Social Impact Bonds (and guns)

 Last year 102 were killed by gunfire in the state.  I propose that the State sell Social Impact Bonds. These are so new you have probably never heard of them. The way it works is this. Each Pistol Permit holder is invited (not compelled) to buy a $600 bond which will pay off with $3,600 the first year that Connecticut gun homicides are down to 50. The bonds not taken up will then be sold to all comers. The idea is to create a group of people who will get paid $500 million if they can get sensible gun legislation that actually works passed, whether it be in Maine, New Hampshire or wherever there are needlessly lax gun laws which allow guns to fall into the hands of criminals.  Everyone wins, including the state. Remember all this gun violence costs you  $600 per year, getting  it down by 50% is a good start.

Trafficking in Frustration

The problem with traffic in New Milford is stop lights and yet they talk about adding yet  another light.  People forget they are called stop lights for a reason. So eliminate the stop lights. This is done by creating  a one way system  East on Bridge Street, North on East Street, West on Elm Street and Bennitt Street, extend Bennitt Street over the railroad track, to meet a revamped Patriots Way,which will be southbound to Bridge Street again, should work pretty well. Most of the through traffic is Rte 202 to Rte 7 so few will need to travel further. So let us consider a few details. Two lanes of traffic will travel along Elm Street and onto Bennitt Street. If you want to go along Wellesville Avenue or Patriots way North, you edge into the right hand lane, otherwise stay left. If you then want to go towards Rte 7,  you edge into the right hand lane otherwise stay left onto Bridge Street. Bridge Street will have 3 lanes, picking up traffic from Veterans Bridge. Edge right to go down Main St South or Grove Street, center for Rte 67 where there will be the sole stop sign to give priority to traffic from Grove Street, and left to go up the Green or East Street. East Street will have 3 lanes, going down to 2 , right lane coming from  Rte 67, center from Grove Street and left from Bridge Street. For Rte 202 or Elm St Extension, you edge to the right lane and for Elm Street, you edge to the left. So it can be seen traveling through town will be smooth and predictable experience.  Also this will mean that Youngs Field Road will be blocked off at Bridge Street and turned into a parking area, safer for children and everybody. Railroad Street will be blocked off at the North end because of poor sight lines and the need to stop through traffic, provide parking for those on Bennitt Street who might lose it and to encourage the development of Railroad Street as a walkable shopping and entertainment district. Meanwhile on the other side of the bridge a large roundabout would provide for a better flow of traffic. It  just so happens the land to build it on is for sale and raising the level of Rte 7 by two feet as far as Starbucks would be a brilliant idea. Just a note, a roundabout is the official name for a rotary with uniform rules of engagement, that is that you give way to traffic already on the roundabout.