The Accomplishments of Stratford's Mayor Miron

I was surprised to see that no one had responded to several online requests to list some of Mayor Miron’s achievements over the last two years. My first reaction was to assume that he’d done little in his time in office, and I wanted to investigate if this was true. With many of the regulars on the online boards that I truly respect convinced that this was the case, I owed it to myself to check the town records and see for myself.

What I found was an impressive list of accomplishments that seem far greater than anything I saw from the previous Town Manager form of government. In fact, it makes a very strong case for keeping this type of government. Regardless of whether one likes the Mayor personally or agrees with him politically, one can’t deny that a critical momentum has begun that’s been sorely needed in Stratford politics. All the stalling tactics and chamber meetings currently surrounding the sale of Long Beach West merely highlight the ineffectiveness of our Town Hall when there are too many cooks in the kitchen.

The principle problem of perception with this mayor’s office is that he’s changed too many things. However, that’s what we voted for in 2005: change. In fact, many regulars who’d attended Town Council meetings in the past might remember that the power of the current mayor was vested by the Republican-led council members over the objections of the Democrats. It was only after a Democrat was elected that concerns about a mayoral veto were raised. This is not unlike the current “debate” about holding a referendum on an agreement that is not finalized while also non-binding (allowing the Republicans to ignore the results if they choose).

As an Independent, I’ve always looked at the partisan bickering with disgust, and it’s funny how both parties play both sides of the fence whenever it suits their needs. Funny, but dangerous and unproductive.

I offer the following so that there can be some constructive dialogue in assessing our first term under a mayoral form of government. I hope to see facts debated and issues addressed rather than name-calling and petty slander.

I’m convinced that the windows need to be opened around here and some fresh air let in before we suffocate on our own inaction. With the pretense of “not wanting to make mistakes,” we make no decisions. As a result, precious town assets languish unused with no end in sight. We argue over parliamentary procedure rather than courses of action. So it was with some interest that I conducted this cursory look at the achievements made so far in two years of the mayoral form of government we requested.

Listed below is a partial list garnered from the town minutes of council meetings and press releases from the town web site. To his credit, the Mayor does not claim that he managed all this on his own: he states that all accomplishments took place as a result of the planning and hard work of many Town employees, volunteers who serve on many Town Commissions, Board and Committees. In some cases bipartisan cooperation was achieved and the Town Council deserves credit for those items.

There is more listed on the town web site, and they write it far better than I could. They also go into more detail. I simply don’t see the need to list much more, so I’d be happy to see what Mayor Miron’s detractors think of the results of a pretty simple search for the mayor’s accomplishments in this first term.

Additional information can be found at the web address for a pdf document outlining this year's State of the Town that, by itself, is a good overview of where the Town is now. That link is:

http://stratfordct.qscend.com/filestorage/1296/396/8320/State_of_the_Town_-_2008.pdf

My incomplete list looks like this:

• Mayor Miron and State Rep. Terry Backer got $55 million for Stratford's Sewage Treatment Plant from the DEP in 2006.

• The Town of Stratford and Liberty Tax Service partnerd to support Cell Phones for Soldiers.

• Mayor Miron announced the installation of the Town's Code Blue Emergency Phone System in 2006.

• Mayor Miron announced his first annual Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament in 2006. There have been three, and recently there was some talk about where the money was going: it is listed in press releases online. In 2006, all proceeds from this non-partisan tournament benefitted the Disability Resource Center, the Evergreen Network, the Special Olympics and the South End Community Center. In 2007, the beneficiaries included Autism Speaks, American Society for Scleroderma Research, Disability Resource Center of Fairfield County, Emerge, Evergreen Network, The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, the Stratford Visiting Nurse Association, the South End Community Center, Wounded Warrior Project, Protect Your Environment of Stratford, The Stratford Coalition for the Homeless, children’s programs offered by the Police Athletic League and the Stratford Library Association, animal advocacy organizations in Stratford, and Stratford’s public and private schools. It’s a shame that some want to hurt charity by assuming the recipients of the monies were never mentioned.

• Mayor Miron announced the Summer Season on the Stratford Festival Theater Grounds on July 24, 2006, and it recently completed its latest round in August. This is an important step in reviving the arts in Stratford and have proven wildly successful.

• Broke ground at Stratford's Water Pollution Control Facility on October 31, 2006.

• Unveiled the Town of Stratford's Marketing Campaign on March 9, 2007, which serves a critical role in attracting industry back to our town.

• Began Stratford's Alternative Fuel, High Efficiency & Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Program a year before the fuel crisis peaked.

• Mayor Miron, the Stratford Youth and Family Advisory Board, the Stratford Clergy Association and Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport hosted a Community Action Forum on Race to address one of the biggest crises this town has seen in years. In January of 2008, Stratford's Citizens Addressing Racial Equity (CARE) Program received National Recognition for its work.

• Mayor Miron issued a statement regarding the Sikorsky Memorial Airport (May 31, 2007) that was prescient considering how the FAA recently decided to claim town land at the long beach West parking lot. It also speaks volumes as to the importance of a relationship with Bridgeport’s mayor in working these issues out without endless litigation. These two people continue to talk about issues such as Remington Woods, Pleasure Beach/ Long Beach West, and Sikorsky Memorial Airport.

• Stratford was awarded Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting in July of 2007.

• Stratford Army Engine Plant Offered For Sale & Redevelopment in August of 2007 after the Army took it away from us due to our inability to find suitors. Even with the recent collapse of this sale to Hollywood 51, the process will be revisited and interested buyers already identified. This work was a substantial victory to people like me who value factory jobs in this town.

• The Mayor announced only the third Budget surplus in the last decade, with $1.2 million in savings, in 2007. It was difficult to believe this with all the bad press, but this is as fiscally responsible as I’ve seen the Town in quite a while.

• Mayor Miron announced one of the most significant labor arbitration decisions (regarding the Stratford Fire Pension Arbitration Award) in Stratford's history on October 29, 2007: “The Town will save approximately $15.2 million dollars in total gross savings as a result of this Award over the next 23 years.”

• Mayor Miron has led the critical push for a new Animal Control Facility after years of neglect.

• The mayor holds regular Open Door Meetings to ensure public access to the highest office. It seems as if not enough people take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to get directly involved in Town matters and get facts from the source. Regardless of whether you agree with him, we all have a responsibility to give him the advice needed to move Stratford forward.

• Stratford Senior Services was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation.

• The Town of Stratford announced the opening of two Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites on February 19, 2008.

• The creation of the "Get Credit Smart" Workshop for Stratford Housing Authority & other Neighborhood Residents.

• The Mayor oversaw the expansion of the Elderly & Disabled Tax Relief Program, increasing Income Limits to $41,800.

• Town of Stratford received a $200,000 grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism in July.

• The Town recently unveiled the Video Tour Book to spur tourism and relocation.

There are more, and I’ve already addressed his crucial role in pushing forward the discussions of Long Beach West, the Shakespeare Theatre, and the SAEP. I have to admit that I took for granted a lot of the things the Mayor did that didn’t make the papers. He’s attended the NIMS Compliance Seminar for Chief Elected Officials, the Annual Meetings of the United States Conference of Mayors, meetings with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA),
the National Brownfield Association's "The Big Deal", and other conferences to keep Stratford in the national eye. He was appointed to Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority Board of Directors, presented Stratford's C.A.R.E. (Citizens Addressing Racial Equity) Program at national conferences, and still manages to make many town functions of importance to its citizens. His hours go beyond normal business hours to nights and weekends. He has served ably as the Town’s point person, and I think his record does deserve more respect than it gets.

I’m sure some will say this is not enough, but I am comfortable saying that his work compares favorably to anything we’ve managed from the old form of government in quite some time.

It’s easy to say, “He hasn’t done anything.” Easy, and wrong. Instead, what I’d rather see is what you think about what he has done. Read more of this observation!

Stratford Asks: For This I Miss “Deal or No Deal”?

This year’s Democratic National Convention has a theme of “America’s Town Hall.” In fact, I skipped attending tonight’s scheduled town council meeting at our own Town Hall just so I could study this quadrennial bloodsport and get a feel for what to expect through November. With today’s Dow dropping 242 points, every now and again I need to focus on national politics as well as local. I turned to CNN out of habit and settled in for the show, a Pepsi in one hand and my newspaper in the other.

I lasted about an hour before I finally had to turn the volume down. Maybe it was too soon after the wall-to-wall Olympics from Beijing, but watching CNN’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention has become unbearable. If Wolf Blitzer calls his team “the best collection of political experts anywhere” one more time, I’m going to hurl my laptop through the TV screen. Remember when they used to lambaste Fox news for tooting its own horn like this?

With the volume down, every occasional glance at the proceedings consisted of a B-list celebrity (Matt Modine is on right now) speaking with a Kennedy. There were a few rock star sightings as John Kerry poked his head out from behind some scaffolding and Ted Kennedy made a rare appearance, but precious little in the way of substance. CNN isn’t covering the convention so much as covering itself covering the convention. It’s all pillow talk until Barack’s wife makes her speech, which in and of itself hardly seems to merit such a buildup. I don’t remember Nancy Reagan or Barbara Bush getting this type of star treatment, but then again they were the grandmarms of their party. Michelle is a hottie (for that matter, so is Obama), so I guess she reaches a larger demographic.

Ironically, at 9:30 on the very first night of the convention, CNN.com leads with this headline under Latest News: “Have Dems botched convention so far?” I didn’t know you could botch a convention so quickly, but with a horde of journalists hovering like vultures in every hallway in Denver, CNN seems ready to weigh in.

It just reminds me of why I respect local politics so much more than national campaigns. It’s obvious that most everyone in Stratford’s political offices truly cares about the town. I hope the candidates avoid making the mistakes the national campaigns of McCain and Obama have already made: too much flash, too much dazzle, not enough of the simple explanations that outline how they will fix things.

Under my own Latest News bulletin about the convention, I would have to write this: “I can’t wait until Monday Night Football returns.” Read more of this observation!

A Poll Among The Ashes

Back to the issues. The poll results are in, and 54 unique votes were tabulated on the question, “Should Stratford sell Long Beach West under the conditions listed in the current agreement?”

Here are the results:

Yes, it’s the best deal we can manage at this time: 36 votes (66%)
No, we can get much more for it or develop it ourselves: 10 votes (18%)
Maybe, but we need more information and a town referendum: 7 (12%)
To tell the truth, I don’t know enough to make an educated decision on this: 1 (1%)

Not surprisingly, “I’m sick of it, already! Stop asking!” got no votes! Why? It seems to be the hottest issue at the moment as it involves all the drama surrounding Stratford politics. It dredges up the ugly class wars of the “sweetheart leases,” the ease with which one person’s careless cigarette toss rendered us helpless, the termination of those leases, and our subsequent inability to come up with options from which to choose. All of this is seen through the lens of the Stratford political machinery as it screeches and grinds to a halt amid the ancillary issues like whether we have a right to referendum or whether the Republicans are trying to stall the Democrats in order to deny them the semblance of progress.

But what to make of these numbers? The first option wins by a landslide at first glance as it easily outnumbered all other votes combined. However, adding up the second and third options means that 30% of the respondents do not look at this as the best deal. That is a significant number; if one-third of the people have doubts, it legitimizes the opposition. The question is what to do next.

Ideally, both sides of this issue, those who wish to sell and those who don’t, would lay out their plans for public consumption. This would narrow the discussions to the pros and cons of each plan, with one winning on merit rather than political machinations. Unfortunately, as I’ve written previously, what has happened instead is that only one side has presented a plan. As a result, we are left to debate the merits of one option without the benefit of looking at alternatives.

What happens if the Long Beach West sale to TPL annd the Fish & Wildlife service gets shot down (whether by town council vote or by referendum)? What do we do with it then? More importantly, shouldn’t people be permitted to vote on this issue with the knowledge that shooting it down means we will follow Plan B?

Without Plan B, the citizens of Stratford are left to wallow in the politics of the past that have left us with a barren Shakespeare Theatre, an empty Army Engine Plant, and the ghostly remains of Long Beach West.

We’ve been here long enough to see the writing on the wall: nothing will get done. Oh, it will be discussed. It will be studied, and we’ll probably spend some good coin getting someone else’s opinion. It will cause people controversy, and it will be spoken of at parties as “the way things happen in Stratford.”

That’s not good enough. Maybe Stratford needs to make decisions rather than spending so much time avoiding them. Maybe we need to choose when two roads diverge in a wood rather than standing in place for fear of making a mistake. We’ve already made the mistake: we’ve done nothing. Mistakes can be corrected, but the failure to make decisions leads to a rot much worse than that seen on the crumbled cottages of Long Beach West.

Choose a path and let’s get this town moving again. If there’s only one path presented to us, study it and look for alternatives. If none appear then you know you must move on. The Observer had hoped that some group would have offered a counter-proposal by now because it’s a shame we can’t do something ourselves. But none have been offered because no alternative exists. We all had our chance. We couldn’t come up with a plan.

All things considered, we can’t help but look at the Fish & Wildlife’s track record and decide that it’s the most attractive option we have. Nothing has come up about their failure to fund land-buys before, and it’s reasonable to assume that 100 years of history won’t change because we threw our hat into the ring. All the pettiness that clings to this issue like poison ivy misses the point. Boardwalk? We’d still need permission if we wanted to build one ourselves. Cottages? We’ll have to pay to take them down ourselves regardless. Liability? Fire & police coverage? We’ll be on the hook for these anyway. At least this option offers a timetable for taking them off our books. So it takes five years. Heck, what have we managed since 1987? Give ‘em ten! It’ll still be better than whatever this town has been able to muster.

All of this and no mention of protecting our wildlife or open space. Why? Because those things have been clouding the real issue and polarizing opinions instead of allowing for logical compromise. The real issue: we can’t afford to sit here and let all of these major projects shatter to the ground around our feet because of semantics. The fact is that our excellent Public Works department is stretched to the limit already and we can barely manage as it is. Deal with it.

I’d rather choose the best path available and walk on then die in the woods waiting for an epiphany. Read more of this observation!

A Break From Topix

First, let me say I’m sorry for how some folks got carried away on the message boards of Topix. I’ve always loved this forum, and for this reason I think it’s best for me to stay away for a bit.

I posted articles from the blog as they commented on important issues in Stratford in a way the newspapers don’t. I certainly didn’t hold them up as fantastic examples of journalism; they aren’t. But most of the posted articles are from the CT Post, which means most of what is discussed here comes from one source. Looking at the board now, almost all the articles on the sidebar comes from the Post (except two, and a double-posted item from the Star-Telegram). I just don’t feel the Post does enough coverage of Stratford as it is; I certainly don’t want ALL my news from them. That said, I appreciate the time Joe and Phyllis take to find articles and post them. It’s hard, and I want to thank them for providing us a great service. These two people are what make Stratford such a great place.

It’s become obvious that my posting has become a distraction on here. I have been accused of being several different people, among them Jezebel282, the Mayor, the former editor at the Stratford Star, and numerous other pseudonyms. It was funny at first, but it’s begun to drown out the issues that I care about. In fact, it’s drowning out the whole purpose of my blog. Some people posting in support of me have resorted to the same attacks I outlined in an earlier article, while others have posted my website address so often that it borders on spamming. I’ve started cringing every time I see my name pop up.

I see now how easy it is to fall into the trap of spending too much energy on the negative things. Rather than add fuel to the fire, I’ll apologize to the community and step away for a while. You deserve better discussion forums and I’m obviously not helping. I’ll continue blogging but not posting them on here.

Thanks, everyone, and especially Joe and Phyllis. I’ll always turn to Topix to keep up with things.

(P.S. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ll post this last article on Topix because… well, just because.)
Read more of this observation!

Does Stratford Need A Blog?

Let’s face it: maybe Stratford just isn’t an internet kind of town. I was shocked to discover there were no blogs about Stratford when I looked last year. Most of our surrounding towns have several, covering a variety of issues such as town events, music, or political issues. I’ve always thought blogs important because they provide an unfiltered look at the local community while also allowing for immediate feedback. Newspapers and local news casts have advertising revenue guiding their missions; controversy and shock sells ads, and the “little stories” get lost.

We started the Observer because we thought Stratford needed an outlet for both a more balanced look at local politics and a platform to spotlight issues around town that don’t get any love from other media. Obviously, it’s a labor of love rather than money—we’ll never see any of the latter. Instead, we look at this as a community service.

While we’ve managed to generate some impressive numbers in only one week since our launch (466 unique visits, 1,100+ page views), we haven’t generated the comments on our site that we’d hoped with so many viewers. We’ve had many comments on the Topix message boards when we post the articles, but few on our own site. Although 50 people so far took the time to vote in our poll, we’ve only gotten a handful of comments on the fourteen articles we’ve posted.

First of all, we know the main problem we face: if we aren’t controversial or severely biased, we won’t provoke the same reaction that leads to many posters leaving comments. Because we don’t encourage name-calling or baiting during discussions, we’ll leave a large chunk of those “impulse posters” behind. We’re willing to live with that.

However, could it be that Stratford simply doesn’t need this blog? Is it possible that Stratford doesn’t have enough interested people willing to discuss these issues online unless it is a “club” mentality where everyone has the same bias?

It would be nice if the same people who were kind enough to comment on Topix would begin to post on here as well. If our idea of public service isn’t reaching anyone then we’d rather spend our time on something that will.

We do want to say “thanks” to all those people who have visited so far! Now, let us know what you think. Read more of this observation!

The Animal Control Shelter STARS

Time to focus on something “constructive”: the status of the proposed Animal Control Shelter for Stratford. While this issue might not be as “sexy” as the sale of Long Beach West or the renovations of the Shakespeare Theatre, it really is a matter or life and death!

The Town must find a new location for the shelter due to asbestos, yet can’t renovate the existing building because they’d have no place else to house these animals in the many months it would take to complete construction. In May, Mayor Miron unveiled an Access Road destination for a new state-of-the-art facility that would replace the current building. This would relieve some of the embarrassment associated with maintaining a town-run facility that has been cited several times for code violations.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m not much of an animal fan. If it’s not garnished or simmering in a light sauce, I tend to steer clear. Still, even though I don’t particularly like dogs or cats, I am painfully aware of the need for an effective animal control presence in town. Rabid animals, abandoned snakes, or even the occasional coyote sighting are reason enough to ensure we have adequately trained staff and holding facilities to protect ourselves. Beyond that, it’s an unfortunate fact that in hard times such as these, pets suffer first. We at the Observer believe that a community is judged on its ability to care for those in need, and at present Stratford is sorely lacking.

Here are some pictures of the current animal control shelter on 9 Frog Pond Lane. While the street name might be wildly appropriate, the accommodations are clearly not: rusted fences around crumbling concrete walls, the animals cramped in cages with little in the way of comfort or companionship. (Honestly, I did not mean to use that many words starting with “C” in the previous sentence.) In short, the building is the last word in gulag-couture. The officers have taken pride in the building, the overflowing flowerbeds in front a brave attempt to break up the depression of their surroundings.

The shelter is remarkable for what is not there: no feces, no trash, no smells, and no noise. Each dog has a separate window to an outside enclosure to get some air and feel the wind on his fur. It sits to the back of the Public Works compound on one side and the Frog Pond bar on the other, a great arrangement had the asbestos in the walls not forced the move to a new location.

I have spoken with our animal control officers on several occasions over the years and I’ve always been impressed with their dedication to their job. How else could you put up with these dingy quarters, as they must be as affected by these surroundings as the animals they take care of? Unfortunately, the Access Road location was tabled after complaints from the neighbors about the proposed site. In June, the Mayor announced his desire for a four to six-week “study circles” process involving as many as 100 citizens, broken up into small groups, to make recommendations on the shelter location.

The Town of Stratford is currently in the process of planning a Community Summit for residents to discuss possible locations for the new Animal Control facility and to make sure all voices are heard. The results will be presented to the Mayor and Town Council. A meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2008, at Stratford High School between 8:00 am-12:30 pm. Participants must pre-register by 9/3/2008. Register by calling 385-4001.

Before attending any forum, it’s important to get the facts. And here they are, kindly emailed to me (while she was on vacation, no less—that’s dedication!) by Officer Rachel Solveira. The new Animal Control facility will be a self-contained building. Three times the size of the current facility, the dogs will not have freewill access to go outdoors. Their kennels will be completely inside the new building, which will be built with state-of-the-art soundproofing. Dogs will only be outdoors when they are being monitored by staff and volunteers. The barking will be minimal as a dog is socialized or is exercising. Only two dogs will be outdoors at any given time. Concerned citizens may visit other local Animal Control facilities with a similar design and they will notice that barking cannot be heard from inside the building (for example, in Fairfield and Bridgeport).

In addition, there will be no smell. The animals will be contained in the building and their runs are disinfected on a daily basis. Waste will be flushed away in the sanitation system. Waste from dogs outdoors will be picked up and disposed of immediately by their handlers. The new facility will have a filtered ventilation system. The current facility is an indoor/outdoor kennel and yet you cannot smell anything in the surrounding vicinity.

A brand-new facility and added police presence would seem a welcome addition to most any neighborhood.

So if the Stratford Observer wants to offer more than complaining, what do we do about it? Well, like most things in Stratford, I suggest you check it out. Take a look for yourself; you can even sign in and take a look at the pets available for adoption inside! You can access their web site here: http://www.stratfordac.org/

More importantly, you can help by becoming a volunteer for the terrific organization that helps these poor animals. I’ll let the blurb on their web site (http://geocities.com/starsrescue/) do the talking:

“The Stratford Animal Rescue Society (S.T.A.R.S.) is a Not-For-Profit Volunteer Organization, founded in September 2000, with the unanimous support of the Stratford Town Council to promote the cause of animal welfare for animals housed in the Stratford Town Animal Shelter.

Our primary purpose is to facilitate and expedite adoptions of shelter dogs and cats into loving homes; In addition, we raise funds through private donations and public fundraisers to provide food and medical care for the Shelter's animals.
… All of our efforts are from volunteers. All of our funds come from private donations and private fundraising events. Some of our events include an annual Dog Walk which takes place at Paradise Green in Stratford, Mother’s Day plant sales at the shelter, tag sales at various locations, and holiday wreath sales at the shelter.”

Upcoming events include a monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2008, at the Stratford Police Department (second floor) at 6:30 p.m. There will be a new volunteer orientation on Saturday, September 6, 2008, at 10:00. Please e-mail if you plan on attending. The location will be the Stratford Animal Shelter on 9 Frog Pond Lane, Stratford, CT 06614. On July 12, 2008, there will be an Adoption Event (also at the Stratford Animal Shelter on 9 Frog Pond Lane) from 11:00 - 3:00 (setup prior to 11:00). On October 11, 2008, they will hold their annual “Dog Walk” from 10-4 (watch for details).

You can contact STARS at: (203) 338-7387
P.O. Box 1371 Stratford, CT 06614
stfdanimalrescue@yahoo.com

If you are interested in a donation to the Stratford Animal Rescue Society, you can give online at: http://www.firstgiving.com/stratfordanimalrescuesociety

Or, you can try a neat option and shop online through iGive at:
http://www.igive.com/welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=35819&m=299220

At over 680 brand name stores (including Best Buy, Staples, Home Depot and the Gap, among others), a portion of each online purchase is donated to STARS. What a great way to help a local cause!

In short, it’s this Observer’s opinion that we can all help with this situation. Get the word out about the facts of this facility, and step up and volunteer (if you can) or contribute (if you can’t) to help this valuable town resource. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to pat Officer Solveira on the back if you see her around town—she even works on vacation! Read more of this observation!

Stratford Officially Invisible!

Anyone noticed that our “local” daily in Stratford, The Connecticut Post, doesn’t even feature Stratford on its main page? No, but Fairfield and Milford get their own pretty little tabs that lead to their very own pages! Well, so does “The Valley,” but that’s a tepid combination of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton and Oxford that’s almost as condescending as not listing them at all.

Here’s a look at Fairfield’s page. They get their own set of pictures, police logs, additional stories and personalized sports coverage. A nice, focused site with regularly updated local news—what a great idea! Sigh. Anyone else feeling the little brother/little sister syndrome kicking in yet? Where’s the love, CT Post? Don’t you see the thousands of online comments we leave like rose petals at your feet? Don’t we quote you and read you and praise you and love you like our own? Where is our place at the Mighty Teat of the Hearst Corp’s latest acquisition?

We only have about 3-7 thousand fewer residents than Fairfield or Milford (my head would hurt if I tried to add up the numbers for “The Valley”). In fact, the Post even snubs Bridgeport, which blows all three of us away by around 80,000 residents. I don’t know if the new owners are aware of this, but your paper used to be called the Bridgeport Post long before the Connecticut Post. Is the Post saying we don’t read, or that they just don’t care about us? I don’t know who Everton Bailey, Jr. honked off in the Editor’s Office, but he seems to be the only one on the Stratford beat these days now that they only let Richard Weizel out for council meetings. It’s too bad, because I like their reporting most of the time.

Interestingly, I did find a tiny link to a Bridgeport Politics section somewhere in my browsing, which at least certifies they ain’t crazy. After all, how can you ignore the three-ring circus performing daily in your back yard? Still not link-worthy, though, on the main page. That’s where the heavy hitters belong, like… Milford? No offense, but do they really have a higher profile than the almost 200,000 people in Bridgeport and Stratford? I would be absolutely outraged if I hadn’t noticed that this is currently their page content:

Okay, maybe that’s even more insulting than not being listed.

Come on, CT Post! Give Stratford some link-love. Let Everton and Richard come out and play, and give them some time on the front page. Stratford deserves the increased coverage!

(pssst! And if it’s not too much trouble, could you ask the editors not to combine us with Bridgeport? Thanks.)
Read more of this observation!

“Mission Control, We Have Liftoff!”

It’s been a busy launch for us here at the Stratford Observer, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We’ve gotten some fantastic feedback from a rapidly growing readership in our first week, and the word is getting out: there’s a place to go for a well-rounded view of Stratford, Connecticut! The goal of the blog is to provide the citizens of Stratford a clearinghouse of information and analysis of important events in our town outside the traditional umbrella of political party rhetoric. We do not pretend to be journalists, nor is that our responsibility. We offer a place to react to the news that affects us all. Our credibility will rest on our fairness to both sides and our openness to alternative solutions. We truly believe that harnessing the collective wisdom of the members of this town not only keeps our elected leaders accountable, but more importantly, can provide them with new ideas and insights that will help Stratford flourish in the years to come.

We are nothing if not ambitious and optimistic about the future. In addition to tweaking our format and continuing to add pertinent bells & whistles to the site itself, here are some of the observations we have in store for the coming week:

• Relocating the Stratford Animal Control Facility: When and How? (An overview of the current situation and the search for a new location)
• Is Negative Campaigning Hurting Stratford Businesses? (Prospective buyers have gone on record as saying they look online to get a feel for the pulse of the community—are we too negative?)
• The Stratford Beach Observation (a look at or local beaches)
• Introducing the Stratford Observer Brigade (the S.O.B’s): (Various initiatives that we’ll push for the greater good, including better communication between elected officials and their constituents)
• Results & Analysis of Poll Results for Sale of Long Beach West (Poll closes in five days, so vote now if you haven’t already!)
• The Stratford Observer Comment Post FAQ

Of course, we’ll always respond to breaking news quickly, offering the commentary and analysis that our local newspapers can’t seem to offer with a staff of one. We’ll let them report the news, and we’ll field the discussions necessary to move this town forward.

Thank you for helping make this site matter. Please take the time to leave us some thoughtful comments, and help us spread the word!

The Stratford Observer Read more of this observation!

Bulletin "Bored" Snipers

If you’re reading this piece, you’ve seen them. Clinging to their anonymity like barnacles to local online bulletin boards, they seek out differing opinions and fire indiscriminately. It doesn’t matter what the discussion thread’s topic is—the only thing that matters is screaming down their opposition. What gets killed in the process is any hope for a meaningful exchange of ideas. It represents an eerie companion to the dysfunction of our current town council: rhetoric over meaningful cooperation, venom over professional respect.

This is not to say anonymity is wrong in itself: any visit to local discussion boards reveals that most everyone posts behind an online identity other than their own. The Stratford Observer itself offers no hints as to the identity of the authors for the very same reason: it just plain gets ugly on there! Who wants the guy who posts intolerant anger twenty times a day stopping by for a visit?

Unfortunately, this creates a vicious cycle: anonymity breeds a sense of detachment, which frees these posters from personal accountability for what they write, which leads them to write more reckless and inflammatory diatribes, which leads others to react in kind, and so on. What’s left behind is the debris of an issue that never gets addressed. These trolls, as people who make a habit of "stirring the pot” rather than engaging in discussion are called, kill any hope of the generation of new ideas that this community might create. In truth, the very term “discussion thread” is lost among them. They are not interested in discussions but rather in monologues, drowning out all voices in search of the spotlight that never stays.

In my opinion, it doesn’t matter what side of the fence you’re on—no one benefits from the fuming of fools. Rather than the thoughtful exchange of ideas, they offer snide potshots while desperately trying to hide the fact they’re bereft of ideas. They’re not going away, however, so we’re left to cope with them as best we can. Ignore them and their childish tantrums begin to lose their luster. Focus on the discussions and try to learn from the other side and offer counter-arguments. With the collective wisdom of 50,000 citizens, maybe we can solve some of these problems on our own and present them to town government. Put simply, we need to put the “discussion” back in discussion boards.

Feed your head, not the trolls! Read more of this observation!

We Are Watching You

My time in Stratford has witnessed a series of blunders and stall tactics in Town Hall that would shame most towns but is accepted as “business as usual” here. We at the Stratford Observer have always been fiercely independent, forgoing party affiliations because of their divisiveness in times such as these. My vote is always in play as I believe in standing behind people who put honorable service and action above petty party politics. Both parties are guilty of failing the people who elected them. As we address the important issues in the coming months, I put it to our elected officials: you can play politics and throw your fits during the two or three months of the heated campaign season.

But the rest of your time belongs to us.

Every failed council session, every off-topic issue introduced during discussions that forces the tabling of other important issues, every time you roll your eyes rather than constructively engaging your opponents… it’s a slap in our face. Our town is quickly becoming a political punch line; we wallow in our own ineptitude and spend all our energies in finding fault with others. The Mayor’s name is the one that gets dragged through the mud in the media, yet my eyes are opening to the inability of the town council to work together and push anything through. No longer do our officials take responsibility for their failure to compromise and work things out; instead, they remain rigid, unbending puppets for the party line and assume that saying, “It’s not my fault” counts as service to their community.

It doesn’t.

Nobody seems to be calling you on it, so we here at the Observer will. If you choose political posturing over the job we elected you to do, shame on you; and shame on us for not seeing through you earlier. We will be keeping a tally and presenting it during the next campaign. We can only hope the sane, thinking people of Stratford will wake up to this growing problem and demand some results from the current council. No one should consider running again unless they can start showing us they deserve our trust.

It’s important that I qualify our position in one regard: I have nothing but respect for the time and effort it takes to sit on this council. I believe in my heart that every member is a good person and hopes for nothing but the best for Stratford. It can’t be easy to deal with so many competing factions while struggling to do what’s right. Unfortunately, this is not enough if you take a seat on a council charged with moving this town forward. You must get results. Make mistakes if you must, adjust when you do, but don’t bring the gears grinding to a halt and then expect us to cheer.

We need solutions on the Shakespeare Theatre project, the Long Beach West situation, the relocation of the animal shelter, the Stratford Army Engine plant, the education budget, and the replacement of aging vehicles in the town fleet, among many others. We cannot have any more meetings when, instead of working together, the council dissolves into fourth-grade arguments over hurt feelings and the rules of order.

How dare you waste our time like this. We expect action, not accusations. Get to work. Read more of this observation!

Coming To The Table Empty-Handed: A Challenge

I’m still torn on the issue of selling Long Beach West: I hate the idea of giving up such an incredible piece of pristine beachfront property, and I know I’m not alone. Unfortunately, no one has offered a viable, credible option in the form of what would be done with the land under the continued ownership of the town. As a result, we have been left to debate the merits of only one proposed solution: the sale of Long Beach West to the Fish & Wildlife Service.

The proponents of this sale have gone so far to draft an agreement proposal, provide for an easement for public use, implement a federal funding schedule, estimate the cost of cottage removal, and execute a plan for the proceeds that includes protecting the principal while providing a revenue stream in the form of interest accrued. They have brought in a third party to facilitate the sale while having the principals speak at town forums to clarify the particulars of the agreement.

Say what you will about the merits of this proposal, but at least they brought something to the table. In a town known for moving slowly on important issues, they got the ball rolling.

Rather than receiving credit for starting this important process and making it available for debate, these people have been vilified in online forums and chastised for abandoning a sacred trust to keep this land for future generations. I agree that it’s a shame we can’t seem to make it work under our own stewardship up until now. However, when I look to the leadership of the other side, they’re too busy attacking the original proposal to offer anything of substance to counterbalance the other side.

I challenge the opponents of this sale to stand up and perform a valuable service to Stratford: come up with the alternative plan. Talk about a referendum—how much more effective would this be if we could choose between options that had been thoroughly debated and clearly defined? Rise above the politics of retribution and pettiness and focus on solving problems rather than delaying the process of dealing with them. It’s easy to tear holes in something, but creation is an act that takes effort and commitment.

Those in favor of selling the beach have had to explain why there are no guarantees on the federal funding, no written promise of the boardwalk access, the specifics of our access in light of the piping plovers, why we’d have to wait five years for the funding to come through, why we’d be liable for property as those funds are procured, etc. I commend those who initially brought these issues up, as they are important and worthy of spirited debate. Now we need the opponents of the sale to come up with something that can withstand similar scrutiny.

For this alternate plan (or plans) to be valid, we need to be practical: we have to move forward without regard to the former owners of the cottages. As cold as that sounds, we have to move past this ugly chapter in our history if we are to make the best decision regarding this land. We also have to put aside ecological biases because the town government is not primarily in the business of creating refuge wildlife sites. Although we have a responsibility to protect our environment, buying or selling that land does not endanger this habitat—that would depend on future plans for the site. Instead, we must focus on a plan for real-world use of the property if Stratford should keep Long Beach West.

That plan would have to include, among other things, the cost of emergency access after the five years we’re already on the hook for. Where is the funding for the upkeep of this land? Where is would the funding be procured for the destruction of the cottages? What else will generate income at the site comparable to the interest on the ten million dollar sale (keeping in mind the costs involved in the creation and upkeep of this venture)? What firms have been lined up for estimates or counsel? Finally, and most critically for those who favor the sale: how can you assume that the town can effectively manage this property when it hasn’t been able to do so in the twelve years since the bridge burned?

It is certainly not a lock that much more could be accomplished given five more years. We’re still trying to clean ourselves up ten years after winning a settlement in the Raymark hazardous materials suit, still trying to fill the Stratford Army Engine Plant that’s been empty for twelve, and still debating the fate of a landmark theatre that’s been dark for twenty-five. The task of the opponents is to answer these questions better than the proponents have managed to answer theirs.

This is leadership, folks, and the town’s future hangs in the balance. We deserve options, and I challenge the opponents of the sale to step up to the table. I want to keep this beach. We need to know how to save Long Beach West from ourselves! Read more of this observation!

Don't Miss Your Opportunity!

(CLICK TO ENLARGE POSTER)
If you haven't gotten a chance to see Shakespeare performed on the grounds of the Shakespeare Theatre, there's still time! For a mere $10 you can see "Run to the Capulets, Raise up the Montagues: Crime Scene Shakespeare" on Thursday & Saturday (a hi-tech, post-modern production of Romeo and Juliet).
Or you can choose "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on Friday & Sunday (a classical production of Shakespeare's summer romp). What could be better than enjoying a beautiful night out by the stars while watching the Bard come alive? Come on out and support the arts in Stratford!
Read more of this observation!

Condensed: Live Updates From The Town Council Meeting

Tried my hand at live updates tonight, sneaking out reports as major decisions were made via my iPhone. I thought it would be useful if anyone who couldn’t attend wanted to follow along. Here are my six updates, edited together in one post; the times reflect when I managed to post, not the exact time of the decisions.

8:39: The chairman of the town council, Michael Henrick, started off 
with an impassioned defense of the proposed pay raise for the mayor, calling out Dom Costello in particular, who’d called the suggestion an outrage in open forum earlier tonight. Mr. Henrick suggested Mr. Costello would not be able to afford 
the position if he did not have the residual income from his business. Currently the council has gone into a closed discussion regarding Long Beach West with a rep from the Fish and Wildlife service. You read it here first--more updates to follow!

8:53: As I sit here twiddling my thumbs because talking specifics about property values might compromise the sale of LBW (isn't this the main 
purpose of a public discussion, hold the deliberations in public?), I 
notice the three cameras installed on the walls of the room. A great idea, as are the speakers installed nearby that allow for much-improved audio so that the audience can now clearly hear their neighbors in open forum. I can only hope they get the video from this meeting online faster than the last two (which still aren’t up).

9:58: The council has taken another recess before a vote on whether to send the decision to sell the beach to a referendum, which is looks like it has majority support on this council tonight. They split along party lines, sadly, and go to different rooms to discuss the vote. The folks who attended this meeting in the hopes of seeing the matter resolved seem frustrated that the issue has changed to whether to sell to whether to allow for a referendum vote. It is not often that the council takes this much time in private during these meetings.

10:14: The council came back and the majority vote favored a referendum, but the mayor vetoed it. He listed the other major decisions made by the council (budgets, Shakespeare, charter revision) that had not gone to referendum. Some members of the council attempted to overrule but could not get the necessary votes. The sale 
of LBW will not go to referendum. Wow, I should have seen that coming!

10:57: Nepotism discussion very contentious as Mayor Miron accused some in council of making it a political issue, and Mr. Kubic in particular arguing that it was an appropriate measure. In the end, it was sent to the Ethics Committee. They are currently in recess after discussing the issue of the raise for mayor. Proposals for 95k, 105k, and 125k discussed, but Mayor Miron stressed that cost of living increases are much more important than a higher starting salary. The current cost of living proposal calls for a 1.5% raise each year. Think it's time for me to go home and get some sleep. Hope this was helpful!!

11:05: Majority vote was for an increase to $105,000 with a 1.5% cost of living increase each year. Mayor Miron vetoed. Motion to override lost 6-3.
Need to get outta here and get some sleep!!

Addendum: The meeting adjourned at 11:15, with members of the council exhausted from an adventurous session. Read more of this observation!

The Mayor Needs to Act

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An Open Letter to the Town Council

An Open Letter to The Stratford Town Council
From: Your Common Sense

First of all, let me introduce myself: I am your sense of common sense. I can see that many of you are surprised to see me. It’s okay—after all, it’s been a while since we got together like this. I, for one, have really missed you lately.

I missed you when you discussed the proposed sale of Long Beach West. I missed you, James, when you implied things in your March “State of the Town” address that gave your opposition ammunition to say you were misleading the public. I missed the opponents of the sale when they decided to distort the facts and ignore entire components of the agreement that were posted on the town website. I missed far too many of my Stratford neighbors who never took the time to walk to what remains of the cottages to see for themselves if something has to be done. If we never talk, how can you make such a big decision? I hope this doesn’t sound condescending, but you don’t do very well without consulting me first.

I really wanted to mull things over with the town council during the process of restoring the Shakespeare Theatre to her former glory. I was so glad that you finally listened to me and got the ball rolling, but why did you shut me out when you opened it up for bidding? Why didn’t you reach out to everyone who would have been interested and encourage them all to hand in detailed reports? How come so many miscommunications occurred, both with potential candidates and with the general public? Why didn’t you reach out to me when you commissioned a study that cost so much money yet answered so few questions? I could have warned you that you should have talked about the results and gotten a review of all the ramifications from the developers themselves before you opened it up for public debate. Heck, even I’m shocked that you recommended a firm that didn’t submit all the required paperwork—I would have thought you would know the trouble that would cause without me having to remind you!

I’ll just come out and say it: I’m lonely. I feel neglected and unwanted. Soon you’ll move on to talk about flooding issues, bonding for the budget, and strategic planning for the crumbling infrastructure around town. Please don’t push me away, my friends.

We’re so much better together than we are apart. Read more of this observation!

Credit Where Credit is Due!

Kudos to the current administration for the excellent resources on the town website! In particular, I find the posted town minutes and videos of town council meetings a tremendous asset for the community. Regardless of one’s ability to attend a certain meeting in person, all Stratford residents now have the option of catching up (or reviewing) these important sessions at any time of day or night. In fact, it seems as if a second camera has been added to better capture every angle and allow Stratford citizens to better get to know both their elected officials and neighbors as they speak. A quick look at the web sites of Bridgeport, Milford, Fairfield, and Shelton did not turn up anything comparable, and the Observer would like to take this opportunity to laud the mayor’s office for taking the lead on this.

My only request: can we get these up any faster? The critical town council meetings of the last few weeks are still not up, and tomorrow marks another one that will no doubt be the most contentious yet. As someone who edits video on a regular basis, it is not so labor-intensive that it would take more than a few days to post. As we head into a defining election for our town, a knowledgeable community will be able to make wise choices.

If you have not yet taken advantage of these offerings, I encourage you to go to our town website: www.townofstratford.com. The minutes of town meetings and accompanying video is available from the Channel 79 dropdown item under the Residents tab. Too often we get wrapped up in what we feel is wrong with the town, but this is proof that they’ve done some wonderful things! Read more of this observation!

The Tragedy Onstage

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Reclaiming Our Responsibility

Regardless of how you feel about the present mayoral system of government in Stratford, it does present one huge advantage: it allows for one constellating figure to rally the town on important issues. It doesn’t matter if you agree with that person or not; the mayor can lead the town toward resolution by engaging all citizens in constructive dialogue. When these opportunities come around, strong leadership makes all the difference.

Today, Mayor Miron faces just such an opportunity.

The people of Stratford have spent months in contentious debate over issues such as the charter revision, the sale of Long Beach West, and the renovation of the American Shakespeare Theatre, among others. The healthy give and take between the various factions in town has exposed a glaring need for better communication among our elected officials and the people they serve, as well as a greater accountability when discussing big-budget items.

However, I fear that in the process of waiting for our town government to navigate the various checks and balances necessary before implementing plans to address these challenges, the citizenry has been struck with a case of “paralysis of analysis.” In waiting for decisions to be made, we have forgotten the power we have to effect change in ways that don’t need town lawyers and council meetings. Even worse, I fear we’ve forgotten that it’s our responsibility as citizens to donate our time and experience to help our community thrive.

I’ve been to the town meetings, and I’ve watched the archived videos of the council discussions online. I hear about poorly maintained playgrounds, tennis courts, beach bathrooms, schoolyards, etc. These are items that my father would have classified as “grunt work,” or projects that most anyone could accomplish with hard work and a little guidance. Why do we feel we need to leave everything up to our town officials?

After all, we do have a history of service in this community: the Stratford Junior women’s Club adopted Beach Drive Park; Boy Scout Troop #202 adopted Motil Pond Park; even Dockside Bait and Tackle adopted Bond’s Dock. Maybe a more concerted effort, with a strong leader marshalling the collective experience and manpower of the town, could transform these areas and alleviate many problems before they end up as an item on the town budget.

An easy example is the condition of the town tennis courts. Whether at the beach or Bunnell, the courts are choked by knee-high weeds that ring the fences and make finding your tennis ball nearly impossible. Worse, patches of grass poke through the concrete in ugly scars right in the middle of the courts! Anyone with a passing knowledge of concrete knows what this leads to, and it’s already happening: the roots buckle the court surface and large, jagged cracks line the courts and ruin any chance of a fair game. Not only is this a looming liability for the town, but it takes what should be the jewels of our community and exposes them as testaments to our inability to maintain what we were given. I’ve long since stopped inviting friends to Stratford to play on our courts; it’s too embarrassing.

And yet, what a simple fix. With a small group of kids and a few hours, we could completely clean these areas up and restore them to their former glory. Even better, by taking up the weeds now, we avoid an even bigger repair bill in the future. With a town of our size, surely we can find a way to make this happen.

First of all, let me make it clear that the town maintenance department is doing all it can do--I truly believe they are working as hard as they can with a limited budget, and they simply can't maintain everything given their numbers. However, this problem is not going away—with taxes already high and major improvements to the towns fleet of vehicles looming on the horizon, it will only get worse. In fact, last week the town council voted to cut two million dollars from improvements to road repairs and playground renovations.

With so much acrimony over the town budget and charter, have we forgotten that we don’t need to turn to Town Hall for everything? Where are the volunteers? Where are my neighbors, rising up and offering their skill sets to improve our neighborhoods? Where is the leadership that rallies local leaders and organizes the resources of our community? Where is the call for us to strategize, to join together to make up for the funding gaps? Where are the fliers? Where are posters in the windows of the town stores? Where is the note on the front page of the town website?

My mom always said that many hands make for light work. Quite frankly, it’s time we put our hands where our mouths seem to be: addressing the problem! I call on our mayor, James Miron, to bring us together and lead Stratford to its rightful place as one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Read more of this observation!

Hearsts on the Housatonic?

As a longtime Stratford resident, I'm disgusted at the fact that the overwhelming majority of the articles written in our hometown newspapers (The Bard and the Star) are written exclusively by two people: the editors. Tristram DeRosa writes almost all the local articles for the Bard, while John Kovach handles the bulk of those duties at the Star. Each has outside "filler" from the parent publishing company, but it's never local news. Combine that with the fact that the editors handle all the copy without a byline (community announcements, police blotter, etc.), and we are left with two people disseminating all our information in this town.

Who said the Hearst Era was dead? Not even Rupert Murdoch could get away with such a one-sided approach to reporting. At least give us the illusion of a multitude of voices! No wonder many turn to the Connecticut Post for "local" news; even the New York Times "Connecticut" section offers more insight into key matters such as the Shakespeare Theatre development (see today's paper). Is it too much to ask for some in-depth analysis into Stratford's issues that go beyond the same voices each week? In this crazy era in Stratford's history, certainly we're more than a "two-voice town"?

To go even further, what happened to the days when we had some commentary in our local newspapers? These days it's all snippets of news that read like the crawl at the bottom of the screen while watching CNN. Where is the humor? The outrage? The push for the citizenry to rise to a common cause?

I'll tell you where it is: the bulletin boards. Our two local newspapers have abdicated their roles and passed the responsibility of offering a full view of the news to those few who take the time to comment on their stores. The whole purpose of weekly newspapers is to offer the very analysis our papers lack; for Associated Press coverage, I can buy the Post or the Advocate and get the news faster. Why have these two editors left the analysis to their readership rather than offer some insight themselves?

I think it's because they need other voices in those pages. You cannot be both the journalist and the opinion-maker; no one person is supposed to wear both hats because they lose credibility.

It is this Observer's hope that our local news lives up to their responsibilities and offers this town the news coverage we deserve. Otherwise... well, guess who just bought the Connecticut Post? Hearst Corp! Read more of this observation!