Nov. 20 -- One night before the special Public Hearing and Town Meeting to set the date for the referendum on school construction, Ridgefield Democratic Chair Jim Diamond has blasted the Republican Town Committee for injecting partisan politics into school issues. Diamond noted that RTC member Chris Scalzo boasted last week at a public hearing, "This bundling referendum is going DOWN." Decrying this partisan approach, Diamond urged everyone, regardless of party, "Set aside political gamesmanship before the damage to our town and to our children is too great to repair." Ridgefield Democrats have endorsed the bundling proposal and urge everyone to come out to the Public Hearing and Special Town Meeting tomorrow night at 7:30 PM at East Ridge Middle School.
Commentary by James D. Diamond, Chairman Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee
There are many in our town who feel that partisan politics has no place in school related issues. As a parent, I agree 100%. Our children's future should not be made into a political football by Republicans or Democrats seeking to gain advantage over the other side. That is why I am so profoundly disappointed in this display of high stakes gamesmanship by the Republican Town Committee, as revealed in Christopher Leonard's commentary in last week's Press.
For years the previous First Selectmen of Ridgefield were unable to unite the various boards, commissions and building committees to address the school crowding crisis which was evident. In Rudy Marconi we finally have a leader who has skillfully worked with these public boards, regardless of Party affiliation, to assemble a master plan which has broad government approval. Now that Republicans and Democrats are united and a date is set for the public to vote, the Republican Party has announced it's opposition to the Systemwide School Initiative, commonly referred to as the "bundle." Why didn't the Party and it's public officials announce this position while the "bundle" was being crafted? They didn't because their strategy is not to lead but to make sure the Bundling Project fails so that they can blame Rudy Marconi for the failure come next November.
Mr. Leonard offers the contorted logic that we shouldn't support the Bundling Project because it might fail. I think that's called a self-fulfilling prophesy. What he and the other Republican officials won't tell you is that the wisdom of the Bundling Project is that it helps people see the bigger picture. It encourages people to place the collective interests of the community above individual or neighborhood interests. The bundling Project says "United we stand. Divided we fall." That's precisely the reason they oppose it. They know from experience that it's easier to defeat individual proposals by pitting people against each other.
Thankfully, the people of Ridgefield are much smarter than the Republican Town Committee. When they say, "We support the schools, but ..." we all know that we've heard this wolf-in-sheep's-clothing come-on before. It's the same pathetically disingenuous mantra that the Coalition of Concerned Citizens and other anti-school groups have used for years. We knew better then. We know better now.
Republican Town Committee member Chris Scalzo boasted at last week's League of Women Voters forum, "This bundling referendum is going DOWN," after trying in vain all evening to poke holes in the First Selectman's presentation. Well, after two decades of watching them flounder, the reality of local politics are apparent: if you want to get something done in this town, ask a Democrat. If you want to hear why it can't be done, ask the Republican Town Committee.
We do not want the Bundling Project to be a political issue. And we call upon the Republican Town Committee to join us in bipartisan support of the most important referendum for our town for the next decade. Let us lead by example. Set aside political gamesmanship before the damage to our town and to our children is too great to repair.
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