Dear Gripe Vine Readers:
Quite often my readers ask, “You quote comments from West Haven’s Councilmen and Councilwomen. What I would like to know is just what do they do for our community?”
A good question, readers. In my experience, I would say in West Haven, councilmen and councilwomen are slow to respond to this column. West Haven residents are taxpayers and they deserve to have their concerns addressed.
Over the years among West Haven Councilmen and Councilwomen representatives some are difficult to reach and comment and today I would like to define their duties for you. There are several that make the effort to assist with Gripe Vine readers concerns but, in many instances, it takes numerous tries to obtain responses. We all have busy lives and not enough time to fulfill our duties, but I must ask West Haven’s Councilmen and Councilwomen to try and help our residents with their issues as promptly as they can.
Sometimes it takes at least two or three requests for help from these individuals and sometimes I will get a reply, indicating they would contact city offices to investigate readers’ issues but that’s it! Follow ups are so very important.
So, here’s a bit of general information for you relating to the duties of a Councilmen or Councilman :
Council members are asked to do their very best to represent their constituents only after they have seen to the needs of the city. With this thought in mind, my readers need your help. Please offer them promptness in replies and follow ups as well.
With this information in mind, I would ask our Councilmen and Councilwomen, if you have one of my requests for information sitting on your desk, please try to reply to my readers through Gripe Vine. Your efforts are respected and appreciated.
Dear Gripe Vine Readers:
To those residents living on Linden Street who have been complaining about the condition of the hazardous sidewalks, your complaints were forwarded to Councilwoman Tracy Morrissey who had spoken with the sidewalk inspector. The sidewalk was slated for repair. My question, with the efforts of your Councilwoman and the sidewalk inspector, have the sidewalks been repaired? Please let me know gripevine4wh@aol.com
Dear Aaron Charney:
Gripe Vine reported a huge hole just before First Street adjacent to the Gov. John Davis Lodge Turnpike back in July. Have you checked it out and if you did, was this hole repaired?
Gripe Vine Readers:
Who ran the Apple Festival this year? Please contact me at gripevine4wh@aol.com. I have a question from some of my readers, “Will it be possible to hold this festival at the Grove next year? There’s much more room at the Grove. Shut down the parking meters for that day and we can all have a great time.”
Dear Gripe Vine:
There are several potholes at 32 Knox St. When will they get repaired?
JC Curious
Dear Members:
Readers have complained of broken tires and split sidewalls at Campbell Avenue near Highland Street because of potholes. Have you investigated this area since receiving this complaint from Gripe Vine? Has the huge pothole on Sorenson Road been filled yet as well? My readers are counting on your investigation of these areas.
Readers may submit their complaints, issues and comments to gripevine4wh@aol.com or mail them to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 840 Boston Post Road, Box 4. Please include your name, address and phone number, kept confidential with me. You can also submit through our online form.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! More from Gripe Vine next week!
Hi Eleanor I am writing about Third Ave Park. When the covid started the basketball hoops were taken down. Then around 6 weeks ago the nets were put back up but boards were put over them so no one could play. It was then vandalized the boards were ripped down and they have been playing ever since. There is a huge sign out there stating Park is closed due to covid. There is sometimes 15 to 30 people out there. Nobody wears a mask and they are sweating all over each other. They throw trash all over the place blast music and a lot of screaming and yelling constantly. Drug deals and smoking pot are very frequent. I have made several calls to the mayor’s office public works park rec. I feel like I am talking to a wall. They keep saying the hoops will come down and nothing happens. Sometimes it goes on all day until 930 at night. They also are out there at 3:00 Am in the morning some nights. A lot of people in this area are working from home. There are cars that in a lot of cases have out of state plates. This is a small park and should not have that many people in there. It is not fair to the people who live in this area. I feel like this is going nowhere and need some advice.
Please help. We have been dealing with this tree problem since Mayor O’Brien was in office, dealing with Mayor Rossi, Mr Harrington, Leo Kelly and our councilman, to no avail. The tree is a danger to our property and the public. The city has trimmed it but it is still a problem over our house, overgrown branches onto sidewalk and street (cars turning from Blohm onto Anderson very dangerous), tearing up street, roots so mowing can’t be done. The tree is on Anderson Avenue and overhangs 170 Blohm Street (it’s a corner piece of property). We appreciate your assistance.