Letter: “We believe this moment in time is not ‘politics as usual.’”

To the Editor:

We are inspired by Westport women who came before us – Republicans and Democrats alike – who rallied and door-knocked and wrote letters and took personal risks for over seven decades in pursuit of the right to vote. 

Today, more than 100 years after the 19th amendment was added to our constitution, women are still not equal under the law. This is both unethical and un-American. Overturning Roe v Wade was, quite simply, a violation of our dignity and human rights. 

Join us in mobilizing the power of the collective to promote women’s issues in 2022. Issues that are personal,familial and community focused. Issues that include privacy and individual freedoms and the education, safety and well-being of our children. Issues that impact the identity and vitality of our town. 

When we cast our ballots in November, we must vote for policies, candidates and parties that validate our equal status, shared values and the survival of our democracy. Throughout history and in societies across the globe, women have united against marginalization. Demanding that our elected officials stand up for the rights of more than half the population is fundamental to our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. 

Committed to moving forward in our homes, our schools and workplaces, our village, our state and our country, we respectfully ask you,friends and neighbors from diverse political ideologies,to: 

• Recognize your power. 

• Accept your responsibility. 

• Vote in the best interests of yourself and your sisters, daughters, mothers, girlfriends and granddaughters. 

As Westport suffragists Lillian Wald, Amelia Shaw MacDonald Cutler, Sara Buek Crawford, Anna Holden Mazzanovich, Laura Gardin Fraser, Rose O’Neill and others bravely did over 100 years ago, stand up for the women and girls you know and don’t yet know, in Westport and in destinations far from here. Our causes are also theirs. 

Women of Westport unite. And V O T E. 

Signed, 

  Jessica Hill    Jen Greely     Kate McGarvey    Trudie Gubitz        Andrea Berkley    Ebru Halper    Nancy Axthelm    Gery Grove   Lindsay Weiner    Miriamne DeMarrais  Lisa Hofmeister    Julia Marx   Rebecca Martin    Jen Gorin      Michelle Mechanic    Lauren MacNeill   Liz Leggett    Courtney McCrea    Haley Lieberman    Erin Loranger   Danielle Teplica    Denise Michalowski    Kara Sullivan    Gail Berritt   Joelle Berger    Vicki Volper    Jill Saluck      Abby Tolan    Megan Rutstein    Robin Weinberg    Melissa Kane    Anne Burmeister   Amiee Altschul    Sally Potter     Annie Zimmerli-Haskell  Amy Benjamin   Linda Gordon    Jill Nadel      Sarah Benjamin    Alexandra Benjamin   Jordana Latzman    Laila Latzman    Liz Milwe      Sarah Kelly   Darcy Hicks    Melissa Post    Candace Banks    Lorraine Pallumbo   Lauren Kreizer    Lisa Newman    Danielle Dobin    Laura Franklin   Lauren Karpf     Kris Jandora    Netta Levy    Donna Bacro   Wendy G Batteau    Sara Kempner    Pegeen Rubinstein    Hannah Spencer   Ali Stanley    Leslie Blank    Haley Schulman    Karen Salsgiver Coveney   Shayna Green    Marjorie Jacobson    Stacie Curran    Sivan Hong   Karen Driscoll    Miryha Fantegrossi     Kate Tarrant    Cynthia Cornell.   Julie Cochran    Linda Costello    Anne Bowens    Eliza Bowens   Natasha Johnston    Bonita Messman    Rama Iyer     Galia Gichon   Mariana Servin    Carrie Blasberg    Jaimie Dockray    Jenny Perlman   Sara Jordan    Sydney Hunter    Esme Hunter    Kate Kornfeld   Jenny Lukens    Jane Lukens    Ifeseyi Gayle    Marjorie Almansi   Maureen Tarrant    Elizabeth Kessler    Stacie Waldman    Kelli O’Hara Naughton   Jen Meerow Berniker  Sarah Green    Caroline Motyl    Tomira Wilcox   Cathy Kim Walker    Linda Mandel    Weatherly Hammond   Courtney McMahon   Diana Mashia    Ana Johnson    Aline Kultgen    Ronnie Aaron Hammer   Ashley Moran    Deborah Alexander    Maria Freeman    Melissa Levy   Sara Holt Reiss-Schmidt  Jas Silver      Stephanie Tang    Patra Kanchanagom   Ellie Magnuson    Kit Tingley    Emily Croce Bihl    Shannon Vindiola   Inés Riera      Brooke Davies    Christina Trudeau     Alison Luisi   Deirdre Doran     Julie Keil Riordan     Michaela Rome     Amy Herrera   Eileen Winnick     Jeanne B Klinge     Jennifer DeLeonardo   Seena Cushman    Amanda Holt Corey     Phyllis Freeman    Carol Anne Ances    Nancy Anderson   Marcia Falk     Helene Jacobs     Dana Aussenberg     Susan Eastman   Dina Upton    Hannah DeQuadros    Lisa Eisen      Sheri Gordon   Lauren Gladstein    Elizabeth Malaspina Coe   Tracy Brenner     Tyndale Brickey Bloom   Michelle Backus     Mia Anderson    Allison O’Dell     Sarah Caro   Elizabeth Woodson    Katie Apton     Libby Spader     Alex Cirasuolo   Pam Barkentin     Elise Zimmerman    Jodi Christensen-Hardin   Carolanne Curry   Melinda Greenlee    Lindsey Allen    Emma Allen    Georgia Allen   Margo Amgott    Lindsay Blass    Vicki Lopez    Marley Lopez-Paul   Leslie Gransberry    Kathryn Sonne    Elizabeth Sonne    Joan Polayes   Dalma Heyn     Josephine Deignan     Lindsay Shurman     Lauri Weiser   Cathy Brodows     Kate Frascella     Diane McCoy     Celeste Lacroix   Joan Gillman     Allyson Stollenwerck   Jill Totenberg     Jenae Weinbrenner   Jessica Newshel    Bobbi Essagof     Elizabeth Canner    Susan Hendee   Patricia Gabal     Betsy Sunderji     Marjorie Donalds    Jodi Ross   Aviva Ross    Georgette Geller     Julia Petro     Valerie Greenberg   Michelle D’Auria     Kiana Danial     Diana Shayon    Nathalie Jacob   Barbra Utting     Angela Benzan    Linda Pryde     Helene Jacobs   Prill Boyle 

To add your name to this letter, email Jessica Hill at jmbhill24@gmail.com 

We invite Westport women and high school girls (able / soon able to vote) to add their names. The letter will be published locally in advance of the November election. 

Letter: “they should vote for Ceci Maher.” says Naughton

To The Editor,

I’ve been working for the past five years to pass a Medical Aid in Dying law in Connecticut.  I’ve testified multiple times before the Public Health Committee of our State Legislature, given interviews on the subject to newspapers, TV, and talk radio programs, and now I’m writing in support of Ceci Maher’s candidacy for State Senator from the 26th district. 

 Maher is an ardent supporter of medical aid-in-dying, and her opponent, Toni Boucher, is not.

I spoke with Toni Boucher a few days ago and asked her where she stood on the issue.  She repeated to me the words I’ve heard all too frequently from legislators who want to defeat this reasonable measure.  She used the code words expressing concern for “people with disabilities and old people” who might be pressured into seeking “assisted suicide,” pejoratives far too often used by opponents.

Let’s get it straight:  In the 25 years since Oregon first passed this law, and now with 10 more states and D.C. on board, there just hasn’t been such a problem reported.  And, it would be a felony.  In the past three years, the CT Medical Society (Physicians) have gone from “against, to neutral.”  The CT Nurses Association moved from “opposed to favorable.” 

And recent Connecticut polling is clear:  75% of CT residents want this legislation passed. 

If your readers want it passed, they should write to their State Legislators, and if they are residents of the 26th District, they should vote for Ceci Maher.

James Naughton

Weston

Letter to the Editor: “You could not ask for a better person to represent you”

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor,

Friends in District 1, please support Chris Tait in his re-election to the RTM. 

Chris is a lifelong resident of Westport and was born and raised in District 1.  He chairs the RTM Parks & Recreation Committee pushing many of the improvements to Compo Beach and Longshore Golf Course over the past several years.  I have had the pleasure of working with Chris on the RTM for the past ten years and I have to say his demeanor, work ethic and common sense are a much needed commodity. 

You could not ask for a better person to represent you.  I would encourage you all to cast your ballot for Chris on Tuesday.

Thank you

Jay Keenan, RTM District 2

Letter to the Editor: “Lucky for us that they care so deeply about Westport.”

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin are the right leaders at the right time.

Our town will need to make some difficult choices over the next several years.  Whether it be about the environment, taxes, education, or affordable housing, our town will continue to evolve.  Due, in part, to the pandemic, climate change, and ever escalating attacks on our democratic institutions (including Westport’s Board of Education), there is clearly a heightened sense that the stakes these days feel higher.  This is why it’s imperative to have as the leaders of our town a first and second selectmen who have a deep intellectual understanding of the issues, who can set ego aside in order to make tough and sometimes difficult decisions, and who are committed to doing right by all constituents.  

I have known both candidates for quite some time, not just as a political colleague or constituent, but also as friends.  I know with certainty that they are above all else people of unquestionable integrity, who are honest and not afraid to speak their truth.  These are compassionate and empathetic individuals, who understand that Westport does not and should not exist in a bubble, and who can be counted on to stand up for the things they care about without hesitation.  Lucky for us that they care so deeply about Westport.

I encourage you to support Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin at the polls on November 2.

Sincerely,

Lauren H. Soloff