Tonight, the Common Council will decide whether to approve Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano’s proposal to spend $3 million to buy a 140-year-old building and turn it into a senior center, veteran’s museum, and office building.
As a member of that body, I still have many questions that have not been addressed, including: Why now? Why in this location?
I ask “why now?” because in each year I’ve been on the Council, Mayor Giuliano has cut and eliminated funding for programs at the existing senior center even while raising taxes. What is the purpose of renovating this property at high cost after cutting the programs designated to attract clientele?
Why would we invest such substantial capital to renovate the structure if we don’t also take the responsible step of adding programming? It would be wasteful to spend $3 million for the same participants to perform the same activities in a less-convenient location.
If the mayor is planning to add programming, why have we not been apprised of the budgetary impact? I support more abundant programs for seniors. But it will cost a great deal of money, and Mayor Giuliano has proposed taking money from the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen, Amazing Grace Food Pantry, and Russell Library to pay for a major segment of renovations. Programming will have to come from additional taxes.
We’re either going to spend millions on a building in which no new activities take place and your taxes will have to go up for us to offer the programming that will make our initial investment worth it.
How can we look ourselves in the mirror if we eliminate funding for our hungry neighbors, many of whom are unemployed and struggling to feed their children?
How could I justify to a senior that their food assistance was no longer available so we could buy and renovate a building owned by Mayor Giuliano’s church? How could I tell that same senior struggling to pay their bills on a fixed income that their taxes would be rising yet again?
That’s the reality in this economy. We have to prioritize. I requested information from the mayor’s office regarding any market studies that have been conducted. I wanted to know if people will use the renovated facility. After all, it’s in a residential neighborhood on the south end of town. Is a senior going to take a bus trip involving several switches to cross from Westfield to the South End? Will someone drive that same 20-minute route? Is there any interest in this facility by most seniors.
But no market study was conducted by the mayor’s office prior to beginning this project. I was promised obsolete market studies related to a proposed community center on another site three years ago. That isn’t applicable to this project I am being asked to vote on. And I haven’t received the promised information, anyway.
Our meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m., in City Hall’s Council Chambers. I invite you to attend. We, the members of the Common Council need to hear your opinions. Do you support it? Do you oppose it? Why? Your voice must be heard
5 comments:
Are the claims from Hope and Dan true? They both claim that the mayor has (or will) propose taking money away from social service agencies (i.e. St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen, Amazing Grace Food Pantry, and Russell Library) IN ORDER to pay for renovations.
It is a provocative allegation. Is it true?
Course it's not true. Can't jump line items unless you are the BOE. Whaaaahhhh!
We need a referendum; not creative accounting.
And to 2nd annonymous ...it would not be jumping line items to take form social services and give to this project. It would be coming from CDBG money which is awarded by grants...fairly feasible that it could happen.
I would love to be at the meeting but I can not attend this evening because of a prior commitment.
Miss Kasper, are you serious? You are part of the political body that raised taxes. Not Mayor Guiliano. You the Democrats who controlled the vote as Mr. Loffredo so eloquently put it raised Middletown's taxes. Your comments here are racist and inflammatory. His church? Are you really kidding me? So I see that you have drank the punch of all the people in Middletown who are not Italian and believe this is being done to "save" a church. How Christian of you maam, especially during the holiday season. I as an American of Italian Descent who lives in our City hold you personnaly responsible and remind you that you have been elected to represent ALL of Middletown's citizens! Not just those like you who believe this is all about the "Italian" church. How small minded you must be!
As far as the line item cutting goes, do you seriously think we believe you the Democrats would allow this Mayor to move funds from specific line items? You and Mr. Drew's comments show that your statements are policital in nature, and have no standing! You both sling the mud, but will not let us the taxpayer see where you made the mud. Politics as usual from mindless politicians who think their citizenry is that ignorant.
You and Mr. Drew have crossed a dangerous line, setting all those of Italian descent against all those who are not. The voting booth will remind you that your resignation at this time will be clearly accepted by the voting Italian members of this community! I know you'll deny the accusation, but I stood behind you when you made the disparaging remark about those of Italian descent and our Church. Just so you know, I attend St. Pius so I guess not all Italians are guilty is that right Miss Kasper? The innuendo's you sling are quite frankly rude and hurtful. This is not how an elected official should be acting!
Hope Kasper,
The time has come. 2011 election are coming faster than you think.With comments like this It will be hard for you to be reelected.
Why hasn't Tom Serra said a word about this issue.I'll tell you why. He also is a St Seb parishioner and has no guts to speak up in favor of this so he has all you puppets do it for him.
Come on Tom Serra. Speak up.
People, Tom Serra supports this purchase but will not publicly make any comments. This way he can say he had nothing to do with the final decision and comes out (again) squeaky clean.
If it passes he will take the credit and if it doesn't he and all him fellow councilmen can blame the mayor. This is nothing but another political game.
And of course Dan Drew will be the author of yet another " letter to the editor" written and guided by his team mates.
Citizens of Middletown must wake up and smell the coffee.
Because of the Middletown politics we are the laughing stock of ct.
Let this council know that your mad as hell and your not going to take any more.
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