Milford Independents Elect A New Slate of Officers

The Milford Independent party met at Cabo last week and held the annual election of officers for the year 2011. The current Chairman, Rocco Frank thanked the group for taking the time to come out and be involved in the local political landscape.

Frank reminded and encouraged the group as to how important it is to win over the "hearts and minds of the voters." Frank said that the "Milford Independent Party is like a seed firmly planted in the community, and over time will grow and bear fruit." Frank said that Independents in Milford have just as good a chance as any other candidate, reminding the Independents in attendance that the party is built on the success of others including the late Charles Iovino Milford's last Independent Mayor from 1959-1963.

Frank said that when you win over the "hearts and minds of the local people miracles can happen, when Joe Lieberman ran as an Independent he won, when Lowell Weiker ran as an Independent he won, and who can forget Americas most famous Independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg of nearby New York.

Frank added in his closing remarks that the Independent party is the engine that will "work tirelessly for the right candidate and still to this day we seek that impressive leader who will fearlessly lead, not through politics, but through the long coveted "truth" a truth that longs to resonate with Milford's voters who are overdue for a great leader."

The 2011 slate of officers were elected as follows: Chairman: Rocco Frank Jr. (Second Term) Vice Chairman: Steve Borer Treasurer: John Grant and Secretary: Dick Sieron (Replacing Todd Casey)

Independents Represent Economic Fixes Through Individual Tax Fairness

Upstart candidate Boaz ItsHaky is back this year to run against U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro for the second time, now as an Independent. He’s offering a new solution to the nation’s economic woes: an “income tax holiday.”

ItsHaky (pictured) said he’d like to see all taxes—income, property, city, state, and federal—suspended for a period of six months or a year. It would put money back in the pocket of consumers and kick the economy into gear, he said.

ItsHaky presented that idea on Friday afternoon at the Bella Vista retirement community in Fair Haven Heights, where he made an appearance as part of his quest for signatures to appear on the ballot In November for U.S. representative for Connecticut’s Third Congressional District, which includes New Haven and 24 surrounding towns. That seat is currently occupied by 19-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, against whom ItsHaky ran two years ago, when he was a Republican.

ItsHaky, a Bethany acupuncturist who has never held public office, appearedwith a slate of state and federal candidates from a new organization, the Independent Party. His tax idea is loosely based on a plan offered by Warren Mosler, a millionaire financial analyst, banker, and race car entrepreneur who’s the party’s candidate for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Sen. Chris Dodd, who is retiring at the end of this year. Mosler later cautioned that ItsHaky’s idea was not exactly what he, Mosler, had in mind.

Other Independent candidates at the Friday event included Chester First Selectman and gubernatorial candidate Tom Marsh and Waterbury Alderman and candidate for Lt. Governor Cicero Booker.

Those candidates, including Mosler, have already secured their spots on the ballot in November. ItsHaky is still working to gather the signatures he needs before the deadline on Wednesday.

To Continue Reading NH Independent Story by Thomas Mcmillan Click HERE

Independents Sign 11,000 Voters And Announce 30 Candidates

Independent Party Submits 11,000 Signatures for Statewide Slate, Announces 30 Candidates for Legislative Offices

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Marsh and other leaders of the Independent Party will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 20 at 3pm on the north steps of the State Capitol Building in Hartford, Connecticut to announce the submission of 11,000 signatures to place a statewide slate of candidates on the ballot in the general election in November 2010. 7,500 validated signatures of Connecticut registered voters are required by state law.

Mike Telesca, State Agent for The Independent Party and Waterbury Town Chairman will introduce Governor candidate Tom Marsh and his running mate, Lt. Governor candidate Cicero Booker Jr., and two candidates seeking the nomination of the Independent Party for U.S. Senate, Dr. John Mertens and Warren Mosler, will also speak along with other candidates in attendance.

Vince Ross Calls Republican Letter "Amazing Fiction"

Unfortunately, it appears that Genevieve Salvatore, mayoral candidate and leader of the Milford Democrats, has concluded that Democrats can't win without personal attacks on Mayor Richetelli.

Mayor Richetelli has called on everyone, regardless of political party, to come together. He's said local government shouldn't be about partisan politics, it should be about people serving our community and about neighbors joining together to ensure that government works effectively to keep Milford a great place to live.

On November 3rd, voters are going to have a clear choice between Mayor Richetelli's vision for Milford and Salvatore's brand of attack politics.

Tom Jagodzinski
203-876-2749
Paid for by the Milford Republican Town Committee

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I refer to the above piece of creative writing and amazing fiction.

Isn’t it nice that the Mayor and the RTC Chairman now want local politics to be about ‘serving our community’, ‘neighbors’ and not ‘partisan politics’?

Some 9 months ago when Peter Spalthoff first voiced these same words as the underlying principles of the Milford Independent Party, both the Republicans and the Democrats laughed from their high-horse saying that these were not even worthy of being the basis of a party.

They derided these principles, stating that they were just jargon. They dismissed the foundation of who Peter Spalthoff is, his love for Milford, and the fact that he wants to stamp out partisan politics so that Milford is the focal point of every decision made. Yet now they use his very script and hypocritically do not even acknowledge Peter.

Back to what you know best, hey Tom? Partisan politics, cheap tactics and mimicry.

The major parties are so barren of any true concern for Milford that they even resort to copying Peter Spalthoff’s genuine passion, yet try to ignore his presence since they know he is the only candidate that has and always will put Milford first.

“Neighbors”… what an unusual word to be coming from the Republicans. This is the party that:

-dismisses Peter Spalthoff but uses his words and his ideas;

-Publicly and privately they butchered loyal Milfordite and respected Republican Tom Beirne for suggesting that Richetelli should improve his performance;

-Resorts to defamatory name-calling the members of an opposing party for telling the truth about Richetelli’s sizeable pension payout;

-Has rubbished the reputation of State Representative Barbara Lambert and even had a fundraiser with the sole intention of ridiculing her;

-ALWAYS vote along party lines, even if it means approving a salary increase for the Mayor: Knowing all the while that at the same time school employees could be fired and the Mayor is negotiating union wage freezes;

-Has without proof, ruthlessly questioned the moral virtues of the Democratic mayoral candidate.

“Neighbors” … how novel for Tom and Jim to use that term. Just for their edification:

“Neighbor - a person who shows kindliness or helpfulness toward his or her fellow humans.”

Maybe Tom and Jim were thinking of another word to describe themselves:

“Hypocrite - a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, esp. one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.”

The major parties should stick to what they know best - their self-interest - and let Peter Spalthoff be voted in as Milford Mayor so he can govern this city the way it should and must be governed. He is the only mayoral candidate that has constantly, consistently and honestly put the people of Milford first and foremost.

Vote Spalthoff and keep these undesirable ‘neighbors’ out of our local politics.

Vincent Ross
Milford

Milford's Joe Di Canero Upset With Fowler And RTC

Unbelievable! Milford GOP leader Jack Fowler sure has got some nerve. In his letter to the editor published June 25 he is furious at Rocco Frank for even mentioning Mayor Jim Richetelli's Milford taxpayer funded pension, the one he will get if he wins the upcoming election. He raves like a mad man who's trying to protect his last chicken from an inquisitive fox.

Fowler gets all bent out of shape, choking on a fur ball of anger, all because someone mentions the pension. You know, the pension Mayor Richetelli will get at aged 50 whether he is sitting at the beach sipping an iced tea or happens to get another high paying senior position, most likely within the GOP. A pension that will be paid for by all of us here in Milford, whether we have a job or are being
crushed by the current economic circumstances and the ridiculously high property taxes. You know, the pension he will get despite the consequences of the economic hole he is digging for us right now, so regardless of how good or bad his legacy is we'll just keep paying it like good little sheep. You know which pension I'm referring to. I'm sure you do.

But you can't stop Fowler. He is a man of passion. Of telling it the way it is. A man of principle.

Strange, then, was his and RTC Chairman Tom Jagodzinski's silence concerning my letter about the internal rot that is devouring the Milford GOP. Maybe they hope that if they bury their head in the sand it will just go away. Or by attacking Rocco Frank it will distract us from this greater issue facing our party. The issue of irrelevance.

Both Fowler and Jagodzinski know I am speaking the truth, and the accuracy of my letter left them both dumbfounded. The email Jagodzinski circulated within the party concerning my letter soon after its publication proves it. Jagodzinski effectively stated to everyone in the GOP that 'all is good, don't read the letter, don't panic, we are financially ok'.

What have finances got to do with the slow death and growing irrelevance of the Milford GOP?

Why have Collins, Munk, Marshall, Spalthoff and numerous other former GOP leaders abandoned the party if everything is so fantastic? Why are so many senior figures in the GOP so sick of you, Jagodzinski, Mayor Jimmy and all your inner-circle buddies doing self-serving deals, that they not only left the party but are now actively campaigning against the GOP to get rid of all of you before the party dies?

Why not get upset about this Fowler, something that should concern you more than Jimmy's pension? Or has Jimmy taken another mysterious 6 hiatus and so is not able to address this issue on his own?

It saddens me, really saddens me to see the party I love, yes love, being left in the hands of these morticians that are waiting for its final breath. Maybe Fowler and his friends should stop worrying about Spalthoff, Rocco Frank and the Milford Independent Party and start worrying about our Milford GOP. Even better, maybe they could do us a favor and leave the GOP, and go join the Democrats to suck the life out of their party instead.

Joe Di Canenero

Alderman Raymond Vitali R5, May Hold Jonathan Law's Future In His Hands

The future of a $4 million addition to Jonathan Law High School rests in the hands of Alderman Raymond Vitali, R-5, after the Board of Finance rejected authorizing funds for the work Monday night.

The Finance Board’s 3-2 rejection means the request will be sent back to the Board of Aldermen. The aldermen will need a supermajority to approve the addition, and reverse the Finance Board’s decision.

Earlier this month, the aldermen voted 10-5 to approve creating a draft bond authorization, which was a critical first step toward allocating the $4 million for the work.

All nine Democrats and Vitali, a retired longtime school principal, approved creating the draft bond allocation, while the board’s remaining five Republicans voted against the project, saying a recession is not the right time to be borrowing funds.

In order for the aldermen to get a supermajority vote, Vitali would again need to break from his party and vote with the Democrats.

Vitali, who is aware of his role, stood up during the Finance Board meeting held at the Parsons Government Center Monday, and said, “I am the two-thirds vote.” He said the entire process has been “purely political,” but did not elaborate.

After the meeting Vitali declined to say how he’d vote, saying he needed to learn more about the city’s finances and “do some thinking.”

Before the Finance Board’s vote, Republican Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. again reiterated his strong objection to borrowing any money, while the nation is in a historic recession.

He also said it sends a terrible message to borrow funds many residents are suffering financially.

Finance Board Chairman Jack Skudlarek said he had concerns that the aldermen, and not Richetelli, placed the project on the agenda calling it an “extraordinary” measure. Skudlarek said the mayor as the city’s chief executive officer places items on the agenda, and Richetelli said, while unprecedented, the move was legal according to the bond counsel.

Skudlarek also said he was not convinced there were any immediate health and safety concerns warranting that the project be approved now.

Proponents of the Law addition say the bids came in $1 million less than anticipated, and waiting would likely mean the city would receive less state reimbursement.

Jonathan Law Principal Janet Garagliano said the addition is needed because next year 15 teachers are projected to be using carts, which means they do not have their own classroom.

She said the school is short two science labs, and is looking to convert storage space into reading classrooms. Four classrooms have been converted from storage spaces in the school.

The work includes construction of a 12,234-square-foot addition including seven regular classrooms and two science laboratories in a ninth-grade wing.

Finance Board member Joseph Agro said the project should move forward because it’s likely costs will only increase in the future, but board member Joseph Fitzpatrick argued the bids are too high, and it’s likely the costs will drop.

Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, defended the aldermen’s actions saying typically the city spends $15 million annually on bond projects and by approving only $4 million for the Law addition it’s still “reining back considerably” the amount of money that is borrowed.

ORIGINAL BRIAN MCREADY POST CLICK HERE

Senate Approves Taking Governor’s Appointment Power, Declines Ethics Rule

by Christine Stuart: The state Senate approved a bill Friday morning 21-12, which would require a US Senate vacancy to be filled by a special election, instead of gubernatorial appointment.

Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, said the bill returns the power to elect a US Senator to the people of Connecticut. Since the 1940s the power to appoint a US Senator has resided with the governor, but recent scandals like the one in Illinois over Barack Obama’s vacant senate seat has given the concept of holding a special election more momentum than in previous years. The bill now heads to the House for a approval.

Also Republicans tried to change the rules of the Senate to create a bipartisan committee of ethics to allow for senators to be disciplined by their peers.

The Republican move comes on the heels of two recent election complaints against two Democratic senators who were noticeably absent during the debate and vote Friday morning.

Sen. Thomas Gaffey, D-Meriden, who was fined $6,000 in March for double-billing the state and his own political action committee for expenses related to his attendance at legislative conferences, and Sen. Joseph Crisco, D-Woodbridge, who was fined $4,000 this week for violating state election laws related to his re-election campaign, were both absent.

Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Southport, predicted that the resolution to change the rules would be defeated, but tried to remind his Democratic colleagues that once upon a time, the concept was something they supported.

Sen. President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said it opens the doors to frivolous complaints against any of the 36 senators. He said it means even if someone believed a rumor was true they couldn’t be held responsible for making a false statement against a senator. McKinney said he met with Williams earlier in the day Thursday and would have agreed to limit who was able to file complaints to the 36 senators in the circle.

The idea of a bipartisan committee on Senate ethics first came up at the end of 2007 when former Sen. Louis DeLuca admitted to asking a man with mafia-ties to beat up his granddaughter’s husband because he thought she was being abused. A six-member panel, three Senators from each party, was appointed to determine whether to recommend a censure, reprimand, or expulsion. DeLuca ended up resigning before the committee made its final recommendation.

Support for changing the Senate’s rules to create a permit bipartisan committee on ethics seems to have faded since.

The bill failed mostly along party lines by a vote of 13-20, with only one Democrat, Sen. Ed Meyer, D-Guilford, voting for it.

Christine Stuart file photo Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford

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Thought this information regarding the 17th Amendment was very interesting and germain to this post.

http://www.infowars.com/the-17th-amendment-and-the-injury-it-has-caused-to-our-republican-form-of-government/

Taxpayers Vs. Cost Of Education

There is a squabble going on in town over the cost of education, inflation, and the restoration of missing money from the school system that left many teachers, students, and residents, disappointed with the 2009 budget.

Last election the taxpayers, elected a board of Alderman, that promised to keep our town taxes low, while teachers were surprised when the budget fell short a couple of million dollars. The new Superintendent, Harvey Polansky said to the Board of Alderman to "restore the funds" and that he did not take the new job of superintendent to "dismantle the school system." On the other hand Edward Tamas a local Milford native, has spearheaded a taxpayer group that told the Board Of Alderman that if they give Polansky what he is demanding than he will lead a "Recall" mission to hold the Alderman at their word... keeping our property taxes affordable.

The entire situation has only become more challenging, as towns and municipalities all over connecticut are desperately seeking money to fix gaps in their budgets limiting what the state can offer in aid. New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, you name it virtually every city is struggling, unless it be lower fairfield county and then things get at the very least "Rosier" for those towns that were able to maintain quality education with a low mill rate relative to their expensive real estate.

According to the CT Post "aldermanic Leaders do not feel threatened by the potential recall, said Minority Leader Vincent Ditchkus Jr., R-3. (referring to Tamas) It's his right to seek it, but a recall is not an easy process. And a special election would cost money. Has he thought of that?"

The energy and emotions are running hot as the blog boards show a very divisive battle over the town budget, petitions with thousands of signatures have been circulating to everyone including Milford's mayor Richetelli. Our leaders, most notably Jim Amann has resigned under a cloud of suspicion citing that he wants to focus on becomming Connecticuts next governor, a job that in the wake of Rell's high approval rating is a "longshot at best."

Rocco J. Frank Jr. a candidate for Jim Amman's seat said two things about the sad situation at city hall, he said "that the alderman and Amann "painted themselves into a corner" had Jim delivered the educational funds to Milford's schools like he did for St. Mary's Catholic school, and other pet projects, we would not have this mess on our hands. I believe that Jim understood how this mess could backfire on him, I believe he resigned to spare himself any potential embarrassment."

Frank also said that at this point "Milford should learn from this horrible mistake and setup a local "rainy day fund" so no more teachers ever have to be subjected to this kind of humiliation from the town Democrats and Republicans." Frank also said that successful towns do not diminish their school systems and neither should Milford.

Photo Above, of the now resigned Amann propping up his choice of a candidate, Former Miss Ct. a 25 year old recently unemployed airline stewardess.

Sheff v. O'Neill CT's Being Sued Again

The NAACP has said that the state of Connecticut has been given nearly a decade to desegregate the Hartford School system, and like schools that are racially imbalanced. The imbalances according to experts are largely due to socioeconomic factors of urbanization, industry investment, real estate policy, pay inequity, and the unspoken policy and practice of race evasion by the private sector.

There is no doubt that the NAACP case has merit and Connecticut has been slow to respond. They have been so slow that as of November a sleuth of subpoenas landed our states top brass back in court.

One person in particular questioned by Ralph Urban Esq. the NAACP attorney is Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management Robert Genuario. Genuario is an attorney and state senator from Norwalk CT who was appointed to his post by Gov. Rell. Mr. Genuario was being questioned regarding the progress made by the state of CT in its construction and implementation of 7 magnet schools in the Hartford area.

Secretary Genuario indicated that he participated in meetings to address the legal mandates regarding Sheff v. O'Neill he indicated that the state legislature did not approve as much funding as he hoped but did succeed in getting almost one half of the total requirements put through. He also cited collusion of power between the competing branches of government that made the implementation of the court order an arduous task.

The secretary feels that the main problem with full compliance with the Federal Court Order is the overall cost of implementing it. School construction is very expensive and over half of our state bonding debt, now 14.5 Billion, is tied up in school construction projects. This debt is the equivalent of $15,000.00 for every man, woman, and child in CT and consumes 11 Cents of every tax dollar in interest.

His message to the NAACP is that CT, now having the third highest bonding debt in America, simply cannot afford to rapidly build the schools demanded by the court order. Under the current pressures they are doing the best they can without incurring any additional bonding debt. To do so is to potentially destroy the states credit rating making an already bad financial situation even worse.

This case is still ongoing in Hartford superior court, and as a matter of opinion I can certainly agree that education is a desperate situation not only in CT but everywhere. I spent some time reading up on this issue of race inequity and segregation and have come to the conclusion that this issue is enormous and will require the resources of every school in the state if it is to be fixed.

My personal opinion has always been that the best way to desegregate our schools, and to improve education is to get the support of our major colleges and universities. To cut the cost of education to our state, and improve the resources available to low income inner city students, state, local, and private universities should be encouraged to open their doors to state funding to build and expand their campuses to encourage magnet school integration and resource sharing.

The very merger of High School and college in poor inner cities can potentially present envious opportunities for children who are not currently being properly educated. It will also put experienced educators and business managers in charge of education funding and tax dollar allocation.

The state already spends hundreds of millions doing a job that it has yet to be successful at. My personal belief is, that an inner city high school, for example, located on the campus of Yale University would be praised and supported by the highest and brightest levels of government at all levels, including some of the brightest students in the world at the disposal of teachers. This is just one of my "out of the box" innovative thoughts. While I must admit I am no expert on this issue, it certainly is a worthy proposal and possible solution to a decade old problem.

The question remains however, do the universities want to go into the business of educating younger students with state and local tax dollars. I personally feel that this should be explored.

U.S. Courts may bow to International Law.

The Bush administration intervened in the capitol murder case of illegal immigrant Jose Medellin. This intervention came after the U.N.'s International Court of Justice found Medellin was not informed of his right to contact the Mexican Consulate for legal assistance.

The court said that the United States was in violation of the Vienna Convention and therefore must comply. Keep in mind that this is the same court that has selectively ignored the Bush laws regarding torture.

The justices on the U.S. Supreme court are expected to uphold international law. This is presumed because Medellin has been sentenced to death for the murder of two Houston teenagers. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena who were both sodomized and strangled with their shoe laces. Medellin then boasted of keeping one girl's Mickey Mouse watch as a souvenir of the crime.

The court is expected to overturn the conviction because three of the seven Supreme Court justices are against the death penalty, and the one swing judge has a reputation for upholding international law in the in matters of such challenges.

This will be a very sad decision, because for the first time in American history the United States will be recognizing the laws of the Hague international court as superior to our own Supreme Court and U.S. Constitution.

This Bush sponsored attack on the U.S. Constitution must be objected to as it is a slap in the face from both him and the Mexican President Felipe Calderón who encourages his people to ignore our borders and seek employment in the united states.

Please write your congressman and complain vehemently that our country is sovereign and not subject to the laws of the foreign courts. Attorneys can write amicus curia briefs to the judges of the U.S. Supreme court urging them to dismiss this case as having no jurisdiction. Please mobilize and start working to fight this fast.


Full artcle at: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58063