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 EditorTo 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 EditorTo 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
Letter to the Editor: “Although I’ll miss him up at the Capitol, I’ll be voting for Jonathan Steinberg”
Letter to the EditorTo the Editor,
A few years ago, I found myself at an event with Jonathan Steinberg where the majority of the audience members disagreed with us. We were participants on a panel, and most of us jumped up to leave when the program ended. I can’t speak for the others, but I was tired, hungry, and thought I had said all that I could say to convince those who disagreed with me. But as I headed for the door, I noticed Jonathan hadn’t budged. One-by-one, he was listening to the skeptics in the crowd. When they finished speaking, he was handing out business cards and collecting reading material. He was working overtime, trying to find some common ground with a group that hurled insults his way.
Having worked alongside Jonathan in Hartford, I can tell you that there are plenty of reasons I look up to him. He digs into the details of public policy, never kowtows to party politics and works constantly on building a clearer, healthier, and more prosperous community. He’s been a mentor to me since I decided to run for office, and he’s been my closest friend in the legislature.
But what I admire most is Jonathan’s determination to find common ground. We need that now more than ever. That event where he took the time to meet with the folks who had heckled us? It was a discussion about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Long before we knew what COVID-19 was or how it would grind our lives to a halt, Jonathan was doing the hard work of engaging skeptical constituents, sharing the scientific data and perhaps convincing a few of them to vaccinate themselves or their family. Today, it’s hard to imagine a more important task for our elected officials. We need local leaders with Jonathan’s honesty, compassion and work-ethic. We need politicians who walk toward a challenge, not away from it. Although I’ll miss him up at the Capitol, I’ll be voting for Jonathan Steinberg as our next First Selectman on November 2nd. I hope you’ll join me.
Will Haskell
State Senator, 26th District
Letter to the Editor: “I'm so proud to live in Westport.”
Letter to the EditorTo the Editor,
I'd like to encourage all Westporters to vote for Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin for Selectmen on November 2. These two Democrats have demonstrated throughout their careers how hard they will work to benefit our community.
I'm so proud to live in Westport. Our quality of life is remarkable and our school system is second to none. While we have significant advantages due to location and geography, much of what we get to appreciate in our town is built on years of smart choices by our leaders in the Selectman's office.
We are seeing rapid change in many aspects of our lives, especially in the environment. We need to implement plans that will enhance our resilience against storms and other natural disasters. We should be focused on a prioritized review of all town facilities to discover our key vulnerabilities and then we need to enact plans to fix them. What is the right plan for resilience? What systems are under-funded and one bad storm away from a disaster?
We need curious and experienced leaders like Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin leading the town. These dedicated Democrats will anticipate issues and make confident choices for the benefit of Westport and our region.
I hope you'll join me in voting for Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin for Westport Selectmen.
Sincerely,
Peter Propp
Letter to the Editor: “they create perfect synergy to lead Westport into the future”
Letters to the EditorTo the Editor,
I have been a Westport resident for over 8 years and have had the privilege to personally know Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore since my family’s arrival. I met Jen and Andrea separately, through volunteering in our kids’ schools, and I was drawn to each of them for their community awareness, intelligence, humor and most of all, kindness. As I got to know each of them better over the next several years, I have greatly appreciated their deep dedication to Westport through volunteering, sitting on local non-profit boards and serving in locally elected offices. Jen and Andrea are great listeners and our concerns are theirs. While the state has taken away funding from Westport and dis-incentivized business here, Jen and Andrea have fought for our town all while keeping taxes flat. They have proven their ability to be fiscally responsible while still keeping the best interests of families, students, teachers, seniors, business owners and taxpayers in mind. Jen and Andrea have been working for Westport for YEARS and it is a great place to live in no small part because of what they’ve already accomplished.
Each of these women separately make fantastic candidates but together they create perfect synergy to lead Westport into the future. It’s time that we take a non-partisan look at the facts and their collective histories, and elect Jen and Andrea to take their leadership to the next level, to the benefit of all of Westport.
Karen Speller
Letter to the Editor: “They are consensus builders and enthusiastic stewards“
Letters to the EditorTo the Editor,
I am writing in support of the candidacy of Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin for Westport First Selectmen.
For the past fifteen years, I have personally witnessed how selflessly and tirelessly both Jonathan and Candi have worked to promote a healthy, safe, and vibrant Westport. They’ve worked successfully on issues ranging from education to the environment, from consideration of the needs of our seniors to taking care of our many public services and resources. They have served for years as public servants and always put the needs of their constituents first. Jonathan and Candi are hard-working and clear-headed. They are consensus builders and enthusiastic stewards of all that we value about our town.
They have my vote on Election Day and I hope they have yours.
Nina Sankovitch
Letter to the Editor: “Change is survival for Westport”
Letter to the EditorDear Citizens of Westport:
Change is survival for Westport.
Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin will make the important changes necessary for Westport to survive as a first-class community.
Republican governance has left Westport citizens feeling talked at - not included. Presented with excuses not solutions. Plans sit on the shelf while more taxpayer dollars are spent on more plans not action.
Climate change, flooding, affordability, economic development, gridlock – we face them today.
Steinberg & Savin will ACT to address Westport’s challenges. Vote Steinberg & Savin.
Sincerely,
Marla Cowden
Letters to the Editor are published as they are received unless denied publication at the discretion of the Executive Editor based on inaccurate information, defamation of another community member, and/or incomprehensible language. Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor.
Letter to the Editor: “Jonathan and Candice share my values. This is the right team to lead Westport now.”
Letter to the EditorTo the Editor:
Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin have the experience, strength and integrity to lead our community and make Westport better than ever.
As the Chair of the Public Health Committee in the legislature, Jonathan helped guide our state through the pandemic and championed policies to protect the health of our students.
Candice Savin’s leadership of the Board of Education was steadfast throughout her term, restoring trust and stability amongst the entire community. She led the Board through the pandemic and kept our students and faculty safe while keeping the doors of learning open. I have personally worked with Candice on the TEAM Westport schools group and have seen first-hand her unwavering dedication to the success of every child.
Most importantly, Jonathan and Candice share my values. This is the right team to lead Westport now.
Brett Aronow
Former Westport Board of Education member
Former Member of TEAM Westport
Letters to the Editor are published as they are received unless denied publication at the discretion of the Executive Editor based on inaccurate information, defamation of another community member, and/or incomprehensible language. Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor.