Posts

Showing posts from November, 2024

Board of Selectmen Meeting and Special Meeting November 26, 2024

Image
  Screenshot (GCTV) On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, The Greenwich Board of Selectmen held their meeting and a special meeting at Town Hall.  Of Interest: 3. First Selectman’s Updates  First Selectman Camillo thanked the Registrar of Voters and the department’s staff at Town Hall as well as the Town Clerk and her staff and all the poll workers who worked during the first ever early voting at Town Hall. He noted that Election Day is no longer just the first Tuesday of November and “we have 15 election days now” because of early voting. Camillo pledged they would “get better” at getting results out in a timely fashion in future elections but reminded everyone that the Town had three different batches of votes to count, from Election Day, from early voting and from absentee ballots. He said he hoped that would get straightened out as they went along but “all in all it was very successful” and said there were no issues at all in Greenwich.  4. Selectwomen’s Updates...

Thanksgiving: A Time For Blessings and Reflection

Image
  Many of you are likely preparing to visit or host with friends and family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Preparing lots of food and making sure everything is just right to impress everyone. While this is all good, we should also take the time to remember what Thanksgiving all is about. Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. It is a time when families come together to give thanks for the blessings in their lives and to share a festive meal. Spending Thanksgiving with family is a cherished tradition for many, and for good reason. The history of Thanksgiving dates back to the early 17th century when the Pilgrims, who were English separatists seeking religious freedom, arrived in America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. They settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and faced harsh winter conditions, which led to many deaths. The following year, in 1621, the Pilgrims formed a relationship with the Wa...

Matthew Corey Statement on CT GOP Leadership Following Election of President Trump

Image
  Matthew Corey November 25, 2024: Matthew Corey statement on CT GOP leadership and party future following the election of President Trump Good morning, Last week I was sent a video interview with the Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto and I was dumbfounded at what I saw. You can watch the full video here:  Interview with CT GOP Chairman Ben Proto - FULL unedited - YouTube Recorded Video (Yankee Tea News) Consistency and transparency are essential in leadership, especially when guiding political campaigns. During our campaign, the Connecticut GOP Chairman advised us that embracing President Trump or even mentioning his name would hurt candidates in the state. He justified this by citing past races, like the 2022 Senate race, where President Trump’s endorsement was said to have negatively impacted Republican campaigns in Connecticut. Now, after the election is over, it’s surprising to hear the same Chairman openly embracing President Trump’s legacy. This sudden shi...

Wold: Board of Education and Board of Selectmen Battle For Power

Image
  Screenshot (Public Domain) Submitted by David C. Wold, Greenwich Resident and Veteran As far back as purchase of land for school purposes in Greenwich (Havemeyer, Byram schools etc.), it seems like Board of Education (BOE) or equivalent has had a separate identity away from the traditional configuration of Board of Selectmen (BOS). Multiple attempts have been made over the 100 years to get BOS to have ‘power’ over BOE when it comes to disposition over their ‘decisions and inventory.” BOS has traditionally lost when BOE has taken a stand on their ‘department’. As you all know, I have done some research around Havemeyer building and much more when it comes to Byram school grounds , after BOS and Town Hall has expressed ‘it is all our property’  and we do what we want. It started with the Havemeyer building and its front lawn here a few years ago, in BOE had ‘no say’ in BOS/Town Hall’s decision to apply for grants from the State to move Arch Street and expand the WWI tria...

Greewich BET Meeting November 18, 2024

Image
  Screenshot (GCTV) The Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 18, 2024, at Greenwich Town Hall. Of interest: Ms. Moriarty opened the discussion by expressing concerns about both the process and substance of the guidelines. She indicated that the Democrats would have numerous amendments. Mr. Weisbrod moved, and Ms. Moriarty seconded, to add the following language to be the new 3rd paragraph on the first page: "The BET's goal is to strive for consistent, moderate and predictable increases to the mill rate over time --noting that approved labor settlements are averaging 3% and noting as well that recent years have experienced wide fluctuation of mill rate changes. While many would like to see no tax increase, long term labor contracts and needed capital spending make this desire difficult to achieve." The Board voted 6-6-0 (NO: Alfano, Arora, Fassuliotis, Fisher, Jansen, Tarkington). The motion fa...

Statement By Tod Laudonia, Candidate for CT-151st House District

Image
  Submitted By Tod Laudonia, Candidate for CT-151st House District A reflection on our 7 month-long campaign for the 151st House District: Our family has been through a lot over the last few years. We have stuck together and supported each other throughout with the help of many loving friends. This was no different. The race for the 151st was invigorating and gave us all a united direction in our lives. My campaign team had few members, but they were able to accomplish incredible amounts of work through dedication and tireless effort. Our team worked closely together to maximize our exposure and reach as many voters as possible. We did this in a principled fashion, without taking State campaign funding. Campaign manager, Joe Montanaro, took the work head-on from day one. It was a herculean effort, the likes of which I have rarely seen matched in my many decades of involvement in local politics. I thank each and every one of you for your dedication, time and effort. Gail, Kristen, L...

Board of Selectmen Meeting November 14, 2024

Image
  Screenshot (Public Domain) The Greenwich Board of Selectmen held their monthly meeting recently at Town Hall.  Of interest within the minutes:  2. New Business  a. Discussion and vote on Board of Education vacancy First Selectman Camillo said the meeting was being held because the Board of Selectman is statutorily permitted to take action if a vacancy is not filled within 30 days. He noted the Town is now in day 94 or 95 of having a vacancy on the Board of Education and said several members of the Board of Education, both Republicans and Democrats, had come to him over the last few months to ask him if he was going to take action and when he was going to do it. Camillo said he had told everyone from the beginning he would rather the Board of Education members handle it themselves. He said he was hoping until a few days ago that the Board of Education could work it out since several candidates were being considered. Camillo said he was informed a few days ...

The Tradition of Leaving a Letter in the Oval Office Desk for the Incoming President

Image
  Screenshot (Public Domain) The tradition of the outgoing President leaving a letter in the desk for the incoming President is a long-standing and symbolic gesture in American politics. This tradition dates back to at least President Ronald Reagan, and it has been continued by each successive President. The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance, advice, and well-wishes to the incoming President as they navigate the responsibilities and challenges of leading the country. The letter left by the outgoing President is often a reflection of their own experiences and lessons learned during their time in office. It may contain insights on policy decisions, relationships with Congress and other political leaders, and advice on how to handle crises and challenges. The letter is meant to serve as a helpful resource for the incoming President as they transition into their new role. Screenshot, Transition Letter from Bill Clinton to George W. Bush T raditionally, there is the conf...

Wold: More Questions on Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink

Image
  Screenshot, (bing.com) Submitted by David C. Wold, Greenwich Resident and Veteran We all know most people do not want to be on ‘blacklist’ of wasting town hall money and time by asking for FOIA related to proposals from Town Hall for millions of dollars. There is something about the fact that First Selectman Fred Camillo makes a list of citizens who do request information this way, but avoid a list of employees, mostly living outside of Greenwich and do not get the town information and not responding to simple questions on ‘is this spending in compliance with Town Charter and State statues’ – so most of us just try to avoid that by not getting engaged in Town Hall matters. For the fact that we do not have better checks and balance before things have been worked on by our ‘trusted’ employees in Town hall for years like the Skating rink project, in which we find, after 50 years, of one property being parkland and one being skating, is hard to believe. Representatives that ...

Thank You Veterans For Your Service

Image
  Screenshot (military.id.me) Veterans Day is a significant holiday in the United States that honors and recognizes the contributions and sacrifices made by individuals who have served in the military. Observed annually on November 11th, Veterans Day commemorates the end of World War I and pays tribute to all veterans, living and deceased, who have served in the armed forces. The origins of Veterans Day can be traced back to November 11, 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day to honor the end of World War I. In 1954, the holiday was officially renamed Veterans Day to honor all American veterans, not just those who served in World War I. Since then, Veterans Day has been a day to express gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made by those who have served in the armed forces. Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the bravery and dedication of our nation's servicemen and women. It is a day to remember the hardships they have endured and the c...

Trump Campaign Statements

Image
  Screenshot (donaldjtrump.com) “President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier today where she congratulated him on his historic victory. President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.” - Steven Cheung, Trump Campaign Communications Director. “President Joe Biden called President Donald J. Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current Administration and the incoming Administration. President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.” – Steven Cheung, Trump Campaign Communications Director.

Dr. Micheal Goldstein Press Release on November 5th Election Results

Image
  Screenshot (GoldsteinForCongress.com) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2024 Republican Congressional Challenger, Doctor Michael Goldstein Issues Statement on the Results of Yesterday’s Election GREENWICH, CT Dr. Michael Goldstein M.D., J.D., Candidate for Congress for Connecticut’s 4 th  Congressional District has issued the following statement on the results of yesterday's election: An election is about “We the People” making their voices heard at the ballot box. While we are disappointed at the results, we are not disappointed by our efforts and the journey that we took over the past year. Why? Because elections are a two-part process. The first part is to listen to the concerns of a voter and to find out what keeps them up at night and what the government can do regarding their issues. The second part is about engaging the voters and trying to inform them about the choices they make, and how they will impact their futures and future of the next generation. We ...