Letters

Refutes Rossi

I would like to offer the following response to West Haven Mayor Rossi’s letter.

The mayor is correct when she indicated that it was the prior administration’s bonding of West Haven’s $16 million deficit in 2017 that triggered state review by the Municipal Accountability Review Board, also known as MARB.

But that is about the only thing in this regard that the mayor and I agree on. We have a clear difference of opinion as to how she should have managed our city’s finances. From that point on and, because of this type of short sightedness, that led me to my decision to run for mayor.

The first thing the MARB asked for when it came to West Haven was a five-year financial plan from the mayor. After 10 months of trying, the mayor was not able to do her job and put together a comprehensive professional plan with structural changes and long term vision. Instead, West Haven’s taxpayers had to foot the bill to the tune of $125,000 to pay an outside consultant to do the job for her. This plan called for a tax increase in every year for five years. This was a plan the mayor agreed with, endorsed, and then submitted to the State of Connecticut.

Once the mayor submitted this five-year plan to the state, the City of West Haven received the first installment of the bailout in the amount of $8 million. The mayor used the $8 million to say she “turned the city around.” and that we now have a surplus due to her management. However, the MARB has repeatedly pointed out the obvious to her, which is that West Haven would not have a surplus if it wasn’t for the bailout. But because the mayor is more focused on the election-year spin than a positive relationship with the state, she continues to attack the hand that feeds US! She has actually engaged in a public relations campaign against the M ARB, stating that she is the one turning our city around. The result? The state has pulled back $2 million in funding. And that’s why supplemental bills went out in June.

Now as we look towards next year’s budget, the mayor has now asked the state to allow her to rely on the funding from The Haven project. WHAT FUNDING? WHAT PROJECT? WHAT PROGRESS? You do not have to be a CPA to see that this project is stalled, and that the state, recognizing this, is hesitant to allow West Haven to rely on funding not yet in hand.

The bottom line is this: There is only one way out of this hole and that is through growing our city’s grand list through economic development. The mayor to date has not introduced one new economic project and hasn’ t done much at all to move along the projects already in the queue. There are no new revenue drivers to the table. NONE. The only suggestion the mayor made is to increase the price of beach stickers.

We need someone who can get to the truth about The Haven; someone who can introduce new ideas; and someone who can manage a professional relationship with a State board giving us sixteen million dollars.

Deborah Collins

Mayoral Candidate

Poignant column

Just wanted to thank longtime contributor Dan Shine for the wonderful article he wrote as a tribute to his father.  It brought tears to my eyes, and I’m sure I’m not alone in my reaction to Shine’s words.  I lost my own father much too early, but like Robert Shine, he, too, was a child of the Depression, a veteran of WWII, and a man of many talents who dearly loved his family. 

When my dad passed away, I, too, like “the boy” in Shine’s article was there, holding his hand, and telling him that he was “my hero.”  Thanks to the eloquence and tender feeling in Shine’s words, I was able to relive that moment as I read the article–a powerful, bittersweet reminder of how important and irreplaceable a good father can be in one’s life. 

Thank you, Dan, for writing such a wonderful piece, and thank you for publishing it.

Gary Carlson

Veterans Walk ceremony suggestions

I recently attended the wonderful Veterans Walk of Honor Dedication Ceremony (Saturday, May 25) at Bradley Point.  As wonderful as the ceremony was, and as proud as I was to attend it on that beautiful spring afternoon, I must confess that I was disappointed in one respect:  As well-planned and dignified as the ceremony was, at no point were the names of those being honored that day read to the people assembled there. 

Not only that, those being honored weren’t even listed in the program that was distributed to all in attendance.  Ironically, there was a insert included in the program, a lovely, fitting poem by Major Michael Davis O’Donnell about remembering those we loved and lost.  The poem only took up one side of the insert, so there was plenty of room on the other side to have listed the approximately 30 name of those we were gathered to honor that day. 

Furthermore, during the ceremony itself, it was difficult not to notice that while the excellent master of ceremonies made a point of acknowledging the presence of just about every politician and dignitary in attendance that day, at no point were the names of those 30 people being honored that day  mentioned.  I have to say I was shocked by this and disappointed for those people who had made a special effort to be there. 

Many of those in attendance were elderly and disabled, or had travelled a great distance to attend this ceremony (for example, the widow, daughter, and grand-daughters of my best friend, one of the honorees, had travelled all the way from Texas, for the sole purpose of attending this ceremony), to then sit there and neither read nor hear the name of their beloved invoked seems a shame to me–an unfortunate oversight that marred an otherwise beautiful and much-appreciated ceremony. 

I would sincerely like to thank Beth Sabo, Louis Esposito, Dave Ricci, Mayor Rossi and all those people responsible for Saturday’s Ceremony and for creating and maintaining West Haven’s wonderful Walk of Honor.  However, I would also like to suggest that for future ceremonies, not only should the Program include a list of those being honored, but that list of names she be read–every single name–just before the playing of “taps.” 

I respectfully offer this suggestion in the spirit of gratitude. and appreciation for all that you have done in the past and continue to do for West Haven, its proud veterans, and its grateful citizens. 

Gary Carlson

City needs to do project ‘right’

An article from the New Haven Register, December 2014, touts that West Haven is receiving over $2 million for Beach Street in grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program. Four and a half years later, we have seen little progress on the restoration.

My sources say that $600,000 was paid on design. The rest, $1.4 million dollars (part of which is in bond form), the West Haven tax payers are paying a debt of service on. We are paying interest on this money! This money is being held until Beach Street is raised- that’s phase one. Phase 2 and 3 requires $5.5 million dollars, $4 million from the state, the rest will be bonded. Beach Street is a ripe area for economic development! It used to flourish with Chick’s restaurant and Captain’s Galley, generating a great deal of business for the city. We are a city under the scrutiny of MARB. The West Haven citizens are burdened by the taxes and here is an area that could potentially bring in great revenue (https://www.ctinsider.com/news/nhregister/article/Lawmaker-implores-West-Haven-mayor-to-make-Beach-13963603.php). Our elected officials are to blame.

According to this article, “the current administration has put completion of the project last on its top three priority list” while “putting money for renovations at Savin Rock Conference Center first and funding for an arts center downtown as a second priority.”

Not only does the delay in this restoration prevent development of businesses in the area, it also leaves many residents and their homes at risk the next time a large storm comes our way. I would like to see the plans and the phases and what is being planned for this area and the reason it has taken since 2014 to move this project along! West Haven needs to do this right!

Pat Libero

Only in West Haven

Only in West Haven does a sparring match over paying back a total of less than $8K make front-page news, while nine years of ignoring its own Comprehensive Energy Plan doesn’t even get a mention.

Maybe it’s the entertainment value we get from team sports that leads to this emphasis on conflict, but it’s short-sighted, and is a part of what has led to our being in the fix we’re in.

West Haven has not yet managed to implement the free benchmarking and tracking system for our energy use that has led to neighboring towns —and even our own Board of Ed— saving millions. Where is the sense in focusing on possibly (not at all clear) improper payments that amount to small potatoes, while ignoring the millions we might have saved since 2010? Fairfield saves $2.8 million/year as a result of its energy program.

Anybody want to think about how many millions we might have saved if we had pursued our own energy plan nine years ago? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for holding municipal officials accountable. But to focus on this small issue while ignoring the bigger ones is a travesty. My two cents.

Robin Parsons

Buy-back not right

Recently an issue came to the forefront concerning Mayor Rossi being paid for unused vacation days. This is contrary to a resolution of the City Council that was adopted on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, mandating that elected officials do not receive vacation or sick time as a fringe benefit. Mayor Rossi was on the City Council at the time that resolution was passed. I too was an elected councilperson back then. I sat on this council, next to Councilman Rossi, for 10 years. During that time, I thought I heard all she had to offer on her selective fact-checking. Apparently, not so.

Mayor Rossi ran for the office of mayor on three occasions, knowing full well the hours entailed to fulfill the obligations of the office and how much the position paid. She now complains about the number of hours she works and the amount of money she is paid. All of her present complaints come after she admonished prior Mayors for making these same complaints.

Additionally, Mayor Rossi stated that she did not take advantage of the city health insurance benefits because she wanted to help the city but at the same time, she fails to mention that in lieu of not taking the insurance benefits she took a check for $4,000, as she has other medical insurance. She further claims that as a benefit to the city she utilizes her own vehicle for work, as opposed to driving the mayor’s vehicle. The city continues to own the vehicle, insures it, and she allows members of her administration to drive that vehicle on a fairly regular basis.

All of this comes at a time when residents are suffering the effects of cuts in city services, increasing property taxes, flat-funding for education, layoffs of city workers, and instituting a number of furlough days whereby City Hall is closed to the inconvenience of the residents and to the financial detriment of city employees.

The issue of Mayor Rossi cashing in unused vacation days requires strict review. First and foremost, as we know, elected officials do not receive vacation benefits and they are not required to punch a time clock. They can take time away from their office at their convenience while at the same time receiving full pay. This is a fringe benefit of being an elected official. The mayor and other elected officials receive a weekly paycheck whether they work 10 hours or 50 hours. I am aware of no other elected officials, such as the City Clerk or Tax Collector, that have cashed in vacation days.

Certainly, there are times when a mayor will work beyond a 40-hour week, which is expected. It is for this reason that a set schedule is not required and that time out of the office may be reasonably commensurate with that. Elected officials receive full pay each week without regard to the number of hours worked.

I have repeatedly asked for the mayor’s personal calendar to validate how many days she has taken off to date. She ran on a pledge of transparency but she has not responded to my repeated requests.

Mayor Rossi, and former Mayor O’Brien should immediately reimburse the city the amount each of them received for selling back vacation days as taxpayers should not bear this burden. Mayor Rossi blames former Mayor O’Brien for everything that is wrong with West Haven, but when it comes to paying herself, she is in complete agreement with him.

Tracy Morrissey

Councilman 8th District

Mayor responds

It is both necessary and important to respond to former mayor Ed O’Brien’s claim that he and his team were responsible for the recent $3.1 million surplus; it is simply not true.

Here are the facts:

~~ Ed O’Brien inherited a $2.7 million budget surplus when he took office in 2013

~~ Ed O’Brien never balanced a budget as mayor

~~ Ed O’Brien was responsible for operating deficits totaling more than $10 million

~~ Ed O’Brien’s proposed 2014 debt restructuring was rejected by the City Council of West Haven because it would have cost West Haven taxpayers several hundred thousand dollars in interest

When I took office in December 2017 – five months into fiscal year 2018, the City of West Haven was projecting yet another $2 million deficit in addition to the $8 million shortfall in revenue that Ed O’Brien built into the budget even after he was told the $8 million dollars was not going to materialize. My team and I took immediate and decisive action, making many tough and unpopular, but necessary, decisions to stabilize the city’s finances.

We eliminated programs and positions, implemented a freeze on hiring and non-essential overtime, negotiated furlough days, reduced hours of some positions, and canceled events.

We also undertook an aggressive audit of personal property to increase tax revenue and worked to move stalled economic projects forward. That is why the City of West Haven ended fiscal year 2018 with a surplus.

Here are two more facts:

~~ The City of West Haven is projecting a budget surplus in fiscal year 2019;

~~ The City of West Haven has a positive fund balance (rainy day fund) for the first time in over a decade

The work is by no means complete but we are on the right path and the future is looking brighter for West Haven.

Nancy Rossi

Mayor

Dog owners must show respect

I have lived in West Haven all 70 years of my life and have seen many changes, both for the good, and, unfortunately, many for the not-so-good. We are all aware of the financial problems facing our city, but that is not the point of this letter. The point of this letter, my first to the Voice, is people’s attitudes. Where once there was a general feeling of community, of doing the right thing, following the rules, of caring about the feelings of others and respecting other people’s property, there no is, all too often, an attitude of I can do as I please.

We witness this daily when people just leave trash anywhere, even where there is a trash can nearby, or park in a handicapped space just because it’s closer, even when they are not handicapped, running red traffic lights to get there faster, or allowing their dog to use all areas of public parks, beaches, and walkways as their pet’s latrine.

I walk every morning along the boardwalk and to the “Walk of Honor” at Bradley Point. I must say most pet owners control their pets and pick up after them, but, given the ever presence of dog feces on walk walkways, some obviously don’t.

On New Year’s Day morning I was walking along the area of the “Walk of Honor,” where the bricks are laid to memorialize West Haven individuals and their service to our country. To my dismay about 10 yards in front of me was a large dog on a leash with the woman owner allowing the dog to urinate on the memorial bricks.

I had to speak up and tell her, “That is so wrong. Those are memorials to brave people, and you are allowing your dog to piss on their memorial.”

I got no response from the woman. What is wrong with people? This showed a complete lack of respect for our brave men and women who served our country. Responsible dog owners should also be appalled by these actions. I can’t blame the dog, but I sure do blame the owner.

I hope others, especially dog owners that read this letter, will respect the public’s rights and act appropriately. If not, maybe we need to prohibit dogs from some areas. I personally like dogs, always had one as a kid, but times have changed and owners are now held responsible for the actions of their pets.

Tom Jaqua

Dear West Haven Community:

The West Haven High School building committee, along with all boards and commissions in the City of West Haven, recognizes the importance of being transparent and providing information when it is requested in a timely manner.

For the Building Committee’s part, we hold regular monthly meetings that we publicize a year in advance, our agenda is posted with the City Clerk’s office, and our minutes filed upon completion and in accordance with the law.

In addition, we have always answered questions from the public when requested to do so. The new West Haven High School Building Project is 20% complete, and has been nothing but a huge success. The management team has done a spectacular job keeping this project safe, under budget, and on schedule.

This open letter in in response to concerns that are being raised again by a mother of two high school students, Christine Barrington, about the management of the High School Renovation Project, and the high school in general.

Mrs. Barrington, a layman when it comes to projects of this nature, does not understand the process and has been making wild and inaccurate claims over the past two years. Thousands of dollars are included in the budget that allow for safely remediating and disposing of hazardous materials. We now realize that no matter how many times experts in the field of construction, asbestos monitoring, and abatement explain the process and law; she continues to claim she knows more than they do.

This project, from the very beginning has put the safety of all first and foremost. All industry standards have been followed, and those State agencies charged with overseeing the demolition and construction of the new building including the Department of Health, have approved plans prior to any work taking place and monitored the implementation.

Here is what the entire community should know about the renovation project taking place on the West Haven High School campus:

~~ Hundreds of air samples have been taken throughout the course of the project, and all have concluded the building is safe for occupancy.

~~ Prior to the opening of school in the late summer of 2016, new security cameras were installed. Once concerns were raised, state agencies as well as local officials investigated the matter, and the building was deemed safe.

~~ All custodial staff are trained according to laws and standards when it comes to cleaning and following remediation protocols.

~~ Expert licensed asbestos professionals test according to DEP and EPA regulations.

In addition, more asbestos testing has been done than that of which is required, and in each case, all samples have come back negative. The bottom line is that there is no dangerous asbestos situation at West Haven High School and my niece and nephew, all other students, staff, and visitors are safe.

Ken Carney

Chairman, WHHS Building Committee

It’s not officially not winter yet but the City of West Haven has posted the ordinance for snow removable in the New Haven Register and the Voice. Here is a short version of the rules. In a normal snowstorm you park on the odd side of the street when in an emergency it is posted you cannot park on the right side of the street you go on the left side.

Around City Hall in an emergency there is no parking on both sides of the street it will be posted. But on dead end streets it is never posted. People don’t know you park on the odd side.

So we were told when we call Public Works we are not a priority it goes like this: main streets first, the secondary streets next, then dead ends last. I asked why? Plows are too big for the streets.

We are taxpayers. We deserve service that comes with paying our taxes even though the new administration came into a deficit.

Anthony C. Krzeminski

I attended the Nov. 29, Town Hall meeting organized by West Haven High School (WHHS) parents Marilyn Wilkes and Christine Barrington to address asbestos/air quality issues during the ongoing renovation project at the school. The meeting was intended to be a parent-to-parent informal information-sharing event. There were five parents present along with city officials,  BOE members, superintendent, School Building Committee members, City Council members, builders and other members of the public including myself, a non-parent resident of West Haven.

Christine Barrington has been following the construction project for years. She is troubled by what she feels are unproven assurances of safety at the High School. Mrs. Barrington has been concerned with student health since her eldest child enrolled in WHHS last year. She is concerned  because even though no one disputes the well-documented history of asbestos release incidents occurring at WHHS,  there are no records to show that WHHS has ever been adequately cleaned (in accordance with applicable federal statutes) to ensure the students are not breathing in dangerous levels of airborne asbestos fibers. There are also no records that conclusively show that WHHS is free from dangerous levels of airborne asbestos fibers. The only conclusive test is “Aggressive TEM” (Transmission Electron Microscopy) sampling and testing in accordance with AHERA sampling and testing protocols. ‘Aggressive’ TEM testing requires agitating the air first using a blower or similar device to disperse any potential asbestos fibers.

Here are a few of the meeting points:

1.     Aggressive TEM asbestos air sampling must be preceded by a thorough cleaning of the building. It was not satisfactorily answered at the meeting why a complete cleaning could not be accomplished at the high school.

2.     Connecticut state law does not allow asbestos to be abated while school is in session, unless a waiver is granted. A waiver was granted for the high school project. In fact, a waiver request under the law has never been denied. The reason the waiver was granted was to maintain the construction schedule-currently four years.

3.     The high school renovation project was nine years in the making and will take four years to complete. According to project and school officials, performing the asbestos remediation while the school is not occupied would add five years to the project. However, all future asbestos remediations are scheduled for the summer months with a completion date still scheduled for March 2022, so this argument seems to be invalid.

4.     Since there is so much asbestos in the high school, the obvious question is why a new school was not built rather than perform a renovation of the existing school. A new school could have been built in less than four years’ time.   The answer is that the State of Connecticut will not fund a new high school project, only a renovation project. This school construction project was approved before the Department of Health noticed West Haven was in violation of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). At that point (2015), State of Connecticut advised West Haven that it needed to revise its construction plans in order to remove all remaining asbestos.

5.     Due to parental complaints, asbestos remediation is no longer carried out while school is in session, notwithstanding the waiver.

6.     Reports for periodic asbestos inspections as required by the EPA are missing  for the years 2009-2015. (For more information on the AHERA program, visit www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-and-school-buildings).

7.     Only one of the camera locations was inspected after the 2016 camera installation project at West Haven High School.  The work was performed by unlicensed workers without any asbestos containment controls.

8.     There are other potential air-quality issues that should be investigated because of possible links to student health.

Pattricia Bollettieri

Dinner chairman thanks helpers

I am writing today in hopes that you will share my appreciation to the West Haven community.

The 7th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner was a great success due to the generosity of the West Haven community.  Nearly 60 volunteers and numerous donors came together to make the dinner the success that it was.  I would like to extend a special thank you to Joe Collier of The Savin Rock Roasting Co. for providing our roasted turkey and Ron Quagliani and Sodexo of the University of New Haven for providing the fresh mashed potatoes.  This generosity made it possible for more than 270 meals to be provided to the community.

Yours in the Community Together,

Bill Ewry

Dinner Coordinator

Vote Maroney

James Maroney is running for State Senate in the 14th Senatorial District which includes parts of Milford, Orange and West Haven. I am thankful for the opportunity to get to know James and I am extremely impressed with his knowledge of state issues, and in particular, those that effect West Haven. James will work for better education, more worker training programs and he wants Connecticut provide services more efficiently and cost effective.

James wants to steam line the process for new businesses—making it easier and quicker. James Maroney graduated from Yale and is a small business owner. He knows Connecticut and understands its problems and struggles—James Maroney will fight for West Haven and our residents in Hartford to make sure our voice is heard. James will fight for the middle class, small business and a quality world-class educational system for our children.

Please join me in voting for James Maroney for State Senate on Nov. 6!

Michael Last

 

Festival Committee aware of problem

For over 14 years, the First Congregational Church of West Haven (FCCWH) has had the honor of putting on the West Haven Apple Festival. Every year we have vendors, musicians and entertainment from all around come and participate in one of the largest and well attended annual community events hosted in the City. The Apple Festival is a time for neighbors, friends and families to come together, enjoy food and entertainment, do some shopping, and enjoy each other’s company.

CT Premier Face Painting has been a vendor for the past five years, and has donated their time and talents to our Care and Share Program, which is an outreach where our Church and other local businesses sponsor a day of children’s crafts, amusements, food, etc. Many families over the years have enjoyed the masterful works of art and joy they add to the Festival experience.

Unfortunately, the Apple Festival Committee has been made aware of seven cases of allergic and negative reactions to the face paint. We have been advised by the parents that the reactions are limited to swelling and rashes, and that the children, although uncomfortable, are generally doing fine.

FCCWH promptly contacted the parents of the affected children, and has been in contact with the vendor since the first report came in. We do appreciate that the families we have been in contact with have been gracious and understanding.

FCCWH and the Apple Festival Committee wish to extend their warmest thoughts to the children and families who have had a negative reaction to the face paint. That said, even a singular case is one too many, and we will continue to closely monitor any new developments.

Christopher Vargo, Jr.

Martone ‘bombshell’ was misinformation

The West Haven High School Building Project Team was scheduled to deliver a status report to the Board of Education at its last meeting (Sept. 17). This had been planned for quite some time, and was part of the regular agenda with all guests listed on that document. The team consists of managers from Gilbane Construction, the general contractor for the project, and Antinozzi Associates, the architects. As the chairman of the Building Committee, I was also in attendance and was prepared to answer any question from the Board members or the general public. Since this project began, my goal has been to keep all interested parties informed, and conduct building committee meetings that are open and transparent.

As soon as the Public information began, Councilwoman Louise Martone of the tenth district, asked to address the Board. To say the least, she was unprepared and ill-informed. She started her speech by declaring that the project was $7 million over budget. After announcing that she hadn’t come prepared to speak, Mrs. Martone passed out a spread sheet to the members of the Board of various change orders as proof of “her theory.” After her “bombshell,” and saying she hoped there was a good explanation, she left without waiting for one or listening to the team’s presentation. This led me to believe Mrs. Martone wasn’t there to get answers and become knowledgeable of the process.

As soon as Mrs. Martone left in the dramatic fashion that she chose to, I spoke to the Board and I believe, clarified any confusion. I began by letting everyone know that all work for the project was put out to bid, resulting in a savings of $5 million. Since enrollment projections increased, however, approximately three and a half-million dollars was needed to add nine classrooms to the school, and increase the size of the cafeteria by two thousand square feet. The remaining savings are earmarked for additional furniture, fixtures, and other equipment (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment – F, F, & E). Keep in mind that much of what had to be added back was a result the previous administration’s lack of planning and desire to just get something done. Not only were we facing a school that was too small on the day it opens, but one that would be without many critical elements necessary for modern teaching and learning to occur.

When the Rossi Administration took office last December, it was handed a huge debt, as well as a financial mess. This project is 77 percent funded by the State of Connecticut, but we are mindful that local tax dollars are paying for the remaining amount, and must be spent wisely. Councilwoman Martone has never attended a building committee meeting nor has she ever reached out to request financial information. My suggestion is, however, that prior to similar outbursts in the future, she should at least spend the time to educate herself on the issue at hand and not embarrass herself the way she did last Monday.

Ken Carney

Building Committee

Giannattasio gets nod for 14th

As a former candidate for the 14th State Senatorial seat, I am giving my full endorsement to Anthony “Tony G” Giannattasio and I am asking that Republican voters support Tony in the Aug. 14 primary.

The reasons are clear. Tony is a respected and successful businessman, a life-long Republican and the Minority Leader on the Milford Board of Aldermen. He has held the line on taxes in Milford and has supported smart development. He and his family have volunteered for many local groups and non-profits. Tony gives back many hours to his community and the people he serves. I would expect no less from him when he is elected State Senator.

Unlike his opponent, who is currently a Republican State Representative, Tony would not betray the people of his district by supporting undocumented citizens to compete with US citizens.

As the ranking member of the education committee, State Representative Pam Staneski, Tony’s Republican opponent, enthusiastically supported a bill which passed and was signed into law by Dan Malloy. Joining with the Democratic House majority, the bill allows undocumented students the right to apply for financial aid from our public universities, putting them in direct competition with your children and grandchildren! She violated the trust of the hardworking people in the 14^th district by embracing more aid for illegal, undocumented citizens without any regard for the struggle that we face when trying to educate our children. Without any clear caveat or pathway to citizenship for these undocumented students, we all really need to ask ourselves if this is a person that you want to represent you and our Republican values up in Hartford.

Furthermore, the admiration by Representative Staneski of the current Democratic State Senator, Gayle Schlossberg, who is not running for re-election, is concerning. In her announcement for this open seat, Staneski said in a press release that she has “tried to emulate” Schlossberg’s qualities.

The answer is clear to me. Vote for a real Republican who will not hide behind supposed altruistic votes which only support the continuing control of the Democrats over our beautiful state along with the decline of values and disrespect of Connecticut citizens.

On Aug. 14, to all Milford, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge voters: Vote 4A for Anthony “Tony G” Giannattasio and return Connecticut to the people!

Michele Gregorio