Wednesday, October 29, 2014

North End voter shows special support for Angel Fernandez

A special sign made by a supporter for  Candidate Angel Fernandez (R) 100th District
Candidate and retired Navy Veteran Angel Fernandez met a special friend at NEAT's meet the candidate forum held last week at the Green Street Arts Center. The supporter made Fernandez a special sign then posted on Fernandez's page. Fernandez says he learned about many different cultures during his tours in Iraq, and gained an unique understanding of the universal human struggle he hopes to bring to office if elected. 
https://www.facebook.com/AngelforMiddletown2013

Below is what the North End group Muslim Mothers Against Abuse posted about Fernandez: 

Umm Junaid MuslimMothers AgainstAbuse Praise Allah, last week I had the good fortune of meeting this gentlemen. I want to tell you all that I was taken a back by how much he knew about Islam. Up until that night, I had been thinking about Mr. Doyl & Mathew Lesser, while I respect what Mr. Lesser has done and is trying to do. Sometimes change is good and Allah knows best. Since meeting this gentlemen, hearing where he came from, where he is coming from, what he intends to do and how much he respects Muslims. I am in his corner, I have never ever voted in my entire life. I am 40 years old. I will be voting for him, supporting him and helping him with his future campaigns Insha Allah. No one is without faults but what I have seen of this gentlemen in one night is enough for me to make an educated decision. He was brutally honest with me about he once felt about Muslims. I give it to him for doing such, if we had more people like this in the world, more LEADERS like this in the world, it would be a much better place. Thanks for sharing this James McGovern Allah is Great, change is gonna come people, trust me ... it takes time.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Rumblings! 25 Things We Learned at the Candidate's Forum

25 Things We Learned at the Westfield Residents Assoc. Middletown Canidates’ Forum.

1.       Jennifer Mahr, chairwoman & host/moderator should have her own morning show. Bubbly & professional giving equal opportunity to all with great poise all the while moderating a very contentious room. Thank you Ms. Mahr. 

2.       Most in attendance were part of the entourage of the participating candidates. Candidate with the largest entourage: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro with 11 henchpersons.

3.       Rep. Joe Serra (D) (33rd District) introduced himself and mentioned he is on the Aging Committee, Prostate & Judiciary Committee, and Alzheimer's Committee.

4.       One Westfield resident was very concerned about Euthanasia or Youth In Asia we couldn’t tell. Every candidate was asked. Seriously, excellent question.

5.       Candidate Linda Szynkowicz (R) (33rd District) if elected wants to develop a program to cut government waste & redundancy, without cutting state jobs, but by encouraging incentives for state employees to find ways to save their departments money. Szynkowicz's program would reward them with rebates. Rep. Serra said believes state government is running just fine the way it has been for the last 22 years he has been in office & there is no waste. Status Quo, keep her’go!

6.       Candidate Earle Roberts (R) (9th District) is very upset about the shooting in Shady Brook Connecticut that took the lives of elementary school children; he is very in tuned with what is going on.

7.       Candidate Senator Dante Bartolomeo (D) (13th District) feels she is “a good navigator for parents dealing with agencies such as DDS, DSS, DCF etc. because these agencies are so confusing”, as she attests to. Bartolomeo states there is so much red tape, (instead of solving this seeing as she is one the Children & Families Committee and all) it is much easier &amp &she enjoys it when all these parents must call her & go through her for help.

8.       Dan Russo, former Democratic Town Chair, has no need to end questions with actual inquiries to candidates & how dare anyone (cough) question this.

9.       Rep. Paul Doyle (D) (9th District) admitted Common Core is flawed & needs looking into. The most honest and simple statement of the evening. Well played sir.

10.   Candidate for Congress James Brown debunked all the false statements of DeLauro’s speech before she gave it, clairvoyant & awesomely entertaining. A math teacher, Mr. Brown resigned to run & is kicking butt. He also gave a great break down of the over-spending occurring in Hartford. Advice: please bring a chalk board. Unfortunately with the exception of Doyle, the other D's failed to acknowledge Connecticut is poised for a deficit at all. Must be that Common Core math...

11.   Rep. Matt Lesser (100th District) had no idea Middletown purchased a decommissioned M-CAT tank for its’ police force. Lesser also denies that state’s have the ability to regulate what the federal government gives them as far as equipment. Isn’t like you could just not take it right? What’s going on we thought you and Lil Dan were bff’s?

12.   When asked by a citizen why it was taking so long (22 years to be exact) for the lights on Route 9 and the Route 17 on ramp issue to be dealt with Rep. Joe Serra (D) (33rd District) had a unique response. “ Its very complicated. And expensive.” Said Serra. Guess it will take him another 22 years in office to actually do something. Ain’t like he is head of the Highway & Transportation Committee or anything right? Oh wait….
Keep Reading

DeLauro Looses Her Composure Over a Jest

Yesterday evening, Congress-elf, Rosa DeLauro participated in the candidate's forum, hosted by the Westfield Residents Association.  Dressed in a gaudy designer outfit and glasses that cost more than most of the attendees earn in a month, she portended to champion the "little guy".

On and on she went about how wonderful ObamaCare is.  In spite of the fact that the CDC received 300 million dollars more than they asked for in the last budget, she claimed they were underfunded.

Then, evidently alluding to the so-called "war on women", she stated forcefully, that, "No woman should have to pay more than a man for the same insurance coverage."

When the time came, a man was called on to ask a question of the candidates.  He prefaced the question (about the candidate's length of time in office) by stating that he completely agreed with the congressman; that "women should not be required to pay more for vasectomy coverage, than a man."

Of course, this brought a few chuckles from the crowd of about 120 persons.

After both candidates responded to the question, DeLauro decided to get back up and address the jest made by the questioner, and went on a non sequitur-ous tirade about comments made by some other congressman from another state!  I wish I had taken notes!  Or a video.

She promptly left the building.

James Brown, her opponent, appears in the background.

Senator Dante Bartolomeo Has "Lapse of Memory" at Candidate Forum

Wayne Winsley, 2012
Congressional Candidate
Last night, at a Candidate's Forum held at the Westfield Resident's Association annual meeting, Sen. Bartolomeo denied having said in a press release from February 13, 2013, that she had called for mandatory psychiatric evaluations for ALL students in early 2012.

She demanded the questioner "prove it"; cocksure that he wouldn't have a twenty one month old press release in his pocket.  Which he didn't.

Well, last year I wrote an open letter to the senator, in which I cited, verbatim, a portion of her press release; "Students should be able to receive mental health evaluations/treatment, and districts need some recourse if parents and students refuse to participate."

It seems pretty clear, that the threat of recourse against parents and students, removes any semblance of a voluntary evaluation.

(See my full post, here;http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/06/letter-to-editor-open-letter-to-sen.html)

Former congressional candidate, author and patriot, Wayne Winsley, also wrote an article on the subject, in which he cites the entire statute that would make these mandatory evaluations a reality; Proposed Bill No. 374; AN ACT REQUIRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS FOR CHILDREN and addresses the issue better than I did.

In Wayne’s article, he says, The proposal is Dangerous, because the government has now created a small, “big brother” that will follow my child around for the rest of her days.”

Read Wayne's full article, here;http://waynewinsley.blogspot.com/2013/02/your-kid-gets-checkup-from-neck-up-need.html.  http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/S/2013SB-00374-R00-SB.htm

Senator Dante Bartolomeo is a dangerous person; an advocate for big government intrusion into the personal, private lives of children and families.  She is also a liar. She must be voted out of office.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Fernadez/Lesser Debate Scheduled

Battle for the 100th District!
After a week or more of vigorous negotiations, it is settled.  On Wednesday, October 29 at 5:00 PM a live debate between incumbent representative of the 100th district, Matt Lesser and his challenger, Angel Fernandez will take place.

The debate, hosted by Don DeCesare, will air on both WLIS AM 1420 and WMRD AM 1150.  In addition to the on-air broadcast, it will be live-streamed on the station's web site, http://www.wliswmrd.net/.  The debate will last for one hour and be replayed once, over next weekend.

Through election day, the debate will be available through the On-Demand feature on the station's website, as well as their "TuneIn" app.

Anyone wishing to submit a question to the candidates, may do so by email to, questions@wliswmrd.net.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Civilian Disarmament Likely With Another Four Years of Dan Malloy

This is from a friend.  He spells out, short and sweet, what we can expect if Dan Malloy gets re-elected.

A little brain chow for the late night crowd. I always talk about chess, how about we play some?

Let's start with the board set thus: Malloy has won, and the Democrats retain control of the Senate.

Their opening move: get rid of Board of Firearms Permit Examiners and makes CT a strictly may-issue state.

What's our counter-move? Impotent rage.

Their next move: yearly permit renewals, subject to "suitability".

And we don't have to go any further. Because within two years of that going in to effect, the number of permits in CT falls through the floor.

Do I have your attention now, fence-sitters?

Friday, October 24, 2014

Is Joe Visconti a Sociopath?

Last spring, when there was still snow on the ground, I was with Bob Ferguson and also appear in the commercial for gubernatorial candidate, Joe Visconti.  (see Courant article) Visconti has disappointed the majority of his original supporters by not keeping his word, and backing out of the race, when he failed to garner the Republican party endorsement.

This is too bad. With Joe's support behind Foley, Foley would handily defeat Malloy and sweep many conservatives into office, along with him. Joe's stature would have risen in the party and his political future would have been assured.

Instead, Joe discredited himself and has fractured the party and the Conservative movement; turning friend against friend. His future as a politician in this state is over; Visconti will never be elected to anything, ever.  Even if he were to back out at this moment, just 10 days ahead of the election, he has ruined his chances of it.  He knows it.

Visconti will not resign; he now pursues vengeance against those who left his camp, at the expense of every citizen in the state.  He is using his supporters for his plan of revenge.  When Visconti loses, he will dump his friends and move south.  He has convinced people that if the voters don't want him as their next governor, they deserve another four years of Malloy.  His behavior could perhaps be described as narcissistic; even sociopathic.

Thusrday night, there was a confidential meeting of patriots at an undisclosed location, in central Connecticut.  The meeting summary, follows:

We discussed the consequences Republicans loosing this election to Dan Malloy.  Dannel 88 is the worst governor this state has ever had!

If he wins reelection, "we will long for the days of Lowell Weicker", said our host. It will be taken as a sign that the NRA, CCDL, ASSF, and law-abiding gun owner generally, are irrelevant and can be dismissed.

In addition to a continuing decline in the economy, if Malloy gets re elected we can . . .

expect:
Home schooling to come under attack, with state inspections of homes for suitability as a teaching environment, state evaluation of parents as to their suitability to teach their own children, and state mental evaluation of home schooled students.
(At 6:45 PM Monday, at the Meriden Library, there will be a forum on this issue.)

expect:
Registration of all firearms, including muzzle loaders. Failure to register would be a Class D felony.

expect:
Micro stamping of all shell casings, driving up the cost of all ammo.

expect:
Fingerprint recognition trigger requirements on all future manufactured firearms sold in the state. This will suppress future sales by driving up the cost of a firearm, out of the reach of the poor and single moms, who need the means of self-defense, the most.  A fingerprint recognition requirement has forced at least one gun manufacturer to suspend sales in California.

expect:
Mandatory insurance policies on all gun owners and guns. Policy costs would be left up to insurance carriers, if any carriers would write such a policy in the first place.  The cost could well be beyond what most people could afford; potentially thousands of dollars.  It would amount to another type of registration scheme, using a private corporations as registrar. Failure to have an insurance policy would be a Class D felony.

expect:
Further restrictions on magazine capacity. of such magnitude it could effect double barrel shotguns! Class D felony

expect:
Gun confiscation. Senator Jason Welch of Bristol has assured me such a bill is waiting for the next session. I don't have the specifics, but I am certain that the firearms to be confiscated are those that were registered in accordance with S.B. 1160.  Could this lead to bloodshed?  Is this what Malloy and Obama want?  Tom Foley will not support any gun confiscation scheme.

Get a few beers into Senator Martin Looney or Senator "One shot" Eddy Meyer, or any other such ilk in Hartford, and they will admit they do not believe anyone should have a firearm, but law enforcement.

The consequences of a second term for Malloy are dire!  Visconti's continued, futile campaign, risks a second term for him.   It is not too late for Visconti to do the right thing, and bow out.  But will he?

A donor to Joe Visconti's gubernatorial campaign has filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission alleging a violation of state election law.
www.courant.com|By Hartford Courant

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Navy Veteran Angel Fernadez Giving Incumbent a Run for His Money

Candidate Angel Fernandez for the 100th District
Unlike our incumbent state representative Matt Lesser, who seems “proud” of everything he touches, challenger Angel Fernandez, the first Hispanic to run in this district, is a humble man who considers it a privilege and an honor to engage in public service.


 Angel is a retired US Navy man, Master at Arms Second Class. Angel was part of an elite anti-terrorist team. He served in Desert Storm and was deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He served 19 years before being retired, due to injuries he received in combat. He takes seriously, his oath to “uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies”, and as our representative in the General Assembly, will continue to fulfill that oath and protect the rights of all citizens.
Angel is active in our community. He is Deputy Director of Emergency Management in Middletown. He has served in this position for five years. He is also an active member of the PTA, serves on his child’s school advisory board and is the Executive Director of the 65th Infantry Historical Society.
Growing up in Hartford’s urban north end, Fernandez saw and experienced first-hand, the day to day struggles of low income and middle class families. He now works in a priority school district with at-risk children.
Angel is the owner of a small security consulting business.  Angel is aware of how the state’s current economic policies and taxes strangle small business, interfering with the development of new business and curtailing the growth of current business.
 As our representative, Angel Fernandez will work to reverse the 371 new taxes Gov. Malloy and the Democrats have imposed on us. Reaching across the aisle, he will keep the federal government out of local education, resist unfunded mandates, whether they are from the state or federal government, and work to implement sensible policies to help returning veterans reintegrate into our communities.
 On November 4th, I'll cast my ballot for Angel Fernandez, a man who says what he means and means what he says; a true man of the people. I urge you to join me in doing so.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Before you throw the money bomb, be sure it isn't going to blow up in your face.

Well, the Hartford Courant is at it, again with another attack on Foley; http://www.courant.com/politics/elections/hc-foley-tax-return-2013-20141017-story.html .  Jenny Wilson continues with the class warfare, attacking a man who has violated no laws, solely because he is successful.
(photo credit therealmalloy.com)

Before you throw the money bomb, Jenny, be sure it isn't going to blow up in your face:

Did Tom Foley break any tax laws? No. Did he have taxable income for the years in question? No.

Was Dannel P. Mallow born into a privileged family in Stamford?
Yes. Has Dan Malloy ever had a job in the private sector, other than as a lawyer? No. Has Dan Malloy ever run a business? No.

Has Tom Foley ever successfully managed an international company that provided thousands of jobs and created wealth and prosperity for workers and investors, such as employee pension funds? Yes.

Does Tom Foley suffer from Bell's palsy, a that condition partly paralyzed the right side of his face so he can only smile with the left side of his mouth with his right eye is partially closed? Yes. Does Dam Malloy suffer from dyslexia? Yes. (They are both human)

Did Tom Foley serve as Ambassador to Ireland, like Senator Chris Dodd? Yes. Is Democrat Senator Dodd a member of the wealthy, privileged class? Yes.

Did Tom Foley put his life on the line, serving his country in Baghdad while the city was under siege? Yes. Did Tom Foley receive the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award in June 2004 for his service in Iraq? Yes.

Did Pres. Obama attend a fundraiser, at $30,000 a plate, in Greenwich, hosted by Rich Richman? Yes. What do the attendees expect in return for their $30K donations? Hmmm?

Did Pres. Obama attend a $32,400 a plate fundraiser, hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow? Yes. What do those attendees expect in return? Hmmm?

Are Dan Malloy and Pres. Obama really in touch with the working class people? I doubt it.

Middletown Mess Your Daily Spin! More Conservative Bashing...

Editor's Note 10/28: Editor Cassandra Day emailed us to set the record straight; and we are glad she did. Seems the Press is not playing favorites between the D's & R's and what they print, and we apologize if that's inadvertently what we suggested. Turns out the conservatives lately have just been alittle   ALOT lazy in their letters to the paper.  Duh...So the paper will print what they get; and that's a lot of Kuhn-fusion & not much else lately. So get off the couch you Conservatives & WRITE  if you don't like the Kuhn-aliguistics. We are big fans of Ms. Day and the progress. Day has always been both professional & fair minded to all politicos in town.
 Day is a breath of fresh air to the Mess Press, and we mean it!

Aw shucks!! Under a new editor, the Mess had really started to turn things around! 

However, the letter to the editor page has been  monopolized by conservative basher, race-baiter & all around hater local ubber liberal guitar strummin' Middletownian Eric Kuhn. Most newspaper have a 1 letter per month & word cap for letters to the editor, but the Mess does not- but maybe with the page turning Kuhnapalooza-cra cra they oughta! We previously countered Kuhn's attack on conservatives with follow up letters from several political leaders: Wayne Winsley, James McGovern, and resident blogger Billyboy Baggins. A verbal 1-2-3 knock down. 

Maybe Mess is hard up for letters to the editor (this is where you closet righties chime in and get off your butts and write something folks!) or the paper has been relapsing to the dark days when Viktoria S. was still editor and her twitter-crush on Matty Lesser bled onto every page. 
Keep reading...

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Dr. William Petit Joins Len Suzio to End Early Release of Violent Criminals In CT

Len Suzio, the State's Victim Advocate is running for reelection as State Senator for the 13th District. Here he stands with Dr. William Petit speaking on behalf of ending the Ct laws that allow the early release of criminals that commit violent crimes back on the street.
(Photo Len Suzio, Dr. William Petit (credit L. Salafia)
Orignally posted on the End Early Release Website: http://endearlyrelease.com/
Listen to Suzio on WSFB
WFSB 3 Connecticut

Photo Len Suzio, Dr. William Petit (credit L. Salafia)

Malloy Political Stunt? DOT Addresses Accident Prone Route 17 On Ramp in Middletown

On September 24 2014 the Department of Transportation held a meeting with citizens at City Hall to discuss potential design changes to the Route 17 on ramp in Middletown.The state is trying to come up with solutions, mainly lengthening the ramp to alleviate accidents.2010-2012 the DOT reported 379 accidents at this location. From  Further down the stretch of highway the traffic lights on Route 9 have been the site of many some fatal accidents over the last 30 years.

The traffic lights will stay on Route 9 - the deaths will continue: DOT Engineer William Britnell spoke at the beginning of the presentation stating that the currently proposed project will not address the lights on Route 9. Citizens know all too well these lights cause traffic jams. Britnell stated that subsequent exploration of depressing the highway was "off the table indefinitely" because the price would be too extravagant.


Graphic Credit Dan The Tax Man
ct-sos.com
Middletown, Are Route 9 &
the Riverfront just
  political ploys for Dan Malloy?
Solutions proposed by the DOT included the possible closure of the Union Street on ramp portions of the entry and alterations to Loveland Street. Although vague as to actual allocated funding for such a project, construction of the improved on ramp could begin as early as 2018 at a price tag of $25 million according to the presentation. The DOT wants to hear from citizens with concerns and invites letters. Explored in the discussion was a rotary at the  South Main Street interchange and the introduction of several lights bringing the total to 12 in the 3 mile stretch from Main Street Extension/Saybrook Road area.  The governor's announcement of an allocation of approximately $2 million to construct a boat house at Harbor Park  and the decommissioning of Middletown's sewage treatment facility on River Road is likely to have prompted the investment in on ramp redesign. The DOT's presentation presented a concept that would allow for increased parking at Harbor Park and closure of the Union Street ramp portion to allow more pedestrian access here. Traffic studies have yet to be done. 

 Our friend & videographer Palin Smith came and taped the entire meeting. Candidate for Governor Joe Visconti attended, and asked what the state how the state planned for funding this project & how many similarly scoped projects did the DOT have on its plate at the moment; he received no answer. Palin was gracious enough to video the entire question and answer portion with citizens in four parts. Citizens expressed on concerns for increased High Street traffic, possible changes to the Village neighborhood, and concerns for people walking on the highway on ramp to Stop and Shop. Sumner Brook would have retaining walls along part of its path along River Road, the  DOT engineers emphasizing the need for  making the roadway safer as the driving force for the project. 

A good history of the highway in Middletown is available on the website: http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/ct9.html by historian Ian Morris. The site boasts diagrams, maps, time line of construction, and long forgotten newspaper articles about highways in Connecticut. Morris quotes former councilman and businessman of Middletown the late Vincent Amato: "I've lived with what the highway projects did to downtown New Britain. If you took out the traffic lights and put up Jersey barriers across the exits, you'd solve the Route 9 problem - and you could say goodbye to Middletown."
 Keep reading...

Friday, October 17, 2014

Who is Angel Fernandez?

Candidate Angel Fernandez for the 100th
The post below was originally featured in the Hartford Courant:
"Fernandez, 45, is running for State Representative for the in the race for the 100th House District seat.
Fernandez  grew up in the North End of Hartford and has lived in Middletown for 17 years. He spent 18 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 2007 due to injury as a master-at-arms second class.
"Right now people are so disappointed with both parties," he said. "It's shocking how disconnected a lot of our politicians are with a lot of people."

Fernandez described himself as "a big Second Amendment guy" but stressed that his campaign is also focusing heavily on rolling back some Common Core education requirements and cutting taxes.

He said he felt laws already in place before new gun control laws were enacted – if they had been properly enforced – would have been sufficient to address gun violence. He also said the new laws did not address many concerns about mental health, and said as a state representative he would support the rights of gun owners.
Fernandez was served in Operation Desert Storm and was deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan in the recent conflicts as part of a military police unit and an anti-terrorism unit providing security.

By his view of the local political scene, elected officials are out of touch with the needs of low- and middle-income residents.


"I served and I fought for my country and I came home to find a mess," Fernandez said.
He is now the owner of Eleven Charlie, a consulting company he started with friends from the Navy. The firm provides threat assessments for corporate and public buildings. He also has volunteered as deputy director of emergency management for the city for five years.
Fernandez ran for common council in the 2013 municipal election, his first attempt at running for office, but drew one of the lowest vote tallies out of the 18 council candidates.
He faces a challenge to unseat Lesser, who is running for a fourth term in the heavily-Democratic district.

Middletown Events to Meet Your Candidates Election 2014!

Find out what you need to know about who is running to represent Middletown before Election Day November 4th! Ask the tough questions for yourself & Find out what's on the ballot for Middletown's Charter Revision
October 17: Legislative incumbents and challengers will discuss housing and homelessness at a breakfast Friday The Cross Street AME Zion Church at 440 West St. will host a candidates’ meeting from 8:15 until 10 a.m. The Middlesex County Coalition on Housing and Homelessness and the Middlesex Interagency Council are also contributing to the meeting, according to a press release from the Coalition.
October 22- Green Street Arts Center Meet the Candidate Night - evening at Green St Arts Center

October 27 - Westfield Residents Association Candidate Forum : See below
The annual meeting will begin at 6:30pm, with members of the Charter Revision Commission coming to speak about and answer questions pertaining to the following questions on the Nov. 4 ballot:
  1. Shall the Charter be amended to provide for a term of four years for the following elected officials of the City of Middletown: the Mayor, Common Council, Treasurer, Board of Assessment Appeals and Registrars of Voters?
  2. Shall the Charter be amended to raise the bond limit for which the Common Council can approve spending without going to referendum to $1,000,000?
  3. Shall all other amendments to the Charter as approved by the Common Council from the Final Report of the Charter Revision Commission at its September 2, 2014 meeting be approved?

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

ObamaCare places unsustainable burden on self-employed and those employed by small businesses.

graphic credit: Dan the Tax Man
The following was posted by a dear friend of mine, on Face Book.  It is a tale that deserves to be told, as it is a tale that is bound to be experienced by many of our fellow citizens.  With the upcoming election fast approaching, voters need to consider the consequences of their actions (or inaction).  Do you, Mr. and Mrs Voter, expect anything to change when you keep sending the SAME people back to Washington and Hartford, time after time after time?  Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result?

Here it is:

"Well, so I get home today and discover a BIG envelope from ConnectiCare in the mail box. 
My pulse starts to go up, as it usually does with letters from them at this time of year.  My intuition rang true; my health insurance premium is going up by $111.70 a month; my husband's by $54.51 a month.

So, now my health insurance is $750.44 a month; my husband's is $380.25.  AND we each have a $5000.00 deductible!

HOW IS THIS FAIR? The insurance companies literally got a license to do what ever they want. Unless you work for the state, or a corporation, you are screwed.

People; please, this state and country need a change. This is wrong, this is sick! I don't always even make that much money a month!

We only go to the doctor if we are seriously sick. This is crazy!!!  Now we will pay $1130.60 a month for health ins, with two $5000.00 deductibles!  Someone tell me how this is right!"


$13,567.20 annual premium, plus $10,000.00 in deductibles = $23,567.20. This is crazy. I thought ObamaCare was supposed to reduce premiums by $2,500.00 per year?

How can the average working class person, who is not employed by the government or a generous corporation, be expected to afford this?

Remember in November; forget at your own peril.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Middletown Candidates Debate Education, Who was silent?


Candidate Len Suzio 
for the 13th
Last week candidates who have districts in Middlesex county gathered to debate education. All incumbents and new challengers were invited to the debate moderated by local Izzy Greenberg director of the Middlesex Coalition for Children  Nothing was off the table. The Press did a fair job of summarizing what happened at the debate, but the most interesting outcome is what the article leaves out; who was silent. Format of the debate was a 5 minute intro where the candidates could introduce themselves followed by questions asked by Greenberg in which all candidates could raise their hand and answer; some all were called on, some 3-4 where chosen to answer. Candidates Linda Syznkowicz, for the 33rd District, and candidate Len Suzio, candidate for the 13th, came out strong against Common Core. Syznkowicz, a current member of Middletown's Board of Education, made it clear part of her reasoning was that local teachers where never consulted as to the make up of the curriculum.


The Press quotes Syznkowicz as follows: Szynkowicz said Common Core ignored teachers’ input. “You lose the teachers’ personality with everything,” said Szynkowicz, a member of the Middletown Board of Education. “We are spending more time teaching to testing, not teaching to learn.” Like Syznkowicz, republican candidate Suzio echoed this assessment, and encouraged parent involvement at early ages rather than the reliance on government programs. Rep. Matt Lesser of the 100th District, who has in years past supported the early release of violent juvenile offenders, who had earned credits, spoke in favor on not incarcerating juveniles, but education them instead.

Who was silent? In all this, 20+ year veteran (11 terms) of the state legislator incumbent Rep. Joe Serra never raised his hand to answer a single question after giving his 5 minute intro. His reason for being an "expert" on education is that his wife is a retired teacher. At last months DOT presentation in Middletown dealing with the remodeling of the treacherous Route 17 on ramp to Route 9, Serra, long time chair of the Legislature's Highway committee & CASHO left early dodging the crowd & reporters both eager with questions.


October 22 Green Street Arts Center on Green St Middletown will hold its meet & greet with the candidates, open to the public.

Guestblog: It Happened Here! Story of Keating Wheel Company!

Please read a wonderful guestblog by Middletown resident Gary Keating about the Keating Wheel company! We love to get historic & slice of life submissions so please send them our way at middletowninsider@gmail.com.

It happened here!! Lost to history, forgotten and ignored up to now. Finally, a vital piece of
Middletown Connecticut history is bought back for all to share and enjoy.

A detailed, factual biography of the man, his ground
breaking factory “The Keating Wheel Company” on
Johnson Street in Middletown Ct, and his
contributions and innovations in the early years of
modern wheeled transportation in the USA.
A must read for those interested in early Middletown, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, and transportation history.

The book is available at this time online. A simple Google search of the title will
Robert M. Keating originally started the Keating Wheel Company in Westfield,
Massachusetts on September 10,1890 after working as the superintendent at the Warwick
Cycle Company in Springfield and before that with the Overman Wheel Company in
Chicopee, Massachusetts. The first Keating Wheel Company factory was a leased space
in an existing factory building formerly used by the Westfield Whip Company located
on Elm Street in Westfield. The factory employed ten men and by the spring of 1891 the
Keating Wheel Company turned out the first seventy-five Keating bicycles, called “The
On July 2, 1891 the company was reorganized with a new board of directors and in
January 1892, the Keating Wheel Company moved its operations into a new factory
located at 30 Dwight Street in Holyoke, MA. By 1892 the company had 300 employees.
Over the next five years the company produced some of the lightest, strongest and fastest
bicycles made in the United States, along with introducing the innovative and unique
Keating curved center brace design, celebrated by the tag line, “See That Curve” on all its
By 1895 the bicycle boom in America was in peak form. It is difficult today to fully
appreciate the impact the bicycle had on industry and society during the Gay ‘90s. The
bicycle was literally “the next big thing” in the 1890s. At the time, the two-wheeled
machine spawned the same level of technological awe in the minds of consumers as the
television, desktop computer and smart phone did during their inaugurations; along with
the same obsessive drive to own one. R.M. Keating and his Wheel Company were at
the forefront of this new transportation revolution and the success of his bicycle lines
required that the company expand. For that, he needed a new plant. When word got out
that the Keating was looking to move, cities and towns from far and wide began to court
Following a fury of propositions, it was Middletown, CT that made the most attractive
offer and on the evening of May 23, 1896, an official agreement to relocate the Keating
Wheel Company to Middletown was signed. As part of the deal it was agreed that a
massive two-story, 1000-foot long factory would be constructed on two parcels of land
purchased by the company on “the old race course near the Berlin branch road” which
would later become Johnson Street. On the last day of 1896, the new factory suddenly
and dramatically came to life. On that wintery New Year’s Eve, smoke billowed out of
the factory’s 135-foot chimney for the first time. A new board of directors was formed to
oversee the company’s success with Middletown’s most famous resident, ex-governor Owen
Vincent Coffin, in the chairman’s seat.

Letter to the Editor: Route 9 Paving Waste of Tax Money, Rep. Lesser Unresponsive

To the Editor:

Not often having the opportunity to travel to the shore, I’ve not paid much attention to the milling and paving being conducted by the CT DOT on Route 9. The DOT has now reached Middletown and it does not appear that they have any intention of stopping, until they reach Interstate 84. I question the necessity of it.

Certainly, there are portions here and there that needed maintenance, but it is obvious that the entire route does not need to be repaved. I travel Route 9 north from Middletown on a regular basis, and it is in pretty darn good condition.

But, you be the judge. Attached is a photo from under the Arrigoni Bridge, showing where the milling ended, and where it will pick up, again, tonight. Does that stretch of road look like it needs to be repaved to you?

My call to Gov. Malloy’s office to question this, yielded nothing but a referral to the DOT. That referral lead to three further transfers and an unfulfilled promise of a return phone call, from “Sherry” at the DOT, (860-258-4501) and the governors’ office (860-566-4840). As well, two emails on this topic to 100th District state Rep. Matt Lesser, have gone unanswered.

People highly resent our tax money being spent in such a way that gives the appearance of work being done, just to keep state employees busy. In my opinion, this is nothing more than political payback in an election year.

Tom Foley is a successful business man who appreciates the hard work you and I put into earning the money we pay taxes with, whereas Gov. Malloy seems to think money grows on trees and our pockets are overflowing.

Wasn’t it candidate Dan Malloy who promised NOT to increase taxes? Wasn’t it Gov. Dannel P. Malloy who gave us the largest tax increase in the state’s history?

Gov. Malloy is out of touch. It is high time for fresh ideas, common sense and a respect for the hard working People of Connecticut. Remember this when you go to the poll on Nov. 4.

William Boylan
Middletown

Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Guesblog: 'The New & Improved Middletown" by John Milardo

“And Justice For All” is a newsletter involving my opinions, views, and commentary as a life long Middletown resident. In my capacity as a former employee of Middletown (retired) for over 41 years, I have different perspective regarding how and why public figures do what they do.

Since Dan Drew became Mayor, he took Middletown by the ankles, turned it upside down,shook it, slapped it in the face to wake it up, and placed it back down so vibrant and improved, that I think I’m in Oz!

City government has been reorganized and streamlined by Mayor Drew.....NOT!
The reorganization has saved Middletown taxpayers tons of money....NOT!
The reality is that departments which were consolidated are spending more now than prior
to the reorganization. More money is spent on private contractors and less is being done
in-house. Maybe that’s one of the reasons for consolidation? Gotta take care of those
contractor/campaign contributors$...!

We are going to have a new waterfront! Middletown should have a waterfront which is
designed for families and all citizens to enjoy, not just a commercial area for tax revenue.
We lost our boat launch and fishing areas back in the 1970’s when Harbor Park was
created. The only problem is the entire area in question is a flood plain. Don’t put the
wading boots away. A couple of years ago, we were going to renovate and enlarge the
Palmer Field concession stand. The plan was rejected because the area is considered to be
a flood plain. This will be interesting.

The City is now asking to bond things which were always part of the budgetary system;
trucks. You are going to pay interest on the bond, for an item which was previously
planned and allocated for within a budget, and no interest payments. By the time the bond
is paid off, many of the vehicles will no longer be in use. The Common Council is
overspending tax dollars by allowing departments to low ball their yearly fiscal budgets
and then granting fund allocations throughout the year.
 Keep reading ...

Sunday, October 05, 2014

What Really Happened at Charter Review, Views from Committee Member Milardo

Below is a letter to the Editor from Attorney Joseph Milardo an appointed member of Middletown's Charter Revision Committee. Milardo gives a break down of thoughts on the process. Earlier we published a Letter to the Editor outlining the questions on the November 2014 ballot. http://www.middletowninsider.com/2014/10/middletown-charter-revision-ballot.html


Tony Petras, Mike Gaudino and I suggested a four year term for the Mayor, only if, 1) there was a 2 term limit, and 2) there would be no participation/vesting in the City pension fund.  First, the question of term limits was referred to the City Attorney and he confirmed what Tony, Mike and I already knew, that there is no prohibition on terms limits in CT, in fact, Stamford has provided limits for some offices.

Then all of the Dems and the other two republicans on the charter panel decided 4 years terms should be provided for all office holders and there should be no term limits. 
At that point, Tony, Mike and I pulled our support for the 4 year terms.  Although we would have  supported 4 years for the Registrars since any contests for that office are usually resolved in the nomination process and the two party nominees don't compete for that office in the general election. 

For any other contested elective office, a four year term makes no sense, delays voter correction opportunities for too long, and, would not really save election costs since the staggered terms we have now require two year voting for P&Z and Bd/Ed offices. 
The charter changes advanced by the dems and the other two republicans were so flawed they didn't even discuss whether election for 4 year terms would be staggered as Bd/Ed and P&Z elections are.

As for the bonding increase we only supported this if it provided for a super majority vote requirement for passage.

The rest of the Charter changes are nothing substantive and do not require passage at this time.

I will be urging anyone I speak with to vote NO on all questions.  Also, a reminder that we should vote NO on the State constitutional amendments.  I believe these to be dangerous to our political process since voting will be easier to influence/rig, and, they are designed to accomdate lazy, uninformed voters.  No ballot box should be open to votes weeks before election day.  The amendments scream "banana republic" with every word!

In summary, these charter reviision panel members were not up to the task of meaningful review at all.  I frankly don't know how or why the panel was formed.  There was no agenda, no clear purpose, and aside from Mike, Tony and I filing a memorandum of suggested changes which we reviewed with the TC Executive committee and the Council republicans, no one else raised any revisions which would make Middltown's government operations more accessible to the voters.

Joe Milardo

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