14 November 2009

Town Committee Meets Thursday (11/19): Death Penalty Discussion On Tap

The Democratic Town Committee will meet Thursday, November 19th, at 7 p.m. at New Britain City Hall’s Room 504.

Representatives of the Connecticut Network Against the Death Penalty (CNADP) will be making a presentation and answering questions. Speakers will include Ben Jones, the executive director, and Juan Melendez, who spent almost 18 years on death row before being found innocent. The CNADP is a statewide organization that advocates for abolition and organize support activities for victims’ families.

Also on the agenda will be appointments to fill vacancies for Justices of the Peace.

An Appreciation Party for the 2009 municipal slate will follow at the Roma Restaurant on Allen Street.

Members and volunteers are invited to attend

All We Can Do Until 2012 Is Pray for Joe Lieberman

Constituents of U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, the long ago co-founder of 60s’ statewide progressive Democratic organization (Caucus of CT Democrats), have turned to prayer vigils to convince the senator to support health care reform and a public option for the uninsured.

In a reversal from his 2006 campaign promises Lieberman has vowed to hold up legislation in the Senate that would ensure him more media face time and do the bidding of his friends in the Republican Party.

The Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care will hold an Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Lieberman on Sunday, November 15 at 6:00 p.m.at Stamford High School (in Lieberman’s neighborhood), 55 Strawberry Hill Avenue, Stamford, CT.

Organizers from "all walks of life and all faith traditions" are calling for Lieberman to support a strong public option and quality, affordable health care

“Our various faith traditions and our various experiences as pastors, rabbis, priests, imams and people of faith from all walks of life have taught us that no one should be left behind in receiving care that heals the body and quiets the mind.” said Efrain Agosto, Academic Dean, Hartford Seminary.

More information available at www.healthcare4every1.org or call (203) 639-0550

Memo to Harry Reid et al from New Britain: It’s time to do the reconciliation and adopt by majority vote.

Rep. O’Brien: “The work that we started this year is not over.”

State Rep. Tim O'Brien (D-24) expressed deep appreciation this week to the many people who supported his campaign for Mayor. "I want to give my thanks to everyone who helped with and supported our campaign to change New Britain for the better for everyone in our city," said O'Brien. "And I thank the thousands of people who came out to vote in hope for a brighter future for New Britain."

O'Brien added, "We should be proud of what we accomplished. We gave hope to thousands of people in our city that we can change things for the better - lowering unfair property taxes, improving education opportunities, improving neighborhoods and creating good paying jobs. Most of all, we spread hope that we, everyday people, working together as a community, can truly improve life for everyone in New Britain. What we started this year is genuinely good.”

O'Brien said that he plans to continue to advocate for the important changes his campaign championed. "The work that we started this year is not over. It is just beginning. We should keep building and organizing to win a brighter future for our city."

NB Politicus: Trash Talk From Mayor Sets Wrong Tone

Mayor Stewart began a new term this week with an official call for an "end to political warfare" between his office and the City Council, according to Courant coverage

And there was some high-minded rhetoric from Stewart to get things going:
"Today we stand at the threshold of becoming a new and exciting city, one that will be the centerpiece of central Connecticut — at the crossroads of prosperity and the future home of new and emerging workplaces for our citizens to grow and prosper. Our city has seen days of glory and days of decline, but surely our best days lie ahead of us."

At Thursday's first Council meeting Stewart urged civility, according to Jim Craven's story in the Herald under the headline "Stewart Demands Civility".

But Stewart's admonitions to the Democratic City Council were quickly contradicted in a series of published quotes from the Mayor in both daily newspapers: Council leaders Phil Sherwood and Mike Trueworthy are "hacks" , "carpetbaggers" and "liars" who will obstruct his agenda over the next few years.

READ the whole post at NB Politicus