The Public Deserves to See the Trash Outsourcing Report

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Art generated by AI following author's prompt: Report locked in safe The Enfield Town Council is considering a consequential issue: outsourcing our public works trash removal service. However, the town has not released the consultant's report, which likely examines the pros and cons of such a move, even as the Council begins its budget deliberations. The town council authorized the hiring of the consultants in November, 2024. On April 7, 2025, the Town Council discussed the report in executive session. I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for a report copy this week. The Town Manager's office responded that the report is still in draft format and is not eligible for public disclosure under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. I was also told: "The contract has not provided us a completion date at this time." That means the report could be withheld from the public indefinitely. Draft is not an automatic exemption This was my response: "My un...

Will Enfield vote for Trump again?




Trump in Enfield Connecticut
Signs on Hazard Ave. near the Eastern intersection of Middle Road. The "Love will always win" sign speaks to the Enfield's socially liberal values, which may way heavily against Trump this time around. 


Voting lines are long, with an hour-long wait at polling places, say social media reports. Connecticut will vote for Joe Biden in this race, as it did for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Trump won Enfield in 2016, 9,238 to 8,548.

Will Trump repeat his 2016 Enfield victory? It's possible. There is one big local issue in play: Defense spending.

Connecticut ranks 7th in the nation on defense spending. Trump increased defense spending, as promised, and Connecticut has benefited from the increases. Residents here are aware that many jobs are defense-related.

But if Trump loses in Enfield, it might be around social and character issues.

The town carries the New England traditions of live and let live tolerance, for all its conservative leanings.

Enfield is generally socially liberal but fiscally conservative. This election will test the power of Enfield's social liberals. 

People feel they pay too much in local and state taxes, which helps local and state Republicans. 

Republicans here tend to skew liberal on social issues, which keeps some of the Democrats in their camp. One thing to note: The town is heavily Catholic and Trump's abortion stance may be appealing to some. 

Connecticut responded aggressively to the pandemic and had one of the best records in the nation. With the virus infection rates surging, people here may blame Trump. This could be a factor in today's vote. 

The election turnout in Enfield may be heading to a record level. Does this foretell a Trump or Biden victory in Enfield? That's too hard of a call to make.



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