To the Editor:
As a lifelong Democrat, a former legislator and a former Selectman representing shoreline towns and a partner with State Sen. Art Linares, Jr. at Greenskies Renewable Energy, I was shocked and quite frankly embarrassed for my party to receive the recent mailer from Emily Bjornberg on Sen. Linares’ track record on the environment and the economy.
Her false and hypocritical statements regarding our business seems to be representative of her “win-at-all-costs” mantra, and her criticism of one of Connecticut’s most dynamic and environmentally responsible upstart companies clearly displays her basic lack of understanding about both the environment and the economy.
A puzzling and disturbing fact regarding Bjornberg’s criticisms regarding Sen. Linares’s lack of concern for the environment centers around her family business, which has enjoyed millions of dollars of profits for generations selling automobiles, the single largest contributor to carbon monoxide pollution in the atmosphere.
Greenskies’ sole mission is to reduce carbon footprint throughout Eastern United States through development of photo-voltaic solar systems. Even more disturbing (and hypocritical) is the automobile that her family business sells are Subaru!
These vehicles are entirely manufactured in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries.
Yet the most outlandish statement in her mailer is that Sen. Linares does not care about Connecticut jobs. Without political fanfare, without beating his chest, but simply because it was the right thing to do, Sen. Linares supported consummating a relationship with the electrical union, and today Greenskies currently employees over 300 IBEW electricians in four states, including Connecticut.
If she cared so much about Connecticut jobs, perhaps, Bjornberg should consider unionizing her automobile dealership.
In today’s world economy, we enjoy an international platform of business opportunity to benefit all. Greenskies has purchased products from both U.S. manufacturers and from overseas, and we embrace and are extremely proud of our track record.
I personally appreciate the success of Bjornberg’s family business as well, which has proudly served the shoreline for generations. Bjornberg’s attempt to malign Sen. Linares’ record on the environment and on the economy clearly indicates that she does not possess the balance or the intellectual maturity to represent our district.
She should focus on the issues that separate her and her opponent, and their respective parties, and let voters elect the right candidate for the right reasons.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Landino,
Westbrook