March 7, 2010 1:17 pm

Norwalk Potpourri

My apologies for the light posting this past week or so. There have been many hugely impactful things going on, and not much time to process and comment as I had hoped. So consider this a combo, week in review/week ahead melting pot of the interconected lightness of being in Norwalk.

Superintendent Candidate: Yes they have a finalist. Monday is the meet and greet. The most interesting thing about the process is the lack of documentation and transparency about the process. It was a joy to dig out the coverage of Dr. Marks candidacy in Newtown, Ma. But will the media here, the PTOs, the public ever get wired enough to create a community of info that is a resource to all?

Budget: Workshops move forward with the BET, but are we all aware that the two biggest city departments, DPW and parks and Rec are down so many bodies? The quality of life issues that irritate are not being addressed, and the budget dollars to fix that are not forthcoming. This is the disconnect in Norwalk politics.

Serasis V. Scialabba: I’ve gotten so many calls and emails about the letters to the editor on this, it warrants a mention. But really, who cares what Steve Serasis has to say about anything? He, by his own admission cites the 28% voter turnout of the last election, yet conveniently forgets that the Democrats hold at 2 to 1 voter registration advantage over Republicans. Thus, Serasis’ message delivered an underwhelming voter turnout. That’s the truth.

Mayor V. Council: This storyline could fill the pages of yourCT.com for weeks. I’ve always been a fan of divided government, meaning one party holding executive offices and the other legislative. Well, it doesn’t exactly work out at the State level, but it was working well in Norwalk. Until the last election, where the Democrats were defeated as council majority. Now you have a Republican majority of council members who have aspirations of Mayoral-tude. The friction is there, causing the same disfunction that the Democrats ultimately succumbed to as well. The kicker, no one knows who is on the council anyways, so the fight for “leadership” is like an epic battle in an ant farm.

Shots Heard Round Norwalk: The gang warfare between drug dealers in the projects is heating up. A little economic downturn can do that to any micro economy. The police have stepped up patrols.

There’s more, feel free to add your thoughts. But take advantage of the sun today, we’ve had dreary weather for too long.

Apathetic Voter

I’m curious to know, in this time of economic recession and flat-line budgets, how the LMMM feels it can honestly accept over $500,000 from the City for renovations – when renovations at the LMMM have been ongoing since the 1970s? This building is under *constant* renovation, yet the renovations never seem to be completed. The Historical Commission has had money set aside for the sprinkler system since at least 2002 yet the sprinklers are never installed – but the LMMM feels compelled to ask for more and more money year after year, for the selfsame “renovations”. They renovated in the 1970s. They renovated in the 1980s. They renovated in the 1990s. They renovated between 2002-2008. They even renovated before, during and after the very recent filming of “The Stepford Wives”.

After the past 30+ years’ worth of renovations, we should have an almost-new building! How can they look the taxpayers in the face and accept this money when everyone else is holding to a zero-spending policy? IMO, the LMMM needs to go out into the world and get sponsorship and private donations for any “renovations” they think they need, and cease expecting the City to foot the bill for every little thing. Particularly now with the economy the way it is.