Dodd Visits New Emergency Department at Middlesex Hospital

Bright and early Monday morning before hopping a plane back to D.C. to work on health care legislation, Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd stopped in Middletown for a tour of Middlesex Hospital's new Emergency Department.

Dodd was greeted by Middlesex CEO, Robert Kiely, Dr. Bud McDowell, VP of Clinical Affairs and staff from the Emergency Department. After his tour, Dodd held a brief press conference to talk about his work on new health care legislation.

Dodd was introduced by Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group. Swan was effusive in his praise of Dodd's effort for a health bill which he described as important and significant.

"I don't know what you've been eating for breakfast," Swan said, turning toward Dodd. "But you're having one helluva year. The bill that Senator Dodd has put forth, on behalf of Senator Kennedy, is a very good, if not excellent piece of legislation. It wouldn't have been done without Senator Dodd's leadership."

Swan praised Dodd's efforts to include provisions for shared responsiblity for small business owners and a public option. He indicated that with his experience trying to get universal health care legislation passed during the Clinton era, his hopes for success during the Obama administration was restrained.

"I thought there was a 50-60% chance of it being passed," he said. "But with the most recent announcements, I think there's an 80% chance of legislation being passed."

Dodd, who, at Kennedy's request, recently took a leadership position on healthcare on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, himself expressed a certain skepticism that health care legislation could pass.

"I thought there was a 50% chance," he said. "I think we have a heightened chance to pass it now. But it's not going to solve every problem."

Dodd also addressed the provisions for shared responsibility, which will require small businesses of over 25 employees to contribute $750 a year for full-time, non-covered employees, and $350 a year for part-time, non-covered employees. He also noted that the much-debated public option is essential to healthcare coverage for all Americans.

"A public option which provides an alternative choice to private insurance is a a safety net for people who don't have a private option," Dodd said.

Dodd ended by noting he has the support of the Obama administration.

"The president said, 'I'm going to prepare to squander every cent of political capital I have to pass health care legislation during my term,'" Dodd noted.

I asked Dodd what he would do to give a voice to individuals, especially less powerful individuals, when lobbying firms are spending $1.4 million a day to represent the needs of powerful healthcare clients, pharaceutical companies and insurance companies.

Dodd did not answer the question directly, but noted that he would give voice to the plight of the uninsured, or underinsured individual, and that he is pushing options which not always popular with the lobbyists, or the groups they represent.

To Swann's comment about Dodd's flurry of activity this year, it should be noted that Dodd is involved in a campaign in which he is being challenged by Republican and Democratic opponents. He is working diligently to win over voters who have been critical of Dodd's involvement in questionable real estate dealings, and his acceptance of campaign donations from large financial firms.

Two Senate Candidates at Buttonwood Tree This Week

The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street, has always been a spot where you could find a poet, a folk singer or a jazz musician, but it's become a hotspot for Senate candidates as they seek to make contact with voters in what is becoming a crowded race for the Senate opposing incumbent Chris Dodd.

On Wednesday, Merrick Alpert, a Democrat challenging Dodd will return to town, and the Buttonwood Tree, for a Chat for A Change at 7:30 PM. RSVPs are requested (203-550-6005)

On Thursday from 6:15-7:15, John Killian holds his second, in what he hopes will be a continuing series of salons. This one will be with Republican State Senator Sam Caligiuri who has announced his intention of running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Dodd.

And while Dodd himself, and his chief Republican challenger Rob Simmons have not appeared as yet, the political season is still young.

William Ivey Long Honored at Goodspeed

Several Middletown residents attended the Goodspeed Musicals Gala which honored costume designer William Ivey Long

Long, who has designed costumes for many Broadway shows, including Pal Joey, Young Frankenstein, La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man and many others, was feted by Ted Kennedy jr, Chris Dodd, actress and singer Debra Monk, Lynn Redgrave and others. In receiving his award, he noted that the proclamation from the state legislature was a "really grown-up thing signed by people who make important decisions about your lives."

Musical entertainment was provided by Monk, Gary Beach and the cast of the current Goodspeed show, Lucky Guy.

Redgrave was hilarious in her description of forty pound costume Long designed for her.

Letter from Middletown's Congresspeople to the Army

The Honorable Pete Geren

Secretary

United States Department of the Army

Army Pentagon

Washington, D.C. 20310-1600

Dear Secretary Geren,

We are writing with regard to the ongoing site location process for an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Middletown, Connecticut. As we are sure you are aware, at a September 17 public meeting in Middletown, the Army Corps of Engineers announced the four sites that it has determined are most suitable for additional consideration in the siting process.

The inclusion of the Kenneth Dooley Drive-Boardman Lane configuration in the Corps of Engineer’s list was met with significant opposition from the public. Both Middletown residents and the city’s elected leaders have made it particularly clear that the Boardman Lane property is not acceptable to the community as a site for the Center, and the Corps’ announcement has further heightened local dissatisfaction with the manner in which this siting process has been conducted.

We have been encouraged by the Corps’ and the Army’s willingness to work with the community to determine a mutually suitable site for the Armed Forces Reserve Center. We were also glad to see that the Corps had taken into consideration the recommendations made by the Mayor’s advisory panel. However, though the Corps has determined the Kenneth Dooley Drive-Boardman Lane proposal to be a “new” configuration, it has been interpreted by many as evidence that the Corps and the Army will simply select a site regardless of public input. The inclusion of this proposal has dampened the sense of collaboration that we had all hoped to create and maintain throughout this process.

While we understand that there are three other alternative sites which will also be further investigated, we are strongly urging that any site that includes the Boardman Lane property be taken out of consideration. We would also encourage both the Corps and the Army to continue in the effort of working collaboratively with the city and residents to determine the most suitable site for this new Center. We believe that a mutually beneficial and suitable location can be found if there is open communication and discussion between all parties.

We appreciate your time and attention to our comments and look forward to your response. In the meantime, if our offices can provide you with any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Senator Chris Dodd

Senator Joe Lieberman

Representative Rosa DeLauro

Boardman Lane Still On Army's List

The most interesting thing about the Army Corps of Engineers meeting about the proposed Army Reserve Training Center Wednesday night was the speculation after the meeting as to why the Army still had Boardman Lane on their preferred site list.

After announcing their four preferred sites, in no particular order, Boardman Lane, with access through the Dooley property, the Bysiewicz industrial park, Mile Lane (former Nike site) and Cucia Park (which is the town's preferred site), the Corps was assaulted by those in Westfield who were appalled that Boardman Lane was still being considered. In addition, representatives from Rosa DeLauro's office, Chris Dodd's office, and State Senator Paul Doyle all criticized the Army for not taking Boardman Lane off of their list.

The most cynical among the audience speculated that the Army kept Boardman Lane on the list, knowing that they'd be criticized, but allowing them to focus attention on sites they actually preferred. Another theory was floated that Boardman Lane was kept on the list to prevent lawsuits by the current landowner.

In the end, the city, which offered four site selections (Cucia Park, Bysiewicz property, River Road and Manthay Property), felt that Cucia Park, adjacent to Smith Street and I-91 in the Southwest part of the city, was the most appropriate site.

Councilman Ron Klattenberg, who chaired a citizens' advisory committee on the site, presented the findings of the panel.

"The panel was unanimous in its rankings of the site, and two sites stood out, Cucia Park and River Road," he said.

For their part, the Army reviewed sixteen sites, rejecting the River Road site, along with 11 others including sites on Aircraft Rd, Middle St, Roscommon Office Park, Country Club Rd, Middle Street Delta Building, Atkins St – Krane Development, Freeman Road, Saybrook Rd, Tollgate Rd and Pratt and Whitney.

The Army will consider the city's recommendations and review its findings, and assess public comments which it will welcome until September 29. They hope to make a final selection by the end of October.

Members of the public who spoke out mostly addressed regrets that the Army had not eliminated Boardman Lane.

Westfield Residents Association representative Stephen Devoto said, "I don’t see how you can have this site on your list, after the Common Council resolution , and the work of the panel. It doesn’t show the spirit of collaboration."

One Smith Street resident, Sargent, explained that the development would increase traffic on her street. She also noted that Cucia Park is in a flood plain.

"A flood took the road right out during a storm," Sargent explained.

When asked if the city might put revenue from the sale of Cucia Park toward the purchase of property for open space, Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said, "We're at step one. That's about step 25, and I don't like to spend money we don't have yet."