Your Daily Spin: Lock your doors it's artificial turf!!!

We've been called jejune, mean spirited, sensationalist, satirical by other media all of which is true, liars we ain't. However, today's spin comes from the NIMBY do-as-I-say not-as-I-do Ed4Ed folks over at the Eye ( now picked up by the Mess), considered by many prefferred unbiased (cough cough) upper crust of sophisticated M-town "news" bloggery; you decide.

 On Monday, 25 citizens convinced the Common Council that despite scientific evidence supporting the contrary & a report by an outside engineering consultant Milone & McBroom explaining cost savings & benefits, artificial turf is dangerous to peoples health. The $37 million bond referendum now reads that no artificial can be used on city fields. Currently, the high school has a synthetic football field. Soccer coaches at the meeting argued a lengthened playing season as an advantage of synthetic over natural grass. Councilwoman Mary Bartolotta (D) lead the charge to strip the synthetic turf language from the ordinance & Mayor Drew cast the tie breaking vote. Absent were councilmembers Sandra Russo- Driska and  Carl Chisem. A medical doctor from the audience testified to synthetic turf being safe.  Jonah Center founder John Hall, Conservation Commisdion members, Superintendent Pat Charles and BOE member Ed McKeon spoke of supposed "known" health hazards of synthetic turf but failed to provide evidence.

The City Council was considering installing synthetic turf at 9 of the city owned playing fields as part of  $37 million referendum package including parks improvements to be voted on this fall by citizens. The bond amount without synthetic turf as an option amounts to $10 million, however, the council failed to reduced the ordinance before passing it on to the public for a referendum vote. As it stands, the entire amount will be borrowed & goes to citizens to vote on in November.

Prior to the meeting, a  letter from a newly formed local activist group  (?) ECoin - made of up what seem to be wannabe scientists branched off from the Jonah Center - Rev. John Hall - I want wife killer David Messenger freed to worship- for Earth Air Art & Green$$ Folkers - which can be read over at the Eye's website outlining the "danger" to children and "potential cancer risk" confirmed not by a scientific study, but MSNBC and a soccer goalie who swears on Al Gore's hair piece that synthetic turf causes cancer in children.

We would like to issue this PSA Disclaimer before reading the letter:
1. We get a lot of sh*t for siging as a collective Middletown Insider and not our God given names- this letter is signed ECoin group; "Treefanatic." Treefanatic is resident arborist Jane Harrris indicated on past posts, just sayin'!  Other "experts" in this ECoin group? Just regular lay people not scientists. Guess it's OK when you're of a particular political persuasion...

2. The article cited is by MSNBC which cites a Yale study & an EPA study which concluded that synthetic turf was found NOT to be harmful as far as causing cancer. The article states that both studies were NOT inconclusive, but they were conslusive. If further study was done, which they both suggested maybe a link might be found. Who knows. The author of the Ecoin letter says almost definitively that the studies were inconclusive. The original article Ecoin's letter improperly cites can be read here:  Read it for yourself and don't rely on anyone's - especially this groups sour regurgitation.

A 2010 study by CT DEP determined no added risks. In fact, the Board of Heath for Mass, NY &; California all came to the same conclusion. The City of Boston just voted down this spring a proposed moratorium on the use of synthetic turf at its city's fields due to lack of evidence of risks. Click below to enlarge concise letter outlining these studies. In  January 2015, the CT Dept. Of Public Health reissued a letter discouraging the circulation of false claims about synthetic fields. Prior in 2008, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal suggested prosecution for those perpetuating claims.

The ECoin article  cites non profit research that just happens to have been performed by lobbyist for organic field companies, which just happen to compete with the synthetic guys, conflict much?

Your Daily Spin: Eric Kuhn "Republican's hate Black People"

Eric Kuhn

The Middletown Press published a letter from resident Eric Kuhn in which he implies more or less all Connecticut Republicans are racist bigots by saying "the Connecticut GOP must choose between appealing to black or anti black voter." Kuhn, a local musician and Middletown Eye writer, writes letters to the Press on a regular basis the consistent theme of  persecuting conservatives.Perhaps he is angling for a regular column? His letter is linked below: 

http://www.middletownpress.com/opinion/20140729/letter-connecticut-gop-must-choose-between-appealing-to-black-or-anti-black-voters

 Kuhn writes:  "I think Republican politicians in this state know perfectly well that a part of their natural constituency is people who       hate black people."

Isn't it wonderful that we have Mr. Kuhn here to pontificate  what each and every Republican, not just in CT but the whole country, thinks about each and every issue? Why, we wouldn't know what we're supposed to believe if he weren't here to tell us. And, of course, he has the credentials and qualifications to do so (remind us - what are they again?). What do you think Mr. Kuhn's reaction would be if a Republican were to paint all Democrats with such a broad brush?

      Without intending to write an Apologia Pro Vita Republicana,we are confident enough to state that most Republicans believe that this country was founded on the belief that each and every individual has natural rights that cannot be taken away by governmental fiat, that all laws should apply to all of us the same way, that individual persons are better suited to determine their own destinies and to decide what is in their own best interests than the progressive-liberals down in Central Planning, that taking people's property from them and giving it to someone else is theft, that each person should be judged on his or her own merit, not by what group he or she belongs to, and that large concentrations of money and power, whether in corporate or governmental hands, represent a threat to individual liberty.

Now Mr. Kuhn, why don't you tell us what you stand for?

PS: "Founded in 1866, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican Party’s Reconstruction-era policies aimed at establishing political and economic equality for blacks. "Source: The History Channel: http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan. Below Middletown Insider writer Billboy Baggins responds to Eric Kuhns letter to the Press:

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Dear Editor,

Eric Kuhn's false and distasteful comments from 29 July are an act of desperation.  He and others of the far left ilk can read the writing on the wall; the Democrat party is about to fall.  And hard.

For years, the Democrat tactic has been to divide Americans along economic, social and racial lines.  Until recently, it has worked.  But no more.  Blacks, Hispanics and us whites too, have become acutely aware of the emptiness of Democrat promises.  Disillusioned by an increasing tax burden, declining employment opportunities, skyrocketing public debt, porous borders and the abuse of governmental power, Kuhn sees minorities being draw to the GOP.

Frantically reaching for straws, he again attempts to divide Americans by claiming Republicans want to prevent non-whites from voting. While he cannot find a single example of this anywhere, we have a Justice Dept. that refused to prosecute the New Black Panthers who stood outside polling places in Philly, dressed in berets,  jackboots and billy clubs; an obvious attempt to intimidate non-black voters.

It takes an empty soul, or at least an empty hat, for one to claim Republicans have a "natural constituency" of people who hate blacks.  I guess that makes black Republicans "Uncle Toms".  Regina Roundtree, founder of CT-BRAC, is a Republican and a personal friend. Theresa Tillett (black) is running for senate in the 2nd District and Angel Fernandez (Puerto Rican) is running for state rep in the 33rd and both are personal friends; and Republican.  We are friends because we share a common interest in a love of country, liberty, and the Constitution.  While Democrats engage in race baiting, this is a banner we can unite behind.

Billboy Baggins

(The writer is a member of the Middletown Republican Town Committee.)

Your Daily Spin: Snow Job aka Blizzard of Lies

Today the Mess posted an article of an interview with Public Works committee chair Councilman Todd Berch and Mayor Drew addressing criticisms of the plan of action taken during last weeks blizzard.

Mayor Drew said that the crews were "working around the clock" (didn't he?) but then the public was told that they couldn't plow because of "visibility" issues. Which is it? Were they out plowing or pulled back to City Yard for their own safety?

If the crews were called back out of concern for their own safety as the Mayor has said, why wasn't that part of any of the robocalls the public got all weekend? It would have been a legitimate decision. What is incomprehensible is the duplicity of this administration. This mayor seems incapable of candor; he always has a story when it is totally unnecessary.

It is very clear that a conscious decision was made to pull the trucks off their routes sometime Friday night. Many citizens have said they saw or heard no trucks. Why can't they just admit it? They chose a course of action; now stand by it. Somebody decided that it was better to wait it out and launch a cleanup effort after the storm ended rather than stay in the field and plow while snow was still falling. This, however, was not communicated to the populace even once. Instead, press releases were issued, robocalls went out and pre-recorded messages were put on the City's phones, all making inaccurate representations about the cleanup effort and impossible projections as to when roads would be passable.

Finally, to refresh everybody's memory and provide a little perspective: It is reported that this storm delivered 32" of snow. The December 26, 2010 storm dropped 29" on Middletown. And then Middletown got hit again on the weekend. The city was fully passable within 24 hours; no streets were left untouched. All references to this being the most snow in 100 years notwithstanding, it doesn't explain the marked difference in response.It is recorded that Middletown 29" because that issue was relevant to eligibility for FEMA reimbursement which in fact the City got in 2010.

MEA CULPA: Irony is that that even when confronted with reality, this administration continues down the path that got them in the mess to begin with.  As one anonymous commented on the article said:  
"A humble acknowledgement of their poor and inept planning (or lack of it), combined with an apology and a sincere attempt to improve things next time around would go a long way and help earn back lost respect."
We couldn't agree more.

Your Daily Spin by the Middletown Mess:When the Numbers Don't Add Up

Daily Spin: Response to City & BOE Consolidation of Legal Services

http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2013/01/19/news/doc50f9defb8c1b4595879930.txt

There has been an article in some of the news outlets regarding a memorandum of understanding between the City and the BOE regarding the BOE using the City's legal staff rather than hire outside attorneys.

The article stated that the administration wanted to go back to pre-2008 staffing levels.  For this year, 2012, the City is increasing it's current staffing levels from an Acting City Attorney, vacant Deputy City Attorney position and a secretary to a City Attorney (already hired), two Deputy City Attorneys (one already hired and one scheduled to be hired in the spring) plus the secretary.  The Risk Manager's part of the department currently has three full time employees.  This is leading us to believe that the City previously had

that level of staffing.  However, in the approved budget for the year ending 6/30/2009, there was a City Attorney, one Deputy City Attorney and a Legal Secretary as had been budgeted for the year ending

6/30/2008.  A second Deputy City Attorney was requested but not funded.  At one time, for a short time, the office was staffed with a paralegal who first started as a part-time employee and then becamefulltime; after that employee received her law license, she was appointed as an additional Deputy City Attorney.  She subsequently left the City for other employment.  Should be noted that this former employee was one of the original applicants for the City Attorney position and not chosen.  The article is misleading in that except for a short period of time, the office has only had ONE Deputy City Attorney.

Also, the article claimed that the City has been able to settle some 30 some odd pieces of litigation stating further that numerous grievances and suits were settled by working with the Mayor, BOE and the union.  It should be noted however that the majority of the "30" legal issues were union grievances that did not necessarily require legal representation on the part of the City or the BOE.  These were grievances filed the employee through the union and were to be heard by a panel at the state labor board; the fee to do so is approximately $25.00 per party and did not necessarily rise to the level of requiring the attendance of an attorney at several hundreds of dollars per hour.  As part of the agreement the BOE insisted on keeping the illegal hire , Councilwoman Hope Kasper's son inlaw, whom she had a direct hand in hiring. Hmm. The hearing of grievances by the Labor Board is a matter of stating the facts and the specific part of the union contract violated to the panel and then waiting for their response; sometimes, the panel will request that the positons of both sides be submitted in writing

but generally it's straightforward: how did the employer violate the contract??  BTW, there is still a grievance out there to be heard and also an outstanding law suit not settled as of yet.

According to the paperwork handed out by the BOE at the workshop regarding their budget for object code 392 Legal Services for 2011-2012 the actual expenditure was $147,177.48; $100,000 was

appropriated bor the 2012-2013 budget and for the 2013-2014 budget $154,220 is being requested, an additional $54,220.00 over the current budgeted amount.  In the overall budget for the BOE, $147,177 doesn't seem extreme but it should be noted that much of what was paid for the outside attorneys for services rendered for the issues between the BOE and the City were paid for from the City's Insurance and Claims Fund and not the above referenced object code in the BOE's budget.  Monies in the Insurance and Claims Fund are reserved generally for payment for pending claims and suits against the City plus claims resulting from storms etc. and deductibles, and should the fund be insufficient after the payment of funds not planned for, an appropriation from the General Fund will be necessary to meet those obligations when and if

they arise.  If the BOE is expecting to have to pay less for legal expenses, one would assume that we will see the request for $154,220 be reduced.  Right??

Your Daily Spin: Hyper Hyperbole

Rep. Matt Lesser (D) and bff Mayor Dan Drew went to President Obama's inauguration this past weekend. Drew's wife's family and Lesser's family are both from the DC area, so no doubt it was a good opportunity to visit family as well and rub elbows with the up & up- we take no issue with this everyone should get a break. The two also sent photos from the Democratic National convention, the Mayor sent photos of himself posed with celebrities in attendance. It is assumed the state Democratic Committee paid  the convention trip.  Last spring coincidentally during the height of  cherry  blossom season, taxpayers funded a trip (read here)home to see the fam for Drew under the guise of his desperately needing to meet with CT Rep. Rosa DeLauro at the capital to expedite an already underway process of getting the army lands in  the Westfield section back in the hands of the City. But the Insider ask's why send photos of yourself to the local media and claim you are representing Middletown? Can't you just be honest, and say you took a little vacation? Spin it baby!
While in DC, Drew and Lesser went to the Murphy celebrations with Big Dan aka Gov. Dannel Malloy. 
Are rumors around City Hall say Drew has been picked up Senator Chris Murphy's administration, and may be packing his bags this spring true? 
Pics from the road trip published in Middltown Patch:
http://middletown-ct.patch.com/articles/matt-lesser-dan-drew-represent-middletown-at-awe-inspiring-inauguration-00072b42#photo-13067726

Election Guide 2012 & Superlatives!

Staff at the Insider would like to provide readers with the following election guide in the form of superlative awards we have selected for some of our favorite people active the community this past election cycle!

Journalism Awards:
Most Unbiased & Equal Middletown Media Coverage: Cassandra Day Editor of Middletown Patch
Most Biased, Poorly Quoted "Coverage": Viktoria Sundqvist, Middletown Mess
Best Hair: Eye reporter  FishMuscle Devoto
Best Sense of Humor: Middletown Insider for our "jejune-ness"

Candidate Awards:
Candidate with Best Traffic Updates and Gratuitous Press Releases: Matt Lesser
Most Humble & Least Likely to Sleep Ever if Elected Candidate: Deb Kleckowski

Candidate Most Likely to Become an Air Traffic Controller based on hand signal usage when speaking: Rosa DeLauro
Most Handlers & most in need of handlers: Rosa DeLauro
Best Speaker with the Most Common Sense: Wanye Winsley

The Duh Duh Um Um Ahhh Distinguished Speaker Award: Big Dan "Call Me Dannel" Malloy
Most Likely to Hold  Press Conference Based On Lies: Lil' Dan Drew

Best Entrance for Crashing said Press Conference: Senator Len Suzio

Most Likely to Receive Endorsements from People Whom Never Met Him: Matt Lesser

Most Likely to be Recast as Roseanne Barr's character in the remake of the 1989 film "She-Devil": Dante Bartolomeo

Most Likely to campaign on City/Tax-payer funded Time & get photographed doing so: tie- Mayor Dan Drew and Serracrat Cousin Dir. of Water & Sewer Guy Russo

Honorary Awards:
Most Family Oriented: tie- Councilwoman Hope Kasper, for Hiring her Unqualified Son in Law a Job at the BOE Administration, Councilman Tom Serra, for insisting hired employees "worship" here and fulfil his incestuous fantasy of having only "chosen" individuals in every city department. Also for hiring a City Attorney who worked for the National Democratic Committee, whom then upon moving to town can become a Dem Town Committee member and well, you get the picture....

The Clinton Couple in Politics Award For Most Dynamic & Least Understood Marriage: Councilman Bob Santangelo and wife Registrar of Voters/Co-Mayor Lisa Santangelo