More of the Same

To the Editor:

As I review the list of salary increases recently approved by the Legislative Council I found it interesting that the increases are essentially the last act of the old council before the newly elected Legislative Council members take over.

I suppose the first thing that needs to be stated is that the voting public wholeheartedly endorses this kind of government. For those of you who are complaining - get over it. The government we have is the government we deserve. It will be business as usual for the incoming council - make no mistake about that.

What the most recent election has shown us are two things: 1) the mayor now has absolute power to do as he pleases; 2) there is no downside to unpopular decisions. The mayor and his council are working with impunity. A low turnout election is an indication that most people have given up on any hope of changes occurring in Hamden. As a result, the taxpayer will be punished in a ways that many cannot begin to appreciate, but will soon be revealed as the mayor moves forward with his tax and spend agenda.

The salary increases are just the first installment to the unending tax and spend philosophy embraced by the old and supported by the new council members. For those of you who are able, get out now while you can salvage some property value.

For those of us who are hoping for change, this is my prediction of what must occur. First folks need to be fed up with the status quo.  Who among you believes the Chief Administrative Officers salary should be increased from $72,652 per year to $90,000 in one step? This is nothing more than back door politics endorsed by the ruling party that has absolutely no regard for the working man or women.

Unions can no longer trust an administration that insists they sacrifice while the fat cats get fatter. This will play out with a vengeance as contracts come due.

The administration has been emboldened by the recent election results believing they now have carte blanche to do as they please. The truth is they do. While the truth hurts it is not the final word on the matter.  The Republican Party, of which I have been a critic, has lost its way. Voters have had no alternative. Do they vote for tax and spend Republicans or tax and spend Democrats?

This has been a wakeup call for decisive action. The Republican Party will most definitely undergo a complete reform. A party platform will be developed to communicate clearly what Republicans mean to accomplish. New members will be recruited to build up a dying party. New energy will be injected to compare and contrast Republican ideals alongside the record of the Democrats.

With any new movement there will be internal controversies and conflicts. However, the end result will be a new Republican Party capable of taking on the Democrats as the town slowly sinks under the weight of toxic tax and spend policies.

Stay tuned.

Ron Gambardella