A letter to Silvio Berlusconi

6/17/2010

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
44, Via Cristoforo Colombo
00147 Rome
6/17/2010

Dear Prime Minister Berlusconi:

Buongiorno. I was sorry to read about your many difficulties over the past few months. You have had much on your plate. From your broken nose of a couple of months ago to your recent sex scandals, your life has been filled with troubles and travails. One suggestion I have is to confer with one of our former Presidents. He may be able to offer some advice.

Non parlo l'italiano. I do not speak Italian very well so please forgive me.

I have enclosed an open letter to Connecticut Transit located in Hartford, CT, USA that is self-explanatory.

Because of the issues raised in the letter and because we all know that you have continued to keep the trains running on time—a contribution from one of your predecessors—I suggest that it may help you to take time from your busy schedule to travel to Connecticut to help us in our hour of need? Your suggestions for making Connecticut Transit buses not only run on time, but also even to run at all would be most helpful.

I know that Commissioner Joseph Marie of the Connecticut Department of Transportation located at 2800 Berlin turnpike, Newington, CT 06111, USA. (Telephone 00-1-860-594-2000) would be most appreciative. He is at his wit's end trying to get the system functional.

You could also try Arthur L. Handman, Executive Director, Connecticut Transit 100 Leibert Road, Hartford, CT 06141-0006. (Telephone: 00-1-860-522-8101)

Both of these men are anxiously waiting to hear from you.

Another option in lieu of visiting would be to sponsor a series of “live-aid concerts.” These concerts would raise money to revamp and upgrade the CT transportation system. Imagine U-2—the band, not your metro line—performing.

Everyday, cars clog our highways spewing out noxious fumes. One is reminded of spice-laden camels raising clouds of dust and sand crossing the desert toward Cairo. One is reminded of produce-laden and donkey-drawn carts braying and brawling traveling past traffic-clogged cars.

One is also unfortunately reminded of the factory smokestacks of West Virginia and a coal-choked sky. Only instead of several large smokestacks, we in Connecticut face hundreds, if not thousands of tiny smokestacks from private vehicles. Fumes that if unchecked will surely drift to over the ocean to Rome.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Mel Hathorn