DeStefano Mobilizes Newtown Support

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by Paul Bass | Dec 19, 2012 12:54 pm

(11) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Thomas MacMillan Photo In the wake of the Newtown massacre, Mayor John DeStefano sought support for the victims of gun violence from both inside and outside of City Hall.

He has arranged through the city’s Community Services Administration for money to be sent to help the families of victims of last Friday’s school massacre. The money will come from proceeds collected from voluntary “one-time payroll deductions” by municipal government employees.

Employees have been asking him for ideas about how to “do something” to help the families, DeStefano said. United Way of Western Connecticut is doing a fundraising drive, so the mayor decided to connect employee contributions to that.

“At the same time, folks want to engage in changing gun laws. We want to provide an opportunity for people to get engaged,” DeStefano said in a conversation Wednesday morning. “It’s going to be difficult in the end to change some of these gun laws. I think elected officials are going to have to hear from their constituents.

So in his weekly mass email to constituents Tuesday evening, he put out a call for help in a broader national mayors’ crusade for tighter gun control laws.

“I believe that the best way we can honor the memory of those lost, both in Newtown and those lost to gun violence in New Haven, is for America and Connecticut to have a real conversation and strengthen gun laws,” DeStefano wrote. “As such, the city will continue lobbying efforts both at the federal and state levels to enact stronger gun laws to help prevent future gun violence. If you are interested in being part of efforts to make change please contact Rebecca Bombero at” .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Click here for a story about DeStefano’s remarks at Monday night’s police academy graduation, when he called for a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity gun clips.

Comments

posted by: Threefifths on December 19, 2012 10:57am

Sandy Hooker is becoming now a Political Show run by the professional political class, both the Republicans and the Democrats.

posted by: Morris Cove New on December 19, 2012 11:30am

THREEFIFTHS:

Not a nice comment Newtown is in mourning and cares about their community. It is not a show 20 babies were killed as well as their teachers.

posted by: Threefifths on December 19, 2012 12:11pm

posted by: Morris Cove New on December 19, 2012 10:30am

THREEFIFTHS:

Not a nice comment Newtown is in mourning and cares about their community. It is not a show 20 babies were killed as well as their teachers

And US drone attacks are also,killing innocent residents and children.And not one politician hve open there mouth about this.

Child Casualties As a Result of U.S. Drone Strikes

http://youtu.be/zf8bnYF-WxE

posted by: ELMCITYPROF on December 19, 2012 1:02pm

I am a strong believer in the freedom of speech. Yet with that comes a requirement for responsible speech. How is it that the New Haven Independent allows ThreeFifths to denigrate the memories of those children who were slaughtered by referencing that massacre as “Sandy Hooker”?? We can have an informed discussion about the media’s “if it bleeds it leads” approach to journalism. We can also discuss the media’s seemingly ADD approach to covering tragedies. But referencing this massacre in such a way is simply reprehensible

And please don’t reply to me 3/5 with a slew of random YouTube videos and obscure quotes you’ve scoured the internet for. Come on Paul, I expect more of you and this publication than to allow this type of ignorance to flourish

posted by: Morris Cove New on December 19, 2012 4:50pm

ELMCITYPROF

Thank you for your comment I thought I was the only one who that was in bad taste.

posted by: Threefifths on December 19, 2012 6:00pm

posted by: ELMCITYPROF on December 19, 2012 12:02pm

Show me what I wrote were I have denigrate the memories of those children who were slaughtered by referencing that massacre as “Sandy Hooker.I may have misspelled sandy hook with the word hooker,But that is not denigrate the memories of those children.And if you read what I wrote it was directed at the Polticians who are using this as a Political Show run by the professional political class, both the Republicans and the Democrats.In fact I heard the same thing on the radio this morning.

I donot have to reply with a YouTube video and paul was right to allow my post.It is in the guide lines.

P.S. You can always not read what I post.

posted by: Threefifths on December 19, 2012 7:28pm

For those who said I denigrate the memories of those children who were slaughtered by referencing that massacre as “Sandy Hooker”?? What you say the same of this.

Some black Connecticut residents question media attention on Newtown shootings

Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2012

http://nhregister.com/articles/2012/12/19/news/doc50d11aaa893bf183688882.txt

posted by: Morris Cove New on December 20, 2012 9:15am

3/5

Enough is enough let this go you are only making this worse and what is up with SANDY HOOKERS that is also in bad taste walk in their shoes and feel the pain and hurt they are going through.

posted by: Threefifths on December 20, 2012 10:42am

posted by: Morris Cove New on December 20, 2012 8:15am

3/5

Enough is enough let this go you are only making this worse and what is up with SANDY HOOKERS that is also in bad taste walk in their shoes and feel the pain and hurt they are going through.

Enough is Enough.If you would read what I wrote,I said I misspelled the word hook.Move on.

P.S. I stand by what I said about the Political Show run by the professional political class.

posted by: Jones Gore on December 20, 2012 11:07am

Well I do have a question. This is an affluent community. Why are people sending them money? A few months ago a baby was shot in New Haven. Did anyone at city hall take up donations? Did anyone in Newtown affluent community send money to the family who might not had the money to pay for the hospital bill?

Ohhh my bad. Poor neighborhood pron to violence, it is expected, it happens all the time. No big deal.

Yeah I understand that because such a large number of children were killed at once is horrifying. And yes it disturbed me and made me angry at the disturbed young man who committed this horrific crime. I no longer have nerve to watch the news because I’m tired of shedding a tear knowing that isn’t going to change anything neither is the money being sent to Newtown.

If people really want to help, make sure innocent men, women and children stop losing their lives because our country values the right to own assault rifles. Honor the children and the teachers who died protecting them by spending your money fighting the lobbyist who fight to make these type of guns available.

The children at Sandyhook School did not die because of a lack of school security; they died because of our insecurity, distrust and bigotry that makes us feel that we need to protect ourselves from each other by putting distance between us or by arming ourselves beyond what is necessary. I hope what has happen in Newtown will help us realize this and make us see our role in this.

I hope I did not offend anyone with my comments. It is how I feel and no one will die from what I have said.

posted by: Jacques Strap on December 21, 2012 6:38am

John DeStefano has plenty of problems in New Haven, as violence is out of control and the school system in disarray. If he wants to help Sandy Hook, then let him send his own monetary donation. IMO, this is a rotten publicity stunt by the mayor. Clean up your own city, John!

@ Jones Gore—You are right. Where are the donations for the city’s slain babies?

God Bless Sandy Hook.

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