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DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ~B~ COMMITTEE SOUTH NORWALK OFFICIAL SITE Robert Burgess, Chairman Sylvester Maultsby, Vice-Chair Al Ayme, Secretary Phaedrel (Faye) L. Bowman, Corresponding Secretary Yvonne Rodriguez, Treasurer We appreciate your contributions. Please send contributions payable to: DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ~B~ COMMITTEE ~click here~ STATE OF THE CITY | '2005 - '2007 STATE OF THE CITY | '2007 - Present CT. STATE NEWS | ISSUES NATIONAL NEWS | ISSUES MAILING LIST EVENTS | PICTURES VIEW | POST - BLOG STREET MAP OF SOUTH NORWALK |
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of crimes reported to the department year to year. They do not compare the number of arrests made with the number of crimes reported nor do they account
for population change.
Categories of crime which declined the most included arson, burglary, homicide, narcotics violations and weapons law violations. Burglaries dropped from 357 in 2006 to 286 in 2007. Homicide was down 40 percent from 5 deaths reported in 2006 to 3 in 2007. Eight hundred and sixty six assaults were reported in 2007, a decrease of only 6 percent. A few categories saw significant spikes in reported incidents, however. Kidnapping and abductions increased by 53 percent, and sexual assault increased 24 percent. Disorderly conduct charges also increased by 20 percent. Mayor Richard A. Moccia said he was “very gratified” by the reduction in crime rates and that, because many of the reported incidents of kidnappings and abductions are domestic or interpersonal in nature, the statistics reflect an even greater reduction in street crime when controlled for that fact. “Many abductions are domestic or interpersonal in nature, and I am not minimizing that, but if you discount those categories, the reduction is even greater than seven percent,” Moccia said. Also, the incidents of prostitution increased by 240 percent, but Rilling pointed out that since prostitution is generally an unreported crime, the repeated busts of massage parlors in 2007 led to the inflated statistic. Members saying the police department is not sufficiently staffed to do the work it is tasked with or that it is not supported well enough by the city,” Moccia said. “To me, that’s like people who say they support the troops but not the war.” Moccia said redevelopment plans will increase the tax base and that a reasonable amount of new tax revenue would go toward public safety departments.... For full article refer to The Hour 6/3/2008 by AMANDA NORRIS, Staff Writer Mayor Moccia likes to brag about Norwalk's AAA bond rating while he continues to withhold city funds that are needed for maintenance and upkeep of Norwalk in much the same way like a previous Republican administration that rendered Norwalk's infrastructure in complete chaos, including the school system. In general terms, "Bond Rating" is a credit criteria for risk evaluation. A "best quality" bond rating like "AAA" can be achieved by a low credit risk municipality such as Norwalk which means that the principal amount and interest payments on bond obligations are reasonably secure. A "AAA" rating is desirable when situations arise for a municipality to issue bonds that are sold to the public in order to raise funds for a municipal project, like construction projects. A "AAA" rating minimizes the rate of interest paid to investors in such purchase of bonds for investment purposes. Normally, people buy bonds because they can get a better rate of interest than in a savings account, as an example. In some cases, the payment of interest received by the investors is tax free or tax deferred depending upon the circunstances and conditions of the bond issue, not the case for Norwalk. Another way for a municipality to obtain a "AAA" rating is by purchasing "a municipal bond insurance policy" from a "AAA" insurance provider. In this case, the insurer (not the city or municipality) provides an assurance to the public that the bond issue is secure as to principal and as to interest payments regardless of the credit rating of the city or municipality. In other words, if the municipality fails to pay, the insurance bond guarantees payment. Keeping a surplus is a good thing, but investing a portion of the amount in the infrastructure of the city does not necessarily mean that the rating of our city will decrease below the "AAA" rating. Another way of solving our infrastructure problems is to hold on to the surplus and issue bonds in order to pay for re-construction and upgrade. The point is, that its got to be done one way or another, delaying a solution to multiple problems will not make it easier down the road, in fact, it could get a lot worse. A strong economy, responsible debt structure, solid financial condition, the ability to collect taxes, demographic factors, the ability to pay bills and obligations on a timely basis and maintaining fiscal responsibility without budget deficits keep a municipality with a "AAA" rating, it doesn't take much more than this. Norwalk has all of the above. Mayor Moccia and Republican members of the Common Council try to dump trash on South Norwalk. This is an example and clear indication of "Republican Business as Usual" and how Republicans treat the tax-payers residents of Norwalk. continued next column..... |
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CITY PLANS TO EXPAND A TRASH TRANSFER STATION IN SOUTH NORWALK ON MEADOW STREET. Even more trucks can be expected on Meadow Street 6 days a week. Air pollution, noise and polluted water runoff has plagued the community for years and it is time for the City to enforce its laws. But, instead of doing the right thing for a change, Mayor Moccia and Republican Common Council members (Doug Hempstead, Kelly Straniti, Rick McQuaid, Richard Bonefant, Nicholas Kyde and Andrew Conroy) are rushing to approve a plan without including review of impact on the neighborhood. DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL MEMBERS STOP THE REPUBLICAN ATTEMPT TO IGNORE RESIDENTS, and the battle continues.... WASTE NOT WANTED By ROBERT KOCH, Hour Staff Writer A controversial plan to operate the Meadow Street solid-waste transfer station for hauling away municipal garbage could itself be dumped. On Wednesday, Director of Public Works Harold F. Alvord said he will propose that the city go with a backup plan, which would rely solely on the Crescent Street transfer station. "My plan is to propose the next best alternative, in which City Carting operates the Crescent Street transfer station only," Alvord said. "We can't do construction and demolition (there), so the solid waste that goes there now would continue to go to Crescent Street. And we can't expand the recycling." Alvord's comments come a day after more than a dozen residents blasted the proposal to hire City Carting & Recycling Inc. to operate the Crescent Street transfer station for resident drop-off and expanded recycling. Under the proposal, the city would lease the Meadow Street facility from City Carting and operate it as a commercial solid-waste transfer station. Afterward, the Common Council tabled action, for the second time, on the proposed 10-year contract with City Carting and sent it to the council's Public Works Committee for review. Next Tuesday, the committee will discuss and perhaps vote on scheduling a public hearing -- at a later date -- on the proposed contract, according to (Democratic Party Member ) William M. Krummel, committee chairman. Krummel said he has inquired about holding the public hearing at Meadow Gardens, a public housing complex on Meadow Street, not far from the existing transfer station. "The idea is to bring the subject right to the people most directly affected," Krummel said. "It's the traffic, that's what's concerning the neighborhood, as well as noise." Krummel said he support using the Meadow Street location "but with all the safeguards we can summon." That means addressing existing traffic problems on the street, according to Krummel. Alvord, while not pleased with relying solely on the Crescent Street facility, said it's the only "responsible thing" to do, given opposition to the Meadow Street plan. The city's existing 25-year contract with Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority expires Dec. 31. "You can't sit around with your thumb in your ear and come January have no place for the garbage to go," Alvord said. NOTE: Dick Moccia, "Places Politics More Important Than Public Service" Norwalk Republican Mayor Dick Moccia on Mayoral Endorsement (2007) before the Fairfield County Building Trades. "Two years ago it was a surprise, Moccia said. This time, I really am overwhelmed by you coming here and advocating my candidacy. The office of the mayor is important to me, but your support and your friendship … is more important, and I appreciate that," Moccia added. NOTE: Committee member Douglas Hempstead, a Republican, said to "The Advocate" in October, 2007 "the city could dip into Finance Director Thomas Hamilton's recommended operating budget for the Board of Education to fund a new position in the Department of Public Works to attack the flooding." NOTE: Republican Council member Nicholas Kydes was involved in a "conflict of interest" vote (March and April, 2008) before the Common Council when he allegedly failed to disclose his brother owned property relevant to the Wall Street Development Plan when he discussed the item at meetings (of the Common Council). The Globe Theatre property; which lies within the 6.3 acre redevelopment area, is co-owned by Mary Kyriakides, wife of Kydes' brother Andy Kyriakides. continued next column..... |
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DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL MEMBERS STOP REPUBLICAN
ATTEMPT TO IGNORE RESIDENTS and REPUBLICAN MAYOR MOCCIA RETRACTS IN THE FACE OF PUBLIC OPPOSITION. Moccia: Pursue the ‘next best alternative’ for solid waste (see UPDATE on page 3) 6/27/2008, ROBERT KOCH - The Hour Mayor Richard A. Moccia has directed the city’s public works director to pursue the “next best alternative” concerning a new solid-waste hauling contract for Norwalk. Under his recommendation, the city would hire City Carting & Recycling Inc. but only use the Crescent Street transfer station, rather than the Crescent Street and Meadow Street facilities, as in the original proposal. “As chief elected official of the city of Norwalk, it is ultimately my responsibility to ensure that the city has in place a means of responsibly disposing of its solid waste prior to the expiration of the current contract, a means that can be confidently implemented in the time remaining,” Moccia said. “I have asked the director of public works to develop immediately the next best alternative, and to propose it to the Public Works Committee of the Common Council, so that it may be forwarded for full Council consideration at the earliest opportunity.” Harold F. Alvord, director of public works, said city officials met with City Carting representatives Thursday morning and negotiated a new terms sheet reflecting use of the Crescent Street transfer station only. The Public Works Committee will consider the new proposal Tuesday night, he said. William M. Krummel, committee chairman, meanwhile, has requested that a public hearing on the original trash-hauling proposal be held at Meadow Gardens. Krummel said he would support using the Meadow Street location, already a transfer station, but only “with all the safeguards we can summon.” Moccia said the original proposal would have saved the city $1 million annually “and significantly expanded recycling and related revenue, and improved efficiency and safety in several areas.” At the same time, the mayor acknowledged residents’ opposition its inclusion of the Meadow Street facility. “After several presentations and public meetings / hearings, followed by indefinite tabling at (Tuesday) evening’s meeting of the Common Council, it is uncertain that the proposed plan can or will be approved in sufficient time to ensure its execution by year’s end,” Moccia continued. The city’s current contract with Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority will expire Dec. 31. City officials have labeled the contract a money loser for the city to the tune of $2.1 million annually. Starting July 1, tipping fees charged at the Crescent Street transfer station will rise from $81 to $98.50 per ton, according to Alvord. Paul Nonnenmacher, CRRA spokesman, said Norwalk and other towns in the contract “played a very active role in the setting of our budget and our tipping fees.” The higher fees are needed to cover costs associated with the closing of the Shelton and Waterbury landfills, and environmental monitoring after the closings, he said ANOTHER MAJOR BLUNDER Numerous complaints received from commuters, South Norwalk Electric Company customers/users and taxi companies after Republican Mayor Moccia's decision to move the taxi line from the northbound side (inbound trains arriving from New York City) of the South Norwalk Metro-North Station to the southbound side ( outbound trains leaving the station to New York City. Due to the efforts of the Democratic Town Committee and District B the city has re-instated 8 parking spaces plus 2 more parking spaces designated to persons with disabilities) BUT, THE BLUNDER CONTINUES Commuters are no happy and taxi companies/drivers are not happy, all with good reason. Before the move of the taxi line was implemented by Moccia and the city, commnuters arriving from New York City had easy access to taxi cabs waiting in line. After the change, (continued page 3)  «««PREVIOUS NEXT»»» |