22 September 2008

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz opens campaign headquarters with New Britain Democrats September 15th. The Town Committee meets at headquarters on Thursday. State Representatives Tim O'Brien, John Geragosian and former Town Chair John King look on. (F. Gerratana photo)

September Meeting Thursday (9/25) At Headquarters: Election Plans On Tap

The Democratic Town Committee will meet at campaign headquarters on Thursday, September 25th, at 7 p.m. for its September meeting.

The headquarters, which opened earlier this month, is located at 385 West Main Street. On the agenda will be planning for get-out-the-vote and voter registration leading up to the November 4th election. All Democrats and friends are welcome to attend.

For more information call headquarters at 827-9704 or e-mail newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com.


Ald. Cruz Departs; Represented Ward 3 neighborhoods on Council

Alderwoman Silvia Cruz (D-3) has announced that she is leaving the City Council after serving for five years. Cruz said that she needs to commit more time to her family and that she is moving out of the Third Ward, which she represents.

"I have greatly enjoyed the time I have served on the City Council," Cruz wrote in her letter of announcing her departure, "and will continue to be very involved in the community and in city government." Council Majority Leader Michael Trueworthy praised Cruz's work. "Silvia has been a tireless advocate for the people she represents for years. She will be missed on the Council, but we all understand that family comes first."

Alderwoman Shirley Black (D-3), who also represents the Third Ward said, "I have been happy that I have been able to work with Silvia to represent the people of our district. She was on the Council before I was, and she introduced me to many people in the Latino community. I know she will continue to be involved in our neighborhood." In addition to her Council duties, Cruz has been active in the North-Oak NRZ and has been its President. Trueworthy added, "Shirley and Silvia worked hard, for example, to make the new park possible."

"Silvia has been a great advocate for a neighborhood that is often forgotten in City Hall," said Democratic Chairman John McNamara. "She has served the people she represents well. She has been trying to balance family, full time work and public office. It is understandable she has to move on. We appreciate her years of service."

McNamara said he expects the Town Committee members from Ward 3 to make a recommendation to the Common Council to serve out Cruz' term. He expects a recommendation in October. The City Council has 60 days to fill vacancies on the Council.

A Quote For Ending Wall Street Welfare As We Know It

"And if the government is going to provide capital to financial firms, it should get what people who provide capital are entitled to — a share in ownership, so that all the gains if the rescue plan works don’t go to the people who made the mess in the first place."

from Paul Krugman, "Cash for Trash" op-ed, New York Times September 22, 2008

7 September 2008

Fired Up and Ready To Go:

NEW BRITAIN HEADQUARTERS TO OPEN MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH
A 7 P.M. KICK OFF TO FALL CAMPAIGN; TURNOUT GOAL SET AT 80%

The New Britain Democratic Party headquarters will officially open on Monday, September 15th, at 7 p.m. for voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities leading up to the Nov. 4th Presidential Election.

The headquarters is located at 385 West Main Street and will be used to support the Democratic slate including Obama/Biden, Cong Chris Murphy, State Senator Don DeFronzo and state Representatives Betty Boukus (22), Tim O'Brien (24), John Geragosian (25) and Peter Tercyak (26).

The New Britain Committee is striving to increase Democratic Party enrollment and achieve an 80 percent turnout of registered voters, said Town Chair John McNamara. Recent turnouts in Presidential elections have been approximately 70 percent, said McNamara.

GOP Town Chair Loses At FOI Commission: Complaint By Carver Had Been Deemed "Frivolous" and "Partisan" by Democrats

Republican Town Chair Paul Carver's complaint regarding the appointment of Carmen Aloisi to the Mattabassett District board earlier this year was dismissed at a state Freedom of Information Commission meeting in Hartford August 27th. The Republicans had wanted former Ald. Peter Gostin for the post but the Council chose Aloisi to the regional authority

According to the New Britain Herald, the Commission ruled unanimously "in favor of Michael Trueworthy, Democratic majority leader of New Britain's Common Council, whom Republican Town Chairman Paul Carver had accused of violating a law regarding a meeting agenda."

Carver had alleged that Trueworthy did not give 24 hours’ notice of a resolution at the City Council’s January 23rd meeting. Carver contended that inadequate notice was given despite the posting of the Mattabassett District vacancy on the regular agenda.

“Mr. Carver knows as well as anyone that other names can be proposed from the floor at a regular council meeting when a vacancy is posted,” said Democratic Town Chair John McNamara immediately after the complaint was filed. “His complaint subverts parliamentary procedure and the right of the Council to be the appointing authority. As a former Council member and current Board of Education member, Mr. Carver knows better and should withdraw the complaint immediately.” McNamara also contended that Carver may be subject to a penalty by the Freedom of Information Commission if his complaint is deemed to be frivolous. He cited a section of the law that states in part: “If the commission finds that a person has taken an appeal under this subsection frivolously, without reasonable grounds and solely for the purpose of harassing the agency from which the appeal has been taken, after such person has been given an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, the commission may, in its discretion, impose against that person a civil penalty of not less than twenty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.”. McNamara said Democrats are not interested in filing a counter complaint and further wasting the public's time and resources.

Council Democrats believed Carter’s FOI complaint stemmed from GOP unhappiness with a new ordinance giving the Council and public the right to access public information at City Hall in a timely manner. City Councillors and other public officials have faced difficulties in recent months in obtaining information from city departments because of a policy by Mayor Stewart that release of information be cleared with his office first.

Carver's FOI complaint has been part of a pattern by New Britain Republicans to use official complaints and public money for partisan purposes. The tactic dates back to the early months of the Stewart Administration when the GOP turned the city ethics commission into a partisan vehicle to punish Democratic city council members who were city employees and members of municipal unions. The same mayoral appointed ethics commission ruled in favor of Stewart despite his failure to report his status as a firefighter on leave from the city department -- a requirement of the city ethics code. In the process the local ethics commission has compromised itself should legitimate conflicts of interest arise in the Stewart administration or the Common Council.

Catholic Dems Denounce Palin Remarks On Community Organizing

Catholic Democrats, a national association of state-based groups "advancing Catholic social teaching", has strongly denounced Sarah Palin for attacking Democratic Nominee Barack Obama's work as a community organizer.

According to a story in the National Catholic Reporter (Sept. 4) the statement by Catholic Democrats asserted:

“Her (Palin's) divisive rhetoric, repeatedly pitting small towns against urban communities, demonstrates not only a lack of charity toward the needs of some of the least among us but a fundamental disrespect for those who dedicate their lives to overcoming poverty across our country.”

The statement referred to Palin's acceptance remarks: “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities.” Palin is the former mayor of Wasilla Alaska a town north of Anchorage with a population 8,000.

“It is shocking that a vice presidential candidate would disparage an essential component of the Catholic social tradition with her condescending attack on urban community organizing,” said Dr. Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats .Referring to Palin’s speech, the statement said: “Her divisive rhetoric, repeatedly pitting small towns against urban communities, demonstrates not only a lack of charity toward the needs of some of the least among us but a fundamental disrespect for those who dedicate their lives to overcoming poverty across our country.”

In the 1980s following his graduation from Harvard Law School Obama worked among parishes in the The group criticized Palin for mocking Obama’s work “in the 1980s for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.” The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is an arm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and it partially funded Obama’s activities in Catholic parishes on the South Side of Chicago. At the time it was known simply as the Campaign for Human Development.

Community organizing was work Obama undertook “instead of pursuing a lucrative career on Wall Street,” according to a statement from Catholic Democrats.

27 August 2008

August 28th National Convention Night Reception At Roma Restaurant

The Town Committee will host a convention night TV party at the Roma Restaurant, 382 Allen Street, New Britain, on the convention's final night when Senator Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech in Denver.

The New Britain reception will be held from 7:30 to 11 p.m. and is being held to support New Britain Democrats' city-wide efforts to register new voters and get out the vote on Election Day. The evening will include complimentary beverages and appetizers. Suggested donation $25.


Convention Comment
The Nomination: Clinton, Obama, LBJ and King

In the back and forth of the Democratic Presidential primary season Hillary Clinton's remarks about Rev. Martin Luther King, Lyndon Johnson and civil rights sparked an unfortunate exchange between hers and the Obama forces.

Clinton was trying to make a point about governing, but her remarks were criticized for pitting Lyndon Johnson's delivery of landmark civil rights laws with the movement led by Rev. King -- all of this in the context of her running against a rapidly rising African American politician who ultimately deprived her of the nomination.

Barack Obama's acceptance speech on Thursday at the Denver convention provides a better opportunity to bring up King, Johnson, the presidency and the Democratic Party.

On 8/28 45 years ago, Rev. Martin Luther King delivered his "Dream" speech -- one of the most heard and admired pieces of oratory in U.S. history. King's speech and the movement he led pushed Lyndon Johnson and the Democrats to forge ahead with stronger, landmark civil rights laws for voting rights, accommodations and other aspects of equal opportunity in 1964 and 1965.

Clinton's intent was not to diminish the civil rights struggle but to say King's movement and Johnson's power and legislative acumen were not mutually exclusive. One complemented the other. The Southerner Johnson knew the consequences. "There goes the South for a generation," Johnson was quoted when he signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act into law, predicting his party would lose elections and the "solid" South for many years as they surely did.

And now should it surprise anyone that Obama's multi-cultural background is still fodder for a GOP divide and conquer strategy first invoked by Richard Nixon in 1968?

Obama needs to draw the distinctions sharply between his vision and that of John McCain, especially on economics and the interests of people who "work hard and play by the rules." In doing so, he should revisit the King and Johnson legacy, perhaps noting that Clinton wasn't dissing King over LBJ at all.

The betting here is he will recall that long ago August 28th as he prepares to lead Democrats into the fall election. The moment will not be lost on Obama that his political ascendency this week is a direct consequence of both King's movement and Johnson's Democrats and what was said and done a generation ago. Obama's nomination will not be the end all for civil rights struggle, but a fulfillment of a huge piece of the "Dream".

(Photo Credit: Johnson Library and Museum from wikimedia.org)

from http://nbpoliticus.blogspot.com


Cong. Murphy Scheduled To Appear At Mickey D's Jazz Night Today (Wed. 8/27)

Cong. Chris Murphy (D-5) is scheduled to appear at McDonald's Restaurant on West Main Street in New Britain today at 6:30 p.m. for the Wednesday night big band and jazz jam led by New Britain's Sam Kimball. Murphy is seeking re-election to a second term representing the 5th Congressional District. Murphy's New Britain campaign headquarters number is 223-5522.

16 August 2008

Fired Up and Ready To Vote:
August 28th National Convention Night Reception At Roma Restaurant

The Town Committee will host a convention night TV party at the Roma Restaurant, 382 Allen Street, New Britain, on the convention's final night when Senator Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech in Denver.

The New Britain reception will be held from 7:30 to 11 p.m. and is being held to support New Britain Democrats' city-wide efforts to register new voters and get out the vote on Election Day. The evening will include complimentary beverages and appetizers and will give supporters an opportunity to meet candidates and Democratic elected officials. Representing New Britain at the national convention will be State Senator Don DeFronzo who was chosen an alternate delegate at the spring Congressional Delegate Caucus.

The suggested minimum donation is $25.00 to the New Britain Democratic Town Committee. Seating is limited. Make reservations to newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com or by calling 827-9469.
A New Britain Democratic Town Committee event. John Valengavich Treasurer

Black Dems Host Soul Food Fest Sunday, August 16th

The New Britain Black Democratic Club will hold its annual Soul Food Fest on Sunday, August 16, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Pride of Connecticut Lodge of Elks, 24 elm Street, New Britain. Tickets are $15. All Democrats are welcome. Club members will have Barack Obama shirts and buttons on sale.

Long Lost Building Commission Restored by City Council

After months of debate, the Common Council voted to re-establish the Building Commission this month, a commission that was removed from city government during the charter change almost a decade ago.

“There’s been so much talk about blight, boarded up properties, and accountability, I think this is one way that we can help address the problems. I’ve been fighting this fight for the past five years. We’ve done some things right, but we really do have a long way to go to do a better job of cracking down on irresponsible and absentee landlords,” said Michael Trueworthy, the Democratic Majority Leader and the sponsor of the proposal.

Recently, council members asked for a list of the number of citations that were given out to delinquent property owners for violations. Members were not pleased with what they received back from city hall officials in that it provided none of the answers to the questions they asked.

“The truth is, we just don’t have enough inspectors and they are not being given the tools to do their job. I’m hoping that this commission will act as an advocacy group for the public and the building department, so there is more coordination between departments and better enforcement of the laws that we currently have,” said Trueworthy

During debate on the issue in committee, council members stated that they we’re hoping the commission would give the public another place to turn to alert City Hall of potential problem properties. Other council members noted that having an appointed board of New Britain citizens could also give members of the public somewhere to turn if they feel aggrieved by City Hall.

Democratic Chairman John McNamara, a proponent of restoring the commission, said the Council and Mayor now need to go further by re-establishing and strengthening a Certificate of Occupancy ordinance covering multi-unit and nonowner occupied apartment buidlings. He said a new Building Commission should promote coordinate code enforcement actions with the health department and Fire Marshal's office utilizing the current staff at those departments.

The Commission proposal calls for a 5 member commission, all of whom would be appointed by the Mayor.

20 July 2008

You can tell there are no "whiners" over at McCain Headquarters. Alternatively, they may be listening to Joe Lieberman. Kudos to Ned Lamont for sharing this update from the GOP camp

Town Committee Meets Thursday: Vacancies In Three Districts On The Agenda

The Democratic Town Committee will hold its July meeting on Thursday, July 24th, at 7:30 pm Reports are expected on voter registration, Justices of the Peace for the current and new term that begins in 2009 and vacancies on the Town Committee in Districts 6, 9 and 15. The DTC may also recommend a replacement for Constable to the City Council for the seat vacated by Joe Willis.

Democrats To Make New Push For Health Care For All

The Democratic Town Committee is expected to re-adopt a resolution calling upon the Governor and state Legislature to pass health insurance for all Connecticut citizens -- something Gov Rell's industry- (not patient) driven Charter Oak plan and previous legislative proposals have failed to do.


State Party Chair Nancy DiNardo recently called upon all DTCS to get behind legislation backed by the http://www.healthcare4every1org/ that would endorse the advocacy organization's campaign and urge legislative and state action for more comprehensive coverage of state residents. The healthcare4every1 group is a broad-based and nonpartisan coalition that is urging coverage for all based on the following criteria:

CONTINUOUS...stays with us from job-to-job and in between,
AFFORDABLE...for our families and our businesses,
SUSTAINABLE...for our state's economy,
HIGH QUALITY...supports good health.

The health-care-for-all sample resolution contains some familiar whereas's and data that show the difficulties and predicaments in the "best health care system in the world" [if you are rich and can expend unlimited resources on health care]. Below are excerpts:


Whereas, the United States has the most expensive health care system in the world in terms of absolute costs, per capita costs, and percentage of gross domestic product (GDP); and

Whereas, despite being first in spending, the World Health Organization has ranked the United States 37th among all nations in terms of meeting the needs of its people; and

Whereas, approximately one out of every ten Connecticut residents – an estimated 356,000 people – is uninsured and, with such, Connecticut has a higher rate of uninsurance than any other state in New England; and

Whereas, health care costs continue to increase, jeopardizing the health security of working families and small businesses;

Whereas, medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy in Connecticut; and

Whereas, racial, income, and ethnic disparities in access to care threaten communities of color across Connecticut and ..........


The above data confirms U.S. health care is expensive. And billions of the spending goes to inefficiencies (inadequate use of information technology, fragmented patient data) when there is a paucity of public investment in nursing and quality of care challenges.

Democrats should take Gov. Rell at her word when she said she would work with legislators after vetoing the health care partnership proposal this year. The Health Care Partnership bill pushed by Majority Leader Chris Donovan was hardly a step toward universal coverage. It did, however, allow local government employees and small businesses to opt in to the state health plan, creating a consumer pool that would extract improved benefits and less costs at a time when those costs are rapidly escalating for municipalities and many businesses are opting out of providing health coverage altogether.


Democratic leaders on the House and Senate side, along with State Comptroller Nancy Wyman and other Democratic officeholders, should work in unison next year (one voice, one plan) to extract some concession out of Rell on this issue. Without some tangible improvements in the system in terms of affordable coverage and reducing costs here and across the nation, voter cynicism will grow and the best you can hope for is not to get sick.

End Quote: Update on Joseph Lieberman (?-CT)

"WASHINGTON — Joseph I Lieberman, lapsed Democrat of Connecticut, strolled into the weekly lunch of the Senate Democrats last Tuesday, unaccompanied by a food taster."

from page one story in the New York Times, July 14, 2008, by Mark Leibovich

9 July 2008

SUMMER BREAK AT THE BALL PARK Last Chance To Go To Shea: Mets vs. Cardinals Sunday July 27th

New Britain Democrats and friends are invited to attend the National League game between the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon, July 27th. Every participant will receive a commemorative Shea Stadium pin with this being the final season of play at Shea -- a ball park that opened in 1964.

The price for a ticket ($25) and motor coach bus transportation ($26) totals $51 payable to John McNamara (no relation to the Red Sox manager who left Buckner at first in Game 6 of the '86 World Series at the aforementioned Shea Stadium).

While sales have been brisk among Red Sox fans seeking to scout NL teams for match ups against the Red Sox in the 2008 World Series, tickets remain for any Cardinal or Mets fans out there. Besides, there are no designated hitters and everyone in attendance hates the Yankees.

For tickets and reservation contact newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com. Phone 860-416-0665


JULY 24TH MEETING FOR DEMOCRATS AT CITY HALL

The Democratic Town Committee will meet on Thursday, July 24th, at 7:30 p.m. at New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street. The meeting will be held in Room 504.

Among the agenda items are DTC vacancies in two voting districts, the 2008 campaign and voter registration activities. and a vacancy for city constable.

All Democrats and friends are welcome to attend.

From NB Politicus: Remembering Sam Goldberger

With the sudden passing of social activist Sam Goldberger of West Hartford on June 9th advocates of peace and economic justice in Greater Hartford lost a local hero who traveled the world for the causes he believed in and gave generously of his time and resources for them.

Goldberger, a graduate of Yale ’64 and Columbia where he earned a Ph.D. in Central European History, probably could have pursued academics behind Ivy walls. Instead, he returned to Connecticut to teach at Capital Community College for 33 years. He also became a campus leader in his faculty union, the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges. It would be a good guess that Sam’s activism and immigrant roots in Bridgeport led him to a community college where working people and first generation college goers get a chance to move up the education ladder. Through the years he shared his passion for intellectual inquiry with his students and gave of his time generously advising to student groups.

Sam was a member of the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee and, as the saying goes, was in good standing with the “Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.”

He participated in We Refuse To Be Enemies -- a group of Jews and Muslims who talked peace and understanding amid Mideast turmoil and border disputes. Every peace and progressive organization in Greater Hartford probably benefited from Sam's involvement.

Just recently he was exhorting friends to contribute to Bethlehem University of the Holy Land, a Catholic, co-educational institution of higher learning established in 1973 to meet the needs of the Palestinian society that is open to people of all faiths.

Said fellow West Hartford Democrats Carol and Win Heimer: “Pardon the cliche, but Sam had a heart as big as all outdoors. He was kind, compassionate and a true humanist. We are privileged to have known him as a labor activist, Democratic Town Committee Member, and advocate for peace and justice here and in the Middle East.”

27 June 2008

Backyard Picnic for Rep. O'Brien Sunday, June 29th:

Candidate led efforts for new Citizen Election Program

The campaign of State Rep. Tim O'Brien (D-24) will hold a backyard picnic on Sunday, June 29th from 1 to 4 p.m. at the home of Ned Statchen and Liz Fitzsimmons, 196 South Mountain Drive, New Britain. Rep. O'Brien, a champion of Connecticut Citizen Elections campaign finance program when he served in the Legislature's GAE committee, is participating in the "clean elections" system that bars lobbyists and state contractors from making contributions to state candidates.

"This important new campaign reform makes it so that modest contributions from regular people like you to the candidates you believe in allow those candidates to successfully run for state office, without having to receive large contributions from wealthy individuals, corporations and other special interests," said O'Brien. Donations from $5 up to $100 will be accepted at the picnic. For more information visit O'Brien's website at http://www.timobrien.org/ for more details on his participation in the Citizen Election Program.

Lots of Life After Presidential Bid: Edwards To Take Anti-Poverty Campaign Into Connecticut

Senator John Edwards, who garnered early support for President from a fair number of New Britain Democrats this year, is coming to Connecticut on July 10 to talk with leaders, advocates, and residents about strategies to reduce poverty. Senator Edwards is the National Chair of Half in Ten: From Poverty to Prosperity, a new campaign to cut poverty by 50% over the next ten years. Here is the link to the Half in Ten campaign: www.halfinten.org/

Local organizers say Senator Edwards’ visit to Connecticut is particularly important because Connecticut was the first state in the nation to pass legislation that mandates child poverty be cut by 50% by 2014. His visit provides an opportunity to call attention to growing inequality in the state and a child poverty rate that has not budged despite the existence of this legislation since 2004. New Britain Democrats are expected to join Senator Edwards as a local partner as part of his new campaign. Events are planned in Hartford and Bridgeport on July 10th

Legislature Overturns Rell's Veto Of Minimum Wage Increase

New Britain Lawmakers Unanimously Back Higher Minimum

With strong and unanimous support from New Britain's legislative delegation, the General Assembly overrode Gov. Rell's veto of an increase in the minimum wage on June 23rd.

Connecticut will now increase the wage from the current $7.65 an hour to $8 on Jan. 1, 2009, and to $8.25 in 2010. The vote marked only the second time that a Rell veto has been set aside. The Republican caucus even lost some of its own with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledging that it was time to raise the floor on the minimum wage that is especially important for the working poor.

Gov. Rell, aligning herself with the CBIA and business lobbyists as she did on the Health Care Partnership Act, called the decision "seriously short-sighted" and that it will "have long-lasting negative consequences for employers and employees alike all over Connecticut.” Proponents discounted Rell's argument that a higher minimum would hurt economic growth. Analyses that the minimum wage can cost jobs and hurt business have been found to be false by most economists whenever state or federal minimums have been raised. In reality the minimum wage remains far from adequate given the cost of living in Connecticut. A living wage in Connecticut would exceed $17 an hour for many households with families by most estimates. In statements to the New Britain Herald, State Representatives Tim O'Brien, John Geragosian and Peter Tercyak and State Senator Don DeFronzo explained their votes to override.

Said Tercyak (D-26) “Now that the federal minimum wage is finally going up, this is the best time to increase Connecticut’s minimum wage. The difference between the federal minimum wage and Connecticut’s new minimum wage will be the smallest difference in years. Even with our increase, Connecticut will be more competitive now. It’s nice when the right thing to do works so well for all sides involved. The Connecticut families whose income includes a minimum wage job or two deserve this, and need it now more than ever."

Said DeFronzo, (D-6) “The most compelling reason for the increase in the minimum wage is that during the past eight years the gap between the poor and the wealthy is growing faster in Connecticut than in any other state in the country. This legislation will benefit working poor families who are attempting to remain financially independent.”

More coverage on the issue may be found at CT News Junkie

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/state_capitol/both_chambers_override_minimum.php