Meriden: budget cuts. Wouldn’t it really be better for every city employee to take a 5% pay cut, or even to forego next year’s contractual increases rather than lay off people, close firehouses, shut down cultural operations and increase the jobless rate?
State: I ask the same question. The story about introducing additional progressive steps to the state income tax -- in effect, the very lowest incomes pay 3%, everyone else, 5% — is interesting, since so many seem so incredulous that the state would ask wealthier individuals to contribute higher rates. But why not push through 5 % cuts across the board? 5% of $20 billion is $1 billion, which would take us a long way toward fiscal solvency. Throwing people — even state employees — doesn’t do that, and it tends to heap other work on the shoulders of remaining people and make the public annoyed. Come on!
Meriden and everywhere: Fraud via US mail, letters with checks and so forth. Be vigilant!
Meriden: and a welcome to Robert V. Cappelletti — 2 ps, 2 ls and 2 ts — as new head of the Housing Authority. Good luck to him and he’s got a challenge or two to face.
State: The death penalty discussion in a move to end the death penalty. I’m in favor of that personally, if for no other reason than death penalty cases, from beginning to end, are dragged out and expensive, since no stone can remain unturned in a death case. Ten, 12, years in jail before executions are actually carried out? That’s too long and there’s no way, really, to shorten them. It’s a point of principle with many people, and that’s easy to understand. But, as has been seen, persons convicted are often not the perpetrators; if the suspect is dead, there’s no way to exonerate him.
Meriden: College prep sessions, even at middle school level, make sense, because decisions have to be made by kids at an early age.
Area: pension fund balances, like every other investment, sinking!
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2 comments:
Meriden's "income" is mainly through property taxes. Meriden's "leaders" have been eroding that income for years by tearing down buildings and leaving them empty lots. No property no taxes. It isn't the workers that will lose their jobs its the poor leadership that got us into this mess. Its time for the leaders to do something about the "income" side of Meriden rather than closing vital services such as a fire house, or police personel.
Closing the Broad Street firehouse is really a dangerous proposal. The whole Eastside will be protected by just one fire station on Pomeroy Ave. What happens if they are across town on a multiple alarm call? Child choking? Car accident with serious injuries? Seconds count and delays are bound to occur if the remaining stations have to pick up the calls that the Broad St Firehouse took care of. This is madness. Shame on the city for considering this idea.
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