There were many ways to describe last week’s photo challenge.
Lauren Schiller’s shot showed a few windows, and beige and tan structures.
Some “06880” readers described them as storefronts on the Post Road, across from Bank of America. Some mentioned current tenants, like Arogya. Others placed them “down the street from old Westport Bank & Trust” (now Patagonia), “between Urban Outfitters and Nefaire Spa,” and where B&G Army Navy and Chroma card store used to be.
All are somewhat correct. Congrats to Fred Cantor, Seth Goltzer, Suzanne Raboy and Bobbie Herman.
But the folks who really nailed it — that’s you Matt Murray, Elaine Marino, Jonathan McClure, Joelle Harris Malec and Michael Calise — knew that the image actually shows the backs of those stores (117-131 Post Road East, as Elaine accurately points out).
The view is from Church Lane — in front of Bedford Square.
The buildings are architecturally undistinguished. Sometimes they fade into the landscape.
But you can’t hide anything from alert “06880” readers. (Click here for the photo, and all guesses.)
Meanwhile, with Democratic and Republican primaries coming this month, now is a good time for an election-related photo challenge:
(Photos/Grover Fitch)
Sure, it’s been 28 years since Lowell Weicker ran for governor (and won) as a candidate of the independent A Connecticut Party.
He’s remembered best for implementing a state income tax — a much-criticized measure that nonetheless earned him the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s Profiles in Courage award for taking an unpopular stand, then holding firm.
The state tax is still with us. So is this sign. Where in Westport is it?
If you know, click “Comments” below. And if you have any memories of Governor Weicker, send those along too!
In a dumpster ⁉️
haha
Cribari bridge
The Weicker sign is on the back of a sign facing the Post Road at the exit from the Bank of America at 126 Post Road East. Don’t know where the A Connecticut Party sign is located.
There may be one at BOA – but that’s not the one in the photo. Both signs are close to each other. And no one has gotten it yet.
Historic society?
Street sign on Cross Hwy just north of Roseville a Road.
Congrats, Alan – you got it right! Good eyes, sir.
As far as memories of Weicker are concerned, he’s still the tallest national politician I’ve seen in person (although I think Alan Simpson of Wyoming may have been taller) Virtually every time I saw Weicker he was wearing a navy blue blazer and green pants and some kind of boater shoes with no socks, so often that I assumed this was the Official Wardrobe of Greenwich.
A bit of history.
When Weicker tried to pass CT’s first income tax, CT was facing a devastating budget deficit. Many many legislators were worried about voting to approve the new tax. CT citizens were even more concerned.
After hours and hours and days and days of debate, the legislators agreed to pass the income tax as long as there was a Constitutional Amendment that would enact a Spending Cap. This Spending Cap would hinder future Governors and legislators from spending too much more than the revenue coming in.
Unfortunately the Spending Cap was never enacted. The legislators never defined and voted and never agreed to the measures of the Spending Cap.
Once the state income tax revenues started to flow into the state budget, they exceeded all projections. CT was flush with cash which ended the fiscal crisis.
As the money flowed in, the state started to spend and spend. Pension plans were enhanced as well as enhanced medical benefits for state workers. Never did they think recessions could happen. Never did they truly calculate the long term effects of these benefits. The state’s liabilities grew and grew. CT also stated to borrow more and more. Today, CT borrowings and approved bonding exceed $20 Billion. The CT credit card is almost maxed out.
Today, CT faces another fiscal crisis which will be larger and deeper than what occurred back in 1991. The 4 year budget deficit projection facing the next Governor is forecasted at over $11 BILLION. The first two years the CT budget deficit will exceed $4.5 BILLION. The state of CT has never faced this large and massive and crippling deficit.
Will history repeat itself? How high will state income taxes go this time. 4% state income taxes back then was difficult to accept, what will happen next?
You should also mention that he promised NOT to implement a state income tax, and then did. Thank you Lowell!!!!
Weicker started the Tax and Spend morality in Connecticut. In a single act he created the unending movement for more and more revenue streams: (casinos, lotto, business entity tax, increased sales taxes and hundreds of other nuisance taxes) How he can be held in high regard is beyond me.
With tolls being the next stream….only to go further into debt.
Bob. Just wait. With Steinberg and the rest of his friends up in Hartford voting to extend the state worker agreement 10 more years, the Office of Fiscal Analysis has projected the upcoming CT budget deficit over the first term of the next Governor at over $11 BILLION. We have ‘seen nothing yet’.
I remember Weicker saying, “Implementing an income tax would be like throwing gasoline on a fire!” And, then he did exactly that-throw gasoline on the fire!!
Almost certainly because of the tax raise I benefitted from the probable best retirement package offered to State of CT employees.
(In my case the state’s community college system now in jeopardy for financial reasons).
I loved counseling diverse students at NCC and continued working part time at two other
colleges in the system. My eternal thanks to Gov. Weicker and the legislature in that brief period of time.). Tina Gangi
Yes, I read all the previous remarks. Surely there was some unwise spending that resulted from “all that income” pouring into state coffers, and there has certainly been considerable mismanagement of additional dollars since the early 90’s. But it’s nice to
maintain a reasonably middle class existence at my age. Tina Gangi
Some unwise spending? Really?
CT is basically bankrupt and so are many cities and towns in CT. These wonderful beforis you speak about are destroying CT. We have some state employees and their spouse and their children who paid NOTHING for medical for their life. It’s unsustainable.
Get ready. It’s all coming to a crash shortly. All this spending and give always can no longer be funded unless state income taxes go much higher. And then more businesses and people will leave CT as they have. Despite Steinberg’s refusal to learn and understand that people are actually leaving.
It’s all a Financial Death Spiral.