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Help Democrat John Hartwell take back Dictrict 26! |
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TAXES - THE SEQUEL!
We may all still be recovering from April 15th, the day we supposedly stop paying the government and start working for ourselves but it's never too early to start thinking about cutting down on Uncle Sam's cut of our income – and that means tax reform. So, if you want to hear some thoughts on the subject be sure to come to DFA'S next MeetUp at 7 PM on Wednesday, May 7th at the Silver Star Diner in Norwalk when we'll be hearing from Professor Fred Carstensen, a leading progressive economist. He has strong and informative views regarding the impact of different kinds of taxation on economic growth and will be discussing tax reform from a Connecticut point of view.
Professor Carstensen has successfully completed more than a 100 studies during his ten years' tenure as Director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA) http://ccea.uconn.edu/ Concurrently, Carstensen has been involved in the collection and preservation of Connecticut business archives since he arrived at UConn in 1982 as an Associate. Professor Carstensen graduated from the University of Wisconsin (Madison), and received both his MA and PhD from Yale University.
A SEA CHANGE TO SEE CHANGE
As many DFA members may already know, John Hartwell, Fairfield County DFA's organizer and moderator is running for State Senate against Republican incumbent Judy Freedman and will be asking for your support in this endeavor. We already know of John's phenomenal hard work, organization skills, and ability to get things done during the past few years running Fairfield County DFA. To get the job done John needs volunteers between now and June to help with phone banking and obtaining voter registration lists. John will be discussing his “Agenda for Change” at the MeetUp. He's a tough guy and will take on any questions so let's have a good turnout on May 7th to show both our support and appreciation for all his hard work – and tell him when he is elected that we are going to make him work even harder!
So, all you political junkies, liberals, progressives and hard working people, come and be part of helping to elect a strong and principled Democrat to replace a lackluster Republican. It's time for a Democrat to take back district 26!
Call 203-401-8065 with any questions |
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Is Affordable Housing a Win-Win for Fairfield County? |
A Democracy of America Forum Report on April 2nd MeetUp
Panelists.
Rafie Podolsky Attorney with the Legal Assistance Resource Center of CT
Joan Carty, Executive Director of Housing Development Fund, Inc
Dave Goldenberg Chair, the Ridgefield Affordable Housing Committee
David Fink, Policy and Communications Director for the Partnership Strong Communities and Staff Director of the HOMEConnecticut campaign
The panelists discussed the economic, aesthetic, environmental and demographic realities that impact on affordable housing in Connecticut communities. Many of these factors will favor an increase in affordable housing throughout the state in the coming years, in a win-win situation for those seeking affordable housing and for the towns themselves. As the evening progressed, it became apparent that the discussion on solutions for traffic and transportation problems in Fairfield County covered in the previous meeting dovetailed rather nicely with the need for affordable housing. |
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DFA - Prescription for Unclogging Our Traffic Arteries |
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Transportation Forum at MeetUp recommends intensive care for our ailing traffic arteries
"Who would have thought that traffic problems could be so exciting?" That's a direct quote from one of the attendees at the Fairfield County March 5th MeetUp. It was just one of many similar comments from others attending this lively, interactive and informative MeetUp - "One of the best Meetings we've ever had!" was the verdict of many other participants.
Four panelists, including three from Fairfield County, described how the clogged arteries of southwest Connecticut's transportation system are adversely affecting businesses, the workforce and ordinary residents, then prescribed a variety of solutions at the March 5 MeetUp. The panel was composed of Jim Cameron of Darien, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council; Jara Burnett of Greenwich, President of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut; Joe McGee of Fairfield, vice president of Public Policy and Programs for the Business Council of Fairfield County; and Mike Riley, president of the Motor Transportation Associaton of Connecticut, a trade organization of the state's trucking firms.
In introducing the four speakers, moderator John Hartwell referred to a report by South Western Regional Planning agency showing that by 2025, traffic would be "severely congested" along both the Merritt Parkway and I 95 from one end to the other. "We are planning for failure," said Hartwell, who is the Democratic candidate for the State Senate in District 26.
Hartwell also reported that Metro North will soon be putting 300 of its state-of-the-art new passenger coaches into service, adding that the railroad is still debating how many of old cars it will retire and how many it will retain to boost overall capacity over the next few years. "Where are these people going to park," he asked. Hartwell also pointed out that since 1995 the Connecticut Department of Transportation has suffered a 35% reduction in staff compounded by intense turnover in the Commissioner's office. |
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Like minds gather to discuss transit woes |
Norwalk Hour -- Thursday March 6th
CT chapter of Democracy for America brainstorms traffic solutions
The impact the congested transportation system in southwestern Connecticut is having on business and the work force was the topic of a panel discussion Wednesday night organized by the Connecticut chapter of Democracy for America.
The discussion was held at the Silver Star diner on Connecticut Avenue.
Based on a capacity study of Interstate 95 and Route 15 by the South Western Regional Planning Agency up to 2025, "We're planning for failure," said the program's moderator, John Hartwell.
The study, said Hartwell, shows both of these major arteries will be experiencing end-to-end "severe congestion" by that year.
Hartwell, who is a Democratic candidate for the state Senate in the 26th District, was joined in the discussion by Jara Burnett, president of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut; Jim Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council; Joe McGee, vice president of Public Policy and Programs for The Business Council of Fairfield County; and Mike Riley, president of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, a trade organization of the state's trucking firms.
Central to the evening's discussion was finding ways to decrease the amount of traffic on the area's two major highways -- and particularly on I-95 -- and expanding capacity on the New Haven Line railroad.
Improving capacity on the rail line is critical to relieving congestion on I-95, said McGee, who also encouraged modestly increasing the density of housing in the core areas of the region's cities so more people could walk to mass transit hubs.
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