FRANKSMITHSAYSNB EDITORIAL:
In today's letter to the editor in the New Britain Herald, the good Doctor expressed his anger towards the Council and attacks the Herald op-ed journalism and asked where is the voice of the Chamber of Commerce?
His comments continue on with his spew by stating we failed to sacrifice, and we failed our kids.
He continued by admonishing the Mayor by citing that he has a weak record of promoting public education. and clearly attacks the bloggers by claiming that they are bigoted, uninformed, self serving scoundrels who abuse their freedom of speech without any burden of responsibility.
I totally agree with the doctor when he cites his disgust with the city council but I disagree with his attack on the Mayor when he has not only kept spending down for our city but also eyeballed the mismanagement occurring at the Board of Education.
Doctor Zottola please be aware that this blog has kept our citizens informed on issues that the local papers chose not to print as newsworthy.
Dr. A. Zottola failed to mention that his wife is a long time principal in the school district and a close friend of Doris Kurtz.
ReplyDeleteOne can only hope that she will retire soon. They are birds of a feather.
Nice try, Armand!
Frank:
ReplyDeleteIn his letter/diatribe in today's Herald, Dr. Zotolla makes a venomous attack on certain segments of the population of New Britain. While being very careful not to use specific names, the Doctor leaves a pile of empty "shoes" from which his targets may choose a fit. Some elected officials will have an easy time selecting a fit, the Common Council & the Mayor. Others can simply say, I don't like any of those shoes.
One department that will not find any shoes is Education. The Board of Ed. has earned immunity from Dr. Zotolla's scurrilous attack as have ALL employees of the New Britain School District.
Certainly, Herald Editor, James Smith cannot be happy with the "uncivil" tone of the letter.
Not only is Dr. Zottola's wife a NB school administrator (not a principal as mentioned earlier, and certainly higher in salary than a principal) his daughter is also employed by NB BOE.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Zottola in fact oversees the HALS Academy where one of BOE Board Chair Saavadra's children is a student. All very cozy.
Also Zottola himself is a retired CCSU professor drawing a state pension.
With the whole family at the public trough, of course nobody is spending enough on education for his liking.
People reading these letters and articles need to consider the source.
Remember when the Herald published the residents who were delinquent for not paying their taxes? The Zottola names were always on the list.
ReplyDeleteThe Zottolas were seen having dinner with the Kurtzs at Shuttle Meadow Country Club. I heard that Elaine Zottola would have been fired if it wasn't that Doris liked Armand so much! Cozy.
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!
According to sunlight.org, Armand Zottola is collecting a pension of $61,340 annually from the taxpayers of Connecticut. Perhaps when he says that "we" have not sacrificed enough, he should include himself on that list?
ReplyDeleteHis wife is not a teacher, not a principal, but an assumably high salaried administrator? How many teacher jobs could eliminating this one valuable administrator position save?
ReplyDeleteThe budget when Stewart took office was 180 million. Now it is 221 million a year. He did not control spending.
ReplyDeleteTo "Feeding at the Public Trough":
ReplyDeleteWhile Dr. Zottola may have ties to the school system you don't need to assume that is what motivates him. He may be generally angry at the situation and that is he prerogative. However, his letter was a great deal of angry rhetoric with no solutions or plans for improvement.
Simply being angry will not change anything; that goes for both sides. We need to start working for solutions, not problems.
You know, Nicholas, I am beginning to think that you are an angel looking to earn your wings....
ReplyDeletesounds like he protests too much, like maybe fear his wife or daughter would be among the first to go if there are cuts?
ReplyDeleteIn addition to his $61,340 pension, doesn't he also get free health insurance for the rest of his life--courtesy of the Connecticut taxpayers?
ReplyDeleteSounds like someone who agrees in free speech only for those who happen to agree with him. Everyone else should be silenced. Isn't that the way most liberals think anyway?
ReplyDeleteIn addition to his $61,340 pension, in 2009 the good doctor was also paid $18,845 as a "lecturer" on top of his $61,340 pension. Sounds like retirement has been very good for the doctor!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Zottola in fact oversees the HALS Academy where one of BOE Board Chair Saavadra's children is a student. All very cozy....
ReplyDeleteIs this the same Elaine Zottola who also works for the Farmington Board of Education?
If anyone would like to know what kind of professor this guy is, just go to:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=270608&page=1
Looks like we are really getting our money's worth!
Hey Doc, how do you feel about bloggers now?
ReplyDeleteTo "Anonymous" who made the comment about earning my wings.
ReplyDeleteI'm slightly confused as to what you meant. It is just a personal peeve of mine when people attack the person who is making the statement rather than the statement itself. If a good argument comes from someone who has ulterior motives it doesn't change the fact that they are making a good argument. Likewise, a bad argument who comes from someone who you may like and agree with is still a bad argument.
I think some of the problems we have in this City is that we sometimes get focused on who is talking rather than what they are saying. If Phil Sherwood or Mike Trueworthy or Mayor Stewart were making good arguments or coming up with good policies hopefully we'd be able to look past party lines and adopt them. This happens on occasion but far to often it seems party affiliation or personal animosity get in the way.
Although I appreciate Nicholas's lack of anonymity, intelligent remarks and pollyanna style, I contend that the character and life style of the person behind the rhetoric is equally as important as his pontifications.
ReplyDeleteZottola is an example. I rest my case.
To Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteHonestly I understand the argument for looking at a person's motivations and background. It is my personal choice and one I'd advocate for, but differences of opinion are part of what makes our culture so powerful. I also really appreciate your compliments and thank you for them.
Dr. Zottola and family should have leaned to appreciate bloggers more than they did before yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous posted... Is this the same Elaine Zottola who also works for the Farmington Board of Education?
ReplyDeletefeeding at the public trough of more than one town maybe?
I have a clue what the "A" in A. Zottola stands for!
ReplyDelete