Here are some examples of Letters that I've written so that you can better understand the issues that I feel are important.


Mr. Henry Fernandez
Economic Development Administrator
The City of New Haven
165 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510

Tuesday, May 8th, 2001

Dear Mr. Fernandez:

As you are aware, over the last few months we on the Ad Hoc Committee for the reestablishment of the Upper State Street Merchants Association have worked with the City to quantify the issues related to parking that have affected the Street and the neighborhoods. It is the hope of the Ad Hoc Committee, that once these issues have been quantified, and some initial solutions presented, that we could meet with the various parties affected by and affecting these issues, so that a comprehensive plan could be created. A long-term growth plan that balances the needs of the residential and commercial establishments is critical if we are to reach our potential in this part of the city. In June the Connecticut Main Street Program will be conducting a presentation that should galvanize support among both the residences, property owners and Commercial businesses for a Special Services District/ Main street Program so that everyone can see the vision and have a common goal for which we can all work towards.

I know that the City is obviously dedicated to our goal as well and Mr. Russell's participation in our efforts has been extremely positive in this regard. I believe we have you to thank for his involvement. However, until we have a comprehensive plan/goals we cannot expect the merchants and residences to work together. And while we are happy that Granite Square is now open and passed around the notices thus preparing the affected parties, we would have preferred to coordinate our efforts with the parties on that end of the street so that any potential for failure was mitigated before hand.

We are suggesting that a meeting with the Ad Hoc Committee and yourself be coordinated so that we can mutually agree on how to proceed now that we have enough information to do so. Traffic and parking issues are hot button topics in this neighborhood and the sooner that we coordinate our efforts, the easier it will be to defuse the sources of contention and division.

Sincerely yours,

Ad Hoc Committee USSMA

Alex Marathas
Lucille Lupinski
Bob Frew
Mark DeCola
Anthony Marchitto

CC: Mayor John DeStefano
Karyn M. Gilvarg, City Planning Department
Craig Russell, Office of Economic Development
Thelma Ragsdale, Livable Cities Initiative


Alex Marathas for Alderman


October 15, 2001

Dear Mrs. Kane,

I haven't had a chance to drop you a note explaining why I left the Dave Foreman cassette on your door. Several years ago when I was living in Florida I heard this while driving in my car while it was being broadcast on alternative radio. I had to stop my car and listen to the entire piece because it really put things in perspective. My feelings about our environment were already fairly entrenched, but sometimes one needs hear it from someone who can give it that quality that hits you on the head a la 'it's the environment stupid'.

You had asked me to explain the essential difference between my opponent and myself and I don't think that I gave you an adequate explanation. It gets to the heart of why I am a Democrat and not an Independent or a Green.

I was raised to understand the idea that one should never forget one's roots and my roots are firmly planted with New Haven and with the Democratic Party. As a Greek immigrant family who lost everything (mother's side) when Turks burned Smyrna, America gave us sanction and the opportunity it gave to millions of other immigrants. I feel that I owe something to those who never asked a thing from me or my family; a debt of gratitude perhaps. More to the point. Harry Truman and the Truman Doctrine saved my family, those that remained in Greece, from the yolk of communism; the only Balkan nation to have been spared. Democrats understand that while business is important; there is more to life than simply making money. The classical positions supported and promulgated by Democrats are why I wish to be associated with this party; the environment, universal suffrage, unionization, health care, a woman's right to choose, the international financial system created by Roosevelt Democrats, international involvement and not isolationism (e.g. Missile Defense). I don't give up on my friends when they are wrong and I won't give up on the Democratic Party when I think that it has lost its way. I shall endeavor to work from within so that the Democratic Party evolves into a new party for the 21st Century; a party that understands its role in the future because it understands what it stood for in the past.

It is important to know when to compromise and when to draw a line in the sand, or the arctic tundra, and hold the line. I would appreciate you support in November.

Thank you for you time. I can be reached at 464-2233 or at amarathas@hotmail.com if you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely yours,


Alex Marathas.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
October 1st, 2001


Dear fellow Democratic 9th Ward Committee Members:


The events of recent weeks have overshadowed local politics; we are reminded again of the importance of democracy, and of the necessary processes, that reinforce that democracy. We cannot underestimate the power of one person, of one vote, and of our obligations to the system that has allowed many of us to attain what most around the world can only dream of.

I feel a duty to participate in whatever way that I can in order to improve and protect this system because of my family's immigrant story. I hope that you will take the time to join our co-chairs, Maureen Cunningham and Nolan Smith and myself to discuss the issues that are pertinent to this election and to provide the feedback that will make me a better candidate and the ward a better place in which to live.

The meeting will take place at Wednesday, October 10, at 7 pm in the cafeteria of the East Rock Middle School, 133 Nash Street. The meeting should last about an hour.

My sympathies go out to all of those affected by the events of September 11th, 2001. In spite of all of our material wealth, we are reminded of the intangibles that really make this country great and what still inspire people around the world.

Thank you for your time, commitment and continued support.

God Bless America!

Sincerely yours,


Alex Marathas


Please phone or Maureen (776-0646) or Nolan (insert) with items you wish to discuss.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mr. Ed Franquemont
Executive Director
The New Haven Preservation Trust
900 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06507

Monday, April 30, 2001

Dear Mr. Franquemont and Honorable Board Members:

It has been my pleasure to recently join the New Haven Preservation Trust and I look forward to participating in the activities within the organization. As you are aware Mr. Nolan Smith is sponsoring me in my desire to join the Board of the Preservation Trust. I think it only appropriate that in your decision making process, you understand why it is that I want to participate in your organization.

New Haven, as with most cities throughout our nation, has witnessed the destruction of our architectural history and much of our urban core, as cities have developed, almost exclusively based on automobile infrastructure. The result has been the replacement of architectural gems and the communities of which they were a part with surface and above ground parking garages and lots. Their can be no better example of the contrast between different historical development patterns than that of Upper and Lower State Streets in New Haven. As someone who is very involved with reestablishing the Upper State Street Merchants Association and who is also a candidate for the 9th Ward alderman position, I have become very aware of the kinds of urban development pressures on land, historic buildings and communities. Given my vocation as a Walgreens drugstore developer, I am also very experienced in the kinds of peripheral matters that affect communities like road widenings, impact fees, growth vs. open space preservation, etc.

New Haven, as one of America's oldest cities and one that is beloved by many, has a vested interest in preserving what architectural legacies still survive, and more importantly, to have a zoning code that respects that legacy as well. If I am elected alderman, I would like to involve myself in this process and a relationship with the Preservation Trust and its members would be invaluable.

Thank you for your consideration and I shall humbly await your decision.

Sincerely yours,


Alex Marathas

I wrote this letter in support of an area high school student who took a stand against what he thought was inappropriate behavior by the McDonalds's Corporation. Click on the Orange Link below to read the Advocate article.
Tristan Kading
159 Mechanic Street
Pawcatuck, CT06379

Tuesday, June 19, 2001

Dear Tristan:

I read the article in the enclosed Advocate and fully support your efforts and the manner in which you expressed yourself. Unfortunately, even administrators forget that their first priority is educating students, not aiding a multinational corporation like McDonalds in finding cheap labor.
There is a book that you might find interesting that deals with the branding of America and the efforts of large corporations to make inroads into Universities and public schools by cutting deals with them to exclusively sell their products. Their impact on First Amendment freedoms is highlighted in the book with one of the most visible examples being a student in Atlanta who was suspended on Coca Cola day for wearing a Pepsi T-shirt. The book is called "No Logo" by Naomi Klein and it is certainly thought provoking.

Your generation is certainly more affected by and understands more about advertising than previous generations and this topic is surely not going away.

Few people express their beliefs publicly and you should be congratulated for standing up for what you believed to be an injustice.

Best of success in life.

Sincerely yours,


Alex Marathas

Want Fries With That Humiliation?, by Frank Hoffman, New Haven Advocate Article Link

I wrote this letter to the Commissioner of the DOT regarding tunnelling an area of I-95 in East Shore. To see how the proposed expansion would affect East Shore copy this URL http://www.i95newhaven.com/pinformation/Pinformation.asp?p=X&N=photosims.htm
Thursday, May 10th, 2001

Mr. James F. Sullivan
Commissioner of the Connecticut
Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 317546
Newington, CT 06131-7546

Dear Mr. Sullivan:

This letter is in reference to the proposed widening of I-95 between Woodward Avenue in the East Shore of New Haven and the Frontage Roads in East Haven. While it is necessary that this area of I-95 be widened in order to accommodate the new bridge and associated roadwork related to this area, my concern relates to how the road will be widened. When the highway was initially created in the area, the rock ridge running North/South was blasted presumably to bring the highway grade closer to bridge level. As a result, however, the neighborhood and commercial businesses in the area were removed forever and this particular area of East Shore divided permanently. While this created the necessary highway New Haven lost a viable neighborhood and the associated taxes on that land forever. With the restructuring of the highway in this area we have the opportunity to redevelop this area of New Haven, return a tax base to the city and connect two halves that ultimately will benefit the citizens of East Shore.

Burying the highway in this area, while more costly than an exposed surface highway, would make a big difference in the quality of life in this part of the city. How do we quantify what is lost in terms of community? How do we quantify qualitative issues that affect people's communities? When we widen a road we may improve traffic for a period of time, but we lose something in the process. In some areas we lose very little, as in the area around the Boston Post Road in Orange, where the area is all commercial and there no longer is, if there ever was, a community feeling. This is not the case in this area of New Haven. The area is bordered on both sides, within several feet of both frontage roads, by residential neighborhoods, where people once walked quite frequently. By burying the highway here we can replace that sense of community, create a taxable residential and commercial base and have a widened restructured highway that will also create efficiencies in movement. We might even create enough space for a commuter parking lot as well.

Has the idea of tunneling this section of I-95 been discussed and to what extent? I have spoken with the alderman in the area and he is interested as well in looking at this further. While this is no small issue, at the very least the DOT must consider the intangible needs of the community when planning these types of projects, as they are certain to come up in the future and do affect the quality of life for citizens around the state. Your feedback would be much appreciated.

I thank you for your time.

Sincerely yours,


Alex Marathas


CC: Mayor of New Haven, John DeStefano
New Haven City Planning Department, Karyn Gilvarg
New Haven Office of Economic Development, Henry Fernandez
New Haven Alderman Ward 17, Mathew Niclerio

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Link to New York Times article, "Destroy a Freeway, Save a City"