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Norwalk: Hempstead Calls For Volunteers


by turfgrrl


December 23rd, 2007 · 8 Comments

In keeping with the spirit of the season, and perhaps evoking his doppleganger, at least according to an earlier illustrative comment, Council member Doug Hempstead is urging people to volunteer their time, energy and experience to help out, not just the city, but the many non profits in the area that could use some help. From the Hour:

More government recruiting sessions aimed at landing resumes for service on city boards and commission are in the works.

This time, however, Common Councilman Douglas E. Hempstead wants to cast a wider net by encouraging residents to also submit their resumes for work with local nonprofit organizations.

“I am encouraged to hear that there are people willing to volunteer and serve on governmental boards and commissions, but we should also keep in mind that this year has proven to be a tough one for nonprofits,” said Hempstead, who represents District D. “The council should make every effort to frequently search out the best, brightest and most qualified candidates to serve on our boards and commissions. But it’s not all about politics. We should be just as passionate about encouraging people to serve with our communities non profits.”

Hempstead said he plans to hold open-house meetings, starting next month, where residents can meet with council members and others, and submit resumes.Some council members, Hempstead said, began their political careers by serving the community outside of City Hall. He said his past service on various boards and current service on the Child Guidance Center, as well as Lockwood Mathew Mansion Museum, gave him the “opportunity to work with some great people.”

“The biggest obstacle we face in government is to get the public engaged and active in what we do and to understand how our city functions,” Hempstead said. “I hope that over time our efforts in reaching out for new volunteers will show that our American democracy, with all its flaws, is still the best in the world.”

source: The Hour, Councilman urges more volunteerism, By ROBERT KOCH, December 23, 2007

Tags: Norwalk

8 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: Hempstead Calls For Volunteers”



  • 1 Mike Coffey // Dec 25, 2007 at 8:12 am

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all ! In the spirit of the season, I am Happy to see that Fred Bondi and Doug Hempstead are continuing the open government forums to encourage increased volunteerism that was started two years ago on the 2005-2007 Common Council. It is a great way to bring in new people and continue to make our government more transparent without the influence of extreme partisan influence.

  • 2 Anonymous // Dec 26, 2007 at 12:16 am

    figures can’t find police officers to hire , we may as well ask for volunteers,

    does Mike and Douglas have any idea what else needs our attention?

    I can see by this thread they may not have a clue what else is going on in Norwalk, if they did they would be out here talking more police, fire and dispatchers who talk the language of the callers and most callers don’t speak english.

    The biggest obstacle we face in government is to get the public engaged and active in what we do and to understand how our city functions,”

    yes sit on your ass and do nothing it appears :)

    another shooting at Roodner court xmas night this one seemed to have happened inside a building,

    I do wonder who picks out the new carpet after the blood stained old one gets removed?

    I wonder who comforts the kids who heard the shots saw the blood and and sees the pain in the faces of the police officers they know and trust for their safety.

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all ! In the spirit of the season

    this city is clueless and seems to have lost sight of what matters

    Hempstead said he plans to hold open-house meetings

    why don’t you run a course in gun safety and pass out vouchers for coffins it may be the only thing some of the residents may be interested in.

    no one trusts any of you anymore you talk a good game but deliver nothing but bullsh@t.

    most housing complexes in the other 5 cities in Ct have security isn’t it about time we get a police cheif that knows what he is doing?

    Why don’t we invite the IMS in and remove the illegals it seems to have effected our quality of life.

    The Residents Are Calling for help, please get new hearing aids before we all die.

  • 3 Anonymous // Dec 26, 2007 at 12:55 am

    Give it a rest sounds #2 like only 1 got shot, like its a cime wave or something. You make it sound like these guys could do something about it.

    Maybe they should tax ammo like tobacco kill two kids with one stone.

    elected officials cannot be blamed for any of this they are trying to make this city work, so a kid gets shot once in a while in South Norwalk its not like a voter from Rowyaton or a resident in the Cranberry or strawberry hill area.

    Now if the kid shooting was driving a 18 wheel truck or selling veggies at the aquarium or didn’t shovel his walkway or complain about a police dog :)

    then taser the bastard and lock his ass up

    other than that whats your problem?

  • 4 Confused // Dec 26, 2007 at 11:16 am

    Very, very strange thing we have here. Anonymous 2 and Anonymous 3 have similar syntax, spelling patterns, and mechanical conventions in their comments. It strongly appears both comments were made by the same individual, and yet, both represent opposing viewpoints. Anyone care to comment?

    P.S. About the thread itself: Hempstead is focusing on one issue in a positive manner. How would any committee or board get anything done if they just threw up their hands because something else needed fixin? The issue is encouraging new blood in city government. Period. Perhaps Anonymous would better bring him/herself to the table and share his/her talents to help address the very issue he/she feels is an A-1 priority.

  • 5 Anonymous // Dec 26, 2007 at 12:33 pm

    Perhaps Anonymous would better bring him/herself to the table and share his/her talents to help address the very issue he/she feels is an A-1 priority.

    Simply hire more police or staff what the number of officers the city has called for.The talent needed is to understand the problem and not mask it by saying

    work with local nonprofit organizations.

    The public was aksed to work with the police dept and that is what they are doing.It would seem if arrests were made it was with the help of the residents.

    Wouldn’t one say its time for the council to work with the people?

    couldn’t one say its time for the mayor to admit we have a problem?

    Can’t anyone say its time to stop the shootings?

    Hempstead is focusing on one issue in a positive manner.

    Can’t one say we have issues that are a priority?

    If it had been so positive, why hadn’t the thread taken off in three days and seen support or even comments?

    attack a concilman and get fast response, kill a child and get questioned what a priority is.

    Say what you want but if we have elected officials who can’t determine what a priority is someone needs to point it out to them.

    Wouldn’t one say if a elected official wants support , he would first figure out how to talk to understand and be sensitive to the needs of the residents.

    raise taxes and you will see community involvement won’t you?

    One first has to educate the public on what is actually going on so informed residents can make logical decisions.

    open house is in fact a great idea, I would support that, now how about a council meeting at Roodner court?

    Wouldn’t that be too dangerous for our council?

    What is Norwalks number #1 priority? school, police , fire, harbour, sewage treatment plant,crime,development growing pains, dpw or simply no hindsight of what is going to bite us all in the ass?

    We all welcome the Aquariums expansion plans but if stories on Norwalk’s crime follow the ads for the Aquarium on the radio are we missing something as a city?

    There is no table to bring this too as long as the city runs with blinders on.

    Who’s quality of life is enhanced when we talk condo’s and high rises?

    A pool for the next gunshot victim seems to be in order anyone care to set the odds that it will happen before the end of the year?

    your right confused Hempstead is a good person and is trying but its not fixin a problem its fixin the system that seems to need addressing.

    No matter how hard someone does anything to move forewood a shooting like last night casts more than a dark cloud it effects children and elders with no voice.It effects the entire city not only did this happen in South Norwalk but has anyone thought how the rest of the 100,000 people had no police protection for at least an hour and a half last night?

    probably not

    i do respect your posting Confued but there was new blood in the hall of Roodner court last night we need to fix that before a councilmans objective.

  • 6 taxbroke // Dec 26, 2007 at 3:29 pm

    Who is Hemstead kidding? He talks a good game but delivers nothing.

  • 7 Anonymous // Dec 26, 2007 at 9:17 pm

    we need a responsible mayor, he needed to take lessons from John in Bridgeport. So John had a dark cloud over him and Dick doesn’t ?

  • 8 Anonymous // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:43 am

    Hempstead have anything to say about the killing?

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