Objects to Nelly’s characterization
Apropos of the October 5 Dear Felicia column, please retire “Nelly Nuthatch,” or whoever likes to dress up and play her in the West Haven Voice. If there is one thing West Haven does not need, it is more rumor and unfounded gossip.
To my knowledge, the Land Trust voiced no objection to the revised NEBCo proposal. The objections that resulted in suits being brought initially were —principally— the inappropriateness of a manufacturing facility in the rezoned parcel, the inappropriate granting of variances, the flouting of the recommendations of our Plan of Conservation and Development, and the disregard of a Connecticut State easement, as well as a number of other issues, all of which were legitimate.
The objections to the revised proposal raised at the August 28th City Council meeting came from Council members who focused on some sticky issues, including the fact that the City would be leasing to a developer not NEBCo itself, and the developer had the right to install another tenant if NEBCO went away for some reason. To my knowledge, no Land Trust members spoke.
This constant banging on the Land Trust is tiresome. It might fly if proper development efforts were being made in other parts of the City but, as all can see, that isn’t the case. The problem here is not the Land Trust. The problem is that City management does not know what it is doing. It does not know how to do its due diligence nor does it follow best practices. That’s where “Nelly” or “Felicia” should focus their critical faculties, such as they are. As far as your editorial comment about the Land Trust, “we know what they do not want, we can never figure out what they favor” goes, the Land Trust invited NEBCo to come and meet with the Board when the initial project was announced. NEBCo refused.
RD Parsons
Mullins rides with PD to show support
This past Saturday afternoon into the evening (C-Shift), I had the opportunity to participate in a ride along with a young West Haven police officer. Out of respect for the privacy of said officer, I’m not mentioning his or her name, nor the details of the calls that we participated in.
I feel that it is vitally important as a candidate for mayor and for our other city officials to know first hand about what our men and women in blue go through to protect and serve the 55,000 citizens that call West Haven home. As I have stated at City Council meetings in the past, City Councilors should take advantage of a ride-along opportunity, especially during the annual budgeting process. West Haven has the finest and best trained police department in the State of Connecticut. I’m not being bias. I have heard it from police personnel from all over. Chief Perno and staff, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
Steven R. Mullins