26 August 2009: Remembering Ted Kennedy

Ted Kennedy’s five-decade Senate career spanned 10 presidencies, starting with his brother’s 1,000 days in office through Barack Obama’s first year.

That longevity – which counts for a lot in the U.S. Senate –allowed Kennedy to leave a lasting mark on shaping landmark laws on civil rights, health and education, from the passage of voting rights in the mid 1960s to the current debate on health insurance being mandated as a right for all Americans.

The current bill coming out of Kennedy’s committee on insuring the uninsured – “the cause of his life” –will undoubtedly emerge in some compromised fashion with Ted Kennedy’s name on it.

The Kennedy Health Care Act (it’s not called that yet but will be), marked up by his friend, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, will be made law so long as the Democratic majority finds the will to do reconciliation and blows off the phony bipartisanship of the “gang of six” and the likes of Joe Lieberman.

Much of the commentary on the passing of the last of a generation of Kennedy brothers will focus on the “mystique” and the impression that Ted Kennedy was kind of royalty, not to be challenged at the ballot box. It’s true that Kennedy was never seriously challenged in the Democratic Party. There was the first run in 1962 when he was taken on by Edward McCormack, Jr. in an Irish brawl of a primary during the Kennedy presidency, but nothing ever since. Save for a well-financed run by former MA Governor Mitt Romney, the hapless Republicans have mostly served up a succession of patsies against Edward Kennedy for 46 years despite the Senator’s personal travails and unsuccessful run for the presidency.

While his name and money gave him a head start, Kennedy and his operatives rarely took the grassroots for granted. They always seemed to remember former Speaker Tip O’Neill’s advice that “all politics is local.” That entailed taking care of constituents' individual issues and old-fashioned politicking that has been the trademark of Kennedy’s well-honed home state operation for all these years.

My only encounters with Ted Kennedy nearly 40 years ago illustrated that Kennedy’s longevity came not just from his privileged life, but never forgetting the electoral base that would turn him into the “lion of the Senate.” They came as part of my job as a reporter for the Lynn Sunday Post between 1972 and 1974 when I was just out of college.

A regular part of the Kennedy itinerary would be to get around to cities and towns, to address high school assemblys and civic groups and visit the local press, including the tiny newsroom of a small weekly on the North Shore just outside of Boston. There, I simultaneously held the titles of city hall and state house reporter and was the paper’s national affairs correspondent when Kennedy came to town. These two or three annual newsroom interviews were 30-minute one on ones where I, next to a Royal manual typewriter, would ask the questions and Kennedy would give his well-rehearsed take on Nixon impoundments, Watergate and the tough fights for progressive legislation during a Republican administration.

We then would all pose for a picture with local politicians in tow before Kennedy moved on to the next town.

I think Kennedy knew when I met him briefly so long ago and to his last days that the local politicking he grew to enjoy and did every year counted for the very long run that he had in the U.S. Senate. It’s a politician’s chore that may be easy to forget after you’ve been in Congress for a few years with all the trappings of office. But Kennedy never forgot. [Photo from: Lynn Sunday Post 1972]

O'Brien for Mayor Committee Holds Volunteer Meeting Wednesday 8/26

Supporters of State Rep. Tim O’Brien’s campaign for Mayor will gather at the Pulaski Democratic Club Wednesday, August 26th at 6:30 p.m. to mobilize for the November 3rd municipal election. There are six ways To help Tim O'Brien and the Democratic slate.

1. Make calls to voters about November 3rd
2. Drop lit in the neighborhoods/sign up new voters
3. Send cards to family, friends and neighbors
4. Write letters to the editor
5. Sign up for a lawn sign
6. Make a financial contribution.

The Pulaski Democratic Club is located at 89 Grove Street.

25 August 2009

O’Brien For Mayor Volunteer Orientation Meeting
Wednesday, Aug. 26th, 6:30 p.m.

Supporters of State Rep. Tim O’Brien’s campaign for Mayor will gather at the Pulaski Democratic Club Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to mobilize for the November 3rd municipal election.

Six Ways To Help Tim O'Brien and the Democratic slate. Vote Row B November 3rd.

Your time and support are needed now.

1. Make calls to voters about November 3rd
2. Drop lit in the neighborhoods/sign up new voters
3. Send cards to family, friends and neighbors
4. Write letters to the editor
5. Sign up for a lawn sign
6. Make a financial contribution.

The Pulaski Democratic Club is located at 89 Grove Street.

22 August 2009: Obama Refutes Republican Lies On Health Insurance Reform

Here is President Obama's weekly address that corrects the record on health insurance reform and the lies being spread by the GOP and industry lobbyists who are spending record amounts to sway the Congress' decision on the legislation up for debate and votes this fall.

19 August 2009

Message from Organizing for America and the Democratic National Committee: Online Strategy with President Obama on Health Care Reform Thursday

President Obama is holding a live strategy meeting on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time for all Organizing for America supporters. I hope you can join us, online or by phone. The President will update us on the fight to pass real health insurance reform -- what's happening in D.C. and what's happening around the country. He'll lay out our strategy and message going forward and answer questions from supporters like you. And we'll unveil the next actions we'll organize together.

This is a critical time in this President's administration, and in the history of our country. I hope you can join us.

Here are the details:

What: Organizing for America National Health Care Forum
When: Thursday, August 20th, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
RSVP and submit a question for the President.

Click here to RSVP and submit a question for President Obama:

http://my.barackobama.com/forum


August Town Committee Meeting Agenda

When: Thursday, August 20, 2009—7 :00 p.m.
Where: New Britain City Hall 27 West Main St. Room 504

A. Welcome and roll call
B. Treasurer’s report/Minutes of prior meeting
C. Guest Speaker: DAN MALLOY, Mayor of Stamford
D. Old Business — Justices of the Peace nominations
E. New Business — Primary poll checkers campaign announcements
F. Adjournment


Six Ways To Help Tim O'Brien and the Democratic slate. Vote Row B November 3rd.

Your time and support are needed now.

1. Make calls to voters about November 3rd
2. Drop lit in the neighborhoods/sign up new voters
3. Send cards to family, friends and neighbors
4. Write letters to the editor
5. Sign up for a lawn sign
6. Make a financial contribution


NBDTC Post Office Box 2112, New Britain , CT 06050
Labor donated and paid for by. New Britain Democratic Town Committee.
John Valengavich Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara

Dan Malloy Is Guest Speaker At August 20th Meeting

Dan Malloy, Stamford’s Mayor and a 2010 gubernatorial hopeful, will be the guest speaker at the August meeting of the NB Democratic Town Committee Thursday, August 20th at 7 p.m. at New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street.

Malloy, who has served as Stamford’s mayor since 1995, is serving a fourth term and is expected to seek the Democratic nomination for Governor next year. A Boston College and Boston College law school graduate, Malloy served as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, NY in the early 1980s before returning to his native Stamford to practice law and pursue local politics. He contended for the gubernatorial nomination in 2006.

This summer he has been critical of the Rell Administration on the stymied state budget negotiations and on Governor Rell’s veto of the Sustinet health care reform legislation that was overridden by the state legislature. More information at www.danmalloy.com

From the Chair: NB Republicans start early on personal attacks, negative campaigning

It usually takes until Labor Day for some candidates to resort to negative campaigning. But New Britain Republicans aren’t waiting until then to engage in name calling and invective as a substitute for discussing the issues.

Don Naples, a Ward 4 candidate for the GOP, signed off on a letter to the editor earlier this week that takes off on Ward 4 Ald, Phil Sherwood for inquiring about the plans for prospective developers to build retail at the Pinnacle Heights site. Naples falsely chastises Sherwood for “taunting” the proposed developers as he engaged in a dialogue with the developer’s attorney. The developers, by the way, were seeking full developer designation after admitting that “due diligence” on their part needs to be done on the site before offering any specifics. For doing his due diligence in a respectful manner, Sherwood was called “jerky” by Naples. And in a new blog that is anonymous but has all the trappings of the Republican Town Committee and Mayor Stewart’s inner circle Sherwood is referred to as “filthy Phil Sherwood.” Check it out at http://thebizybee.blogspot.com/

And in one of his many attack missives GOP Ald. Lou Salvio rants on about “some Democrat Council agitators” using “neighborhood rabble-rousers”, “mercenaries” and “Democratic shills to promote doubt.” Salvio’s letter was posted on the Frank Smith Says NB blog, another conduit for personal attacks on local Democrats generally and vitriolic, extremist reports against President Obama specifically. There was nary a word about any substantive issue in this latest salvo from Salvio.

Salvio, who has made a habit of name calling and insults in e-mails to his Democratic Council colleagues and in letters to the editor through the years, complains bitterly that the “voters elected the evildoers with a super majority on the council.”

These remarks are disappointing, counterproductive and disrespectful to voters. Every election is an opportunity to have a conversation with voters and to engage them in constructive dialogue. Democrats believe this. Unfortunately members of the Stewart team appear to want to trade insults and tear down the good faith efforts of public servants rather than promote their own qualifications, ideas and solutions.


Black Dems Set For Soul Food Fast, Saturday, August 15th

The Black Democratic Club and its President, Ward 3 Ald. Shirley Black , invites you to its annual Soul Food Fest Saturday, August 15th. The annual event will be held from 12-4 p.m. Pride of CT, Lodge of Elks 24 Elm Street, New Britain. The donation $15. Bring your appetite.

End Quote

The Republicans, hoping to steal the message as they have so often before, have invited in the brass-knucklers of the wacko-fringe: the racists, the haters, the misanthropes, the nest of the bombers and shooters, the lunatics. They’ve done this before and think it’s high theater. Except this time there’s no moderating forces left at all in the GOP hierarchy to hit the “off” switch. The party has been reduced down to the coffee grounds. It is the base distilled to the base of the base. A few southerners, a few wild westerners, the usual opportunists. …..The demagogues of the airwaves, who alone define and control the Republican party once of Lincoln and Roosevelt and Eisenhower — racist to the core — whip the mob to its mad frenzy.

from Angry? How about nuts? Author and blogger Denis Horgan August 5, 2009-08-13

9 August 2009

Council Takes Up Anti-Blight Issue Wednesday, August 12
Stewart, Republicans Seek To Weaken Enforcement

A proposal by the Stewart administration to weaken the city’s policy against property blight will get a hearing at Wednesday’s City Council meeting amid calls by Democrats for stronger enforcement of existing ordinances.

The Herald quoted Stewart as saying: “We have serious deficiencies in our anti-blight legislation because of its complexity and reliance on the courts. The proposed ordinance reduces and codifies it down to a more workable ordinance.”

Democratic Chairman John McNamara said the administration’s proposed policy is an abdication of the city government’s role in protecting neighborhoods against deterioration. “The Mayor is walking away from the tools that many cities rely on to deal with irresponsible absentee landlords. Limiting the options the city has over slumlords won’t get the job done. Sometimes a city has to ‘rely on the courts’ to protect its citizens.”

McNamara, a former Building Commission Chairman, called upon the Mayor and Council to maintain and strengthen the anti-blight policy by adopting a certificate of occupancy in non-owner occupied housing. “Instituting the Building Commission was only a half-step last year. Certificates of occupancy are needed to hold landlords and tenants responsible in multi-unit housing.”

State Rep. Tim O’Brien (D-24), the endorsed Democratic candidate for Mayor, was instrumental in writing a strong anti-blight ordinance when he served on the city council. Stewart now seeks to weaken provisions that set quality of life standards in neighborhoods and give the city powers to hold absentee owners accountable.

“ Unfortunately, our city has not received the benefit of these strong anti-blight protections because these rules have never truly been enforced,” said O’Brien. “I have worked hard, both on the City Council and in the state legislature, for anti-blight ordinances and laws. For too long slumlords and other irresponsible absentee property owners have brought down the quality of life in whole neighborhoods with their neglect and bad management. This harms everyone. It hurts people of meager means who live in slum housing, because there is a shortage of quality affordable housing. It hurts the people whose neighborhood quality of life is torn down because they live near boarded-up buildings and slums. And it means that taxpayers watch as their money ends up spent dealing with the problems caused so that out-of-town investor-owners can make money on the backs of New Britain residents.”

O’Brien said he agreed with the Mayor that the city should take advantage of state anti-blight laws, like collecting anti-blight fines and fees through irresponsible property owners' tax bills and activating the state Urban Homesteading law. “But, the most significant thing that the Stewart-Republican proposal would do would be to weaken our city's anti-blight ordinance by repealing important quality of life standards designed to protect the people of our city. We should be moving forward, not backward,” said O’Brien. O’Brien said his differences with the Stewart administration on blight issues is one of the reason he is running for mayor. “We can have a city that creates jobs, building up homes and neighborhoods, instead of making excuses for why our anti-blight ordinance is not being enforced,” said O’Brien.

Public participation at Wednesday’s City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 27 West Main Street.


Rained Out Tomato Crop Cancels Urban Oaks’ Annual Tasting Feast: Special Fund Will Help Organic Farmers

The annual “Tomato To-mah-to 2009: Heirloom Tasting Feast” scheduled for Sunday, August 23rd and hosted by New Britain’s Urban Oaks Farm and the Upper Forty Farm in Cromwell has been cancelled because of weather-related blight to tomato crops this year.

“Both farms are suffering greatly from circumstances related to this unseasonably cool and wet weather. It is unclear if there will be any field grown tomato plants surviving in four weeks. Flooding and blight are taking an enormous toll on everything,” wrote Susan Chandler, the chapter leader of Slow Food Connecticut. “Slow Food Connecticut is establishing a Tomato Fund in support our farmer friends, who have generously hosted this event for eight years on our behalf, as small token of our appreciation. Proceeds will be equally divided between Upper Forty Farm and Urban Oaks Organic Farm and be entirely tax-deductible. If you would like to participate, please send a check to "Slow Food Connecticut" and mail to Susan Chandler, 1870 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. Note "Tomato Fund" on the memo line.

Black Dems Set For Soul Food Fast, Saturday, August 15th

The Black Democratic Club and its President, Ward 3 Ald. Shirley Black , invites you to its annual Soul Food Fest Saturday, August 15th. The annual event will be held from 12-4 p.m. Pride of CT, Lodge of Elks 24 Elm Street, New Britain. The donation $15.

Car Wash for NBHS Marching Band To Be Held August 22nd

The New Britain High School Golden Hurricanes Marching Band, celebrating its 75th year of New Britain music pride, will hold its Annual Car Wash on Saturday, August 22, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The CAR WASH FUNDRAISER will be held at the Masonic Temple, corner of Shuttle Meadow Avenue and Corbin Avenue, New Britain, across from Martha Hart Park. The car wash will include student participation, with music provided by NBHS Band members. Hot dogs will also be sold to benefit the Band. Olivia Pietrowicz is the 2009-2010 Drum Major and will coordinate the car wash activities along with the Band Unit leaders, Canettes Co-Captains and Head Majorette. Car wash tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the Car Wash

26 July 2009: Endorsements On Tuesday July 28th

O’Brien asks town committee members for mayoral endorsement
Democratic Endorsement Meeting Tuesday, July 28th

State Rep. Tim O’Brien (D-24), in a letter to the members of the Democratic Town Committee, has asked for their support at the DTC’s endorsement meeting to be held Tuesday, July 28th, at the Italian Fraternal Society, 153 Monroe Street.

O’Brien, reiterating points made at his July 17th announcement at the Pulaski Democratic Club, said “change” is needed in the Mayor’s office “to help homeowners, especially seniors, with unfair property taxes; to improve quality of life in all of New Britain's neighborhoods; to create good paying jobs and revitalize our economy; to improve the quality of education and create new opportunity.”

“I believe, deep in my heart, that New Britain can be brought back, that we can restore hope to the people of our city. And I believe that the Democratic Party, as the party of the people, is where the new ideas and vision must come to change from policies that benefit a select few to leadership that benefits all of the people of New Britain. As I have said, I want this campaign to be about empowering the people of our city, not just about electing one person.” O’Brien, serving his fourth term in the Legislature, previously was elected to the Common Council.

The DTC will endorse candidates for Mayor, Town and City Clerk, Tax Collector, Treasurer , City Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable at Tuesday’s meeting. “We’re striving to offer the voters a diverse and competent group of candidates who are truly representative of all residents and who can help Tim O’Brien bring positive change to City Hall,” said Democratic Town Chair John McNamara.

Meet The Candidates: Sharon Beloin-Saavedra seeks new term on board of education (one of a series about the Democratic candidates for municipal offices)

Board of Education President Sharon Beloin-Saavedra is seeking endorsement for a second four-year term on the Board of Education.

A former city alderwoman during the administration of former Mayor Donald DeFronzo, Beloin-Saavedra, a lifelong resident and 1987 CCSU grad, describes herself as a “domestic engineer…a stay at home, hard-working dedicated mother.” Beloin-Saavedra has three children, Noah, 13, and Gabriella and Alexandra, 11. She is married to Ed Saavedra, who also has previously served as a Board of Education member. Beloin-Saavedra, who succeeded BOE member Peter Kochol as board president, said her priorities are to “fix the resource deprivation that exits for New Britain schools; close the achievement gap and achieve equity in education for urban students.”

“Voters should know that I am a life long resident of New Britain. I grew up here, went to school here and am choosing to raise my family here. I am committed to helping children succeed and break down barriers,” said Beloin-Saavedra. The DTC will endorse three candidates at its July 28th meeting.

Let’s Get Congress To Act!

Support urged for Employee Choice Act in Congress
A majority of Americans worry that their children will be worse off than they are. While our families struggle to get by, corporate CEOs are making record profits--all while they're trying hard to deny us a voice on the job. When workers are free to choose to join a union, our economy can work for everyone again. That's why we need the Employee Free Choice Act--a bill in Congress that would make it easier for workers to join together and bargain for wages that support a family and quality, affordable healthcare. This bill will make it easier for workers to unite on the job, imposing stiff penalties for corporations who fire or intimidate workers who try to form unions and giving workers a seat at the table so they can negotiate their contracts just like CEOs do.
The Employee Free Choice Act: (1)Makes it easier for working people to join unions by giving employees the choice to form a union and taking away corporations' veto powers; (2) Helps America's working families improve their standard of living. Workers in unions earn 30 percent higher wages and are 63 percent more likely to have employer-provided health insurance; (3) Fixes a broken system that gives corporations and CEOs far too much power. When workers try and organize unions, they are often harassed and intimidated; 25 percent of companies unlawfully fire pro-union workers; (4) Restores fairness and the promise of the American Dream, with a robust middle class, economic growth, and shared prosperity.

It's time our economy worked for everyone again. It's time for the Employee Free Choice Act. Ask Congress to act favorably at http://action.seiu.org/page/s/majoritysignup

Additional information available at www.seiu.org

Health Care With Public Option Is Priority
With the CT Legislature’s veto override and passage of a Sustinet Health coverage reform plan, attention will now focus on President Obama’s health care legislation that will be up for debate and Congressional action in the fall.

Sustinet provides for a policy making process that is not dominated by insurance lobbyists and interests. “Under SustiNet, we do anticipate affordable public health insurance options starting in 2012,” said Juan A. Figueroa, president of the Universal Health Foundation, which led a broad-based, nonpartisan coalition for passage. “Connecticut is now positioned on the national health reform stage, surpassing Massachusetts with a smart plan that will expand coverage and lead us on the road to better health and health care.”

At the federal level, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd is one of Congress’ leading advocates for a health care plan with a public option: “We have a unique opportunity to make a difference for millions of Americans who are caught between the cracks of our current health insurance system. We all know someone who is uninsured or underinsured, someone who has had to battle their insurance company to cover desperately needed medical care. President Obama has been providing important leadership on this issue, pushing for strong reform, trying to work with Democrats and Republicans to make health care for all a reality. Stand up against the political games and stand up for real leadership on health care reform.”

For more information and to sign the petition go to

http://www.chrisdodd.com/Action/HealthCarePresident?utm_source=sp2096037&utm_medium=e&sc=sp2096037