Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Democratic Mayoral Candidate Confounded by Soup Kitchen Citation

Democratic Mayoral candidate Dan Drew has come out strongly against the Health Department citation against the St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen. He indicated it was within the mayor's discretion as chief executive in the city to decide whether or not to pursue the violation.

"The mayor has the ability to use his judgment," Drew said. "I just can't believe this is happening at a time when people can't feed themselves, in a time when the soup kitchen is needed the most. It makes me wonder if Mayor Giuliano is going to go after the Girls Scouts."

"I disagree with the approach Food Not Bombs has taken, but I'm supportive of providing food to the hungry," Drew said. "But in the case of the soup kitchen I don't understand why there is a drive to shut it down."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you kidding me Mr. Drew? Of course the Health Department should do their jobs, without the Mayor using executive power to over ride law! The East Haven Mayor was wrong when she used her power to over ride Police decisions. And if Mayor Guiliano did it here, I'd call for his removal. Public health and safety cannot be ignored just for the feel good measures. Many people could get sick, and who would pay for that bill? The taxpayer? Oh thats right, your a member of the Middletown tax and spend democratic team. The one's who returned 1 million in Union givebacks, and spends money they don't have yet. Let's just ignore all the laws of the land, especially the one's that protect the general population. Honestly, you should stick to your vision for Middletown, not the feel good issues that make the democratic team feel better about themselves.

Anonymous said...

Mr Drew might want to discuss his thoughts with the East Haven Mayor.

Anonymous said...

the law is the law, the Mayor does not have the ability to override any law. Mr Drew you clearly have not been in this town long enough to understand what the soup kitchen has done and is doing to our north end. It should not be on Main Street it gives a very depressing and intimidating feel to the street. You should pledge to move it off Main Street, accomplish something no other Mayor has been able to do.

Anonymous said...

To Anonymous 7:42:

"it gives a very depressing and intimidating feel to the street"

It makes me so sad that that the visual presence of poor people "depresses" you. Shouldn't the existence of people in such dire need of basic necessities depress you more? St. Vincent's fulfills (with grace and dignity) a desperate need in our community. Shame on all of us for not caring more for those less fortunate than we are and for being bothered at the site of undesirables.

Mr. Drew (or Mayor Giuliano), maybe instead of fighting to move the poor and homeless out of sight, you can spend your time on the more valuable act of helping people get ahead.

I don't disagree that Main St. isn't the best place for the soup kitchen, but that's only because the people who are eating there deserve the dignity of privacy away from all of you who judge it and them "depressing".