The Blog that Works

This past week the City started receiving results back from drinking water tests performed earlier this summer at homes in the Scofieldtown area.  The results are very distressing, showing pesticides in well water at several homes. 

I am sure that these results are especially shocking to the affected families and their neighbors.  It is hard to imagine the thoughts that would come when you learn that the home where you raised and loved your children and grandchildren may have been harming them.  My heart goes out to those who are affected, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that the City works to solve this problem, to protect the residents of the area, and to make sure that everyone understands what has happened and what is happening to fix it.  I only wish that I could do more.

The first thing that we must do is make sure people have clean water to drink and use in their homes.  Bottled water deliveries have been ordered, and we will schedule installations of charcoal filtration systems within the coming week.  This is an effective remedy, one that others in similar circumstances have used for years.  For the long term, we have already begun to develop a plan to have pipes installed to connect the area to the public drinking water supply.  Of course, given the time it takes to carry out that type of improvement, and the cooperation that will be needed from the water company; we need interim measures as well, such as the bottled water and filters.

Next, we need to keep testing so that we fully understand the problem.  We need to re-test the positive findings and continue to test further from the affected areas in order to best gauge the scope of the problem.  We need to gather technical data about the wells in the area.  We may need to drill new wells to monitor groundwater.  We have already hired a Licensed Environmental Professional to help us interpret results, recommend additional testing, and ultimately develop a plan to address the contamination and keep residents safe.

Finally, the City needs to implement that plan and be a responsible steward of this problem we have all inherited.  It is far too soon to know what may be the best way forward with Scofieldtown, but we can surmise that the solutions will be complex and difficult.  Groundwater contamination is hard to resolve in a short period of time; we can’t simply dig it up and haul it away.  We need to know much more about what is there, exactly where it is, its source, and how it is moving.  This may be more challenging because the City has very few records from during the critical time period prior to the 1960s, which may have helped us to more quickly and easily establish the source of the contamination.  Nevertheless, we will rise to that challenge.

Unlike so many generations before us, we face the obligation to leave our community and our environment cleaner and safer than it was delivered to us.  We have already begun, carrying out major cleanups as part of many of our projects in recent years, such as Kozciusko Park, West Avenue, the Stamford Urban Transitway, West Beach and many others.  Scofieldtown may be our greatest challenge yet, but it is one that we must meet for the sake of our children and grandchildren.

I was saddened to wake up this morning to the news that Senator Ted Kennedy had passed away.  Senator Kennedy, the fighting lion of the Senate, was a staunch and unwavering supporter of policies intended to improve the healthcare, education and civil rights of countless Americans.  He authored and co-authored literally hundreds of bills throughout the course of his admirable lifetime in public service. 

I got to know Senator Kennedy in the 1970s when I worked on his re-election campaign and then again in 1980 when he ran for president.  He had tremendous personal warmth which he displayed one-on-one and in front of large crowds.  His work as an advocate for the most vulnerable populations will remain a legacy for years to come and we are all lucky to have had Senator Kennedy fight on our behalf for so many years.

I know that this country is a better place in large part due to his efforts and I join the millions of mourners across the United States and around the world, as my thoughts prayers are with the Kennedy family today.

Today I spoke at a conference designed to increase the awareness of Hepatitis C in communities.  Hepatitis C is a serious and lifelong infection that can lead to liver disease and organ failure. Unfortunately, there is not a vaccine yet to treat the infection.  The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 3-4 million Americans are living with the disease.

My talk at the conference this morning focused on what local municipalities and states can do to find ways to raise awareness around Hepatitis C to promote effective means of preventing the spread of the infection. Throughout my tenure as mayor, I have found that one of the best ways to improve municipal programs is to share best practices with other cities and states.  What better way to know that a program works than to see whether or not it works somewhere else? In that regard, I spoke specifically about the South Carolina Hepatitis C Coalition, an organized group of health care providers and citizens who are diligently working to raise awareness about the disease and to promote preventative programs. South Carolina provides an excellent model for other states to emulate to find low-cost ways to promote collaborative efforts amongst health care providers to raise awareness and promote prevention efforts.  Connecticut should follow suit to prevent the unnecessary spread of a life threatening illness that afflicts too many citizens in our state.  

The City of Stamford recently launched a new emergency mass notification service which will provide similar services as our last reverse-911 system, but at a lower cost to the city.  Having this system in place allows city officials to communicate with residents quickly and efficiently in the event of an emergency, and can even be used for planned and routine public safety announcements.  We can record, send and track personalized voice messages to thousands of residents, businesses and local agencies in just minutes, through a single phone call.  We are also equipped to send text messages to cell phones, PDAs, e-mail accounts and TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired. 

Getting set up to receive these calls is an important part of sensible emergency preparedness for your family, and it’s up to you to make sure that you’re ready to receive information in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.  If your number isn’t listed, it won’t be included unless you opt in, so be sure to go to this site to register for our emergency alerts.  For your family and friends without internet access, they can call 977-4153 to add themselves to our system.

The results are in for our first month of single stream recycling:  Thanks in part to your efforts, we increased our recycling by 48% (that’s 200 more tons of recycled materials that we saved from trash bins) compared to the same time last year.  What’s most impressive is that City of Stamford residents threw away 28% less garbage compared to the same time last year, and that not only makes for a cleaner and greener city, but it’s also an economic success, saving taxpayers $102,200 in hauling costs. 

Our first month was a great success, and we need your help to make sure the coming months are just as positive.  Spreading the word and ensuring the continued success of this program is a collaborative effort so keep up the good work and spread the word!

(See this brochure for more information or call Dan Colleluori,Stamford’s Supervisor of Solid Waste/Recyling at 977-4117 if you have any questions.)

Did you know Stamford has a great mentoring program for children? Stamford Mentoring Partnership known as S.T.A.M.P is currently mentoring 33 children throughout the city and already has 50 children on a waiting list for the program.

My Youth Services Bureau is currently looking for adults willing to give an hour a week of their time to volunteer as mentors so we can include more children in the program. Studies have shown that mentees have a better attitude at school and get better grades giving them an all around improved experience at school. Communities with mentoring programs also show a decrease in drug and alcohol use, teen pregnancies, and school drop out rates. The amazing thing about mentoring is that besides the tremendous benefits it has for the mentees it also benefits the adults who participate as mentors.

So if you or someone you know are interested in becoming a mentor please contact Michelle Lappas at mlappas@ci.stamford.ct.us or call 977-0830.

Even though the summer is drawing closer to its end, it’s extremely important to keep a few safety issues in mind. When you get a chance, I suggest that you check out the Health and Social Services section of the City of Stamford’s website to learn more about issues like the West Nile Virus, sun safety and extreme heat.

There’s also a link to a website that provides information about Recreational Water Illness and how that can be prevented. Many of the information sheets come in both English and Spanish. Take a look and share the information with your friends and family so that we can all end the summer on a safe and healthy note!

I always welcome your input, and my email inbox is regularly full with comments and suggestions from Stamford residents.  Lately, I’ve gotten dozens of comments about Cove Island Park.  People are generally impressed with the conditions of the beaches and the facilities, and I love getting your feedback.

Some of Stamford’s greatest assets are our great parks and beach spots.  Given the new improvements at Courtland, Hatch Field, West Beach and Lione Parks, our city has an incredible variety of recreation spaces to walk your dog, play your favorite sport and just relax.  What’s your favorite Stamford park?