New Petition

[oldetowne]

I have heard that there is a petition being circulated in town to adopt an ordinance exempting town facilities from the provisions of the zoning regulations. This is clearly designed to be an "end run" around the applicable procedures for the lights at Cottone. Yet another example of the arrogance and know-it-all mentality of our "leaders".

[oldetowne]

And just so we're clear on this, I have yet to be convinced one way or the other on the lights.... The reasons this petition troubles me greatly are (1) yet another example of "not listening" and (2) the mischief that could be caused.

The lights will be discussed ad nauseum. But think back to the tower at Kelleher Court. This ordinance would allow those towers anywhere in town without ZBA or P&Z oversight... places like the middle of Mill Woods Park where one has actually been discussed for years now. Don't think that the radio system needs another tower? Wait and see.

How do you think town projects like the Webb School, SDMS, Town Hall renovations, new police station, E-W parking lot, the gazebo that UNICO proposed for Cove Park that was one of Mr. Standish's first crusades, and on and on, would look had there been no public scrutiny at public hearings, no ZBA or P&Z input? Our dear old town engineer with such stellar performances as Nott Street renovation, the Spring Street eyesore, the sewage and drainage problems that are no closer to being fixed now than before, etc. would have been the sole decision maker on all of those.

The town is small enough that everyone will be a NIMBY at one time or another. Letting this change get made simply to expedite the installation of the lights at Cottone Field opens the door to phenomenal potential problems on every town owned piece of property.

[SyZyGy]

Read, Think, Sign and Vote!

California politics.
California "propositions".
California "standards".
California - the land of fruits and nuts - or so we NewEnglanders like to tag our "west-coast" countryman.

Well, there IS something special about Californians (geesh, look at their current Governor!). Most of us in the relatively liberal NorthEast look rather conservative compared to the Californians.

Syndicated, conservative columnist George F. Will Jr. had an eye-opening piece in today's Hartford Courant:
www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-will0210.artfeb10,0,4516439.story?coll=hc-headlines-oped

Well, at least it was eyeopening to me! And, I recommend it to you too. I think I am beginning to understand Californians a little better: though they demand a lot of their Government, they don't really trust it a lot either. Politicians and politics are players and a game which should not be left to the power elite (or power lucky).

Arnold's Plan Of Action

February 10 2005

The governor's office in San Francisco is in the Hiram W. Johnson State Office Building, named for the early 20th-century Republican populist, arguably California's most consequential chief executive. So far.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican populist, practices what Leon Trotsky preached - permanent revolution. He is in perpetual campaign mode, wielding his celebrity and theatricality to keep the Legislature nervous about being bypassed by lawmaking-by-referendum, a constitutional weapon that is a Hiram Johnson legacy.

If Schwarzenegger successfully employs the plebiscitary mechanism this year, he will approach re-election next year ranked among the state's most transformative governors. And ripples raised by the boulders he is throwing into this nation-state's political pool will roll eastward across the country.

Placed in office by plebiscite - the recall of Gov. Gray Davis - just 16 months ago, Schwarzenegger has started the clock on a countdown to what could be a November to remember. He has submitted to the Democratic-controlled Legislature four proposals aimed at unlocking some interlocking political and economic irrationalities produced by a political class that has treated public office as private property. Because the Legislature probably will not act soon and affirmatively, ballot language has been drafted and fund-raising for four ratification campaigns has begun....[The balance of the op-ed goes into specifics of Californian state matters; follow the link to read the balance.]

I believe there are strong similarities between the Californian political mindset and the Wethersfield political milieu: we need a government, but we don't really trust it - nor should we (unless we are feeding at its teats of social services, benefits, pork-barrel, contracts, benefits, etc., etc.)

Connecticut should no longer strive to live up to its moniker "Land of Steady Habits". I would propose a new motto: "Connecticut, A State of Permanent Revolution!"

Instead of "Wethersfield - ye most auncient towne", I propose: Wethersfield, ye most Patriotically Political Towne of Connecticut. Keeping our political leaders informed, directed, ethical and effective should be our goal. Initiating referenda as needed should be considered our birthright. And "Read, Think, Sign and Vote! should be our mantra.

So, there may be two referenda this Spring. Why not? Why not MORE? Considering all of the problems we have stagnating in Town maybe the Council needs another few cattle prods applied to their seats of power.