Monday, June 9, 2014
Wilfredo L. Soto, Jr.
WPKN News Director | EIC
This is —— —– with the WPKN local news for Connecticut and Long Island.
In the news tonight: Governor Malloy will not be seeking concessions from state employees if re-elected, State Rep. Terry Backer applauds legislation creating the Point Stratford Infrastructure Improvement District in Stratford, Riverhead Town moves forward with the sale of the Second Street Firehouse, and news on the Republican Party’s primary election.
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Article 1 | CT Politics
Governor. Dannel Malloy said on Friday that he would not seek concessions from state employees next year if he were re-elected.
In 2011, state workers agreed to a two-year salary freeze and other concessions in exchange for four years of protection from layoffs.
Malloy said the deal, which was criticized for relying heavily upon difficult-to-quantify savings, has been undervalued. Malloy added, “I think what’s misunderstood — perhaps purposefully so by some folks — is how much total savings that has brought about and really is the biggest reason we can look at our benefit package as sustainable”.
Like Malloy, Republican gubernatorial candidates have all said they would not raise taxes, but at least one was unwilling to take state employee concessions off the table.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton was the only one to immediately respond to the question. Boughton said, “If we are going to solve our long-term financial challenges, everyone must be at the table. Connecticut taxpayers have already stepped up to the plate. It’s now time for a complete and honest reorganization of state government.”
175 Words | Source: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/malloy_dismisses_deficit_projections_wont_ask_for_more_concessions/
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Article 2 | CT Politics
State Representative Terry Backer applauded Governor Dannel Malloy’s recent signing of legislation creating the Point Stratford Infrastructure Improvement District in Stratford. The bill, passed unanimously in the legislature, establishes the District for the purpose of restoring the brownfield that is the former Army Engine Plant in the Lordship section of town. The bill, SA 14-12 goes into effect July 1, 2014.
Representative Backer said, “Stratford has waited 20 years to see this property return to productive use and this is another positive step in that direction.”
Point Stratford Renewal, LLC was selected by the U.S. Army to acquire the property for mixed-use redevelopment. Their plans include construction of 1,500 housing units, 500,000 square feet of retail outlets, office and hotel space, opening the waterfront to the public and creating job relief for residents.
The bill gives the District the power to lay and collect taxes to pay for costs of improvement whose rates will be established at public hearings held by the board. Elections will be held annually, whose date will be published in a generally circulated newspaper.
178 Words | Source: http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-ct-dday-70th-0607-20140605,0,6168258.story
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Article 3 | Riverhead Politics
Riverhead Town is moving forward with the sale of the Second Street Firehouse to builder Bob Castaldi. The town is looking to use the space as an agritourism center — a home for the indoor farmers market on the first floor and offices for the L.I. Farm Bureau, the L.I. Wine Council and Riverhead Chamber of Commerce on the second floor.
The board held an impromptu special meeting during the work session to approve a resolution formally offering Castaldi the firehouse site for $500,000.
The town issued a request for proposals last year for renovation and reuse of the structure. Supervisor Sean Walter advocated accepting a proposal submitted at that time by Castaldi, who last year finished renovating the historic Suffolk Theater on Main Street. Castaldi had a Japanese live-action dinosaur attraction lined up as a tenant. The board eventually rejected his proposal, with council members James Wooten, George Gabrielsen and Jodi Giglio deciding against it — after initially giving the idea at least tacit approval at a work session, prompting Castaldi to hire an engineer to do an assessment of the structure.
Councilwoman Jodi Giglio cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing that the town should get a new appraisal before making a deal with any purchaser. She said the last appraisal of the site, which included land that would not be sold to Castaldi, was for $1.8 million in 2009. The town should not sell the building without an updated appraisal, the councilwoman said.
Giglio told the board, “This is a very haphazard way to sell a town asset.”
258 Words | Source: http://riverheadlocal.com/town-hall-notebook/town-makes-500-000-counter-offer-to-builder-interested-in-second-st-firehouse
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Article 4 | Elections – Politics
The Republican Party’s primary election to determine the candidate who will face the incumbent, Representative Tim Bishop, will take place on June 24. The primary pits Lee Zeldin, a two-term state senator from Shirley, against George Demos, an attorney formerly with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission who lives in Stony Brook.
Mr. Bishop, who is seeking a seventh term in what is expected to be a closely contested election, does not face a primary challenger.
Mr. Zeldin is a graduate of the State University at Albany and earned a law degree from Albany Law School. He spent four years on active duty with the Army and served in Iraq. He presently serves as a major in the Army Reserves. He is backed by the Republican and Conservative Parties.
Mr. Demos, the grandson of Greek immigrants, served on the team that prosecuted Bernard Madoff, the investment adviser convicted in what is considered to be the largest financial fraud in U.S. history. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Gov. George Pataki have endorsed him.
Both candidates point to the economy as the top issue facing the district.
Mr. Demos said, voters “want someone who’s going to stand up and defend conservative principals regardless of what the establishment says. The problem in Washington is we have too many go-along-to-get-along politicians who take their marching orders from the Republican bosses.”
231 Words | Source: http://easthamptonstar.com/News/2014609/Republican-Voters-Choose-Bishop-Challenger
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The WPKN LOCAL NEWS is prepared from various sources, including: CT News Junkie, The Hartford Courant, the East Hampton Star, and the Riverhead Local, and CT Mirror. Thanks to WPKN Contributing Editor Scott Schere and News Director Wilfredo Soto.
The WPKN Local News is archived at wpkn-local-news.blogspot.com. National and international news from “Feature Story News” follows on listener powered WPKN 89.5 FM Radio in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This is —— ——.
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