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Staples High School
Jan. 16, 2020
Join the discussion. Volume 88, Issue 3
RESISTERS Members of the Resisters advocate for truck tolls to improve Connecticut’s infastructure at the public forum on Sunday, Jan.12 at Bedford Middle School.
CT2030 public forum held amid outcry of political rally on school grounds Lys Goldman ’21
“My views may lean a certain way,” Haskell said, “but these events News Editor should always be constructed, should always be viewed as non-partisan Claire Redmer ’21 governmental responsibilities.” The forum, originally set for Tuesday, Social Media Director Jan. 7, was rescheduled for Sunday amid accusations that it was a political overnor Ned Lamont, along rally located at a public school. This with state Senator Will Has- controversy stemmed from an email kell, state Representative Jona- labelled ‘top secret & urgent’ sent by than Steinberg and several other Con- the ReSisters, an organization focused necticut officials, led a public forum on community activism and education discussing Lamont’s transportation both locally and nationally. The email infrastructure plan, CT2030, on Sun- urged pro-tollist community members day, Jan. 12 at Bedford Middle School. to attend the event and keep it a secret. “G ov. T h e La mont event began “These events [...] should always be n e e d s with opening viewed as non-partisan governmental suppor ters remarks from responsibilities.” of CT2030 each legislator - State Senator Will Haskell ‘14 to show up and then in force,” the tra nsitioned email read. into audience questions focused around Lamont’s plan. “Do NOT share any of this information on CT2030, as discussed during the social media. We have advance notice of forum, involves adding truck tolls this event, thanks to Senator Will Haskell to Connecticut roads, which would and Gov. Lamont’s office, and we want raise a projected $19.4 billion. This to keep that advantage over the plan’s money would go towards repairing ‘No Tolls’ opponents as long as possible.” Greg Kraut, Steinberg’s Republican bridges and highways, speeding up MetroNorth trains and widening certain opponent in the 2018 election for representative, opposes the roads to alleviate traffic congestion, state according to the CT2030 website. CT2030 plan. He criticized Democrats “I believe that once we get for their alleged attempt to keep through with this plan, we will have a the meeting about transportation, transportation infrastructure that will infrastructure and toll plans a secret. “The dumber the idea, the more lead us over the next 30 or 40 years,” Bob Duff, the state Senate majority desperate the proponents become,” Kraut leader, said in his opening statement. wrote in an email to his supporters. “It will meet the needs of the growing “Certain political leaders [...] actually economy for the state of Connecticut.” tried to hold a top secret pro toll rally Despite the forum leaders’ support at one of our public schools. [...] This of truck tolls, Haskell stated that is clearly an abuse of power and a community meetings, such as the one on political rally should never be allowed Jan. 12, are times for the public to voice at our schools for numerous reasons.” According to Angela Liptack, a their opinions to their representatives, regardless of their political parties. member of the ReSisters, recipients of
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70 North Ave., Westport, Connecticut, 06880
the email were implored to keep the event under wraps because it was not yet confirmed, not because the ReSisters wanted to exclude no-tollist opposition. “We were trying to communicate with our members to say this might happen,” Liptack said. “There was no reason for us to ask them to share the information. In fact, it would be better if we didn’t because [that] would be spreading misinformation.” Senator Haskell denied that any organizers of the event had the goal to only hear from one side. “As soon as we have details confirmed, I post about it,” Haskell said. “I practically beg people to come to my town halls because the entire point of gatherings like this one is to have constituents of diverse opinions, with every different perspective, from all political parties come and participate and make their voices heard.” Haskell, a supporter of Lamont’s CT2030 plan, explained that he had asked some members of the ReSisters if they would be able to attend the event, giving the group advance notice before all the details were finalized. In what he called a miscommunication, he said that the group sent the email without his knowledge. Despite claims of a one-sided political rally, both supporters and critics of CT2030 attended the forum and were able to voice their thoughts and questions to the panel.
FIRST WORDS (Left to right) State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, state Senate majority leader Bob Duff and state Representative Lucy Dathan give opening speeches.
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