City Wins Round 1 of MX Zone Change Litigation, Allegations Against City & Commissioners Dismissed

Judge Aurigemma sustained  the City of Middletown's Objection to the plaintiff’s Motion to Amend the Record.  The  Plaintiffs, Jennifer and Jared Proto and their attorneys sought to add to the record 175 pages of e-mails and other documents the plaintiffs received via FOIA and to seek the depositions of Director of the Planning, Zoning & Conservation Dept. William Warner, Commissioner Ken McClellan (R), and Commissioner Molly Salafia (R) (despite Salafia's recusal  prior to the initial hearing before the vote).  The Court sided with the City and denied the plaintiffs' Motion.  The case is proceeding as submitted without these additional documents and without any depositions.  The Judge exonerates the commissioners and planning director of any wrong doing as the plaintiff's allege; finding there were in fact no illegal or unethical "ex parte" communications whatsoever.

The findings of the Judge and Motion  with counter allegations & criticisms from City Attorney Brig Smith are linked below:
Objection to the Plaintiff's Motion to Amend the Record
Order to Sustain Objection to Motion to Amend the Record

Guest Blog: Fred Carrol: What's The Plan, Stan? More Thoughts On Centerscam

  Below is a guest blog from resident Fred Carrol. The essay reflects views and opinions not necessarily shared by the Insider staff, and is published as a courtesy to readers. "Dr." Fred Carrol has shared his thoughts with us many times before via guest blog- his last can be read here:  "Thoughts on Homelessness". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's The Plan, Stan? More Thoughts On Centerscam......Firstly, let me say that I only occasionally deal to any great extent with so called "facts", finding rumor, hearsay, gossip, speculation, and innuendo to be much more reliable tools for getting at "the truth" of a given situation. That said, let me state my basic premise for this blog and then dance with a few details in due time......My basic premise is that Centerplan's plan for "Developing" the area in question may in fact be the best thing that ever was about to happen to Middletown, CT., America, or the whole world, but THAT is NOT Centerscam's motivation for attempting to do this thing.......Centerscam [and all like minded parties] have one motive and one motive only.....and IT IS NOT TO BENEFIT MIDDLETOWN!.,.....okay?
Can we get that little detail straight? A [small] bunch of REALLY BIG DOPES has "a plan" to make some fast, stupid money and that, Ladies and Gentlemen is all there is to it.....okay? Does ANYONE [even N.E.A.T.] not see that?! Okay, great, so some figuratively and literally Big Dumb Dopes decides dat dey is gonna make some money, hey, you gotta problem wit dat? No, I didn't tink so, so dey starts da process of changing the rules so they don't have to break the rules [clever, eh?], and a bunch folks who "fear change" jump up [and down] about "Oh my gosh. you are going to ruin the neighborhood that I have been investing blood sweat and tears in, why?" and the answer comes back; "Shut up, we knows whats is best fuh everybody.....forget about it, eh?" So that is clearly where the the thing currently stands, sits, or whatever it is; now, for some speculation......NEAT gets an office in the new development and Mayor Dan gets no second term, having shown himself to be "More whore than Democrat" for his support of this idiocy......even as supporting Linda Mcwhatshername cost Republican Mayor Seb G. and Councilman Davis B. their respective Offices [or "job" as it's regarded around these parts].

Thank You Fred Carroll

Washington St. Development Protest

Yesterday,  The Middletown Insider received an e-mail asking: "Why aren't you folks running the video that shows last week's Landino protest?"

 Answer: We didn't know there was a video(s), but once we responded to our reader about not having knowledge of this piece of video, the reader quickly provided us with three links. 

Here are 4 videos (the fourth we found on our own) that show the Washington Street Development Protest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCDc0to1JNE&feature=player_detailpage#t=7s

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZtlIelKlKo

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seo7v_AN4n0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seo7v_AN4n0

Rumblings from Middletown

Rumbling, Rumors and other cool stuff you won’t find out… yet!

1)   GOP v GOP- Want to know the definition of bad? Want to know the definition of really bad?  Take a look at the facial expression of the male Common Council GOPers who constantly vote along with the Dems and against that of their female counterparts. Can't we all just get along folks?  Remember that amazing fight sequence in Lincoln between Sally Field and Daniel Day Lewis? It has nothing on the battle that is going on. Imagine spending the time to prep an alternate budget and then pull a Benedict Arnold once it’s time to vote on the Mayor’s budget. 

2)   New Show on NBC- Get your TIVOS and DVR ready, after a long hiatus, the new political feel good drama, Little Blue House on the Prairie will finally make it’s premiere on the peacock network next week.  The amazing premise follows a band of activists who secretly hoard money and build houses for the needy with the claim “we don’t make any money off this.”  Plots revolve around the family using federal money to start non-profit organizations and give themselves fat six-figure bonus and a Robert Ludow-esque episode where the gang tries taking down an evil developer, but refuses to disclose that they too have a financial interest in the neighborhood.

3)   BOE budget- Kudos to Teddy “Bear” Raczka and Ryan “No relation to JFK” Kennedy for voting NO for the budget increases that will add even higher taxes for citizens.   Transparency? As of yet we, the people have not seen a real itemized budget anywhere on the web or in print.  Perhaps the village district should take a bus up to the state capitol and march against the awful state statute 10-220, which allows superintendents the right to be less than transparent with a town’s money?  Speaking of the missing Million $$ Dollars, new Superintendent, Pat “The Price is Right” Charles, claimed recently that the figure of missing money is only $180,00 and not a cool million.  Get Blum/Shapiro on  the phone!

4)   Two buyers scared away from High Street:  Sources close to the City have revealed that two potential land developers pre-Bob Landino were quite interested in the Wesleyan property.  After doing some research and meeting with some prominent (village) people, they decided to pull out to avoid a hassle.

5)   Connect the Dots—Why did Blue House LLC really want to outbid The Connection on the so-called controversial purchase? Was it to keep certain folks out of the neighborhood? Folks that say would occupy the property as a half way or group home? NIMBY, my rear end. How about, WAABOH or we are a bunch of hypocrites?

6)   Medal- Lee Osborne should be given a medal for telling the truth about everything he wants and standing up for his rights. 

7)   Earl Roberts for the town’s Executive Chair? -  According to sources, (the A.M. staff at Dunkin Donuts and the Beller Boys), Roberts a former GOP councilman has expressed interested in running for the city’s top position.  When told he would have to spend some of his ‘own’ money, EVR jr, just brought up bees and stared into space. 

8)   New Evil Dead Film- According to horror director, Sam Raimi in a recent TMZ interview: “I have always wanted to write a horror/zombie film about the people in Middletown’s village area.  It was quite easy to film, they are predictable and say one thing, but mean another especially when it’s to pad their pockets with the benjamins.”
9) Middletown High Blue Prints Student Newspaper wins awards. Yet, taxpayers still pay a former teacher to write press releases and feel-good articles for local news media.
10)   Irony- despite what The Press said, the Insider was never pro-Landino and Mx Zone change. We never actually took a stance either way.  We just asked a few questions about Blue House LLC and why certain people didn't show at the meeting. Mayor Drew for starters after Ed McKeon's article in which he provided photos of everyone opposing his views.  Spin it Middletown Mess!

11)                  IP Address Trace- Did Ed McKeon really trace the IP address to Salafia's house or was he attempting to scare her?  He told The Middletown Press he traced it, so wouldn’t that be a crime ?  Is he tracing every comment on the Eye? Creepy.

Through the Looking Glass an alternate view of Wednesday's P/Z Meeting -Part 1

Who are the opponents?

Liberal hypocrisy at it's finest. 170 College St.

Introduction: As most of you know, a boat load of people piled into and around city hall on February 27, 2013 to voice opposition to MX Zoning change proposed by Robert Landino, a local developer who plans to bring a Starbucks, Chipotle and other stores to Middletown if the zone change is granted by the Democrat majority Planning and Zoning board in town. At one point, Wesleyan University, who is selling the land, had their green non-corporate eye on bringing their student bookstore to the parcel of land diagonal from St. Sebastian's Church. Acting as if they were Yankee reliever Mariano Riveria, who is usually brought into a game in the late innings to save the day, Wesleyan pulled their plans for the bookstore from Landino's plans. It appeared that Wesleyan saved the day, by pulling their bookstore interest from project.

Guess what? They are still selling the properties; they are still making a truckload of money off the deal if and when it goes through.

Why no one sees that Wesleyan partially caused this problem?
Imagine the carport at the Starbucks with their idling cars putting toxins in the air. Who would be really responsible? Can it be that a University that prides itself on being pro-environment and ant-establishment has sold out to the man? (Research project: Why did Wesleyan buy a ton of properties in the early 1990s, let them go to pot and now hope to flip them to the highest bidder?) Can you say liberal greed?

Below is part one in a series that  takes a look at rare and unmentioned elements of this ongoing saga.


Where was the Mayor?* (He doesn't care, he knows Democrats won't vote him out!)

Mayor Daniel T. Drew is 100% behind this plan! Plain and simple, although his earlier statement to The Wesleyan Argus waffled on his position when he stated:

"“On the most basic level, for me to support something that would go there it would have to be something that is aesthetically harmonious with the rest of the streetscape and the use would have to fit well into downtown and complement what else is there.”

His position changed drastically nearly a week later, when William Warner, Middletown's Director of Planning and Zoning read a letter that stated that Drew was in full support of the Landino's proposal because of "the trumpeted the opportunities an open door would bring (to the city)".

This statement was read to the audience over the microphone at Wednesday's meeting, but not one member of the pubic showed any verbal disapproval of the mayor's position. (When former Mayor Seb Gulinao spoke about his trust in the P/Z committee and the possibilities this new zoning code could offer the town, right on cue a member of the village district stood up and voiced disapproval) Let's get this straight, nobody voices opinions against Drew's (Democrat) stance, but they are against Guliano's (Republican) stance. Can you say partisan?

In this case Mayor Drew is for your enemy! He is in favor of letting Starbucks, Chipotle, etc. build on Washington Street. Yet, those who spoke after Warner read the Mayor's letter, made a point not to make any snarky remarks towards Drew or his position. Mmm, they took shots at Landino, Guiliano and Wilson? Why not take on Drew, the city chief executive who likes to back the Mayormobile into his stall at city hall? Is it because he's a Democrat? Deep down inside, those Dems who are taking the business approach to the decision may be ignored but not ridiculed. (Jeff Bianco, a local architect, who can potentially make a ton of money off the project, has been given a free pass by his liberal village friends. Why is this?)

Democrat and local artist, Dave Schultz is the exception to this rule when he expressed anger toward Drew and stated that he will not vote for him in the future. Good job Dave!

Where was Quentin Phipps? Phipps, the current town treasurer who sits on two youth agencies and is the head of the city's Downtown Mainstreet District was not present at one of the biggest and vital meetings that took  place in town. Isn't this quite odd for a guy that prides himself on attending almost every sub-committee in the city, and now blows off something that would have a huge impact on the town. Phipps, who takes his marching orders from Daniel T. Drew, most likely avoided the hostile crowds and sat it out due to creative differences, interestingly enough The Middletown Eye, choose not to mention, Phipps convenient no show in their March 5, 2013 article entitled: You Can't Tell the Players without a Program. Surely, it would make sense for Phipps to be at this meeting wouldn't it? Truth: Quentin Phipps is a Democrat, and like the Mayor, they both secretly joke about the fact that no matter what happens, the village district will not vote in a Republican! (Source: The Cantina)

Today on his blog the MiddletownEye Ed McKeon posted a piece calling out those who spoke in favor of the zoning text change as not fully disclosing their full relationships to one another.
Well, in that case here are  facts McKeon failed to mention.

Extra Credit: What members of the village district who openly opposed Bob Landino and his plans have formed an LLC an are actively flipping north end homes? Mmm, isn't that strange! It's not okay for Bob Landino to make money off the north end, but it is okay for us. Liberal hypocrisy at it's finest. Is Landino not advocating urban renewal?

Blue House LLC Records (Page 1 or 7) Town Offices

Do as I say Not as I do. Village residents Scott Kessel, Rani Arbo, Catherine Johnson, Mary Alice Haddad, Lucy McMillian, Edward McKeon, Stephen Smith, and Monica Belyea formed Blue House LLC in 2010 to fix up and flip for potential profit the  multi family house at 170 Washington Street. In 2011,  Blue House LLC supposedly outbid the Connection Inc. The Connection Inc is a non profit, affiliated with group and half way homes through out town. This dormitory style property could have made an ideal group or half way house. While these liberals love to brag about the non profits they support, could it be their actions make it appear that they don't want these types of "things" in their back yard?  By Blue House LLC converting the former dormitory into a two family house, it makes the property less desirable from this happening. Most of the residents listed spoke out against the zoning change. They claimed to have rescued a blighted property from being acquired by a slum lord; is Landino not doing the same? Are those opposed to the text change protecting the the neighborhood or their future projects and profits?  Other outspoken villagers against future development are no stranger to development themselves. In the 1970's Community Health Center (CHC) founder Mark Masselli and and Wesleyan alum now Colorado governor John Hickenlooper (D) bought up at rock bottom prices historic properties on Main Street and in the north end.  The duo formed various corporations such as Hilda Associates LLC to purchase the properties.Why use an alternative llc? To perhaps not raise attention from those who might have criticized the future development of those properties into non commercial and untaxable uses? Later, when the  CHC acquired these properties and used them to house Community Health Center facilities and doctors' offices. Now there are over 100 CHC locations around the state many of which are housed in public schools. The CHC consolidated into a brand new building demolishing several historic multi family houses  to the north to build its parking lot. Where was the outcry then? What will happen to all the store fronts the CHC used to occupy? If the CHC holds on to them, then the rent will certainly be profitable, correct? Liberals make money too, just have an issue when others want to make some also.  The CHC receives  public money and from this Maselli, like many other CEO's of a non profits- despite the wonderful things the charitable org does for those without money - he too draws salary. Are Landino and Masselli that different both being entrepreneurs making personal profit?   Masselli's wife is Jennifer Alexander founder of KidCity - the non profit, ( unlike the CHC, KidCity is  not reliant on government grants), children's museum on Washtington Street. Ed McKeon and Jennifer Alexander co founded the Middletown Eye blog. Alexander had a historic convent converted and moved to house half of the museum. Alexander and Masselli were given honorary doctorates from Wesleyan for their work in the community which is praised by many as "urban renewal" of the north end. Alexander spoke out against the recent zoning text change allowing more development in the area. Why does McKeon leave this out of his essay if there is nothing wrong with these facts?

Ed really is for Ed. 

 McKeon critizes political associations he claims are the basis for support, yet fails paint a clear picture.  McKeon spoke out against those who said because Chief McMahon didn't worship or live enough of the week in Middletown he should not be police chief, yet in his own article, McKeon casually mentions City Planner William Warner lives in Middlefield in a blatant attempt to question his professionalism. Also in his essay McKeon rails against Attorney Wilson and his support of Mayor Giuliano, and draws a shaky conclusion that this is why Giuliano spoke in favor of the text change.
 To McKeon it matters as who each player has supported politically for some reason. If this is the case why does McKeon fail to mention Attor.Wilson also contributed to Democrat Susan Bysiewicz's various campaigns? Why does McKeon fail to s that some who spoke out were contributors to defamed Democratic candidate Chris Donovan? Some might think that's not d something to be too proud of.  Why does McKeon fail to mention that Wesleyan Green Party chair  Ross Levin spoke against the development?  Why does McKeon fail to mention that Democratic Town Committee member and WesDem vice president, former Malloy intern & shoe fortune heir Ben Florsheim  who helped to get local Democrats elected in the past 2 election cycles had his friend and fellow WesDem Gabriela DeGolia  read a statement against the development?  Why call out some but not others? None of this matters, but if apparently it does to Ed4Ed, let's get it all the political associates of those at the meeting out in the open.