Submitted by Brian Raabe
The problem with politics and party indoctrination is that the basics of doing the people’s business gets caught up in the metaphysical of “if you aren’t following our party’s dogma you are a bad person.”
And in today’s Republican Party – if you aren’t in lock step to the beat of the Dear Leader’s marching band, you’re out.
You’re a just a woke, vaccine loving villain.
But government, unless it’s jerrymandered and hijacked, is nothing more than the infrastructure that executes accordingly to the will of (all) the people.
In the case of Greenwich, the question is how do we operate the essentials of schools, police, fire, roads, etc. wrapped in the intangibles of caring for the less fortunate, tolerance, safety, and quality of life?
That’s it. No more, no less.
You go to your house of worship for religion and philosophy, not the voting booth.
When Republicans say things in letters to the Greenwich Free Press like “the soul of Greenwich is ours to save” it’s both presumptuous and it suggests a divine role for government probably better left to the Almighty.
The business of government is maximizing the outputs based on the inputs.
And residents of Greenwich expect that decisions are made based on analysis, science, thought and reflection.
Regardless of party.
If one agrees with those basic tenets, and that they are the prism through which one should gauge the effectiveness of current leadership, how would you judge the Camillo Administration?
The school budget cut.
Fred Camillo may hyperventilate on radio that it isn’t “a cut” and to call it one is political – but you called it a cut in your own writing Fred. (Camillo: Most of Proposed BET Budget Cuts are Unnecessary and Would be Damaging April 2, 2025.) Here’s your inhaler.
If you care to dwell on semantics, let’s ask another way, why did the BET set a 3.0% increase which they knew couldn’t cover contracts and other known expenses?
How do you make that budget mandate without cutting?
Beyond the First Selectman’s verbal gymnastics, how would you judge a school cut by BET Chair Harry Fisher based on gut?
“Felt right” – masquerading as policy. What do you think of that?
It’s not a hypothetical – people lost jobs, kids will be getting up in the dark again for school to save money on the bus contract.
Is this in line with your priorities?
How would you judge the decision by the First Selectman to sue the school board? Is that how you want your money spent?
How would you judge the manager of a firm that sues another division. Would you question their leadership. Would you buy their stock?
How would you judge the construction of an ice rink that has languished under opposition versus thoughtful compromise, or rapid redirection to a new venue.
Would you say the steward of that project is capable? Or would you tire of the multiple committees and lack of progress?
How would you judge the idea of a town office building on Greenwich Avenue the First Selectman wants privatized and converted into a hotel?
Would you wonder what business the town has in clearing the way for a third hotel or being in the hotel advocacy business at all.
How would you judge an Administration whose School Board picks have zero credentials in education or large-scale enterprise?
Would you wonder, why these people?
The list literally goes on…
The Republicans will engage in a primary September 9th. The slate competing with the old guard has called themselves “fresh voices.”
Which sounds like a breath mint tag line.
They skewer Harry Fisher in their coming out letter for having built, “ a slate of loyalists with one goal: to replace the endorsed Republican incumbents with insiders who will protect the establishment, silence debate, and discourage dissent.”
Easy to agree with a lot of what is written there about the negatives of Harry’s Fiefdom. I’ll join you for a ride – along.
But unfortunately, they then go on to say their big beef with him is:
“… he punished dissent by appointing Democrats to key committees over more qualified Republicans. His slate has made similarly troubling choices—one member nominated the most progressive RTM moderator in town history, and another, a former BOE chair, consistently sided with Democrats on spending initiatives and costly contracts.”
“More qualified Republicans” sound like your shilling –would love your data, but regardless, I am focused on relieving Harry Fisher of duty because I don’t believe he engages in the analytic and thoughtful process the role demands.
The “fresh voices” of the clean teeth and pleasing breath crowd seem to want his scalp for being – wait for it – too bipartisan.
Come again?
That’s like saying Mao is too Capitalist. It defies reality.
This group wants more big R – nothing but big R. Despite Democrats and Independents being two thirds of the town.
In short – I don’t want Harry, and I sure don’t want this “Ship of the Dogma.”
But because I am an independent, I have no ability to participate in this food fight other than nuking some Orville Redenbacher and reading scorched earth public letters.
(Sidebar – There’s a saying about commitment versus involvement. In sausage making the farmer is merely involved. The pig is committed. Alt Republican primary causers, you all are committed!)
Now we wait for September 10, when the Republican’s final slate will be known.
What I do know is it will be bad.
Or… it will be worse.
Between now and November take a hard look at your day to day in town, from the simple of trying to get a beach pass, to paying your taxes, to even crossing the street in some places.
Ask yourself whether the Town runs optimally.
Ask when you wake up in the dark for your kid’s bus.
Ask whether the priorities of the Town Hall Hotel and Casino are yours.
Ask what we’ve spent suing our own Board of Education.
That’s banana bread with nuts.
Again, this isn’t a metaphysical pursuit. These are the debits and credits of taxing and spending by the town.
Are they being precise, or winging it while humming along through clenched teeth to a nationalist agenda that tolerates no dissent?
Two thirds, I hope more, of Greenwich Connecticut is too smart for that.
It should be reflected in our leadership, their conduct, and their judgement.
80 days to November 4th.
Brian Raabe