Another spring day. Feel free to discuss anything.
Monday Open Thread
by turfgrrl
April 23rd, 2007 · 17 Comments
Tags: In the News
17 Responses so far ↓ “Monday Open Thread”
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Turfie are you going to write about the traffic light money?
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I think Turffie is telling us all to go out and enjoy this beautiful day. She is likely doing the same.
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What’s up with the brick sidewalk replacing on East Ave in front of City Hall?
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I was at a meeting when that was brought up by, the explanation was that the sidealk was buckling in many areas. The argument was that especcialy along the side on Tierney Street, where buses unload for kids performing or adults that it was getting dangerous and that it could be a liabilty issue, and there were also bad areas in front where people walk especially during the summer when the joggers and walkers us Eest Avenue for there exercise. The question was raised about other sidewalks in town, and it was agreed that other area need it also, but since this was City hall and it had a great deal of use that it should be done. I hope we are not going to get into the businesss of saying that City hall is getting special treatment at the expense of the rest of the City, the sidewalk is used by all citizens and there is no special benefit to any city worker. It is also being done in house so no capital funds are being used and it will not impact the flooding budget.
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I know it is Tuesday but…
What’s with the unchallenged, pull it out of your hat, rantings of Gordon Tully? He carries on about a model code. Mr. Tully claims “Every city in CT has such a code and such a body except Norwalk” There was a 2004 survey done by CT Common Cause on Ethics Codes in CT. They are a highly respected, non-partisan, unimpeachable organization dedicated to good government.
Here is a small excerpt: and I quote:“The existence of a local code of ethics — (only)59 percent of Connecticut’s municipalities have
a code of ethics.
􀂃 Notification — 20 percent of state localities require the mandatory distribution of code to
public officials
􀂃 Financial Disclosure — Only 6 percent (10 municipalities) require annual financial
statements by officials;
3 / 12
􀂃 Ethics Board — 42 percent of state cities and towns have an independent ethics board or
commission;
ô€‚ƒ Appointment of Board — 23 percent require the appointment or confirmation by legislative body;”If you copy the web address below into your browser, you will find the The Common Cause model code and the full results of the survey - and Norwalk scored a 3 on a scale of 1 - 10. Of course we need reform but why make it personal? Tully’s tone is nasty and non-productive.
Mr. Tully has a personal grudge in this matter. He should cool off and get his facts straight. Of course, the Hour allows him to carry on his angry rants without ever thinking to check the facts.
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=1373025
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Not to mention as was mentined in a press story, that right now he is on the edge of an ethics violation, because he is advocating the compostion of a board that may some day have to look at him or any other ZBA commsioner. We all know the real reason for this, he upset that his co-hort on the ZBA is being investigated by those terribble politicians that he rants about so much, but he had no trouble wanting them to vote for his appoinment to the board. It always amazes me that some people try to make headway by implying all elected offcials can not be trusted universaly although in Norwalk’s case we have never had a major scandal, then ask for their support when appointed to a board. The the board members become holier than thou about how they are above politics. Does the Historical Commission ring a bell. Mr Tully if you want to worry about ethics,look right next to you at the next ZBA meeting, The only person brought up in recent memory before the present commission is your soulmate and good buddy “Ann fired by the real estate company for violating her clients trust Carbone”.
One more thing, check the ZBA minutes and see how many times he reminds everyone he is an archetect or how many appeals have been taken on decisons by this board since he and Carbone have been on,because of improper comments made by his Tulliness. -
Maybe someone should comment on how Gwen Briggs is a real estate agent and her husband is on the planning commission.
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Oh come now. Don’t you think there’s always some thread that binds all of us somehow in some way? The simple rule of thumb is to know enough to recuse yourself when voting on any issue that might present a conflict of interest. Period. Must we look for drama all the time? Smile and smell the roses, for goodness’ sakes. By the way, I don’t even know the Briggs, but I do know it’s very difficult to get decent candidates when election time rears its head. I have to laugh when people threaten to not vote for this one or that one. I want to reply with, “Geeee. Whattayou considering running, then? If not, just who ARE you planning to vote for?” We should condsider ourselves lucky that well-meaning citizens volunteer to take on the job of serving our city with all its aggravation and committment. What a thankless job!
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On the traffic light, just a point. This was agreed to by former Mayor Knopp in 2003 despite objections from city employees, just another one of his side deals that were made. There were more. I guess this is part of the great vison and planning that Galen Wells keeps attributing to Alex.
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I doubt that Alex Knopp is in any way tied to the funding issues alluded to.
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You are wrong, please refer to today’s Hour editorial, it states that agreement ws entered into 2003. Now let us see who was Mayor then? Lets think real hard, I do believe it was Alex Knopp. Please do not insult our intelligence, and ask us to believe that the micro-manager new nothing of this agreement, come on. The contract was signed by the present Mayor one month after he had been office based on a legal agreement entered into by Alex against the advice of city empoyees. The defenders are still out there trying to deny even what is in the press and public documents.
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Sidewalks are a lawsuit waiting to happen. The buses run around empty. Maybe we should lower the fare and get more people on them. Smaller buses that arrive more often might be more useful.
The train stations do NOT have enough parking.
The taxis need to be there for every train arrival at every station - not just South Norwalk. There never seem to be enough of them at the peak hours. I wish we had British style taxis. How come we don’t have a taxi stand at the key shopping areas- near the theatre, at SoNo - especially for late night drinkers who need a taxi home. At the shopping strips along Route 1 we could use a few taxi stands.
Bicycle paths and the ability to take a Bike on the train or bus would be great. Need security to guard the bikes at train stations.
The parking lots that are for commuter ride sharing need to have security and would also be a good spot for a taxi stand. People get nervous if no one is there or they don’t have a backup way to get home.
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No 10 you were answered by number 11 about Alex’s involvment, you had no reply to the facts, are you not honest enough to admit you were wrong when you said; “I doubt that Alex Knopp is in any way tied to the funding issues alluded to.” I guess your silence is the answer. We can all wonder what other special deals were made by him and his henchmqn Ed Schmitt. This another issue that Turff girl you should look at. How a person who was intimately involved with the city redevelopment projects including confidential information and the possible use of eminent domain, can now represent the property owners on the other side of the table. Do you think he has some inside information, by the way Alex was not the only one who removed files form the office after the election, it has been said that Schmitt looked like a UPS delivery man becsue he ws carrying so many boxes out. Wonder what was in those, do you think mayew some information he can now use agaisnt the city. You wonder why lawyers get bad names. Ed did you ever hear the word ethics?
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13, Facts? What facts. More unsubstantiated allegations from someone afraid to put down their name. Alex Knopp wasn’t in office when the state issued funds for the project.
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No 14, you are amazing, your name is not there either, and Alex was in office when the deal was made. Yes the funds were sent after he had left, but the basic premise is that the city should not have been invloved in the first place. I will repeat he agreed to the city being involved and the money issue would not be a probelm now if he had not done that. Read the Hour Editorial.
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#15, believe it or not, The Hour gets stuff wrong too.
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The editorial is no more than an opinion, which is what TG gives us. As for who is responsible for traffic signals on a state road, and who should pay for them, it seems likely this is much ado about nothing by the blame knopp crowd.
