Republican Mayoral Candidate Reacts to Passage of Hurricane-Relief Ordinance

September 13, 2011 - Alderman Bob Joy today issued the following statement concerning last night’s Board of Aldermen meeting, where his proposals to provide relief from city permit fees for Hurricane Irene victims triumphed over the strenuous political opposition from Aldermanic Democrats, led by Ben Blake.

“I introduced these ordinances to waive building and planning fees for Hurricane Irene victims because I felt it was an obvious and direct way the City of Milford could help the hundreds upon hundreds of people who are hurting, some terribly, from storm damage. Giving them relief from fees is one way the City can assist our neighbors expedite their recovery efforts and restore their homes and neighborhoods. It was the right thing to do, and even one Democrat admitted to such -- until he was taken to the woodshed by party leaders.

“The disaster’s cost to many of Irene’s victims is far beyond what insurance company coverage will fund. Our action last night helps them reinvest in their homes and in their neighborhoods. Our action assures them: their City is with them through this difficult effort to rebuild. I am thankful my Republican colleagues joined me in passing these important measures.

“But what should have been a stellar night for the Small City with a Big Heart was darkened by Alderman Ben Blake’s instinctive determination to engage in political partisanship. It was not a pretty sight.

“I found it shocking that Ben cast the act of helping neighbors as a ‘windfall for the insurance companies.’ This claim is false. Payments are made to homeowners, not municipalities. Ben Blake knows that. But some people are satisfied with not letting the facts get in the way of reality.

“No one should be surprised by Ben’s callous attitude to this issue. Only two years ago he led efforts to decimate the City’s “CodeRed” emergency phone warning system. Would that Irene had never reached our shores, but if it was to happen, I am grateful that

it occurred after Mayor Richetelli and Republican aldermen reversed Ben’s inexplicable CodeRed action to undermine public safety.

“We live in a city with a long shoreline - with several rivers, a major mall, two power plants and the nation’s busiest highway. Emergency preparedness is vital to the lives and fortunes of our citizens. When is it going to dawn on Ben Blake that preparing for emergencies with diligence, and responding to them with compassion, is an essential element of what it means to live in Milford?

“I said last night that my proposal was about helping people. Aldermen who wanted to help the citizens of Milford could vote for it, and did. Those who didn’t want to help the citizens of Milford could vote against it. Sadly, some did. That they could abandon their neighbors in their hour of need is very troubling.

“I want to commend Mayor Richetelli for reminding Milford citizens, including some Democrat Aldermen, that the resources necessary are being devoted to expedite the permit requests that are certain to come from hundreds of people whose houses and properties damaged by Irene.”