Week 16 on the Campaign Trail or Jobs, Development, and Nature

In Glastonbury I am known as an advocate for the environment who expects that development in that community respects nature and creates a habitat attractive to humankind, plants, and animals. If I could wave a magic wand and establish a fundamental development principle, it would be that when land must be developed it is developed to its capacity to provide water and absorb the waste generated at that location. In areas that have sewer and municipal water then more intensive development can occur providing the resulting waste is handled correctly.

Indeed, in those asphalt wastelands that dot many communities across Connecticut, this is where the redevelopment of “green” housing, shopping, and appropriate industry should occur. This is the essence of smart growth. This is development that will improve our environment, create jobs, and once more make it attractive to live downtown. Examples of this principle can be found in Manchester with the conversion of a center Manchester building into several energy efficient apartments and the redevelopment underway on Broad Street that will transform that area into a green oasis of housing and shopping opportunities.

In a state whose population has been relatively stagnant, it is poor business to continue the sprawl that has claimed so much forest and farmland and left so much wasted weed choked previously developed parcels in disuse. Incentives to redevelop that land and revitalize neighborhoods make good sense. That’s cents for the economy and sense for the environment! If successful in the Democratic primary scheduled for Tuesday, August 14th and later successful in the November election, this is an issue I will champion with my Democratic colleagues in the state legislature.

Attached to this week’s blog is a link to a playful video of Nellie on the Howe farm where Nell and I walk and the larger of my gardens is quickly succumbing to weeds. This is the price a gardener pays when campaigning for office! Its message of living in harmony with nature is one that I hope you enjoy. Thanks to Jen Messina who assembled and edited this clip. That link is  http://youtu.be/FoxBu4-jkro