Optics! Optics!
This is a term we hear often these days. It is often used with another word: transparency.
Recently our local Democrat party has become very creative with their optics! Got to hand it to them for that!
The problem is that these optics are not transparent and fail to tell the truth. There is a word for that too, and the Democrat mayoral candidate, who already failed in this endeavor, is well known for it.
According to CT. Gov, Connecticut’s Official Sate Website, Bristol’s Grand List has grown significantly over the last four years from 2021 to 2024. Look for yourself!
In 2021 the total Grand List was $4.240 billion. At the end of 2024, the last year data is available, the grand List was $5.526 billion, an increase of $1.285 BILLION or 30% (about 7.5% per year.) This significant achievement occurred even as the Democrats in Hartford changed how our autos were valued resulting in less grand list value and despite a national and state economy that tanked under Democrat control.
In 2017, the Grand List in Bristol was $3.916 billion. In 2020 it was $4.075 billion, an increase of only $158.9 MILLION 4% (about 1% per year) over the Zoppo disaster.
In addition to these transparent facts, the National and State economy was far more robust during the period from 2016 to 2020, President Trump’s first term and Zoppo’s two terms and yet she could only deliver a paltry 1% average Grand List growth. Transparency can change the optics
So, it begs the question, why has Bristol’s mill rate increased, generating a tax increase and not just this year but over the last 4 years??
Makes for interesting optics, but if one were to look deeper behind all this math, you will find that all departments the city controls (The Mayor, City Council and the Board of Finance) functioned within or in some case under their budgets, EXCEPT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The control of the finances for the Board of Education by state law vests with the BOE. Once the city cuts their budget check the Mayor, The City Council and the Board of Finance kisses those funds goodbye and has no authority on how the BOE proceeds to spend those dollars line by line.
To be transparent and as optical as I can, imagine the Board of Finance giving the BOE say $3 Million as a one-time grant, wisdom and intelligence would suggest that those funds be used for an expenditure that is one time. Not on salaries for personnel, not on current operating expenses, but on something like roof repair for Edgewood school.
The optics are bad. The manager of the BOE Chairman Shelby Pons was given exactly that; $3 Million to fix the roof, nearly three years ago. She diverted those funds. You want optics? Go look at that school. It is closed and full of mold.
She did it again with leftover COVID money, a one-time gift of cash, given by the Board of Finance off budget and best used for a one-time expense.
Instead, she chooses to use those funds to hire kindergarten paraprofessionals who in this year’s budget will be laid off because the one-time gift of unused COVID funds ran out!!
Pon’s puppet master is Zoppo, who has at best an average of 1% grandlist growth during a robust economy.
So, when you see these billboards and lawn signs remember that the Democrats are not telling you the whole story. Tax increases are solely caused by Shelby Pons and her Democrat cronies along with one RINO (Eric Carlson). They and them alone caused this financial shortfall.
To their defense, special education costs that account for much of their deficits totaling over $21 million plus over the last four years are mandated by the Democrat legislature.
However, as the March of 2025 audit pointed out, Pons as the Chair is not utilizing all of the management controls available to her, not bidding out contracts as they should be and worst of all has failed miserably by using one time funding for ongoing expenses.
This Zoppo puppet has demonstrated that she has no managerial skills, even with her CPA flip flopping partner, to exercise sound fiscal management.
Bravo Board of Finance. I would not trust putting over 50% of the cities tax revenue in her hands either.
Further I would submit this BOE management failure by Shelby Pons and her cronies on the BOE are acting on behalf of the state Democrat party that at all costs want Bristol to be Democrat.
Optics without transparency are less than truthful. Buyer beware.
This is a term we hear often these days. It is often used with another word: transparency.
Recently our local Democrat party has become very creative with their optics! Got to hand it to them for that!
The problem is that these optics are not transparent and fail to tell the truth. There is a word for that too, and the Democrat mayoral candidate, who already failed in this endeavor, is well known for it.
According to CT. Gov, Connecticut’s Official Sate Website, Bristol’s Grand List has grown significantly over the last four years from 2021 to 2024. Look for yourself!
In 2021 the total Grand List was $4.240 billion. At the end of 2024, the last year data is available, the grand List was $5.526 billion, an increase of $1.285 BILLION or 30% (about 7.5% per year.) This significant achievement occurred even as the Democrats in Hartford changed how our autos were valued resulting in less grand list value and despite a national and state economy that tanked under Democrat control.
In 2017, the Grand List in Bristol was $3.916 billion. In 2020 it was $4.075 billion, an increase of only $158.9 MILLION 4% (about 1% per year) over the Zoppo disaster.
In addition to these transparent facts, the National and State economy was far more robust during the period from 2016 to 2020, President Trump’s first term and Zoppo’s two terms and yet she could only deliver a paltry 1% average Grand List growth. Transparency can change the optics
So, it begs the question, why has Bristol’s mill rate increased, generating a tax increase and not just this year but over the last 4 years??
Makes for interesting optics, but if one were to look deeper behind all this math, you will find that all departments the city controls (The Mayor, City Council and the Board of Finance) functioned within or in some case under their budgets, EXCEPT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The control of the finances for the Board of Education by state law vests with the BOE. Once the city cuts their budget check the Mayor, The City Council and the Board of Finance kisses those funds goodbye and has no authority on how the BOE proceeds to spend those dollars line by line.
To be transparent and as optical as I can, imagine the Board of Finance giving the BOE say $3 Million as a one-time grant, wisdom and intelligence would suggest that those funds be used for an expenditure that is one time. Not on salaries for personnel, not on current operating expenses, but on something like roof repair for Edgewood school.
The optics are bad. The manager of the BOE Chairman Shelby Pons was given exactly that; $3 Million to fix the roof, nearly three years ago. She diverted those funds. You want optics? Go look at that school. It is closed and full of mold.
She did it again with leftover COVID money, a one-time gift of cash, given by the Board of Finance off budget and best used for a one-time expense.
Instead, she chooses to use those funds to hire kindergarten paraprofessionals who in this year’s budget will be laid off because the one-time gift of unused COVID funds ran out!!
Pon’s puppet master is Zoppo, who has at best an average of 1% grandlist growth during a robust economy.
So, when you see these billboards and lawn signs remember that the Democrats are not telling you the whole story. Tax increases are solely caused by Shelby Pons and her Democrat cronies along with one RINO (Eric Carlson). They and them alone caused this financial shortfall.
To their defense, special education costs that account for much of their deficits totaling over $21 million plus over the last four years are mandated by the Democrat legislature.
However, as the March of 2025 audit pointed out, Pons as the Chair is not utilizing all of the management controls available to her, not bidding out contracts as they should be and worst of all has failed miserably by using one time funding for ongoing expenses.
This Zoppo puppet has demonstrated that she has no managerial skills, even with her CPA flip flopping partner, to exercise sound fiscal management.
Bravo Board of Finance. I would not trust putting over 50% of the cities tax revenue in her hands either.
Further I would submit this BOE management failure by Shelby Pons and her cronies on the BOE are acting on behalf of the state Democrat party that at all costs want Bristol to be Democrat.
Optics without transparency are less than truthful. Buyer beware.Optics!
This is a term we hear often these days. It is often used with another word: transparency.
Recently our local Democrat party has become very creative with their optics! Got to hand it to them for that!
The problem is that these optics are not transparent and fail to tell the truth. There is a word for that too, and the Democrat mayoral candidate, who already failed in this endeavor, is well known for it.
According to CT. Gov, Connecticut’s Official Sate Website, Bristol’s Grand List has grown significantly over the last four years from 2021 to 2024. Look for yourself!
In 2021 the total Grand List was $4.240 billion. At the end of 2024, the last year data is available, the grand List was $5.526 billion, an increase of $1.285 BILLION or 30% (about 7.5% per year.) This significant achievement occurred even as the Democrats in Hartford changed how our autos were valued resulting in less grand list value and despite a national and state economy that tanked under Democrat control.
In 2017, the Grand List in Bristol was $3.916 billion. In 2020 it was $4.075 billion, an increase of only $158.9 MILLION 4% (about 1% per year) over the Zoppo disaster.
In addition to these transparent facts, the National and State economy was far more robust during the period from 2016 to 2020, President Trump’s first term and Zoppo’s two terms and yet she could only deliver a paltry 1% average Grand List growth. Transparency can change the optics
So, it begs the question, why has Bristol’s mill rate increased, generating a tax increase and not just this year but over the last 4 years??
Makes for interesting optics, but if one were to look deeper behind all this math, you will find that all departments the city controls (The Mayor, City Council and the Board of Finance) functioned within or in some case under their budgets, EXCEPT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The control of the finances for the Board of Education by state law vests with the BOE. Once the city cuts their budget check the Mayor, The City Council and the Board of Finance kisses those funds goodbye and has no authority on how the BOE proceeds to spend those dollars line by line.
To be transparent and as optical as I can, imagine the Board of Finance giving the BOE say $3 Million as a one-time grant, wisdom and intelligence would suggest that those funds be used for an expenditure that is one time. Not on salaries for personnel, not on current operating expenses, but on something like roof repair for Edgewood school.
The optics are bad. The manager of the BOE Chairman Shelby Pons was given exactly that; $3 Million to fix the roof, nearly three years ago. She diverted those funds. You want optics? Go look at that school. It is closed and full of mold.
She did it again with leftover COVID money, a one-time gift of cash, given by the Board of Finance off budget and best used for a one-time expense.
Instead, she chooses to use those funds to hire kindergarten paraprofessionals who in this year’s budget will be laid off because the one-time gift of unused COVID funds ran out!!
Pon’s puppet master is Zoppo, who has at best an average of 1% grandlist growth during a robust economy.
So, when you see these billboards and lawn signs remember that the Democrats are not telling you the whole story. Tax increases are solely caused by Shelby Pons and her Democrat cronies along with one RINO (Eric Carlson). They and them alone caused this financial shortfall.
To their defense, special education costs that account for much of their deficits totaling over $21 million plus over the last four years are mandated by the Democrat legislature.
However, as the March of 2025 audit pointed out, Pons as the Chair is not utilizing all of the management controls available to her, not bidding out contracts as they should be and worst of all has failed miserably by using one time funding for ongoing expenses.
This Zoppo puppet has demonstrated that she has no managerial skills, even with her CPA flip flopping partner, to exercise sound fiscal management.
Bravo Board of Finance. I would not trust putting over 50% of the cities tax revenue in her hands either.
Further I would submit this BOE management failure by Shelby Pons and her cronies on the BOE are acting on behalf of the state Democrat party that at all costs want Bristol to be Democrat.
Optics without transparency are less than truthful. Buyer beware.
Express Kitchens owner finds warm welcome in Bristol
TOPICS:Bristol CTBusinessEconomic and Community Development
Express Kitchens is on the site of the former Associated Spring, South Street. | Mike Chaiken
Posted By: David Fortier July 14, 2025
by Mike Chaiken | July 14, 2025 |
The owner of Express Kitchens expressed his delight with his company’s arrival in Bristol –and the treatment his company has received from local officials.
Hitesh “Max” Kothari attended the Wednesday, July 9 meeting of Bristol’s Economic and Community Development Board and spoke to the city panel about his company, which manufactures kitchen cabinetry, and the company’s relocation to the old Associated Spring building at 18 Main St.
The Associated Spring building became available when the corporate owner, the Barnes Group, was sold to Apollo Funds for $3.6 billion in January.
Kothari said his decision to consider Bristol for his business began rather casually.
“I have twin boys and my wife. After dinner, on a Sunday, I told them let’s go take a ride. There’s a building in Bristol I’d like to drive by,” said Kothari.
That Sunday drive, however, piqued Kothari’s interest in Bristol.
“What happened is I took a wrong turn by coming up this way, and I somehow ended up in… this downtown area. And when I saw the City Hall, when I saw the building (the Carrier development on North Main Street) across the street and then I started seeing that somebody’s putting some kind of puzzle (of economic development) together over here that gave me a lot of confidence that this is not downtown that’s on its way down. This is something that somebody’s taking some serious steps to revive … (This gave me) confidence that we should buy a building of this magnitude– because this is a big buy. This is a major investment for me,” said Kothari.
The CEO of Express Kitchens also explained how Economic and Community Development executive director Justin Malley and Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano made him feel welcome and wanted in the community.
Kothari said he was visiting the Associated Spring building and called to set up an appointment with Malley to talk about the building. Discovering that Kothari was in town, Malley immediately invited him to meet him at City Hall. Malley quickly brought Kothari in to meet with Caggiano.
Kothari said he was impressed by the treatment he received from the mayor, Malley and the local officials once efforts began to bring Express Kitchens operations to the city.
Kothari, now 60, said his entry into the world of business began when he opened a hardware store in the North End of Hartford when he was 25.
“I started Express Kitchens a few years back,” the CEO explained.
“Today,” he said, “we have 12 stores in four different states. We do supplies (of cabinetry, too) … There are trucks pulling up from Michigan and Texas that are picking up cabinets for Home Depot right from this plant… We also sell to big builders like Toll Brothers (which is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange).”
“We did an acquisition for a pretty sizable company in New Jersey where we were manufacturing cabinets over there. I will move that (operation) to Bristol,” said Kotari.
Currently, Kothari said there are about 50 people employed in the Bristol building. He said the plan is to add another 50 or so.
Malley noted that Express Kitchens is also bringing in state-of-the-art technology to build its kitchen cabinets. The equipment will automate the process.
“it’s just like a Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory there,” said Malley referring to the chocolatier in the famous children’s novel by Roald Dahl. “It’s pretty interesting.”
However, Kothari said installation of the equipment has been slow because of changes in immigration policy—the technicians needed to install the equipment are relegated to instructing workers in Connecticut via Zoom on how to handle the task.
Kothari told the ECD board he is aware of the economic and community legacy of the Barnes Group.
“They have deep roots, and they truly care,” said Kothari. “In fact, (Tom Barnes, the former chair of the Barnes Group) and his wife and I and my wife, we had dinner together. They’re good people… I would like to try to make sure that legacy (of the Barnes family) comes through with what we do.”
Economic Development Projects Under Construction In Bristol
Why Should Bristol Residents Trust the Same Democratic Leaders?
Under the previous Democratic administration, the residents of Bristol saw a steady rise in the mill rate — the local tax rate used to calculate property taxes. Despite promises of revitalization homeowners were left footing higher tax bills with little to show in return.
From 2017 to 2021, Democrats raised the mill rate 3 out of 4 years in a booming economy. This rising burden came with assurances that the extra revenue would fuel long-term economic development, infrastructure upgrades, and modern urban development. Yet, despite the higher taxes, the city saw no tangible commercial results. Grand plans were marked by decaying signs downtown for four years with very little progress. While the current Mayor gave full credit to the previous administration for the Memorial Boulevard School and City Hall renovations these public projects came with increased tax bills and no grand list growth, adding $1M in debt service to our current tax bills. Not ONE private project in or around Centre Square was delivered.
The question facing Bristol is simple: Why trust the same leadership that raised taxes, promised growth, and left downtown an empty parking lot? As the city looks toward the future, voters deserve transparency, fiscal responsibility, and most importantly — results. The City has seen way better results with Republican Leaders?
Why would we expect different results from Democrats this time around and can we stand the same Democrat chaos that we have seen with the BOE leadership the last 2 years? ($12.7M in deficit spending, administrators and teachers leaving in droves, and union leaders asking for transparency and accountability)
Why is Jeff Caggiano the Best Person to Lead Bristol Right Now?
These are some of the great accomplishments of the
Caggiano Administration
As a party that is pro-business, we have created on average 588 new businesses per year in Bristol. This is up from 333 new businesses pre-pandemic, when we experienced the best economy in decades.
1 - Wheeler has brought 200 new jobs to downtown Bristol. Redesigned, moved, and more efficient to allow for future 1 ½ acre of commercial development to be sold in the summer of 2025
2 - Completed 2 new downtown garages.
3 - We have 114 new apartments and 15K square feet of retail space, at the Carrier Project in Center Square. This should all be completed by the end of April.
4 - $2M Brownfield cleanup at Sessions which will add 81 Workforce apartments.
5 – Bristol Works and Bristol Bazaar are two new downtown ARPA projects that have spurred our economy.
6 – We now have 12 new eating and entertainment establishments downtown,
7 – The commercial development on Mahana Farm will bring immediate new tax revenue.
8 – There are more major projects that are more likely than not to happen, thanks to the extra efforts in City Hall.
9 - Mafales Plaza-due to shared parking arrangement with the City
Learn More : www.cagg4bristol.com
Connecticut High School Seniors!
Before you walk across that stage to graduate, make sure you’re registered to Vote! It’s also not too late to ask your school to host a voter registration drive!

Welcome to the Bristol Republican Town Committee
The Bristol Republican Town Committee promotes core Republican principles and policies within the town, working to ensure the representation of its members in both local and state government.
Through various methods such as lobbying, community outreach, and fundraising, we aim to ensure that the voices of Bristol Republicans are heard. We believe that by advocating for responsible fiscal policies and limited government, our citizens can experience an improved quality of life.
The Republican Town Committee is dedicated to involving community members in meaningful discussions and helping them understand ways they can contribute. We offer education and awareness on current issues, organize events to encourage participation, and collaborate with civic organizations in the area.
Our goal is to encourage an informed and engaged electorate that will support candidates who align with our shared values. We believe that through collaboration, we can have a positive impact in Bristol.
Guests are welcome and encouraged to attend our events. Please fill out the form or give us a call for more information.
Monthly Meetings
Location:
B.P.O.E. ( Elks Club)
Lodge 1010
126 South St., Bristol, CT
Our monthly meetings are held on the last Monday of each month, except for May and December.
The Bristol Republican Town Committee is dedicated to serving all Bristol residents. Attend a meeting and get involved!
Open to the public. Guests are welcome! 7:00pm to 8:30pm