The June ordinance committee meeting will review a new ordinance designed to stop the proliferation of brothels masquerading as spas or massage parlors. According to a statement released by Mike Coffey, the proposed ordinace is part of an overall effort by the Mayor, Police and State Senator Bob Duff to stop the criminal activity of prostitution and protect the quality of life of all of Norwalk.

Coffey, a former prosecutor, said in his statement, “I know
it is important that we recognize the need to stop these criminal activities
which undermine our quality of life.” Coffey researched similar ordinances in towns like Stratford, to craft an ordinance that would provide a method to regulate the activity.

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Although House Speaker Jim Amann said it’s just about off the table, the idea of a property tax cap is very much in play from Governor Rell’s side of the budget. From Brian Lockhart at the Advocate:

With the legislative session scheduled to end June 6, Genuario has been huddling with Democratic leaders and the Republican minority to reach a consensus on the budget. He said Rell has insisted the tax cap be part of the package, but Democrats have yet to warm to the idea.

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According to a Matt “mad Max” Breslow article in the Advocate the return of Susan Gunn is imminent.

The Norwalk Museum’s only paid employee - curator Susan Gunn Bromley, who has been on extended personal leave since December - could return to work Friday, city Personnel Director H. James Haselkamp Jr. said last week.

Meanwhile, the Friends of the Norwalk Museums - the nonprofit group whose volunteers have been staffing the facility in Bromley’s absence - are trying to become its administrators.

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Would it shock you to know that there has never been any study conducted that showed that homework assignments affected learning in young children? But it’s true. And that is just one of the myths about homeowrk debunked by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish in a 2006 book “The Case Against Homework.” The authors begin by showing that since the 80’s and even more so since “No Child Left Behind” the movement towards education that has teachers focusing on drilling their students on math and reading at the exclusion of everything else.

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Enjoy the day and remember those that served our country.

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While the Norwalk Democrats are busy funneling their energy into alienating the centrist core of Norwalk voters. the Norwalk Republicans are making waves throughout the state. Most people would say that following the 2006 elections, the Republican party in Connecticut was dead. Let’s review the election from the Republican perspective:

Rell and Michael Fedele, were the only Republicans to win statewide office. Republicans lost seats in the legislature; Republicans number 44 of 151 in the House and 12 of 36 in the Senate. And then, they lost 2 congressional seats to Democrats, and came very close to losing a third.

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May 22, 2007

This is an exciting time in Norwalk’s history. Many developments are planned that will forever change the shape of our city.

While development forces are focusing on Norwalk, housing prices are prohibitive for many families, property taxes are squeezing out many current owners, infrastructure is at a critical stage and transportation is at a crossroads. Norwalk is at the tipping point between “large town” and “small city” and good planning should ensure that the “new Norwalk” will reflect that which is good and unique about Norwalk’s past and present as it moves into the future.

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With the legislative session ending on June 6th, you would think that the House and Senate would be on the same page regarding an energy bill that would do something. Instead there are two bills with no compromise in sight. None of the recent newspaper articles ahve delved into why, other than personality clash, that this is the case. Perhaps a run down of the differences in the bills would be helpful. Instead:

But with energy prices continuing to spike, many in the General Assembly have deemed deregulation a failure. Others say the state did not go far enough and must open the market further to begin saving consumers money.

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There was maybe 20-25 people, mostly Democrats in the audience.

here now the transcript with my asides embedded.

Ethics Public Hearing Mtg.

In a brief press conference held before the meeting, Carvin Hilliard and Mike Coffey spoke about the reasons for holding the third public hearing on the revision to the city’s 40 year old ethics code.

Coffey explained that his committee held two public hearings, on ein Ovtober and one jan/feb concerning the code, and that only one person showed. Up . He claims that the sudden interest in the code is due to political issues.

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Sorry I didn’t post anything earlier. Deadlines have a way of doing that. But now that the day is winding down and tonight’s meetings are winding up I figured you all could take a break from the today’s District C chatter, ethics befuddlements and worries about why Bruce Morris and Sue Gunn are still collecting full paychecks on your dime. Oh, that may be a little snarky. Ok, how about here are links to the parade routes for memorial day.

Rowayton

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