New Haven Independent

Posted by: Alderman Greg Morehead | May 23, 2007 7:31 AM

Just wanted to say that the forum that was held on last night was a good way for the individuals that attended to learn more about the senior tax freeze. I invited various officials from the city to have input on this topic, Paul Nunez, David Ambrose, Alderman Charles Blango-D20, Alderwoman Katrina Jones- D21, Yusef Shah-D23, and i would like to say that those officials who spoke did a great job in shedding light on the tax freeze, the five year phase in, the budget, and how the board of Aldermen votes. The senior tax freeze is already in place, but just to point out, IT IS A CHOICE. It is not mandated that the seniors have to take advantage of it. I would like to invite everyone down to our meeting on May 29th at City Hall where we will vote on the budget. I ask you also to not just come to one meeting, but be involved with other meetings that the Board of Aldermen has so you too can have an active part in democracy. For a list of meeting dates that we have, visit the city's website and click on Board Of Aldermen. I always have to end by saying this, Don't talk about it, be about it!
Be involved also and have open dialogue with your current Alderman/Alderwoman because how do we know something is an issue if it isn't expressed to us to address.

Thanks
Alderman Greg Morehead
203.507.7766

Posted by: Willie Williams Jr | May 23, 2007 7:56 AM

The City of New Haven Is In Debt $30,000,000.00 Million Dollars and Has Been For Over 5 Years. Your Property Taxes Are Going To Increase 25% In 3 Years. This Is How You Cut Your Home Owners Property Taxes By 40% NOW!. Cut The City of New Haven Personnel Staff 5,300 Persons By 25% In ALL Departments...Personnel Earning $80,000.00-$160,000.00 per. Year. We Have Computer Technology In 2007 If They Are Not Computer Literate Get Rid of Them. Cut The Police Dept By 20% and STOP! ALL This Unnessary Over Time. Place Video Surveillence Cameras At Stretigic RED Areas and Super Lights That Produce 5 Times The Light. The Technology Is Avaible, Use It. They Create Scenarios To Produce Over Time. The Police DO-NOT! Stop Crime, They Come In After The Fact Which Is Non Productive and A Joke. If The Police Would Inforce The "Loitering", "Trespassing", and "Pan Handling Laws" Write These People Up With $85.00 Tickets Would Go A Long Way In Fair Haven. People Cannot Stand At The Bus Stop In Peace and Wait For The State Bus On The Corner of Ferry and Grand. Drug Dealers Every Where In The Parking Lot and Behind The U.S. Post Office. The City of New Haven and The State Can Get $10,000.00 per. Day Writing Tickets In That Area. They Park Their Cars In The Parking Lot Buy Drugs and Mess With Little Girls Going and Coming From The Fair Haven Middle School. 1 Police Officer 8:00 A:M:-4:00 P:M: and 1 Police Officer 4:00 P:M:-12:00 Midnight On The Corner of Grand and Ferry Will Break That Mess Up. People This Is Not Rocket Science, Any Fool With A $5.00 Disposable Camera Can See This.

Posted by: charlie | May 23, 2007 11:13 AM

Instead of complaining about a few gunshots, go and do something about it. Don't expect the world to do your work for you. Get involved in the community, help mentor local kids and call the police more often with tips. Government is here to run the landfill and fire department, not to solve everyone's issues by throwing everyone else's hard earned money at the problem.

Posted by: Valuation | May 23, 2007 11:57 AM

It must be noted that Vision did not have a statisical number of sales in many neighborhoods, and the sales they did have, were generally houses that had been significantly fixed up and sold to LLC's comprised of absentee owners looking for income and tax benefits. "External Obsolescence" this item was not applied to most residential areas, just ask Vision to show where they reflect that. The answwer is if a house sold around there it was subject to the same influences bso no adjustment was made. There was nobody working for Vision that even visted this town prior. The people were from RI, Vermont and MA. and had never been here. They drove by houses and didn't even stop. The sales are all old, in fact they are mostly 2004 and 2005 sale prices. 2006 sales were not even available, since the transfers were not up to date in the assessor records. Just ask for the sales used oin your neighborhood, by law the sale have to made available for review. This same thing happened in 2001. Those that could afford to appeal, meaning a lawyer and appraiser fees, ghenerally got reductions. In fact, most of the growth in the 2001 Grand List was lost due to appeals, just ask for the report. One important thing should be noted, and that is the Conn. General Statues allow for a reval at anytime, not just on the suggested days. Knowing that the values were mostly based on older sales which occurred in the height of the housing market should be reviewed by the Finance Committee. Also since these sales were the ones used and the valuation model was set for 2005, why did the city pay an additional $80,000 to delay the reval to 2006? If that was the case wouldn't the 2006 sale be most relevant? Again, ask how many people in the assessor office have any experience in appraisal, you will find none left. Look in the paper, even the real estate assessor job is vacant, or soon to be. This is a heartbreaking set of lies by people who know very little about valuation. And Paul is wrong...just becuase the house goes up in value, doesn't mean taxes go up. The thing that drives taxes is the spending. If the budget was stabilized, and property values went up the mil rate would drop and taxes could be stabile, any real estate person knows this.

Posted by: Valuation | May 23, 2007 1:15 PM

Just an example...look at 628 Winchester Ave. It sold in 2005 for $77,000 and was blighted, Vision has a FMV of about $188,000. The photo is old, this house is trashed, no windows, sheetrock, plumbing etc. How was this possible?

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 23, 2007 4:50 PM

When is the aldermen apporoval meeting for the budget???

May 29, at 6:00 ?? I think The whole city should be there!! Gather up and transport everybody you can find!!