http://blog.stamfordadvocate.com/stamford411/2010/03/30/parents-emails-to-pavia-receive-form-response/#comment-11392
I may not be an expert in Stamford government, I do understand the mayors role as provided by the city charter and I never doubted the validity of the mayors message or his role in the process. What I questioned is the judgment to send a canned response to multiple emails asking for his assistance and guidance in convincing the board of finance to pass the budgets, with no additional cuts as they have been proposed by the mayor.
If the mayor was unhappy with the boe budget, as a non voting member of that board, he could come to the meetings and express his opinion on the subject directly to the board and participate in the budgeting process. Instead he has violated the charter (though I am no expert) by attempting to send a delegate and has sent fred flynn to discuss the budget expectations again instead of participating in the process directly.
Candidate Pavia ran on an education platform and promised to make the city boards more collaborative. Right now we seem more divided than before. I would like to see (he was not at the public hearing on march 22, though by charter (again not being the expert) he did not need to be there to hear 75 people speak in favor of the current proposed budget and not hear one sole dissenting opinion) and hear what the mayor has to say about this budget. I don't want to see a canned response hiding behind misinformation and clarifications about the charter, which you correctly point out that I am no expert.
Sincerely,
Jeff Herz
Stamford resident, parent, tax payer and voter
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
2nd Letter to Stamford 18th District Representatives
Mike/Jim,
Thank you very much for the fast and prompt response. Your thoughtful and collaborative response is greatly appreciated. It makes me feel very comfortable knowing that you are both, not only checking your email on a weekend, but also working together to actively and jointly address the concerns of your constituents. After having observing the Board of Education process for the past few years, I want to make sure I thank you for dedicating yourselves to representing us in the Board of Representatives. I know that you are both volunteers who are spending a great deal of time and are obviously equally invested in our community. I also understand that you must receive a fair number of letters, emails and calls from people like me all across the district wishing to share their concerns and wanting you to represent their individual needs in our city government.
I could not agree more with you, that these are tough times. I spent a great deal of last summer being unemployed, so I understand first hand what it is like trying to make ends meet on a fixed, limited or non-existent income. It is completely understandable that with limited budget options, that some organization or services have to feel the axe, and that not every single resident is going to approve of the difficult if not impossible task at hand. As an aside you mention the fact that seniors who have lived here for their entire lives have contacted both of you regarding their tax rates, and others have contacted you about saving our libraries. At the Public Hearing on Monday March 22, every single senior resident that came to the podium to speak, actually spoke in favor of the current budgets as they are currently proposed in order to keep the libraries open. Not one person, young, old or middle aged came up and spoke out that the budgets should be further reduced in order to save the city more money. After all isn't the point of the Public hearing to allow our elected officials an opportunity to listen to the people speak about the issue at hand. I know in the past that the seniors have flooded to these hearings and overwhelmed the parents, but that was not the case this year.
With all that you have said in mind, let me ask you a few questions that I think are very relevant to the discussion. What happens if the Board of Finance makes further cuts to the Board of Education budget and the Mayors city proposed budget? Lets assume it gets down to their stated goal of 0-1% total tax increase. Then it is the responsibility of the superintendent and the Board of Education to make further cuts to already overburdened school system It is the mayors responsibility along with the Board of Representatives to make further cuts to the services the city currently provides to their citizens. What happens next year, when the same Board of Finance members are still in the same position of being able to hold the entire city hostage to their misguided mandate? We now have 2 consecutive years of reduced services across the board. We now have at least 1, maybe 2 or 3 schools closed, shuttered unused and still costing the city money to maintain, we have lost between 100-200 teachers, not older more expensive teachers, but the younger more energetic less expensive teachers who should be the live blood of the schools for the next generation, we have further reduced administrators in the central office, whose goals it is to drive new standards, and improve district-wide performance, leaving no one there except to maintain compliance with state and federal mandates. We have scaled back or closed Weed and Bennett Libraries, and reduced hours at the other branches, making access to books, the internet, and shelter such as last weeks black out inaccessible to everyone, especially those not as fortunate as you and I. Police and fire services would also be cut to the bone, meaning an increase in crime, and a significantly increased chance of a major fire or other incident that could jeopardize multiple lives of any of our fellow citizens. Please tell me which part of this scenario is not realistic? Tell me what part of this scenario is not worth fighting for the current level of budgets with no further cuts? How is this going to impact the Stamford housing market and increase the tax base, bringing new residents to town? How are we going to compete for our fair share of ECS dollars and other state funds available from Hartford?
Gentleman, I don't want you to think of me as a naysayer, I am very enthusiastic and proud to have set down roots here. I am always blown away by the amount of my friends that grew up here and have chosen to live here and raise their families here. It is a true attribute of Stamford that its children return in force and help keep the culture alive. But I am worried that my children, and your children will not make the same choices. This is indeed a very bleak picture that has been painted and if it comes to fruition it will take us not years, but decades to recover. Is this is the city we want to live in? To raise our children in? To attract new residents and new families? Tell me how I can help prevent these scenarios from becoming reality.
Sincerely,
Jeff Herz
Thank you very much for the fast and prompt response. Your thoughtful and collaborative response is greatly appreciated. It makes me feel very comfortable knowing that you are both, not only checking your email on a weekend, but also working together to actively and jointly address the concerns of your constituents. After having observing the Board of Education process for the past few years, I want to make sure I thank you for dedicating yourselves to representing us in the Board of Representatives. I know that you are both volunteers who are spending a great deal of time and are obviously equally invested in our community. I also understand that you must receive a fair number of letters, emails and calls from people like me all across the district wishing to share their concerns and wanting you to represent their individual needs in our city government.
I could not agree more with you, that these are tough times. I spent a great deal of last summer being unemployed, so I understand first hand what it is like trying to make ends meet on a fixed, limited or non-existent income. It is completely understandable that with limited budget options, that some organization or services have to feel the axe, and that not every single resident is going to approve of the difficult if not impossible task at hand. As an aside you mention the fact that seniors who have lived here for their entire lives have contacted both of you regarding their tax rates, and others have contacted you about saving our libraries. At the Public Hearing on Monday March 22, every single senior resident that came to the podium to speak, actually spoke in favor of the current budgets as they are currently proposed in order to keep the libraries open. Not one person, young, old or middle aged came up and spoke out that the budgets should be further reduced in order to save the city more money. After all isn't the point of the Public hearing to allow our elected officials an opportunity to listen to the people speak about the issue at hand. I know in the past that the seniors have flooded to these hearings and overwhelmed the parents, but that was not the case this year.
With all that you have said in mind, let me ask you a few questions that I think are very relevant to the discussion. What happens if the Board of Finance makes further cuts to the Board of Education budget and the Mayors city proposed budget? Lets assume it gets down to their stated goal of 0-1% total tax increase. Then it is the responsibility of the superintendent and the Board of Education to make further cuts to already overburdened school system It is the mayors responsibility along with the Board of Representatives to make further cuts to the services the city currently provides to their citizens. What happens next year, when the same Board of Finance members are still in the same position of being able to hold the entire city hostage to their misguided mandate? We now have 2 consecutive years of reduced services across the board. We now have at least 1, maybe 2 or 3 schools closed, shuttered unused and still costing the city money to maintain, we have lost between 100-200 teachers, not older more expensive teachers, but the younger more energetic less expensive teachers who should be the live blood of the schools for the next generation, we have further reduced administrators in the central office, whose goals it is to drive new standards, and improve district-wide performance, leaving no one there except to maintain compliance with state and federal mandates. We have scaled back or closed Weed and Bennett Libraries, and reduced hours at the other branches, making access to books, the internet, and shelter such as last weeks black out inaccessible to everyone, especially those not as fortunate as you and I. Police and fire services would also be cut to the bone, meaning an increase in crime, and a significantly increased chance of a major fire or other incident that could jeopardize multiple lives of any of our fellow citizens. Please tell me which part of this scenario is not realistic? Tell me what part of this scenario is not worth fighting for the current level of budgets with no further cuts? How is this going to impact the Stamford housing market and increase the tax base, bringing new residents to town? How are we going to compete for our fair share of ECS dollars and other state funds available from Hartford?
Gentleman, I don't want you to think of me as a naysayer, I am very enthusiastic and proud to have set down roots here. I am always blown away by the amount of my friends that grew up here and have chosen to live here and raise their families here. It is a true attribute of Stamford that its children return in force and help keep the culture alive. But I am worried that my children, and your children will not make the same choices. This is indeed a very bleak picture that has been painted and if it comes to fruition it will take us not years, but decades to recover. Is this is the city we want to live in? To raise our children in? To attract new residents and new families? Tell me how I can help prevent these scenarios from becoming reality.
Sincerely,
Jeff Herz
ATTENTION ALL STAMFORD CT PARENTS:
ATTENTION ALL STAMFORD(CT) PARENTS:
WE NEED YOU TO CALL THE BOARD OF FINANCE AND THE MAYOR THIS WEEK.
Because they are not willing to raise taxes 2.65%, our schools stand to lose over 5 million dollars
This will mean:
Closing Turn of River Middle School, Davenport or Toquam
PLUS:
Moving to half day kindergarten and/or;
Losing more than 40 teachers and/or;
Losing all extracurricular activities and /or;
Losing elementary school music and /or
Reducing AP classes.
Closing one school will mean all other schools will get larger. EVERYONE will be affected.
Closing one school will not even save enough money to get us halfway to $5 million.
WE NEED YOU TO TELL THE BOF AND THE MAYOR THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY 2.65% MORE IN TAXES
The Mayor has been absent during this entire struggle. He refuses to come to BOE meetings, did not come to the public hearing and has not explained his reasons for cutting the boe budget.
We need you to tell them that you will hold each of them responsible for lasting damage to our school system and city if they cut the board of education budget.
Here are the numbers to call (at the very least please email):
Mayor Pavia: 203-977-4150; mpavia@ci.stamford.ct.us
Gerald Bosak: 203 223-2567; gbosak@aol.com
Kathleen Murphy: 203-324-1423, kathleen.murphy@greenwichct.org
Joseph Tarzia: 203-325-8081; jtarzia@optonline.net
Robert Kolenberg: 203-329-2962; bkolenberg@optonline.net
Tim Abbazia: 203-323-9764; tabbazia@optonline.net
Mary Lou Rinaldi 203-322-9655;
PLEASE MAKE THESE CALLS ASAP- THE BOF WILL VOTE APRIL 6
Tell your friends and family as well; this is not simply a school issue, this will ultimately affect all of Stamford residents.
Thank you,
WE NEED YOU TO CALL THE BOARD OF FINANCE AND THE MAYOR THIS WEEK.
Because they are not willing to raise taxes 2.65%, our schools stand to lose over 5 million dollars
This will mean:
Closing Turn of River Middle School, Davenport or Toquam
PLUS:
Moving to half day kindergarten and/or;
Losing more than 40 teachers and/or;
Losing all extracurricular activities and /or;
Losing elementary school music and /or
Reducing AP classes.
Closing one school will mean all other schools will get larger. EVERYONE will be affected.
Closing one school will not even save enough money to get us halfway to $5 million.
WE NEED YOU TO TELL THE BOF AND THE MAYOR THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY 2.65% MORE IN TAXES
The Mayor has been absent during this entire struggle. He refuses to come to BOE meetings, did not come to the public hearing and has not explained his reasons for cutting the boe budget.
We need you to tell them that you will hold each of them responsible for lasting damage to our school system and city if they cut the board of education budget.
Here are the numbers to call (at the very least please email):
Mayor Pavia: 203-977-4150; mpavia@ci.stamford.ct.us
Gerald Bosak: 203 223-2567; gbosak@aol.com
Kathleen Murphy: 203-324-1423, kathleen.murphy@greenwichct.org
Joseph Tarzia: 203-325-8081; jtarzia@optonline.net
Robert Kolenberg: 203-329-2962; bkolenberg@optonline.net
Tim Abbazia: 203-323-9764; tabbazia@optonline.net
Mary Lou Rinaldi 203-322-9655;
PLEASE MAKE THESE CALLS ASAP- THE BOF WILL VOTE APRIL 6
Tell your friends and family as well; this is not simply a school issue, this will ultimately affect all of Stamford residents.
Thank you,
Sunday, March 28, 2010
My Speech at the Joint BoF/BoR Budget Public Hearing - March 22, 2010
My name is Jeff Herz, I am a Stamford resident, a tax payer and a voter. I moved to Stamford in 1996. I am the proud parent of three children ages 8, 5 and 2. My wife Nancy, represents the 3rd generation of her family in Stamford, which makes my children 4th generation Stamford.
I moved here from Binghamton NY, where I was born and raised. It was a great community; a place where you can leave your doors unlocked, where kids can play outside with no worries even after dark, a place I would return to if it existed anywhere besides in my memory. In the 1980’s many of the larger companies left my town taking all the skilled jobs with them. There was no reason to stay in a place where there are no jobs, no chance of a future equal to my parents, and no reason for a young person to remain in the community where 50-70% of my high school graduating class had already decided moved away within 5 years.
Now let’s contrast that with Stamford, my hometown now. One of the things that has impressed me about Stamford, is the number of friends I have met, like my wife, who were raised here and have chosen to return to Stamford. This is a fact that continues to blow me away, because of where I came from. There is something positive about the culture, about the shared history that has brought so many of my wife’s peers back to the community. When we were looking to buy a house, we never considered any other town except Stamford. There is something here that has brought back an entire generation of people who have chosen to make this town their home and have chosen to raise their families here. And that fact continually amazes me since the idea of returning home is as completely foreign to me as I can imagine.
Now, let’s take a moment to consider the long term effect of any additional budget cuts beyond what has already been proposed. If additional cuts are made, teachers will lose their jobs, not expensive older teachers, but younger more energetic teachers. Schools could close, my school, your school, who knows which school the roulette wheel will ultimately stop on but someone’s schools will close. Class sizes will grow, making the chances of a student being pushed beyond their potential diminish exponentially. And this is not just about the schools, do we want to be known as the community that does not care about education, does not care about children, does not care about our cities future residents? How are we going to attract new residents, new tax payers, if we can’t support our schools, can’t keep libraries open, can’t protect our citizens? It just begs the question, if this trend of cutting core services continues, will my children want to move back to Stamford in 20 years, or will Stamford come to resemble Binghamton where the overwhelming majority of their youth have moved away? Will your children want to move back here? Would you want them to?
I am here to support the Mayor’s budget as it has been proposed to the Board of Finance and to the Board of Representatives, please vote to support the budget with no additional cuts.
I moved here from Binghamton NY, where I was born and raised. It was a great community; a place where you can leave your doors unlocked, where kids can play outside with no worries even after dark, a place I would return to if it existed anywhere besides in my memory. In the 1980’s many of the larger companies left my town taking all the skilled jobs with them. There was no reason to stay in a place where there are no jobs, no chance of a future equal to my parents, and no reason for a young person to remain in the community where 50-70% of my high school graduating class had already decided moved away within 5 years.
Now let’s contrast that with Stamford, my hometown now. One of the things that has impressed me about Stamford, is the number of friends I have met, like my wife, who were raised here and have chosen to return to Stamford. This is a fact that continues to blow me away, because of where I came from. There is something positive about the culture, about the shared history that has brought so many of my wife’s peers back to the community. When we were looking to buy a house, we never considered any other town except Stamford. There is something here that has brought back an entire generation of people who have chosen to make this town their home and have chosen to raise their families here. And that fact continually amazes me since the idea of returning home is as completely foreign to me as I can imagine.
Now, let’s take a moment to consider the long term effect of any additional budget cuts beyond what has already been proposed. If additional cuts are made, teachers will lose their jobs, not expensive older teachers, but younger more energetic teachers. Schools could close, my school, your school, who knows which school the roulette wheel will ultimately stop on but someone’s schools will close. Class sizes will grow, making the chances of a student being pushed beyond their potential diminish exponentially. And this is not just about the schools, do we want to be known as the community that does not care about education, does not care about children, does not care about our cities future residents? How are we going to attract new residents, new tax payers, if we can’t support our schools, can’t keep libraries open, can’t protect our citizens? It just begs the question, if this trend of cutting core services continues, will my children want to move back to Stamford in 20 years, or will Stamford come to resemble Binghamton where the overwhelming majority of their youth have moved away? Will your children want to move back here? Would you want them to?
I am here to support the Mayor’s budget as it has been proposed to the Board of Finance and to the Board of Representatives, please vote to support the budget with no additional cuts.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Letter to Stamford 18th District Representatives
Dear Representative Raduazzo and Representative Caterbone
I am writing to you today to express my deep concern about the current state of Stamford commitments to our children, their education and the future of our city. My wife's family has lived in Stamford for 3 generations. We are the proud parents of three children ages 8, 5 and 2, with the older two attending Toquam Magnet Elementary School. We stood together with my fellow Toquam parents 2 years ago to defend our school during the redistricting process and became very ingrained in the business of the board of education, which has provided me with a great perspective of the real challenges that this community faces. In that same process, I met multiple other parents from across the city, who are all interested in achieving exactly the same thing, sending their kids to the best schools system possible We are also members of various other community organizations and our kids participate in Stamford Youth sports. If you add this up, we are very invested in the city what is happening in the city now and how the decisions that are made today are going to impact us immediately and how they may effect our children in the coming years.
As one of the 600 people who attended the joint Board of Finance / Board of Representatives Finance Committee this past Monday at Turn of River Middle School, and one of the 75 people who spoke in favor of the current budgets as presented, I believe the community spoke loud and clear that we are all willing to accept a tax increase in order to preserve the current level of services that we as a community have come to expect from our schools, libraries, fire and police. In spite of the fact that current levels are barely sufficient to achieve or maintain any standard of excellent.
What is increasingly concerning is the apparent recklessness which certain members of the Board of Finance are approaching this budgeting process. There seems to be no reality check amongst the Board of Finance members who have set an agenda without a real understanding of what the impact of their proposals will really wreck upon our fine community.
I would like to request that as our elected representatives, that you stand up and fight for what is best for our district and our city. Providing the necessary funding for our schools is an absolute necessity, and any further budget cuts would be absolutely devastating to our school district and to our city. It is not like any cuts that are made this budget season are just going to miraculously return in full force next year. The impact of further cuts could be a reduction in teachers, meaning larger class sizes and less individual attention for every student. Today's Advocate talked about the possibility of closing a school, but even this draconian measure unfortunately would not fill the entire budget cuts that the Board of Finance is requesting. Closing a school or letting teachers go will also not help the value of our homes, nor will it help attract new families (and new taxpayers) to move to Stamford, since we will be known as the town that does not care about education or children.
Finally, I would like to ask you where the mayor has been during this whole process? Mayor Pavia ran on a platform of supporting education, however, he has yet to attend a Board of Education meeting, and was noticeably absent from the public hearing on Monday. Although the city charter does not require the mayor to attend these public hearing, as it is the budget he presented, he should take responsibility and accountability to the people and be willing to listen to a packed auditorium of voters speaking about his proposed budget.
I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you in more detail about this issue as I firmly believe that the decisions being forced upon the community by a very minority members of the Board of Finance will have a long term and lasting negative impact that will take years or decades for us to fully recover. As someone pointed out Monday night at the public hearing that the current economic downturn is temporary and already beginning to show signs of turning around, let us not overreact to a temporary situation.
Thank you for your time
Jeff Herz
47 Cascade Court
Stamford, CT 06903
I am writing to you today to express my deep concern about the current state of Stamford commitments to our children, their education and the future of our city. My wife's family has lived in Stamford for 3 generations. We are the proud parents of three children ages 8, 5 and 2, with the older two attending Toquam Magnet Elementary School. We stood together with my fellow Toquam parents 2 years ago to defend our school during the redistricting process and became very ingrained in the business of the board of education, which has provided me with a great perspective of the real challenges that this community faces. In that same process, I met multiple other parents from across the city, who are all interested in achieving exactly the same thing, sending their kids to the best schools system possible We are also members of various other community organizations and our kids participate in Stamford Youth sports. If you add this up, we are very invested in the city what is happening in the city now and how the decisions that are made today are going to impact us immediately and how they may effect our children in the coming years.
As one of the 600 people who attended the joint Board of Finance / Board of Representatives Finance Committee this past Monday at Turn of River Middle School, and one of the 75 people who spoke in favor of the current budgets as presented, I believe the community spoke loud and clear that we are all willing to accept a tax increase in order to preserve the current level of services that we as a community have come to expect from our schools, libraries, fire and police. In spite of the fact that current levels are barely sufficient to achieve or maintain any standard of excellent.
What is increasingly concerning is the apparent recklessness which certain members of the Board of Finance are approaching this budgeting process. There seems to be no reality check amongst the Board of Finance members who have set an agenda without a real understanding of what the impact of their proposals will really wreck upon our fine community.
I would like to request that as our elected representatives, that you stand up and fight for what is best for our district and our city. Providing the necessary funding for our schools is an absolute necessity, and any further budget cuts would be absolutely devastating to our school district and to our city. It is not like any cuts that are made this budget season are just going to miraculously return in full force next year. The impact of further cuts could be a reduction in teachers, meaning larger class sizes and less individual attention for every student. Today's Advocate talked about the possibility of closing a school, but even this draconian measure unfortunately would not fill the entire budget cuts that the Board of Finance is requesting. Closing a school or letting teachers go will also not help the value of our homes, nor will it help attract new families (and new taxpayers) to move to Stamford, since we will be known as the town that does not care about education or children.
Finally, I would like to ask you where the mayor has been during this whole process? Mayor Pavia ran on a platform of supporting education, however, he has yet to attend a Board of Education meeting, and was noticeably absent from the public hearing on Monday. Although the city charter does not require the mayor to attend these public hearing, as it is the budget he presented, he should take responsibility and accountability to the people and be willing to listen to a packed auditorium of voters speaking about his proposed budget.
I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you in more detail about this issue as I firmly believe that the decisions being forced upon the community by a very minority members of the Board of Finance will have a long term and lasting negative impact that will take years or decades for us to fully recover. As someone pointed out Monday night at the public hearing that the current economic downturn is temporary and already beginning to show signs of turning around, let us not overreact to a temporary situation.
Thank you for your time
Jeff Herz
47 Cascade Court
Stamford, CT 06903
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