- United States Office of the Special Counsel. Hatch Act for State and Local Employees. http://www.osc.gov/ha_state.htm
- Audrey Blondin for Secretary of the State of Connecticut. BYSIEWICZ MOVE UPSETS CONTENDERS. By Dan Levine, 2005. http://www.audreyblondin.com/Nbysiewicz.html
- Thank you, once again, to Judy Aron for bringing this to my attention.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Slifka Knowingly Breaks Federal Law?
Monday, January 30, 2006
Coming Soon...
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Congratulations to Mark Sinatro
Monday, November 07, 2005
Sinatros Call on Democrats to End Negative Campaigning
- Steve and Mark Sinatro have the professional expertise and personal integrity to implement Blue Back Square. Can you trust a Mayor who appears in Advertisements paid for by the Developers?
- Steve Sinatro and his law firm have not cost the town a penny in litigation.
Tell the Democratic Leadership to tell the truth
- Steve and Mark Sinatro have served West Hartford, its children and its seniors for many years. On Election Day help them continue their tradition of service.
Steve Sinatro
- President, West Hartford Youth Football League
- Youth Sports Coach
- Recipient of the Ct Sec. of State, Public Service Award
Mark Sinatro
- Member UCONN Div. of Athletics
- Bd of Dir. WH Exchange Club
- St. Peter Claver, Religious Ed Instructor
Paid for by Stephen Sinatro for Town Council, Tom Filomeno, Treasurer and Mark Sinatro for Town Council, John McCormick, Treasurer
Friday, November 04, 2005
Incumbents Absent from Taxpayer's Association Panel
Thursday, November 03, 2005
A Note from Republican Candidate Tom Knox
October 31, 2005 I would like to thank the editors of this paper for meeting with me and my running mates. Although I knew that I would not be endorsed, I could never have foreseen their reasoning. To use prior service on the Council and publically supporting Blue Back as the only litmus test for endorsement is narrow minded. It is offensive to think only the current council members are capable of seeing this project through to fruition. I am getting involved in politics, not due to Blue Back, but because of the many other issues currently being ignored. It is very convenient for the incumbents that the Blue Back situation is taking center stage and preventing discussion of the real issues facing our town.
One of my concerns is reducing taxes while maintaining quality town services. If “reasonable” or “expected” tax increases are the standard to which council members hold themselves, then we are in real trouble. I must point out that with our tax increases, the council created a fee for bulk pick-up and cut leaf collection in half. Why are we paying more and getting less?
One other concern is the safety of our residents and, more specifically, our children. As a father of three, two of which are in the public school system, it concerns me greatly that the parents at Sedgwick Middle School were not immediately notified of a gun in their school. This “nuance” approach of not informing parents quickly of situations that impact their children’s safety is abhorrent. Recently we have had a local bank robbery and a woman was attacked in one of our parks. It would seem prudent to any reasonable citizen that the police force should not be at a 12% deficit in manpower. The money for these missing officers is already provided for in the budget.
Blue Back must not be the place on which we rest our laurels. We need to throw that same energy, and hopefully not the same divisiveness, into other areas of town. Parts of Elmwood have been left fallow for years. Where is the Council’s concern for that area? Erecting condos and changing the old Caldors into a self-storage facility is not the answer. I want to aggressively pursue opportunities to develop Elmwood with community input at every level. I will address the slipping school rankings by insisting the liaison committee between the Board of Education and Town Council actually meets. This would encourage a frank discussion of the budget and force the two bodies to work toward a singular goal.
We can no longer afford to have only one point of view represented on Town Council. Right now many residents have taxation without representation. I disagree with Mayor Slifka and Councilwoman Carpenter that consensus is the key ingredient in good government. Consensus is not leadership; its overabundance fosters stagnation and complacency. While it is acceptable to applaud the few accomplishments of the current council, we must not forget that this town has issues other than Blue Back. Thomas I. Knox, M.D. Republican Candidate for West Hartford Town Council
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Sinatros Thank Supporters
Monday, October 31, 2005
Courant Wrong in Sinatro Article
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Election Reflections by Patty Sanko-Lowry
Since the Democrats took majority control of the Council in 2001:
- Taxes are up 20% to 44.07 mills, compared to Newington (36.4), Simsbury (35.2), Glastonbury (32.1), Farmington (24.7), Greenwich (11.1). We have the third highest mill rate in the State (and this before revaluation skewed the data) but…
- Fees are now charged for bulk trash, leaf pickup has been reduced to one, and student-athletes must pay to play on fields in dire need of renovation
- Our middle schools are more dangerous, test scores continue to drop. We’re now below the median score for towns in our comparative group and our changing demographic is cited as the sole reason?
- Family-owned local businesses that created our beloved and unique West Hartford Center, like Metzger’s, aren’t able to compete with national chains – threatening our “village charm” and local control.
- Our town administrators have become among the highest paid in the State.
West Hartford’s reputation as a desirable place to raise a family is rapidly becoming a false promise. We’re becoming a place for the very rich or very poor, with a shrinking middle class – why aren’t we learning from the demise of our cities? This Town Council would rather focus on consensus-building then what they are elected to do. They provide no real oversight of our Administration, but rather sanction its agenda – regardless of legality or good practice. And they know you’re too busy to ask what’s going on. Abraham Lincoln’s fear, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth” has become a reality, replaced by a government of the insiders, by the politicians, for the money. Vote for true oversight, change, leaders with vision. Vote Sinatro, Visconti, Knox, and Zullo for Council. Vote Brassil-Spinella, Schindelman for Board of Education.
Submitted by Patty Sanko-Lowry
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Citizen Voices Concern about Changes to GDC Project
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Republican Committee strongly urges the WHPL Main Branch Remain Open
Friday, October 21, 2005
Is this how things work around this town?
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Library Closing for 20 Months?
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
A note in support of Joe Visconti for Town Council
Monday, October 03, 2005
Blue Back Going to Trial
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Woman fired for caring for grandchild during Hurricane Katrina
Monday, September 12, 2005
Blue Back Financing
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Town Council & Town Government
Monday, June 20, 2005
Vote No, June 22, Need I say it again?
Please follow the links below to more information from opponents of Blue Back Square. There is a flyer produced by Save the Center and a link to the editorial by Jasyn Sadler who is one of the residents of Burr Street with the courage to take on this soon to be debacle.
- Save The Center Flyer currently being passed door to door by Save the Center.
- Jasyn Sadler's Letter from Courant, Sunday June 19, 2005.
- Blue Back Square Timeline: This is a smattering of various happenings during the last few years that are of interest.
- Robert E. Tuthill Letter, as passed around via email. I'm not sure if this was printed...I will update this when I find out.
Thank you to Save the Center for the submission of the flyer, thank you to Judy Aron for submitting the timeline, thank you to Robert Tuthill for an excellent letter and Thank you to Jasyn Sadler for for an excellent letter and for standing up for the rights of his family and neighborhood by taking this to court. Thank you, West Hartford RAC Note: West Hartford RAC did not produce the information in the flyer, the letter or the timeline. These materials were submitted by various individuals or groups in opposition to the development of Blue Back Square. I am posting these materials here so more West Hartford residents can read the information submitted by the opposition.