Anyone going to charter commission tonight?

I'm off today for a funeral -- not my own -- so I can't make the Charter Revision Commission this evening at City Hall (at 6 p.m.). It's going to be an interesting one, focused on term lengths and such.
If you go, tell us what you heard!
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Downtown overseers given three more years

The entire seven-member board of the Bristol Downtown Development Corp. was unanimously reappointed last night by city councilors to another three-year term. They're all set through April, 2013.
Mayor Art Ward said the seven volunteer commissioners have "a commendable job" moving the project ahead.
"I believe they'll pull us forward," Ward said.
The BDDC is a nonprofit created by the city to oversee the development of the 17-acre former mall site downtown. It is negotiating with a Long Island developer who is interested in taking a crack at bringing the property to life.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City says no to Armory building

A unanimous vote by the City Council to decline the chance to buy the former Armory building on Center Street makes it likely the state will sell the massive structure for $305,000 to local attorneys who aim to create a skating center there.
The two lawyers, Alfred Morrocco and Joel Cohen, were the high bidders for the 61 Center St. structure. There were at least two other bidders, state officials said.
Morrocco and Cohen said they are aiming to put an inline skating rink in the former gymnasium. Cohen said there would also be three restaurants and other activities. He said a day care facility is also possible.
The lawyers had planned a similar facility on Broad Street a decade ago that fell through.
Mayor Art Ward said it is going to be "very, very expensive to rehabilitate this building."
But Morrocco said he's sure that it can be done. Both he and Cohen said they would fix the roof, update the electrical system and make other necessary renovations.
It remains unclear where people would park when coming to the rink. Cohen said, though, that they've got a plan.
The Armory only has six parking spaces and street parking is limited in the area.
Before Armory Associates, the attorneys' firm, can buy the property, state lawyers have to review the deal and the contract terms. It will likely take months.
Gov. Jodi Rell decided to sell the Armory, which was vacant, in a bid to bring in extra revenue for the state, which is facing a fiscal meltdown.
Ward said in the past, the city would have been given the chance to buy it for $1. Instead, the city could only have it if it offered more than the attorneys.
The mayor said, though, that the Armory isn't needed for municipal use and isn't worth having even for $1 because of the repair tab associated with the historic building.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Moylan eyes a cut in school spending

Aiming to knock the proposed tax hike down to 3 percent, Board of Finance member Janet Moylan is eyeing across-the-board cuts to chop away enough spending.
To get there, she would need to find $2.8 million to slice away from the proposed budget that would hike taxes by 6.4 percent in the coming year.
Cutting education, she said, would have to be part of it.
To absorb its fair share of the reduction, the allocation for education would be reduced by $750,000 -- putting the overall school budget about $250,000 below this year's level.
"They can't get away scot free," Moylan said.
She said she's not sure that she will ultimately push for so much cutting. She said she wants to know the impact on every department first.
But, Moylan said, people are struggling and it's too much to ask them to pay more than 6 percent more in property taxes.
She said she is just not sure the city as a whole can afford to shell out so much more.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City taxpayers may see property taxes rise 6 percent or more

I'll add more details here on Wednesday, but here a couple of stories that begin to lay out the picture:

A big tax hike is possible this year
Despite a sagging economy that’s put a tenth of the city’s workers on the jobless rolls, the Board of Finance is eyeing a 6.4 percent hike in property taxes this year.
Mayor Art Ward said the increase is in the city’s best interests while Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski said the proposed mill rate would ease the city’s fiscal worries for the long run.
A majority of finance commissioners said this week they would support raising the mill rate from 25.99 to 27.65 for the budget year that begins July 1. Click here for the story.

Some are opposed to such a big tax hike
Critics are taking aim at a proposed property tax hike.
“It’s bull,” said city Councilor Ken Cockayne.
“I would vote against it today,” said Bob Casar, the newest member of the Board of Finance.
Janet Moylan, another finance commissioner, said that with so many out of work or struggling, she’s not sure such a large tax hike is responsible. Click here for the story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Hamzy warns that massive deficit looms

Press release from state Rep. Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th District includes northwestern Bristol:

Representative William A. Hamzy:

Warns State Must Address Growing $750 Million Deficit

Supports 3 Month Deficit Patch to Carry State Budget through the Spring

HARTFORD – State Representative William A. Hamzy of Bristol and Plymouth, voted today to close the state’s budget deficit without raising taxes or cutting aide to towns and cities, but he warned that a $750 million fiscal deficit awaits July 1 and must be fixed before the Democratic-controlled legislature adjourns in May. 

The deficit mitigation plan put forth today eliminates only the current $350 budget gap. The plan does not tackle the looming deficit that kicks in July 1^st, only 10 weeks from now, but Republicans pledged to address that within the coming days. For the past two years, Rep. Hamzy and his Republican colleagues in the House championed closing the deficit without raising taxes or cutting aide to towns and cities. 

“This is a first step. As I and many of my Republican colleagues have said before, we can plug the deficit without raising taxes or cutting aid to local municipalities. The $750 million budget hole that begins July 1, 2010 will only grow with legislative inaction. We need to begin starting tomorrow to make the tough cuts and to find government efficiencies,” said Rep. Hamzy.

The current state budget, with the $350 million deficit, was adopted last September without any Republican votes. For the last 8 months, state operated with a growing deficit due largely to the inaction of the legislature.

With record unemployment and with both families and employers alike pinching pennies, Rep. Hamzy expressed now is not the time to raise taxes or utility prices for families or those providing their jobs. “The Democrats raised taxes last September by $1.2 billion and we are still facing a $700 million gap. Raising taxes when we have record high unemployment at over 9 percent is not the answer,’’ he said.

Republicans said they are prepared to vote to eliminate the projected deficit for the 2011-12 budget year beginning July 1. The budget hole, he said, can be filled with targeted spending reductions, government efficiencies and no tax hikes. Republicans in the House refused to consider any tax increases on income, sales, large family homes, electrical bills, hotel rooms, or hospitals to cover the deficit. Rep. Hamzy specifically opposed any version of proposed tax hikes on sick people who become hospitalized, insisting that could not be part of any deficit mitigation plan.

“As we saw this past year, the deficit will only grow with legislative inaction. If the Democrat-controlled legislature chooses to continue doing nothing, the $750 million deficit we face July 1 will balloon into a nightmare. It is our responsibility. We can tackle the deficit without raising taxes or cutting municipal aid but we must act now!” said Rep. Hamzy.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Zydanowicz hopes to fire Larson

HARTFORD -- Surrounded by family and friends on the north steps of the state Capitol, Republican congressional hopeful Mark Zydanowicz formally declared his intention Monday to convince voters to “fire our congressman, John Larson, and send a message to the political class in Washington that enough is enough.”
“Help me make history,” the political newcomer from West Hartford told about 40 backers who came to help him launch his long-shot campaign.
Zydanowicz, a 42-year-old executive with Guida Dairy, is taking aim at Larson, a veteran congressman from East Hartford who has represented the 1st District since 1998. The district includes Bristol, Southington, Berlin, Newington, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill.
Chris Healy, the state GOP chair, called Zydanowicz “a true American hero who will get the job done” on both the campaign trail and in Washington.  Click here for the full story.
Here is the prepared text for Zydanowicz's speech.
Photo: Chris Richie/New Britain Herald
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Bristol Hospital struggles with broken steam pipe

Here's reporter Jackie Majerus' story about the crisis at Bristol Hospital today:


Following a broken gasket on a steam pipe this afternoon, Bristol Hospital lost its heat, hot water and steam for several hours.
About 11 a.m. Monday, a gasket between two steam pipes in a mechanical room in the hospital’s perioperative center failed, according to Ron Hussey, director of facilities and engineering.
Steam pressure was lost throughout the hospital, said Hussey. “Unfortunately it happened to be a key valve. It wasn’t something you could isolate. We had no alternative but to shut the building down.”
The hospital couldn’t continue with normal operations, said Hussey, but no one was hurt and no patients were evacuated. Click here for the full story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Socialist candidate comes at Larson from the left

A Hartford art teacher, Chris Hutchinson, is taking on U.S. Rep. John Larson, too. He's with the Socialist Action Party. You can check out his website here.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Bristol Hospital no longer accepting patients as crisis unfolds

Following a broken steam pipe this afternoon, Bristol Hospital lost its heat, hot water and steam, officials said.

Fire Chief Jon Pose said the hospital imposed its emergency disaster plan and is no longer accepting new patients until the crisis is dealt with.

Pose said that hospital administrators are meeting to come up with a response plan to the problems.

Both city and police sources said they have heard the same news from the hospital, but hospital officials have been unavailable.

Pose said that an alarm came in for the broken steam pipe, but it was considered a routine issue and nobody responded. It doesn't appear the break posed any hazard in itself.

Both the police and fire departments are prepared to lend a hand to the hospital if they can help, officials said.

The hospital has a steam-generated power plant that provides it with heat, hot water and steam.

It isn't clear how long the crisis may gone on or what steps the hospital may need to take. It doesn't appear that patients are in any danger.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Crisis at Bristol Hospital?

While I have no firsthand information yet, the police and City Hall have told me that the hospital is dealing with a major utility crisis. It may lack water or electricity. Not sure why.
The emergency room may not be open.
If anyone has solid information, call me at (860) 523-9632.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Zydanowicz makes congressional race formal

Here's the prepared statement that Zydanowicz read on the north steps of the state Capitol this morning:
Today, we begin to offer people a choice. Today we are ready to embark on a challenge to the established order – to those who have taken the voters in this district for granted – who have ignored the will and needs of every citizen for the powerful in Washington. Today we stand together to embrace the possibility, that we can live and be productive free people for a common purpose – to unleash those that are governed from those calling the shots in Washington, D.C.

My name is Mark Zydanowicz and I am running for Congress. I am running to give a voice to the thousands of citizens who have had enough of the political class. I am running to talk about what is really important – the economic survival of our state and nation, the security and prosperity of our American principles and the hope that the decisions we make today will give our children and grandchildren a better place to live and raise a family. A year after the voters thought they were getting hope and change, our nation now faces an uncertain future – mired in debt and partisan bickering, indecisive on the world stage and heading toward government control of the banks, our auto industry and now – health care.

Since the 2008 Election – Congressman John Larson and the political class in Washington gave us a “stimulus package”, a ”bank bail out,” an “auto industry bail out” and a “health care bill,” which all resulted in the government take over of private industry and all we have to show for it is trillions of dollars in new debt that our children and grandchildren will have to pay for.

We can change that and we will. We have to.

I am a third-generation businessman. I am a Captain in the Connecticut Army National Guard . I am a father and husband. I have a young family and like many people, I have watched Congress make a mess of everything.  But when I look around, I see fear and uncertainty in the faces of my friends, my business associates and my neighbors.  Each, in their own way, says, “when will this all end?”  When will congress listen?

It will end when we fire our Congressman John Larson and send a message to the political class in Washington that enough is enough.  John Larson has spent most of his life in politics and has shown us that he cares more about where he fits in Party leadership than the people he represents.

As a leader of Nancy Pelosi’s team, John Larson and his friends in Washington have gone on an attack of the American Dream and the American people. John Larson is owned lock stock and barrel by more special interests than I can name and he is part of the inner circles that have shredded the Constitution to get their way. That is not what we elected these leaders for. That is not what the people of our congressional district wanted. But that is what they got – and it is hurting this country.

But this campaign is bigger than John Larson, it’s about the future, it’s about turning our country around and doing it without the partisan politics that has caused record unemployment and record deficits. No Party has all the answers. The Republicans spent too much when they controlled Congress and many of the pressing issues have been swept under the rug by both Democrats and Republicans.

This is about Connecticut and our future.

It’s time for new management in Washington.

We need to fix our healthcare system, not take it over with government bureaucrats.

We need to get serious on how we are going to fix Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and not keep passing off the responsibilities to commissions or future generations.

We need to look at how our tax structure and incentive programs help foster business rather than use taxpayer dollars to take over industries that the government deems “Too Big to Fail.”

We need to talk to the people in this country who create jobs, foster entrepreneurship and drive the economic engine of the United States – our small business owners.  For centuries these are the people who have sacrificed, saved and created a way to leave a future for their families and for their country.

We need government. But we need a government that works with us and for us, not the other way around.

Unlike John Larson, I understand health care.  I have underwritten health care plans.  My company provides health care to our workers. I have helped build hospitals in Iraq and the Dominican Republic. There is no doubt that our healthcare industry is in desperate need of repair.  But rather than send the bill to the tax payer to create more government jobs in Washington for government bureaucrats to make decisions on who gets what care, we need to rely on private business to work with healthcare providers to make the system work better for consumers.  John Larson has forgotten who he works for.  Thousands of jobs in our district are at risk because of John Larson’s support of the health care bill.  Insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, doctors and patients should be partners in finding a solution rather than being mandated by government.

Unlike John Larson, I understand the dangers abroad.  I have been in combat and seen the sacrifices made by others.  I have helped rebuild the nation of Iraq.  It was my honor to serve with real heroes.  John Larson says he supports the troops, but not the mission.  Bunk.  If you don’t support the mission John Larson, keep your support and don’t show up for the homecomings or troop deployments.  It is an insult to anyone who proudly wears the uniform of this country.

When John Larson went to Washington I am sure he had the best intentions to serve the people of Connecticut’s first congressional district.  But like Chris Dodd his hunger for power and popularity made him care more about the special interests and Washington insiders than the people in Connecticut who he was sent to represent.

We must provide opportunity to those who seek it and want it.

We need to bring reason back to government.

We need to do what is right for Connecticut, not what is convenient for the next Election.

I have never run for office before, but I have served my country and community.  I am not a politician nor do I want to be; I want to be a congressman and a representative for Connecticut. I need your help, guidance and support to send a message to Washington and restore leadership in congress and  here in Connecticut, for Connecticut.

I ask for your help as I formally declare my candidacy for the Republican nomination for Congress for the First Congressional District.

Let’s get to it.

God Bless You All.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com