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Norwalk: Hiss, Boom, Bah; Open Thread


by turfgrrl


August 28th, 2007 · 27 Comments

Stratford voted 6-2 against the saggy pants ordinance. In a counter move to the seniors in Alvin O’Neal’s district, they might want t consider pants that are hiked up the above the wasteline and black socks while wearing sandals.

Even in Bridgeport, the focus on Education revolves around spending tax dollars wisely. Unlike Norwalk, where some Democrats fought to preserve reckless spending by Corda, the Democratic candidates for mayor see the Education system operations as needing improvement. From the CT Post:

For too long our kids have suffered at the hands of this machine, which ignores our schools and what truly must happen to fix Bridgeport’s education system,” Caruso said.
“I will end the stranglehold of the political machine as it relates to education,” Caruso said.
Finch, by contrast, focuses on process, and tends to blame unequal state funding for the city’s educational troubles.
“We must provide greater support to our school systems, and work at the state level to focus the school funding formulas on the urban systems with the greatest need,” Finch said.
“But we must also put sound financial management plans in place and conduct regular audits of our school functions to weed out waste and make sure every tax dollar is well spent,” Finch said.

Gwen Briggs, Kevin Poruban, Matt Miklave, Doug Sutton and Bill Krummel all fought to preserve waste in Norwalk’s school system and supported the rubber stamping BOE. The BOE is voting on Corda’s, Lang’s and Opdahl’s contracts tonight as well as setting policy for the State Rep Bruce Morris who managed to spend days in hartford instead of doing his job here in Norwalk. Then again, since he lacks the educational credentials to do his job, why is he still employed? He lacks a college degree. This is a simple one, the Norwalk Public Schools should not tolerate employees that lack credentials, and who game the system with unaccountable hours of work.

The thread is yours for anything else that is going on.

Tags: Education · In the News · Norwalk

27 Responses so far “Norwalk: Hiss, Boom, Bah; Open Thread”



  • 1 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 28, 2007 at 10:10 am

    I had made a post on just how silly this “Saggy pants” would have been if passed by the Stratford Council. The post was never put up, and I suspect was lost in the Internet land of lost stuff. In any case it was a stupid idea that would have wasted more police time that could have been used for serious crime enforcement.

  • 2 anon // Aug 28, 2007 at 10:33 am

    Local Dems prefer to ignore problems, instead of fix them.

  • 3 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 28, 2007 at 1:05 pm

    I noticed that the Headlines in the Advocate said that Chief Rilling of the NPD, has put in has application for the job of chief of the Weston PD.

    He may be giving it some serious thought, as last weekend the chief had a garage sale at his home. Could this be the start of selling his home in Norwalk?

  • 4 Mr Greenpeace // Aug 28, 2007 at 1:37 pm

    or just renting it out to someone from the Hour?

    #13

  • 5 Anonymous // Aug 28, 2007 at 1:39 pm

    Can you blame Rilling? You get a lot more house and land in Weston with a lot fewer headaches.

  • 6 Mr Greenpeace // Aug 28, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    The article Another View from Michael Mushak on page six of the Hour today is a well written and a well thought out artcle on Vets Park. He does point out for everyone for or against the park its importance to our own culture as residents and its use that could be.

    I am pleased to say Michael after working as a landscape architect for the last 25 years we could use this well written article and push for testing in Vets park. Punching some wells in this promising lot would help others plots its future,,the only thing he didn’t cover or suggest with those many years in the field..

    Why was that?

  • 7 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 28, 2007 at 4:42 pm

    Mr Mushak is a “Yard Man with a degree.” He is not an environmental engineer. He is more of a “Legend in his own mind.” What he does not know about that park, and the city of Norwalk, would fill a 10,000 page book.

  • 8 anonymous // Aug 28, 2007 at 5:28 pm

    If Vets Park is capped, then there is no need to punch wells.

  • 9 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 28, 2007 at 5:43 pm

    It is not capped and there is no record of what type of material was placed there in the early 1900’s or what the toxicity of the mud that filled it even is.

    The same toxic material that flowed into Mill Pond, which is a tidal free flowing pond that dumps into the Harbor and was the dumping ground for all the Lead, Arsenic, and Mercury that came from the old Hat Factory and the Foundry, as far back as 1811. It was dredged by the DEP but no one ever questioned the same mud that was used to fill Vets park must have the same toxic substances, and that does not even include what may be found in the old dump far below the high water mark. We only have guesses as to what was deposited in the old dump during the early 1900’s when there were no restrictions on dumping of any kind.

  • 10 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 28, 2007 at 6:04 pm

    Let me add to the above post;

    YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK

  • 11 Mr Greenpeace // Aug 28, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    I trust you all realize I have no clue who Mr Mushak was ,,I do remember an article by Timothy Stelloh from the Advocate like the article that was done for Oyster Park he did one for Vets park just as well in detail not long ago. How is it we all forget such details when these reporters go and find the facts and deliver them to us .

    I wonder with all the facts that are uncovered and brought to light out here on the blog if any of these issues are going to highlighted by our candidates. I figure some of these issues that are going to cost money will be tucked away until after the election.

    Its sad to say but its the obvious things people see every day that is a problem are ignored becuase how could it be dangerous if we can go vets park.

    Odd how water collects on the Gault property weeks after a rain storm? is it on a water table? looking in on this site tells me from outside the fence we still have issues.

    Odd how fuel tanks are not allowed by some but are ok for others?

    odd how more money to cap material from the harbour is needed that came from the land we share as parks?

    its just odd how this city works with all its paid professionals yet no one has come out and disputed the article on Oyster park and Vets park why is that?

    I’m sure the Advocate would give the city its say all is needed is a phone call right?

    Has anyone been able to ask the mayor and the new mayor whats up with all of this?

    yard man with a degree ,that was good in all my years i have never heard that saying but fits my hat is off to you #13 ,, :) :) :)

  • 12 anonymous // Aug 28, 2007 at 8:33 pm

    The same toxic mud that was dumped under Vantage Point condos! Check the map from 1899… Time to start punching holes in the parking lot!

  • 13 Mr Greenpeace // Aug 28, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    maybe someone should rent a booth at the fest this year and do some testing on thier own, i don’t think you have to go down that far for the water table,,and the three days it would take to perk,,well wouldn’t that be a first..undercover environmental snooping right before election time..

    wasn’t Norwalk hospital doing some sort of study? with all that stuff coming from the power plant and whats already around the city for speculation are there any numbers there that could launch some interest..

    bear in mind the city employees cringe when subjects come up it effects the money pits the overtime the perks,,I can understand from the prospective of someone who makes a $100,000 from the city , but what about our kids who play on these fields,

    Has any warning signs been posted at oyster park?

    Has anyone told the new people moving into the new condo’s that the smell they are getting from King , and the landfill and the sewage plant is not going away..

    I’m curious what has the DPW been doing along the outskirts of vet park with the sewage lines cleaning them before the fest so there is no problems? Is it every year at this time? was this preventative maintenance or justa good idea for the Seaport assoc.

    always curious

  • 14 nwlknative // Aug 28, 2007 at 10:17 pm

    As I have said before, if people knew what was actually dumped where, they would be amazed. Long before there were environmental laws, Norwalk was a manufacturing town - hats, locks, metal products, cosmetics, lace factories, tire factories, plastic products, just to name a few. The by-products from these companies were dumped anwhere there was open land and then covered over. There is a plastics plant right in the center of Norwalk, Hicks & Otis, which is on the EPA list of toxic sights. We lived with the odors and chemicals from that plant for years until the EPA finally made them put a special cleaning stack on top of their building. They had (and may still have) barrels of dangerous chemicals in their parking lot, sitting next to the river. When the neighbors complained about these chemicals being out in the open, they put a fence around the property. Where the medical buildling sits on Belden Avenue, there was a fur rendering factory and another company that made vacuum tubes. Were these sites ever properly cleaned up? Luxury condos and office buildings are sitting on top of property that was used to dump waste and by-products from the rubber factory and lace companies.

    If these sites were properly cleaned up before the building started, where did all the toxic soil go? Was it used to fill in other building sites and then capped? Will we ever know?

  • 15 anonymous // Aug 28, 2007 at 11:14 pm

    Mr. Greenpeace - the city is replacing the sewer lines in East Norwalk - that is what you see going on - no conspiracies to support the Oysterfest or the Seaport Association. They are replacing the pipes by lining the existing pipes from the inside with a new flexible pipe. They clean a section first prior to lining it with the new pipe. It is interesting to watch. I just stopped one day, watched and asked them questions - which they readily and pleasantly answered.

  • 16 Mr Greenpeace // Aug 29, 2007 at 12:51 am

    thank you #15 just thought I’d ask,,

    To nwlknative a couple of ways we will find out,,as time passes and the dpw workers work in the trenches in front of business and condos where land was cleaned or not they will be one of the first to find out,,most contaminated land leaches out with the water table so as water , sewer and gas pipes are installed from the street in they generally are laid in stone,,

    Crushed stone offers the path of least resistance so if the street is opened and the soil is colorful or simply smells like chemicals then we will know the workers will find it first. Like caneries in a mine if you need an example.The electric company always test of oxygen content which should be the 21 percent but they also on water street worry about pollutants where haz mat sites were at one time.

    Now another way to find such things in soil are where the pipes come into buildings unless some smart contractor put about 5 feet of clay before the foundation that will stop any leachate from coming in,,you see there are tricks of the trade some know.

    I guess where we havn’t had a lot of rain when it does go out and check outfalls near the ocean, streams withing areas that are dry right now,,if its blue hit it with some ajax dishwashing detergent if it breaks up its oil,,marina’s keep it on hand so they look good with boats that expel oil or gas.

    Then there is the 3m pad most packs of 50 go for a $100 or so designed to pick up oils and not water.Boom is made out of the same componet.

    While I’m at it a tip for the day in fighting pollution, if there is a spill in the street and its reportable what you do is take a can of adhesive and some heavy mil plastic,,spray the storm drain and put the plastin down you create a pool of gas oil or whatever untill someone can pick it up or use absorbants..Once it goes into the drains it cost money big money ,,

    wonder if the drains ever got cleaned out in South Norwalk after the last spill they found on water street,,don’t know and to be honest with you rely on the papers to do a follow up well your waiting on a lost cause,,

    It was said it was going to cost a lot to clean up,,so does that mean the boom is still in the water and the drains are still dirty?

    see can’t worry about what happened years ago when you can’t get a straight answer on what transpired last month can you?

  • 17 insanity loves company // Aug 29, 2007 at 5:58 am

    Nothing to worry about, they punched holes at Vets Park its in the Hour a great picture now all one has to do is take samples,,I hope the two kids that were wearing sneakers and no breathing protection have good health plans..where was OSHA?

  • 18 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 29, 2007 at 8:54 am

    Re #12 and 17 First I see you have NO knowledge of Norwalk’s history. The Vantage Point Condo was built on the property of the old “Maury & Spence Yacht Yard.”

    I was at that location and above high water for 70 years before the owners both passed away. For you information it was the last of the old time sailboat yards that did not use any Travalifts. All boats were moved on greased wood beams by pulleys and cables.

    Now for # 17 are you being facetious? I hope so because if you seriously think your remark about drilling a 12 inch deep post hole in the top soil is funny, you are an idiot. I suspect that you might be interested in a nice piece of property that I know is for sale in Niagara Falls N.Y. you may have heard of it “The Love Canal” property. Do you have kids? If you do would you allow them to be put into a 25 foot deep excavation at Vets Park, and play in the dirt to act as a test for the toxicity? I THINK NOT. Your mouth is much bigger than your balls.

  • 19 Anonymous // Aug 29, 2007 at 10:03 am

    How would you know ? have you had them in your mouth? Its a wonder there is any room with your foot!

  • 20 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 29, 2007 at 10:11 am

    Good comeback. I expect no more from a retarded idiot with NO FACTS OR BRAINS. As far as my foot is concerned, I am still trying to pry it out of your butt hole, where I also found one of the fence posts that you were talking about in Vets park. I would guess it is buried in some really toxic waste, planted where it is.

  • 21 Sal Warren // Aug 29, 2007 at 10:21 am

    “. I would guess it is buried in some really toxic waste, planted where it is.”

    Now that is funny.

    LOL

  • 22 Mark Sabia Jr. // Aug 29, 2007 at 3:54 pm

    Does anyone out there remember the date that the stone wall was built around Veterans Park?

  • 23 vetsie // Aug 29, 2007 at 4:29 pm

    The wall was built in the mid 80’s. Parks Dept should be able to give you exact date

  • 24 Democrat // Aug 29, 2007 at 5:00 pm

    The wall was built during the early Esposito years as part of councilman Jim Cunningham’s drive to keep undesirable people out of Norwalk’s parts. The idea was much derided at the time as a waste of funds.

  • 25 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 29, 2007 at 5:06 pm

    On the pipe being covered in East Norwalk, I was told by the crews that if it was not done that way, the pipe could only be reinforced by tearing up the road. Which is a job that might have taken months.

    I do have to say that it is being done at kind of a bad time, as the trucks working on the Oyster Fest are having to park right on top of the work area, to get their jobs done. I would suppose that it will all be gone before the Oyster Fest starts.

  • 26 mike mushak // Aug 29, 2007 at 5:56 pm

    Hey #13, thanks for the compliments. I am a legend in my own mind (isn’t everyone? I hope so.) And I am a yard man with a degree. That’s how I got started, and that’s how I worked my way through Rutgers. Had to. Family couldn’t afford college. Dad worked in an American Standard factory in Trenton, the largest in the world at the time, as a kiln operator (for 30 years every AmStan toilet and sink in the world, millions of them, were built under my dad’s watchful eye. He’s quite proud of that!) He stocked supermarket shelves at night, to earn a little extra so me and my 4 siblings could have a week down the shore, on Long Beach Island. Mom worked as the head secretary for 20 years at Green Acres, an office of the NJ DEP that bought up farmland to preserve as parklands in the rapidly growing state. I am quite proud of my humble origins. Why call names? Why not identify yourself? The KKK wore hoods, you hide behind silly numbers. What are you ashamed of? Embarrassed by how adolescent you sound? Come out of the closet! By the way, I am quite knowledgable about the park, about norwalk, and about environmental remediation techniques. It has been a rapidly growing area of the profession for the last two decades, since there is so much available former industrial urban land (brownfield)that needs to be recycled into new uses. There are many available strategies, some easy, some not, to remediate former contamination. Field testing is common, and recommended. No one is afraid of it!
    Get over it! Mike Mushak, (the legendary yard man with a degree.)

  • 27 Mr Greenpeace // Aug 29, 2007 at 7:33 pm

    I’m not here to match backgrounds, I am though blessed in working on some of the largest superfund sites in the country to tell you if Norwalk has a problem it seems it will show up in the kids and not the lab not a situation that doesn’t even seem right.

    I guess I would feel better if someone from the city addresses it in a professional way and not pretend it doesn’t exist.

    Lets look at the chemicals people are using as examples not your run of the mill organics but products that took maufacturing in kettle houses the worst kind.

    Just maybe the Norwalk hospital will have some results in who has what along with St Vincents and simply see where we sit.

    Its obvious if its dirty we will be the last to hear about it,,i would like to be the first to say its clean lets continue and not waste valuable time on the past,,or are we wasting time on the future if no one cares..

    By the way working with hydralics one needs a license in most states, and if rules are not followed along the safety line in some states the operator loses his license,,I’m sure from the picture i just saw in the Hour i trust it was staged ,,the kid wearing sneakers would not allowed in most states.

    Any reason the foundation on the EPA superfund site has stayed intacked?

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