Does Norwalk Need A Blight Czar?

Milford apparently thinks it needs to revise how it handles blight issues. Stamford, according to the same Connpost.com article has a process. Norwalk’s Common Council, hasn’t quite yet figure out that having a dedicated enforcement officer might pay for itself in the sheer amount of fines that could be issued for simple things like unsecured trash and obstructed sidewalks. When was the last time the Norwalk Common Council came up with legislation?

From Connpost.com:

The city may need a “blight czar” to enforce the existing regulations covering decrepit and unsafe buildings, according to some officials.

All the necessary laws are already on the books, members of the Economic Development Commission said, but there does not appear to be one city official in charge of handling blight complaints.

“The definition of blight in the regulations is a little vague, and there isn’t a specific person to see it through,” commissioner Susan Patrick said.

Depending on the underlying issue, health sanitarians or housing inspectors, the zoning enforcement officer or building inspector may become involved in handling a blight complaint, officials said.

Chairwoman Genevieve Salvatore said a consultant’s report on the city’s land-use permit processes indicated a “systemic discoordination” that may include the handling of blighted buildings.

source: Connpost.com, Milford considers enforcement ‘czar’ on blight, By Frank Juliano, 06/29/2009

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  • Anonymous

    How about if people just showed common courtesy? I have a neighbor who walks her dog and routinely tosses a cigarette butt in my driveway.
    Having lunch with some friends down in SONO on Friday, we were absolutely DISGUSTED at the state of the sidewalks. We’re usually there in the evening and even when it’s still light out, we’re not as focused as we were in broad daylight. Why can’t the restaurant owners just take the few minutes it takes to sweep in front of their own properties? I do it in my home.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t know if a czar is needed. Is there currently legislation governing blight? If so our regular code enforcement folks should handle it.

    Take a look at the situation behind Al’s warehouse booze (the one next to Sierra Grill) place looks like a bomb went off. Or how about ALL of the on/off ramps for 95 – total disasters. The main avenue stop & shop woods are also a total disgrace. How does all of this shit get there?

  • Democrat

    Doesn’t look like they will add any staff this year. Enforcement of all regs would be financially and aesthetically rewarding. Just enforcing the recycling rules with businesses and schools would mae a big difference.

  • Secondhand Rose

    Problem is, #1, the majority of people under the age of 30 don’t even know what “common courtesy” is, since they apparently have never had it drummed into them by their parents or by the school system.

  • Barnstorm

    You think a “czar” is going to make people suddenly responsible for the messes they create? More than likely a fine will be issued and the offender will move to Bridgeport or some other address rather than pay it. Then you have the fun of spending more tax dollars chasing the scofflaws. The pigs know nobody is going to come after them.

  • history buff

    Enforcement of quality of life issues uncluding blight is non-existent in Norwalk. The department heads all whine and don’t want to be bothered, it might mean more work for them,and the mayor is a lousy manager who never touches an issue with the least bit of controversy attached because he wants to keep his job, so nothing happens.

    The idea of full time enforcement officers (2 at least) writing tickets all day long is great. Even a 50% success rate in paying up will pay their salary, and you can watch the word spread real fast that living like pigs in Norwalk will no longer be tolerated, same as NYC, which has completely turned around in 20 years with enforcement.
    Norwalk is anarchy, and everybody knows it. Where is the leadership?

  • Barnstorm

    #6 Our mayor took that strategy right out of the Frank Esposito playbook. As long as you don’t make a noticable mess, you will keep getting re-elected.

    Well, that and the fact that the repubs’ opponents are a dysfunctional assortment of clowns.

    Since our “system” in Norwalk is to have a weak mayor and a strong council, we don’t exactly encourage “leadership” anyway.

  • Secondhand Rose

    If they’d only enforce the laws already on the books, a “czar” would hardly be needed.

  • Anonymous

    I am leary of another government Bureaucrat

  • Kevin

    I frequently walk down Highland and Devils Garden roads with a stroller, and a dog. I have taken to just walking through front lawns of people who park on sidewalks! It is appalling I have to walk into a busy street with a stroller because people can’t park legally. And don’t get me started on the people who go through my recycling like they are raccoons tipping over my trash can! All they do is leave a huge mess on my lawn and on my street!

  • 1 of the SMD 3

    Czar sounds much too like “mein fuhrer” to me!
    THIS is what the obama “CHANGE” IS……….

  • Anonymous

    Yes we nedd every bit of help to improve quality of life in Norwalk. # 6 said it all.

  • Anonymous

    I’m #1. I’ve been having to go down to the Social Security office and into that hateful parking garage lately to straighten out a little bureaucratic snafu and the whole area is DISGUSTING. Shouldn’t the federal government be obligated to keep their property neat and clean and to provide adequate parking.
    BUT – speaking of parking, I just had a brainstorm. Get rid of the people who give you parking tickets at City Hall, since we citizens shouldn’t have to walk a mile to conduct business with our city government and most of us weren’t involved with the inadequate foresight that left what has to be the PRETTIEST city hall in the state without enough parking. So let us park wherever we’re lucky enough to get a space – and let the parking people go issue tickets to all the slobs in town!

  • Anonymous

    I have a better idea; get rid of Social Security.

  • Anonymous

    While we’re at it, let’s get rid of Medicare. No, better thought: let’s euthanize everyone over 65. That way, both Medicare and Social Security won’t be needed anymore and the conservative hypocrites who whine and rail against the government will have to start finding something else to bitch about.

  • OLD TIMER

    Who is writing tickets at City Hall. ? Esposito put a stop to that for a lot of reasons. It would be interesting to see what parking violations they enforce. I’ll bet they do not have police officers writing parking tickets at City Hall.

  • Anonymous

    I just retired from the BOE (great time to get out!) and we used to regularly get e-mails when people had to go to workshops warning us that we should car pool because of the inadequate parking – and that if we parked in a no parking area we would be ticketed and/or towed. The no parking areas include up against the track and all the slots set aside there for the city cars. But we HAD to go to the workshops! Did I personally ever get a ticket – no – and if I had I’d have ripped it up and mailed it back, minus the money. They may have let the person go but there definnitely was at least one person ticketing cars at City Hall.

  • Anonymous

    Good posts Everyone. Happy Dependance Day!

  • Anonymous

    #15 We won’t need to euthanize; we will have National heathcare, so no one will live to 65.

  • Anonymous

    I like “Happy Depends Day.” Brought to you by Medicare, of course.

  • anonymous

    Everyday, I see trash, cigarettes, lunch bags thrown from passing cars. There are yards with weeds a foot tall. The old Fitch street school is disgusting. 95/7, 93 East Av, the list goes on. Some individuals and city hall could do a lot better with just a bit more care. We would all be a lot better for it.

  • Old Timer

    Czar ? We don’t need a czar. We need enforcement. A police officer specialist, much like the graffiti specialist, Jim Byington. Jim was a veteran police officer who specialiased in grafitti, very effectively. From time to time, the police dept has established specialized assignments dealing with particular problems, with considerable success. John Lysobey ran a very successful car theft squad that cut down on car thefts in Norwalk and helped put organised car theft rings out of business. All it takes is intense focus on a problem, including committing some manpower. I know the department is short handed, always has been, but manages anyway.
    A few well publicized arrests for littering, illegal dumping, etc. would have a dramatic effect. Now the general belief is that nobody cares. There are some special problems, like 93 East Ave, that are not so easily solved. The City has the rarely used power to condemn and demolish hazardous buildings. I think it already condemned 93 East Ave, years ago.