N'Synk

'N Synk
Commentary on Waterbury by James D. Szynkiewicz

The conflict of an early submittal date and election precludes me from remarking on the election results. The advantage is that, by the time December rolls up, all the squabbling ought to have been settled and it will be easier to see past the post-election chaff. There are, however, so many issues which the elections and balloting cannot change in Waterbury or elsewhere throughout the nation, regardless of the outcome. I will comment on some of the most prominent ones.

In Waterbury, events ought to be primarily driven by the fiscal issues and Charter revisions. The most contested fiscal issue has been the bonding for three new elementary schools and improvements at the media center of Crosby High. Approval of bonding should mean the start of a predictable process of design, land acquisition and construction oversight; since this is Waterbury, some of these processes may have even started before the balloting. It would not amaze anyone, especially with the creation of the Waterbury Development Corp., the reincarnation of NVDC. As is, it would take several years before the new schools would open their doors to students.

What about our school system as a whole? The issues of overcrowding, dilapidation of facilities and cost of operation have been used politically to steer  public opinion without being constructively addressed. In the June 2003 issue of the Observer I looked at some of these problems; recently, the Republican - American addressed them in a series of articles (October 27 through 29, 2004). Nothing of substance has happened in the meantime. Neither the School Superintendent, Dr. Snead, nor the Board of Education seem to be doing anything constructive regarding a long term school maintenance plan. As an example, last year hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for schools were diverted toward the purchase of a fire engine; could they not have been used for school maintenance had there been a plan?

As has been statistically proven during the months preceding the bonding ballot,  school overcrowding could be temporarily solved by reapportioning the students according to available space. Any whimsical transfers should be stopped. It makes me choke when I hear Dr. Snead call ours a "welcoming city" for out-of-town  students. It is the city taxpayers who have to foot the bill for the welcome carpet. It is now obvious that the $1.4 billion School Plan was cooked in secrecy from the taxpayers and dumped on us last April in the hope that it could be quietly passed, ensuring a flow of cash to make up for the lack of economic development and other neglect. While this was happening, the Board of Education did not even issue a peep regarding the impending mayoral takeover in the form of appointed members and virtual control. Maybe they do not deserve the traditional autonomy.

The future of our country hinges, to a large extent, on the adaptation of our education system to global reality. Our high schools are mass producing hordes of practical invalids, handicapped in basic skills like reading, math and sciences, while simultaneously curbing students willing to achieve. The high school curriculum must be changed to level the playing field for the graduates.

The result of the current approach to education is the fact that many people achieve key positions in politics, management  and the military without any idea of the world beyond our borders. We might not have been to Vietnam or Iraq, had our leadership been more aware of our limitations with regard to the other people's history, beliefs and customs.

Waterbury is being touted as a city of diversity. We have welcomed people from all over the world, yet are doing nothing to facilitate their adaptation into our traditional society. Our  population can be categorized as traditional, "minority" or transitional. The traditional  faction is aging and losing its influence, while refusing to face the truth. The "Minority" faction is rapidly growing into a majorityfaction, while tacitly allowing the traditional one to assume responsibilities for decisions over which it has no  practical control any more. The "transitional" faction cares only about drawing any benefits it can from the existing situation, packing up  and moving on.

The city administration must address these issues. However, it cannot do this alone. Our legislators in Hartford must become more involved also. Waterbury got used to the benevolence of our former governor. With John Rowland gone, the city must learn to walk on its own. One of the important steps would be to review and reformulate the State Oversight Board. The Board was formed in a rush to prevent the embarrassment of Waterbury going bankrupt, thanks to lax oversight by the governor and the servility of our legislators and the board of aldermen. We not only need a strong Oversight Board, but also a structure that would force the city to continue on a fiscally sound path after the Board will have been dissolved. To ensure this, the Board must be made accountable to the city taxpayers. This will not happen under its current ambiguous mandate. Our legislators must make a point of staying involved in  city issues before addressing those of the state at large. They must not only do their best to secure any available grants etc. for the city, but also ensure that these funds be applied as intended. Waterbury will need a lot of extra money.

The global challenge to our country's economy must also be addressed by the unions. Getting the highest wages for their members, even if it means workforce reductions or workplace closing, must become a thing of the past. The purpose of unions should become keeping their members employed, at all costs. The state and federal government must provide incentives and guidelines for employers to stay and expand their operations locally, but it would be up to the unions to work out mutually acceptable terms, ensuring maximum employment. It is a "do or die" condition for our basic industries.

Furthermore, the unions must wield a strong hand in education. To maintain our economic strength we need a workforce to build and produce. In Waterbury we already have a nucleus of education allowing a seamless transition from manufacturing to academic studies and vice versa. This facility is a key to our economic survival in the global sense. This "cross-training" will allow us to develop a caliber of practical and theoretical experts capable of preserving the American leadership.

On the local political scene, the two major parties must admit that democracy allows equal rights to the "opposition". Recent Charter revisions have all been directed to  ensure the domination of one of the major parties with a tacit support of the other. This has been a tradition in Waterbury for decades, but the recent changes have brought it to a point of virtual despotism. The ire of the "system" has been directed against the Independent Party which, actually, represents many of the ideals of other minor political parties and the unaffiliated population. This attitude is grounded in fear of losing control of the lucrative operation. Politics alone may feed one's ego, but financial enrichment provides real power and security. This attitude has brought Waterbury into the present fix.

Year 2005  ought to become a no holds barred scene of an attempt to restore the traditional political party domination in Waterbury. Since the Independents represent the only political party recognized as a danger by both the Democrats and Republicans, there will be an open season on squeezing them out from the Board of Aldermen and any function of political viability. Other political organizations, the unaffiliated citizens and taxpayers at large will have to tread carefully and consider bunching for strength. The Charter revisions have assured the Mayor of powers he would wield effective as of 2006 and he will have almost complete control.

I hope that 2005 will see a revival of a strong taxpayer organization. Since we do not have an option of budget referendums, a taxpayer forum is an absolute necessity. I also hope that neighborhood organizations will develop a strong front against excessive land development.

Waterbury must keep increasing its tax base; however, this must not happen at the expense of property owners alone. Development involves ease of access, services such as water and sewers, police and fire protection, as well as school capacity. Most of us recall the condo-mania  under the Santopietro administration. Rather than destroy open spaces and harm the ecology, we should see more re-use of land currently occupied by dilapidated structures. The residents can rely only on their own efforts, rather than the administration, to keep their neighborhoods livable.

The primary economic driver nationwide in the coming year and years to come will be the situation in the Middle East in general, and Iraq in particular. Energy and security will be the prominent factors. There is little we, the citizens, can do about the developments in that area, except keep our fingers crossed and hope that nothing uncontrollable will happen.

Thus, the years following this November's election will offer little encouragement. This does not mean, however, that we should not make every effort to change things to our advantage wherever possible.

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