Yesterday, the board of aldermen in New Haven approved a plan for the city to issue identification cards to all residents, allowing them to utilize the services of libraries and banks. It makes good sense, because with IDs, illegal immigrants, undocumented workers can open bank accounts in New Haven. It sounds like a very minor thing, but it isn’t. Without the ability to put their money into a bank, these people are often victims of robbery. These robberies go unreported.
The ID program is not just good for the workers if they deposit their earnings into the bank, it’s good for the bank and the local economy too.
Here is my bottom line – There are somewhere around 12 million undocumented aliens in the United States. The idea of deporting all of them is staggeringly unrealistic, both pragmatically and in economic terms. So we have two choices (three if you include advocating deporting all of them from your softly-padded room): Stick your head in the sand, pretend it isn’t happening, occasionally pick your head up and nibble around the margins with legislation that is sure both not to pass and to infuriate everyone, rinse, lather, repeat (you may recognize this as the approach of the federal government).
Or, do what New Haven (and, to a lesser extent the state, through allowing the children of undocumented aliens to pay instate tuition rates at public colleges) is doing and take the first step toward integrating immigrants into our society and culture, eliminating the incentive for violent criminals to use them as human ATMs, and hope that something you do somehow forces the federal government to actually address the issue. As a woman in this clip argues, the people involved are already our neighbors and will continue to be – what we do is up to us (at least, thats what I inferred her point to be before the arguing broke out).
At the end of the day, we’re talking about human beings, and whether or not we should be treating them with dignity and respect. I think we should, and I’m glad that John DeStefano and the City of New Haven are taking a step in that direction.
New Britain voters overwhelmingly voted for Democrats in yesterday’s federal and state elections, delivering a major setback to city Republicans across the board.
Democrat Chris Murphy was elected by a 2-1 margin in the city, even defeating Congresswoman Nancy Johnson in her home voting district. The win in New Britain was a large part of the sweeping victory for Murphy over the twenty-four-year incumbent.
But the victory for the Democrats was broad, with all Democratic candidates winning significant majorities. State Representatives John Geragosian, Peter Tercyak and Tim O’Brien were elected by greater than 3-1 margins over their Republican opponents. Sen. Donald DeFronzo, unopposed, was also re-elected.
New Britain voters also overwhelmingly voted for Democrat Ned Lamont over both of his Republican opponents, Alan Schlessinger and Joe Lieberman, showing a stronger support than the state as a whole for Lamont’s Democratic message for health care, education and an end to the waste of money and lives on the War in Iraq.
Voters in New Britain similarly chose Democrat John DeStefano, who also ran on platform calling for universal health care and property tax reform over Republican M. Jodi Rell, even though the state as a whole overwhelmingly elected Rell.
In a year in while Democrats won significant victories nationwide, the wins delivered by New Britain voters for the Democrats were even larger than the national and state trend.
Caffeinated Geek Girl was at the Milford stop of NL’s Stand Up for Change tour and then the rally last night in New Haven. So was I..but she posted audio and pictures. Here’s one she posted of herself, Ned Lamont, and me:
Listen to John DeStefano’s remarks from the Milford DTC:
John DeStefano and Mary Glassman released a new ad this week.
The Courant wrote about the ad, but I liked this clip from the end of the article:
Glassman said Rell simply is weak in unscripted moments.
“That’s why their strategy has been hide and seek – keeping her off the campaign trail, limiting debates,” Glassman said. “She’s only comfortable in controlled situations. The voters have had limited access to this governor. Once they see the differences [with DeStefano], we gain. That’s why their strategy has been to hold the ball and let the time run out.”
Harris dismissed that notion.
“Anyone who has been following the campaign knows Gov. Rell has been a very active candidate,” he said. “There is no more real, unscripted and personable person in Connecticut politics than Jodi Rell.”
Has anyone seen Jodi Rell speaking extemporaneously to voters anywhere? I mean, she’s running for governor of the whole state, but she doesn’t seem to be holding public campaign events.
These videos speak for themselves, really. Each of them is about three minutes long, and all of them showcase the energy and tenacity of Democrats in this state.
And a repeat of my pitch from an earlier post today: If you really appreciate the time it took me to get the videos (attending the event, showing up an hour early, etc) and posting them online before the 6pm news, please consider purchasing something on my Amazon WishList or making a contribution to my Amazon Tip-Jar. The items on the wishlist are books and CDs that I plan to buy anyway. I don’t need any video equipment or supplies at this time, because thanks to other grateful readers (and viewers) I’m well stocked with tapes. Contributions to the Tip-Jar are also welcome, encouraged, and appreciated. The total collected is since August, not since this morning, so as you can see I’m not getting rich off this. Thanks for supporting people-powered media!
Dean spoke on behalf of Connecticut Democrats today at Coach’s Sports Bar & Grill on Allyn St. in Hartford. The crowd was large and lively for the DNC Chairman.
I’d rather just show you the video, than attempt to describe the scene. Below is a video of highlights from Dean’s speech, clocking in at under five minutes. I will post the unabridged video in the extended text of this entry as an update.
Also, if you really appreciate the time it took me to get the videos (attending the event, showing up an hour early, etc) and posting them online before the 6pm news, please consider purchasing something on my Amazon WishList or making a contribution to my Amazon Tip-Jar. The items on the wishlist are books and CDs that I plan to buy anyway. I don’t need any video equipment or supplies at this time, because thanks to other grateful readers (and viewers) I’m well stocked with tapes. Contributions to the Tip-Jar are also welcome, encouraged, and appreciated. The total collected is since August, not since this morning, so as you can see I’m not getting rich off this. Thanks for supporting people-powered media!
If you really appreciate the time it took me to get the videos (attending the event, showing up an hour early, etc) and posting them online before the 6pm news, please consider purchasing something on my