RESOLUTION
Item # 30074 RE:
To His Honor,
the Mayor, and the Common Council of the City of New Britain:
The
undersigned beg leave to recommend the adoption of the following:
WHEREAS, The City of New Britain unequivocally
supports the women and men in uniform from New Britain and the entire United
States who are stationed overseas in Iraq. These individuals are making
unimaginable sacrifices for their country; and
WHEREAS, The City of New Britain mourns and honors
the approximately 4,000 Americans who have given their lives and almost 30,000
Americans who have been wounded ruing deployment in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, This March marked the fifth anniversary of
the war in Iraq
WHEREAS, The City of New Britain relies heavily on
Federal money to provide services to its residents; and
WHEREAS, The United States Congress has appropriated
over $400 billion to fund military operations and Iraqi reconstruction, while a
steady decline in Federal Housing and Urban Development grants has been
experienced since 2002, the year before the war began; and the cost of the war
is averaging 341.4 million dollars a day.
WHEREAS, The City of New Britain Board of Finance has
proposed a budget of approximately $218 million dollars for fiscal year
2008/2009.
WHEREAS, Taxpayer in New Britain, Connecticut have already
paid $204 million for the Iraq War thus far.
For the same
amount of money, the following could have been provided.
67,413 People
with Health Care OR
251,922 Homes with Renewable Electricity OR
4,025 Public Safety Officers OR
2,731 Music and Arts Teachers OR
24,401 Scholarships for University Students OR
8 New Elementary Schools OR
977 Affordable Housing Units OR
78,338 Children with Health Care OR
28,323 Head
Start Places for Children OR
2,817 Elementary
School Teachers
WHEREAS, Taxpayers in New Britain, Connecticut will
pay $32.7 million for additional proposed Iraq spending FY 2008
For the same
amount of money, the following could have been provided
10,808 People
with Health Care OR
40,387 Homes
with Renewable Electricity OR
645 Public
Safety Officers OR
438 Music and Arts Teachers OR
3,912
Scholarships for University Students OR
1 New
Elementary School OR
157 Affordable
Housing Units OR
12,559 Children
with Health Care OR
4,542 Head Start Places for Children OR
452 Elementary School Teachers
WHEREAS,
Taxpayers in New Britain, Connecticut will pay $54.4 million for
projected Iraq War Spending for FY 2009
For the same
amount of money, the following could have been provided:
17,985 People with
Health Care OR
67,211 Homes
with Renewable Electricity OR
1,074 Public
Safety Officers OR
729 Music and
Arts Teachers OR
6,510
Scholarships for University Students OR
2 New
Elementary School OR
261 Affordable
Housing Units OR
20,900 Children
with Health Care OR
7,556 Head Start Places for Children OR
751 Elementary School Teachers
WHEREAS,
The City of New Britain relies heavily on HUD grants to pay for its Social
Services. As work begins on this year’s budget, the estimated $204 million that
the War has cost the City will undoubtedly hamper its ability to provide for
its needs in the education, healthcare, housing, economic, infrastructural and
cultural sectors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, The Common Council expresses its deep
opposition to the Bush Administration’s continuation of the war in Iraq after
its misleading and deceptive methods of garnering initial support; and
RESOLVED, That the Common Council will continue to
support the troops currently serving in Iraq and their families; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Common Council will do all it can
for those who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, and support
those who are grieving at the loss of a loved one; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Common Council communicates its
desire to the members of Congress to end the war in Iraq and draw down the
combat troops stationed in that country: and be it further
RESOLVED, That at the first meeting of each month of
the Common Council as a whole, after the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, time
is taken to suitably honor those serving and those who have lost their lives in
the conflict.
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
transmitted by the City Clerk to the President of the United States, the
presiding officers of both Houses of Congresses, Connecticut’s Congressional
delegation, the members of the Connecticut General Assembly, and be made
available to other municipal councils and executives in the State of
Connecticut.
Alderwoman Eva
Magnuszewski
