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Norwalk: Open House & Open Thread


by turfgrrl


September 4th, 2007 · 39 Comments

Three things.

The DPW plans to hold an open house on Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Public Works Center, 15 South Smith St. Tour the waste water treatment plant and eat pop corn.
The house on 93 East ave awaits courts to decide its fate while porch columns and railings have leapt from their 250 year role as supports and independently dive off the porch into the bushes in a new evolutionary feature to escape the burning of Norwalk.

Infrastructure money is in short supply. Up to now, its been spent on school construction, and look what Opdahl has managed to do with it thus far. Long time residents are clamoring for flooding relief. DPW director Hal Alvord said to Robert Koch of The Hour, “Traffic was going to be our big effort. Then, all of a sudden all this flooding took place.” Seligson is the only developer looking for municipal bonds for infrastructure improvements, they total $104 million. Matt Miklave thinks infrastructure also means schools and “workforce housing”.

Meanwhile infrastructure for the rest of us residents might be considered to be pot hole free roads, trash pick up, non flooding storm water and sewer drains, sidewalks that are clean and available, and clean parks and recreation areas.

All this and whatever else you want to chat about.

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

39 Responses so far “Norwalk: Open House & Open Thread”


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  • 1 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 8:42 am

    Perhaps Chris Handrinos could put Nicky “The Tongue” Kydes to work as a post holding up the mysteriously collapsing structure, since he doesn’t seem to do anything else. At least El Moochito could claim he’s “supporting” historical preservation…

  • 2 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 8:43 am

    Will the City be serving that popcorn in barf bags? Might come in handy once you’re done snacking.

  • 3 Democrat & sick of it // Sep 4, 2007 at 9:10 am

    Why does South Norwalk put up with the likes of the Burgesses and the old time crazies, BBrown and JLombardi?

    NEON has a very experienced, Executive Director who cares very deeply about the agency and the community. Their only motivation is the same motivation these geezers have exhibited for decades - the Burgesses are polically inspired to destroy any one who may have more power than they do. It is disgusting and a very old story. Give a good man with new ideas the opportunity to prove himself. I believe in Joe Mann and support him fully. He’s the best thing that has happened to NEON in decades.

  • 4 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 11:45 am

    Chris wants that house to fall down so bad. I’m sure he’s busy trying to get it to fall down.

  • 5 Vet Park Junkie // Sep 4, 2007 at 12:01 pm

    My wife and I have been disappointed with Norwalk for a few weeks and have chatted about moving. However, when we dig into our reasons, we’re not sure that we’d find anyplace that has resolved a one of our key issues – corruption.

    Corruption is a word with heavy meanings. It is not to be used lightly. Many of us reserve it for obvious felonies like kickbacks, bribes, extortion, or embezzlement. Many of us use it simply to denigrate a political party or to dismiss some third world country. It is more than that.

    It is an insidious behavior that covers some actions that are pretty common. Actions that border the fine line between legal and illegal. Personally, I get frustrated with legalistic squabbling and prefer deeper discussions of ethics. I have spent many years studying the Greek author Plutarch. He has greatly influenced my life and many of my writings are drawn from his works. I believe:

    - Having a ticket “fixed” is corruption.

    - Using inside information for profit is corruption.

    - Favoring or promoting a relative or friend over others better qualified is corruption.

    - Taking public money or equipment is corruption.

    - Gifts and grants to influence politicians is corruption.

    - Favoritism in providing government services is corruption.

    Again, these are my personal views and they are all debatable. I could go on and on but you get the idea.

    I just paused and pinged Wikipedia on the issue of political corruption and am sitting speechless. I just used the link to clean up my list above. I was darn close. For a good time, see:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption

    For those unwilling to pursue the link, I’ll extract a few personal favorites that are listed as “Conditions favorable for corruption.” .

    - Lack of government transparency

    - Weak accounting practices, including lack of timely financial management

    - Lack of measurement of corruption

    - Lack of benchmarking

    - Large, unsupervised public investments, combined with complex or arbitrary regulations and a lack of oversight

    - Self-interested closed cliques and “old boy networks.”

    When I’ve discussed this in the past, someone inevitably pats me on the head and says, “Don’t be naïve. It’s the way the world works.” Huh? I grew up in the Amazon. I know how to “work the system.” Heck, they have a word for it, “jetinho,” a little way. It’s fun to pull political strings. However, I’m growing up. I’d like to raise my kids in an environment where corruption doesn’t exist. It an impossible dream, I know.

    Of course, my timing in writing this couldn’t be worse. I expect a rapid descent into “I’s all the Democrats/Republicans fault! Let’s blame Knocia!”

    It’s own fault — daily.

  • 6 Vet Park Junkie // Sep 4, 2007 at 12:29 pm

    Meant to end that with,

    It’s our own fault, daily.

  • 7 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 12:44 pm

    Vet Park Junkie, huh?

  • 8 Vet Park Junkie // Sep 4, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    Little things that seem innocent can cascade. Participating or ignoring them makes it our fault.

  • 9 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    Vet park junkie, if you want to leave, then go, but at least your observations should be accurate.

    1. Tranparency, Norwalk is open, every meeting is subject to FOI, all the redevelopment projects with all the financing has gone before every neighborhod group and been vetted.

    2.Weak Acounting? Norwalk is one of only 12 cities in the country that has a AAA rating from all 3 agencies, all budgets and projects are voted on by the council and Board of Estimate. Norwalk was also one of the first cities to institute the GASB requirements for post retirment health benefits. In fact one of the fist in the country to get contibutions from the unions in the new contract towards the retiemetn fund.
    An have one of the most repected finance directors in the country in Hamilton.

    3. No measure of courrption? How do you measure that? Take a poll and ask if they are stealing. No city is perfect, but over the years there have never been the scandals that have hit Hartford, Bpt, Waterbury or other cities in the state, even smaller ones like Naugatuck and Torrington.

    4.I must admit I am not sure by what you mean by Benchmarking.

    5 Large investments with no oversight. Wrong. The major School renovatons ahve been managed by the NFCC and Council, the NFCC is made up of citizens who volunteeer their time and have experience in the contruction field, plus council reps and DPW staff and the Mayor. Have their been some problems with the renovations, when you do over 150 million in renovations, there is going to be some unforseen problems. As far as any other projects the various deaprtmentss all manage them. You complain about lack of ovesight then complain about the regulations in place that are necessary to manage the projects. By the way most regs are set by the state and Feds not the city.
    Try staying away from the the half truths and mis-stamements, or move as you suggested so you can find utopia in another city that is so perfect. Like Hartford, Waterbury, Bridgport, or out of state like Providence where the Mayor went to jail, or perhaps Boston, where they did such a great job on the big dig, or maybe San Diego that is close to bankruptcy
    or the various cities in New Jersey where Mayors ar either in jail or under investigation. You will be in nirvana and then will be part of the not so miserable 25 or more. Good Luck.

  • 10 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 1:39 pm

    To Vet Park Junkie’s points.

    1. Corruption? Explain how Sue Gunn can still hold a job? Why is Betti Bondi the registrar, Fred Bondi a councilman, Peter Bondi chair of the historical commission. Oh wait, Fred voted on all this right? Nothing but cronyism then.

    2. Transparency. Right, all meetings that you know about. But Ken Slapin can meet with Stanley Seligson and juice the works for votes to help out West Ave. redevelopment. Looks like Nick Kydes runs his own action there.

    3. Oversight. Please, where is it? Does anyone know how the BOE, the 60% of the city budget gets spent? Does anyone know how the construction projects spent money? How many students so we lose a year? How many new buildings does that require? Why do we forget ceilings abd bathrooms? Oversight my a$$$.

    Oh good, the mayor is not in jail. Why should he worry? He does nothing, he holds no one accountable, and is happy to collect his paycheck each month.

    So sure, let’s hail the fact that no one in Norwalk’s City Hall has been arrested. Such a high standard to meet.

  • 11 Vet Park Junkie // Sep 4, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    #9, I am not saying that corruption is ubiquitous in Norwalk. It isn’t. However, several discussions here and in the papers indicate that it is occuring. I did focus on the line in the link that it is difficult to prove corruption but impossible to prove its abscence.

    Don’t you get frustrated with the unsupported accusations? You must because you are accusing me of that. My post is driven by gut reactions, not by any individual post. However, scan over the last few months of posts. I selected the list of corruption because the items match some of the topics discussed here. I selected some of the list of “conditions favorable” because there might be some easy fixes to reduce the possibility of corruption. A personal favorite is “weak accounting practices.” I’d like a director of finance in the School district. I’d pursue the solutions that have been tried to measure and benchmark corruption. So many times I’ve found success by fixing the process and reducing the focus on individuals.

    If the process to control corruption is broken, doesn’t pursuit of individuals turn into “wack a mole?” Again, I don’t think we’re totally broken, but a discussion for improvement might be nice, neh?

  • 12 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Sep 4, 2007 at 2:53 pm

    POST 10 wrote
    “Why is Betti Bondi the registrar, Fred Bondi a councilman, Peter Bondi chair of the historical commission”

    If this was the Fire Department or the Police Department, the cries of “NEPOTISM” would be plastered all over the newspapers, and there would be people screaming it from the roof tops.

  • 13 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 2:54 pm

    #10, I would try answer your misstaments but why bother, No wait I will.
    1. The Democratic party nominated Betty Bondi in an open convention that anyone could have attended. She was a unnamious choice which means that others than Fred voted and of course Fred was nominated and believe it or not was voted in by the people in his district, or were all the voters in the District on the take. Fred recused himself from the vote when Peter was confirmed by the council. If you read the paper Soo Gunn has a union position, which means it is very diffuclt to remove her by law, not saying she should stay, but Peter Bondi has no control over that, did you see the union lawyers comments in the paper, that if she was let go they would file the suit.

    How do you know Slapin met with Seligson? Are you saying that the West Avenue project is bad? Implying that people are getting paid off. My god the councilman serve for $50.00 a month and all have jobs, they are honest people, and this implication that Seligson is paying off is an insult to everyone. I guess all the neighborhhod associations that have come out in favor of the plan, must be paid off too. Kydes’s probelms have nothing to do with the West Avenue plan, it was the Iaasic street plan, get your corruption facts correct. In his defense the Globe theater issue did not come up until April or May, should he have recused himself then, in hindsight yes, but he never voted on anything and had the one discussion at the meeting with Miklave. Lack of jugment yes, corruption no. The Board of Ed is a problem because of the state law wich allows them complete descretion of how they spend the money with no oversight by a Mayor or Council once they get the budgeted amount. Take that up with the state. Your other statements about no ceilings or bathrooms is another exaggeration. The bathroom in the science addition was never in the origianl plan as the planners under Knopp thought that another one was close enough in the old section, and what ceilings are missing, Brien McMahon or Roton or Nathn Hale of course not. Some parents at NHS wanted drop celings to cover exposed pipes that had been there since the orginal building of NHS. But that caused a fincial as well as logistical problem. but it is being looked at, so nothing is missing. As far as the Mayor goes, whomever it is wether Moccia, Knopp or even back to Espo, for you to say that any Mayor sits back and does nothing is ridiculous. The point about other Mayors in jail was to reinforce that unlike other cities, no matter what you may think of any of our recent Mayors none of them have been or are getting paid off. Again the problem with this blog, is the misinformation, half truths, the hurtful and personal attacks that hit both sides of the aisle. Free speech is a wonderful thing, so you have the right to say what you say, but a lie is a lie no matter how often it is repeated. I also get the feeling that you are a very frustrated person in dealing with your own situation in life. But even if you are not, I can do what you do, just state it as if it were a fact.

  • 14 tell it like it is // Sep 4, 2007 at 3:02 pm

    You have Vet Park Junkie told it the way it is..it is our faults,,,,, can’t say after reading this blog we didn’t know whats going on.

    If I was running anything in town seeking votes I’d address some issues and not the ones we are hearing out of the political camps right now..

    can’t keep blaming the other one, kids do that where no money is involved,,we are not kids anymore.

  • 15 Mr Greenpeace // Sep 4, 2007 at 5:00 pm

    Its funny how some one can come out and make a statement and have someone say it picks apart our city ,,anyone who does anything like that should be barred from this site.

    I am so glad someone finds a problem with this blog, why not shut it down I myself have had it with people writing in uncovering the facts, giving the press areas to go and report on spreading even more lies throughout our fine city.

    We should not let the press write about areas that will cost us money or disclose behavior that would show anything that looks like tacit collusion, good thing that term wasn’t used we would heard more than misstatements.

    So we have heard from decent hard hitting reporters, not mentioning names they get too comfortable in their reporting when they see their name here,,but what about the articles that show we need to ask questions,,they research, they report, they pull in from all their sources and we simply read it blog it and go on.I trust Oyster Park, vets park and the crime become issues in this next election, can’t simply say what sounds good and get by this blog crowd some smart bastards here I’m afarid to say..

    We hear from police officers and firefighters and dpw workers just recently we have had a custodian add his two cents in about the schools..

    I figure we will start getting workers sick from all the things they have been exposed to , figure we will see some more underhand another good word for corruption and understand it didn’t just show up at the door like the mailman.But then again it will be half truths like the ones we have been given by city hall.

    The mayor even if he can’t change the law, the safety on our streets , or stop in house favortism he can speak up and voice his opinion, hell we here more from Fabrizio on our city then our own mayor.I’m sorry but I was expecting a vibrant, outspoken an informed mayor that would step up to the plate and not eat off of it but address whats on it,,suppose the advantage of some mayors is they react before the problem then after and continually suggest the residents are to come foreward,they have anyone ever read John Nickersons aricles from the Advocate? This year alone two weapons were taken off the street and a couple of criminals caught by victims and passerbys ,guess that wasn’t enough.

    Lack of judgement , lack of political parenting is another thought, lack of accountability our spread sheets our line items for budget costs read like Jimmy The Greeks cheat notes before the betting cage,,but no corruption its to much of a we all do it term so lets use a better term,,fleecing our pockets, getting overtime when no one is looking,spending money for the good of all mankind,,this term list can go on..

    Its funny how I have heard from all over the city, the teachers are hooked into this site, reporters use clipping service type methods to read about their articles that highlight the blog, the DPW workers wives are hooked in , Local 830 is all over this site,the police are avid readers, the Island people are enjoying the PR, they were appalled to think we thought they were fooled in hiring a police chief,and this list can go on..

    The drop ceiling issue thats another thread , but if your telling me becuase of just Aestetic judgement your wrong.Not a lie simply wrong.

    Personal attacks are wrong, shows weakness, Not one posting out here have I considered a lie ,,then again I havn’t read everything, not knowing most of the players I’d say there would be a percentage that is true. I have been allowed out here for a couple of months , told I rant, told I write subconsciously and sometimes just plain pain in the ass style but never have I been called a liar.

    My facts are researched my spelling sucks and I could care less who feels the heat, made some friends and burned some bridges buts its ok we all have a job to do.I have found many problems with this blog none are worth mentioning the good outweigh the disadvantage.

    The mayor of Providence was a good man , always in the news doing his job actually knew him a great guy to have in the dining room on the hill in East Providence ..but did he do his job? yes he did,did he help the city? yes he did, would he win again after he has been in jail? in a heartbeat..but whats that have to do with Norwalk not a damm thing.

    But we do agree #13 free speech is a wonderful thing,so lets keep hearing from all of you we have a following and they are not stupid they are some of the best intellects the city has to offer whether your for or against,

    as far as the other cities,,mom use to say don’t care what Johnny does i care about what you do..we care about this city and whats going on why can’t we be like other cities I ask?

    I’m not in a situation, I’m in Norwalk and will stay here and rant no matter what..

  • 16 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 6:05 pm

    Once again Mr Greenpeace, you ramble and never address the mistatements that were pointed out in the reply to #13.. And you who decry that lack of police activity and so much crime in Norwalk actually defend mayor Cianci because he did good for Providence, How about NGanim and Rowland they did good and lets give thme a banquest honoring their misdeeds. I guess that sums up your hipocrisy Now about this Mayor, people on this blog complain that all he does is appear in the paper, now you complain no one hears from him. Check the city Website he has releases dealing with the issues in Norwalk, yes some are normal mayortype duties, proclamations on certain events, but check and you will see comments on the master plan, the Band Fire, the 136 issue, the slow down days, the bank robberies, the lobbying to get FEMA aid, the cleanup of the rockpile on Rt 7, the WIFI zones. You may not like his stands on issues, but he does take stands and he is doing his job and most people in town know that. Mr Greenpeace, eveyone knows you ramble and your thoughts do not always come out in a logical order, but as I told miserable 13 get the facts straight,and when that is pointed out you go into the usual diatribe about an open blog and one should not be critised etc. Why don’t you and #13 reply to my comments about his incorrect statement, point by point instead of the ramble. Where was the information on Bondi etc and the sschools incorrect and hs statments factual? Oh by the way the cities that you love to point out as being the paragon of virtue when it comes to police staffing. Stamford, and Bridgport had wild west shootouts for the past few weeks. I guess must be something wrong that their police could not devine where the next crime was going occur as you seem to think that the Mayor and Norwalk Police need to be able to do. Bt the way never called you a liar, but #13 in my opinion made mistatements and if he did it out of lack of information that is one thing if he did intentionally that is something else. Than that is a lie. But this can be put to bed, I gave facts in my reply to him, let him show where they are wrong. No philosphical statements, no moaning about free speech, just answers.

  • 17 Vet Park Junkie // Sep 4, 2007 at 6:43 pm

    9 & 13 (I’m assuming they’re the same person. If not, my apologies.) You make some great points.

    I’ve gone through many of the City’s budgets online and have been impressed with the level of detail in many of the departments. Remember the rants on sound levels at the Columbian festival? In the budgets I was able to quickly learn that the city did have sound meters. Some of the budgets are so detailed that they’re interesting to read just for the notes. I didn’t find that to be the case with the School district. Again, different reporting structure which is frustrating. I would point to a lack of transparency in the school district. Is there corruption? It’s hard for me to tell. With the lack of transparency, all I’m left with is rumor and innuendo, often at a personal level both at a person being discussed and the one who posts. The lack of a finance director leads down the same path. Gee, remember when the director of finance for the police raised the issue of police overtime? That made me real happy.

    Some of the other issues discussed here do seem to have quite good oversight. Someone typed NFCC on an earlier discussion on school construction, too. The assumption seems to be that we’d all know what it is. We don’t. Back then I scrounged around the city website again and found it. Yep. The NFCC also makes me happy. Did I find anything about dropping the bathrooms? Nope. What I did find frustrating is that I couldn’t find any original plan. My fault? Someone else’s? Who knows? Do you see what I’m getting at? I think you do because I’d agree with you about the hurtful and personal attacks on both sides. How would I know if the person that brought up the lack of bathrooms wasn’t simply disgruntled about being out-reasoned or out-voted at a very early date? I don’t. What I’d like are postings pointing to source documents or processes that exist for controllership. I don’t see many or they are too cryptic for me to identify easily, eg. NFCC. At this point, I can’t tell if controllership is at the same level across the city. For me it seems like the school district could adopt some of the neat stuff that other City departments have.

    Also, I don’t want to lose my point that even small things like getting a special favor from a pal in City Government lends to the atmosphere of corruption. When I hear someone bragging about getting something “fixed,” the more I’m willing to consider stories of more heinous acts. However because I still have a lot of trust, I often dismiss the bragger as a possible liar.

  • 18 turfgrrl // Sep 4, 2007 at 6:53 pm

    I think I’ll chime in here to remind readers that I will put up any supporting documents you have, often as its own post so that you all can share and comment away.

    A big thank you to all that have sent along photos, documents and requests. Keep them coming.

    The Management

  • 19 Mr Greenpeace // Sep 4, 2007 at 7:19 pm

    for the most part I agree with what anyone says, unless I see differant.I have never said the police don’t know what they are doing ,,but when crime does happen it usually happens on the five or six streets or four housing complexes and when it happens you will see and hear the response from all the other cruisers from accross the city, usually leaving just one officer alone for a split second unable to comfotably do his job by him or herself alone in South Norwalk.

    Police force size has continued to grow in Stamford and Bridgeport, the size of grants are 3 to 1 in those cities and all we read is how depts are getting their own grants and nothing to do with the city grant writer here in Norwalk.Figure if they didn’t grow in size maybe more crime who knows..

    The rock pile on Rt 7 who cares, the crime is not changed with or without the pile,,and the band fire should of never happened or at least not to that extent.

    The 136 issue only dealt with what 1/10 of Norwalk how many people alone live in Roodner court? How many more are effected by no help from 136 that was only a photo op and a vote getting ploy for the ones who get not the ones who don’t get.There are still problems on the other half of 136 did the city note this? you do relize 136 has another side of MLK correct? never heard a word about it during the intense discussions from Duff and crowd..

    The city website is not going to come out on the street and change anything, it will show great things happening, but the armed robberies the drugs and prostituition is on the rise come live here for a week.

    Where does the mayor sit on Oyster park?

    Where does the mayor sit on the Vets park?

    where does the mayor sit on the schools?

    where does he sit on the contamination still left on the Gault property?

    Where does he sit on the crime in south Norwalk?

    Has he done anything about the condition of the parking lot where the band parctices where the fire was?

    Has he done anything about the pollution still seeping into the Harbour off of water street?

    what about the the lobbying he did for FEMA was not that his job? who else with a pulse on the city could of done it?

    What about the homeless shelter GE is expected to do everything there for us?

    What about standing with the police officers in the park or on the street , commenting on how the union not the city run very welcomed events for our children.

    What about the fire dept when they are holding events and have to abritrate a contracts after fighting for what was right in the very beginning?

    A crosswalk for Wall street be 1 more there than in south Norwalk why is that? There is a rt there isn’t there? (ok just a liitle stretch)

    Its funny Duff was on Concord street when he was running for office,,only time he would ever go back is when he would be running crime is so bad there.

    You can say incorrect statements but seriously I’m taking on the here and now,,whatever in the past I don’t know I’m leaving to those who know,,

    One of the safest cities in the country the website you suggest to read was not true, I take stock in the Advocate, a little less from the Hour and channel 12 but over the city website anytime.

    What I do know is when the same names keep comiing up and have such a dark cloud over them whether it be the Blog, the papers the wire service i have to sit back and wonder why not a counter strike back,,how is it that most of the problems that arise in this city we are left with no comments or not able to reach for comments,,these news guys are not pushovers they ask they are denied and go on,,when we learn the news from the Advocate or Hour before elceted officials or the city website I would say there is a lack of effort to tell the story first wiith the facts,,back peddling is a favorite stance with the issues i see, so if anyone comes out and eports or describes something wrong out here why not read the facts in the paper the next day we do have that advantage , with free speech don’t we?

    I stil respect what you have to say #16 I don’t deny you know more about me but I want the quality of life to improve for my kids , so unless Bondi can put some more officers on the street and paint some crosswalks and stop the oil from flowing into the Norwalk river I really don’t care..The others who are making money on Norwalk good for them we will run out of it soo and they can go elsewhere its all the game which i don’t play.

    I’ll listen though its my nature to learn from others and thier mistakes,,god knows I make enough of them myself.

  • 20 Anonymous // Sep 4, 2007 at 7:24 pm

    One and the same, I accept you explanations, and of course no one can know everything about every departmetn I think in the future if you poosed your concerns in a question form, for instnce, it is thru that so and so has happened and does anyone ahve any info, jsut as example. Then perhaps the facts will come out that people can documetn. As far as people bragging about fixing something, take it with a grain of salt. Norwalk works well and 99% of the people and city workers are honest.
    I do not diaagree with you about the BOE, blame it on the state wwho took the power away from the fiance and legislatives bodies of our cities for a line by line accounting, and unfortunately this Board is in a stupor, Sal talks they raise and say yes. But do not blame other elected offcials, they feel the same way. The hope is that some new blood on the Baord will ask for more accountablity, and remember that the Mayor and board of finance and some council people from both parties stood up to this board and by giving real facts and convinced the parents that the system could function with the money that they were given and they did not cave in becasue of the hysteria Corda tried to instill. Hang in there Vet man, when you stick to the facts you make a lot of sense. I understand venting, I guess I did a little, but lets all move to making this blog a place of facts, opinions and information. Stay in town.

  • 21 indiga // Sep 4, 2007 at 10:08 pm

    #16 — press releases do not translate to action. I believe that Mr. G is looking for feet on the street type of committment from the mayor and others. And he ain’t gonna get it from folks who are too busy making sure their buddies are taken care of. A press release. A photo op. And then — poof — it all goes away. Remember Wall Street and the litter? Take a look at Wall Stret and tell me how effective that was. More puffery from the local Republican machine that fiddles while Norwalk crumbles. In the case of its historic buildings, quite literally. Though, I must say, the “good old boy system” seems pretty bipartisan.

  • 22 Anonymous // Sep 5, 2007 at 12:07 pm

    Indigna, how about answering your conflict. Property values vs Historical value on the Inn property. How about your relative’s involvment in the 124 East Ave demolition. Also how about your involvment in applying for Historical Dsistricts in town withour even notifyng all the neighors in neighborhoods, they may be surpised that there property rights might be restricted withour them knowing it. Applicaion to the state has been already done. People any statements she makes have to be taken with a grain of salt because she be refuses to answer any questions. Turf Girl,you might want to research with some of the historical people in town to see if the have very secretly applied for neighborhoods to become Historical Districts, without notifying the city or all the property owners in the affected areas.

  • 23 Anonymous // Sep 5, 2007 at 12:37 pm

    Get over it. Your red herrings are dying on the sidewalk in front of 93 East Avenue.

  • 24 anonymous // Sep 5, 2007 at 12:47 pm

    I think I am going to leave a few coolers of beer and a charcoal grill and some steaks in 93 east av. Its starting to get cold and the kids need a place to hang out and build a campfire

  • 25 anonymous // Sep 5, 2007 at 1:17 pm

    #22 - Specifically, what property rights would be lost or restricted if a neighborhood became a historic district?

  • 26 anonymous // Sep 5, 2007 at 2:04 pm

    There are no restrictions or loss of property rights when a neighborhood is designated a historic district. In fact, owners become eligible for significant tax credits for repairs and maintenance work done on their house..new roof, etc. They can still choose to do whatever they want with there property, including demolition, vinyl siding, whatever…

    Restrictions only come into play when a “local historic district” designation is sought, which requires notification and a vote by property owners in the district.

  • 27 Anonymous // Sep 5, 2007 at 3:11 pm

    #26 You miss the point, why was it done in secret, and I do not agree with your assessment. Just ask the owners of the Inn, in addition even if there were no loss of rights, it was done in secret with only a few people knowing it and not one city agency notifed. Perhaps the people who live in the area do not want an historical designation, because they know the next steps will be village districts and applicatons for historic districts. This was done in secret by the historical fanatics who think that they are the only arbitors of what is right in the city. They advocate open government, then sneak in the backdoor on everyone. Turf girl, I am telling you check into this, it is more than one neighborhood, and a consultant was brought on board help to make the applications, I am not sure if they were paid or not but they were brought in. there will be public hearings held, guess where? Upstate. Gee, I guess anyone luckly enough to even know about the applications, will have to drive to Hartford or somehwere around there to talk about it, that is if they were lucky enough to be notified. Ah democracy in action.

  • 28 property rights // Sep 5, 2007 at 5:58 pm

    It’s a State District and it has only benefits to the homeowners. Stop scare-mongering and showing your ignorance. Speaking of ignorance, I heard the mayor called the State Historic Preservation Office and tried to use his influence to stop this perfectly legal process that could benefit the property owners by giving them access to tax credits. Makes his statements about the demoltion of 1254 ring really hollow…

  • 29 Anonymous // Sep 5, 2007 at 11:09 pm

    Property rights, how do you know what the Mayor did? You must very familar with secret process that was used to claim historical districts without many homeowners being aware, get back to basics, who applied and what process was used? And why are public hearings being held upstate cocnerning Norwalk properties. To everyone out there, you will notice they attacked the Mayor and talked about tax credits, but never answered the quesion who applied and when the propery owners in the district notifed, you know why they ignore it becuase they know that many homewoners were not made aware of the applicaton and ahave no knowledge, I do not care if evey tax credit in the world were avilable,it is not for a few chosen few to decide for the people in the district, everyone should have been made aware. Turf Girl, I am telling you this is a neighbohood coup done very secretly without many homeowners even knowing about it.

  • 30 Tell It Like It Is // Sep 5, 2007 at 11:16 pm

    Will someone explain how a property owner is harmed if they own property in an historic district?

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