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) (33^rd 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) (9^th 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) (13^th 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 (100^th 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) (33^rd 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

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?

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.

Metro Movies Presents: New Summer Movies Premiere This Week!

MIDDLETOWN-  The beginning of the film summer season began with a bang with such hits as The Amazing Spiderman 2, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Captain America: The Winter Soldier dominating the box office in the early months of the hot season.  Enter July and early August, with the exception of a lackluster Transformers sequel starring Quentin Phipps, the box office has been very dry until now.
      The Insider's spies around down have done many Google searches and found advance posters and film summaries for  upcoming films that plan to premiere at Metro Cinemas (next to the arcade) this August.  Enjoy and see you at the movies! If you are a Republican, keep in mind that Eric Kuhn claims we don't sit next to a certain type of folk.

1) Erasherhead- Starring Gerald Daley as Gerald Daley in a surreal film by master filmmaker David Lynch.  In the director's newest entry, the man that that brought the world Dune, Twin Peaks and other creepy shit follows the the topsy turvy world of a professional politician who will stop at nothing at keeping his hair clean and cow towing to the king of Middletown, Tom Serra during Common Council meetings. Lynch's cameras are able to get inside this complicated man, who enjoys a liquid lunch or two at The Elks and has to keep his territory alive during the council meetings.  Is he really at The Elks club, is it an illusion, why is there a midget riding a camel in a red suit sitting next to Gerry? This is avant guard cinema at its best and audiences have to figure out why the film is called Eraserhead? Hint: We know, trust us we know what happened last month at__________!

2) The Shining 2: Get off of my Porch-  Although there have been two adaptations of  Stephen King's  The Shining over the years, it is this re-telling that has audiences wondering what the hell is going on.  In the original novel, the protagonist Jack Torrence is an alcoholic writer who brings his family to the haunted Overlook Hotel to write his dream novels, soon strange things begin to happen.  Fast forward to 2014, where Media Solutions Inc has decided to change the story and the locale to make it more relevant to Middletown politics.  In the update, the protagonist is now named Ed, who is a very liberal person when it comes to everyone around him, but if he is questioned by those on the outside, the very thing he complained and griped about when he was not an elected official, he becomes evil and uses f-words in his Facebook posts.  It's all about the Benjamins isn't ED4ED?

3)Talento En Todos OS Tamanhos-  You have to love our boy Lesser, right? Here is a guy who is whiter than Elmer's Glue and is a member of the Connecticut House Latino Caucus because the guy claims his mom's bloodline was from Argentina. Yet, the Dem masses are embracing their boy due to his (was he even born in the USA? We're kidding!) heritage.  Film Synopsis: Lesser stars with CGI chipmunks in a story that chronicles how the three illegals jump the border and immediately get driver's licenses, voting privileges and Ebay cards.  Soon the three are adopted by the kind and interesting Drew family, where the three chipmunks are forced to work in the mayor's kitchen and cook all day for the 1st family of Middletown.  Look out for cameos by Joe Somalis as the Coyote and Angel Fernandez who the Drew's claim is fake latino.  (Rated R: For Mild Violence and references to interspecies smuggling)  Note: A sequel is already in the works where the Lesser character claims he invented the lightbulb. 

4) The Shannon Blair Witch Project- Starring (You figure it out) with proceeds going to the Sal Caracoglia I told you so Fund!  In this 'fictional' stunning documentary which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in a few months, the authors take us on a journey of those that get away with things and those that don't.  Watch as a health teacher pushes a student to the ground and gets away with it because he is related to a former mayor and current Democratic Majority Leader.  Interviews with Michael Frechette, Betsy Palmer, the floor that Blair landed on, and $64,000 other good reasons to make it all go away. (Rated S - We are scared and we shouldn't writing this, trust us we are in Texas now.)

5) Malificant- Aging queen of the hill sucks the life out of the innocent and beautiful blonde  Councilwoman Mary Bartolotta.  Is she banned from the building, what's up with the Registrar's Office?  Who knows? Does anybody know? Hey Drew give it up, Lisa isn't going anywhere nor are her texts! (Rated GOOTB- "Get out of the building")

6) Face/Off -  In this stunning sequel to the July common council meeting former Mayor and current Mayor are forced to switch bodies.  Drew is Serra and Serra is Drew in a fight to the finish, with the amazing line of "I invented you!" said many times throughout the film.  Drew shows much strength as he cuts the strings that bind him during a broadcast of the common council and stands up against his former mentor. "It's on, bitch!"  (Rated R: For Nudity and lots of close ups of each character looking at themselves in a large mirror)

7) Illegal Alien- It's all over the news and guess what? Malloy says they are not coming here! It's an election year, he will say anything so don't vote for him. Neil Diamond once sang, "They're coming to America, they're  coming to America....TODAY," as usual Mr. Diamond was right, but the 'they' he is referring to came here legally. In this amazing and insightful drama, each liberal family across this great land of ours, adopts 1 or 2 illegals from Mexico and changes their lives forever that is until the sequel.  It is during part II, where the liberals realize they are not getting a stipend or a tax break for these kids, so they begin to build their own wall around Village District neighborhoods. Nimby!

8) No Commentary 4 Old Men-  In this saga of a powerful family, the big man in the State House has a lot to prove during his twilight years.  His councilman kid brother is on loose with his strange attempts to get his kin out of trouble in Glastenbury, but Joe has some loose ends of his own.  He's made some strange promises over the years, as the Chairman on the State's Aging Committee he has told his constituents that he can stop them from aging, and guess what? They believe him! He also brags about  the terrible roads in the state and is still in awe as to why his nephew did not get the athletic director's job. Can you say power vacuum?

9) The Deer Hunter- In this titillating sequel to Michael Cimeno's 1976 Vietnam epic, Planning and Zoning commissioner plays a rich guy pretending to be poor.  After his fellow activist, ED4ED drinks himself to death at the Remington Rand brewery, fellow villager Dic (no K) Wheeler juggles some shit and races his big green ass bus that runs on hummus and human tears to the rescue of a distraught and deranged Devoto who will not stop calling Dan Russo due to his interest in the planning and zoning chairmanship.  Watch the exciting action and Stephen will not stop at anything to get his way, there is an amazing montage where Devoto tears into a live deer with his teeth but in a tragic twist the deer is Phil Pessina, luckily for Devoto, Joyce Rositter forgot what she saw.  Music by Joe Gallo and Eric "Republicans Hate Black People" Kuhn.   Easter eggs: See if you can count how many Mac products Devoto has on his possessions throughout the film. (Note: All guns in this production were made out of venison which in turn is made of tofu!)

10) Misery-  In this horrific story of gluttony and greed, the councilwoman who demanded a tax break due to the haunting of her house is back and this time, she is god-damn pissed off.  All around town, she is dropping the immortal phrase of, "When I am mayor," or "I am running for mayor, will you support me?"  Special appearances by all of her relatives with whom she has gotten legal and illegal city employment over the years.   Summary: In classic horror fashion, Hope's character of 'the ghost', loses it when she discovers that her man Carl Chisem is having an affair with Sandra Faraci. Hope kidnaps the man and demands that he compose a pulp novel about her love for him-this is one good movie!  Look for a supporting role by Jimmy Streeto as the clumsy sheriff who ignores the criminal activity in the house because it's better for his career. 

Rumbling: Carpino to advocate for improved highways; Serra & Lesser Are you Listening?

Editorial: State Rep. Christie Carpino, R, Cromwell and Portland, represents the 32nd Assembly District in Connecticut. Below is an open letter Carpino has submitted to various news outlets with her plans to advocate for Connecticut road maintenance. Carpino's district used to include Middletown, until Democrats pushed for redistricting to better favor getting them elected. Our 25 year long veteran representative & hometown native State Senator Joe Serra is head of the state's highway commission &  cash cow CASHO, yet Middetown boasts the most deadiest stretch of roadway in the state, and by some reports, the whole northeast. On ramp 17 on Route 9 being the site of many a vehicular accident, some lethal. Rep. Matt Lesser has been too  busy advocating for college tuition tax breaks to address the issue either. There are state roads in Middletown that feel like washboards! 

Lesser and Serra, take note and learn a lesson from Carpino's initiative. Carpino's letter is below.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

To the Editor:

The recent White House report which found that Connecticut has the worst roads in the nation is upsetting and unacceptable, but not surprising to me. After all, I travel our roads daily right alongside my constituents. The legislative majority has failed the commuters of Connecticut.

Let us not forget, Connecticut also has the fourth highest gasoline taxes in the nation at 67.7 cents per gallon yet clearly this money is not being used for our critical state transportation needs. The governor has diverted over $189 million dollars away from transportation funding to be used on other projects.

The state budget I voted against in 2013 broke transportation promises made by Gov. Malloy dating back to 2009, when he promised to preserve the dedicated fund for transportation projects. It also raised CT Transit bus fares by 20 cents and paratransit fares by 15 percent.

In 2013, I took action and voted for a law which will provide a statutory lockbox on the Special Transportation Fund effective July 1, 2015. Any funds that will be put into STF can only be used for transportation purposes, unless the law is changed. Keep in mind that there is nothing preventing a future legislature from simply appropriating less funds to the STF.

Carpino looks into Deadly Crashes in Portland, Middletown Reps ZZZZZZZ....

Rep. Carpino,
used to represent
 part of Middletown.

The Middletown Mess or the "Piddletown Mess" published a story today that Representative for Portland and East Hampton, State Representative Christie Carpino is asking safety officials to look into the stretch of roadway in Portland that has been the site of many deadly car crashes. The area known as "The Ledges" along Route 66 has been an area were many fatal accidents have been the site of.

Thank you Ms. Carpino for doing YOUR JOB! We wish you still had Middletown in your district! Maybe next time you are at the capital you can give Ol' Joe and Matty a sharp elbow to the side to wake them up from their comas regarding the roadways in Middletown. 

Highway Routes 17 and 9 running through Middletown are a disaster, ranking number 1 as the most dangerous highways in the state. 

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/connecticut_worst_roads_in_the_nation/

In a recent report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Connecticut & Illinois tied for  the worst roads in the nation. 

Rep. Pappa Joe, Middletown. 
Head of Highway Committee has deadliest
 stretch in his own town! WTF.

And at the top of Connecticuts list, Middletown scores number 1.

25+ year veteran Rep. Joe Serra (D), who lives in and represents Middletown, is head of the Highways and Transportation Committee.

 Serra also runs CASHO - aka Connecticut Association of Street & Highways Officials, Inc. a "non profit" that oversees the conditions on CT's roadways. Despite this, Middletown can boast that is has the No. 1 most deadly section of highway in the state!  According to  Department of Transportation records, while it has a somewhat scenic view of the river, the on ramp where Route 17 merges with Route 9 has been the site of more accidents than anywhere else in the state.

 Is an increase in patronage to businesses downtown worth the tragedies that have resulted from traffic lights put in place to direct people to Main Street? With new developments on the horizon, what will the new traffic patterns needed to be to satisfy developers look like? What have we learned and what can we do to make this stretch of road safer now that there may be new opportunities?

The Hartford Courant published an article about the  CT Department of Transportation's conclusion that this stretch in Middletown is the most dangerous stretch of roadway in the state. Read the article  here. In the Courant's article, manager of Amato's on Main Street Diane Gervais describes the delicate relationship between Route 9 Traffic and Main Street patronage, she is said: "Our customers need access to Route 9, and we need access to our customers from Route 9."

PLEASE WAKE UP Rep. Serra and Rep. Lesser! - Rep. Serra - maybe next time you are at CASHO or a highway meeting you might pipe up about the how many fatal accidents are happening in your own back yard? We are waiting?!

 http://articles.courant.com/2011-11-17/news/hc-worst-roads-1118-20111117_1_ramp-middletown-resident-rear-end-crashes)

http://www.middletownpress.com/general-news/20131115/officials-looking-at-safety-of-route-66-after-fatal-crashes

Middletown, Guns & the Gubernatorial Run in Connecticut 2014

Candidate for Governor of CT Joe Visconti

Who is running for Govenor in CT? So far candidates who have spoken in public about an official run  for governor of Connecticut in 2014 are incumbent Dannel Malloy (D), and republicans Tom C. Foley, Joe Visconti, and state senator John McKinney. McKinney has come under criticism from the CCDL and other 2nd Amendment rights groups for his staunch support of the Malloy administration's stricter gun legislation in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting massacre that took place in December of 2012. Visconti, who's  facebook page has photos of him with holster in view, so far has been the only gubernatorial candidate to go on record and state he supports the second amendment and feels the new more restrictive gun legislation passed in CT is unconstitutional as well. Visconti declared his official run in April. Race watchers from various print media are calling Toni Boucher, Chris Shays, Mark Boughton, and Mark Lauretti "potential" candidates, however only Malloy, McKinney, Visconti, and Foley have made official declarations.

What does this have to do with Middletown?Representatives from Middletown who voted in favor stricter gun control measures included democrats Rep. Matt Lesser, Rep.Joe Serra, and Senator Dante Bartolomeo. 

What more does this have to do with Middletown's municipal election in November? Mayor of Middletown Dan Drew lead the push for some of the members of the Common Council to sign a declaration on behalf of the 40,000+ citizens of Middletown seeking tighter gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook Tragedy. All of the members of Common Council are up for re election November 2013. Both parties have declared their slates this week. Signers of the Proclamation were Phil Pessina (R), Hope Kasper (D), Gerald Daley (D), Tom Serra (D), and Ron Klattenberg (D). Read out previous post of which common council members signed the proclamation and what exactly it meant: 

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/01/is-councils-resolution-regarding-2nd.html

Mayor Drew  and he also signed New  York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against  Illegal Guns  Pledge.  Don't care about guns? Keep reading, there is more to this pledge than just gun rights that could set a precedent that will effect PRIVACY of ALL citizens.

Is it about restricting the right to own a gun or the right to privacy? 

Answer Mayor's Against Illegal Guns wishes to inhibit BOTH:  The main goal of the Mayor's Against Illegal Guns group is to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment which restricts access At issue is a campaign urging repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from releasing gun trace data to the public. The ATF and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), both support the Tiahrt Amendment . Both the ATF and FOP have requested its reinstatement every year since 2003. Newspaper in New York came under fire early in the year for publishing the names of gun owners, with the repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, this information could be accessed readily by the public. 

 

Critics feel that this could set precedent for other personal information collected by the government being shared as well. Proponents feel it is the public's right to know sensitive information about their neighbors as a way to prevent or profile people who potentially may commit acts of violence.

CCDL and the 2nd Amendment in CT: CCDL is a non profit group, therefore cannot be partisan. CCDL however, wishes to support 2nd Amendement rights and has invited various politicans and candidates to speak at their monthly meetings regarding 2nd amendment issues.  Since the institution of the stricter gun laws , which the  CCDL group feels are unconstitutional, and the backlash over the increased length of time it has now takes the state to issue pistol permits - the CCDL has been raising money to over turn the new laws. The group  is currently planning a Poker Run rally September 21 to raise money, and is holding another family picnic for members and 2nd Amendment supporters wishing to contribute to the litigation fund on August 24th. More information is available on their website: http://ccdl.us/ 

Below, president of CCDL Scott Wilson makes a statement on behalf of the group regarding McKinney, who as the minority leader in the state legislator, advocated for Malloy's stricter gun registration laws.  Malloy has already been campaigning hard starting this past spring along side incumbent mayor of Middletown Dan Drew (D) who is seeking reelection and ever-campaigning senator Rosa DeLauro (D) making appearances at a variety of photos ops around the city. CCDL meets monthly at the Elk's Lodge in Middletown, meetings are open to anyone wishing to learn more about 2nd Amendment rights. The groups reports it has over 8,500 members.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Press Release from CCDL President Scott Wilson

Groton, CT July 23rd, 2013
The President for the Connecticut Citizens Defense League (The state’s largest grass roots gun rights group) offers comments on a gubernatorial run by Senate minority leader John McKinney.
CCDL President Scott Wilson: “Senator McKinney was instrumental in implementing a historic gun control law with zero consideration for the constitutional rights of law abiding gun owners. With his deliberate act of siding with gun control supporters, there will be no support from CCDL for his run”.
The CCDL President also stated that other elected officials who went along with the Senate leader and voted in favor of the gun control law, could expect the same from the organization.

Rumblings: Representative Matt Lesser Votes for Early Release of Violent Criminals

1. Say whhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaat??? Yes. Representative Matt Lesser, a Wesleyan almost graduate who represents Middletown, voted in favor of House Bill 6521 which would allow murders, rapists, kidnappers and other violent criminals convicted before the age of 18 to be released after only having served 60% of their sentences. The vote goes before the senate this coming week.

"Young people should not be held responsible for their actions as a teenage- just think of the Wesleyan shroom kid who walked naked into those people's house in Middletown, totally so not his fault." remarked the representative, " I am almost 30, but I still try to appeal to young people in anyway I can. I mean its my "thing" with voters ya know. Offering some young dudes free passes is the least I can do."

Coincidentally, the Patch story about Lesser voting in FAVOR of early release was only front page for about an hour before being replaced by a movie review. 

Read what MRTC vice chair had to say about Lesser's voting record :http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/05/letter-to-editor-lessers-support-of.html

2. So lemme get this straight...  Rep. Lesser supported the legislation allowing drivers licenses to be granted to undocumented illegal immigrants. This passed the state senate last week with support of one local senator for Middletown. Senator Paul Doyle (D) of the 9th District used his noodle voting "no" meanwhile, Senator Dante Bartolomeo (D)  of the 13th District voting in favor.

"I liked the movie "Taxi Driver", and  I thought they were asking if we liked the movie "Aliens", so I was like yeah those two go together. Combined they would make an awesome summer flick." said the senator, explaining her logic behind the endorsement of the bill. 

The Insider was unable to contact Sen. Doyle for a comment, but an intern for the senator said "He is the tallest of the representatives covering Middletown, so he gets to vote his conscience."

The intern failed to elaborate further during our meeting, but confirmed speculation regarding the complex issue of height and hierarchy among Connecticut Democrats.

3. The intern also confirmed rumors of  a secret bunker/safe room being built accessible from the tunnel under Route 9. The safe room, is being constructed at the request of Mayor Dan Drew to house high ranking officials and friends in times of emergency and natural disasters.  Chief of Staff Joe Samolis has reportedly been taking Judo classes offered at the Senior Center as part of his new job description, to defend the bunker. Reportedly, funds have been diverted from emergency management to pay for the classes for Samolis, but construction of the safe room is being paid for entirely by grants. Artist David Shultz is reportedly donating his artistic talent to do a mural inside the space. 

Efforts by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro will allow the bunker to be stock piled with free diapers. 
"You just don't know how long you may need to be in there." said DeLauro, who coupled the proposal with HR 226. HR 226, drafted by DeLauro received little attention, but had it passed would have given a $2,000 tax credit to citizens turning in AR-15 guns. DeLauro told our staffers if the government were allowed to confiscate guns, she would see to it that each person a gun is taken from be diapered for life.

4. Results?: All the local reps for Middletown, including Joe Serra (D) and Lesser (D) in the House, and Bartolomeo and Doyle in the State Senate voted for increasing the state minimum wage last week.

"I run CASHO, its a 501-c3, what the heck does it matter that minimum wage goes up?" stated Serra on the record in an exclusive interview at Harbor Park today where he treated Insider staff to calamari and mozzarella sticks."I've been able to ignore the fact that Middletown has traffic lights on a major highway and one of the deadliest exits in the state. I am Spartacus!"

5. A moment(rare) of sanity for Lesser: Lesser voted in favor of  SB 802 a bill to require labeling of all genetically modified foods sold in Connecticut, the bills moves on to the senate this week where it is expected to have bi-partisan support.

"I voted for this bill for Middletown," said a teary-eyed Lesser, "Suppose there is a disaster where Danny has to go into the bunker in order to run the City and then he eats genetically modified MRE's unknowingly?"

6. Speaking of waterworks...  More bills went out incorrect this cycle from the City's Water & Sewer Department. The previous administration had moved the department back to City Hall from its Berlin Road location as a last resort before starting termination proceedings against the department director for gross mismanagement. Despite this, W&S Director Guy Russo was recently nominated as President of the Connecticut Waterworks. The Mess quoted Mayor Drew  who endorsed the nomination, as admiring of Russo's "ethics." Marone!

7. Ethics? We don't need no stinkin' ethics.  BIll SB374 if passed by would mandate behavior assessments of all  children whether enrolled in public schools or not. How did Wayne Winsley phrase this? A Check up from the Neck up?  Rep. Bartolomeo is blowing up twitter jonsing to get this one passed. And you though 'booger face' was tough to un-stick once it had been deemed your nickname in elementary school, now try a state sanctioned label like 'sociopath' on your permanent record.

8. In other news, Mezzo Grill had a fire on their back patio last week. Thankfully, no one was injured. A few years ago O'Rourke's diner received $25,000 from City funds after a fire destroyed much of the historic diner. Owner Brian O'Rourke had no fire insurance for the popular restaurant. Whether Mezzo Grill will also receive public money to recoup from the blaze that took place last week has yet to be determined.

City Receives Loan for Remediation, Welcomes Back Kleen Energy Explosion Contractors

The Mess published an article today that the state has already awarded O&G Construction LLC the contract for brown field remediation of land owned by Middletown Transit that the transit authority wishes to expland on.  Where was the public bid process??  Loan Middletown $1 million? That's like Middletown paying the state interest to allow ourselves to do the dirty work...LITERALLY!  O&G Industries is the the company that were the contractors of the Kleen Energy Plant at the time of the horrific explosion at the plant's construction site 3 years ago on February 7, 2010 that injured dozens and killed six people. O&G was found to have been in violation of a number of regulations leading up to the explosion. Although the state concluded in it's criminal investigation that no charges were to be filed ($$fishy$$). The Courant reported that Federal work-safety regulators issued more than $16 million in fines against O&G  its subcontractors and identified over 100 violations at the plant at the time of the explosion.

 And really, no one else can do this job?? Follow the money folks! So not only is Middletown welcoming back this company- the City has been told by the State this is who the City will HIRE to do the work at the Middletown Transit!
http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2013/04/18/news/doc516f338827380386937834.txt

Rep. Matt Lesser, you "championed" the bill for gas line "gas blow" testing regulations, what say you about inviting the violators back??  Rep. Bartolomeo, Doyle, Serra- are any  of you listening? 

Judge Holzberg, you presided over the wrongful death cases, what say you?

Can any of you look the family in the eyes with a clear conscience?

Does anyone else find it offensive to those who lost their lives to give this company a second shot in so little time?

Letter to the Editor: We have Serious Budget Deficit

Letters to the editor are published as a courtesty and do not necessarily reflective of the opinions of the Middletown Insider staff. 
Below is a submission from Middletown Republican Town Committee Chair Ken McClellan that he also sent to local media and local representatives of Middletown Paul Doyle (D), Dante Bartolomeo (D), Matt Lesser (D) and Joe Serra (D). 
 joe.serra@cga.ct.gov
 Matthew.Lesser@cga.ct.gov
 Paul.Doyle@cga.ct.gov
 Dante.Bartolomeo@cga.ct.gov
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have a serious deficit in the state budget.  I would like the state assembly and state senate, before they start looking for ‘new revenue’ to make up the deficit, to start looking at what the state is spending, and ask “WHY?”
In that vein, I have some questions about the state budget:  the state web-site, Connecticut Transparency (http://transparency.ct.gov) has a very nice, searchable database of the state budget.  In exploring this site, I’ve found some expenditures that really don’t make sense to me.  I’d like my senators and representatives to check out and get some justification for these expenditures.

1.       Teachers’ Retirement Board has a line item for $26 million for Clothing and Footwear.  There is no explanation or detail.  Why is the Teachers’ Retirement Board buying clothing and shoes?

2.      State Comptroller has a line item for Other Statewide Payments, Gross Proceeds for $3 million, with no detail.  Where is this money going?

Ken McClellan,
Middletown, CT

UPDATE:   "I received a reply from State Rep Matt Lesser: He stated that this line description was a coding or data artifact, and it was unlikely that the money was spent on clothes and shoes. He did not offer to get it corrected, or offer an alternative." Ken McClellan

Local Middletown Republicans Hold Monthly Meeting Tonight

WANTED: Are you a person who thinks Gov. Malloy has FUBAR'd the budget into a fiscal disaster?  Do you feel that our local Democrat representatives, state senators, mayor and legislators aren't doing enough about it??

Meet other folks who think so too!

Alright, that is not the MRTC's (Middletown Republican Town Committee) official slogan, but we at the Insider think it should be!

February 25, 2013 Tonight 7 pm Council Chambers, City Hall DeKoven Drive

http://www.middletownctgop.com/

Print this for a front row seat to the action and who knows maybe somebody will buy you a coffee after the meeting.

Mayor Drew Kicks Off Re-Election Campaign

Earlier this week Mayor Dan Drew along side BFF Rep. Matt Lesser and Senator Richard " I forgot I Didn't Serve in Vietnam Like I told Everyone" Blumenthal kicked off Drew's 2013 re-election campaign for Mayor. The event was a pizza party at First & Last Tavern. Pony rides, "Tales of Grandeur" a puppet show  by Councilman Tom Serra & Big Bro Rep. Joe Serra, and face painting were held out back for the Drew's 10 buddies who came out to show support.

To the Editor:

My name is Juan Montalvo and I am a member of several City of Middletown commissions as well as a member of the Middletown Republican Town Committee. First and foremost, I am a litigation advisor. As a litigation advisor, I took an oath to uphold the law and justly serve my community. It is that dedication that leads me to write this letter.

While I am sure critics will claim that this is an attempt to smear the opponent and sling mud, I believe Middletown citizens deserve to know the true nature of Democratic candidate for mayor Dan Drew.

The facts speak for themselves and the inconsistencies in Mr. Drew’s resume should be brought to light. Although not forthright, it is not uncommon for one to show their best face when writing his or her resume and highlight his accomplishments, however; it is despicable for a person to dramatize those accomplishments to almost the point of fiction to make one seem more qualified for a particular position than is remotely plausible based on facts presented.

This over-dramatization of achievement to the point of false portrayal of facts is even more despicable when that person is seeking to hold such a highly esteemed public office as that of mayor of a city. Dan Drew presents awards on his resume both published on independent sites and his own website, as individual awards given only to him based on his sole merit without giving credit as those received by an entire organization.

In one particular case, Drew credits himself with an award that the organization he was employed by received, but he had nothing to do with. Investigating Mr. Drew’s credentials the information below was found:

From: Ginger Stanley [mailto:GingerS@vpa.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 9:30 AM
 


Subject: RE: Virginia Press Association Awards

I can confirm that Daniel Drew was among a team of reporters that won a first-place award in 2004 for a multi-story series on the armed siege of a middle school. This was a team effort at the newspaper (Potomac News). Second-place award in 2003, football stars dies in shooting, sports news coverage was also a team project at the Potomac News. Our search did not turn up anything with his name on it for 2005, although Potomac News won a first place for 'staff' for sports pages but I have no way of confirming that Daniel was a part of this staff award. We do not have any records on the Media General awards, Donna Reed at 804-649-6000 may be able to help you. Hope this helps.

Ginger Stanley, Executive Director

Virginia Press Association

11529 Nuckols Road

Glen Allen, VA 23059

804-521-7575 Phone

804-521-7586 Fax

gingers@vpa.net E-Mail

www.vpa.net www.HeadlineVA.com www.VAPublicNotice.com

And more:

From: Donna Reed, Media General Communications Holdings, LLC,

Sent: October 28, 2011 2:10 PM

Subject: RE: Media General Awards

"These were in-house recognitions that were handed out on a monthly basis at one of the small northern Virginia community newspapers owned by Media General. Mr. Drew was given honorable mention in October 2003 for a local sports story."

Donna Reed

Media General, Inc

Richmond, VA 23219

-----Original Message-----
 

Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 2:45 PM
 To: Ginger Stanley
 Cc: Kim Woodward; Caroline Cardwell
Subject: Virginia Press Association Awards 

Good afternoon,

I am hoping that you could assist me in some research. A gentleman by the name of Daniel (Dan) T. Drew is running for mayor of our city of Middletown, Connecticut; he is a relative newcomer to our fair city, residing in town less than five years, and there is a lot of curiosity about him.

In his bio, he stated that he is the recipient of three separate journalistic awards from your organization, and I was hoping that you could confirm information. Since an exhaustive search via the internet has failed to reveal any articles published under his name, I hope you could please shed some light on our search. These are the award years and honors he claims:

Awards and Honors:

* Virginia Press Association, 2005, 1st Place award

* Virginia Press Association, 2004, 2nd Place award

* Virginia Press Association, 2003, 1st Place award

Won several writing awards for reporting on the Washington sniper murders, serial killer John Allen Muhammad's life in jail, the armed siege of a middle school by a teenaged boy, and dozens of murders. Wrote an award winning investigative series about corruption in a county sheriff's office that lead to that official's election loss and indictment.

Additionally, these other honors are listed as well; however an internet search has not even resulted in any information about the awarding entity. Is this anything that you are familiar with?

* Media General Mega Award Honorable Mention, 2003

* Media General Mega Award Honorable Mention, 2003

* Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation, 1998 Harcourt Scholar

Would you please help....? Thank you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dan Drew appeared on the Bill O’Reiley TV show in 2002 claiming to stand for the First Amendment. However, where was Dan Drew when BOE Chair Ted Radzka pulled the plug literally on the microphone when Ed McKeon was speaking at a public session several months ago? Where was Dan Drew when Councilmen Santangelo, Serra and Councilwoman Kasper walked out on a member of the public who was addressing the Public Safety Committee during a public session only weeks ago?

How is it that such an esteemed, award-winning investigative journalist, and self-proclaimed free speech advocate, Drew failed Middletown in not doing what he himself has professed as his crowning achievements — finding and exposing the the truth in government and standing up for free speech? How is it that Mr. Drew expects Middletown citizens to believe he was such a fantastical investigative reporter when he in fact was primarily a SPORTS writer and provided occasional coverage of the police blotter at the time that some of these awards were given?

Middletown should not want a bystander for a mayor.

It is of my opinion, as they say in the courtroom, that the preponderance of the evidence shows that Dan Drew is not a champion of the truth if he cannot be truthful on his own resume. Dan Drew cannot be a team player in the political arena and bring “transparency and communication” back between the BOE and the city and and the city and the citizens if he cannot be honest about being on a team that received journalistic awards rather than trying stretch the facts to boost his ego and pad his resume.

Failure to recognize reality and be honest with one’s self — let alone the public — is not a quality Middletown should want in a mayor.

Dan Drew’s Resume: http://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldrew

Sincerely,

Juan Montalvo,Middletown Resident