New Haven Independent

posted by: State St resident on January 15, 2010  4:56pm

...and I’m sorry I didn’t come down to the door when these women were canvassing earlier this week to chat.

The “brochure diversity” of Randall and Rodriguez is very nice, but meaningless if I literally haven’t heard of them until I read this.  I see echoes of the Brison-Elicker showdown, if the challengers keep up the energy and engagement.

posted by: Jeffrey Kerekes on January 15, 2010  5:48pm

I think its important for all of us to get more involved with helping the City.  I think its great when people step up and do something.  I am certainly thankful for Kari’s involvement with getting our block watch off the ground and keeping the momentum going and think Karri is a tremendous asset to our neighborhood.  I personally have put work into getting people organized and certainly respect the work of others who also engage in that challenging work.

When it comes to electoral politics, I think it is critical to ensure we have independent aldermen and alderwomen.  It is hard to be independent in New Haven and those alders who choose such a path, need support from the people in their ward.  Michael Smart is such an alder.  I think it is important to think about the full context of the Ward Committee in light of the political realities in New Haven.  Its a Party Machine that is tightly controlled and targets aldermen who think for themselves.  We have seen this over and over.  The Ward co-chairs choose the endorsement of the Democratic Party.  We are a one party town and unfortunately, not everyone pays as much attention as they should to what is happening in town so the endorsement is a short hand for voters.  The Machine knows this, and therefore instead of doing the hard work of organizing voters, they only need one of the two co-chairs to be on their side to split the vote.  When co-chairs split their vote, the Democratic Party Chair picks the endorsed candidate.  Its a quick and efficient tool for the Party Machine.  I am not suggesting that either Lisa or Karri are shills for the party. I know Kari (I don’t know Lisa), I can say that Karri is certainly not in that camp and is a pragmatic and effective community leader. Both Karri and Lisa have said they are uncertain whom they would support for alderman/woman. Therefore, given how important it is to support independently minded Aldermen and Alderwoman, I am supporting Carmen and Chris for another term as co-chairs and ask everyone to please do the same.  We can be confident about Carmen and Chris’s support for Michael Smart and everyone who appreciates the hard work that it takes to be independent in New Haven politics can show their support by voting for Carmen and Chris.  I seriously urge you to vote in this manner.

posted by: ward 8 and i vote on January 15, 2010  7:38pm

“Randall, who lives on Lyon Street, is Caucasian. He’s known around town for his work in the community garden and as president of the board of directors of the New Haven Land Trust.”

Honestly, he’s also known as a good egg, but someone who seeks out high-profile positions but isn’t so much on top of the work required.  The kindest take on this I’ve heard (from someone in his ward who tried to contact him about the community garden) is, “He seems like someone who’s really busy all the time.” 

Let’s see some rotation.  I’d rather have some hungry to work folks with new ideas and a plan to reach out to the different corners of the district…than perpetuate the machine. 

“We’re diverse” repeated over and over again?  Not why I should vote for you.  That’s just pandering.

posted by: Brian V on January 15, 2010  11:59pm

Lisa Siedlarz has done great things as the head of the SoHu Block Watch. She has been a unifying force that has beautified and enlivened the neighborhood. She is a thoughtful energetic leader and will make a great addition to the party, add that to what Karri Brady has accomplished in the Wooster Square area -WOW! That is a dynamic duo!
The Democratic Party and the 8th Ward will benefit enormously when they are elected as Co-Chairs.

Good Luck Ladies!

posted by: Chris Randall on January 16, 2010  5:09am

To those people who are of the impression that Carmen and I feel as if diversity is the only asset we are campaigning on, your assumption is incorrect. Please keep in mind the context in which these quotes were taken. This story is about the declaration of Karri and Lisa’s candidacy at an event that was covered in person by Melissa Bailey. This wasn’t an article about why Carmen and I think that we should be re-elected.

Melissa did call me and I told her that we were running on a platform of diversity AND experience. Overall, I believe that this article was fair to both parties, but the experience half of our platform was somehow overlooked.

I have been a Ward 8 Co-Chair for six years. Carmen has been a Co-Chair with me for four of those last six years. We chair an extremely active and participatory Ward Committee.

Historically, the Democratic voter turnout in the 8th Ward is among the city’s highest. We are very organized and effective in getting out the vote.

Some of our other accomplishments are:

Successfully working with U.S. Rep Rosa     DeLauro, Alderman Smart, Martin Looney,the entire State Delegation, and the EJN to get sound barriers installed on I-91 bordering Farnam Courts.

Circulating petitions along Wooster Street resulting in a residential parking zone that stopped residents of the street from continual ticketing and/or towing.

Registering at least 300 (I lost count) new Democrats to the Ward’s roster.

Supporting the concept of a City Seed Wooster Square Farmer’s Market with a resolution when the idea needed (believe it or not)additional support and credibility. Members of the Ward Committee also helped distribute literature and post flyers throughout the neighborhood.

Worked with CCNE and other City residents to help get the Community Benefits Agreement Resolution passed at the Board of Alderman. 

Diversified the Ward Committee and empowered under-served and under-represented residents of the Ward. 

The fact is that we are a diverse Ward with residents from Wooster Square, Farnam Courts, East Rock and Fair Haven. The current Ward Committee has representation from all areas of the Ward.

Carmen and I, along with Michale Smart, are a working coalition that more accurately reflects the general makeup of the 8th Ward and it absolutely is a strength that we are proud of.

Additionally, we don’t feel that the Ward Committee should take on any other roles than the ones it currently has. The purpose of a Democratic Ward Committee is specifically for the Ward’s Democratic organization and execution.

We believe that broadening the scope of the Ward Committee and politicizing other community endeavors would end up alienating residents who aren’t inclined to affiliate with another or even any political party.

Personally, I have been a resident of Lyon Street for ten years. My civic participation started when a group of neighbors got together and we started a community garden on William Street. Because of that involvement I developed a connection to place and community. That compelled me to get even more involved. New Haven has given me so much, I feel a duty to give back. I love our City. 

The way I see it, I’ve never intentionally sought out any “high-profile” positions. It’s been a continual series of happy accidents that’s landed me where I am. I’d love to tell you about it sometime, but I think that I’ve written enough for one entry.

Lastly, if there was someone that I didn’t get back to about the William Street Community Garden, I’m sorry. Generally I put them on our waiting list, but I’m human and fallible just like everyone else and it’s possible that they fell through a crack. If I knew who it was, I could check my list. 

There is always more of a demand than supply for community garden beds. Currently I have a waiting list of 7 people, but won’t know about availability until we have our first meeting in the garden and I see who is coming back from last year.

If anyone would like further clarification as to why I feel that Carmen and I are the best candidates (or if you’re the person who feels like they weren’t able to reach me about the William St. Garden), please give me a call. I’d love to talk with you. My cell is 203-499-7194.

posted by: Margaret on January 16, 2010  11:41am

Anybody know when this ward is redrawn?  The supposed benefits of having eight million elected officials in this town is lost when your little tiny ward is spread all over the place like this one is.

posted by: Court Street Resident on January 16, 2010  11:42am

I would have to say that I know next to nothing about ward politics because I have not lived too long in the city, but independent alderman or not, Michael Smart has not been a visible presence or quick to respond to Ward 8 constituents.  The first time I laid eyes on him was at a Block Watch meeting organized by Karri Brady to try to reduce crime and achieve better lighting in our neighborhood.  Smart’s lack of advocacy or slow response to the problems in the Wooster Square neighborhood has been apparent.  Therefore, I will be attempting to change my voter affiliation to vote for Karri Brady on March 2nd in the hopes that she will not be endorsing Michael Smart.

posted by: Jeffrey Kerekes on January 16, 2010  2:41pm

Court Street Resident:

Please do not confuse visibility with accountability or action.  There are plenty of alderman who only focus on visibility (aka Grand Standing).  That is not the hallmark of a good alder.  You mention you haven’t been here that long, perhaps you need to ask around and speak with those who have before you are so quick to jump ship.

posted by: State St. on January 16, 2010  3:41pm

In response to those saying we need to keep the status quo to keep Michael Smart: and exactly why should we fight to keep him around, too?  As an upper State Streeter, Lamar and now, to some extent, Elicker have done a better job of representing my needs and also responding to my concerns (I’ve signed up Lemar’s emails and get most of my city info that way, from snow emergency warnings to civic engagement opportunities).  I can stop by Lemar’s walk-in “office” hours (at a local diner), even!  What has Michael Smart done to create any visibility or connection?  I’ve literally never seen or heard from him either.  I thought maybe he was more focused on the immediate Wooster area, but it sounds like this is not unique to those of us who got pasted into the district from the borderline-East Rock area.

If the new candidates for Ward co-chairs want to find me someone more active and energetic than Michael Smart….OR come to an independent conclusion that he’s the right guy for the job, all the better.

posted by: Harry David on January 16, 2010  7:55pm

In a City where the Democratic party is predominant it is important that there be some system of checks and balances in City governance. With an incumbent Mayor of 8 terms and a Board of Aldermen that serves too often to endorse whatever the Mayor requests, the only opportunity for citizen input in the democratic process is the existence of at least a few independent aldermen on the Board.

Up to now the Board has rarely voted down any proposal put forward by the Administration and annual budgets are routinely approved despite being barely balanced through the use of very creative accounting and despite a continued expansion of unfunded liabilities that will burden both current as well as future generations of taxpayers.

Reasonable proposals for reform are routinely ignored, budget transparency is often lacking and the citizenry are faced with significant tax increases to pay for existing contractual obligations. All the while our schools—the largest single budget line-item—shows dismal performance, sentencing thousands of our children to a life of poorly paid jobs, assisted housing, crime and other social ills.

In this environment the presence of a few independent souls on the Board is one of the few opportunities for alternative approaches to be offered and debated at the Board.

Michael Smart is the current Ward 8 Alderman. He has done and continues to do an effective job representing this Ward. He is also one of the few independent minds on the Board who can be counted on to seriously consider Administration proposals before approving—and sometimes voting down—them.

In this context it is troubling to see this challenge to the current Ward co-chairs who support Alderman Smart. It is telling and troubling that the two challengers “Siedlarz and Brady declined to say whom they’d support for alderman when primaries roll around again next year.  They said it’s too early to say.”

It is not unreasonable to deduce that this duo do not plan to support Alderman Smart and may be inclined to throw their support behind some as yet unknown and unannounced challenger to Alderman Smart.  Transparency requires that they openly state where they stand regarding the incumbent and indicate which Aldermanic candidate they intend to support.

Why is it necessary for voters to vote for Ward co-chairs without the information as to where their Aldermanic preferences lie?

It will be a shame if our effective incumbent is forced to face this challenge and possibly a contest for his Aldermanic seat in November. If this happens it is not unreasonable to assume that the Administration will attempt to dislodge Smart in favor of a more compliant Alderman.

This is not to impugn the motives or integrity of the two announced co-chair candidates in any way. They have done some good work in the Ward and should continue to do so. However, this move is likely to lead to a more pliant Board and less opportunity for voters to have their voices heard in major decisions.

It would be well if Seidlarz and Brady offer voters a better sense of their voting preferences before being asked to vote in this election.

REspectfully submitted, Harry

posted by: Will Clark on January 16, 2010  8:54pm

As a proud member of the most diverse and politically active wards in the City and as a former Co-Chair I would like to express by support for Karri and Lisa. 
As Jeff and Harry seem to think that Karri and Lisa are shills let me enlighten you they are not.  In fact, each has waged just battles with the “machine” to get much needed resources to our Ward while our Alderman remained mute.  They do not view Ward 8 or New Haven through a prism for the Mayor or against the Mayor.  They view it through the prism of positive activism for positive change for Ward 8.

At their table we all have a seat and we all have a voice.  That voice will say something more than no.  It will look forward, not backward.  It will increase meaningful dialogue and allow for the much needed shot in the arm that this Ward desperately needs.

posted by: Harry David on January 17, 2010  10:50pm

Jeff can speak for himself but I must say that I did not claim, nor do I believe that Karri and Lisa are anyone’s shills.

I noted in my comments that “This is not to impugn the motives or integrity of the two announced co-chair candidates in any way. They have done some good work in the Ward and should continue to do so.”

Could this be the same Will Clark—who identifies himself only as “... a proud member of the most diverse and politically active wards in the City and as a former Co-Chair”—who is Chief Operating Officer at the Board of Education’s (BOE)?

Perhaps my assessment of our schools “All the while our schools—the largest single budget line-item—shows dismal performance, sentencing thousands of our children to a life of poorly paid jobs, assisted housing, crime and other social ills” stirred Will to comment.  His position at the Board of Education may account for why he misrepresents my comments. Not a nice way to conduct a productive discussion.

Or just a bit oversensitive?

Harry

posted by: Ward 8 resident in East Rock neighborhood on January 18, 2010  2:58am

This seems a little trivial, I know, but I don’t know Chris Randall or Mike Smart or Carmen Rodriguez.  I’ve never heard of them or from them.  I;ve met Lisa a few times and been invited to numerous events she has organized.  Smart should reach to more of his ward.  Alderman Lamar does great work over here and I always go to him to get things done and everytime I have ever reached out to Alderman Smart, I have NEVER gotten a response.  Always a response and action from Lamar.  I like the folks who see this whole community as part of their Ward and that is why I’m voting for Lisa and Karri they will represent everyone instead of just their freinds.

posted by: Will Clark on January 18, 2010  9:56am

Harry:

I am not at all sensitive about your historical position on urban education and your desire to defund it.  I disagree with it and your various intentionally flawed budget calculations but I do not feel any sensitivity to it.  You have the right to be wrong.

You should remember before you throw all NHPS graduates under the bus that your Alder is one, and a fine one.  The success stories of graduates who have become Doctors, Lawyers, leaders of business and public servants is much longer than your tired rants and you do a disservice to each of them as well as their children, many of whom are NHPS students, with your attacks on education.

The struggles of urban education are wide and varied and are not solved through snide comments, personal attacks or worst of all demeaning the students (and assuming they have no hope other to be arrested or to live in public housing) and staff who work hard every day to make urban schools better places for the children to learn.

I liken the recent Nationally recognized strides on New Haven School Change to be a call to service and civic activism.  With the new Teacher Contract, the revamped Food Program, state of the art facilities and energy efficient technologies and data New Haven is positioned to be the model of Urban Education.  Over the last few years we have made incremental gains which outpace all other urban districts in the State.  Now we in position to make exponential gains and create a system of great schools which will give all students the tools and aspirations to go to college.

Lisa and Karri have accepted this type of call to service, particularly in the area of public safety and community involvement.  They are not content to just say “no” but rather expect more from government and more from themselves.  They have no litmus test of supporting one political figure or another, they just support the ward.  All of the ward.

posted by: Jeffrey Kerekes on January 18, 2010  10:11am

To the writer “Ward 8 resident in East Rock neighborhood”:

How can you simultaneously claim to not know any of these people, AND know that they are only representing friends? Seems either like a purposefully disingenuous statement or someone who hasn’t thought it all the way through.

I think Will Clark’s comments are consistent with his character.  You only need to scroll down on this very page to see what I said.  He conducts himself consistently in this manner.  I have seen it in the Blue Ribbon Panel meetings, City Hall BOA meetings etc…  Will certainly speaks for himself here. He is a smart guy, too bad his personal/political agenda gets in his way.

posted by: In the Know on January 18, 2010  10:47am

Come on Everyone. This has nothing to do with the Aldermanic seat, and all to do with the State Rep. Soon Cam Staples will be stepping down, and Lemar expects that he will be stepping up. One of these ladies was put up by Lemar to prepare for that eventuality. Why do you think Lemar’s name (of the 9th Ward) keeps getting mentioned even though this is a Ward 8 election? This is a test run for a Smart/Lemar showdown.

posted by: Bruce on January 18, 2010  11:50am

Margaret, the wards are redrawn every 10 years and I believe the next session is 2012 or 2013.  They grow and shrink based on the census so that they all contain approximately the same number or residents.  The boundaries are configured by insiders in an egregious effort to consolidate political alliances, fragment troublesome neighborhoods, and isolate potential challengers.  You are welcome to participate in the process, but unless you are a Democrat with some pull you are wasting everyone’s time. I do encourage anyone to sit in on the process, as it is a hilarious display.

posted by: Harry David on January 18, 2010  12:16pm

Will Clark’s comments are mostly off topic. I don’t believe this news item and discussion is the proper forum for a debate about the New Haven school district’s performance—the record stands with the New Haven school district ranking in the bottom 10% of all Connecticut districts on all 4th and 8th grade metrics in reading, writing, math and science.

I will restrain myself and try to avoid an unproductive polemic with Will Clark on this or any other topic. Perhaps Will and civilized discourse are oxymorons. Will: Please look up oxymoron in your Funk and Wagnall’s before responding—I can see it coming “Harry just called me some kind of a moron”  For the record, that is not the case. I think Will is rather intelligent.

Harry David

posted by: State St. on January 18, 2010  3:14pm

“Why do you think Lemar’s name (of the 9th Ward) keeps getting mentioned even though this is a Ward 8 election? This is a test run for a Smart/Lemar showdown. “

Hey there, “In the Know”.  That’s an interesting theory—but I can tell you that I, at least, am not a shill for Lamar’s camp in some conspiracy to get these women elected to further his statehouse dreams.  Lamar gets mentioned because—whatever his motives—he’s set the bar higher than Michael Smart has even bothered to try reaching, in terms of visibility and responsiveness to (his own) constituents in the 8th Ward. 

Lamar works hard to be accessible, and he’s well-regarded for a reason, and if he were to run for Staples’ seat, I’d elect him. 

Michael Smart should view this challenge to his ward co-chairs as a wake up call.

posted by: In the Know on January 18, 2010  8:29pm

State St:

Never suggested that anyone was a shill for Lemar. Nor am I resident of the 8th or 9th wards, so I could not tell you who might be the most accessible or not. Nor am I a Smart or Lemar supporter, don’t like either one of them, for various reasons. Smart doesn’t show any leadership on the BOA, Lemar only leads on issues that don’t mean anything and that are never in opposition to the administration (except on the pay raises, where he made a lot of noise but again did nothing). I guess for them it’s good that I do not live in the ward. That being said, I’ll bet you a dime to your nickel that that my “theory” is more than a guess. This is a run through for the state rep contest.

posted by: Harvey Koizim on January 18, 2010  9:56pm

This is not a primary to nominate an alderman in the 8th or 9th ward nor does it concern a contest for Representative to the Connecticut General Assembly.  It is a primary to select co-chairs for the Democratic Party in New Haven’s 8th Ward.

The debate should be about the candidates on the ballot in the primary for co-chairs.  We should be debating their respective qualifications, their records and their abilities (or lack thereof) to serve the best interests of the ward.  There will be plenty of time to discuss the qualifications of the Alderman when he is up for re-election (if he runs) in the next odd numbered year.

I support Karri and Lisa because of their demonstrated ability and service to the community.  If they are elected, I firmly believe they will do a far better job than the incumbents.

posted by: In the Know on January 19, 2010  1:13am

Harvey K:

I wish I could live in that world you occupy, where there is no connection between events. The democratic ward chairs have two jobs, to select the nominee for office, and then work to get the voters out for that nominee. That’s it. Anything else is unrelated to the job description. The fight between Smart and Lemar is to get as many of these ward chairs lined up before June of this year, Plain and Simple. All this nonsense about qualifications, community gardens, yada yada yada is all smoke. That is not their jobs, and both Smart and Lemar know it, perhaps you should take the glasses off and see the real world.

posted by: Harvey Koizim on January 19, 2010  12:28pm

In the Know:
You’re reallyi NOT “in the know!”

For your information, General Assembly Representative endorsement by the Town & City Committee means little.  If there is a meaningful contest, there will be a primary. 

We who do live in the Eighth Ward have legitimate Eighth Ward issues.  You don’t live here. Go away and save those irrelevant arguments for the State Rep primary in September!

posted by: In the Know on January 19, 2010  1:40pm

Harvey K.,

My are we mean! You are correct though, I do not live in your ward, nor does Lemar, so why did he encourage one of these ladies to run? You should be telling him to go away. And you are correct on another point, this Town Committee stuff is irrelevant. So, this must come down to personalities. I got it. Now I am going away.

posted by: Harvey Koizim on January 19, 2010  4:18pm

Don’t go away mad, In the Know.  Just go away.  You sound interesting and certainly more sophisticated than the average bear.

posted by: In the Know on January 19, 2010  10:04pm

Harvey, I’m off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz. You should join me.

posted by: streever on January 19, 2010  10:17pm

In the Know:

You clearly are not, “In the know”, because you’d know that it’s not Lemar that is ineffective, but the system of THIRTY ALDERMEN—think about it. How could any one aldermen get a strong enough majority in a system that is so disparate, with such a wide range of candidates in terms of abilities & competency?

Lemar fights the good fight—he stood up against the raises, which was just & righteous, and no one supported him. It demonstrated that the Aldermen do not have power, and the power is controlled exclusively by the mayor’s office.

Look, it’s not that I dislike the mayor or his service—I think he’s mostly done a good job—but I DO dislike the iron-fist approach, which is precisely what it is when you sneak raises in after promising you won’t give any and get concessions from labor unions.

Lemar called it out, rightfully, and it did nothing because the board has little practical power. That is not Lemar’s problem, but a problem the entire city faces, and until those of you “in the know” and those of you who anonymously rant & rave mindlessly here actually get involved and say and do things to change it, it WILL NOT CHANGE.

That is why I’m disappointed in Eli resigning as a ward chair, and in everyone else who has stepped down because of “the machine.”

Get elected and then make a difference. Or, at the very least, speak out & attach your name to it & don’t get paranoid/attack individuals unjustly. That is the only way to change the system.

posted by: Harvey Koizim on January 20, 2010  10:46am

In the Know: But you’re not in Kansas anymore!

posted by: Justretired on January 20, 2010  2:46pm

Please tell me that no one believes that this is all about ward chairs.  Give me a break.  This is definitely about the Mayor and his minions trying to get Mike Smart out because he didn’t ever drink the Kool Aid.  The current ward chairs and Mike have done an outstanding job for several years now.  They are unbelieveable responsive to residents.  I know because I’ve had the opportunity to contact all of them at one time or another.  Mike has made sure that every single request from residents is addressed and resolved, even though he’s had to take grief from city hall.  Now that that the Mayor got his way with the president of the aldermens’ seat, he is trying to finish things up by taking out the resistant aldermen.  Where did these two elitist-type ladies come from anyway?  Answer:  JD dug them up to get rid of Mike Smart.  Good luck JD.  We like our ward chairs, and we like our alderman.  People in ward 8 MUST take a stand and continue to support the current leaders of our ward.  Don’t be fooled by these two ladies.  If asked what they want to do if they are elected, they would probably say that they want more art, or gourmet cooking in the ward.  Pleeeeeease.  Apparently they haven’t a clue about what is really going on in our neighborhoods in ward 8. ...
To all of ward 8….don’t be manipulated.  Keep our current leaders in.

posted by: State St. Resident on January 20, 2010  5:40pm

“They are unbelieveable responsive to residents.  I know because I’ve had the opportunity to contact all of them at one time or another.”

This has been your experience; others have had the opposite experience. If nothing else, maybe this will be a warning sign for the incumbent ward co-chairs (and alderman) that their positions are not for-life entitlements…it might be time to hit the streets again and step up their game, particularly outside their comfort/crony zone.  For someone who dislikes DeStefano so much, I’d think you’d welcome (on principle) the chance for a real horse race with this election, since DeStefano is able to rest on his laurels year after year because he never has a serious challenger. 

“Don’t be fooled by these two ladies.  If asked what they want to do if they are elected, they would probably say that they want more art, or gourmet cooking in the ward.  Pleeeeeease.”

Racist.

posted by: abg on January 20, 2010  7:05pm

I disagree with the notion that the “main purpose” of the ward committees is “to endorse candidates for alderman.” The main purpose of the ward committee is to maximize Democratic registration and turnout in the ward and thereby to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. The committee’s function in endorsing candidates is not trivial but in most election cycles it is a perfunctory task. If Suzie Voigt doesn’t understand this, that is a serious problem. At least Chris Randall addressed in his comments what he and Carmen Rodriguez have tried to do in terms of increasing voter turnout in the ward (whether or not they have been successful at this is another matter) - but what is Karri and Lisa’s plan? “Keep the energy going” is not a plan for helping to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

posted by: In the Know on January 21, 2010  11:25am

Streever:

you need to read my comments again. I never said that Lemar or the Board of Alds were ineffective, what I clearly said was the Town Committee is basically irrelevant. In respect to the staff raises, Lemar and the Board could have done more. If Goldson was on the Board then, I bet you he would have made a motion to amended the budget to eliminate the raises, or reduced the size of the departments of the folks getting raises to make up the difference. Instead, they stood up, made a little noise, and then went away, just as the administration knew they would.

State St Resident: Stop with the race card playing. Just Retired, when speaking about art and cooking, was referring to class, not race, I think you know that. Since Obama got elected, I have seen an unbelievable amount of race card playing by whites, it is getting real ugly out here.

posted by: In the Know on January 21, 2010  11:27am

And by the way, I hate to gloat, but I told you so (State Rep race).

Who’s in Kansas now, Harvey?

posted by: Sometimes changes is good on January 21, 2010  11:42am

Mike Smart has a very weak record—to the extent that he has a legislative record at all except for always voting against the Mayor.  He is a nice man, but has done virtually nothing on the Board of Aldermen.  A lack of leadership like this harms a neighborhood.  So, it is a good thing for Wooster Square and East Rock that these two citizens are stepping up to the plate.  I wish them luck.

posted by: Harvey Koizim on January 21, 2010  3:00pm

What’s wrong with Kansas?