LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Connecticut Needs to be Run Like a Private Company

Dear Editor,

Well, it appears our elected public servants have found only $350 million dollars to cut out of a $20 billion dollar budget and feel this is the best they can do.

Say goodbye to your hard earned money

As one of their employers I don't agree and have another idea. I think it is time we bring in a business efficiency company to evaluate the all the state agencies and departments. I suggest asking GE, Aetna, and UTC who they would suggest as the best efficiency expert company in the private sector that has no connection to any government employee or appointee. Perhaps one or all three of these companies have in house efficiency experts that they would “loan” to the state. 

 It is my belief the government is top heavy with too many political appointees along with directors, managers, assistants and assistants to assistants and so on, and these experts would pick up on that quickly. This group of efficiency experts would not operate in secrecy.  All their meetings and reports, be it weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, would be open to the public and provided in toto to the media and to the citizens of the state via the internet with no censoring; CT is not DHS or any agency that would require that for national security.

I think that once the final report is in and acted on, not only will we have a balanced budget but probably lower taxes. It is time the state is run like a business and our elected public servants are given guidance via the experts on how to do so and held responsible to insure it is.

Jim Neilson

Also posted on his page, Musings of an American Taxpayer. 

Win! Fish Hatcheries Not Cut!

The CT Senate & House of Representatives passed the budget bill (S.B. 1601) and eliminated the Hatcheries portion thereby restoring funding for the Hatcheries.

We can now do a victory lap, but this issue will undoubtedly be revived again in the 2016 Regular Session, beginning in February, and should it fail again might be repeated until those who write the budget conduct research, recognize the concerns of the citizenry, the negative fiscal and jobs impact, and the significant reduction in public recreation (quality of life).

Thanks to everyone who contacted their legislators. Speaking to legislators on Tuesday, many had received your communications and some met or talked personally with sportsmen. However some were totally unaware of the issue -  we MUST do better! Sportsmen's Caucus members carried the ball. Thank those legislators you communicated with.


Click on button on left.
Become a member of the Coalition of CT Sportsmen to support our grassroots efforts protecting, defending and advancing YOUR RIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES!

“Band-Aid” CT Budget Fixes Are Unacceptable

Yesterday at the State Capitol, Republicans and I put forth a proposal to bring about tax relief for Connecticut businesses and families.

Senator Hwang

Our amendment proposals:

• Capped the impact of the state unitary tax, the burdensome levy that companies like General Electric have pointed to as creating a toxic business environment in Connecticut.
• Eliminated the unfair tax on propane that impact our residents energy use costs
• Provided more tax incentives for research and development businesses to grow in Connecticut.

Rumblings! Strike a Pose!

1. Who was absent from the most important council meeting of the year, the one where the city budget is explained? Treasurer Quentin Phipps! Why should the city's chief financial leader show up to only 1 meeting a year? $4,800 stipend to be City Treasurer of Middletown while living & working the the Bronx, not too shabby!  But Que made it back to Mtown to strike a pose front & center in the St. Sebastian Feast Parade!

2. How many times can Mayor Drew pat himself on the back at the budget hearing?  And how many times can he thank the public for coming to watch his spectacle? How many times can he thank the public for giving him the privilege of having a public forum in which to pat himself on the back? Well, you get the idea.

3. Knock knock. Who's there? Its just Mayor Drew patting himself on the back again. 

4. The audits in and Sodexo is costing taxpayers way more than inside services would. BOE  member Linda Syzinkowicz told us so over a year ago btw.

5. Councilman Grady Faulkner, on behalf of the NAACP believes no African American police officer should ever be allowed to exercise free will and leave the force to take another job, perhaps even a better one, outside of Middletown ever. Huh? He said so at the Councils budget meetings.

6. The recently passed budget increases spending by $5 million, gives each Council member a raise of $1,200 and makes the mayor's salary to $90k but it managed to cut taxes slightly. So what's missing? Can you say appropriations?

7.  The Democrats on Planning & Zoning were too cheap to request money be spent on a master plan for the riverfront because they all are planning experts and feel they are more than qualified to do it themselves. In the first sign of the Apocalypse a red heifer was born yesterday and Democrats exist who are against spending money. Luckily, the floating zone idea was recently flushed by the R's like the floater it was.

8. Rumor has it trustfund shoe fortune heir Wesleyan Grad & former National College Dem leader Ben Florsheim will be part of the D's p&z ticket. Will he put his money where his mouth is & bring jobs and have his family open a flagship shoe store in Middletown? 

9. Democrats want to appoint Lisa Santangelo Registrar. That's impartial right? Having the elected Town Committee Chair running elections?

10. Councilwoman Kasper got a break on her property taxes because she says her house is haunted. We wish we had made this up. Call Board of Ass.Apps. member Sal Micchula  if you think we're kidding.

11. Next Law & Order SUV Piddletown: A liberal elitist college jock sues his female assault victim for slander after his conviction.  Mariska Hargitay as Sgt. Olivia Benson & Charlie Sheen's exoskeleton as his wealthy CEO of a nonprofit health center father who just wants to clear up the misunderstanding with a little green. Guest starring convicted Dr. Tory Westbrook from the CHC as "Dr.McFeely."

12. Ed4Ed gets to hold a meeting in the high school auditorium to rally parents to reasons  as to why the BOE should pass the budget. Who pays for the janitor & police overtime? Not Ed4Ed that's for sure. If a GOP board member wanted to hold a public meeting at the same venue to discuss reasons not to pass the BOE budget with parents, who do you think would pay if even such a notion were even to be allowed? Its Ed4Ed campaign 2.0. Its an election year after all people! For the kids!!

13. Screw ups pay. Name that city employee who hired an individual for an unfunded position and is down for $10k+ bump in salary in the newly passed budget.

14. Inland Wetlands is illegal as far as party affiliation of membership which means all decisions are illegal. So nows the time to fill in that big swampy area while its open season.

15. I got 90 problems and they are all grievances by city employees. I thought we were ending lawsuits?

15 1/2 .Problems? What's going on with NEAT?

16. Suddenly Ed4Ed and Dr. P Charles are traffic engineers and have redesigned the road in front of Farm Hill School. The idea was wrapped in last years $1.8 million road bond referendum.  Never an issue suddenly is a crisis.  For years buses approached on the side of the school but because Public Works Director & Serra Cousin Bill Russo needs to flex his muscle, a plan that worked forever is getting tossed for a crazy concept infringing on private property. Quick: Suspend logic and start beating the "it's for the kids drums"!! What's it based on? The Complete Streets cut & paste manifesto lead by John Hall.

17. God bless Councilman Bauer & the R's for asking for an amendment to keep a rumored  specially created position for the good Reverend/Arm Chair Biologist/Jonah Bologna Center Dude/Wife Killer Defender John Hall  out of the budget before it was passed.

18. Speaking of God, Mayor Drew ended the practice of honoring National Prayer Day at City Hall, but couldn't even admit he caved to pressure from leftist progressive constituents. Instead, Drew  made participating clergy scape goats claiming they wouldn't allow other denominations. Funny, all other years the event was non denominational for multi faiths. And a month later, he marched  with clergy at the St. Sebastian Feast parade with Quetin, an event attended by hundreds of city faithful. Guess your belief in a secular society only matters to you when the event won't be widely photographed enough for your liking.

19. Just in time for Memorial Day: Bet you didn't know Mayor Drew gave the temp buildings housing the Veterans Museum the boot from the Eckersley Hall lot. Charming way to treat folks who fought for freedom ! Drew banished the veterans to a glorified cardboard box by modular building co. Mod Space ( follow the campaign $) at Vets Park. Thankfully the vets objected and are funding their own real ground up building with real walls, glass windows. and um insulation fancy that.  Also off the table is the dog park at Vets Park. Good job vets for finally getting the message across to Mayor Drew that excrement doesn't mix with a memories of heros'. Keep that sh*t confined to City Hall. And God Bless our veterans.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK

 

What do you think? 

Is Public Works being conscientious when it 

comes to spending your tax dollars?

                                Let the threads speak.

From: Billboy Baggins
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2015 7:09 AM
To: Russo, William
Cc:

Subject: Plowing

Dear Mr. Russo,

At 5:00 AM I heard a snow plow pass my house on East Main St. and saw another plow on Jenson Place.  Looking out at about 5:30, I noticed that the pavement in the driveway was still visible.  Putting on a pair of flip flops, I walked to the end of the drive and observed that the street had received no more snow than did the driveway and that it had been sanded and salted.  While outside, I could hear plowing going on around the neighborhood.

Less than an hour later, another plow passed my house; and again, at 6:55 another.  That is three times in less than two hours.  (Twice in the same direction)   The total snow accumulation in my driveway at this time, 7:08, is 5/8".

Mr. Russo, while it seems reasonable to sand and salt ahead of the 1 to 3 inches of snow predicted by the national weather service, I have a hard time understanding why our city's plow operators would think it necessary to have the plows on the pavement, when there is virtually NO snow on it.  It is also difficult to understand why, an hour later, with little to no accumulation, they would come back and plow what had just been sanded and salted, and an hour later, to do the same.

Operating plows under such circumstances does not seem to be reasonable.  The noise it creates unnecessarily disturbs people's sleep, (I'm up at that hour, anyway) and unnecessarily adds wear and tear to the plows and the trucks and leads to additional fuel consumption. (not to mention overtime)

I urge that in the future, city employees be restrained from using city resources in such a wasteful manner.

Very truly yours,

BillBoy Baggins

On Thursday, March 5, 2015 09:31, "Russo, William" <William.Russo@MiddletownCT.Gov> said:

We wanted to make sure that everything was completely bare for school , which was going to start with no delay. When it comes to safety, especially for school children, I don’t believe we were unreasonable or wasteful.

  I’m very sorry we disturbed anyone’s sleep. Our driver’s haven’t slept home more than two nights in a row since the beginning of February

                          Bill

On Thursday, March 5, 2015 09:54, Billboy Baggins

  said:

Dear Mr. Russo,

Thank you for your courteous reply.  However, I must respectfully disagree with your assessment that that it is not unreasonable or wasteful to plow half an inch of snow.  And, having a granddaughter in 3rd grade at McDonough, (sp) I don't accept the "for the safety of the children" argument.

No less than eight times, perhaps more, (twice since I sat down to write this), since 5AM, have the plows come up and down my street with the plows engaged! There is less than an inch of snow on the ground, now, and at 5:00 there was only a dusting.

I can see sanding and salting ahead of the snow, but to sand and salt, then plow away the sand and salt and re-sand and salt makes no sense, at all.

How much has the city exceeded this year's snow removal budget?   While I appreciate the job the plow operators perform, I don't feel the least bit sorry for them not sleeping at home more than two nights in a row since the beginning of February.  With the overtime they are getting, they can all take a two week vacation to the Caribbean, on the taxpayer's dime.   

Bill

I received no further responses to the above.

Here we are 16 days later . . . 

On Saturday, March 21, 2015 12:39 PM, BillBoy Baggins wrote:

Dear Mr. Russo,

It is 12:12 PM, the sun is shining, the temperature is 34 degrees and the national weather service predicts an afternoon high of 43.  Is there a logical reason city trucks are plowing bare, wet-at-best pavement?

Does not the public works dept. have any regard for the prudent, responsible use of the city taxpayer's money?

Very truly yours,

BillBoy Baggins

There has been no response to this, yet.

If This sort of thing irks you, start speaking out!

 

Guestblog: When Did A House Become A Home? By Fred Carroll

Below is a guest blog by frequent blogger Fred Carroll. Views expressed are that of the author not necessarily the Insider staff. Dr. Fred has graciously been a guest blogger before, and his last post can be read here:Guest blog: What's the Plan Stan? by Fred Carroll. 

When Did A House Become A Home?  

by Fred Carroll  

 

A house is not a home, end of story. A "homemaker" can make a home in a house, or make a home out of a house, but a house is not a home on it's own, anymore than a tent, prison cell, or cardboard box that a refrigerator came in is inherently a home. Indeed, what we call "housing" these days is, as far as I can tell, a primary root cause of what we call "Homelessness". Consider, if you will, what are these "houses" that we're all so keen to at least live in if not even own. Well, to start with, if you want to build one of these behemoths, however big or small, it starts with cutting down trees, which are "home" to countless animals; from birds [remember them?] to squirrels to monkeys to bugs. So building a house starts by creating homelessness in the animal kingdom and ends up bringing, as often as not, the poor sucker who stepped up to the plate of home ownership to his knees, lain low by the demon of debt......And why is that? Do otherwise hard working types get lazy after a few years of being homeowners? No, it's not that folks get lazy after they buy a house, it's that they paid way too much for it! A bear digs for half a day and has a home for the Winter, a bird works for three days to create a home, a bunch of elk just stand there, and they're home! But a human who pays one hundred thousand dollars for a house and earns fifty thousand dollars per year worked for TWO YEARS to "create a home", and of course that calculation implies "living for free" for those two years-impossible, of course. And that is just the beginning of the cost of the idiot rectangle.....there's The Taxes, the maintenance, the water and gas and electricity, and garbage pick up without which this thing is worse than useless. So WHY, pray tell, do we call these stupid boxes that most of us live in "HOMES"?  

Vexed and perplexed, Fred Carroll

Many of Carroll's sketches are on display at the Buttonwood Tree on Main Street.

999 Comments!

Today we received our 999 published comment!  Will you be our 1,000th commenter?

Speaking of 999- tis tax season!  Federal taxes went up this year and the mil rate in Middletown is destined to go up atleast 2.4 mils or more! That's  at minimum $480 MORE out of your pocket in the name of Ol' M-town if your house is valued at $200,000.
 CURRENT MILLRATES:
Middletown + City Fire    32.70
Middletown - South Fire    3.648
Middletown - Westfield Fire    1.237
Middletown - City Fire    5.80Middletown    26.90 So with the hike Democrats have caused, a home valued at 200k ( not counting cars) will bring in at least  $6,460.00 in taxes! Renters- you aren't in the clear- you can bet landlords will have to pass this burden on to you as well.
http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?a=2987&q=385976
Speaking of taxes and 999 - Remember the Herman Cain 9-9-9 plan?

Cain stated the following summary about the 9–9–9 Plan:

"Our current economic crisis calls for bold action to truly stimulate the economy and Renew America back to its greatness. The 9–9–9 Plan gets Washington D.C. out of the business of picking winners and losers, using the tax code to dole out favors, and dividing the country with class warfare. It is fair, simple, transparent and efficient. It taxes everything once and nothing twice. It taxes the broadest possible base at the lowest possible rates. It is neutral with respect to savings and consumption,capital and labor, imports and exports and whether companies pay dividends or retain earnings."^[1]http://www.hermancain.com/999plan