Monday, March 20, 2006

The Other Primary

Remember the governor's race? It was all we could talk about six months ago, but now, with an exciting U.S. Senate primary looming, the Democratic primary for governor has faded into the background. Oh, the fact that the Republican candidate has an 80% approval rating doesn't help, either.

Both John DeStefano and Dan Malloy hope to get back into the public eye (as much as they ever were there) this week with several high-profile campaign events.

DeStefano, for example, is formally announcing his candidacy today. For those of you who thought he had already done that, as he has been running for over a year, think again. Two events, one in Hartford and the other in New Haven, have been scheduled. DeStefano's campaign is also announcing the endorsement of U.S. Rep. John Larson.

Malloy, not to be outdone, is announcing the endorsement of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, someone we sort of knew was in the Malloy camp anyway. However, that endorsement guarantees at least an article and probably an editorial of some sort in the Hartford Courant.

Lastly, the two candidates met in Westport in a "candidate's forum" (or an agreement session) yesterday.

The two Democrats vying for the right to challenge popular Gov. M. Jodi Rell in November agreed on a variety of points, including their chief contention that getting a Democrat back in the governor's residence is long overdue. (AP)

"Democrats for Governor: Because It Really Seems Like It Has To Be Time, This Year. Right?"

In reality, few distinctions were made between the two candidates, which has been par for the course. Malloy and DeStefano. They spent most of their time attacking Rell's record and her various Moody-related troubles.

So onward the gubernatorial campaigns chug towards the convention, and the nomination of one of these two. Whoever wins the convention is likely to win any primary, should one take place (both candidates promise it will), although it's not clear just how much of an impact the Senate primary will have on the gubernatorial one.

In the end, though, whoever gets the nomination has a mountain to climb. And not the sissy kind of mountains we have around here: a real one. With rocks. Democrats' enthusiasm for the gubernatorial race is muted, to say the least, in the face of Rell's overwhelming popularity. It will be difficult to wrench energy, time and money away from congressional races and the Senate primary this year. We'll see if it can be done at all.

Source

"DeStefano, Malloy make their case for nomination." Associated Press 20 March, 2006.

74 comments:

Anonymous said...

Posted in this in the other thread, but it fits here:

Any other Register readers see the editorial today on DeStefano and the Cancer Center?

DeStefano lets union, politics stall Yale-New Haven’s cancer center

It's great that someone is finally taking him to task for this. Do we really want a Governor who will stall neccessary progress for political gain?

I bet cancer-survivor Jodi Rell is quietly rooting for DeStefano in the Democratic primary, just so she can use this one issue alone to destroy him in a general election.

Anonymous said...

Both Malloy and DeStefano seem to have narrowed the focus on their efforts in the "convention politics" of securing delegates, abetting Rell's own "rose garden" election strategy.

Offering some original ideas could be new.

Anonymous said...

The Destefano people will dismiss this issue of the cancer center as Destefano scutinizing the largest development in New Haven's history. But we all know what it's really about. Wait until Aldon regales us with Destefano propaganda but it's an issue he can't run from and one he's going to get beat over the head with because cancer effects real people, regardless of color, income or political affiliation. Destefano's a joke.

Anonymous said...

I hadn't heard that there is a shortage of cancer treatment facilities in the region?
I keep reading that NYC has too many hospital beds and isn't this New Haven deal designed to take away form the Sloan-Kettering business?

Anonymous said...

Im a Democratic political operative who has actually been in a winning state-wide race in a senior position...

Neither malloy Or Destefano has done what it needed to do at this juncture to begin to effect Rell's highlt popular numbers.....

For instance...both should have already been running tv etc ads ( hard hitting) against her...to wait until summer is just dumb...then again the senior operatives for Malloy are dunb ( roy o this means you with a 0 for 4 record)

Destefano's folks are no better...Tony A ( ethically compromised) and lazy

Perhaps what the Dems need is a "cleansing" of this generaltions politicians and operatives who now work under a loser psychology when it comes to governor.We always seem to run someone we wouldnt invite in our home as a guest and therefore the " body politic picks up on this and rejects them at the polls...

Anonymous said...

The current generation of CT Republicans have the same attitude when it comes to taking on the US Senate job as well. There is a message that not only Senator McCain sends but old Alan Simpson, Richard Lugar, jack kemp, Chuck Hagel, Grassley and Specor to name a few could help to formulate for the right candidate in CT and I'm not talking about Orchulli.

Anonymous said...

To Anon 1:59

You describe yourself as "a Democratic political operative who has actually been in a winning state-wide race in a senior position." Okay, let's set aside your complete lack of writing skill (normally a prerequisite for such "senior" positions) and assume for a moment that is true.

You think the campaigns should be spending money on TV already? Let me guess -- that means you worked for a well-funded incumbent without a strong challenger. If you run TV in March the money is wasted. Period.

That seems to be your only actual suggestion.

Am I to assume that you are NOT in a senior position on a statewide race this year? Is that, perhaps, why you are so bitter about the fact that others have gotten the plum jobs with the DeStefano and Malloy campaigns?

What we need in the Democratic party in this State is less personal sniping from nasty little people like you and a concerted effort to put our differences behind us in the name of defeating Rell. That's the kind of "cleansing" that would do us some good.

Anonymous said...

Bluecoat: You can be first on the bandwagon and start praising Jack Orchulli now before the Governor announces that he his her pic for LG.

****Rell-Orchulli 2006****

Anonymous said...

The Dems should find people who have worked for Dodd, Lieberman and Blumenthal, they have had the most experience in winning successful statewide races.

Anonymous said...

When was the last time the Dem's won a race that was actually competetive? Dodd, Lieberman, Blumenthal? They've all had cakewalks for years. Every close or contested race, Roy O and the rest of his ilk have gone down in flames.

Anonymous said...

Roy O is working for Lieberman, so count him out.

Anonymous said...

Jack Orchulli is an empty suit.

Anonymous said...

Let's face it, it is very unlikely that either John or Dan will come even close to beating Jodi. Dems will probably have to wait four years -- then it will be theirs for a long, long time.

That being said, what is the real motivation for John and Dan? Do they want to be the presumptive nominee in 2010? Something else? Anyone care to shed any light, or speculate?

Anonymous said...

Dear A Dem 2:13

Many thinks for grading the spelling of my quick note..

I only offered 1 idea to beat Rell because the other 29 ideas would clog this blog and an empty suit like you couldn't fathom the ideas that i propose.

Be that as it may...Its my contention that the key reasons why the Dems havent put a Dem in the governor's office is 1. inferior candidates...and 2. inferior political operatives.

The proof is in the pudding..we havent won a Gov race in 20 years....why dont you and your older operatives just leave and take your losing batting averages with you ( Roy O- 0 for 4)

Anonymous said...

Lieberman's win over Weicker was the last competitive win, Dodd, Lieberman & Blumenthal all poll over %60 in elections and Reps haven't fielded candidates capable of bring those numbers down.

Anonymous said...

To Anon 1:59 and 3:07 -

As you say, "WE" have not won a gubernatorial election in many years. Two points:

1. That's no reason to concede this year.

2. YOU are a part of that WE. I'm glad you're sharing responsibility. I hope you'll start taking positive action to change things this year, rather than lobbing cheap insults at others.

And as for your comment about correcting your spelling, I am pleased to help. I would have thought that in your many years of successful statewide campaigning you would have learned that it pays to frame your message carefully. When you don't, you come across as a bitter old hack who can barely put together a sentence, let alone a message that will win over the electorate.

Paul Vance said...

The vitriol on this thread (no to mention Bluecoat's 'love note' to my father on another thread) is pretty high. I hope as we get closer to election season it does not get any hotter. That is one of the worst things about electoral politics and the reason more good possible candidates decide to stay out.

That being said, why the hatred for Roy O? I can honestly say that I have never met the guy-- is it because he ran some campaigns that did not win?

Anonymous said...

Weicker Liker said...
Jack Orchulli is an empty suit.

2:57 PM, March 20, 2006

AGREED

Paul Vance said...

I am glad that the Democrats have two very good candidates in Mayors Malloy and DeStefano. We need to have a real campaign about the issues-- about what we need to accomplish and not only about the failures of the past.

Anonymous said...

Although Kennelly and Curry weren't spectacular candidates, the problem wasn't so much with the messenger but the message. Its hard to attack the Republican governor when the democrat leadership in the legislature is constantly cutting budget deals etc. leaving the democrat nominee for governor out in the cold on issues. And as far as spending a bunch of money on tv in March attacking a cancer survivor who has an 80% approval rating is absurd. And its easy for an anonymous poster to say they're a "senior operative" when they never have to identify themselves. I guess everyone thinks they're "senior" in their own head but of course they're not.

Anonymous said...

What would be the reaction out there if I ran for the US Senate?

How many people here would donate to my campaign???

Anonymous said...

Who are you?

Anonymous said...

i hate jack orchulli

Anonymous said...

When I knock Rell I never seemed to hear from young Vance. Rell's DPS Ministry of Information run by Vance's old man continues to tell the public all is well when it is not. Young Vance may not have noticed but two of the tallest buildings in the world were knocked to the ground in a matter of minutes because bureacrats would not listen to the front line. There are Troopers out there that want the agency reformed and make suggestions to do it but they are constantly told to hit the highway if they don't like it. Unfortunately people keep dying on the highways because the top brass deny the problem and refuse to deal with the union. It's about performance and I don't recall young Vance having any problem exposing waste, fraud and abuse. Sorry, but if it hits close to home that's a problem you'll have to deal with since you are now an adult.

The slop at the CT State Police is an issue. Besides all of the information that I provided on the earlier posts, the NTSB found that the outdated policies and practices of the CT State Police were contributory to the deaths of four young Yale students on I-95 in a construction site just a few years back. And I came through one earlier today and the Troopers were doing the usual - hanging around while people were speeding on the highway. You don't see this crap in competitive states with competent management.

Anonymous said...

To the two post-ers in the "operative pissing match", who's this Tony A. with DeStefano? I thought Ghandi was his gal?

Agreed...Orchulli sux.

But as an unknown in one of the worst years for CT Republicans, he did beat Gary Franks' 1998 showing against Dodd.

...and that's a hilarious rumor to spread, Rell-Orchulli 06. Might be DeStefano/Malloy's only chance!

Anonymous said...

Bluecoat-

I'm confused...and this is simply a question so dont jump down my throat...are you ticked at the troopers, the management or both becuase you do kinda go all over the place when you put your posts all together.

To the Orchulli posters...

First problem with him was he tries to come off as an eveeryday Schmoe but he's a goddamned millionaire...yeah, I can relate to him...not!

Wouldn't have hurt for him to havwe talked more...my dog has more charisma.

Anonymous said...

Anon assks of me and rightly so:lI'm confused...and this is simply a question so dont jump down my throat...are you ticked at the troopers, the management or both becuase you do kinda go all over the place when you put your posts all together.?? First, I wouldn't jump down your throat as that is why I blog. Second, the problem is with both the labor organiztion and the management that refuses to manage it because they came up through the labor organization. Cut me a break, I'm blogging not writing for the Washington Post

Anonymous said...

Frank Lecce, who lost the Democratic Nomination for State Treasurer, has filed to run for that same office as a REPUBLICAN.

Check out SOS Candidate Registrations.

Republicans need a former Democrat to help fill out State underticket.

Anonymous said...

Lecce lost to Nappier in 1998 at the State Convention.

Here we go with the GOP recruting former Dems to run.

Anonymous said...

They needed Gallo to get candidates the likes of Lecce?
That party is done!

Anonymous said...

I realize you aren't writing for the Post, I was just wondering as you jumped a bit.

What makes you think Gallo recruited him? And by the by, most you folks had no problem with a certain former Senator & Governor jumping to the Dem party as I recall.

Anonymous said...

can giordano run while he is in prison?

Anonymous said...

Lecce is from the New Haven area.

As Is Gallo.....

Anonymous said...

Disgruntled republican: I was smiling when I asked that you cut me a break because I know I jump around and I appreciated your ???. I alos apologize for referring to you as anon. If you want some more details on the State Police Union go here for that and if you want to know why the DPS is dropping the ball on highway safety go here

Anonymous said...

Yeah, whooppy.

He's from New Haven...note that you ignored my other opoint liker...

Anonymous said...

Weicker liker: So, Gallo is from New Haven and Lecce is too. What does that mean? Did you ever think of working for the FBI? They could really use a guy like you.

Anonymous said...

Bluecoat-

No problem and thanks for the links, I look forward to checking them out at home this evening.

Anonymous said...

Are you still proud of this site GC?

If the answer is Yes your standards have slipped to below the gutter.What a waste of Ether.

Anonymous said...

Hey digruntled: Here is another resource if you are in to doing some research; this one to the Police Foundation that you might find of interest. It's all about how to perform better at less cost there for Young Vance, too.

The rank and file that don't mess with the union politics want a change in their union and at the top.

Anonymous said...

http://www.policefoundation.org/

the darn thing won't link but here is the main URL, I'm low tech sometimes

Anonymous said...

My mother works at Dept of Public Safety... her take is Vance Sr is a big Rell fan.

This isn't casual gossip either - she works in fair close proximity to him and his regard for her is well known.

Anonymous said...

ANON 455 -

If you are going to make personal jabs especially at the host, at least have the nuts to put a handle so we all know who you are you nutless pri*k

Sorry for the vulgerness but you really Pi**ed me off

Anonymous said...

Yeah no kidding, they even used to do TV and Radio commercials together so Rell could get some free mileage for her campaign out of the DPS budget but the Donkeys put the kibash on anymore of the new Rowland canoe with CFR.

He's no doubt a good guy but that doesn't mean that DPS is a first class unit - it's more so in than anything else. The press does a lousy job putting together all of their faux pauxs over the yaers

Anonymous said...

The disclosure of Rell's acceptance of campaign contributions, a month before the Plan B policy shift at RC Hospitals, from the executives at St Francis will raise this issue profile well beyond the debate over James Papillo's testimony.

Paul Vance said...

Bluecoat--

I thank you for welcoming me to adulthood, I appreciate your kindness in welcoming me to the adult table.

You may have some valid points about the need for reform, including the need for reform in the CSP. (I have heard my father over the years talk about some of the changes that he wanted--but alas, he is the spokesman--not a CSP policy maker. As someone who has been a Trooper for 31 years, he has many opinions about his job-- he has spent more than half of his life as a Trooper. But since he too has reached adulthood, he can defend himself.)

No, bluecoat, I do not have a problem trying to change the climate of fraud, waste and abuse. (In fact I volunteered and was then elected in the wake of Phil Giordano's administration, which left us plenty to do on that front.) Some people complain about problems, others try to solve them.

You seem to have a lot of information about state police issues and trooper's complaints-- perhaps you should be writing for the Washington Post--- or at least the Waterbury Republican-American--I can put in a good word for you-- I had a paper route a few years back.

-Paul Vance

Anonymous said...

Yeah Franks, Lawlor et al told Rell in November that they were going to bring out the Plan B controversy in February 2006, so she could force the catholic hospitals to pony up in December. Man, she's really sneaky!

Paul Vance said...

I can tell you this, my dad loves former Governor Bill O'Neill and thinks he was the greatest CT governor.

Anonymous said...

wow, this blog is all over this place.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Franks from the articleThe governor's spokesman, Judd Everhart, responded by reiterating that Rell was "comfortable" with the way things are now, provided that the hospitals refer rape victims to another facility. At the same time, he added, Rell hadn't "ruled out anything in terms of this legislation." I wonder how comfortable a traumatized emotionally and physicaly raped vicitm is with being told to go down the street.

And young Vance now that the DPS has learned a $450,000 lesson at taxpayer expense about free speech that your father had the job of speaking over the top of maybe your father can speak out instead of just being a mouthpiece that says he can do nothing. Blogs serve the purpose of getting to the bottom ao issues and maybe this one can save a few lives by unmasking the culture of complacency at DPS. Where I come from if I knew something was wrong and kept silent I'd be called on the carpet.

Anonymous said...

so why post under a fake name then, bluecoat? I think young Vance has called you out as a jerk.

Anonymous said...

I'll except "jerk" or anything else if that's what people think of my truth telling. Nobody has refuted a single thing I've said. As for posting under a handle, maybe that is just a necessary evil of muckraking allowed on this blog by the host. Yes, the truth hurts.

Anonymous said...

Anon (5:15)

A major Policy change by a RC Bishop is a very slow process and the hospital executives would have known about it for months.

I could be wrong, these people may have been long time contributors to Rell, but timing suggest otherwise.

Genghis Conn said...

Didn't this post used to be about the gubernatorial primary?

Bluecoat, isn't blaming Sgt. Vance for the failings of DPS rather like blaming Scott McClellan for the failings of the Bush Administration, or Judd Everhart for the Rell Administration? I don't think it's warrented to shoot the messenger.

Anonymous said...

Mighty Mouse: suffice it to say this is not my only battle front or my only battle about waste, fraud and abuse in every state agency that I have some familiarity with if you have ever seen my other posts - I sign my name when I write to our governement in Hartford. I'm looking for backup here and trying to understand, and expose, the arguments that go in the cloak rooms - and even look for weaknesses in mine. If they want my name, I don't want their help.

Anonymous said...

G.C.: I'm not blaming Vance for anything but his own complicity with what's going on. It is integrity that was missing all around state governement that allowed Rowland to go on and on as long as he did.>

Anonymous said...

Thanks turfgrrl, you still get my vote but I really don't belive you are one of those that go by me at 80. You must have a nice car.

Paul Vance said...

Anonymous,

FYI, I never called bluecoat a jerk", namecalling isn't my style.

I don't like his talking down to me, nor do I think he knows what he is talking about in questioning integrity.

bluecoat, I do appreciate the links though.

Anonymous said...

Malloy picked up the endorsements of Mayor Perez of Hartford and Mayor Jarjura of Waterbury. Does he have a little momentum?

Anonymous said...

bluecoat is not a liberal but more likely a libertarian former state employee with a lawsuit pending against DPS.....

Anonymous said...

bluecoat on rape victims: I wonder how comfortable a traumatized emotionally and physicaly raped vicitm is with being told to go down the street.

bluecoat on the New Haven cancer center: I hadn't heard that there is a shortage of cancer treatment facilities in the region?

So having to go to a different hospital is OK for cancer patients, just not for rape victims?

Puh-leeze.

Rape is not the same as cancer, and no one would be foolish enough to suggest otherwise. But rape victims are not being denied treatment at Catholic hospitals, they're being asked to fill a prescription somewhere else.

And if, in their wisdom, the legislature changes the law, Rell hasn't said she wouldn't sign it.

But don't let the facts get in the way, bluecoat ...

Anonymous said...

DeStefano 'announced' his candidacy in New Haven city hall.... convenient.

I'm told that city employees were 'allowed' to attend and the time didn't count towards their break time or lunch...

(Maybe Caruso should call a hearing into that)

You'd think he'd have a larger turnout than he did... maybe hisown employees aren't that enthusiastic.

Anonymous said...

Turfgrrl & Bluecoat,

I hope you'll participate.

Spending $2,000,000 for this?

Anonymous said...

Caruso is otherwise engaged studying the state cookie.

Anonymous said...

Couldn't Aunt Jodie have done another commercial and asked everyone to clean up after themselves?

Or a get tuff commercial, "Don't Piss on Us"

Anonymous said...

anon says But rape victims are not being denied treatment at Catholic hospitals, they're being asked to fill a prescription somewhere else. I guess he's never been raped or talked to somebody who has and sought immediate help manymore than he understand the science of Plan B, which is intended to avoid abortion, as part of a total treatment package that includes comfort and counseling immedialtely upon seeking help not a trip around the block to walgreen's.

On the rest stop issue Franks, my legislators already have my views and it goes to what turffgrrl is saying about starting and stopping as well the police patrols. CT has become the stopover point for truckers because we have no comprehensive plan for the transportation system - the DOT just looks at one thing in isolation at a time - and McDonald's likes having their biggest money maker on the highway in Darien. Where exactly do they plan to put modern day toll booths - at least on I-95 the only place is where these rest stops curremtly are so they would have to be eliminated if CT decides to join NJ, WV, NY, PA, IL, MD , MA in adopting tolls and closing exits and enetrances to control demand for the highways. analysis paralysis And I thought the TSB had a comprehensive plan - at least that's what ammann has said publicly - it's just about spending now - BULL

and i'm sure anon will find something wrong with my hasty post. BTW, Mighty Mouse I have communicated with legislators through various mediums on these issues - including face to face - but i don't walk the halls of the LOB. I have also tried to enlist the selectmen from several towns whose ESU's (fire and ambulance services) must respond to the mess the DOT and DPS leave (DOT maintenance workers excluded as they do bust theior hump) And i have also talked ot a citizen who was so concerned about the situation on I-95 just days before the Yale student deaths there that he called Troop G on three ssuccessive days about it - only t be told on the third day by the Trooper on the other end of the line that the next time he called he'd be arrested for harassing a police oficer.

Rant yes, but it needs to get out in the open. Thanks to Johnny the crap, and not the cream, rose to the top of DPS and DOT.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Vance: I never thought you called me a jerk - I knew it was the disciple of Karl Rove anon trying to start a fight - and as serious as the issue is to me I do try to have a little fun in getting people's attention. The problems in state government go to everybody up and down the line from all political persuaions. Our goverment officials talk down to us all the time when they ignore what we say and publish their rose garden talking points over and over again. As for integrity there all all levels of it - and not investigating or acknowledging the problems at DPS and the refusa of the command to acknowledge thme shows lack of integrity. The $450,000 lesson that I am not sure the DPS command learned didn't have to cost that much but fortunately the brave Trooper had more integrity than his bosses.

Anonymous said...

Bluecoat

Here's a link on the DOT waste.

Earth Tech, a private contractor, is assisting on the survey of the I-95 rest areas.

I doubt this study could have passed the cost/benefit analysis in the proposed and now vetoed contracting reform bill.

Anonymous said...

Franks, I saw that when it came out but it was dismissed by the CT Business Assoc of Architects and Engineers (or something like that) because it was prepared by the state emeployees union. My own view of the SEIU in CT is that they do work hard and they do a reasonably good job - in the case of the DOT they have even spoke out about how consulatnats are hired and produce nothing. The benfits package is another deal but they did negotiate with Johnny in good faith. Commssioner Korta was Deputy Commissioner at Bradley when Tomasso put up the parking garage. He hears no evil, sees no evil and speaks no evil. He doesn't know the first thing about transportation but he can raise campaign funds.

Anonymous said...

Franks, I saw that when it came out but it was dismissed by the CT Business Assoc of Architects and Engineers (or something like that) because it was prepared by the state emeployees union. My own view of the SEIU in CT is that they do work hard and they do a reasonably good job - in the case of the DOT they have even spoke out about how consulatnats are hired and produce nothing. The benfits package is another deal but they did negotiate with Johnny in good faith. Commssioner Korta was Deputy Commissioner at Bradley when Tomasso put up the parking garage. He hears no evil, sees no evil and speaks no evil. He doesn't know the first thing about transportation but he can raise campaign funds.

Anonymous said...

The URL http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16338034&BRD=1653&PAG=461&dept_id=12717&rfi=6 is another
example of an absurd DOT project that I have talked about before. The DOT public transit people pushed it because their myopic mission was to get more parking along the Metro North line and their construction division had come up wih a monstrous proposal for Fairfield center years back that turned everybody off so they turned to this brownfield site, which access to is marginally acceptable today and won't be much better when the project is built because of a nearby 1940's traffic circle at the entrance to I-95. Then in the pork barrel days of Johnny commercial development got added supposedly to help the commercial tax base in Fairfiedl - nonsnese but that is the beleif. The public transit people at DOT could have cared less that the development created more traffic because all their goal was to create parking and more ridership but not necessarily to clear up the roads. Now enter the state traffic commission, which is made of the DOT, DPS and DEP Commissioner who will decide whehter or not to approve this major traffic generator. Yeah, go figure.

It also goes to the property tax issue mentioned by turffgrrl on a later post and poor urabn area planning. Now developers are looking at Bridgeport as a place to build housing instead of as a commercial building venues as you can see here in the CT Post yesterday front page . So where will all these people work? Stamford, Greenwich, Westchester, NYC - i.e down the line on an already overburdened transportation system all because of the property tax issue., not to mention no clear strategy to clean up brownfields.

Anonymous said...

Here is better or easier link than the URL up there. I'm having a low tech day don't you know.

Anonymous said...

And i forgot to mention that after all this development and building along with the gentrification (blockbusting) in neighborhoods, we will soon be hearing cries for more affordable housing stock. Weston and, in particular, Easton will need to pony up because Bob Scinto is building a luxury highrise with a penthouse suite for his mother in Shelton..

Anonymous said...

Here is another big government useles agency known as the Transportation Strategy Board - a bureacracy of bureaucrats who were part of the problem in the first pllace. Then ther is the Public Transportation Commission and not to mention about half a dozen regioanl public transit agencies that must wind their way through it. And, of course, ther is Sen. Billy Ciotto's Transportation committee who conspired with then Sen. Kevin Sullivan, Rowland and even stamford's own Moira Lyons to spend transportation funds everywhere but where they were needed - in Fairfield and new haven County - highly taxed folks in the most dense region of the state.

And for another example of a DOT mess, yesterday i was walking parallel to the so-called $250 million improvement of I-95 through Bridgeport around rush hour and i was moving faster than the traffic headed home. The DOT is planning to do the same "improvements" along the line of I-95 with the funding package passed last session.

Anonymous said...

Here is another example of analysis paralysis called the Congestion Mitigation System Plan - Vision 2020 done by the Southwest Regioanl Planning Agency for The purpose of this study was to develop a strategic plan for reducing traffic congestion in Connecticut’s southwest corridor and improving mobility and access within the southwest corridor and with adjacent regions in the New York Metropolitan Area. For the purposes of this study, the southwest corridor was defined to include all of Fairfield County and the New Haven County cities/towns of Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Hamden, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge.

The work is excellent but it has been largely ignored and I don't know how much we paid for it but we paid for it - but it has been largely ignored except for tokenism by Diane Farrell on her campaign website but not in her former governance of Westport.