley said.
Scarola said that the train "can be the gateway to Depot Square."
He said everyone agrees on need to go forward with the train. He said the city needs to cosnider exstending to Clinton and Essex, as well as bringing historic trains, Thomas the Train, night trains to the riverboat and more. "It wil bring thousands and thousands and thousands of people back to Bristol," he said, urging a state of the art station.
He said it can be part of a safe, pedestrian-friendly downtown.
Marko said that light rail is the future, with federal money heading toward it rather than highways.
He said there is "a very strong proposal" for high speed rail from Springfield to New Haven. Commuter rail lines can feed in to that system.
"Trains run two ways," Marko said, bringing customers to Depot Square as well as sending commuters to Hartford.
Marko said the tracks also connect Bristol to Waterbury, where the fastest growing line on the Metro North system ends. "This rail system improvement is the way of the future," he said.
Cockayne said that officials rode on the rail. "It was very interesting," he said.
Cockayne said that he will keep pushing the line. He said the city has to work with other towns along the line "or this doesn't fly."
They need to be on board, Cockayne said.

Q -- Bristol Hospital...

Marko said Bristol Hospital "has already done some wonderful things to position itself," including partnering with St. Francis Hospital and creating niches where it can offer quality care.
Marko said that the hospital can work with others to find a way to make the new UConn plan "a win-win" for everone.
Cockayne said he has spoken with Kurt Barwis and Bill Hamzy. "This would have a drastic effect if this merger were to go through, " he said, referring to the proposal to have Hartford Hospital run the hospital at UConn.
He said that the plan on the table woujld undermine Bristol Hospital. He vowed "to block this from happening and to protect our city hospital."
McCauley said the city needs to stay involved and to ensure legislators keep advocating for Bristol Hospital.
"Closing Bristol Hospital for me is absolutely wrong," Scarola said.
He said the city is aging and needs access to immediate care. He said government shouldn't legislate "how you get your health care."
Scarola said he will work to make sure the proposed merger "does not happen" at UConn.
He said it's crucial to have a hospital so close "for our seniors, for our community, for our wel-being."

Q - courthouse and how to win more assets...

Marko said Bristol is one of the city's Top 15 cities. "For years, we've been kind of a backwater. We've been forgotten," he said.
Marko said Depot Square is a key to putting Bristol on the map. He said the city has to address problems on Federal Hill and in the West End. It also needs to highlight the city's best features, from the carousel museum to community theater.
He said that "a wonderful community theater program" is one key element.
"It all comes down to marketing," Cockayne said, adding that Depot Square is crucial.
Picking the right developer "will revitalize downtown" and give people a reason to come to Bristol, Cockayne said.
McCauley said he's seen the state threaten to remove state agencies out. He pointed out that DMV is gone along with more.
"I will work and pressure our state delegation... to increase access to these vital agencies," McCauley said.
He said there is a need to keep the focus on Bristol on any local and regional planning.
Scarola said the courthouse choice "is out of our hands," though he promised to fight to keep the courthouse in town. He poined out it helps the city financially.
He said the city needs a backup plan, which might expand the police headquarters or City Hall so it doesn't become "just another abandoned building."

Q - Downtown...
Scarola said he envisions "thinking outside the box" instead of trying to match West Hartford, Simsbury or Avon.
"I want to be Bristol. I want Bristol to have its own identity," Scarola said.
He said retail is not the whole answer. He said something sports related or education might creae a destination. There should be a way to capitalize on ESPN's marketing.
"Everybody on this planet knows ESPN is in Bristol," he said.
Marko said the project "is one of the keys to making us what we should be."
Marko said an ice skating rink is another crucial element. He pointed out there is a focal point of a rink in Charlotte, N.C. and would like to try to something similiar.
Cockayne said the BDDC has looked at many ideas for the mall site.
Two great presentations offered by potential developers, Cockayne said. He said picking the right one is crucial, with retail, housing and offices.
He urged the city to take its time and deliberate on the choice.
McCauley said the developers' interest shows the model has potential. He said integrating in the West End and Federal Hill is important.

Closing statements...
Scarola said he can help make Bristol "what we woudl all like Bristol to be."
He said he's watched "in anger and frustration" as Bristol has done little to improve itself. He said he has no ties to city and no family or friends who work for the city "so your voice will be heard loud and clear.
He called those connections "a severe conflict" -- clearly aiming at McCauley, a firefighter.
Marko said he's running because the decisions the council will make in the next few years will shape the city for the next 50 years.
"When we make those decisions," he said, the city has to ensure it keeps vital community services.
The city has to provide services. He said it's important "that we don't cripple vital service" in ques to save money.
"We also have to be careful not to fall for solutions that are gimmicks" like spending caps or budget referenda, Marko said. He said turnouts for referenda are low so "a small group of dedicated people who would oppose anything" can control the agenda.
Marko said what works "is strong leadership, people who are willing to make the tough decisions."
Cockayne said it has been "a very civil debate."
"Some say I like to argue. Maybe it's the Italian in me," Cockayne said.
He said he's worked hard to be an advocate for taxpayers and has no relatives working for the city "and am not beholden to anyone."
"I have proven I'm not a yes man. I will ask the tough questions, even if it means standing alone," Cockayne said.
McCauley said that he wants to continue "the successful work I've done" in the past two terms.
He said he fought for funding for critical road repairs. He pushed for returning part of salary. He pushed code enforcement, "a cost-effective way of improving quality of life."
McCauley said he got council to agree to task force to review projects of more than $100,000.
"The city has taken a hard look at its spending and has tightened its belt," McCauley said.

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

Scarola vows to fight for taxpayers

Press release just in from Republican City Council hopeful Richard Scarola, who's running in the 2nd District:

An open letter to the voters of Bristol:

Before I begin going door to door, I wanted to write a brief introduction letter to the residents of Bristol mainly the voters in district two.

My name is Richard P. Scarola and I am running for City Council in district two. I have lived in Bristol for 33 years and I have owned a house for 16. I have a unique blend of both private and public sector experience that I will draw upon to help navigate this town through the choppy water that is the present economy. My experience is as follows:

3 years self employed Home Improvement contractor
7 years Federal Corrections Officer/US. Dept. of Justice
5 years General Manager. Restaurant
3 years Army National Guard
8 years U.S. Marine Corps
Community:
6 Years Certified Level 2 USA Hockey Coach, West Hartford Youth Hockey
4 years Baseball Coach, McCabe Waters Little League
2 years Baseball Coach, St. Anthony’s School
Past/present member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veteran’s. Veterans of Foreign wars and the Exchange Club

It is from this experience that I chose “Fighting for the Taxpayer” as my campaign slogan. From a taxpayer standpoint, I have seen my property taxes climb while city services have dwindled. I have watched as families’ struggle from paycheck to paycheck wondering why they have lost their say in government. I have seen a government that has grown into an “entitlement entity” that believes they have every right to your hard earned money. I have watched the center mall site reduced to rubble while the towns around us (Plainville and Southington) have managed to attract business and rebuild their towns. I have watched certain sections of our community basically just left to corrode, wither and die. I believe when elected, I will be an effective voice and resource to the residents of this town. You will always have a say. I have no obligations to local or city government. My obligation is to the constituents of my district and I will act as such. I am proud to be from Bristol and to call Bristol my home and I would like to bring Bristol into the 21st century so that we can compete with surrounding towns.
My basic platform is this:
Leaner, more effective city government
Working to ensure that every dime of taxpayer money is spent as efficiently as possible
Aggressively marketing Bristol as business and family friendly
Effectively reducing blight in the West End.

As I begin my “door to door” journey, I look forward to meeting everyone in my district regardless of party affiliation. I look forward to hearing your concerns and your frustrations. Most of all, I look forward to being your next City Council representative from District #2.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard P. Scarola

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

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.

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

New GOP contender for 2nd District City Council seat

Here's something from Richard Scarola, a Republican who is running for a 2nd District City Council seat: 

I believe that government owes its existence to the very people it serves. It exists to serve the people, not the other way around.  Over the course of the last few administrations I fear that our leaders have lost site of this fact.  Taxes in Bristol seem to go up every year with no end in sight and I believe we are dangerously close to the “point of no return.” Frustration and resentment towards elected officials has built across this nation and in our own town too and people are losing faith.  Elected officials are no longer respected, they are distrusted.  I am hoping to be a leader who changes that. 

I am a proponent of disciplined budget management and fiscal restraint. By being disciplined and providing a fair and just tax code that the hard working citizens of this city deserve I believe we can maintain the outstanding municipal services citizens have come to expect while balancing the budget.

I also believe we should actively recruit and retain “technology ready” companies to this town to bolster our employment rate and lower our tax base. “Technology ready” is planning for the future. “Shovel ready” is not. In order for Bristol to excel into the future, we must be ready to lead with bold new ideas and to embrace positive change as it comes.  

We must offer the best education we can provide for our children. Outstanding education equips our children with the tools that they need to achieve their share of the American Dream.  A superior educational system not only helps our children and the future of this country, but it also has practical and immediate impact on the value of properties and the reputation of our town. 

I am running for city council because I want to make a difference.  I am proud to be from Bristol and I hope to be a part of an administration that the people of this town can have faith in and be proud of too.  This is why I am announcing my candidacy for Bristol City Council, 2^nd District.

Work Experience:

8 years United States Marine, Corps Camp Lejuene, N.C.

• 3 years Army National Guard, Brainard Field, Hartford, Ct.
• 5 years General Manager of Sbarro’s Pizzeria, Richardson Mall, Hartford, Ct.
• 3 years President of the Business for downtown Hartford. (Richardson Mall representative.)
• 5 years Federal Corrections Officer, US. Dept. of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Danbury, Ct.
• 2 years Home Improvement Contractor, self-employed, Bristol, Ct.

*******

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