To the editor:
“Courage”, the ability to do something that frightens one or is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation. This word can be found on the yard signs of Senator Alex Kasser as she runs for re-election to hold her Senate seat against challenger Ryan Fazio. Alex, from the moment she was sworn into office led the charge to implement tolls (a new tax) into our State. I have to wonder, was this courage? To me, implementing tolls is choosing the easy way out, showing courage would be finding ways to reduce the extremely high construction costs that are close to 10 times more costly per mile than many neighboring states. Courage would be standing up to fight against the money being diverted before it goes into the Special Transportation Fund Lock Box. Showing courage would be standing up against wasteful spending on projects that are not a priority in our State, and only focus on the most important, that will speed up traffic flow and structures that are in need of repair for safety reasons.
In January of 2019, the Board of Representatives in Stamford voted for a No Tolls Resolution because they understood the impact tolls would have on our citizens who are struggling to live in CT, as well as the traffic impact these tolls would have on our secondary streets, when cars and trucks try to avoid them. Alex ignored the voice of this elected body that speaks for the people of Stamford and continued her push for tolls. Is this “courage” or pure disregard for the voice of the people?
Finding new ways to increase revenue for the State does not take courage; in fact it is the complete opposite. We need people in Hartford that will show true courage and uncover the wasteful spending, have courage to question the high costs of construction, show courage and stand up against the one party rule that has led our state into billions of dollars of debt. We need leaders who will fight for the working class, and those who struggle to get out of poverty in our State, and not look for the easy solutions like Alex. This is why I am voting for Ryan Fazio for State Senate, and I encourage my Democrat friends to show courage and do the same.
Patrick Sasser,
Found of No Tolls CT
