Stamford Election: James Grunberger For Stamford Board Of Reps.

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 2 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Stamford.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the city.

Democrat James Grunberger, 64, is running for Board of Representatives, District 18.

Occupation: Community Organizer, 3rd Generation Manufacturing and Retail Fine Jeweler for 40 Years, and Retail High Touch Property Manager, all In Stamford

Family: I helped raise twin nephews, Samuel Grunberger Holleran and Max Grunberger Holleran; both teach at the University of Melbourne, and both research and write about public space and intelligent urban planning.

My aunt was an attorney with the U.S. Justice Department funding good police departments and investigating bad ones. My uncle was the Chief Legal Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. My late mother was President of the Consumer Rights Advocacy group CCAG for Stamford, Milk Commissioner for the State of CT and Energy Chairman for The League of Women Voters.

My late father worked in his jewelry shop on Atlantic Street with me and both taught me to be civic-minded and help others in all ways as much as possible. He gave his savings to burn centers for children and mental health research and I give mine to those less fortunate than me here in Stamford.

Experience: none

Family in government: Cousins Tia Lessin and Carl Deal are award winning documentary filmmakers who expose corruption in government.

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

Infrastructure deficiencies and an understaffed Police Department. I will assist to identify and prioritize mold, flooding, traffic, pedestrian safety and personal safety issues and work with City government employees and City politicians to be much more proactive as the City continues to grow. We need fixes for the next 50 years, not for just the next 50 minutes.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I have put more skin into the game here in town with my time and with my earnings. Here is a partial list of activites that sets me apart:

• Successfully lobbied with others for 12 years through 3 administrations for sidewalks on Oaklawn Avenue then paid for half of the sidewalks on Halpin Avenue when the City refused to connect miles of continuous walks.
• Paid for sidewalks on East Main and Quintard Terrace.
• Expanded the ball field on City land and built a garden on City land on Frank Street and renovated two classrooms in City Schools.
• Painted murals with teens on Crystal Street, Orange Street and at Domus and CLC.
• Picked up street garbage and dumped furniture and construction debris from City streets with at risk teens for 20 years.
• Trimmed back vegetation blocking access to public sidewalks with teens all over the East Side.
• Planted trees and perennial bulbs on State property.
• Painted out graffiti for 25 years as fast as it goes up on the East Side.
• Renovated and maintained the pocket park on East Main.
• Put in and maintained the sculpture garden next to the train bridge on East Main and planted and maintained the traffic island at Exit 9.
• Helped plan and build the playground on Lawn Avenue.
• Worked for 10 years with Police and Health Departments to successfully close three illegal massage parlors on East Main Street.
• Helped found and run three successful not-for-profits in the City.
• Co-Chair and partial funder of Stamford Police Foundation whose activities include starting the K-9 and funding the Gun Stoppers Tipsters Programs and kickstarting funding for the Bear Cat Defensive Vehicle.
• I constantly mentor 40 at risk teens and young adults and assist them with medical treatment, counseling, purchase of computers and used cars and assist with daycare expenses.
• I am the recipient of the American Red Cross " Heroes of Lower Fairfield County Award" and also was a recipient of the "Channel 12, and Hometown Heroes Award".

Accomplishments:

With others and I successfully lobbied the City to get the retail on street parking replaced by off street parking for 5 retailers that were taken by the Urban Transitway ring road. Successfully fought to stop the Lord and Taylor proposed expansion when they refused to put in two sided retail and refused to contribute to traffic calming and sidewalks for the neighborhood. Successfully encouraged the City to perform a neighborhood study on the East Side. Successfully stopped Aquarion Water from cutting down hundreds of trees on Lakeside Drive and creating a Conservation Land Agreement in that area and brought City water to Quarry Road.

Other issues:

Our population went from 100,000 to 140, 000 while our police force went from 320 to 250. The administration seems to take light of the 25 plus careers of so many heroic officers and openly told them that it was ok if crime rose "a little".

I am the initial Police Foundation funder for the new Stamford Police Activities League (PAL) which will provide much needed after school activities for teenagers after school at the now vacant Chester Addison Center. We will need a lot of City support.

Bars are over-serving young patrons and police have many domestic violence calls and traffic accident calls as well. As our community grows, we must greatly bring our police ranks back to where they were at a minimum.

Many neighborhoods have severe flooding problems. The current storm drain infrastructure is inadequate and is overwhelmed. In Springdale the river overflows in part because the fix made the water take a 90 degree bend instead of a slow steady bend so the water overflows at the hard turn and floods many basements. There are practical solutions. We put people on the moon.

This will only get worse as storms get more severe. Additionally, developers should be required to make safety changes and/or infrastructure improvements on the city property in front of and in the vicinity of their projects. We have to address our growing pains and only approve "Smart Growth" projects.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I run honest, skilled, successful businesses in Stamford by attracting and keeping talented employees and talented retailers. I treat them like family and they in turn have helped me to mentor the young people that we assist. I can outwork most people and spend a lot of my energy helping others. I am a common sense problem solver and know that I can be of service to the City if elected. I have a good long term working relationship with many City employees. I am a man of my word and always seek to communicate well with the people around me.

I am ready, willing and able to help.