Submitted by Katherine O’Meara McKersie
As we witness the national conversation which is pitting American against American, one against another, always a “versus” in the political sphere, I am struck by how this national conversation is reflected in our own town.
BET Republicans versus BET Democrats, voter against voter, one constituency against another, concerned citizen versus concerned citizen.
When I arrived in Greenwich in 2012, a native of West Hartford and graduate of West Hartford Public Schools, I was struck by the similarities of these two towns. I even made that comment to someone early on. “Oh, no,” they assured me. “Greenwich is not West Hartford.”
In so many ways they are correct, and certainly the Greenwich Public Schools are a star amongst school systems. But since 2012, I have watched, participated in and followed the budget conversation and I am struck by the biggest difference between my hometown and my adopted hometown. My parents used to say that West Hartford did have higher taxes, but that the services, schools, care of the elderly and investment in infrastructure made these wonderful services and schools happen, made that all worthwhile for the eight of us children and my elderly relatives, and for all West Hartford citizens, an economically diverse town.
But, I do see now, Greenwich is not West Hartford. Both are wonderful places to raise families, but the endless and exhausting budget fights here in Greenwich strain and stress families, citizens, teachers, civic leaders and civil servants, Superintendents and staff…, everyone.
No matter where we all live, or the taxes we pay, our children and our elderly deserve our care, the care that we can afford them. When it comes right down to it, our students, our elderly, our caregivers and teachers do not first ask what political party we belong to.
Our students and our elderly are not sitting in Republican or Democratic or Unaffiliated seats, using political party supplies. This is not a political issue. This is a Greenwich issue.
Fully fund the Greenwich Public Schools budget. Invest in people, not politics, the future, not the foolish, to safeguard this beautiful, wonderful, treasure of a town.
Respectfully submitted,
Katherine O’Meara McKersie