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They Put On A Show


by turfgrrl


May 21st, 2008 · 45 Comments

Just what exactly are the Norwalk Democrats up to these days? For some reason, Bobby Burgess and State Rep Bruce Morris have decided to insert themselves into the process of traffic management at the SoNo train station by holding a meeting that somehow excludes all those actual commuters who use taxis. Anyone from the corporate office buildings at this meeting? No. Because why would we deal with the facts of the issue, when we can instead make this a political flunkie fest. Think I kid? 1/4 of the attendees were Democratic flunkies of some flavor. The attendees, according to the Hour:

About two dozen people attended the meeting, which Burgess opened and turned over to Lloyd Mellad, owner of Lloyd’s Taxi of Darien/Norwalk Yellow Cab and Vito Bochicchio, owner of Eveready Transportation.

…

Many local Democrats were among those in attendance including Common Council members Phyllis Y. Bolden, Amanda M. Brown and Michael K. Geake; former Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Galen Wells; and Walter O. Briggs.

Of course there are three taxi companies operating in Norwalk, and they couldn’t even get all three to show up. Maybe because the issue of what side the Taxis should queue up on isn’t such a big deal. I particularly love the short attention span theater of how government works in response to a question:

Bill Galasso asked whether Moccia, the Parking Authority or Common Council approved the changeover.

Said Geake, “It never came to us. We now have to react to it. It was rammed down our throat.”

You see, it was former Democratic Mayor Alex Knopp who decided to move the parking issues into a separate authority not subject to the input of the common council. I hope that Mr. Geake brings that up at the next DTC meeting. Should be fascinating. Kind of reminds me of an old our gang show, youtube clip below:

source: The Hour, Cabbies, riders, residents sound off, By ROBERT KOCH, May 21, 2008

Tags: Norwalk

45 Responses so far ↓ “They Put On A Show”


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  • 1 MGeake // May 21, 2008 at 11:12 am

    Not only were commuters invited — with a flyer handed out at the train station — I sat next to one who was on his way home from NYC. Might want to get your facts straight before accusing us of ignoring them.

    And I’m well aware that Knopp created the parking authority, and I have a history of doing battle with that authority since long before even considering a run for the council. I have found them to be one of the most “handicapped surly” bodies I’ve ever had the misfortune to deal with.

  • 2 turfgrrl // May 21, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Mgeake: Oh come on, at best you had 3 commuters out of a daily average of 180 who use taxis, that’s statistically irrelevant. You tell me why the Democratic politicians outnumbered the “real people” and where was the representation of business people who use taxis? You really want to say one commuter is representative of all commuters. You guys didn’t even bother to look at the data to see if arrivals from westbound in the morning are the peak taxi usage periods. You gonna bring it up at your next DTC?

  • 3 MGeake // May 21, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    You said the meeting intentionally excluded commuters. And businesses, … The truth is they were actively reached out to.

  • 4 MGeake // May 21, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    Back to the subject of whether the Parking Authority should have reached out to the Common Council, last time I looked the city couldn’t take property that didn’t belong to them without both due process and fair compensation, something the Constitution refers to as the power of emminent domain. Further, no agency of the city has that power; only the Common Council does, and then only by super-majority vote. Yet the parking authority seized parking spaces guaranteed to the Second Taxing District in a 1994 agreement by which the taxing district acquired the SNEW offices.

    Now I see that the “compensation” will be five spaces on the north side of State Street. I’ve received a call from the towing company SNEW uses complaining that having parking on both sides of State Street will narrow the travel lane so much that he will not be able to get his trucks through.

    I’ve asked Chief McCarthy to verify that fire trucks and rescue vehicles will be able to access the train station, the parking garage, and especially the housing across the street.

    I would have been crucified if I had instituted such a change in committee without a public hearing. Why was none held for this???

  • 5 WAKE UP COUNCIL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE // May 21, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Rumors are starting to circulate that the Ethics Committee that was given so much fanfare by our politicians, has been put on the bottom of the council’s “to do” list. The council had better understand that every application should be under consideration. If the voters in this city find that the ethics committee will be comprised of butt boys, lap dogs, friends of friends, and party hacks, there will be an outcry that will embarrass everyone who made the decisions on who was, or was not considered and assigned to that committee. We are sure that each and every person nominated to sit on the Ethics Committee, will be dissected and questioned as to their qualifications to be impartial in voting on an ethics complaint, as will those who put forth their names and voted on them. It would not surprise us that if the voters do not think the council’s decision on who to put on this committee are in the best interests of Norwalk, that newspapers from Hartford to Norwalk will have stories questioning their appointments. Do they think that they will form this committee overnight in the backrooms when suddenly an ethics complaint is filed? This will not hold water, and will be seen through by any intelligent voter in this city, as another slick move behind smoke and mirrors. They had better give this serious thought, and not be swayed by any one person or persons, who might fear the appointee to the committee is just too fair, to honest, and too interested in what is best for Norwalk, not what is best for certain people on the council. Any agenda put forth by any council person on who is to be on this committee and who will not be on this committee will come back to haunt them. You can take that to the bank.

  • 6 Louis Barone // May 21, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    #5 It again appears that many on the council are being led around by the ring in their noses like cattle by one or two people in this city. Have some damn nerve and think for yourselves and stop acting like a bunch of brain dead zombies. Try for once to have an original thought and not jump on those that do have them.

  • 7 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    I*ts election time folks! Bruce Morris is going to be everywhere and anywhere. Certainly wish the republicans would find a strong candidate to run him out!

  • 8 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    This council has done nothing why would that change?

  • 9 Dawn // May 21, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    When one of them does have an original idea to bring new ideas, Mike Geake, he is almost run out of town.

  • 10 commuter not notified // May 21, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    I had to pick up a friend at the S. Norwalk station at 11:30 pm on Sunday evening, and not feeling safe going there at that time of night, I had my husband, a daily commuter drive me. As we waited there on the Eastbound side we both felt an eerie feeing. We talked about how it no longer felt safe without the security of the taxicab drivers lined up on this side of the train and how we would have to rethink about staying in the city for dinner and coming back to the station at this time of the evening.

    The taxis who were all equipped with radios, always made us feel safe. We could be mugged 5 times going through the tunnel to the other side to get a cab. This is what any visitor will feel, who has never come to Norwalk. Of course, the politicians don’t want any tourism in Norwalk because they would see how the mayor and Mr. Bondi arte running this town into the toilet.

  • 11 turfgrrl // May 21, 2008 at 1:34 pm

    mgeake: Of course commuters were being excluded! Who would be dumb enough to hold a meeting about commuting anywhere else but at the train station, where I dunno, actual commuters come and go?

    As for SNEW, maybe if they moved past the 19th century billing system and set up payment centers throughout South Norwalk, they wouldn’t be in a position to cause their own problem by forcing customers to their main office. Somehow you can pay utility bills via cash in New Haven in hundreds of places. A little forward thinking, web site, payments, automatic perhaps?

  • 12 anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    I don’t buy the danger in the tunnel argument. No way a person could get mugged 5 times; it’s the shortest and brightest tunnel I’ve ever seen.

  • 13 MGeake // May 21, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    1) If the only way to get commuters involved is to hold the meeting in the train station, which train should it have been scheduled for?

    2) Your comment doesn’t change the fact that SNEW property was seized without due process and, until legal action was threatened, without compensation. Besides, you’re the only customer who has ever suggested raising electric rates through higher operating costs. Remember, much of SNEW’s customer base is low income and without home computers (or are you suggesting the go to the library to use a computer to pay their bill).

  • 14 turfgrrl // May 21, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    MGeake: Oh yeah, it’s sooooo much cheaper to mail print and mail a bill over sending out an ebill. That must be why every other business chooses the more expensive paper billing system. Unfortunately you’re veering from the facts, SNEW’s largest power users are in fact businesses, who are not low income customers. Infact, SNEW has tiered rates by sage class does it not?

  • 15 Anonymous2 // May 21, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    Well I have to wait till the last day, which is the 10th, because I don’t get any money till the 2nd Wednesday of the month. So it might be that my SS comes the 14th, but my electric bill is due the 10th. I wait till 4pm on the 10th to pay the bill with a check & hope that my SS comes in before the check clears the bank. There are a lot more people out there in the same situation. & SNEW will not let anyone else collect the money because if they do that it will cost them money. & then they might due away with the first 10 days being a discount. & I don’t have the extra cash to buy postage, nor would I in case they don’t allow post dated checks to be included in the discount.

  • 16 norwalker // May 21, 2008 at 2:21 pm

    This whole taxi situation and decision was made by people who never take a taxi from the station and with not enough input by the parties directly involved. No. 10 is absolutley right about the feeling of abandonment without the taxis there. Since there is no police presence there any more, it is an uncomfortable place to get off a train.

  • 17 Pekup Andropov // May 21, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    Ummm…I think TG you will have to face the facts that you are wrong on this. The taxi move was ill-planned and does not serve the commuters well. The politics are just a distraction; it’s jsut not a practical plan. You know, it’s OK to admit you were wrong; we still love you.

  • 18 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 2:25 pm

    lets face it the ones who are running the city right now think they know what is good for the city yet the taxpayers are the ones paying the bill.

    You would think the only issue at hand is how to pay a bill.Safety at the train station seems to have lost its standing in all this.Who hides the crime stats on the train station anyway the council?The only stats any of the council members will ever see is if they get a parking ticket on their car.

    We are only talking cabs too bad we wern’t talking towing rights in the city then maybe you would see a larger turnout.

    Then again where so many things effecting the city is flying out of the gate its hard to be at each meeting that effects us all.We are watching our spokespersons talk on behalf of the city knowing some day it will bite them in the ass on a lot of subjects but maybe this time we will be ready to ask them all what were you thinking?

    Council members are the least informed of whats going on they are not allowed to pursue of even walk into the depts and say I need information its all a game.

    Going back to #10 your talking South Norwalk where safety is the least.Norwalk is building a new city down the street so when it comes time any business any one still left alive will migrate to the new construction out of self preservation.The decline of downtown Sono almost seems intentional the train station is only the start.

  • 19 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    why did the city have a police station at the Sono Train station? Because they showed the feds the amount of crime there was to receive federal grants to build and man the sub station.Nothing has changed at the train station its still a dangerous place at times and no one has even talked about the riders who get off there due to being a crime victim on the line itself to what an empty security office.Understand the facts and the reasons things were done in the past it may help to plan a future no matter what subject we are on.Who cares what mayor did what they come and go we taxpayers for the most part stay don’t we?

  • 20 Lindsay // May 21, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    The “security” office is a joke. Have you seen the “security” guards at the train station? The 350lb woman whos chatting on her cell phone and listening to her ipod? Anyone walking around that station late at night is a sitting duck. Turfgrrl, I cordially invite you to accompany me on a late train to South Norwalk from Grand Central, and see first hand, the people sleeping under the platforms on the new haven bound side, the people sleeping in the little shelters and on the platform benches, the people hanging around in general. This is not about politics and I dont understand why you believe that its a political issue. Its an issue of both safety AND of convenience, and nothing else.

  • 21 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    State Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, praised the commuter council for pushing the matter and said he hopes there will be a resolution that will benefit commuters.

    “We need to put our best foot forward whenever there’s a complaint,” he said.

    this was a couple of years ago where is Bob now?

  • 22 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Jack Cavanaugh wrote this in 1994
    The substations, along with increased foot patrols, are manifestations of the community policing concept, which has become increasingly popular in Connecticut. Cities that have received grants for new police centers include New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, New London, New Britain and Norwich.

    “It’s become obvious that community policing is an effective concept in the fight against crime, and that’s why the state has become more involved in allocating funds,” said Thomas A. Siconolfi, director of justice planning for the state’s policy office. “This year alone, the state has allocated $4.8 million for the Safe Neighborhoods program, which includes $2 million to pay the salaries of 80 new officers.”

    In Norwalk, the grant for the first year totals $805,000, including $350,000 to cover the cost of building the center at the train station and $400,000 to pay for 10 additional officers, who will replace the police veterans assigned to the new substation. The allocation during the second year will be slightly more than half that total, mainly because no construction will be involved.

  • 23 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    I think maybe its time to show some class and culture.The train station did put on a show of its own has anyone seen who the design company employed for a model it was the mayor of Norwalk himself he stole the show.A very good picture of Dick makes him look 20 years younger with the woman he is with.We take so little time to highlight Norwalk culture and business trying to stay a float maybe we all should take a minute and support.We missed the fashion show but the web site does have Dick on its web site good for him he looks good

    The SoNo Design Co-Op is offering its spring session of classes starting March
    Located in the old police sub-station at the train station.

    http://www.worldfashioncouncil.org/

    The show must go on.

  • 24 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    The Parking Authority was established to bring control to the chaos of managing parking facilities, and relieve the tax payers from having to fund parking facilities. The Authority did what it did - true to its mission - to bring some control to the chaos that existed on the Eastbound side, what with the confluence of loitering and aggressive cabbies, Connecticut Limos, private limos, buses, private cars and other vehicles. There was furniture outside brought by the cab companies to set up a little dispatch center, and the cabs weren’t being charged for the privilege. The cab companies were asked to cooperate and help devise a method of control for their personnel and for the area. They didn’t respond with good-faith willingness. So, the westbound side was set up where there’s more room for a starter and a que.

    The crap that I’m reading - victims, sex assault, muggings, gender bias, handicapped, the poor, the elderly - all of that was in the early quotes given to the Hour by Vito B when the story first broke and he imaginatively trotted out the parade of horribles and consequences. Not that he cared much, except for his own self-interest. Now he he’s trotting out the parade of ersatz victims, ala Al Sharpton, who quote from the same playbook. If he had come to the table with earlier and more genuine concern, he would have been much happier.

    M. Geake: read the Ordinance and the Statute before you state your positions concerning the the Parking Authority.

  • 25 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    So what your saying the parking authority gave Klaffs on washinton st the ok for a paid parking lot taking away from the city coffers?

    “The crap that I’m reading - victims, sex assault, muggings, gender bias, handicapped, the poor, the elderly” I think someone else could lay claim to all that. They are people, you are describing the victims of Norwalk.What is your stake in all this?

    The crap your reading was long before Vito but then again your tone has already set your stage so please continue the lights have been lowered and your on.

  • 26 commuter not notified // May 21, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    #24 Mr. Bondi? Who is Vito B.? I agree with #25 you seem to have something at stake here. Could it be money? LAZ does not have such a good reputation and I have long thought that it could be a laundrymat for dirty money for politicians.

    Didn’t I read that some of Rowland’s friends who were indicted and their girlfriends got jobs for LAZ after getting out of prison? I know it wasn’t in the Hour because I only read the NY Times, not propaganda. Shine the light.

  • 27 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    Vito wants to make money, that’s all he cares about. If he wants to do public service, he’s give it away for free. Ask anybody thats workd for him

    http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-162846317.html

  • 28 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    This was Rillings in march of 1996 also written by Jack Cavanaugh of course by a NY news service.Harry confirmed how people felt about the safety of the Sono Station.I guess #24 just moved into the city.Please someone explain we are not rookies with the crime issue in Norwalk.Here from an article,

    The Metro-North station at Norwalk also had a forbidding tunnel that commuters were reluctant to use, particularly at night. But those fears have been allayed considerably since the Norwalk Police Department opened a police substation inside the new eastbound depot two years ago, using money from a state-funded Safe Neighborhoods program. “Most people using the station have felt a lot more comfortable since we opened the substation,” Norwalk Police Chief Harry W. Rilling said. “They see us coming and going into the station, and everyone knows we’re there.”

    It seems we have come full circle, the other night the question was asked about community policing and of course Rillings was missing in the East Norwalk meeting but the outcome of that question was not surprising the crowd sat there confused.

  • 29 Anonymous // May 21, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    #10, yeah, I’m sure you feel safe, warm and fuzzy with the cab drivers “protecting you”.

    http://www.yourct.com/new/2008/05/17/norwalk-taxis-in-the-news-again/

  • 30 ex-cop // May 21, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    You will have look long and hard to find, the authority for anybody, including the City, to designate parking spaces on any “public Highway” for the use of any one person or company. The City agreed to mark places for SNEW customers,in exchange for SNEW property they wanted for that garage, but only SNEW property belongs to SNEW or can be taken from them. Any parking lot, for 20 or more vehicles, under the control of a political subdivision of the State, is a public highway. Marking spaces for anybody is not a crime, but there is no law authorizing it, and violation of such markings is not an enforcable offense. The Taxis can pretty much park where they please, in legal parking places, and the City or the parking authority does not have the authority to tell them they can’t park on either side of the station, unless the parking itself is illegal. They can establish bus stops and or taxi stands where others cannot park, but they can’t say taxis can only park where we tell them to park. Before this gets too complicated, the parking authority needs to get a legal opinion.

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