{news} New London Times: Green Party holds citizens forum

[David Bedell]

http://www.shorepublishing.com/archive/re.aspx?re=c04e8963-7494-4e09-90af-c89d3c16b5fd

It's Greener On This Side: Green Party holds citizens forum to reach out to 
voters

By Stephen Chupaska
Published on 3/3/2006

New London -
It's easier being Green in New London these days.

Although the party, which formed locally in 2001, did not land a seat on 
either the City Council or Board of Education in November, its members are 
intent on sustaining momentum into next year's vote.

On Sunday at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, the Greens held a 
citizens forum, where its local leadership and active members gave 
presentations on issues the party would like to grapple with in the next 
year and a half.

“We want to push on with the issues that came up in the campaign,” Chris 
Nelson, an alternate on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said.

The forum is the latest effort by local politicians to reach out to voters. 
One New London, the other minor party in the city, holds monthly voter 
information sessions. Mayor Beth Sabilia, a Democrat, recently held an 
Internet chat on The Day's Web site.

The local Green party, Nelson explained, is eager to show it is far-reaching 
in its politics and not just focused on the environment, as is the general 
perception.

“We've always dealt with local issues,” he said. “In a town as politically 
volatile as New London, we try to bring perspective on issues.”

Party member Tim Hanser, head of the Crystal Avenue Neighborhood 
Association, said the Greens are trying to foster a cooperative spirit in 
the city.

“Collaborative efforts are needed more in the city,” he said.

The Greens gave talks and manned information booths on four issues: 
development, drug policy, good government and energy consumption.

At the forum, Nelson tackled perhaps the most pressing topic in the city – 
development.

Using city maps dating before the urban renewal projects of the 1950s and 
1960s and satellite photos, Nelson said he'd like city leaders to think of 
development holistically, not on a case-by-case basis.

Hanser, who served on the Charter Revision Commission, discussed 'good 
government.”

“It's not just the strong mayor,” he said. “It's also about how you elect 
officials.”

Hanser said the party is not, at this point, endorsing anything in 
particular.

“We just want to let people know what's out there,” he said.

Hanser passed out literature on ideas such as district representation and 
proportional voting, all of which were discussed on the Charter Revision 
Commission, but not approved.

The Greens also manned information booths on traditional party concerns such 
as drug policy and energy conservation.

Bob Stuller, a City Council candidate last year, echoed the sentiments of 
Cliff Thornton, the Green candidate for governor, who is pushing for drug 
reforms.

“We need to move in the way of prevention education and medicine,” he said.

Kendric Hanson spoke about ways citizens could modify their homes with solar 
panels to cut down on electric bills, and receive rebates for doing so.

Also, Hanson brought up the idea of installing wind turbines on a hill at 
Bates Woods Park, a proposal also mentioned by City Councilor Margaret 
Curtin.

“New London is viable for wind production,” he said, noting that some 
turbines require a 50-meter elevation.