Wallingford’s ever-busy Gaylord Hospital is due for a few updates, and it may get some in the next few months. The hospital is in the early stages of launching an expansion plan, which will mitigate the enormous strain on resources that has plagued the hospital this year. A census in March showed that the 101 patient beds operated at 97% daily rate, and according to hospital director of development Tara Knapp, “There have been many days where we have been at 100 percent.”
The plan seeks to add thirty-six patient rooms and numerous facilities for patients. It will replace the existing Luscomb building with a new structure, and will provide more efficient use of hospital space, designed to optimize the connections between buildings and pavilions, and to move around patient rooms in a more effective fashion.
Of course, $30 million doesn’t fall from the sky, and so the hospital needs not only to pass through numerous layers of politics, but raise money through generous benefactors. The plan therefore includes many methods of raising money from the public, and from important figures who naturally will contribute large sums of money to the hospital fund. The hospital hopes that the plan receives adequate public support, as the package is a “dream package” for the hospital.
If passed, the renovation project will begin in the summer of 2007.
CONNECTICUT
Malloy Wins Democratic Endorsement
Although popular Republican governor Jodi Rell’s opponent hasn’t been set, we are one step closer to knowing who her Democratic opposition will be. Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy squeaked by New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., winning the gubernadorial convention nomination by a delegate vote of 799-795. In a vote that shocked the public, a loss of three votes turned into a win of four, as several votes switched sides from DeStefano to Malloy, giving Malloy an apparently improbable victory. The results of the split convention can still be overturned at an August 8 primary, likely to be the deciding event. But this result serves as a testament message to how divided the Democratic party is now, against a strong and certainly popular governor in Rell.
The Malloy camp was thrilled at the victory, and came home cheering. Most expected Mayor Malloy to lose convincingly to DeStefano and join him as a running mate, and a win like this seems more than improbable, even to Malloy (who called the upset a “miracle”.) Clearly, the competition is intense, despite how confident the DeStefano camp appears to be. DeStefano district coordinator Robert DeCrescenzo, on the election, said, “We have the votes. We just have to keep them,” But that may be easier said than done. DeStefano may have more name and money than Malloy, but his liberal tendencies may lead moderate voters to shy away, voters who, according to the Malloy camp, would vote for Malloy.
But how did the votes, apparently locked in, switch so suddenly? It can all be traced back to a little clause in the rules of Connecticut Democratic delegations. Delegates are allowed one chance to switch their votes after all the votes are in, and many delegates did just that. With Malloy cheering and urging towns to switch, he pulled out the victory, by reminding friends of alliances.
Either way, this convention serves as nothing more than a signal for the battles to come in late summer. Things certainly can change by then, and the DeStefano camp remains confident that they will.
