The president of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen said Thursday that a fellow Alderman was out of line by suggesting a reward be offered to help catch the misfits responsible for a vandalism spree in the city.
BOA President Stephen Blume said that while everyone wants to see the vandals arrested, Alderman John Marini’s call for a special meeting an a city-backed reward offer was misguided.
Generally, politicians should stay out of police work, Blume said.
“We have a good police department. We depend on them. They will solve this,” Blume said.
About two dozen vehicles have been vandalized since Saturday.
Marini wrote a letter to Blume Tuesday asking for a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen with members of the police department and the police commission.
Marini suggested the city offer a reward of at least $1,000 for information leading to the vandals’ arrest and conviction.
At the least, it would send a message to residents that Ansonia doesn’t tolerate crime, Marini said.
Marini is the lone Republican on an Aldermen Board dominated by Democrats.
Blume fired off a letter of his own Wednesday, insinuating Marini was pushing himself into the limelight for political gain.
“While these efforts on your part have gained you much personal political attention, they have done little to deal with fundamental and substantive underlying issues of police protection and neighborhood safety,” Blume wrote.
Blume’s letter is posted below. Article continues after the document.
“Further, while I feel strongly on behalf of the victims of this rash of vandalism, I wonder why you have chosen this particular set of incidents which occurred outside of your ward to inject yourself into the crime solving system. I do not remember a similar concern when a young man was gunned down in a homicide which did occur in your ward,” Blume’s letter concludes.
Prior to the vandalism spree, Ansonia saw two fatal shootings in quick succession. The first happened March 9 on Root Avenue. The second happened on Wakelee Avenue March 16.
Marini read Blume’s letter — then penned another letter Thursday in which he criticizes Blume’s leadership skills.
“We need leadership from our (Aldermen) President. Inaction is not leadership,” Marini said.
Marini said Blume remained silent after the two killings. It’s time for local officials to do more, he said. Marini advocates for reward money to assist in those cases, too.
“Your silence on these past events has spurred me to speak out on the vandalism issue,” the letter reads. “The time is long overdue for the Board of Aldermen to confront the criminal elements in our city head-on.”
Marini’s letter is posted below. Article continues after the document.
Marini told the Valley Indy he plans to introduce three resolutions at the next Ansonia Board of Aldermen meeting calling for rewards related to the two homicides and the vandalism.
Marini also said he has no plans to run for mayor — a question that has been circulating in the city.
“I am not running for mayor. I’ve told everyone this,” he said.
Marini said he was surprised that his efforts bothered Blume.
“I think everyone is used to the Aldermen being passive — to taking passive positions,” he said. “That’s not to say there are not good people on the Board of Aldermen. That’s not to say they are not engaged in the community, but as a board there is a lot more we can do. The Charter gives us a lot more power we can use.”
Blume said he plans to have a private meeting with Marini, Mayor James Della Volpe and police Chief Kevin Hale where everyone can get on the same page.
“Look, we’re all trying to achieve the same thing. Everybody should try to work together on this,” Blume said.
Marini said he welcomes the idea.
