Sorry for the lapse in postings good people, but so many other things took priority.
Thank goodness for social media (Facebook and Twitter), since there has been some great coverage of things happening in Stratford.
We couldn’t let this one get away though a little more than six months in and in this week’s Stratford Star we get two letters, one from the Council Chair, Beth Osborne Daponte, touting the accomplishments she orchestrated (http://www.stratfordstar.com/54709/daponte-council-has-accomplished-plenty-in-six-months/) and the other from the DTC Chair, Stephanie Philips, requesting that the Council Chair, Beth Osborne Daponte, step down as Chair of the Town Council (http://www.stratfordstar.com/54693/philips-calls-for-daponte-to-resign-as-council-chairman/). Only in Stratford my good people, only in Stratford.
Nowhere in Ms. Daponte’s letter did she mention how she managed to offend so many in not only her District, but those of Councilmen Wali Kadeem and Dave Harden (Districts 3 and 4). You know, the “incident” during a recess at a recent Council meeting where she made the comment “F$%* the South End” because Councilman Kadeem wanted to work for things in District 3, a district that has long been neglected by prior Town Councils. Councilman Harden was there for the discussion and not only did HE hear that comment, but so did is young daughter. Not very nice. Her apology on July 11, bogus. Not a true apology at all.
And then, to add gas to the fire, she called Councilman Kadeem’s requests “pork”! However, in reviewing the 2016 LoCIP Guidelines there is an item that allows for use of LoCIP funds for public park improvement (it’s Item H – Public Park Improvement in the statute). Improvements to the long-neglected Juliet Lowe Park is one of the things Councilman Kadeem was requesting. But, in her half-baked “apology” she referred to Councilman Kadeem’s requests as “pork”! Ms. Daponte, it’s not “pork” when there is money for these types of improvements that can be obtained from the State, and money has been put every where else but in the South End! According to the 2016 Certified Municipal Entitlements for 2016, Stratford’s balance as of March 1, 2016 was $656,200.33. I’m sure there’s a little there for the long-neglected South End area of Stratford (unless, of course, Council Chair Daponte has it all spent already). Over the last 10 years, Stratford has received just under $400,000 each year for LoCIP. That’s almost $4 million in 10 years, there was a balance of $656,200.33 as of March 1, 2016.
Another reason for utilization of LoCIP funds is Item U – land acquisition, including for open space, and costs involved in making land available for public uses. Would Council Chair be “poo-poo’ing” on Councilman Kadeem’s requests in order to purchase the controversial piece of land on James Farm Road? Inquiring minds would really like to know the answer to that. Keep your eyes on the prize good people of Stratford. You can follow LoCIP spending on the posted monthly “Project Authorization List” on Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management website (http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?q=383108). Know where money is going! It’s your tax dollars that come back for spending!
The bottom line is that this Jezebel agrees without hesitation with DTC Chair, Stephanie Philips, request that the Council Chair step down. She is unfit for that position and will without a doubt do more harm than good during her term.
