Few Jobs For The Jobless

This weeks news was all about Jobs, and the impending foreclosure fiasco that comes about because of unemployment. CT has seen an increase in both job losses and homelessness. This condition has been compared to 1983, the era of the Russian Scare and the fear of Nuclear War.

Since we are now in 2009, the new fear is "Terrorism" perhaps there is a parallel but I assure you it is a weak one at that. Our biggest problem at the moment is the continued loss of confidence in the U.S. Economy, and the inability of Congress or the President to win back peoples faith. Things could not be more divided today between Democrats and Republicans who in unison opposed Obama's stimulus plan as being "too large" and "too exclusive."

Ron Paul said that America cannot restore faith in its economy with the "same solutions that created the problem we are in." Not to say that Ron Paul is Einstein, but he said that "the problems we all face cannot be resolved by the same level of thinking that created them."

This translated to the current "Obamanomics" or a continuation of the Bush policy to continue to inject seemingly unlimited liquidity or "Money" in the Macro economy. For those who are wondering what the "Macro economy" is forget it because that is not you the average struggling person with a family.

As unemployment soars, yet again in our state, many have been asking what happened to the last two trillion dollars issued by way of the economic bailout plan. The answer from the man in charge of the money, none other than Ben Bernake the head of the private corporation known as the Federal Reserve Bank told the taxpayers "thanks for the money" but its "none of your business who we gave it to." Litigation to get answers is still pending in court as MSNBC and Bloomberg are both suing the Fed for disclosure.

What are the people of Connecticut to do when an estimated 46 out of 50 states are facing budget emergencies in the next two years? The loss of faith in America is evident and Congress has a pathetic 9% approval rating. Some believe that America is headed for a "total meltdown" of the US dollar and ultimately will experience worse street chaos than the Nixon era Antiwar protests.

Should our recession turn into a Depression, and I hope it never does, Americans will wake up real fast. A sobering reminder that voting alone is not enough anymore. The new lesson one where it becomes important to actually learn more about the people we put in charge of our life, our finances. We will learn real fast that our future is actually much more important than shallowly voting for someone who is popular.

The bitter reality is coming to pass as Voters, are increasingly left Jobless, Homeless, and in the Cold by the very politicians in Congress who promised the "Moon." Speak up against NAFTA, GAFTA, EPP, and the North American Union. These are the nails in Americas coffin.

UI Rate Increase Zapped!

This is some very good news for consumers, showing that once again the monopolies do not have omnipotent powers. The last victory that served the public interest this well was the rejection of the LNG in the Long Island Sound.

Even with all the cheer now in motion, there is still some concern as the public score card of us against them is pretty dismal. To give an estimate of how it looks, one could could easily tally Two Wins for us Seven for the energy giants. This merely means that the public needs more practice in standing up against the very corporatism that chastises the wallets of all too many struggling families. The good news is that people are starting to "get it" we are standing up for ourselves better today than in the past. I wish to offer my thanks to all of you who turned off the "I Pod" stepped away from the TV and wrote a letter, instead of playing X Box or going out to a game.

UI is, at the moment is digesting their defeat, and much to their chagrin their stock will be battered over it. This is because failed avaricious greed also backfires punishing those executives who did not succeed in their obligation to enrich their stock holders. The party is clearly over, UI now has an "off balance" balance sheet has taken out a line of credit and shuttered its investors some of whom are livid and downgraded their stock.

Thankfully for the people of Milford these numerical complexities caused by this unholy Wall Street alliance is not our problem this go around, but the UI monsters are still scheming in the days to come. We wait in angst as they digest the DPUC report and prepare a retaliatory response this February 4th.

We are all nervously awaiting the next round of punches, and their new strategy in circumventing the very system that disallows them the freedom to charge at will. The bad news is that because of that attitude the people of Milford will never stop fighting them.

Owner Distraught Over Missing Dog

When resident Kellie Roper brought her pet greyhound to Companion Animal Hospital of Milford on Dec. 29, she never expected she would be going home alone.
Roper adopted Finnley Nov. 1 from ReGap CT, a rescue group, and brought the dog to the animal hospital for dental work.

"When I first called to make an appointment for Finnley I asked if they knew how to handle a greyhound. They said ‘yes’ they did," Roper said. "Apparently they don’t."
She has not seen Finnley since that day.

Despite some sightings of Finnley in the Walnut Beach area, a widespread search and newspaper advertisements the animal hospital placed, the animal has not turned up.
"People I have never met have come from 1½ hours away, scrambling through brush and forest helping me look for my dog," Roper said.

"People in Milford have amazed me calling with wishes and prayers. It’s nice to know there is still such generosity left in the world," she said.

Roper said Finnley is black, with a gray muzzle, weighs 54 pounds and wears a pink/purple collar with yellow bones on it and might be dragging a leash. Roper also said the greyhound has a REGAP of CT tag, and that the dog is shy but extremely friendly and loves the sound of children.

Roper said she was told by hospital owner Dr. Kenneth Preli that veterinarian Dr. Dave Champaigne took Finnley outside after the Dec. 29 dental work."He said she became tangled in her leash and when (Champaigne) went to untangle her he dropped the leash and she bolted," Roper said.

Hospital administrator Rona Preli said when Champaigne went to pick up the leash Finnley "was probably disoriented." "I was told he chased her into the K-Mart lot and jumped in a stranger’s car to try and follow her. He borrowed a cell phone and called the office and they evacuated the office and went looking for her," Roper said.

Rona Preli said eight of the office staff of 10 people immediately left to look for the greyhound and searched until 8 p.m. that night and for the next four days. Since then, she said, staff have continued to canvass the area, putting up fliers and talking to people. Roper said the greyhound community, as well as the Milford community, have been extremely helpful, finding time to help her repeatedly canvass the beach area and put up fliers everywhere.

Rona Preli said the hospital contacted area police and fire departments and animal control officials. Roper said Milford Animal Control, which has increased patrols in the vicinity Finnley has been seen, has been "truly amazing."

Roper said before the dog was lost, Finnley had changed her life.
"She has made me take a step back from work stress and Ironman training. She has made me relax. She has been a wonderful stress reliever," Roper said.
Anyone with information on Finnley can reach Roper at (203) 506-4790.

Bridget Albert

This dog is very shy and will shy away from strangers, the search still goes on as flyers were being handed out at Stop & Shop as early as this weekend.

Jim Richetelli MIA

Our Republican mayor Jim Richetelli is out of the office this week. His family has reported that he had an adverse reaction to some prescription pills he took. Currently he is receiving treatment for this condition at an out of state facility and has pledged to give the public more details about his recovery when he returns.

The deputy mayor is currently in charge until the Mayor returns from this "out of state treatment." Meanwhile Richard smith the Milford Democratic Party Chairman said this is a time for "community unity and not judgement, we need to pull together as a community and support his family and medical privacy."

However, the Democratically heavy blog boards have not been so forgiving and have even questioned why he left the state for treatment. A Topix blogger had this to say: "I am sorry to hear the mayor is ill but quite frankly this story does not pass the smell test. We live in an area where people come for medical treatment from all over the world. Yale School of Medicine and the hospital it is affiliated with is literally a 15 minute ride from Milford. The fact that Richetelli felt he had to go out of state is suspect at best. It is rarely the action that gets a politician in trouble -it is usually the cover-up."

People around Milford, I spoke with, are mostly saddened about his treatment, and wish for our Mayor to gain a speedy recovery and a return to politics. However, some fear that his condition may have been triggered by these economically challenging times. I personally feel it can be stressful being a Mayor of a city who demands very high standards from our leaders. We will see how forgiving the people of Milford are when he returns to work, as for the Democrats they will show their true colors next Mayoral election as they always do.

In my opinion, Jim has done a great job holding the line on taxes in 2009, and even presided over the first ever 3% increase in a school budget that usually is double that. Jim has in my opinion, been a very friendly and compassionate Mayor and I wish him, his wife and children all the best in dealing with this difficult unfortunate situation. Lets keep him, and his family, in our prayers.

Independent Party Forms In Milford

A recent barrage of news stories has once again proven that even after my candidacy for State Representative the Independent party has not subsided, in fact it looks like it is gaining strength and without added work on my part. This is truly exciting, and today I am urging all those folks who voted for me the nearly 1005 or 10% of the district to visit the the new website and join us for an open house.

Participation and interest is paramount to the success of this fledgling party, and it will be hosted on the celebratory day of former independent Mayor Iovino of Milford. Iovino became world famous when he was elected mayor due to "write in" votes. This was so unusual that Time magazine placed our great city in the spotlight.

Visit this link for the preliminary website, your RSVP details, and mention that Rocco Frank Sent you.

http://www.themilfordindependentparty.org/

The party is hosted by Peter Spalthoff Former RTC chairman who has officially recognized in numerous press releases the need for a new party. Spathoff feels that the independent party should cater to candidates that are disenfranchised with the local Republican and Democratic parties.

Amman Declines Job Offer

Former Speaker of the House James Amann visited the Capitol Press Room Tuesday afternoon to tell the media he had officially declined newly elected Speaker of the House Chris Donovan’s six-figure job offer, which according to Amann had been revised Monday into a part-time position with a $60,000 salary and benefits.

“I am not a rich man. I have to work for a living,” Amann said. He said if he had accepted the job he would have given Donovan 200 percent, however, many even within the Democratic caucus wondered if it was realistic for Amann to work for Donovan, continue fundraising for the MS Society, and run for governor all at the same time.

“I regret that Jim will not be joining our team in the Speaker’s office, but understand his decision. He and I had a chance to discuss these matters at length yesterday and again today, and it became clear that his sense of the demands of his political work differed from mine to an extent that it made employment in my office unrealistic,” Donovan said in this written statement.

Setting aside their own personal feelings for Amann, Democratic insiders said virtually the entire Democratic caucus felt it was wrong to offer Amann the job. Many said they were unaware it had even been offered to him until shortly before the statement was released Friday.

Amann said he expected to receive some negative publicity about the job offer, but was surprised by the chilly reception.

“It’s not an uncommon thing in this building to be a former representative or senator or whatever and receive a job,” Amann said. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

Amann met with Donovan on Monday in Meriden, at which time he made the second, reduced offer for a part-time job at $60,000 per year plus benefits. Amann said he seriously considered the offer because, “for me it wasn’t about the $120,000; it was about the insurance.”

Amann is a cancer survivor and his wife has had a kidney transplant. Amann said he learned this morning they will be able to obtain health insurance through his wife’s employer.

When asked if he felt the controversy over the job offer would impact his run for governor, Amann said, “Why would that be?”

Amann said he was uncomfortable with some of the new job restrictions that Donovan proposed Monday, along with the part-time position, because they may have hindered his campaign for governor.

He said that after the meeting with Donovan Monday he visited Waterbury, where he was greeted by a room of about 75 Latinos excited about his gubernatorial campaign.

He said Tuesday that if he hadn’t gone Monday to Waterbury, he may have accepted the position. But he said he will maintain his position as a fundraiser with the MS Society, but is currently looking for another job in the private sector

C. Stewart (Ct New Junkie)

Jim Amann Gets "Hooked Up" With Controversial New Job.

Just when many Amman objectors thought "good riddance" to the former Speakers departure from politics a new surprise today. The Connecticut Post announced that the Speaker may have all along confirmed many suspicions and conspired against his colleagues in Hartford by using his former post for personal gain via a shady side deal.

The jaw dropping announcement puts current Speaker Donovan in an "unholy relationship" with his new consultant Jim Amann. While he may think he unwittingly outwitted and outflanked the ethics of his office, many of his colleagues, including top ranking Republicans are speechless this week.

The money trail is clear, $39K as Speaker or $120K as a consultant to the new Speaker. Aside from the fact that this denotes the epitome of Cronyism in the "N-Th" degree I would suggest we remember that Jim has always been at odds with his critics, including some Democrats who drove a hearse to Milford city hall to protest his run for governor.

To remember the past, he involved himself with a criminal gangster Joe Gentile as part of Hollywood East, an unproven debacle that is yet to produce more income than it depletes from our state in tax credits. That not being bad enough he also decided to openly and brazenly play the part of a gangster when he was caught on video speaking about "Crushing" his "Idiot" opponents.

What is even more disconcerting is that Jim still gets 60K out of the MS coffers as a salary for raising money. Some have suggested that donating to his MS charity resulted in favorable legislation. That alleged there is still more mainly the lucritive Three Million Dollar CEF Governor grant, money he may use to run for a Job he has no chance of winning. It is my opinion that he knows this, so the big question is what will happen to this cash, how will it be spent and whose hands will it fall into. Could it be Donovan for helping him out with a high paying job?

Jim may be well on his way for setting himself up for the same criticism that ultimately led to the demise of the John Rowland Administration. Aside from the irregular nature and harsh criticism that his business dealings have drawn he has now proven to the academic community that education is not important in the way of political success, after all a college drop out can become a house Speaker as well as gain employment in a 120K job formerly set aside for true experts with years of study in many disciplines.

Some people, I have spoke with, indicated that Amann has always lacked the mathematical and accounting skills necessary to even understand the states fiscal picture. This criticism came center stage when Jim bilked the taxpayers of $50,000 because a scaffold was in the way of his party spot at the capitol.

Connecticut now mired with billions in debt will be advising our new Speaker on a subject he cannot explain beyond a few simple words. Jim is investing his popularity and charm at the expense of the good people of Connecticut.

For those who are not yet bothered it is important to point out that there is now a real cause for concern. Concern emanating from the effects of the Amann aggregate to the current rampant cronyism. This is surely to stand in the way of true qualified experts dedicated to scientifically fixing the states problems. Connecticut is rich with many talented people, brilliant in the understanding of practices and principles of macroeconomics, taxpayer relations, and balancing budgets.

When states fail to step up the plate and enact the practice of "hooking up their friends" with "sweet jobs" we fall victim to the crippling effects of failing government by way of crippling budget deficits like the ones we see now. These budget deficits are growing every minute of every day and if you wonder where this all leads just read this article it is frightening.

It is all too sad to quote.