‘Mud chucking’ not productive to city
It’s not fun, it’s sad.
It was said in the last issue of the Voice that I and my campaign are having fun watching the “mud get chucked” between Rossi and O’Brien. I understand why you could think that, but in fact it’s not fun, it’s sad.
Voters are tired of these unproductive attacks being made by my opponents on one another. There’s plenty of blame to go around between O’Brien and Rossi. Not a lot of difference between them. They have both been involved in running the city for many years and are cut from the same cloth.
I have come to many of your doors and listened to your concerns, so let’s talk about how I and my team propose to take West Haven in a new direction, to a better future.
Effective change in West Haven will only come with transparency and responsible leadership in city government. A perfect example of a failure of transparency is last week’s CANCELLATION of the City Council meeting INCLUDING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT. It looks like it was more important to hold a campaign event than inform the public.
What are the odds that we’ll see an accurate report on the city’s financial condition before Election Day?
As mayor you must have a realistic view of expected revenue and the courage to adjust spending accordingly, even if this makes you look bad and angers people. Spending may have to be cut in areas that no one wants to cut. A leader must make the hard choices needed to move us forward. In other words, we must be fiscally responsible. We must find ways to spend less and still get the job done.
A new approach to economic development will be a critical part of my administration. We will move away from the policy of building more housing, and focus on business development for the entire city, not on just one developer whose project after six years, may or may not happen. That is the only way we can begin to get taxes under control, and end our over-reliance on State handouts. Let’s face it, we will take whatever aid we can get to help us deal with the problems we face, but the State is broke and we must rely on ourselves.
We can do it. The Riccio Team has studied successful municipal economic recovery plans throughout the Northeast, and once elected that knowledge will form the basis of an economic development plan for the entire city.
There are many more issues to talk about and I plan to share my thoughts with you as we move closer to Election Day. Among those issues are improving the education of our kids, and our quality of life, including neighborhood blight and crime.
You can take a look at my entire platform by reading the ad found in this issue or by visiting davidriccioformayor2017.com. I hope to see you as I visit on the campaign trail. Contact me on my website or on Facebook @davidriccioformayor and let me know what your thoughts are on moving West Haven to a better future. I am interested in your opinion and I will listen.
David Riccio
GOP Mayoral Candidate
O’Brien aids area combat problems
Mayor Ed O’Brien has been instrumental in working with the West Haven Watershed Restoration Committee and Audubon Connecticut in seeking to improve the area across from the former Captain’s Galley restaurant, the Sandy Point Beach and Bird Sanctuary.
As a West Haven resident and representative of the WHWRC, I have met numerous times with Mayor O’Brien and his administrative staff concerning upgrading Sandy Point. The mayor always found time to discuss the project and aid in any way he could. He enthusiastically supported our shared vision to improve the area for walkers, bikers, birders, fishermen, and nature lovers of our shoreline.
Sometimes in a political campaign the little accomplishments that occur in West Haven unfortunately go unnoticed, but not by me. I appreciate all Mayor O’Brien has done to improve Sandy Point for the benefit of all our citizens. He has worked tirelessly and with great passion to make Sandy Point a valuable destination in our city. I urge you to consider this when you cast your vote on Election Day. I intend to write in Ed O’Brien on Line D. It has been a privilege working with him.
Georgianna Jette
WHWRC member
Sandy Point Project Manager