New Haven Independent

Posted by: JOSIAHBROWNFORMAYOR | November 2, 2009 6:08 PM

Any guesses for whom I'll be voting for mayor?

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery on Ron Smith?

PS What is this about Gerry Garcia announcing?

Posted by: Charlie O'Keefe | November 2, 2009 8:24 PM

I will be voting for Ms Whatley. She is at least human, and all she needs is a good headhunter to put an administration together.

DeStefano will no doubt win but he needs to be reminded its the people he serves. If he gets less than 6000 votes it will be a defeat.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | November 3, 2009 8:30 AM

I'll be voting for Angela Watley as well... DeStefano WILL raise my taxes AGAIN to pay for his school reform - and I CAN'T AFFORD IT!!!

If DeStefano raises taxes again, I'm moving out

I'll vote for Watley this year, she deserves a chance, and she'll cut my taxes

Posted by: The Professor | November 3, 2009 9:29 AM

O'Keefe: Are you saying DeStefano is not human? I've met the guy; in fact, I've seen him walk in the rain, so I'm pretty sure he's not made out of sugar or electronics--he seems fairly human as far as I can tell. And I'm pretty sure that a win is a win, whether it's by 1 or 1 million.

Concerned Citizen: You do realize that taxes under the DeStefano administration are significantly lower than under John Daniels, correct? Daniels supports Watley, and Watley has no idea how to run a city, so she'll probably screw everything up and end up having to jack up taxes to cover herself.

Posted by: robn | November 3, 2009 9:51 AM

PROFESSOR,

Actually, our blood has glucose in it...so Mayor DeStefano is sort-of made of sugar.

Posted by: Jim Blunt | November 3, 2009 1:07 PM

VOTE? for who? There is no significant opposition to any non-democratic party/mayor selected candidate because each of these candidates were hand picked by the Mayors office and receive the full backing and funding of the mayors office and the local democratic party.

A close friend of mine was asked to run for alderman as a democrat in a ward in which the current democratic alderman resigned her post. The Mayor's chief of staff told her that he could "guaranty" her the election and that she would have the full backing, funding and advertising power of the Mayor's office and the local Democratic party. She is running today and is "guaranteed" to win. This is not hearsay or gossip. All of this information came directly to me from the woman who is running today and will most assuredly be elected.

I am NOT a republican and I espouse many of the social values that are held by the democratic party. However, New Haven is a complete wreck after being run by democrats with no opposition or accountability for at least 15 years now, possibly much longer. I don't know the full history. I just know that under the current city government's policy, the chasm between rich and poor is wider and deeper than perhaps any other city in the US. If you look closely at the crime maps that the NHI publishes, 90% of the crime is in the area's surrounding the "Yale preferred neighborhoods."

I met a man the other day who said that he and his family have been receiving welfare, including food stamps, medical insurance, full section 8 benefits (100% of rent paid), utility subsidies, and even cash for incidentals... all of the for the past TWENTY TWO (22) years in the good ole city of New Haven. He was bragging because now two of his children are eligible for welfare also and they are living more comfortably with the additional benefits. Neither he or his wife have worked one day in the past 22 years. Does it really help a person, a family, to make them dependent on the

Our current city government has constructed a city in which the dominant traits are racial and socio-economic segregation, generational welfare and poverty, and class preference and protection. Also, it is important to note that New Haven is home to some of the most prestigious K-12 private schools in the country while New Haven's public school system is ranked among the worst in the country. Benjamin Jepson Magnet schools is viewed as one of the best public schools in the city and on a national scale Jepson ranks 2 out of 10 with EVERY grade receiving FAILING averages in EVERY subject on proficiency exams based on a national average. See www.greatschools.net

Have I voted you ask? VOTE for what? More of the same corrupt, segregationist policies that oppress the poor and protect the rich (YALIES). This entire election is a JOKE.

Whether you choose to call New Haven's government and its governing policies liberal, conservative, moderate or whatever, I call it CORRUPT, completely unaccountable and oppressive. Sounds extreme... right? Well, if you think it is, just go door to door in Fair Haven and listen to the stories of many residents. Then do the same thing in East Rock. Look up the graduation rate for New Haven public schools, as well as, the number of New Haven public school grads who go on to attend and graduate form a four year college.

I find it quite ironic that so many people complain about the state of New Haven and yet keep voting the architect of this city's current problems back into office. Yes! go out and vote for good ole JD. For those who have, and continue to vote for JD, you have only yourself to blame for the condition of New Haven.

When a credible candidate emerges to run against our mafia like mayor, I will vote in the mayoral race.

If you like the condition of New Haven now, let's see how much more damage good ole JD can do with his next "guaranteed" term.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 3, 2009 5:35 PM

Jim Blunt

Well said,In fact do you think we should have Term
limits and proportional representation.

Posted by: Sadie Lambert | November 3, 2009 9:14 PM

What I cannot understand is if so many of New Haven's citizens are ticked off by the Mayor's ridiculously lengthy time in office the citizens do not get a referendum going to limit the # of terms a mayor can hold office???? Does New Haven allow referendums? How can we get one? Does anyone know?

Posted by: blue dog dem | November 4, 2009 6:48 PM

Jim Blunt,

Have you noticed that when you call out your neighbors and show them their shortcomings the posts stop? Unfortunately everything you wrote is true and no one will stand up to this administration or the DTC. Why waste your time, energy and money campaigning when no one will elect you unless you are a liberal democrat who will change nothing except that you won't be JDS?

The mayor has already provided cover for the next tax increase by stating that he is not afraid of the next increase (supposedly to fund his new pet project -- education). Love to see an accounting of how the money is actually used, and my guess is that very little will be spent on our children. But who is going to complain about a tax increase that benefits the kids?

The one consolation that we have is that there are so many brilliant, progressive minds in our midst that they will be able to tax & spend their way out of this morass and lead us to the promised land.

BTW, could you tell me that guy's name that has been abusing the system for the last two decades? When my taxes get too high I'll quit my job and follow his example and probably improve my manner of living.