Dear Gripe Vine Readers:
I am opening my column today with a letter from Aaron Charney, Third District Councilman regarding cooperation and assistance to West Haven residents’ gripes and complaints
Councilman Charney writes, “There seems to be growing frustration throughout the city by the lack of communication from City Hall and problems going unaddressed. I share this frustration.
I would ask that any Third District gripes be addressed to me. You and my constituents can reach me by email at acharney@westhaven-st.gov or you can phone me at (203) 479-0424 or mail to 146 Union Ave. I make house calls and welcome constituents knocking on my door. I also have an active Facebook page at www.fb.com/councilmancharney
Dear Councilman, Charney:
Thank you for your contact information. Please submit any solved gripes and complaints and/or “frustrations” you may have encountered to Gripe Vine. So my readers will learn of the results of your efforts.
Dear Gripe Vine Readers:
Before I get into today’s column, I would like you to know that West Haven’s Council members have been notified by Mayor Nancy Rossi, via Michael DiMassa, City Council Administrative Assistant, to respond to resident’s complaints. As of this date, only Councilman Charney has contacted Gripe Vine.
Beginning next week, I am going to publish five un-answered gripes and will do so each week until they have been addressed by the City.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
I have lived in West Haven for the past seven years. I live in one of the condos near the old Chick’s Restaurant. The city has always maintained the grass and the upkeep of the property right in front of the beach, that is until this year, at least for this part of the street.
The grass, which is now weeds, is knee high and I have noticed garbage thrown into the grass area to be specific, it is the area, starting from Stowe’s and past the skate park. There is a bench, right near a tree, which is just about covered by the grass and people are unable to sit on the beach to enjoy the view. It looks horrible and unfortunately, someone has taken to cut the wooden fence that is on the beach, so that it now serves as a gate, in which people are now utilizing as a way to cut into the beach, especially to place their grills, which are not supposed to be there in the first place. The gate is now an easy way to cut to the beach, instead of using the main entrance of the beach. Cars are now pulled over, unloading the cars, through this opening. But, I do have a question, how is it the city passes all of this grass and goes straight into a beautiful large piece of property to maintain that piece of property.
This piece of property is past the old Captain’s Galley. I understand, a community maintains the flowers there, which is wonderful.
I have documented all my calls for the past two months to the mayor and Public Works with only promises to look into it. I understand there have been cuts, starting from the concerts, but the beach is all we have left. Please look into it for me. It is a shame and only leads our residents to visit another beach, possibly in a nearby town. There is no excuse for not maintaining this property.
Disappointed
Dear Disappointed:
Since you have noted all your efforts to contact the city with this gripe, it is being published today to prompt, hopefully, Mayor Nancy Rossi to pursue resident’s complaints until they are solved and enforced.
Coming up: trash on curbsides..$100 fines questioned …free lunches at high school…benches needed at bus stops…trash cans at bus stops sought…reader input requested on trash can sites at bus stops…..Washington Street School outdoor drain pipe questioned…noise level ordinance requested…fence heights questioned..gas station site questioned at Savin and Graham Road…also Hood Terrace and Sawmill Road- dangerous intersection…youth vandalism Prospect Avenue…Red Cone on sewer drain, Ruden and Zegmont…tree removal Washington Manor and much more. Send your gripes, comments and suggestions to gripevine4wh@aol.com or mail to Gripe Vine c/0 West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Avenue. Please include your name, address and phone number, kept secret by me