Blog For Connecticut

Today’s Register has a front page story on how New Haven has drastically cut energy expenditures even as energy costs rise all over the state. The savings result from a combination of common-sense measures, such as dimming lights during off-peak hours, and more high-tech solutions, such as using boilers that can use either oil or natural gas depending on which is cheaper. Total savings to the city last year were $5 million. Check out the whole Register article.

New Haven’s innovative and successful energy conservation program is just one example of how, under Mayor DeStefano’s leadership, the size and cost of government has shrunk, while the scope of services provided has actually expanded. It is also the kind of creative problem-solving this state needs its governor to be able to lead.

Other highlights of how the city’s energy conservation program and environmental policies have saved taxpayer money: by 2010, savings from energy-efficient lighting are expected to reach $40 million; cutting pollution has saved the city an approximated $4 million in health costs; shifting the city fleet to renewable energy and fuel cell cars saves taxpayer money on gas.

a letter from Mayor DeStefano published in the Courant on Saturday, December 10:

A Good Move For Hartford Schools

I'm writing in response to Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez appointing himself to the board of education and subsequently being elected chairman [editorial, Dec. 7, "Mr. Mayor, Or Is It Chairman?"]. Although The Courant argues that Mayor Perez is stretching himself too thin, I applaud Mayor Perez for his bold leadership.

Mayor Perez understands that a city cannot succeed without great public schools, the type that attract and retain children from all backgrounds and prepare them to compete in today's global economy. What's more, Mayor Perez is not afraid to take accountability for accomplishing this.

As mayor of New Haven, I not only appoint the board of education, I am also a voting member. This benefits our children in three substantial ways. First, the board is made up of professional educators and parents instead of politicians. Second, the mayor's office and the board of education are better able to work as a team. And perhaps most important, voters know exactly who to hold responsible for what happens in their public schools.

In New Haven, the results have been remarkable. We have the largest school construction project in the state, which is rebuilding crumbling schools into world-class centers for learning. The high school dropout rate, now the lowest for any major city in Connecticut, has been cut in half, and the percentage of third-graders reading on grade level has increased from 15 percent in 1998 to 85 percent last year.

By working as a team, increasing expectations and making smart investments, New Haven has been able to better serve its children - and the 1,400 who each day choose to come from neighboring towns to attend our magnet schools.

Hartford residents and employers are rightfully demanding the best for children in Hartford. Mayor Perez is doing the right thing to spend his time and political capital on such accomplishments. That's leadership.

John DeStefano Jr.
Mayor
New Haven

I wanted to share words of encouragement one of our supporters, a union firefighter, who wrote to Mayor DeStefano and closed with this message:

“I believe you can win this election and your success is from less corporate influenced press/sound bites and more old fashioned leg work and pressing the flesh in our cities where the working people and working poor are waiting to see and hear a real leader supporting them and their families.”

What more needs to be said?

Yesterday’s announcement that Electric Boat will lose 2,400 jobs is just the latest blow to a SE Connecticut economy already hurting. This morning, news coverage from all over the state points to what a blow the loss of these jobs will be to the entire region. Not only has the region steadily been losing jobs, but new jobs created fail to make up for those lost: the average salary of jobs lost in the region between 1990 and 2002 was $66,000; the average salary of jobs created during that same period: $33,000.

This is just one of a litany of examples of how Connecticut’s economy is stagnating. Connecticut needs an aggressive economic plan that will grow jobs all over the state and provide job security for our working families, and for the past decade the administration has failed to create such a plan.

This week, we made history in New Haven. Our Board of Alderman voted 21-0 to pass a resolution in support of New Haven becoming one of the first cities in Connecticut to publicly finance local campaigns. We have been fighting for the enabling state legislation to do so for the past three years, and last week's landmark campaign finance reform legislation finally makes it possible.

Congratulations to the tireless activists, advocates and members of the Board who made this possible. Hopefully, New Haven will soon have publicly financed local elections, encouraging greater participation and decreasing the presence of special interests in politics.

Last night, Mayor DeStefano addressed a group of Fairfield County supporters at a fundraiser for his campaign. The Mayor heard some of the same concerns last night that he’s been hearing all across the state: transportation woes, concerns about Connecticut’s loss of jobs. It was exciting to see folks in Fairfield County rallying behind these same issues and signing up to help the Mayor’s campaign . With former Congressman Gejdenson’s endorsement from Eastern CT last week, and a show of support in Fairfield County this week, we’re watching with excitement the building of a statewide network of supporters united behind Mayor DeStefano’s leadership.

It is Sunday morning and a light snow is falling. I worry about my heating bills and instead of turning up the heat, I put on a sweater. It reminds me of years ago when President Carter urged us conserve energy.

Years ago, the head of the executive branch of our country had resigned in disgrace. Jimmy Carter provided a sharp contrast to the politics of the day. He was a down to earth leader, hard working and smart but still personable, the sort of guy that you would want to sit down and have a good discussion about how we can get our country back on the right track.

Yesterday, there was a fundraiser for the 8th district Democrats. Mayor DeStefano was there, wearing a sweater and talking about issues that touched everyone’s lives. It made me think of Jimmy Carter and his defeat of Gerald Ford. Ford took over for a disgraced leader, but didn’t provide any great leadership or vision of his own.

So, politicians in blue blazers talking at us, we need a leader who will roll up his shirtsleeves and work together with us to help make our country better.

Are you ready to work with this type of leader? Please join us.

Today, John DeStefano showed once again why he is the best person to lead Connecticut and the best candidate to take on Governor Rell, as he and his opponent in the Democratic primary faced off for the first time in a joint television appearance.

It’s easy to talk about problems, but today John was the one Democrat who talked about solutions, discussing how we can really move our state forward. In keeping with his record as an innovator, problem-solver, and consensus builder, John talked about why our state is falling behind, and why he’s the right leader to move Connecticut forward.

Be sure to watch John on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. on WFSB Channel 3’s “Face the State,” hosted by Al Terzi and Dennis House.

Today, Mayor DeStefano joined leaders in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks historic bus ride. The New Haven Independent asks “If Parks were alive today and living in New Haven, would she ride a city bus?†Mayor DeStefano is quoted as saying that, "She probably wouldn't be able to afford to ride the bus".

Several months ago we had this post about the increases in bus fares in Connecticut as well as some of Mayor DeStefano’s innovative transportation ideas.

However, Rev. Emilio Hernandez said, “I think she would be driving the bus!†I think this captures one of the things that is important to me about this campaign. Yes, we can be talking about better transportation and cleaner air, but what we really need to be talking about is how we get people more involved in making their communities and their state better.

If we want just photo-ops, we can stick with Rell. If we want help build a better Connecticut, we need to join John DeStefano. We need to roll up our sleeves and work with people like Rev. Hernandez and Dottie Green to launch a new civil rights movement in Rosa Parks memory.

We were all thrilled to hear this morning that the legislature has passed one of the nation’s most comprehensive pieces of campaign finance reform legislation. Mayor DeStefano has been working on public financing for the past four years, alongside many activists and community leaders. Today we’re particularly proud of the unity displayed by the men and women who represent New Haven in Hartford, every one of whom voted to pass this landmark legislation (check out the roll call vote).

We hope that after years of the Rowland/Rell administration's refusing to engage the issue of campaign finance reform, Governor Rell will sign this legislation and finally move Connecticut forward. Now Connecticut can be, at least on this front, a national leader. We need to be able to say the same in the realms of education, job growth, and infrastructure development.