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Norwalk: Are There Womens Issues?


by turfgrrl


October 26th, 2007 · 46 Comments

Tomorrow the Democratic women will gather on the green at 1 p.m. to discuss women’s issues.

“We have a woman’s point of view on issues such as child care, care of seniors, economic opportunity, health care, education … I know these issues are of concern to all of us in this city but they especially concern women — (particularly) the women on my ticket — and they reflect the Democratic (perspective) of caring about these issues,” said Councilwoman Gwen Briggs, a District E candidate.

The women will also discuss issues like affordable housing, domestic violence and early childhood education — as well as their plans to address these issues — at the forum, Wells said.
The event was driven by an increasing female presence in politics, she said.

Hrmm, I guess women don’t care about property taxes, flooding, infrastructure, pot holes, development and maintaining a ‘AAA bond rating’. But, its another opportunity to meet the candidates, albeit Democratic only, despite the weekend being billed as the “Year of the Norwalk Woman —2008.”

Source: The Hour, Female Democratic candidates to discuss issues important to women, by Amanda Pinto, October 26, 2007

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

46 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: Are There Womens Issues?”


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  • 1 anonymous // Oct 26, 2007 at 12:24 pm

    Will Ken Slapin issue them a permit for this event ?

  • 2 anon // Oct 26, 2007 at 1:13 pm

    Did the Dems use their public office to secure this park?

  • 3 give me a break // Oct 26, 2007 at 1:30 pm

    I guess only Democratic women have a point of view.
    This is really self serving. You should have asked the Republican women to attend, they could at least tell you how to work for a living while bringing up their children, volunteering on the PTO snd trying to keep their heads above water. Another Galen Wells idea? NOT! She isn’t that much in tune with those around her to think up something like this. Sounds more like Gail Wall. Hey Gail will you be wearing pilgrim outfits and churn butter whilst you discuss matters that you think the public wants to hear? This will inevitably turn into a historical preservation free for all.

  • 4 anonymous // Oct 26, 2007 at 2:20 pm

    Men do not care about these issues ? This is stupid to exclude men from the discussion. It is another way of democratic special interest group pandering.

  • 5 aaaahh chuuuu! // Oct 26, 2007 at 3:16 pm

    They’ve already had a stupid forum like this on TV…It’s called “The View”.

  • 6 anonymous // Oct 26, 2007 at 3:28 pm

    so, #3, Democratic women don’t work or take care of their children? I think you are confused - you probably think Republicans are fiscally responsible as well, which is why we now have a huge deficit. You are truly delusional.

  • 7 give me a break // Oct 26, 2007 at 3:58 pm

    #6-Didn’t say that, what I am saying is that they act like dem women are the only ones with concerns. Where is the huge deficit? Certainly not in Norwalk. You continuously broadbrush all republican’s as if they are all demon children. You have no idea what you are talking about or who you are talking about and thats why people like you make this blog a huge mess of inuendo’s.

  • 8 Mr Greenpeace // Oct 26, 2007 at 4:03 pm

    got to give Amanda some more bandwith with this story

    The women will also discuss issues like affordable housing, domestic violence and early childhood education — as well as their plans to address these issues — at the forum, Wells said

    In Norwalk, 14 women are running for Common Council or Board of Education seats.

    Of those 14, 10 are Democrats — six Democratic women are running for Common Council, and four for the Board of Education.

    “We’ve made a conscious effort to get females involved and to get young people involved,” Wells has said. “We’re very proud of the fact that 50 percent of our ticket is women.

    no matter why or why not any of the republicans were asked to join in shouldn’t be an issue let them have their own,

    anyone who lives in east norwalk should be furious on how the streets are but issues take your pick there are plenty of items that need some addressing but really pot holes would be welcomed compared to some streets, we were told we are getting back money and taxes were ok for now until after the election why talk about them now?

    keeep writing Amanda sorry to see you leave ,,good luck with your new job , be glad your leaving this mess behind.

  • 9 Mr Greenpeace // Oct 26, 2007 at 4:15 pm

    huge deficit not yet

    take down the old police station?

    replace sponge fiters with no more grant money clean up the project that was started with no supervision

    upgrade the sewage plant because of the new report due after electon time

    more police and fire for coverage in the city will surface right after election time

    grants for a truck and equipment for a fire truck that will need 4 men funded by the city, like we are going to buy a truck equip it and let it sit there idle?

    where are the 4 men going to come from?

    I’m always told we all read the news anyone read into it?

    All these street openings are going to be closed for the winter, even my trash guy is directing traffic in east Norwalk who pays for that?

    broadbrush no one simply look at who is running the shows right now who cares about thier party , they all will have one after the elections knowing some more wool was pulled over our eyes

    so whats next rep or dem sheep?

    ten gallon hat looks good if he just stays silent the other two parties have too many postings showing childish behavior and thinking out here.

  • 10 ENrwlker // Oct 26, 2007 at 5:22 pm

    Hs anyone noticed that its OK for Democrats to say that women are different from men, but if Republicans say it they’re sexists?

  • 11 anonymous // Oct 26, 2007 at 6:50 pm

    do they have a permit ?

  • 12 nwlknative // Oct 26, 2007 at 8:04 pm

    While child care, care of seniors, economic opportunity, health care, affordable housing, etc. are important issues, I would rather see our council candidates discuss the taxes, infrastructure, schools, crime, etc. at a forum. These are the things I expect them to be dealing with on the Common Council. Those other issues, while important, are better left to our social service agencies. (Before anyone gets the idea that I don’t care about those issues, I raised three children while working full time and taking care of ill parents, at the same time serving as a PTO secretary, Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout leader and volunteering my “spare time” serving on a commission. I am very aware of womens’ issues.)

  • 13 Watchdog // Oct 26, 2007 at 9:05 pm

    This is unbelievable! Politics is bad enough because it excludes, and now this? Whose brilliant idea is it to exclude men from a forum on issues that EVERYONE should be both aware of and encouraged to solve? This is as silly as a men’s issue forum. You can bet that wouldn’t go over too well with most people, INCLUDING men. Issues are issues and if they are important, they should be aired, PERIOD. As a woman, I respect women who know who they are and who do not define themselves with parameters and bias. How well I remember Susan Wallerstein who, I believe, would never think of isolating herself and an issue from the opportunity to debate it in a diverse arena. Perhaps you might enlist her help as a mentor.

  • 14 aaaahh chuuuu! // Oct 26, 2007 at 9:17 pm

    Well said Watchdog & Nwlknative!

  • 15 grandma // Oct 26, 2007 at 11:05 pm

    Big issue. The super majority of women and men believe in life - yours, mine and ours. The super majority of adults would tell you they would gladly give thier own life for the life of a child. Will the Dem women be discussing prolife issues? I don’t think so.

  • 16 anon // Oct 27, 2007 at 12:08 am

    well said, grandma! I do not think any one of them there will be discussing that!

  • 17 anon // Oct 27, 2007 at 8:33 am

    Wimmin’s issues? We got trouble right here, right here in River City! Dad burn it! Who let them wimmin folk out? They should be home a-sewin, and cookin, they should.

  • 18 Anonymous // Oct 27, 2007 at 8:41 am

    #17-Your attempt at being comical is well taken however, I think the issue here is that man and women alike have the same issues when it comes to the quality of life in Norwalk. This is an attempt to bring a bunch of like minded women together for a photo op prior to elections and make voters believe taht they have all the answers. Collective thinking and working together for the good of the city is what voters want.

  • 19 Anonymous // Oct 27, 2007 at 9:25 am

    Maybe the League of Women’s Voters could help out. Or maybe it’s too controversial for them… certainly don’t want to offend anybody.

  • 20 Anonymous // Oct 27, 2007 at 9:32 am

    #18 - Your post is somewhat comfusing. Number 17 is agreeing with you, I think. That’s how ludicrous it the idea is to see women flex their “muscles” as if it were the sixties. Been there, done that. Women think alongside men as equals today. The pilgrim outfit commenter had a great point likening this forum to “Let’s play dress up and pretend we’re politicians.” These candidates need to get their heads out of the clouds and deal with all the issues rather then picking and choosing the ones they want to talk about.

  • 21 ENrwlker // Oct 27, 2007 at 9:34 am

    The LWV is a pathetic joke. They ran the first Council debate in what was universally agreed to be the most incompetent manner ever seen in a Norwalk debate, and now are petulantly pulling out of the second debate because they don’t like this blog. Turning to the LWV for help on ANYTHING is a bad idea.

  • 22 grandma // Oct 27, 2007 at 10:47 am

    Gail Wall is dressed up as a “Democrat”. She was a republican turned unafilliated and in November she will be turned into a democrat. She is a one issue person. If you can’t get what you want with one party you change to the one who will. Just like Andy Garfunkel - Republican turned Independent - turned Deomcrat. What does he really stand for?

  • 23 non partisan view // Oct 27, 2007 at 10:59 am

    #22-It really is a shame that some people will go to any lengths to get an elected position. They get what they want and then push their agenda’s. I don’t think this goes the same for Garfunkel though as far as agenda’s go. His only agenda was to get a seat on the council and when that didn’t happen once again he changed parties until he became democrat and once again he vied for a seat on the council and was refused. He was then given the nomination for Town clerk as a consolation prize because no one expected him to win, not even he thought he would win. It just happened that he ran in a year when everyone was looking for change and got the spot because Alex won so big. He got elected the next 2 times because people wanted to give him a chance to prove himself. If you look at newspaper archives you will note that under his rein, the town clerks office has made headlines in very negative ways like it has never seen before. Yes, changes have been made but those changes are because funds were made available by the admn that was in place at the time, not because he has been instrumental in coming up with the ideas on his own. Most of what has been accomplished were put in motion by the former clerks who did not have the means to complete them. As far as Gail Wall goes, mark my words, the debates on the council floor will be all about her agendas and nothing more. gail was a very active Republican prior to East Ave debacle.

  • 24 Anonymous // Oct 27, 2007 at 11:30 am

    Know what you mean about candidates switching parties, like Doug Hempstead switching from Independent to Republican, they only do it so they can serve their own interests… right?

  • 25 taxpayer // Oct 27, 2007 at 11:38 am

    #24 Doug Hempstead changed parties because the Independent party in Norwalk was losing its status in Connecticut State. He has always had only the taxpayers (not only voters) interests as his top priority.

  • 26 demsknow // Oct 27, 2007 at 11:40 am

    I believe most independants switched to the 2 party system a few years ago because there was not much participation amoungst the independant party. I believe that no matter which party Hempstead switched to that he would have been elected anyway because people trust him. He is a sound voice and a caring individual which shows quite clearly when you realize that only he and McQuaid were elected during the Knopp sweep.

  • 27 taxpayer // Oct 27, 2007 at 11:43 am

    Doesn’t Andy G. dress up also. He and Gail W. should get together. Now we know they both can act, tell tall tails and put on a show for us. The show now is for voters only.

  • 28 turfgrrl // Oct 27, 2007 at 11:48 am

    I have a different view of party labels at the local and state levels of government. I don’t think they matter.

    I don’t think that the role of government in municipalities offers much in the way of differing partisan philosophy. Either you are a fiscally focused, or not. Either you believe in open government, or not. Either you believe in economic development, or not. Either you believe in funding community programs, or not. All of these issues gather an assortment of people from all flavors of political philosophy. The important thing is to find the candidates that speak to how you feel about the issues, not by what logo they choose.

  • 29 grandma // Oct 27, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    Yep, Andy is putting on a good show for the voters. They say “Watch out for the Wolf in sheeps clothing”. Strong resemblance.

  • 30 Also a taxpayer // Oct 27, 2007 at 1:11 pm

    What’s the problem with Andy? Why is he a “wolf” what are you referring to?

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