Local Unions Back Dr. David Chess for Mayor

They Say It’s Time for a Change

When you walk down the street, or around Paradise Green to grab your bag of dog food from H3 Pet Supply, or stop in Lordship at the Drowsy Whaler for a biscuit and a Cease and Desist coffee, who will you call if a fire breaks out when you’re waiting for your biscuit, or if there is a robbery at Little Pub, who will you call? You would call 911. And who will show up?

Our town’s first responders.

Today, during a press conference, police, firefighters, and union representatives shared personal stories of how the current administration has failed them. From the disrespect of not showing up for a fallen police officer’s funeral to unanswered calls for new equipment to ensure they can do their jobs (i.e. put out fires and protect our community) to retaliation from the Mayor’s administration.

Steven French, the Director of Communications for Teamster Local Union 1150, spoke from his union’s perspective. This union represents Stratford’s largest employer, Sikorsky Aircraft. According to French, Dr. David Chess spoke at the membership meetings held by Teamsters 1150 in October, and after those meetings, members voted unanimously to endorse Dr. Chess for mayor. French said, “We’ve had several conversations in the last several months about that union’s struggles with Mayor Hoydick while they [police department] are trying to negotiate a fair contract.” The next day, according to French, Mayor Hoydick retaliated. He said that when union workers at CT Distributors went on strike, “The strikers were respecting the police and vice versa. However, after news of our endorsement broke, Mayor Hoydick retaliated. She instructed the police department to turn up the heat on the strikers. The strikers were limited in how much time they could walk in front of trucks being driven by scabs, and were ordered to take down a pop up tent they had on the picket line. They were told they needed permits. When they applied for those permits, they were denied.”

Whose responsibility is it to protect us? Is it the police? Is it the firemen? Is it the mayor? Or are we the ones responsible for our own safety?

We are a community, and live next door to the men and women who are trained to protect us if there is a gas leak, a crime, our loved one falls sick, or we need help crossing the street to get to the Farmer’s Market. They show up when we call them.

Kim Vargas is Teamsters Local Union 1150 President of the LGBTQ+/Pride Caucus and the Northeast Director for the broader Teamsters LGBTQ+ Caucus. Vargas told the Stratford Crier, “I am busiest as the political coordinator right now. Education is one of the biggest challenges facing teamsters, in terms of what’s in their best interest. We have a lot of members voting against what’s in their best interest. We then must do more outreach.”

The Stratford Firefighters Union, Stratford Police Officers Union, Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association of CT, and Dr. David Chess, mayoral candidate for the Democratic Party, met today at the Teamsters 1150 building to talk about why they publicly endorse Dr. David Chess as the next Mayor of Stratford.

Tony Zona, president of the Stratford Police Officers Union, said, “In the last six weeks, we’ve lost 2 police officers with more than five years on the job. I was told today that we’re gonna to lose two more within the next three weeks. So that’s 4 police officers at $130k [for training], that’s $520k, and now you have to replace them at another $520k.” He went on to say, “The [current] mayor says we don’t have a hiring problem, she’s right. We have a retention problem. We have rookie cops, on the streets, teaching rookie cops. It sets us up for a disaster.”

“You pay now for the training,” Zona said, “or you pay later for the lack of training.

We all share a commitment to public safety and a commitment to Stratford. Stratford has reached a breaking point, and staying silent would be a disservice to the people we swore an oath to protect. For the past 8 years, Mayor Hoydick’s administration has treated the men and women who protect this town not as partners, but as enemies.”

Meanwhile, the emergency calls keep coming in, equipment keeps aging, and morale among first responders has hit rock bottom. Negotiations have turned into battles instead of conversations, decisions about public safety have been made behind closed doors, by people who have never worn a uniform, never answered a 3 a.m. call, and never carried the weight of a community’s safety on their shoulders.

According to what was said today, Mayor Hoydick has failed to lead and Stratford is paying the price.

Vinny Caizzi, who was born and raised in Stratford, has been with the Teamsters Local Union 1150 for over 18 years. Today, in his position as the Labor/Shop Steward, he says, “It’s time for a change in this town. The administration has been the same for 8 years, which is also an extension of the last administration. We’ve seen an erosion of services in town. I want to know that if we end up on the picket line that we have someone in town hall, a mayor, who will support us. I don’t believe our current mayor would.”

You can choose to vote early now through November 2nd or show up to the polls on November 4th.