Celebrate Wallingford 2011 / Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Celebrate Wallingford 2011 will be taking place TOMORROW Saturday October 1st -- 11AM – 7PM and Sunday October 2nd -- 12PM - 6PM at the Wallingford Railroad Station Green and along Hall Ave.

I know there will be some candidates there campaigning but I will not be one of them. I will be there both days collecting for the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and that will be it.

Democrat Headquarters at 62 Center Street will be open and I may stop there for a little while as I might have some help at the fund-raising booth for a brief period of time in the afternoon. 

There might be the time for both but for me it is more important to get the needed jump start on the 2012 celebration as opposed to adding more juice to my campaign. As I need to, I can meet with people individually and in small groups in their neighborhoods; there are very few opportunities for me to reach this many Wallingford residents all in one shot for the Fireworks Fund. 

Besides, if at this point I would think that the voters are well on their way to forming their opinions about me, how I might serve the town, and what my goals and aspirations for the town are. If I need to reinforce anything or further clarify for them I can always do this on a one to one basis. 

Hope to see you at Celebrate Wallingford - thank you for the support over the past two years and I hope we can count on it again going forward.

MY TAKE - Citizens Against Private Parking Deal in Wallingford

There is a new website at http://www.500kparkingdeal.com/ set up by the organizers of the petition drive.

On the site they have a lot of pertinent information, they cross post to the Wallingford Referendum Facts blog (which may or may not be their blog – I am not sure of the identity of the actual owners) and they have PDFs for the four lease proposals.

(I was going to post these myself but now that they are here I will simply cross reference. I will still put up the original lease since it appears to not be online there).

They also have a page there as to how you can help if that is something you wish to do.

I am in favor of overturning the decision of the Council on this and I will be voting “YES” on Monday November 14, 2011.

Bottom line and whatever your thoughts – it’s your town, get informed, get involved and VOTE at the local election on Tuesday November 8, 2011 and at the referendum on Monday November 14, 2011.

For or against the Council’s decision and the parking deal – make sure your voice is heard.

Wallingford Referendum Facts

As provided on the Wallingford Referendum Facts blog, which “has been created so as to give the residents of the Town of Wallingford a fair and unbiased account of the facts behind the referendum taking place on November 14, 2011. Whatever your position, please take the time to vote on that day.”

This is NOT my own blog; as you may know I have four (two concerning Wallingford directly, one personal blog and a technology blog).

Bottom line – these are some great facts that will allow you to review the information and make up your mind between now and the November 14th referendum vote.

Over the next week I will be posting online all the leases, prior and proposed, so that people might get informed and make up their own mind.

Having said that as well, I am fully on the side to repeal the Council’s decision, but whatever your thoughts I agree with the blog creators:

”Whatever your position, please take the time to vote on that day” (November 14, 2011).

ELECTION 2011, IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Jason Zandri, Democrat for Wallingford Town Council

As published in the Post-Chronicle on Tuesday September 20, 2011

By Jason Zandri

Wallingford has an envious track record over the past 25 years of both fiscal conservancy and better than average growth.

Both, together, have been a recipe for success. Each alone would have provided Wallingford for the ability to have some success but together they have allowed for us to be in the best possible scenario.

The problem is – those days are gone and doing “business” is no longer the same. It is coming under a whole new set of rules we are not prepared for.

“We can keep cutting services” and “people and businesses will always flock to Wallingford for the low electricity rates and the low taxes” doesn’t work anymore.

We are paying less than CL&P and UI customers but we are catching up to them. Since 2005 our electricity rates have doubled and they are going up even more; CL&P and UI have gone up as well but not by 100% as ours have.

At one point in time, electricity was a new technology coming onto the map; if the current administration was in place at the time the investment in the “fad” probably would have never taken place. We wouldn’t have our own electric division and the subsidized rates that we pay today.

That’s called spending to seek a positive return on investment - something we do not do today for the most part.

Our grand list fell last year. Yes there was a recession ending but every other surrounding town grew theirs even if just marginally.

We have no plan set as to how to address this other than more service cuts, belt tightening, shrinking subsidies and higher taxes – reactive efforts all.

We need to be more proactive.

I am running for Wallingford Town Council in November.

I plan to leverage what has worked well in the past – conservative, responsible and calculated spending of our tax dollars, and combine it in what must be done to succeed in the future; having a plan for operational maintenance and future growth and stability.

We must have new sources of revenue for the town beyond simply raising taxes. We have to go out to businesses and find out what is important to their success and figure out how we can help them meet their goals here in Wallingford.

We need to have a plan for proactive / strategic actions for the next 5, 10 and 20 years regarding operations and growth; not just what we are going to do for the next couple of years. We also need to actually execute on those plans.

I am available at Jason@Zandri.net for your questions and ideas and I want to hear from you. I have skill and experience on some things, everything else is going to come by leveraging what other people know better than me. That is important partnering with our skilled populace and another strength I feel I bring to the table.

Thank you for the consideration.

Please vote in November; it’s your town – get informed and get involved.

Celebrate Wallingford 2011 / Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Celebrate Wallingford 2011 will be taking place Saturday October 1st -- 11AM – 7PM and Sunday October 2nd -- 12PM - 6PM at the Wallingford Railroad Station Green and along Hall Ave.





I know there will be some candidates there campaigning but I will not be one of them. I will be there both days collecting for the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and that will be it.  

There might be the time for both but for me it is more important to get the needed jump start on the 2012 celebration as opposed to adding more juice to my campaign. As I need to, I can meet with people individually and in small groups in their neighborhoods; there are very few opportunities for me to reach this many Wallingford residents all in one shot for the Fireworks Fund. 

Besides, if at this point I would think that the voters are well on their way to forming their opinions about me, how I might serve the town, and what my goals and aspirations for the town are. If I need to reinforce anything or further clarify for them I can always do this on a one to one basis. 

Hope to see you at Celebrate Wallingford - thank you for the support over the past two years and I hope we can count on it again going forward.

Out putting up campaign signs

It’s Sunday evening on the 25th and I am headed out for a ride with my kids to put up some lawn signs.

If you are willing to lend me a little bit of your front / side lawn please drop me a note Jason@Zandri.net or give me a call – (860) 614-6069.

Wallingford Democrat Town Committee meeting to be held TONIGHT Wednesday September 21, 2011 at 7:30PM

The Wallingford Democrat Town Committee meeting is going to be held TONIGHT Wednesday September 21, 2011 at 7:30PM at Democratic Campaign Headquarters at 62 Center Street

This is the formal “grand opening” and the public is invited and welcome to attend.

Most of your Democrat candidates are expected to be on hand this evening.

Here is my flyer handout

This is what I am going to be using as a hand out as I meet the voters in and around town.

Thoughts on the content and design?

If you don’t want to register to comment feel free to drop me a message at Jason@Zandri.net

Lawn signs are ready

If anyone wants to lend the real estate in front of their home or business, I am looking for places to put up my signs as I run for a seat on the Wallingford Town Council.

Over the next few weeks I plan to do what I can to get out to talk to the voters.

I’ll be trying to go door to door as much as possible and do meet and greets when there are forums for it.

In the meantime, if you’d like to help out please feel free to drop me a note via email at Jason@Zandri.net or you can give me a call at 860 614 6069. Email is always going to be better – I have a computer nearby more often than my phone believe it or not.

‘Citizen Mike’ to host local candidates for the upcoming November election

In the upcoming weeks on the public access Citizen Mike Show Mike Brodinsky will be interviewing candidates for the Town Council and Board of Education.

Brodinsky and Record-Journal Executive Editor Ralph Tomaselli also discuss the Simpson Court parking plan.

The show airs on cable Channel 18 at 9 p.m. every night, except Sunday. It can also be viewed on demand at wpaa.tv. Comments or suggestions can be sent to citizenmiketv@gmail.com.

If you can’t catch the show on TV you can catch it online on their Video On Demand page.

WALLINGFORD Ballot order released for November election

The Registrar of Voters drew the names for placement on the November ballot today (September 15, 2011).

They are, as listed in order:

LINE ONE – DEMOCRAT – MAYOR / TOWN COUNCIL

Testa / Sullivan, Hettrick, Harwood, Zandri, D. Reynolds, Economopoulus

LINE ONE – DEMOCRAT – BOARD OF EDUCATION

Cei, Castelli, P. Reynolds, Leonardo, Ford, Votto

 

On line two are all the Republican Candidates:

LINE TWO – REPUBLICAN – MAYOR / TOWN COUNCIL

Dickinson / Fishbein, LeTourneau, Parisi, Rascati, Cervoni, Laffin

LINE TWO – REPUBLICAN – BOARD OF EDUCATION

Bachand, Miller, Brooder, Mansfield, McKay, Marrone

 

The only heads up race is for the office of Mayor; you can only choose one candidate from that column – Testa or Dickinson.

As far as the other groups – Town Council and Board of Education – you are permitted to vote for up to nine candidates for Town Council and up to nine candidates for Board of Education. It doesn’t matter who is above or below whom; all candidates are “at large” and serve the entire town so you can vote for as many or few as you like, regardless of position on the ballot (up to nine in total per group).

REMINDER–WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT

Just a quick reminder that there is a town council meeting this evening.

I have the agenda posted in an earlier blog post.

There are a couple of important agenda items with respect to the downtown parking situation and the referendum:

10. Discussion and Possible Action on the Repeal of the Town Council’s resolution of August 9, 2011, approving Lease Agreements of the parking lots at 2-26 North Main Street, 36-40 North Main Street, 60 North Main Street and 48-50 North Main Street - Councilor Nick Economopoulos

11. Discussion and Possible Action on setting a date for a referendum vote on the repeal of the Town Council’s resolution of August 9, 2011, approving Lease Agreements of the parking lots at 2-26 North Main Street, 36-40 North Main Street, 60 North Main Street and 48-50 North Main Street – Councilor Nick Economopoulos

 

Barbara Thompson, Wallingford Town Clerk, has certified that there are enough signatures for force the referendum if the council doesn’t repeal their decision.

The letter went out to Town Council Chairman Parisi yesterday and can be found via this link.

AGENDA - WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING / Item 11 to deal with parking issue

I have the agenda for the next Town Council Meeting over on my Wallingford Politico blog and it should be posted over on the town website as well.

Of special interest with respect to recent news:

11. Discussion and Possible Action on setting a date for a referendum vote on the repeal of the Town Council’s resolution of August 9, 2011, approving Lease Agreements of the parking lots at 2-26 North Main Street, 36-40 North Main Street, 60 North Main Street and 48-50 North Main Street – Councilor Nick Economopoulos

‘Citizen Mike’ talks Simpson Court at 9PM

WALLINGFORD — Former City Councilor Mike Brodinsky discusses the Simpson Court parking plan on the latest edition of his public access show “Citizen Mike.” In studio guests include Town Councilors Nick Economopoulos and Craig Fishbein.

The show airs on cable Channel 18 at 9 p.m. every night, except Sunday. It can also be viewed on demand at wpaa.tv. Comments or suggestions can be sent to citizenmiketv@gmail.com. Record-Journal Executive Editor Ralph Tomaselli is regular contributor to the show.

If you can’t catch the show on TV you can catch it online on their Video On Demand page.

REMINDER - ‘Party for a Cure’ scheduled Sept. 4

What : “Party For A Cure” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Where : Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, 1074 S. Colony Road.
When : 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4.
Cost : $50 donation to MDA.
Information, tickets, donations : Call Zandri’s at (203) 269-6695.

WALLINGFORD — The Labor Day Telethon’s annual “Party for a Cure” will take place at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, 1074 S. Colony Road.

The admission charge will include a buffet dinner, open bar, entertainment and a silent auction. Proceeds will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

WTIC-TV will broadcast live from Zandri’s during the telethon. For information or a reservation, call (203) 269-6695.

Getting the details on the Simpson Court deal

I am working on getting the details on the Simpson Court deal and I will put them online as soon as I can get them.

As with most things in town, I think I am going to have to request the paper documents and pay for them because I believe they are not readily available on line but be that as it may we need to have this information and the details out there.

There was a story in Wednesday’s Record Journal (August 31, 2011) regarding one of the owners and his decision to pull out of the year to year deal if the referendum is successful and the vote decision is to reject the deal that the Town Council has cut here.

That is Mr. McGuire’s prerogative – it is his property. If I were him and had this better deal in front of me (the one being proposed) I might not (at first) be all that excited about going back to something less. It’ll be up to him to decide if he wants to enforce and restrict his parking to the renters and customers in his building as well to fully maintain and upkeep his own lot, a lot of which right now the town does instead of him under the current deal.

People are going to take the slant of blaming the petitioners for the downfall of this deal if it goes that way just as some did regarding the Wooding-Caplan property.

Let’s be clear, the petitioners stopped nothing; the results of their work allowed the referendum to happen – the voters said no to the deal on the table at the time.

The Town Council could have re-visited one of the other three plans or come up with something new. Instead they’ve taken no action over four plus years.

The blame there is not on the voters or the petitioners.

There are a lot of details in the Simpson Court deal that every tax paying resident should review on their own. That is why I am trying to get that copy and post it online.

I am against the deal as it is presented currently as I don’t believe it is the best deal that Wallingford could make. We could and should do better. There are other options available as far as overall parking is concerned and if an agreement with the tenants at Simpson Court is still desired it can be re-done so that the town gets a little better deal and it could still be fair and somewhat lucrative for the property owners too.

I am not against them getting a little benefit for their sacrifice but the town benefit should be at least equal and presently it is not.

Having said that, I encourage you to get the details and make up your own mind.

Stay tuned.