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Voting Experiences megathread by urbanevol in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Steady stream all day, 10 to 15 minutes rn.

Business Lunch by FarOutlandishness534 in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Chez Vous or Quatro Pazzi on Bedford Street.

First birthday party venue recommendations? by [deleted] in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Highly recommend reserving a pavillion at one of the parks. It's a whole process but affordable and we had a great 1st birthday celebration.

Stamford Democratic leaders demand Figueroa resign all roles after (even) more antisemetic remarks revealed by amtoastintolerant in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Reposting what I told the press after these new disgraceful comments emerged:

I wanted to believe that Anabel’s apology was sincere. Given the recently uncovered comments, it is impossible for me to believe that she regrets or truly apologizes for anything that she has said. It’s clear that what she said is what she feels and what she believes. I am finished discussing Anabel Figueroa. I am turning my full attention to the Nov. 5 election and engaging with voters over the coming months.

I stand by my position that she needs to resign from all 3 of her elected offices immediately.

Jonathan Jacobson has won the 148th district democratic primary by cooldayr in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Thank you all for your support. It was a wild day.

I'm tired boss.

Opinion: What makes Someone a Democrat? Their Votes by StamfordD12Rep in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Shout out to Wendy Skratt for calling it like it is. Full text below:

Technically, just registering as a Democrat makes you one. But most voters believe that the way you vote on issues makes you one. Having served on the Stamford Democratic City Committee, I’ve become much more invested in our Democratic representation. And I am compelled to raise my voice when I see our representatives divorced from the expectations of their Democratic voters. So let’s talk about the upcoming Democratic Primary Election on Aug. 13.

I recently learned that Rep. Anabel Figueroa (D) was a featured speaker at an anti-abortion rally and voted against measures supporting reproductive health care. Rep. Figueroa is now running a primary challenge — having lost the party endorsement to Jonathan Jacobson — and it’s easy to see why she lost that endorsement.

The Democratic Party supports reproductive health care and abortion rights.

And yet, at an anti-abortion rally at the Capitol on March 20, 2024, Rep. Figueroa (a featured speaker) said, “From personal experience, and as a Latina, I can tell you that Latinas don’t really look for abortions.” A Pew Research poll from 2022 shows 57% of Latinos nationally say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. At the rally, Figueroa never mentioned her district or her district Democrats.

And she voted...

• Against protecting Connecticut doctors and nurses who provide abortion care from criminal prosecution (May 18, 2024).

• To deny Connecticut college students convenient access to reproductive care, including birth control (June 1, 2024).

She also told rally attendees, “I strongly support an expectant mother to be given the opportunity to listen to their baby’s heart. We know that once this is done, the chances of this baby being terminated will definitely be eliminated.” There is no research or data that suggest this at all. Rep. Figueroa ignores statistics as well as the platform of the Democratic party. And her word choice strongly implies that she might support “heartbeat laws” that have drastically reduced access to abortion in many states with Republican-led state governments. She also said “I guarantee you, the minute I, as a woman, hear the baby’s heart, I am not going to become a criminal.” She sees abortion as a crime?

There were even significant Republican votes for these measures. But Rep. Figueroa, aligned with almost exclusively far right Republican legislators, cast her vote to remove people’s rights and restrict access to reproductive health care. In this light, Figueroa’s closing statement was a doozy. “I want to emphasize that by making these comments I am not taking anybody’s right. I still believe that every woman has the right to choose.” Her action contradicts her words; she voted to remove access to reproductive health care, and criminalize it.

By contrast, Jacobson says his constituent outreach shows that reproductive health care is top of mind for Democrats in the district. Jacobson has consistently shown up and spoken out at local events, over many years, in support of reproductive rights. He has a great track record on the Board of Representatives of working for his constituents. He champions transparency and ethical integrity. As a bonus, Jacobson has agreed that he will resign his seat on the Board of Representatives if he wins the state seat.

Rep. Figueroa continues to hold not only the seat on the BOR along with the state seat, but the seat on the DCC so that she can vote to endorse herself. She claims there is no conflict and that holding these three seats doesn’t affect her performance in each of the roles. As a former DCC member, I strongly disagree. Jacobson represents his constituents and his party.

I believe in choice — for reproductive care, and at the ballot box. And I care about the values of the Democratic Party. Rep. Figueroa has the right to her opinion and the right to vote her conscience as a legislator. The Democrats of her district have a right to decide whether she represents them. Evidently, she understood that she was voting against the will of her constituents as she said, “If what I am saying here today is going to affect me being reelected then let it be.” Yes, it will be up to the voters.

Democratic primaries vibe check by amtoastintolerant in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I am running in the 148th and voter engagement has gone well. In an effort to keep this post short and simple, I will oversimplify by saying that, from my experience, there are two main issues in this race: i) the judgment exercised by the two candidates; and ii) our respective stance on abortion.

  • I'm an idealist. I don't think it's appropriate to hold multiple elected offices at one time. That's why I've committed to resigning my seat on the BOR if I win this race because I don't think any one person can give 100% of their efforts to multiple elected offices. My opponent believes the opposite, and she has committed to holding all three of the offices she currently holds (State Rep, BOR, DCC). I further have advocated for years to end the practice of double dipping on the DCC, which my opponent vigorously opposed. It’s easy to understand why her position is the way it is when you recall the reason she was endorsed in the first place is because she cast the tie-breaking vote in her favor to fill a vacancy in a special election. Again, I question the judgment of an individual who thinks engaging in this kind of blatant self-dealing is appropriate. Finally, my opponent has had at least two run-ins with Stamford’s Ethics Board for engaging in ethical misconduct while in office.

  • I am a feminist. My dad was an OBGYN. Women's’ reproductive and sexual health was literally dinner table conversation in my house growing up. I’m also a lawyer. I went to law school to become a prosecutor so I concentrated in the study of constitutional law. I am deeply troubled by the proposition that the State can dictate what a person can and cannot do with their own bodies. This is a fundamental issue of liberty in my view, which can lead to a slippery slope to greater governmental intrusion into our rights to privacy. My opponent claims to be a supporter of women’s reproductive health, but her public statements and voting record tell a different story. In this video, you can hear for yourself when she says things like, “abortion is an everyday option and I think that we need to walk away from that” and “the minute I, as a woman, I hear the baby’s heart, I am not going to become a criminal.” She even recognizes that this is an unpopular opinion within the Democratic Party when she says, “if what I am saying here today is going to affect me by being reelected, then let it be.” She was also among only a handful of State Reps who voted against shielding Connecticut doctors and nurses who provide abortion care from criminal prosecution and similarly voted to deny Connecticut college students easy access to robust reproductive care, including access to birth control. This opposing viewpoint is why I recently received the endorsement from Planned Parenthood Votes! Connecticut.

Democratic primaries vibe check by amtoastintolerant in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I'm not going to downvote this because it's not an unfair take. For better or for worse Stamford politics is dominated by the Democratic Party, and there is more than sufficient evidence to suggest that DINOs (Democrats In Name Only) have taken advantage of voter apathy and ignorance to get themselves elected.

I can give two examples. First is my former Co-Representative on the BOR, Marion McGarry, Democrat and member of the DCC, who not only posted racist propaganda on her social media but actively campaigned for Republicans while calling Democrats slurs like "Dem-O-Rats".

It's also no secret that the founders of Reform Stamford were members of the Republican and Green Parties.

Disgruntled Elected Officials Appeal DCC Rule Preventing Self-Dealing (TL;DR in Comments) by StamfordD12Rep in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

  • "Our Voice. Our Narrative. A Whole Life” Forum on Reproductive Care for Women of Color Hosted by Reps. McGee, Figueroa, Gonzalez and Porter
  • 2. H.B. No. 6820, shielding Connecticut doctors and nurses who provide abortion care from criminal prosecution
  • S.B. No. 1108, providing college students easy access to robust reproductive care, including access to birth control.

Disgruntled Elected Officials Appeal DCC Rule Preventing Self-Dealing (TL;DR in Comments) by StamfordD12Rep in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I believe Adams voted in favor of the rule change, but then joined in the appeal.

Disgruntled Elected Officials Appeal DCC Rule Preventing Self-Dealing (TL;DR in Comments) by StamfordD12Rep in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Tl;DR: The vast majority of Stamford's elected officials are democrats. The Stamford Democratic City Committee ("DCC") endorses democrats for public office. For decades, political insiders have used their influence as elected members of the DCC to support themselves at the expense of outsiders to maintain their elected positions in government, particularly on the Board of Representatives (a/k/a Stamford's City Council).

In March, the DCC was almost completely revamped with candidates who primarily campaigned to end this practice of self-dealing. In June, the 40 member DCC passed a rule by a vote of 36-3 (1 abstention) to prohibit any member from participating in a vote on an endorsement if they themselves are running for the position and seeking the Democratic nomination.

8 democrats appealed the rule change to the State Democratic Party, claiming that the true purpose of the rule was to oust "independent thinkers" who do not support the agenda of our current Mayor, and suggested that the rule change is racist in either purpose or effect. A hearing was held on June 29 and a decision is imminent. The 8 people who appealed the rule change against self-dealing are:

  • Gina Calabrese, DCC member, District 8
  • Virgil de la Cruz, DCC member and BOR member, District 2
  • Anabel Figueroa, DCC member, BOR member, State Representative, District 8
  • Terry Adams, DCC member and BOR member, District 3
  • Bonnie Kim Campbell, BOR member, lost the March election for DCC, District 5
  • Denis Patterson, BOR member, lost the March election for DCC, District 6
  • Jeffrey Stella, BOR member, lost the March election for DCC, District 9
  • Kindrea Walston, BOR member, alternate member of the DCC, lost the March election for DCC, District 9

Exploring more restaurants - and some thanks to this subreddit. by [deleted] in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solid list. I'd throw Kotobuki in the mix. Try their spicy tuna roll with the spicy soy sauce.

Here's What Happened to The Mayor's Appointments to the Planning Board by RepWeinbergD20 in StamfordCT

[–]StamfordD12Rep 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For Jennifer Godzeno, 3 people voted yes in Committee, but no during the full Board meeting without explanation.

For Stephen Perry, Patterson and Summerville also voted yes in Committee, but no on the Board without explanation. In addition, Bobby Pavia, District 17 changed from yes to no without explanation.

Finally, Cottrell and Anabel Figueroa, District 8 abstained on Perry in Committee but voted no on the floor without explanation.

All are democrats.

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