And don't forget to vote on the Open Space Bond Referendum (top left of the front page)!
Choose wisely!
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| Click to enlarge |
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| Click to enlarge |
Monday, November 4, 2019
The Ballot
We will be able to vote for ONE candidate for mayor, up to EIGHT candidates for Common Council, ONE candidate for treasurer, up to FIVE candidates for Board of Education, up to TWO candidates for Board of Assessment Appeals, up to FOUR candidates for Planning and Zoning regular, and up to TWO candidates for Planning and Zoning alternate.
And don't forget to vote on the Open Space Bond Referendum (top left of the front page)!
Choose wisely!
And don't forget to vote on the Open Space Bond Referendum (top left of the front page)!
Choose wisely!
Sunday, November 3, 2019
MHS Student Endorses Florsheim
COMMENTARY: Ryan Cudworth is a junior at Middletown High School.
I’ve known Sebbie Giuliano for years. Going back to eighth grade during the mayor for a day program, I’ve always had a cordial rapport with him, and our talks outside of MHS football games about politics have been, are, and will be an incredibly fond fall memory. We may be of different political persuasions, but I can’t wait to see him again when the dust has settled around this mayoral election. Though when it does, I want Ben Florsheim to be Mayor of Middletown.
While I respect Giuliano, I want a mayor that harnesses the collective strength of our Middletown community, and every single person in it, to make our town what it can and will be. Mr. Giuliano has written off the idea that his election as mayor would make Donald Trump any more or less likely to win in 2020, and while I agree, I want to elect a mayor who I know would never vote for someone who barred our transgender siblings from serving in the military, who welcomes immigrants of all stripes to our community and finalizes our status as a sanctuary city, not who slams a proverbial door in their face, someone that isn’t the member of a party that dragged their heels on same sex marriage for decades and then posts pictures of themselves at a pride parade on Facebook.
I have heard that electing Ben to be our mayor would be taking a chance, when Sebbie provides proven and effective leadership. Yet Ben’s and my generation are always the ones that our society is willing to take a chance on. Whether it’s the climate crisis, gun control, or any other slew of issues, young people are the ones that we are fine with shifting the problems to. Meanwhile, Ben has signed a pledge to never take money from fossil fuel companies and stands steadfast in support of gun control. His entire professional life has been spent ensuring that the resources at the disposal of Senator Chris Murphy are directed toward those who have been left idle by a government that won’t fight for them.
I trust Ben Florsheim with the future of the community that I love because he represents it’s future, and I hope you will too. To Mr. Giuliano: see you on the football field.
Opinion: Middletown's Historical Mayoral Candidate
Submitted by Valeka Clarke.--------------
My name is Valeka Clarke and I am a registered democrat presenting myself as the first woman of color to become Middletown’s Historical Mayoral Candidate- also registered as a “write-in” mayoral candidate for the 2019 November 5th general election. I am a lifelong resident of Connecticut born January 27, 1975 and mother of three accomplished adults- Valayshia, Desrick Jr. (granddaughter, Summer) and Svetlana.
Civic Engagement Experience- Twenty- four year proven history of cohesively assisting individuals as well as families challenged by verified self-reported crisis/hardship(s) caused by retirement, domestic violence, psychiatric co-occurring disorders, mental health disorders, autism, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, immigration concerns and offender reentry transition by both advocating and utilizing established collaborative community based partnerships within urban and suburban communities in combination with federal, state and or local agency resources for the purpose of providing accurate individualized referral resources available with desired outcomes of alleviating self-reported barriers proven to support a foundation geared towards an acceptable quality of life deemed acceptable by reporter.
Accreditations:
• Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist,(MATS) Connecticut Certification Board;
• Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA Autism Spectrum), Housatonic Community College;
• National Medical Assistant; and
• Connecticut Certified Educator.
Middletown Community Engagement- Community activist with youth 13-18 at the forefront; National member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Member of Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce (The Essex Group); Member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church; Former employee of Middletown public Schools; March for Education Foundation, Inc.; Various Racial and Health Food Groups; and Middletown Green Community Center.
Platform- Equality and Social Justice
“I am not a politician, I am a humanitarian”- VC
Giuliano Campaign 11th Hour Dirty Trick: Second Counterfeit Image Used to Defame Knoll
 |
| RTC makes false accusation. |
Peterson is Democratic mayoral candidate Ben Florsheim's campaign manager, and herself a candidate for Common Council.
In the press release, Republican Town Chairman Bill Wilson calls for Knoll to resign as campaign manager and Common Council candidate.
"I set out to serve the people of Middletown, and intend to stay on that path," Knoll said Sunday. "I conitnue to be appalled by the opposition's willingness to mislead voters. We are all members of this community and purport to serve the people of Middletown. We've been honest throughout our campaign, and have been horrified at the mistruths that the Giuliano campaign has continued to distribute."
When called and asked where he had gotten the image, Bill Wilson, the RTC chair hung up without comment.
The image in question is based on an original counterfeit Facebook post that was released in an attack on Knoll without Facebook thread context to prove its veracity. It was discredited as counterfeit.
The original counterfeit was distributed repeatedly by a Giuliano campaign worker, who confirmed that he originally received it from Joe D'Ambrose, a graphic designer and Creative Director at Palm Tree Media and Web Design. D'Ambrose has been accused of falsely claiming that the Florsheim campaign treasurer had a criminal record.
 |
| The counterfeit image. (Offending comment intentionally obscured.) |
In the new press release, the original counterfeit "comment" reappears and has been pasted into a counterfeit Facebook thread, then photographed as if it had appeared on a cell phone.
When shown the image, a graphic designer, who regularly creates false Facebook lookalike threads for use in advertisements and online videos, laughed. Because he does work for political campaigns, he asked that his identity not be revealed.
The graphic designer's assessment:
"It's clearly fake. The resolution is garbage compared to the rest of the image. The font bolding on Joey Fresh is different and off. In addition the font is off. Look at the "ha" in "have" vs. "ha" in "That's." The h is different (shorter vertical on the left edge) and the kerning is slightly off. In my professional opinion this is 100% fake."
"It's desperate lie from a desperate candidate," Ben Florsheim the Democratic mayoral candidate said. "It shows that he's worried about losing the election. The fact that it's already been disproven makes it all the more likely that it's not going to affect the outcome. But as obvious as this lie is, it's not the biggest lie of the campaign. That would be the notion they've been spreading that the Republicans are the only ones who care about this community. I think that if Seb really respected the people of Middletown and cared about them, as he claims to do, we would not see him treating them with this level of contempt."
In an ironic twist, the Republican Town Committee released the counterfeit image and press release in a Facebook post on the Middletown Republican Town Committee page with an image of Knoll used without permission or attribution from a video released by the Florsheim campaign.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Opinion: Vote for Democrats on Tuesday to Support Action on the Climate
Scientists generally hate to make public political statements, but my familiarity with environmental and climate science compels me to do so. The concise version of the following, more lengthy post is this: vote for Democrats on Tuesday in general, and Ben Florsheim for mayor in particular. They are most likely to act now on the climate and will be less resistant to public demands to do so in the future. I am not a single issue voter, but this issue looms ever larger and will dominate the public conversation in future years here, as it does in other places where the damage already being done is severe. If Middletown begins to get a grip on the situation today, the imperative to do so in the years ahead will be less of a mad and tumultuous scramble.
Taking increasingly aggressive action to address climate change should not be a political issue. Political parties should be making efforts to outdo one another to demonstrate their commitment to heading off the worst impacts of this existential threat after years of bipartisan neglect.
When air and water pollution were the big environmental issues fifty years ago, there was a Republican in the White House, and legislation was passed with bipartisan support in the form of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Before and after that time, presidents and congresses led by both parties enacted legislation that prioritized the environment.
Climate change, unlike air and water pollution, was hard to perceive at first. It was necessary to trust scientists that Bad Things were coming. But now the first impacts of global warming on the climate have arrived. Extremely warm summer weather in the Arctic. Rapid melting of the ice caps and glaciers. "Sunny day" flooding of coastal cities as the sea level rises. Odd winter weather due to the increasingly squirrely jet stream. Changed bloom times and later frosts in the fall. Less reliable rainfall and stronger storms that stall as steering winds weaken. Worldwide increases in mortality as heat waves worsen. And fires. Unprecedented fires that have introduced us to the idea of fire tornadoes. Understanding the reality of climate change no longer requires imagination and trust (please see this previous post for a number of informative links).
These impacts and more are guaranteed for the near term, as increased heating from greenhouse gas accumulations in the past warms Earth to a new, higher temperature. The effects of past emissions are "baked in", as it were. But that means that worse impacts are on the horizon, and current and future emissions will result in further impacts we have a hard time envisioning. Greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, though nations are beginning to shoulder their responsibilities under the Paris Agreement and we can hope that we will begin to see results in the coming years. While more climate disruption is a certainty, there is hope that the worst impacts can still be evaded.
Against this backdrop, every political entity, from national to state to local governments, must take action for two reasons. First, reducing greenhouse gas emissions has become an all-hands-on-deck situation. Second, each level of government has unique levers to pull. The different advantages of different levels of government can complement and reinforce one another. The municipal level may feel like the weakest, but of course it is in towns and cities that the impacts of climate change are felt.
Most mayors understand this, and organizations of mayors have been among the most active in attempting to generate support at higher levels of government while doing what they can locally with the resources available to them. Cities and towns have a unique responsibility to plan. A federal regulation can be reversed fairly quickly, but built infrastructure lasts decades, even centuries. An awareness of climate change at the local level is now essential to guide planning if money and resources are not to be squandered.
Mitigation — reducing the harm of our emissions — and adaptation — preparing to face the harm that cannot be avoided — are the two prongs of a successful approach to the future. It is still hard for us here in Connecticut to realize that a sizable effort by the city will need to be devoted to climate change in the future. But residents of Miami or in the California wine country have no such difficulty. The more thought is put into mitigation and adaptation now, the better positioned we will for the future.
So how to explain the dismissiveness with which Seb Giuliano treats climate change? It's a very trendy position among Republicans, and it is truly a shame that environmental issues in general and climate change in particular have been rendered partisan by this Republican retreat. The strange evolution of the Republican Party has been the subject of a lot of discussion elsewhere. The bottom line is that it looks as though a Giuliano administration would be deaf to the signals about climate change coming toward us from all directions.
Ben Florsheim, on the other hand, has made awareness of the threat an element of his campaign. One of his campaign mailers suggests Middletown should run municipal government on renewable energy. This says to me that he would try to employ currently available technology to make Middletown a more sustainable city. Technology, I might add, that has become inexpensive enough to compete with fossil energy — maybe it would even save the city money. Though I can't speak for Mr. Florsheim, I think he would likely add his voice to the chorus of mayors demanding action and support from the state and federal level. Sustainability is going to mean resilience as we move toward a future with greater environmental and economic uncertainty, and investments sooner will pay big dividends later.
In summary, I urge Middletown residents to consider the importance of electing a climate-change-aware mayor and council members and to vote accordingly on Tuesday. The rejuvenated Middletown Democratic Party is offering us some fresh faces who will at the very least be more nimble when it comes to responding to changes, in the climate and elsewhere.
Taking increasingly aggressive action to address climate change should not be a political issue. Political parties should be making efforts to outdo one another to demonstrate their commitment to heading off the worst impacts of this existential threat after years of bipartisan neglect.
When air and water pollution were the big environmental issues fifty years ago, there was a Republican in the White House, and legislation was passed with bipartisan support in the form of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Before and after that time, presidents and congresses led by both parties enacted legislation that prioritized the environment.
Climate change, unlike air and water pollution, was hard to perceive at first. It was necessary to trust scientists that Bad Things were coming. But now the first impacts of global warming on the climate have arrived. Extremely warm summer weather in the Arctic. Rapid melting of the ice caps and glaciers. "Sunny day" flooding of coastal cities as the sea level rises. Odd winter weather due to the increasingly squirrely jet stream. Changed bloom times and later frosts in the fall. Less reliable rainfall and stronger storms that stall as steering winds weaken. Worldwide increases in mortality as heat waves worsen. And fires. Unprecedented fires that have introduced us to the idea of fire tornadoes. Understanding the reality of climate change no longer requires imagination and trust (please see this previous post for a number of informative links).
These impacts and more are guaranteed for the near term, as increased heating from greenhouse gas accumulations in the past warms Earth to a new, higher temperature. The effects of past emissions are "baked in", as it were. But that means that worse impacts are on the horizon, and current and future emissions will result in further impacts we have a hard time envisioning. Greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, though nations are beginning to shoulder their responsibilities under the Paris Agreement and we can hope that we will begin to see results in the coming years. While more climate disruption is a certainty, there is hope that the worst impacts can still be evaded.
Against this backdrop, every political entity, from national to state to local governments, must take action for two reasons. First, reducing greenhouse gas emissions has become an all-hands-on-deck situation. Second, each level of government has unique levers to pull. The different advantages of different levels of government can complement and reinforce one another. The municipal level may feel like the weakest, but of course it is in towns and cities that the impacts of climate change are felt.
Most mayors understand this, and organizations of mayors have been among the most active in attempting to generate support at higher levels of government while doing what they can locally with the resources available to them. Cities and towns have a unique responsibility to plan. A federal regulation can be reversed fairly quickly, but built infrastructure lasts decades, even centuries. An awareness of climate change at the local level is now essential to guide planning if money and resources are not to be squandered.
Mitigation — reducing the harm of our emissions — and adaptation — preparing to face the harm that cannot be avoided — are the two prongs of a successful approach to the future. It is still hard for us here in Connecticut to realize that a sizable effort by the city will need to be devoted to climate change in the future. But residents of Miami or in the California wine country have no such difficulty. The more thought is put into mitigation and adaptation now, the better positioned we will for the future.
So how to explain the dismissiveness with which Seb Giuliano treats climate change? It's a very trendy position among Republicans, and it is truly a shame that environmental issues in general and climate change in particular have been rendered partisan by this Republican retreat. The strange evolution of the Republican Party has been the subject of a lot of discussion elsewhere. The bottom line is that it looks as though a Giuliano administration would be deaf to the signals about climate change coming toward us from all directions.
Ben Florsheim, on the other hand, has made awareness of the threat an element of his campaign. One of his campaign mailers suggests Middletown should run municipal government on renewable energy. This says to me that he would try to employ currently available technology to make Middletown a more sustainable city. Technology, I might add, that has become inexpensive enough to compete with fossil energy — maybe it would even save the city money. Though I can't speak for Mr. Florsheim, I think he would likely add his voice to the chorus of mayors demanding action and support from the state and federal level. Sustainability is going to mean resilience as we move toward a future with greater environmental and economic uncertainty, and investments sooner will pay big dividends later.
In summary, I urge Middletown residents to consider the importance of electing a climate-change-aware mayor and council members and to vote accordingly on Tuesday. The rejuvenated Middletown Democratic Party is offering us some fresh faces who will at the very least be more nimble when it comes to responding to changes, in the climate and elsewhere.
I'm Not a Sheep
I’m not a sheep – I
think on my own.
OPINION
by Brian Kaskel, a Husband, Father, and RINO who writes what he thinks and
thinks what he writes! The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of The Middletown Eye, its contributors, or the friends of the
author, some of whom happen to contribute to The Middletown Eye.
I truly was undecided (like many people I know) up until
Wednesday evening – roughly 24 hours after the last Mayoral Debate, held at Keigwin
School. Why was I having so much angst
with this decision? Historically, I have
favored a more conservative approach than a progressive one. But what does it mean to be progressive? It’s not like I want to be regressive. Do my conservative tendencies truly hold up
today? Honestly, I am really only conservative on a few fiscal issues, socially
I am as open minded as the next person – maybe that is why more of my friends
are Dems. I am not a staunchly “right” Republican,
but I honestly don’t feel that I progressive enough for this town – which I am
ok with. It just seems, I am a man, without
an island.
[At the debate, I stood up and implored
all of the candidates to strip down and throw out the “smoke and mirrors” routine
and admit that no matter what, taxes will go up regardless of who the Mayor
is. I begged them to tell me what THEY want to spend my tax dollars on. I
asked them NOT to tell me what they think I want to hear. Do you think they did that? Nope – perfectly polished non-committal
answers. So to me, they are all the
same.]
That said, let me
tell you why I am casting my vote for Ben Florsheim.
I had to take my own advice and vote based on values that
were important to me. Reminding myself
again that no candidate is perfect.
1.
Most important to me is bipartisanship. For the council I will be “bullet voting” I
will be choosing people on both sides of the aisle that I feel will work
together and work together well. I think Ben Florsheim is best suited to
work with a bipartisan council. I feel he will listen before acting. He will be calculated in his decision. And sure, there will be times his decision
and the council’s won’t be what I am looking for – but that’s going to happen
anywhere.
2.
Perception is reality. I am not impressed with the way the RTC has
run this campaign. If I am being honest,
I am not impressed with the RTC leadership in general over the last few
years. They have become one trick
ponies, and it’s all about taxes. Very
staunchly right. Very one dimensional. If
you are to be considered a “real republican” you have to vote the entire slate
or you are letting them down. I may be
wrong about this – but it is my perception, so it is my reality. I
think Ben Florsheim has a multi- faceted approach to how he is going to improve
Middletown. Don’t get me wrong, I do
think reigning in taxing and spending is important. But that is not ALL I care about. Education is paramount to me and I do believe
Ben will have a better handle on moving education forward for Middletown, both
now and in the future.
3.
Seb Giuliano is a different man than he was 8
years ago. Full disclosure: I voted for
Seb for Mayor, and I voted for him for Council.
Considering the climate of our Nation in general, I have sensed a change
in attitude that I am not on board with.
I have had conversations in the past where Seb stated to me that people “don’t want Republicans that are almost like
Democrats when they can have the genuine article” Maybe that’s true – but it flies in the face
of what I am. I am center mast. Sometimes right leaning sometimes left – but
center. I won’t associate with the
National party and the local party has not proven to be any different. I am independent which makes my voting for Ben Florsheim fair game.
4.
Let me also be clear, I am not in favor of
career politicians in local politics.
That said I am ok with making a career of politics. (Read that again there is a difference) I think all levels of government should have
term limits. Basically move up or move out. You can’t stay in one spot forever. If Ben wants to make his career in politics
and use Middletown as a stepping stone, I am ok with that – the only way he can
do that is to do a good job. If he does
a crap job he won’t have much of a career. Seb did his job, he was good for Middletown,
and he did a fine job at the time he was Mayor.
He has his place in Middletown history but now it’s time for fresh
ideas. I am voting for Ben because he has fresh Ideas. I won’t agree with all
of them but we will push forward not backward.
I believe in cooperative leadership.
5.
Lastly, I feel Ben listens. I fully anticipate not agreeing with his
policies or actions 100% of the time.
Maybe not even 50% of the time. But I feel Ben will consider all points of
view and make an educated decision. Ben
appears to respect the opinions of those he wishes to represent. I have witnessed a different style and approach
from Seb. More of a, my way or the highway mentality. I don’t do well with that.
Ultimately this is one man’s opinion. And you know what they say about
opinions. I understand that some people
will agree with this way of thinking and others won’t. This may have helped you decide one way or
another – and if that is the case then I am happy either way. I
myself, have decided to vote for Ben, because I am not a sheep, I am a RINO.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Free Screening of Ice on Fire, Monday, November 4
Please join us on Monday, November 4, 7pm
at Middlesex Community College for a screening of Ice on Fire. The film is open to the public and free of charge. An informal discussion will follow the
film.
Ice on Fire is about climate change and solutions designed to slow down our escalating environmental crisis. It highlights firsthand accounts from people at the forefront of the climate crisis, with insights from scientists, farmers, innovators and others (www.hbo.com/documentaries/ice-on-fire). Examples shown in the film include an ocean farm off the Connecticut coast (Thimble Island Ocean Farm), where shellfish and seaweed that are grown soak up more carbon than land-based plants and can be used for food, animal feed and fertilizer.
The screening is part of The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series, which is co-sponsored by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Middlesex Community College, Middletown Garden Club, The Rockfall Foundation, and Wesleyan University's Center for the Arts, College of the Environment, and College of Film and the Moving Image.
We hope to see you there!
Ice on Fire is about climate change and solutions designed to slow down our escalating environmental crisis. It highlights firsthand accounts from people at the forefront of the climate crisis, with insights from scientists, farmers, innovators and others (www.hbo.com/documentaries/ice-on-fire). Examples shown in the film include an ocean farm off the Connecticut coast (Thimble Island Ocean Farm), where shellfish and seaweed that are grown soak up more carbon than land-based plants and can be used for food, animal feed and fertilizer.
The screening is part of The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series, which is co-sponsored by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Middlesex Community College, Middletown Garden Club, The Rockfall Foundation, and Wesleyan University's Center for the Arts, College of the Environment, and College of Film and the Moving Image.
We hope to see you there!
Opinion: Denial of Climate Change is Immoral For a Mayoral Candidate
Submitted by Gary Yohe, Huffington Foundation Professor (Emeritus) of Economics and Environmental Studies at Wesleyan, past vice-chair of the National (US) Climate Assessment, and past senior member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
--------
I was appalled to see Mayoral Candidate Giuliano not only deny the existential threat of climate change.
"I don't believe in climate change" is an immoral and dishonest statement for somebody who would like to take an oath to preserve and protect the citizens of Middletown.
Climate science is not a religion, and so "I do not believe" is an ridiculous statement. "I do not accept" the findings of thousands of scientists who warn of growing climate change risks is what Mr. Giuliano was trying to say. Does he not accept all science, or just climate science?
Were he to be elected Mayor and continue his denial of factual science, then many of his actions would indeed be immoral - they would unnecessarily put his constituents into harms way by dismissing policies or programs that would lesson chances that the lives and property and/or livelihoods of his constituents might disappear.
Shame on him.
--------
I was appalled to see Mayoral Candidate Giuliano not only deny the existential threat of climate change.
"I don't believe in climate change" is an immoral and dishonest statement for somebody who would like to take an oath to preserve and protect the citizens of Middletown.
Climate science is not a religion, and so "I do not believe" is an ridiculous statement. "I do not accept" the findings of thousands of scientists who warn of growing climate change risks is what Mr. Giuliano was trying to say. Does he not accept all science, or just climate science?
Were he to be elected Mayor and continue his denial of factual science, then many of his actions would indeed be immoral - they would unnecessarily put his constituents into harms way by dismissing policies or programs that would lesson chances that the lives and property and/or livelihoods of his constituents might disappear.
Shame on him.
Mayoral Candidates Give Their Views on Climate Change and Local Government
Health Careers Information Session at MxCC
Monday,
November 4, 2019
Learn more about the health academic programs at Middlesex Community College, the application and enrollment process, and tips on how to pay for college. Get started on a career in the health-related industry.
-->
4 to 6
p.m.
Middlesex
Community College
100 Training
Hill Road
Middletown,
CT
After the general information session, join break-out sessions by area of study. Meet program coordinators and faculty, find out more about the programs, and ask questions. For details, email lkatusha@mxcc.edu.
• Health Information Management
• Eyecare programs
• Medical Imaging and the selective admission process
• Veterinary Technology and the selective admission process
• Continuing Education (non-credit) health career programs
ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
• Health Information Management
• Ophthalmic Design and Dispensing (Eyecare)
• Radiologic Technology
• Veterinary Technology
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS (CREDIT)
• Health Information Management
• Computed Tomography: Post-Primary Certification
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Post-Primary Certification
• Mammography: Post-Primary Certification
CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
• Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
• Certified Personal Trainer
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Patient Care Technician (PCT)
• Pharmacy Technician
• Phlebotomy Technician
Opinion: A Townie Speaks Truth
Submitted by Sacha Armstrong Crockett
-----------
I’m about as townie as they come. I was born and raised in Middletown. My parents were from the South so a fairly liberal college town seemed like a perfect fit for a better life. I lived in Wesleyan Hill most of my life until we moved to the Westfield side of town. Education was a priority to my parents so from Little People’s to Wesley, WWMS and Mercy - my parents did all they could to give me and my sister what they didn’t have growing up in Tennessee. I eventually moved back home to Middletown to take care of my sick father and I have basically been here ever since.
Although I miss my parents dearly I’m glad they are not here to see the current intolerant, cruel and disgusting culture that has taken over the local republican party like a cancer. I was naive enough to believe if I got involved on a local level I could protect our sweet town and my family from this toxic behavior. That voyage eventually lead me to volunteer for the naming committee for WWMS. I was so excited that I live in a town that dares to have the tough conversations and felt honored to sit on the committee.
After posting my thoughts on FB about the intellectually lazy and selfish reasons many wanted to keep the name I quickly learned the culture was here and thriving. You know the culture - the stay in you place black woman culture. You aren’t allowed to have opinions, thoughts and a critical mind black woman. The culture that tries to keep black people from positions of power and tears them down if the beats the odds. The culture that creates barriers to prevent black people from voting. The culture that laughs and cheers when racist and bigoted comments are spewed on your facebook page.
The culture that caused a Middletown Republican to contact my company to tell them I’m a racist. (see attached image - cowards used the mayors email and the BOE number as a contact; this is currently under investigation) Isn’t that rich!! Now I’m the racist. The fact is they know I’m not a racist but they also know that there is a huge likelihood that the person responding to their email would be white. They will claim that’s not privilege but be clear that is exactly what it is. It’s the same privilege culture that feeds the audacity to call the police on a picnicking black family. The same privilege culture that tries to soften the damage Woodrow Wilson inflicted on black people with excuses. A man who died a racist and never saw the errors of his ways. There is no excuses for him that will change how I feel about my son dripping in all his Black Boy Joy walking into a school built in 2019 named after a known racist. I’ll never be okay with it because I know better than I did when I walked into WWMS in the 90’s. I'm also uncomfortable with the message it sends black and brown children about their worth and value. Walking into a building daily named after a man that didn't want blacks and whites to live and learn together just doesn't make sense to me in 2019.
This is why this election is so important. The people that will have the power to make this name change happen will be voted in on November 5th. It is paramount that we support row A and Ben Florsheim to make sure Middletown remains a place that has the tough discussions and makes remarkable changes to improve the lives of all our citizens. A place with Pride Parades and healing ceremonies to honor the painful voyage of the forced migration of the Middle Passage. I would never imagine that I would have to go to the police over cyber stalking and harassment because I joined a BOE committee but here we are.
I totally understand if you disagree with me. We just think differently about what’s important and that’s okay. You don’t need my permission to have your own opinions. I don’t need yours. I wouldn’t attack your family and I deserve the same respect. At the end of the day we are neighbors.
The culture IS here allies and friends - we all need to show up and support the people that will give us a better chance at a whole, happy and safe life here in Middletown. Vote Team Row A and for Ben Florsheim for Mayor.
-----------
I’m about as townie as they come. I was born and raised in Middletown. My parents were from the South so a fairly liberal college town seemed like a perfect fit for a better life. I lived in Wesleyan Hill most of my life until we moved to the Westfield side of town. Education was a priority to my parents so from Little People’s to Wesley, WWMS and Mercy - my parents did all they could to give me and my sister what they didn’t have growing up in Tennessee. I eventually moved back home to Middletown to take care of my sick father and I have basically been here ever since.
Although I miss my parents dearly I’m glad they are not here to see the current intolerant, cruel and disgusting culture that has taken over the local republican party like a cancer. I was naive enough to believe if I got involved on a local level I could protect our sweet town and my family from this toxic behavior. That voyage eventually lead me to volunteer for the naming committee for WWMS. I was so excited that I live in a town that dares to have the tough conversations and felt honored to sit on the committee.
After posting my thoughts on FB about the intellectually lazy and selfish reasons many wanted to keep the name I quickly learned the culture was here and thriving. You know the culture - the stay in you place black woman culture. You aren’t allowed to have opinions, thoughts and a critical mind black woman. The culture that tries to keep black people from positions of power and tears them down if the beats the odds. The culture that creates barriers to prevent black people from voting. The culture that laughs and cheers when racist and bigoted comments are spewed on your facebook page.
The culture that caused a Middletown Republican to contact my company to tell them I’m a racist. (see attached image - cowards used the mayors email and the BOE number as a contact; this is currently under investigation) Isn’t that rich!! Now I’m the racist. The fact is they know I’m not a racist but they also know that there is a huge likelihood that the person responding to their email would be white. They will claim that’s not privilege but be clear that is exactly what it is. It’s the same privilege culture that feeds the audacity to call the police on a picnicking black family. The same privilege culture that tries to soften the damage Woodrow Wilson inflicted on black people with excuses. A man who died a racist and never saw the errors of his ways. There is no excuses for him that will change how I feel about my son dripping in all his Black Boy Joy walking into a school built in 2019 named after a known racist. I’ll never be okay with it because I know better than I did when I walked into WWMS in the 90’s. I'm also uncomfortable with the message it sends black and brown children about their worth and value. Walking into a building daily named after a man that didn't want blacks and whites to live and learn together just doesn't make sense to me in 2019. This is why this election is so important. The people that will have the power to make this name change happen will be voted in on November 5th. It is paramount that we support row A and Ben Florsheim to make sure Middletown remains a place that has the tough discussions and makes remarkable changes to improve the lives of all our citizens. A place with Pride Parades and healing ceremonies to honor the painful voyage of the forced migration of the Middle Passage. I would never imagine that I would have to go to the police over cyber stalking and harassment because I joined a BOE committee but here we are.
I totally understand if you disagree with me. We just think differently about what’s important and that’s okay. You don’t need my permission to have your own opinions. I don’t need yours. I wouldn’t attack your family and I deserve the same respect. At the end of the day we are neighbors.
The culture IS here allies and friends - we all need to show up and support the people that will give us a better chance at a whole, happy and safe life here in Middletown. Vote Team Row A and for Ben Florsheim for Mayor.
Opinion: Florsheim Will Not Leave Issues Of Climate Justice Up To National Politicians Alone
Submitted by Irene Westfall and Ernest Braun on behalf of Climate Action Group, a Wesleyan student organization.
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This Tuesday, Middletown will elect its new mayor. As Climate Action Group, we believe it’s essential to choose Ben Florsheim if Middletown is to make genuine environmental progress. A lot depends on any mayoral election, but this race is particularly urgent: It will decide our city’s sustainability efforts for at least the next decade and change the way Middletown experiences climate change forever.
We can’t leave issues of climate justice up to national politicians alone – local elections matter now more than ever, and in a town of this size, one hundred votes from Wesleyan could be the difference. Very soon, Middletown’s Planning and Zoning Commission will release its next Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD), an extensive document that outlines the city’s goals for sustainability, infrastructure, transportation, health, and cultural institutions. The PoCD, still in the process of being written, has the potential to advance far-reaching sustainability goals: How much land will we devote to green space? How will we increase access to public transportation? Will we protect vulnerable communities from weather events driven by climate change? (If you’re invested in these questions, contact the authors to learn more about the PoCD.) The mayor will be crucial in making an aspirational document like this manifest in policy. We must recognize how important it is to have a mayor who agrees with the plan. That’s where Ben Florsheim comes in.
Florsheim is a progressive who recognizes the urgency of climate change. According to his website, he has a number of initiatives to expand public transport, reduce the environmental footprint of homeowners, reinforce the riverfront, and address Middletown’s food desert crisis. You might remember him from our climate strike in late September – he spoke alongside students, professors, and community activists. Giuliano, on the other hand, recently denied climate change at a conservation event. Not much more needs to be said. Choosing a mayor is but one component of the fight for climate justice, a fight which ultimately comes not from government executives but from the community. Nevertheless, Middletown’s mayor will be a significant gatekeeper of resources, and we have the opportunity to choose between a hindrance and an ally.
Some students may feel reluctant to vote in Middletown because it’s not always clear what our role should be in local politics. Though it may seem like Wesleyan is its own insular community, governed by its own rules and internal authorities, we too form part of the Middletown community. With respect to climate change, everyone in this city has to look out for one another.
-------------
This Tuesday, Middletown will elect its new mayor. As Climate Action Group, we believe it’s essential to choose Ben Florsheim if Middletown is to make genuine environmental progress. A lot depends on any mayoral election, but this race is particularly urgent: It will decide our city’s sustainability efforts for at least the next decade and change the way Middletown experiences climate change forever.
We can’t leave issues of climate justice up to national politicians alone – local elections matter now more than ever, and in a town of this size, one hundred votes from Wesleyan could be the difference. Very soon, Middletown’s Planning and Zoning Commission will release its next Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD), an extensive document that outlines the city’s goals for sustainability, infrastructure, transportation, health, and cultural institutions. The PoCD, still in the process of being written, has the potential to advance far-reaching sustainability goals: How much land will we devote to green space? How will we increase access to public transportation? Will we protect vulnerable communities from weather events driven by climate change? (If you’re invested in these questions, contact the authors to learn more about the PoCD.) The mayor will be crucial in making an aspirational document like this manifest in policy. We must recognize how important it is to have a mayor who agrees with the plan. That’s where Ben Florsheim comes in.
Florsheim is a progressive who recognizes the urgency of climate change. According to his website, he has a number of initiatives to expand public transport, reduce the environmental footprint of homeowners, reinforce the riverfront, and address Middletown’s food desert crisis. You might remember him from our climate strike in late September – he spoke alongside students, professors, and community activists. Giuliano, on the other hand, recently denied climate change at a conservation event. Not much more needs to be said. Choosing a mayor is but one component of the fight for climate justice, a fight which ultimately comes not from government executives but from the community. Nevertheless, Middletown’s mayor will be a significant gatekeeper of resources, and we have the opportunity to choose between a hindrance and an ally.
Some students may feel reluctant to vote in Middletown because it’s not always clear what our role should be in local politics. Though it may seem like Wesleyan is its own insular community, governed by its own rules and internal authorities, we too form part of the Middletown community. With respect to climate change, everyone in this city has to look out for one another.
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