Submitted by Brian Raabe
In a prior version of this note I had a lot of prose, some of which was pretty good – like calling the town suing itself “Legal Seppuku.”
But it’s August, it’s hot, and letters to the editor of the Greenwich Free Press aren’t a creative writing assignment.
For me, the Harry Fisher cut (as the deciding vote) of $4 million from the school budget was the tipping point prompting me to start writing to the GFP.
BET board members had said that private conversations suggested school cuts were possible, that it should be easy to find $4 million, etc.
But that’s not a very intelligent approach. It lacks thought and process. It’s capricious.
Water cooler talk does not make sound policy.
In just a few weeks, our kids will be getting up at an hour we said was unhealthy 7 years ago when we moved high school start times later.
That kind of decision making seems to be operating at scale in this administration.
Exhibit A – The Schrodinger’s Cat lawsuit of the town suing the town where we both win and lose at the same time (more prose).
$200,000 spent as of May. Two months later what’s the total? One can only assume a lot more.
It is batty.
It sure isn’t leadership.
Review the recent school board slate offered by the Republicans.
Look up their bios and ask yourself if this is the right team. What was their process? Was there a process.
The drive for a hotel on Greenwich Avenue when we have two other hotels in town that are not exactly overflowing with occupants.
Why?
Pet projects, lawsuits, school cuts (yes, it’s a cut, the first selectman himself called it a cut. It’s a thoughtless, student impacting act).
There are other observations that I am considering being vocal about but hesitate because the willingness to sue by folks seems high.
Again, is this what you expect as a resident, calling things out entails risk?
When I walk people through events, they’re shocked.
Overtime costs, temp costs, suing ourselves… committee after committee.
Will hell freeze over before a new Greenwich rink does?
Six months ago, I would have been shocked too.
You get on the train, get off the train, town looks lovely, moving on…
But again, Harry’s meat cleaver woke me up.
And as you dig, you see the $4 million dollar cut as the tip of the iceberg of bad judgement.
September will kick off campaign season. I’ve been labeled a Democrat in a lot of posts. I don’t fly a party flag, same as 40% of the town.
Convenient to dismiss things I’ve said by suggesting I have an agenda.
The only agenda, and hope I am not alone, is to do well by our kids and call out some of what is going on that I believe would give any reasonable person pause.
The simple ask is whether this is what you really want from your local government.
Your answer – in your own head, not the idea of following a party, platform, or national dogma – should drive your local vote for something better.