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Norwalk: Democrats Putting Lipstick On The Pig


by turfgrrl


July 3rd, 2007 · 83 Comments

Even Captain Smith knew when to put out the lifeboats. Democratic ship Titanic is shoring up its campaign by focusing on the issues that squeal loudly in their political meetings, yet remain far from the kitchen table issues that most Norwalkers are concerned about. The Dems plan, according to the Hour is to run as a team under a unified platform. Which would be interesting if that were news, but that’s how the Democrats have been running campaigns since 2001. Remember team Knopp? You don’t? Well, his website is still up as a reminder that La plus ça change, la plus c’est la même chose …

Despite three articles on the subject of Norwalk Democrats, no one over at the Hour pieced together what the unified theory of election chaos was going to be. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise to readers here, because it can be summed up in three brilliant items, sure to get Norwalkers excited.

  1. Bend over and fully fund Corda and Opdahls education budgets without asking any questions that might discover uncomfortable facts like the imperial duo are wasting tax payer money on things that absolutely don’t benefit educating kids.
  2. Establish Historic preservation as the top platform because everyone knows that the roads are paved, flooding is imaginary, property taxes are too low, and historic preservation will make it easier for seniors to live and enjoy Norwalk.
  3. Ignore open government initiatives like ethics reform, forensic accounting of city and BOE budgets, opening up board appointments to the public at large and instead focus on appointing cronies to all boards and commissions.

District D thus chose to recommend Gail Wall, Anna Duleep as in district candidates to run along with incumbent Doug Sutton (at large) and BOE candidate Shirley Mosby. I can’t wait to see how Ken Slapin will react to Duleep’s call for more efficiency apartments, particularly in the Wall street redevelopment area, where he took such interest in opposing an affordable housing requirement that majority of new housing units built be either one bedroom or studios.

With four months left till election day, things could change. The iceberg of public opinion could melt, and Corda and Opdahl could discover huge savings and improved test scores, and our roads could become paved in historic gold. Or you could, as many Democrats acknowledge secretly, stick a fork in it, because the local elections are done, and those presidential primaries are mighty enticing. So while local DTC Dems will be rallying under the increase educational funding for historical preservation appointments flag, the rest of the Dems will be following Obama-mania, Dodd Squad and Hillary’s tango through the primary forest.

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

83 Responses so far “Norwalk: Democrats Putting Lipstick On The Pig”


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  • 1 anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 7:23 am

    I have eaten at Ganga for many years, until it closed down. I think Mrs. Duleep owns the building where the restaurant is located. Isn’t that building in the Wall street Redevelopment Project ? Isn’t that a conflict of interest for Mrs. Duleep to participate in discussions on the use of that Redevelopment area when her family stands to gain financially ? Why didn’t she disclose this to the public ? I think she needs to issue a public statement about this, or should come onto the blog and clarify this. That is the problem with some of the people seeking political office, they wish to exploit their office to make money for themselves, family and friends.

  • 2 another dem view // Jul 3, 2007 at 7:43 am

    For anyone who cares to know, Ann Duleep is Lex Paulsons girlfriend(remember jen on this blog?) and yes her family owns property in the redevelopment area which is in direct conflict with her serving on the council. The dems made such a hoopla of Mr. Grant participating in a venue which they said was a conflict and now they are running a candidate who stands to reap the rewards of redevelopment. Ms. Wall is a usual candidate who like other “new” dems switch parties to get nominations because their own parties won’t support them. This is not an uncommon occurance in this town and will prove to be a very interesting election cycle. For all the dems out there, our party is grasping at straws and we are letting them. Its a shame that they can’t get true party individuals to run for these offices. Is it a wonder there is so much controvercy? They have scared away those who may have had a lot to contribute because of their narrow minded philosophy.

  • 3 anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 7:45 am

    what will their platform be, opposing holding the line on taxes, opposing unions, opposing transparency, opposing eminent domain reform, and opposing ethics reform. sounds like a winning campaign theme that was crafted by the insiders from the norwalk dems team. galen wells and her handpicked team needs to go. hopefully, someone will replace them.

  • 4 anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 7:48 am

    Didn’t the dems screen their candidates before running someone with a conflict that appears to be a violation of the city ethics code if they were to vote or try to influence others on redevelopment or housing policies? Very nice, Team Corruption (or should I say Norwalk Dems).

  • 5 Grant's Folly // Jul 3, 2007 at 8:17 am

    Oh…NOW conflict of interest is a big deal. When it was everybody’s buddy Grant, it was “what conflict?” Puh-leeze. Besides Coffey’s highly touted ehtics code just says you have to report it — and then you can pretty much do as you like. Ethics revision anyone?

  • 6 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 8:29 am

    Hey, I wonder how many Republican Common Council members or candidates have real estate interests in the Wall St. area? Anyone care to look into that?

  • 7 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 8:44 am

    Couldn’t find any sitting Republican council members with real estate interests in the redevelopment areas, however, not all candidates have been announced so it is yet to be seen. Again, those who do have conflicts with redevelopment or any major projects should not be running. As with zoning, realtors should not be members. Anyone with interests that stand to make them money from ongoing projects should not hold common council seats no matter what side of the isle they are on.

  • 8 Grant's Folly // Jul 3, 2007 at 9:27 am

    I don’t believe the ethics code says that…all it says is that you need to disclose it, in writing, to the Town Clerk.

  • 9 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 9:33 am

    #8-this is true. However, in a perfecdt world it would alleviate improprieties on anyone’s part and clear the way for impartial debate and passing of projects without conflicts. But then it would also make for a boring blog wouldn’t it? Can you imagine a day when you open yourct.com and everyone agrees?

  • 10 Jerry Aldrich // Jul 3, 2007 at 9:36 am

    Norwalk: Democrats Putting Lipstick On The Pig

    Great line Turfy.

    I can add;

    If it smells like S***

    Looks like S***

    and

    Feels like S***

    I don’t have to taste it to know it is S***.

  • 11 Jerry Aldrich // Jul 3, 2007 at 9:43 am

    Sorry Turfgrrl, I just could not resist.

  • 12 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 10:02 am

    Jerry Aldrich -tsk tsk totally not politically correct!

  • 13 indythinker // Jul 3, 2007 at 10:11 am

    By the looks of things this election cycle will be about preservation and redevelopment, open space and who should cut their lawn. Hope these candidates know something about the rest of the issues in Norwalk. Flooding, BOE, taxes etc. I can just see the Council meetings going forward, if you think there is bloviating and pontificating now??? Those will definately be the meetings to stay clear of after November.

  • 14 ENrwlker // Jul 3, 2007 at 10:13 am

    Sounds like the local Dems have spent too much time reading this blog, where historic preservation — a non-issue to most Norwalkers — seems to consistently be the hottest topic. If THAT’s going to be their campaign issue (along with bankrupting the taxpayers with an open-checkbook policy towards Sal Corda), get ready for a Moccia landslide in November.

  • 15 marital woes // Jul 3, 2007 at 10:14 am

    And while we’re on the subjecting of swine, which party’s candidate for re-election as mayor can be found trolling the local bars for babes? Oink, oink.

  • 16 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 10:28 am

    marital woes-In case you hadn’t noticed, the mayor is usually with his ex-wife when he is out so why start this crap now? You couldn’t gey him living at the Inn so now you’ll figure a way to destroy him in another way? First of all, peoples personal lives should not be the issue and second of all, he is divorced so therefore where he goes is his business. You all have a need to delve into people’s personal lives when you know nothing of the circumstances behind them and yet you would air others dirty laundry. Why not rattle a few skeletons in your own closets, I’ll bet there will be a huge pile of bones sitting in front of you. Look to your own homes before rifling in others.

  • 17 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 11:36 am

    Does anyone in the Norwalk Democratic party spend any time talking to us regular working folks? My son (29) still lives with us and my property taxes are more than my mortgage. I appreciate historic homes but I’d like to see some housing that my son could move into now. We’re not getting any younger.

  • 18 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 11:38 am

    Has your son ever considered moving to a less expensive part of the country?

  • 19 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 11:53 am

    #18-now there’s an educated comment! Would you want to move from the community in which you wer reared? Most people don’t?

  • 20 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 12:05 pm

    I do live in a different community in which I was reared - in fact, I live on the other side of the country. Furthermore, at the age of 29 I was living on my own and had been out of my parents’ house since I was 18.

  • 21 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 12:16 pm

    I find it amazing that #17 attacks Democrats for not caring about affordable housing. Where are the Republicans on this, other than obstructing all attempts at getting housing that lower income people can buy.

    But that’s understanding, considering that there is a Republican councilman who keeps talking about being able to earn $50K working in a deli! What deli? Where? You certainly don’t earn that at Wal-Mart, or Shop-Rite, or …

  • 22 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    Care to elaborate on which Republican Councilperson said that? I’d like to make 50k for working in a deli.
    The average pay for a deli worker is between $10 and $15 per hr. so if this councilperson whom you say said this perhaps their name would be helpful in one finding a job of this nature. ?????? So spill already!
    If this is the case everyone would be working in a deli, (we have plenty in Norwalk)instead of fighting traffic on I-95 every day.

  • 23 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 12:41 pm

    Mr. Kydes said that, arguing against the Living Wage Ordinance

  • 24 anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 12:45 pm

    One big problem with providing more affordable housing is that the taxpayers’ end up subsidizing the depressed tax revenues for the affordable units. This drives up market rate homeowners’ tax bills pushing more of them out of the area.

  • 25 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 12:47 pm

    That figures! Can you say “So far right, help me I’ve fallen and can’t get up”? Have you listened to some of his rantings? He and Matt Miklave should be put in a room together and they can bore each other to death.

  • 26 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    Perhaps the deli Kydes referred to is the Republican Pork Store…

  • 27 where is the master plan ? // Jul 3, 2007 at 2:42 pm

    Where is the master plan ? Walter Briggs is almost seven years late on the only project he is working on. What gives ? He will be a fantastic mayoral candidate. We think not. With his families history, he should be running as a member of the John Birch Society, and not the democratic party. Also, is Gwen Briggs planning to run ? It would seem that like Anna Julip, this is a potential conflict of interest for Mrs. Briggs.

  • 28 Just Curious // Jul 3, 2007 at 3:34 pm

    I heard that the old Globe Theatre is owned by a relative of a current council member. Is this true? If so, isn’t this a conflict?

  • 29 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2007 at 4:34 pm

    Depends on who that is, if we ain’t got a name we ain’t got an answer.

  • 30 Watchdog // Jul 3, 2007 at 4:40 pm

    Hoo boy. Looks like we’ve got to get the book out. How would a relative’s owning of property in Norwalk a conflict of interest? By this logic, one would wonder if it is permissible for a council member to own a home in Norwalk.

    Can we settle this matter, please, before it goes awry? Turf… aren’t conflicts rendered invalid if a public official recuses him/herself from any vote with regard to an issue? With regard to the above example, a CC member should NOT vote on any matter regarding the Globe Theater if a relative owns it, yes? This is not to say that a relative cannot own it prior to the vote.

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