Rep. Kim Rose Changes Vote Against CT Tax Hike

Kim Rose our new freshman representative was expected to vote in favor of the labor unions who are demanding taxpayers fund their ambitions and perceptions of fundamental fairness. Kim Rose was cross endorsed last election by the Working Families Party of which has an agenda that has nothing to do with Working Families, unless of course those families are members of an organized labor union.

This concern arrives on the heels that Paul Davis, and Rich Roy both joined a small minority of Democrats who are opposing the state budget as was approved by the State Senate. Gayle Slossberg, also and Independent Democrat opposed the tax hike. Kim Rose was not mentioned as part of the Milford Dissenting Democrats. In 2010 she was endorsed by the labor unions who rendered her additional votes in the last election in the 118th.

While the final word on this massive state budget is expected to be the subject of a fierce battle in the state house, it has become imperative to demand that our legislator represent the wishes of her contituents and not the benefits and pay increases of the Labor Unions and the Working Families Party. Reputable polls including those put forth by the Yankee Institute at the link below paint a compelling picture that the people of our state are taxed enough, and do not want to lose their home buyer credit, nor do they want to pay more for gasoline, over the counter medicine, and see an increase in the sales tax.

For this reason we need to contact Ms. Rose and tell her we object to her siding with the "Tax and Spenders" in Hartford and show some compassion and respect toward the people who elected her. Your relentless pursuit of expressing your economic concerns over higher prices for all in Milford are ernestly solicited.

Kim Rose Voted Against the CT's largest tax hike. Thank you Ms. Rose.
203.988.2078
E-mail: kimrose2010@aol.com

Latest Poll on CT Tax increases. 

By 73-15%, voters oppose eliminating the $500 property tax credit (least popular)

By 68-21%, voters oppose creating a state earned income tax credit

By 67-31%, voters oppose increasing the gas tax

By 60-34%, voters oppose eliminating sales tax exemptions

By 54-38%, voters oppose increasing the income tax

By 53-43%, voters oppose increasing the sales tax

By 71-20%, voters support seeking concessions from state employees (most popular)

By 68-39%, voters support increasing tobacco and alcohol taxes

By 47-28%, voters support budget cuts in social services and higher education

SEE FULL POLL BY CLICKING HERE

Milfords Educational Crisis Can Be Solved

The city of Milford has an ugly little secret when it comes to education, or in other words the iconic "third rail" that few dare to address. That rail is what I aptly call the 100 Million Dollar Dilemma or the the cost of repairing the failing energy wasting infrastructure of our educational system.

For the last twenty years the city of Milford and the Milford Board of Education have adopted a triage policy where-by only catastrophic mechanical failures are addressed, but the issues with our crumbling schools go beyond just those simple repairs. Milford has not had a new school built in many decades, and the thought of education improvements is always a bitter battle against those who do not want taxes, and those with kids who just want their kids educated.

For a very long time there has been no way of breaking this taxpayer, parent stalemate until recently. The answer came to my desk at the Milford Independent Party after consulting with numerous experts and municipalities across Connecticut and the United States for a solution to this very problem. Finally a real solution to the Milford Education crisis was presented to me by Balfour Betty Construction. This company is a world class company and is rated one of the top companies to work for in America.

Balfour Betty delivers billions of dollars in sales annually. The project in question that has now become the national model for Leeds Certified education was delivered to the Irving Texas School District this year. Click HERE for a tour of Lady Bird Johnson Middle School the nations first "Net Zero" Middle School. According to Balfour Betty's spokesperson "Charter Builders was awarded the $29 million contract to manage construction of the new school, located in Irving, Texas.

The 150,000-square-foot facility will produce its own energy via solar panels, geothermal energy harvesting, and wind turbines. If the school produces excess energy, the district could sell energy to a local electric provider, creating a potential revenue source for the district." Should our local leaders dare embrace the vision of the future, a project like this can easily be initiated in Milford and Connecticut. Most of the delivery cost can easily be absorbed without incident or consequence to the local taxpayers.

This is because 60% of the cost of the school would be paid for by Hartford, another 10% could be covered by Federal Clean Energy grants and the rest %30 covered by bonds. The payments on those bonds would be at record low interest rates and paid for with the monthly savings from repairs, Gas, Electric, and energy. For example at current rates of 4% a loan for the difference or an est. $20,000.00 per month in un-needed electric and gas bills could be easily converted to the loan payment. This will cover the unfunded and bonded portion of the construction.

If Milford also decides to sell off and combine some failing Schools, it is even possible that a new school could be built for FREE. There may even be additional money in the bank to use for our kids currently unfunded programs. This is a project that is a "big win" for the people and city and should be seriously pursued to fix our towns 100 Million Dollar Dilemma.

We now just need to get the word out, because the lack of vision and inaction on behalf of the cities taxpayers and children is UNACCEPTABLE. We all need to put pressure on the present administration to take meaningful action to solve our educational crisis. Milford students should not be learning in hallways on carts and certainly they do not deserve to have their schools shut down. Demand Action, direct decision makers to this post and ask them to do the right thing for the sake our children.

Milford Moves To Abate Blighted Properties

A "clear path'' for handling blight complaints was unveiled Monday by Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr.

The proposed ordinance drafted by City Attorney Win Smith at the mayor's request would put the Health Department at the center of what until now has been a fragmented process.

The city's health director, Dr. A. Dennis McBride, will have the role of anti-blight officer, and residents' complaints would be made to that department.

The Health Department already coordinates several initiatives designed to ensure safe housing conditions, "and it makes sense to keep this there,'' Richetelli said.

The mayor has in the past maintained that the city doesn't need an anti-blight ordinance because existing laws address the problem. "What has changed is the economy,'' he said Monday afternoon.

"We're seeing more dilapidated properties, even more complaints about high grass,'' the mayor said. "We've been handling them from this office and forwarding them to agencies with code-enforcement authority.'' The proposed ordinance includes an appeal process, including the opportunity for property owners to bring the matter to court.

Members of the Economic Development Commission last month agreed to work toward a better-coordinated process for addressing blight, noting the lack of a centralized complaint office.

The commission is chaired by Genevieve Salvatore, a Democratic candidate for mayor. Richetelli said he was unaware of that effort when he advanced his proposal.

"I prefer to get things done," the mayor said. Two run-down and hazardous houses, one on East Broadway and the other on Village Road, were torn down by the city this year, and a Benham Avenue property was repaired, with the city filing a lien for repayment.

The Board of Aldermen will have the proposed ordinance in time for its Aug. 3 meeting, officials said.

Salvatore said that she is "glad that the mayor has finally seen the importance of this issue. The EDC recognized that blight was concerning Milford citizens some time ago."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE BY FRANK JULIANO CLICK HERE

City To Auction off Two Lots

The city is getting set to auction off two parcels of land that became somewhat controversial during the recent budget deliberations.

Mayor James Richetelli Jr. expects the sales to bring in $250,000, $225,000 of which has been calculated into this year’s budget. Other politicians criticized him during budget deliberations for predicting a sales figure, which they said is not a sure thing.

This week the mayor announced the date for public auction for the two single-family building lots, which are in the West Shore area. The properties each are approved for one single-family dwelling.

The auction is set for Friday, June 26, at 11 a.m. in the City Hall auditorium, 110 River St. The minimum bid for each lot, as set by the Board of Aldermen, is $125,000.

People wishing to bid must present a certified or bank check for 10% ($12,500) 30 minutes before the auction.

One of the two properties is at 2 Welton St. and combined with 28 feet of 6 Stone St. The two together produce a lot size 100-by-108 feet or 10,787 square feet in an R-5 zone.

The second parcel is a rear lot on Stone Street, which has a lot size of 15,000 square feet in an R-5 zone.

A copy of the official notice, bidding instructions, general specifications and other pertinent information are available at the city’s purchasing department or from the city Web site, ci.milford.ct.us. Click on “City Departments,” select “Purchasing” and then “Current Bids.”

“The sale of this property will achieve many desirable objectives,” Richetelli said. “[It will] generate much needed revenue to aid the city taxpayers; relieve the neighborhood and the city of vacant lots, which have become dumping grounds as well as places to ‘hang out’; create oversized building lots where attractive, single-family homes may be built, which will add value to surrounding properties; put these properties back on the tax rolls; and create jobs through new home construction.”

“In addition, this will continue to enhance our common goal of revitalizing the Walnut Beach area,” Richetelli added.

Written by Jill K. Dion Original post Click HERE


For further information call 783-3201.