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Showing posts from September, 2022

The 7% Budget Referendum: A Political Weapon, Not Reform

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This was the budget data the Charter Revision Commission examined. It shows the percentage of budget increase by year. The budget increase does not translate to a tax increase. In 2023, the Democrats for instance, lowered spending but taxes still increased. The party and COLA columns were added by author.  The Charter Revision Commission’s 7% budget referendum proposal isn’t reform — it’s a political weapon. It's disguised as fiscal responsibility, but it’s engineered to shift blame, confuse voters, and lock Enfield into bad policy. There are some good ideas in the commission’s package. But this one? It shouldn’t go to the ballot. Here’s what the proposal says: If town expenditures increase by more than 7% over the current fiscal year, it would trigger a referendum. That sounds reasonable — until you understand the facts. The 7% Fiction First, Enfield hasn’t approved a 7% budget hike in at least 15 years — likely far longer. No council, Republican or Democrat, proposes a 7% hike u...
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Enfield's pedestrian neglect

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Where the sidewalk ends at Cranbrook My car broke down, and I had it towed to the new AAA auto repair shop on Hazard Avenue. It meant walking back home, a different way to experience Enfield.  No crosswalk at Palomba and Cranbrook To get to my home off Raffia, I walked from the AAA garage to Cranbrook Blvd. to reach the Big Y and pick something up. Only one side of Cranbrook has sidewalks in front of some businesses but not others. The sidewalk ends abruptly before Palomba Dr., covered by an overgrowth once marked by torn yellow caution tape.  There is no crosswalk at the four-way stop at Palomba Drive. Why is that? When I felt it was my turn to cross safely, I held my hand to ensure the drivers were paying attention.  Palomba has a sidewalk, but it ends (or starts) at Cranbrook, meaning you need to walk through the shopping center's parking lot (The one with Anthony's and Smyths Ice Cream Shop) to get to Hazard.  Pedestrian use is an afterthought in the commercial d...
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