Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Lack Of Power, and the Glory

COMMENTARY by John Milardo
(The following commentary is written by John Milardo, a municipal employee for 40 years and a lifelong resident, who regularly publishes his thoughts in an online newletter called And Justice For All)

Hopefully, power is restored to your homes, and life is getting back to normal for all of you. I volunteered a couple of nights at Middletown’s emergency shelter at the high school on LaRosa Lane, and I must say, everyone went out of their way to help each other, and the operation ran well.

Despite the Middletown Board of Educations refusal to allow Emergency Managements (EM) use of the facility during a declared State of Emergency, and their refusal to authorize the cafeteria employees to cook meals for the more than 500 citizens who used the facility the first several days, the job got done. Things went well, because the Mayor had to commandeer the high school and its food for Middletown’s residents. Our citizens should be commended for the way they behaved during this State of Emergency. Well done. And, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Frechette, and Business Manager Nancy Haynes should be FIRED for their failed attempt to refuse the community, which gave them this school and their jobs with hefty salaries, the use of the emergency shelter at Middletown High School.

Just so everyone is aware, Mayor Sebastian Giuliano had to intervene on an issue between the Board of Education and Emergency Management (the organization in-charge during declared State of Emergency’s), in getting Middletown High School opened for the citizens of our City. It is mind boggling how Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Frechette and Business Manager Nancy Haynes refused use of the high school during this emergency declaration. The facility was built for utilization during emergencies, hence the on-site generation plant, and other extras which were paid for by the very citizens Frechette and Haynes tried to close the doors on. I can’t believe these two eggheads gave the Mayor and EM a ration of crap while the entire State of Connecticut is under a declaration of emergency, by Governor Malloy. What a couple of ignorant, arrogant, self centered morons. Please, someone get rid of them!

Hey Dan! Do you think having a nice hot cup of cocoa and marshmallows with Frechette and Haynes would have been the best way to straighten this problem out?

Besides managing the situation through Federal, State and Municipal agencies, Mayor Giuliano, his wife Paula, and daughter Francesca, were present at the emergency shelter every day and night, helping out in every way possible, talking with people to take their minds off the situation, or just listening to them talk about family, community, sports, or anything else they wanted to. He made sure to stop by and visit those who might need a hand during the storms aftermath. I have known the Mayor for my entire life; he’s genuinely a good person; not a hypocrite or a user of people – he really cares about the people of Middletown.

Democratic Mayor Candidate Christine Bourne spent many hours helping at the emergency shelter throughout the week also. There is no questioning how dedicated Chris is to her community. Chris may be outspoken, which I like, but at least you know where you stand with her.

Then there was Democratic Mayoral candidate Dan Drew, who showed up at the shelter with State Representative Matt Lesser (a Wesleyan graduate) on Monday evening for fifteen (15) minutes to hand out candy.....then left, never to be seen again. That’s the difference between someone who loves their home town people, and is truly involved; and someone who is just using the town they live in to further and promote themselves. (I’m sure the candy handouts at the emergency shelter really eased everyone’s mind about where they were going to eat and sleep for the week.)

Mr. Drew is more interested in busing five-hundred (500) newly registered Democrat Wesleyan University students to voting polls on November 8th to try and sway the upcoming election in his favor, than he is about anything else. Mr. Drew doesn’t care about people, only about winning. The Wesleyan students are being played like a Stradivarius violin, and don’t know it. What’s the old saying? “Youth is wasted on the young.”

College students voting in a City election is a sore subject for many residents. Students can vote during local elections as long as they live in a town for more than six (6) months. Many feel they are only here for a short period of time, why should they be allowed to vote and decide our taxes, education, referendum questions, or which direction the town will head in the future? We will never see most of them again once they graduate, but we have to live with the outcome of their vote for years to come.

Living close to Wesleyan growing up, it really doesn’t bother me that students have the right to vote during State and municipal elections. I don’t have a problem as long as they vote because of their true beliefs, and not because “he’s almost as young as us” -- “he’s an out of Towner like us” – or because “he’ s a democrat and shares the same values as we do”. Party affiliation in Middletown is not what it is State or nationally; it’s the opposite. In Middletown, the Republicans are labor friendly and have the best interest of the blue collar and repressed communities, and the Democrats don’t.
Wesleyan voters - - do the right thing when you vote!

I looked at Councilman Dan Drew’s website, and was surprised to see five (5) Press Association awards or mentions he claims to have received. Funny, but I couldn’t verify or confirm any of them, with the exception of one Virginia Press Association award. Regarding a first place award Mr. Drew claims to have received, the Executive Director for the Virginia Press Association states: “I can confirm that Daniel Drew was among a team of reporters that won a first place award in 2004......This was a team effort at the newspaper (Potomac News)... Our search did not turn up anything with his name on it for 2005,” I’ve always been told there is no “I” in “team”. I guess candidate Drew believes its okay to take the liberty to embellish on past achievements and take sole credit for them. After all, he’s not from around here, who would know? What other achievements or self proclaimed achievements in his past is he exaggerating?

So before you vote for anyone on Tuesday, November 8th, make sure you know what they’re really about and made of? Make sure you vote for someone who has your family and town’s best interest at heart. Be sure you vote for people who will fight for you, no matter what the issue is about, and won’t buckle in because it is not a popular subject. Vote for someone who doesn’t place Party politics and only seeks personal gain over the needs of the citizens of Middletown.

No matter who you are going to vote for, you have to make sure you get to the voting polls. I believe the number of voters is reflective of how the citizens view their City. A low percentage makes the statement that we don’t care about our town.

Because the last Mayoral election was within a couple of hundred votes, Dan Drew is counting on the 500 newly registered Wesleyan students to make him the next Mayor of Middletown. If you feel strongly that Mayor Sebastian Giuliano is the best person for Middletown, then he needs every single one of you to support him the same way he has supported you.

If you don’t get out and vote, then don’t complain about who is sitting in the elected positions for our town, or how it’s running. There are country’s that have revolutions just to vote! It’s a right we have which needs to be exercised.

GET OUT AND VOTE!!
My personal choices for Middletown’s Tuesday, November 8, 2011 elections are:

Mayor:
Sebastian Giuliano (R)

Common Council Members:
Todd G. Berch (D) Joseph Bibisi (R) Edward J. Dypa (R) Matt Fraulino (R)
Ronald P. Klattenburg (R) Deborah Kleckowski (R) Philip J. Pessina (R) Linda Salafia (R)
(Note from the Middletown Eye: Ron Klattenberg is a democrat - also note correct spelling.)

Middletown Board of Education:
Callie L. Grippo (R) Ava M. Hart (D) Tami Kapacziewski (R) Kevin M. Kelly (R) Alexander Mac Levin (R) Cheryl McClennan (R) Edward M. McKeon (D) Eugene P. Nocera (D) Mark Loomis (Write In Vote)

Middletown Board of Assessment Appeals:
Laura Gionfriddo (R) William Wilson (R)

Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission:
William Gregorio Sr. (R) Ken McClellan (R) Molly Salafia (R) Frederick J. Terasi (R)

Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission Alternates:
Ronald Borelli (R) Gary W. Faraci (D

Middletown Treasurer:
Jonathan Polino (R)

DISCLAIMER: The opinions and views expressed in this newsletter reflect the opinion and view of the author, and should not be construed as fact or advice. The author is a life long Middletown resident and taxpayer, and is sharing his opinions as such. The opinions and commentary do not reflect the views of any political party, organization, or citizen group. This newsletter reflects opinions and commentary which the author wishes to share with his friends.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

is Klattenberg a (R)?

Jen Alexander said...

Thanks Anonymous, I added a note to the post to show Ron Klattenberg's affiliation as a democrat.

Suwanee said...

After reading John's comments to "make sure you vote for someone who has your best interest in mind, someone who'll fight for you no matter the issue and won't buckle because it isn't popular or follows party politics" I wonder why he hasn't endorsed David Bauer. He has proven by his actions on the Council, that this is way he conducts business unlike many of the candidates he has endorsed that now serve. You have to wonder what Mr. Milardo has against Mr. Bauer.

Anonymous said...

John's post is excellent and I agree with him 100%, especially on his comments regarding Mayor Seb and his dedication to Middletown. I do have just one question that I can't seem to get an answer to...what are Drew's qualifications and experience to be the CEO of Middletown? I keep asking....the silence is deafining.

Anonymous said...

I want to know whether or not Stephen Devoto will himself primary Joe Serra. We keep asking but comments don't get posted seeing as Devoto is a moderator. The questions is simple and not offensive, but would explain the obsession with Schimdt.

John Milardo said...

Sorry for the typo. Ron Klattenburg is a Democrat, and I still like him!
John Milardo

Anonymous said...

Sorry I disagree with all that John supports. I love America !!!!! My real ONLY problem with John's "race picks" is Ed Mckeon. Ed was appointed to run by the Democratic (Big Machine as John has called it) Town Council and has done everything but support one of the Town Councils objectives. Hey you guy's got Earle Roberts so I guess all is fair in politics right ? Please don't vote for Ed Mckeon for BOE. If you feel you must go against a party and not support one of their candidates, then write John Milardo in as a candidate. I think John's views on politics are way far out to space, but at least I can understand and respect his point of view. This is America, not Eli's at 5pm on Friday. People like Ed bring real meaning to the saying, "Watch out your gonna shoot your eye out".

Plagiarizer from the hit move A Christmas Story !!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Johnny is as politically valuable as is the stock advisor who is wrong 100% of the time, do the opposite of what he suggests and you are making the right choice for Middletown.

Anonymous said...

Everyone should be furious at Dr. Frechette's actions. How can you try to keep people out of an emergency shelter? It's inhuman.

Anonymous said...

I definitely agree with John in his letter. Dan is counting on the Wesleyan nto sway the vote. Matt Lesser is working as hard as he can to get to the students. To the point of twisting their arms. And shame on Drew for not spending more time at the shelter this past week. Citizens of Middletown, take note. This is how he will think and care about you if he becomes mayor. Guess his "ADVISORS" didn't think it was necessary because they believe with the Wes. students it will be a shoe in. How sad. Guess Dan doesn't need the votes of those poor needy citizens of Middletown. This is a lesson voters, we must knock out the Drew ticket entirely!!!! Then we can say bye bye to the Serras and Ms. Santangelo, the GENERAL!!! Come our, get all your friends and family and VOTE STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN.

Middletown Eye (Ed McKeon) said...

Anon 11:07

Got my official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle all oiled up and ready to go. I won't be licking any flagpoles though.

Ed

Anonymous said...

11:07 says, I hear ya. I was the kid in the movie who had a snow suit that made him look like an airplane while all the other kids rolled him around the neighborhood.

Ralphie's brother I is.

Love that stuff !!!!!!!!!:)

Anonymous said...

I really dislike the fact that John called people morons in his article-it's fine to disagree but name calling is in poor taste-you should remove that language