Tea-Baggers in the Mist

After all the media hoopla about the so-called "tea-bag parties" held on April 15th, it was surprising that our fearless and feckless local newspaper had nothing to say on the issue.

This is all the more curious, since Little Billy Boy (our local version of Perry White) has written extensively in support of the same themes espoused by the billionaires supporting this "(crab gr)ass roots" movement. There's SO many billionaires in West Haven, right?

Additionally, (as anyone who has read his, um, "editorials" or "special columns" can attest), if there is anyone who knows about tea-bagging, it's our own home-grown Glenn Beck.

Maybe he just needs his own local Dick Armey to help him out....

When One Hand Washes the Other and BOTH Hands End Up DIRTY

While driving around town, it's surprising to see how many public officials are doing major renovations on their homes. It's even more surprising to see that the same contractor is doing the work.

This is nothing new: our "proven financial manager" had this contractor do the repairs on "his" house.

What's troubling is that this contractor has been awarded many "no-bid" contracts for major City work...all since this administration took office. And this contractor supposedly is trying to find waste in the City bidding process.

Of course, I'm not implying that something smells here, am I? Like Louie would have said --

Helping the City Out

As the City Assessor is going around looking for residents who register their cars out-of-state (to avoid paying property taxes), it's only fair for everyone to forward their candidates. Here's ours:

This car belongs to a certain prominent businessman who's in tight with our "proven financial manager"...in fact, he sits on our Finance Board, supposedly trying to help the City control its costs and maximize its revenues. This is truly a case of looking in your own backyard first...this car can be seen in the public parking lot across from City Hall. You're welcome, Ann!

(And this has nothing to with my being a Giants fan!)

When Reality Bites Back

Last week, our "proven financial manager" touted his latest work of fiction:

Now, the other shoe has dropped: the other day, Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro announced the Board of Ed will have to close Stiles School and the Blake Building to make this joke of a budget work.

So, in John Picard's universe -

• "No Tax Increases" means a $40.00 increase in sewer use fees;
• "No Cuts in Services" means closing one school and the administrative building.

If this makes sense to you, then you probably believe that those bonuses given to AIG execs were "retention payments". This bucket of bull is just another Wall Street juke and jive.

Of course, using the Bayer campus -- even temporarily -- will probably cut into our PILOT payments from the state. Details, details....

Maybe, just maybe, those 4% raises for City Hall bosses could be better used to help prop up our sadly lacking educational system. Yeah, right.

Unintended Consequences (Part II)

Sometimes, ya just get a sense of deja vu from the antics in this town.

Expanding on yesterday's post, our Assessor is now going to go after City residents who register their vehicles out of state to avoid paying property taxes. Somehow, it just seemed that this song was played before....and then it became obvious.

In 2004, then Assessor Joan Robinson hired an outside firm, CT Tax Fraud Bureau, to do the same thing. In 2005, our "proven financial manager" cancelled the contract -- because it cost "thousands of dollars" -- and then fired Robinson (and her assistant) because they (rightly) believed the program brought to the City needed tax revenues in the long-term. Robinson (and her assistant) then sued for wrongful termination; the City settled for at least $70,000. (read about this soap opera here, here, and here.)

So let's see how this dance goes --

Step 1: Assessor goes after out-of-state cars;

Step 2: Picard fires Assessor & Assistant;

Step 3: Assessor & Assistant sue; then

Step 4: City settles for at least $70,000.

It doesn't look like our "proven financial manager" was really too concerned about those "thousands of dollars", does it? Were other political pressures brought to bear? Here in West Haven? Leapin' Lizards!

Is it possible that a certain prominent downtown merchant didn't want to obey this law? This bird has been skirting this law for years, yet is supposedly helping us control our finances as a City appointed commission member.

So here we are...at step 1 again. Ann Gradoia should be applauded for her efforts, but she should be forewarned: in West Haven, no honest deed goes unpunished. If she does her job honestly, she'll suffer the same fate as her predecessor. If she cheats by "missing" this prominent example of a scofflaw, she'll create for herself a whole new set of problems...

Will (not-yet Orphan) Ann get out of this fix? Stay tuned...this ain't over!

Unintended Consequences

Sometimes, a plan that looked good on paper suddenly triggers a strange series of unplanned events.

The Register is reporting that West Haven is cracking down on out of state license plates.

This looks like a great idea....if the law is applied fairly and evenly. For example, if a certain prominent business owner (who's in tight with the current administration) is forced to register his car in Connecticut, then we'll agree and support this plan.

This businessman has had Florida plates for years, even though his cars have been parked in West Haven year-round.

Otherwise, this is little more than election year whitewashing.

UPDATE: There's more to this story than meets the eye...stayed tuned!

What They Make - Past, Present... & Future?

By now, everyone has heard that the Mayor is not requesting a raise in his salary in his 2009-2010 budget. But...

No one seems to be talking about who will be getting more of our tax dollars.

Here's a brief table showing the jumps in salaries for several non-unionized residents of City Hall:


Now, I'm not saying these individuals are dishonest; I'm not even implying these raises aren't well-earned. But at a time when most of us are taking pay cuts (100% pay cuts, in some cases), can the City really justify giving out these pay raises?

Can someone tell me how handing the Finance Director almost $25,000 in raises over two years can be justified? I know people in West Haven who'd just like to make $25,000!

This is the same "in the clouds" Wall Street mentality that got our country into this mess in the first place.

Don't Worry....Be Happy

Here's Johnny in Wonderland...

Mayor Picard held a press conference (or political ad on taxpayer's time) to tell us he's right and everyone else is wrong:

There are just a few problems with this screwed-up viewpoint:

1. The $5,300,000 in debt he "forgave" to lower the stated debt - The City didn't "forgive" this debt, any more than they'd "forgive" the taxes that you owe. No, the Mayor simply moved these debts into other accounts (more AIG juking and jiving here) to keep this debt from being visible.
2. Telling the State to go to Hell - While the Municipal Finance Advisory Commission has only the power to advise, it's created by the Office of Policy & Management (or OPM). All state grants go through this Office before they're approved. So in simple terms, Picard is saying, "we need no stinkin' state funds....we got 'prudence'!"

Just don't seem right, do it?

Reading his Lips

Ya gotta admit, the two best things about John Picard is his face.

While he's pushing his new budget by pointing to $5,300,000 of debt he's "written off" (and which he created out of thin air to justify doubling our taxes three years ago), he's still insisting that he's not raising our taxes.

Yeah right...look up "shell game" on Wikipedia, and you'll see Picard's budgets.

When we get our tax bills in May, our sewer use fee will rise by $40.00 per assessment. But, says Picard, this is not a tax increase, it's a "fee adjustment".

Uh huh...if I gotta pay more, it's an increase. So, not only are we being fed a load of crap, we're gonna be charged more for getting rid of it.

UPDATE -- On Tuesday, March 31st, there will be a public hearing on this increase. GET THE WORD OUT! Harriet North Courtroom (2nd Floor, City Hall), 6:45 pm. You can bet we'll have something to say after that song and dance!

Nice Work, if you can get it (before we go off the cliff)

As we said earlier, our "proven financial manager" has put us on the road straight to hell. Even the State's financial managers believe we're right....click here for details.

Why should we be surprised? After all, Picard's financial knowledge came straight from the AIG School of Business philosophy: "screw'em now, and let someone else deal with it!"

News flash: WE'RE the ones he's screwing...and those idiots who still support this Wall Street crook will scream the highest once our taxes go higher than ever...because of his AIG-type of financial jiggling.

Now, he wants to give City Hall bosses a 4% raise (or so he claims). This is a lie...the raises are far higher: some of the bosses will get $25,000.00 in increase over 2007. Wouldn't you like to get that much of a raise?

Take a gander at these two...these are just a sampling:

and

This tells me that the nutcases have control...more coming on this.

Priorities, Priorities...

Read the New Haven Register this morning?



Sometimes, there's nothing more to say.

St Pat's Parade 2009

From Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in New Haven - - -

City Clerk Deb Collins...and











"The Usual Suspects"

Some idiot with Shelley...

Ed Kennedy - The only (sober) Irishman willing to be seen with me...

Mike McGrath - 25 years & counting!

Best Band in the Parade

Just one of our Bravest

The "VOICE" ...and the Truth

Just Simple facts:

Wednesday, March 4th - 4th District Councilman Stu Arotsky died.

Sunday, March 8th - Cars are vandalized in West Shore.

Thursday, March 12th - West Haven "VOICE" is published...with the story of the vandalism, but without any mention of Stu's passing.

I sent a letter off to the VOICE complaining of this omission...how much ya wanna bet Billy Goat-boy Gruff says it was too late to make the paper (even though it was in the Register on Friday)????

Whichever way you slice it, this is not the "Voice of West Haven"...it's either: (a) a lazy slob who takes whatever comes his way, because he can't get off his ass to seek news, or (b) a lazy slob who only parrots the bull spewed out by the administration in power...because their friends are his friends.

And THAT, my friends, is the VOICE...and the truth. You be the judge.

UPDATE - I heard that the VOICE(?) will be responding to my complaint (one amongst many) regarding this shameful lack of reporting. Riccio's "excuse" is that no one told him about Stu's death. Apparently, it is required by this self-described "newspaper" that mourners must take time away from their loss to do the reporter's job for him. Now we know which type of lazy slob we're dealing with.

The "VOICE" (of a fraud)

voicestart

As if anyone could have any doubts about it, our so-called "Independent" local editor has now laid his righteous anger upon City Clerk Debbie Collins. Yep, Bill Riccio has now devoted two articles (and one editorial) to her delay in submitting her recommended office budget...by ten days. Shame and Scandal!

Never mind that three other departments were similarly late. Never mind that Riccio's own "golden boy" was twice late in submitting the state-mandated audit. Never mind that Debbie runs her office to serve everyone who needs information & help, regardless of politics. Never mind all that.

No, the real reason for all this ink is the fact that one of his employees (who recently lost her job in City Hall) will be running for City Clerk. Of course, little Billy-Boy sees no need to divulge this little, um, conflict. Of course, why quibble over little details? It's the principle! This from the same clown who called President Obama a "fascist" and a "socialist", and who called Americans "idiots"...and who didn't even have the basic decency to note the sudden passing of a City Councilman! What a class act...NOT!

If this the biggest campaign issue, it'll be a long, boring summer.

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Goodbye, Good Friend

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Stuart Martin Arotsky
1959-2009

This is going to be tough to talk about.

Yesterday, Stu Arotsky was buried. With his passing, we lost one of the greatest forces for common decency and public service I have known in my life. While many give lip service to making City Government work for everyone, Stu, as they say, walked the walk.

It is no small accomplishment to bring together all the contentious factions of the West Haven Democrats, but Stu managed to do just that on many occasions. Although he was a fierce competitor, and doggedly loyal to his friends, Stu nonetheless had that magic something that made everyone listen.

It's common for politicians to have schools or other public buildings named for them; but Stu needs nothing so trivial. He built his own civic memorial during his life: by getting long-neglected roads repaired; by erecting noise barriers near the highway...in short, by forcing the government (as he himself once said) "to do what what it should be doing automatically".

At a time when our City, our State and our nation all need more Stu Arotsky's, we now have one less.

And I have lost a close friend.
end.

With "Friends" like these....

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Thanks to state election laws, our "proven financial manager" has shown his abilities...at least in raising money for himself.

According to documents filed with the state, the "Friends of John Picard" (run by his father-in-law, Thom Reilly) raised nearly $25,000 in the last year...and spent almost 90% of it (in a non-election year!)

Ya gotta wonder who benefitted from all this....

More on this later - there's some VEEERRRRY EEENTERRESTING names on his donor list!

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Fuzzy Math

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The new audit is finally out....and (according to our "proven financial manager") everything is just rosy. In fact, things are getting better! Wow!

So, let me see if I've got this right: out of the 169 towns in Connecticut, West Haven is the ONLY town without an operating budget problem? Golly-Gee!

Maybe Picard should go to Hartford (or to California) and toss some of his "special financial fairy dust" on those governments' problems!

Or maybe, just maybe, we're being fed a load of crap.

Maybe, just maybe, this audit was, um, "tailored" to help Picard's re-election campaign. And guess who'll pay for this? Picard won't - he doesn't pay any City property taxes.

Update: The Register reports that our Grand List dropped by $14,000,000.00...even so, City Hall is still singing "Don't Worry - Be Happy". Sure - West Haven is going to lose over $500,000.00 in tax income, but no prob, peeps!


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T

The Pre-Game Show

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As a public service, here's an easy-to-understand summary of how our November elections are shaping up:

I. DEMOCRATS

1. John ("I'm the Decider") Picard is absolutely, positively, um, "90% sure" he'll run for re-election. Of course, with Picard, you get half the leadership at twice the price...what a bargain.

2. Nancy Rossi took out papers to explore a candidacy; as of now she's still exploring. Lewis & Clark didn't take this long.....

3. Look to see a third candidate to emerge from the Morrissey faction...maybe a certain City Council member.

II. REPUBLICANS

Yeah, right. They haven't fielded a credible candidate in 16 years...but I hear they're reaching out for "Big Al"....

III. A BETTER FUTURE

Meanwhile, Dorinda Borer is still doing her Mario Cuomo impersonation....will she or won't she? We should get a decision by Christmas.


There now...doesn't that make it all clear?
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How Government Works, West Haven Style

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Here's how West Haven's Government works:

1. Break the law by refusing to seat the only legal candidate for Council;

2. Get served with an injunction for this;

3. Hire three lawyers to represent you (in addition to Corp Counsel);

4. Spend upwards of $70,000.00 in this lost cause;

5. Lose the case anyways;

6. Pay the Plaintiff's legal costs; then

7. Have Mr. Coscia on the Council anyways.

Got a couple of bucks? THAT's how much this idiocy will cost every man, woman and child in West Haven. But what the hell...it's not like they have to pay it!
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Testing Elected Officials

Blah
The Register reports that the City is considering testing all elected officials.

Not only is this a good idea, I think they should go a few steps further:

• Give'em a full psychological evaluation, and make the results public. That'll answer a lot of questions....

• Make them give their blood in front of the tax office line. At the least, they'll get to see how we feel....
  

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