New Britain Workshop Planners Not Deterred By Turnout

"They would have read each other's poems and almost do an interview of each other - but not, 'What's your name? How old are you?'" Thomas said.

[Parent of 3]

It's too bad that this info wasn't given to all the kids before school was let out. I am sure there are kids that would have gone if they knew about it.

[Cindy]

Such a sad commentary on the state of New Britain. Basketball has a turnout of 150.....poetry, none.

[Parent of 3]

Basketball was advertised more. I never saw anything about the poetry.

[ShockingWaste]

Despite lack of participants no doubt everybody got paid for the five day stint!
Elizabeth Thomas charges $600-$1000 and up PER DAY!
http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view...
Funded by the New Britain Parks and Rcreation Department, the New Britain Public Library and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

[Old School NB]

ShockingWaste wrote:

Despite lack of participants no doubt everybody got paid for the five day stint!
Elizabeth Thomas charges $600-$1000 and up PER DAY!
http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view...
Funded by the New Britain Parks and Rcreation Department, the New Britain Public Library and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The NB park department is totally out of control. Wasteful spending on "professional" soccer games loses lots of tax dollars. Poetry belongs in summer program run by CCSU, Crec etc.
The park department is also charging for rides in programs run in Walnut Hill park even though charging for events in this park is expressly prohibited. Even the annual Museum of Art sale in the park is a prohibited event,yet no one does anything to rein in the ego driven park department. A park department that does not respect the conditions of bequests to the city that allowed Walnut Hill Park to be created needs new leadership!!

[Parent of 3]

If it wasn't for Park & Rec there would be absolutely nothing for our kids to do in this town.

I don't see how you believe that the soccer games are wasteful spending. Did you see how many people were at both games? There was no wasteful spending there.

Park & Rec does a great job.

[Old Scool New Britain]

I just don't like the city wasting tax dollars to subsidize a professioal sports team. If a team wants to pay the city whatever the total costs of hosting a game is that would be fine with me.
The city allows the NBMAA to hold events in Walnut Hill Park for which admissions are charged. This is a violation of the uses of the park stipulated in the gift of the land to the city. Ever read the story of how Charles Hamilton almost cancelled his historic flight from the park when he found out he would not be allowed to charge admission? The City Park Officcials bend over for the Museum director and dishoner the wishes of the cities benefactors.

[disgusted]

the park department is allowed to run itself without proper oversight. The current director is an empire builder.

[Parent of 3]

Old Scool New Britain wrote:

I just don't like the city wasting tax dollars to subsidize a professioal sports team. If a team wants to pay the city whatever the total costs of hosting a game is that would be fine with me..

The city isn't subsidizing any soccer team so I do not see your problem with New England Revolution playing here. The two games this year and the one last year bought thousands of people from all over to New Britain. Besides for the Rock Cats what else generates that many people to our city?

[Grampy]

Had you offered tea and crumpets Colin McEnroe would have attended.

[Disgusted]

people get off the highway, attend the taxpayer subsidized soccer game and get back on the highway and return to the suburban towns they came from. What benifit do taxpayers who subsidize operational costs derive from this? The city loses money ok each game. If the city required the team to cover full costs I would not be opposed to the idea. The park department is overstepping it's function.

[Hotdog]

Grampy wrote:

Had you offered tea and crumpets Colin McEnroe would have attended.

mcenroe likes to share a hotdog or two with pudlin tea and crumpets aren't conducive to the scale of imbibing those two are into.

[ParksForprivaleg ed]

I was given a parking ticket at the walnut hill lot adjacent to the monument last week. I notice that people attending concerts are allowed to park in no parking areas and block the emergency route to the hospital. I have to pay for overtime parking in a legal spot but out of towners can park in no parking zones with impunity. We need a new park director.

[topcat]

the illegal street parking in walnut hill park during concerts is an accident waiting to happen. An ambulance or fire truck would. Find it difficult if not impossible to get through.

[Keep it Positive Only]

Hotdog wrote:

<quoted text>
mcenroe likes to share a hotdog or two with pudlin tea and crumpets aren't conducive to the scale of imbibing those two are into.

Mayor Eddie will stomp his feet and hold another protest in a phone booth if any mean posts appear. This is your last warning.

[confused]

Keep it Positive Only wrote:

<quoted text>
Mayor Eddie will stomp his feet and hold another protest in a phone booth if any mean posts appear. This is your last warning.

Isn't this a new Britain post? I thought our hb mayor's name is timmy.
The park director just doesn't care about new Britain residents.

[Parent of 3]

Disgusted wrote:

people get off the highway, attend the taxpayer subsidized soccer game and get back on the highway and return to the suburban towns they came from. What benifit do taxpayers who subsidize operational costs derive from this? The city loses money ok each game. If the city required the team to cover full costs I would not be opposed to the idea. The park department is overstepping it's function.

It's unfortunate that you do not have any accurate information on what people did and didn't do before and after the game. I actually attended both games and spoke with many people from all over CT, MA and RI, did you?

[Parent of 3]

confused wrote:

<quoted text>
Isn't this a new Britain post? I thought our hb mayor's name is timmy.
The park director just doesn't care about new Britain residents.

Really? I see Park & Rec offering many things to do in this city for its residents especially our children.

[Oofta]

so what if they subsidize pro soccer and allow dangerous and illegal parking .....It is new Britain....what else would you expect!

[Wtf]

Parent of 3 wrote:

<quoted text>
The city isn't subsidizing any soccer team so I do not see your problem with New England Revolution playing here. The two games this year and the one last year bought thousands of people from all over to New Britain. Besides for the Rock Cats what else generates that many people to our city?

Crack cocaine and heroin dealers generate a lot of traffic. Not a good kind of tourist however. In a recent police operation over 60 street level drug vendors were apprehended. If each dealer had say 50 daily customers that would me 3,000 people a day. When I read arrest reports for drug stings in new Britain , I notice that a large number of the arrested people are out of towners. Now don't blame me for answering your question.