Norwalk Mayors Debate
This is probably the largest crowd I’ve seen for these debates. That is a good sign that people are eager to participate in politics.
Q1 Increased enforcement of zoning, health and demolition existing laws.
Walter Briggs: We would look at each department and makre sure that we have adequate people and staff to enforce these laws. Would add 1 or 2 enforcement officers.
Dick Moccia: I did add an enforcement officer, but that itsn’t enough unless you follow it up in court. We have over 100 cases in court enforcing our laws or zoning violations..
Scott Merrell: Doesn’t believe in big government, and thinks that people should be able to face their accusers. Things the redevelopment agency violates laws by removing 3 gas stations, and the maritime motors that supplied 40 jobs. We never had strong arm tactics of city government against the city residents.
Q2 Name 2 or 3 additional ways besides create energy efficient buildings, to reduce use oil and gas.
Dick Moccia: All the redevelopment projects will have a green technology component, and Norwalk is applying for grants. This building has received an energy star classification. Resdient have to contribute too.
Scott Merrell: Best thing to do is to give Manresea back to the state of new york. It isn’t changing light bulbs its time for them to generate their own power on their own waterways. Let’s go after the superfund to go after the Mecury contamination. That would be the best impact we could do.
Walter Briggs: I have pushed for green development, POKO partners is one of the great examples, would like to work with local energy groups to provide more energy from the cuty instead of buying it from CL&P. Oyster shell park could be the first park to generate its own energies.
Politicians often propose expanding or cutting government programs, when you think of yourself as at taxpayer are you are more or less inclined to cut or increase programs.
Scott Merrell: I’d be the first mayor to cut back property taxes. We tax at double rates what Darien, Westport, and New Canaan. Claims that Briggs and Moccia don’t live in Norwlak. We should be like California which bases the property tax on the sales price not on projected values. Norwalk is the only city that is forcing residents out because of property tax increases, where in 1998 there was a surplus the taxes were still raised.
Walter briggs: The taxes provide the services for the citizens of Norwalk, through redevelopment we hope to keep the property taxes lower. We provide more services than the other services. We have hospitals that these other cities don’t have.. Norwalk has had is funding cut back and with his finncial background to make sure Norwalk is doing its best.
Dick Moccia: Last he checked Walter and he do live in Norwalk. Its state law that we have to reevaluate property taxes. We have to pave roads, fix the flooding, We live in a state that doesn’t recognize that we are the 6th largest city in the state and yet we don’t get funding help. Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven have gotten way more. Windham Ct got 28 million, but Norwalk got only 15 million. No elected official likes to have to put a reval in, but until the state legislature gets rid of it we have to live it.
The moderator can’t keep track of who is supposed to speaking.
Q3 Please comment on new zoning regulation that allows to have affordable units offs site:
Walter Briggs: In favor of the affordable housing regulation. Authored much of the regulation, and is proud of it. Sometimes it is more economical for the developer to put affordable units nearby,
Dick Moccia: Offsite housing, if you want workforce housing, as long as you get the housing in Norwalk. That’s the most important thing to get it in Norwalk. We’ve continued to pressure all projects to contain affordable hosuing. There’s nothing wrong with it.
Scott Merrell: What is the purpose of using a developer to make affordable housing when they are taking away affordable housing. The big secret is that these big development projects that get a tax exemption for 20 years, and they can use the exemption to pay for bonds. Little Norwalk isn’t a city in the sense of NYC with 14 million people. Them roe redevelopment projects you do, you shift the tax burden to existing residences. Condos in maritime years, you property tax gets deferred for 5 years. The city doesn’t get a cut of this.
Q4 Do you support the use of the city’s bonding to help developers.
Dick Moccia: We are not going to give the developers the taxpayers pocketbook. We are going to use our triple AAA credit rating to let the developers to borrow the money. We can’t allow West ave, Wall Street and Issac streets to lie dormant. It is important to provide housing, restaurants and retail. The democratic council worked hard to get that bond rating.
Scott Merrel: I’m against paying someone else’s loans. The Redevelopment Agency is a modern day Tammany Hall. Do we vote on on taking the car dealership or gas stations. The citizens should be able to vote as a referendum on this project. Cites the Academy Awards location as an example. Project after project after never make a profit. The maritime center doesn’t make a profit. How is it economic development if you take away a car dealership that supplied 40 jobs. The most corrupt cities gets the most state funding. Norwalk is run well so we only get $15 million. Double is double. Double what Darien pays, double what New Canaan pays in property taxes.. We should get proportionately what out population is.
Update
Walter Briggs: I’ve got to correct a couple of things. Martime yards was sold for $50 million and we got $250k conveyance tax. There is no 5 year free property tax. They didn’t offer it to me, [Moccia chimes in, nor me… Crowd laughs] When all the property is all developed we should get 4045 million in new tax revenues. These developments are absolutely necessary, these should have been done years ago, and we worked hard to make sure that they are done right.
Q5 Under the parking system instituted under the previous administration Norwalk charges more than other city. What changes would you make?
Scott Merrel: There’s no parking charges in Rowayton,, Darien, or Westport. Numbers don’t lie. If we are only getting $250k out of $50 million, we are begging for scraps. [he is actually continuing on the last question] You keep shifting all these taxes, the economic engine of the state of Connecticut is Fairfield county, they should give us our proportional share of state revenue. We pay 14,500 to flunk kindergarten. I’m not afraid of the school teachers union, …
{finally the moderator cuts him off …}
Moccia: You’re glad you don’t have to follow that Walter. (laughter)
Dick Moccia: The question was not factual. I parked in Stamford and paid $7 for 1.5 hours. I have removed the meters on Wall street and made improvements on how to get in and out of Webster lot, we’ve made LAZ more accountable and reduced the rates. We need those fees to maintain the system and the garages. I’d like to form a special services district to pay for services that will allow them to have reduced parking fees. We implemented the boot program to get people to pay parking tickets that they have ignored. We collected $1 million in fees. We have turned the parking system around. And we will continue to do so.
Walter Briggs: When you ran against Alex you wanted to cut parking fees, I’m glad you agree with Alex now that we need paid parking. I believe in paid parking, you cut the 45 minute grace period to 15 minutes, I’d restore it back to 45 minutes. Unfortunately the maritime garage was more expensive and we had to raise the parking fees too high.
They are now on closing statements… unless its interesting I’m not covering.