Eisenhower Park Blighted And Vandalized

Each year the city of Milford spends a considerable sum on Eisenhower Park, this year we are celebrating the construction of Bodie's Place, a playground built with the donations and generosity of Milford Residents. The playground proudly bears the name of a young local child who was stricken with a deadly and debilitating disease.

The vandals on the other hand have no consideration, nor do they care to keep their community nice. They instead have spray painted every building in the Park with their rebellious message "Devon Taggin Crew." Ordinarily, one would expect that this sort of problem would be taken care of. We have websites in town like "seeclickfix" and local "blight laws" where these issues are reported. There are also several "Earth Days," and "Green Events" that the locals engage in and volunteer for. The city of Milford also pays a handsome price to have scores of city employees take care of the grounds at the park. This graffiti (featured in the photos) has been present now for several months and its everywhere in the park.

The utility poles, the old cabana, the dog park, the veterans concession building, etc.. etc.. all marred and vandalized with graffiti. Locals who are attending the park with their dogs, are hiking or riding horses pass by this blight and question where the money is being spent in Eisenhower Park one would think that the most obvious problems would be addressed first and foremost.

One such individual said "every year thousands of dollars are spent on worthless studies and every year the park looks more scuffled, what are they going to do when the vandals spray paint the their pride and Joy... Brodies Place will they clean it up then?"

Thus far several complaints have been made by locals under the new city blight complaint and it would appear that Milford has been slow in responding to its own complaints. Personally I feel the city should be complying with the very law it intends the rest of us to follow. This week we need to urge the city to clean up the blight at Eisenhower Park and keep our city looking attractive.

Photos in this caption depict the (Top) the main capana at the park entrance. Middle Photo is the rear of that same building. The photoe to the bottom left is a 135' hight utility pole belonging to the Middletown Power Grid. This pole is located to the far left corner of the main field where the bleachers are located. Photos taken by myself (Rocco Frank) on 3/14/2011.

Frank and Independent Party Welcome Ralph Nader To Connecticut

America's renowned consumer advocate and presidential candidate Ralph Nader greeted a crowd of people in a Middlebury church last night. Ralph gave a speech lasting over an hour and a half on what he thought were our great nations troubles.

His speech was inspiring, and at times moving, Nader has been using his celebrity status to inform the next generation of voters as to the true nature of what he called corporate feudalism and its death grip on Washington D.C.

Nader has been critical of the Corporation who has no voting rights or in many cases no allegiance to our nation gaining complete control over our leadership in D.C. The new trend has become policy for profit, and the corporate giants employ candidates of their choosing to achieve their global financial objectives.

Nader has called the electoral system a sham, where the news covers simple soundbites that often leave out much vital news facts. He also cited the media as the machine that raises their "sweetheart" candidates to stardom building the required credibility that they need to succeed. Nader also mentioned that he had been previously sued by numerous political factions in many states to have his name removed from the ballot. He called such a practice an unethical form of legal political harassment.

Nader who is now about 70 years old will not run again in any future political office, but many of us today should be thankful for his life work of challenging automakers in the 60's-70's to make our cars safer. Nader's auto safety standards resulted in the implementation of crumple zones and safer steering columns saving the lives of innumerable young drivers and adults. The very cars we drive today are safer because of his selfless commitment and relentless efforts.

It was an honor and a privilege to hear Nader speak in Middlebury, and a greater honor to have had the time to personally meet with him after the event and discuss some of my own agenda items. Let this post stand as my sincere appreciation and testament to his hard work that has so benefited the safety of my family, not only in cars but in countless other consumer issues, including his current efforts in challenging Chinese companies for their criminal policy of placing lead and toxins in our imported toys and other unrelated products.