The Superbus's Thoughtpad

As anyone who knows my dealings in local politics can attest, education is my cause celebre, an ironic statement considering the fact I was a poor student in school myself. Today, education news and tidbits hit me across the bow throughout my day.

The first one was an interview I was listening to on WICC in my never-ending quest to try to avoid the endless meandering about the NFL that comes from every Monday in the autumn. It was Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, once again making his point for an appointed Board of Education in Bridgeport during an interview by Mike Bellamy, something he attempted this year until the State’s Supreme Court ruled it was illegal to do that. I didn’t hear the whole interview, but the gist of Finch’s point: democracy is hard! To summarize: the minority party system (read: you can’t just have a bunch of Democrats. Derby has the same setup, you can’t have, I believe, more than two Democrats than Republicans, meaning 5-3 is good but 6-3 is bad) is bad because it’s not-democratic, but that’s OK because democracy doesn’t work anyway as Bridgeport’s voters are too stupid to know quite what the Board of Ed does, only voting for them every four years. And hell, if Finch appoints focused (read: Democrat) people to get politics out of the way, the CHILDREN~~~ benefit! If not for those evil Republicans, who the voters spoke about! Why not just be like Chicago! If the people don’t like how the schools are doing, just vote the Mayor out!

Yes, it honestly came off that way. Continue reading ‘Educatin’ On The Mind’

Posted in Local Politics, National Politics

Richard Dawson, most famous for his work as the host of the game show Family Feud, has passed away at 79.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away this evening from complications due to esophageal cancer,” Gary Dawson said in a post on his Facebook page. “He was surrounded by his family. He was an amazing talent, a loving husband, a great dad, and a doting grandfather. He will be missed but always remembered.”

Dawson died Saturday night at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, his son said.

Dawson was the show’s host from its premiere in 1976 until 1985. He also hosted the show’s 1994-1995 season.

Dawson was known and often mocked for his propensity to kiss female contestants, one of which ended up being his second wife Gretchen. He was also known for sometimes losing his composure; the video embedded above is of Dawson’s famous “September” incident from ’81.

Along with Family Feud, Dawson was a favourite guest on the Match Game. He was also Cpl. Peter Newkirk on Hogan’s Heroes, and played evil game show host Damon Killian on the movie adaptation of The Running Man.

Dawson has always been one of my favourite entertainers. Naturally, it’s easy to mock the kissing bandit thing, but what struck me was his sincerity in dealing with people. He explained that his kissing was just him being personal with people, and it was easy to see because he treated his family the same way. Richard Dawson might have been hard to work with, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more natural entertainer, someone so quick with the wit and yet who could toe the line so well of what was proper, especially in the more conservative 70s. If you want to see Dawson at his absolute raunchiest, watch his old Match Game clips on youTube.

Posted in Entertainment
Tags: family feud, richard dawson

According to a report by Oklahoma’s News 9, a 24 year old woman who went to the hospital after being raped was refused a rape kit or an examination by the doctor in the emergency room (a female) who went to treat the victim.

The mother said she and her daughter did file a police report about the rape. She’s angry that she brought her 24-year-old daughter to the Integris Canadian Valley Hospital emergency room on Sunday, and that the doctor who came in and saw them refused to do any sort of exam or to provide them with any emergency contraceptives.

Not only that, she says the doctor was less than sympathetic when dealing with her daughter, even though she was told she was a victim of a rape.

According to the video, the doctor refused to treat the woman because of her beliefs, and said that upfront. She reportedly received better treatment at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, which is a 20 minute drive from Canadian Valley Hospital.

Am I the only one who thinks her getting the proper treatment at the hospital with “Baptist” right in the name is a bit ironic?

But more importantly, it’s obviously this woman’s word¹ against the doctor’s. But assuming every word she said is true, the doctor is most likely protected; Oklahoma has what’s called the Freedom of Conscience Act, and looking at the language of the bill (available in a .rtf format document), not giving emergency contraception would seem to be under the language of the bill, even if it’s meant to protect against abortion.

However, legal protections mean nothing in a case like this. Any doctor who would willingly not treat the victim of a violent crime because of her conscience does not need to be in health care, full stop. This is health care and science you’re dealing with. Someone’s precious religious beliefs should never determine the kind of treatment they give. This, to me, is as cruel as the parents of a sick child refusing treatment because of their own religious beliefs; either way, the affected person has had their rights taken from them by someone in power. It’s humourous how conservatives yammer on about reducing the government imprint in our lives, and yet they’re perfectly accepting of that same, smaller government taking away the rights of women when they see fit.

But hey, it’s OK, she was probably just wearing a short skirt, right? Bitch probably deserved it. I’m sure some conservatives – who believe in Jesus very strongly, apparently – would make that very point. The people behind the conscience laws are sick people who hide behind the cross.

The hippocratic oath that all doctors take says that “there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.” (CAUTION: sourced from Wikipedia) This woman violated her oath, and her and other doctors who would do the same should be removed from practising medicine.

Posted in National Politics
Tags: abortion debate, oklahoma, sexual assault issues

Ernie Newton II, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2006 for accepting bribes and misusing campaign funds, is close to being able to use public financing in his attempt to return to the seat he had to give up due to his malfeasance.

After Republican Gov. John G. Rowland left office amid a corruption scandal, Connecticut lawmakers in 2005 passed a voluntary public campaign financing program to remove special interest money from elections.

Now a former legislator sentenced to prison for taking a bribe and misusing campaign money wants to take advantage of public financing to fund his return to the General Assembly.

“We’re close. We’re very close,” Ernest Newton II said last week when asked about collecting the $15,000 in small $5 to $100 contributions necessary to qualify for public financing.

A 17-year veteran of the Legislature, Newton was sentenced in February 2006 to five years in federal prison and three years probation for taking a $5,000 bribe to push through a state grant, diverting $40,682 in campaign contributions to himself and others and failing to report the money on his income tax return.

Somehow, Newton received Democratic endorsement for the election, though there was enough support for incumbent Edwin Gomes and state representative Andres Ayala to force a primary on August 14.

What’s been most interesting for me is watching people tap-dance around the issue.

Arthur Paulson, a political science professor at Southern Connecticut State University, said any effort by the General Assembly to restrict felons from participating in public campaign financing would likely run up against the 14th Amendment providing equal protection of the laws.

“I can’t see a scenario … where you can allow a felon to run for public office but can’t allow them public campaign funds,” Paulson said.

(…)

Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause, a good government group that has backed campaign finance and ethics reform, said she understands how some individuals might question Newton’s eligibility.

“It’s difficult for me to imagine voters want to send him or anybody else (who) abused their office for their own purpose back,” she said.

But Quickmire added, “If you do your time you should get your rights restored. Not just some of your rights … And then the decision beyond that is up to the voters of that community.”

I don’t see what’s so hard about this. It’s one thing to say that felons who have had their voting rights restored, and who are allowed to run for public office, being able to use public money. But when that felony we’re talking about is misusing the same type of money you’re trying to get, no, that’s not going to fly. It’s easy: if you were convicted of either accepting bribes, or misusing campaign funds for your personal expenses, you can never, ever use public funds again.

Of course, people like Ernie Newton are exactly what’s wrong with politics in the major cities in Connecticut, particularly in Bridgeport (where he’s from) and New Haven. These cities – largely either union or poor – vote Democrat to the point where one has to wonder if some form of coercion is going on. 80% of Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport voted for Governor Dannel Malloy, and that is literally the only reason he squeaked out a victory against Tom Foley. The graft and corruption in Bridgeport in particular is so widespread and so ingrained that it’s become almost a sort of banana republic in its own right. It should be noted, of course, that Bridgeport’s schools are so poor that the state had to come in and take them over.

Ernie Newton getting the Democratic nod for his old senate seat that he literally sold away should be a cause of concern for everyone, and if he wins his primary, it should come as a shock.

Posted in Local Politics
Tags: bridgeport, democratic party, ernie newton, senate

Last night, in a contentious meeting, the Derby Board of Appropriations and Taxation settled on their budget for 2012-2013.

After an emotional public comment session that pitted Derby senior citizens against Derby school parents, the city’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation approved a 2012-2013 budget Wednesday totaling ($37,050,868).

The new tax rate is 35.5 mills — an increase of 2.4 mills, according to the tax board, if you adjust the current budget to reflect this year’s revaluation in Derby.

As usual, the education budget was the item that was most hotly debated.

Almost everyone in the audience at Wednesday’s meeting were there because they received a robocall from either the Derby school district or Mayor Anthony Staffieri. It was standing room only, with some 60 people in the Aldermanic Chambers in City Hall.

The debate over how much to fund Derby schools was really the only bone of contention, as it has been for at least the past three years.

The arguments took two different sides. On one side were the education advocates, of which I’m included, who advocated for the education budget to be left alone. On the other side were homeowners and conservatives who felt that the school budget was big enough, and that they couldn’t pay any more in taxes (once the home reevaluations were concluded, it was determined that the city would be going up 2.4 mills).

My own stance, which I stated again last night, was twofold. For one, I don’t believe that we can keep going up in costs every single year. Something must be done to address the constantly increasing non-discretionary costs that occur every single year. The vast majority of every budget that has union workers around it is based around payroll; I don’t have the Derby education numbers in front of me, but Chief Gerald Narowski told me last night that 94% of his budget is payroll, an absolutely astounding number. Unfortunately, things are not in Derby’s favour in this regard. From the information I received at this time last year from Dr. Steven Tracy, Derby’s soon to be former Superintendent, the way contract negotiations go is that every three years, they go to arbitration, where it’s done on a last, best offer; both sides produce their last, best offers, and an arbitrator picks one of those numbers. There’s no middle ground; it’s one or the other. So Derby would really be risking it if they went in and gave three straight zeroes; they’d likely get laughed out of the room. So a middle ground must be reached, preferably prior to that point. Due to this, there will always be rising costs associated with at least the education budget. This MUST change, but I fear that’s a pipe dream. The teacher’s unions are, to put it bluntly, too powerful, and if anyone knows that, it’s Governor Dannel Malloy – ostensibly their ally – who just about ruined his efforts at reforming this state’s education system, and have contributed mightily to the problems in big cities, especially Bridgeport.

But at the same time, while we figure out just what the hell to do about that problem, we can’t just take this money away from the kids. It’s not like we’re cutting frivolous programs; we’ve already cut staff members, librarians, an assistant superintendent (that dastardly “overhead” opponents keep talking about), and with about $100,000 less in the school budget than intended, other programs will likely be cut, or hurt; it’s likely that Derby will have to go pay-to-play for sports or music, something I’ll tackle in the future. My opponents on this issue like to talk about making sure the money gets to the kids, and it’s a valid complaint, as I noted a paragraph ago, but I’m unwilling to cut my nose to spite my face. The past few years, Derby has gutted their school system, which was already struggling, and now it’s so bad that we’re getting money from the state because we’re an underperforming school. Or, as I put it on Tuesday night, it’s “we stink” money, because we STINK. Our scores reflect our effort, and as a Derby resident, I am insulted by it, more so that the Mayor was considering using the money to write it into the budget as an excuse to give the schools a zero increase.

What bothers me the most are some of the people who have come out against this budget who are either not even bothering to be educated, willfully wrong, or flat-out selfish. Some of the worst I’ve heard:

* “I don’t care, we can’t raise taxes!” (So we’re willing to cut our noses to spite our faces? There’s nothing left)
* “We need to cut overhead! There’s too many administrators!” (That might be true. But name one. Find out what that person does.)
* “We need teachers who teach! Our teachers are failing!” (This is flat-out wrong, and ignorant. Our teachers are doing amazing * things, considering the crap they put up with. It’s why I have some cognitive dissonance about slamming the unions which, by the way, I did while literally standing next to the union president. She’s offered to present her side, and I will take her up on it)
* “If students use something, they should pay for it! Sports should be pay to play!” (Self-defeating. Derby is already a city of haves (largely, Bradley School) and have-nots (particularly the transient areas closer to downtown). Our children should at least be afforded the opportunities while they’re in school to achieve something. Take away sports, or similar after school programs, and you’re taking away any incentive they have to stay focused. If you think crime around Anson St. and similar areas is bad NOW…)
* “I put my kids through private school!” (Good for you. My points above still apply. Though I am at least educating myself further on voucher programs, something I’ve opposed on the grounds of religious freedom)

It also bothered me that people – on both sides – had virtually no respect for anyone. I understand people are upset, and frustrated. But speaking over people – including one person, who literally spoke above the treasurer and the chairman of the tax board, outside of the public portion – gets nothing done. I had very respectful conversations with people I disagree with last night, including Mayor Stafferi and former tax chair Judy Szewczyk; I respect these people and their opinions. We have to put our anger aside and get to solving these problems. Until then, we’re just going in circles.

Posted in Local Politics
Tags: budget, derby, education

A company is once again on the road to bringing in a methadone clinic into Ansonia, even if their landlord hasn’t heard until now:

John Hamilton, the CEO of Recovery Network of Programs, stood in the lobby of 158 Main St. last week and detailed his plans to bring a methadone clinic to the downtown office building.

Hamilton envisions treating about 285 Valley residents who are recovering from addictions to heroin and prescription pills at a clinic on the first floor of the building.

But while Hamilton spreads the word about the company’s planned expansion to Ansonia, the owner of the building said he hasn’t heard from Recovery Network of Programs since 2010.

Tonino Mavuli, the building’s landlord, said he has even leased out some of the space Hamilton planned to use.

Of course, anytime you mention the word “drug”, unless it’s attached to a CVS or a Walgreens, residents don’t want to hear it.

Although Hamilton has not signed a lease yet, or sent any formal application to the city, his plans for the building have been circulation among downtown vendors — some who say they are not happy to be calling a drug clinic a neighbor.

The city has been trying to attract new businesses. In the last few years, popular restaurants like Crave and The Original Antonio’s have opened to large crowds.

Lanza’s, another restaurant, is on East Main Street. A new coffee shop and a cigar shop opened on Main Street as well.

The drug clinic doesn’t fit in well, merchants said.

This is as classic a NIMBY case as there is. “Yeah, I guess they need help, sure… but not Main street! Oh heavens to Betsy, what will the neighbours think!?”. What I don’t get is this: is this clinic just going to have a bunch of crackheads wandering around, pissing themselves while scratching for a fix? The people in these clinics want to get better, and with drugs like this, I’m fairly sure you can’t come off them cold turkey. Yes, Griffin Hospital would be a more apt location for this type of building, but they have the right to go wherever they want.

Granted, the landowner has the right to reject the business from being a tenant. Bit it would be a shame if they did it because of the selfish complaints of a few scared people.

Posted in Local Politics

It seems that half of my posts on the old Superbusnet site were “I’m back!” posts. When you write as much as I do, for a site that pays you, you tend to put off your personal webspace. After all, would you rather write for thousands and get paid for it, or tens for the sake of your own personal gratification? However, lately, I’ve had a bit of a revelation: I want to expand myself into more personal writing. This comes from a few places.

* I’m burning out on the games industry. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t even enjoy it anymore. The industry has always kind of sucked, and maybe this is age and jadedness speaking, but I find myself audibly groaning at the news, and the things I read, a lot more. Writing about it is getting depressing.

* I have a lot more to say about things outside of the industry, especially relating to politics. Why waste time writing out two paragraph comments on the Valley Indy’s Facebook page when I can put my thoughts here?

* I just want to expand my horizons a bit. It’s time. I’ve been so focused on things that it’s starting to bore a hole into me.

I’ve typically left feature-length writing here when I had the old blog up. That’s not going to be the case this time. I see myself doing a little bit more like what Outside the Beltway does: maybe highlighting something someone else wrote, and adding something of my own to it. A lot of this blog will be focused on local (meaning, around the Lower Naugatuck Valley) politics and events, with some other focus on sports. None of my writing here will be based around the video game industry, or the games within; that, I can put on Gaming Bus and sell advertising against it.

If you’re interested in what I have to say on issues, or if you came here locally, welcome! If you just want to call me an asshole, well, there’s a nice little Disqus box below that lets you do just that, you won’t be the first or the last.

Posted in Site Related