New Haven Independent

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 5, 2007 10:44 AM

Tom thank you for covering this. I have to say it was great debate. First one ever in Cedar Hill , it was Ed that suggested having the debate.
I realize that we are not the only area having the problems. A good part of the city services done in our area are done by us. We refuse to let our community go to the dogs. And we have made some positive changes but we had to scream and yell to get simple things. Right now, with a commercial space that has NO PERMITS and is doing a total gut! We can not get the building guy down there to stop it. They have now been working on it at night to avoid the city. We want a use of space on this troubled space . The cops have been a standstill with this space and now we have an opportunity to do something. But it is like talking to a wall!! And it is not just this, it is everything we try to do to make our area better. We wanted this debate to see who would go to the mat "with" (not just for us but with us) us, we want someone that has the time to care.
I know who is getting my vote, especially after last night.

Posted by: New Haven Tea Party | October 5, 2007 11:57 AM

You have to appreciate Ed Mattison's honesty. He's not concerned with what Cedar Hill residents need - "get off your butts and get politically active" is his recommendation.

After 7 years of loyalty to a rubber stamping alder who has listened too little, done even less and approved year after year of property tax increases and no accountability whatsoever to live even within the approved budgets, it's past time for Ceder Hillians to take his advice.

Vote for change. Your voice and concerns are not being heard because HE'S NOT LISTENING TO YOU. He's listening to the mayor. He's the mayor's voice to you not the other way around.

P.S. By the way, even if you're politically active, the alders don't listen so don't believe that either. You can attend all the meetings you like, testify when they feel like letting you speak, and they'll nod in agreement and vote exactly against what you were advocating. Your only solution is to change the people in the chair.

Posted by: WEBbloger 1 | October 5, 2007 3:36 PM

Mattison is the consummate crony politician.
He knows full well that he voted for every increased in the 2007-08 budget, including increasing fees and permits. Now he would have cedar hill residents believe that they must protest and vote in order to receive essential services the entire city receives.

Mattison, you should be ashamed of yourself for the deceit you are spreading. You recently voted to approve the Shartenberg deal which gives 4 million in land value away for $1.00, in addition you approved to take money out of the public works street repair budget in order to repair the streets around the Shartenberg site. You did so in the name of economic development, while the cedar hill neighborhood goes without basic services. You now justify this position by telling residents they need to vote. Well vote they will... vote you O U T >>>>> Now get the stepping.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 5, 2007 9:20 PM

WEBbloger 1

First ward 10 is "One WARD" some times there seems to be a silent segregation factor involved!
Every year we are out there trying to get people to vote.
First off I take offense to the fact that I do not get off my butt, But to correct that it was "lazy butts". I am a very active person which I am sure ed would agree with that (squeaky wheel or thorn in side?), and MANY other's do what there lives allow them time for, other wise "this area" would be far worse than it is!!

We are a small community but we have grown to be a community.

Ed's talked about the all the grant money that his place of employment gets from the city goes to help the homeless and under privileged that they work with (which we have 2 of those facility's on "our side"). And I respect the work that Ed does! But let me ask you when dealing with the low income and less fortunate do you help them or do you tell them to get off there "lazy butts" too???HMMM

Our problem "over here" is in low-income (middle income) community people are often so preoccupied with daily survival, that voting takes a back seat. They are more worried about having a roof over their heads,having enough food to feed their family's that voting can seem pretty abstract to them! Maybe they would vote if they saw that it does make a difference but nothing has been offered to them as proof. They see how hard the few of the more active people work only to get stone walled. Only to hear that our vote does not matter!

Poor people don't vote because they don't hear candidates addressing their issues,and politicians tend not to address their issues because poor people don't vote. It is a viscus circle.

If we can get people to see that voting is a manor of self respect, that it is a way of holding our heads up high we may matter to this F***ed up system.

Ohh and sorry we did get a half court in east rock park, a mail box, oh and after 20s year of tripping on one street's side walk that wholes in the it as big as the grand cannon they replaced when a old women was hurt.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 7, 2007 8:08 PM

and here is a small clip of the debate
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J4aQnbLEL7g
I have and hour and a half of footage if anyone wants a CD of it

Posted by: New Haven Tea Party | October 8, 2007 12:32 PM

I'd like to know what agency Ed Mattison works for that gets all the grant money from the city? Anybody know?

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 8, 2007 3:25 PM

New Haven Tea Party
South Central Behavioral Health Network
but with all due respect this group does do alot for the undeserved in this city especially with the homeless. Every penny they get goes to the homeless ect. They even raise money for there programs. And Ed has fought for alot of great causes in his time. We by no means are saying he is a bad person, because truth is he is not, he is a really great person.
The problem is, is he a good alderman to the entire ward. Some feel that it is time for someone new. some feel that new eyes in the ward and someone that can dedicate more time to it may be the one to make the changes it needs. I think it is a matter of changing the structure of the town hall, and our ward has that opportunity.
I personally think there should be a term limit on all political positions.

Posted by: New Haven Tea Party | October 8, 2007 5:09 PM

Thank you for the information. Im sure the agency is doing good work and I'm sure Ed works hard on their behalf.

The thing about being an alderman, is that you have to work for all the people - not just the homeless, the disenfranchised or the special interests at City Hall. Ed is the ultimate rubber stamper - in part, I'm afraid, because his agency gets a lot of money from the city. If your job is on the line from city funding, or your boss is looking at your stands on public policy in terms of how it can potentially harm the agency, the general public is not well served.

This ward needs an independent, working alder who is not dependent or beholden to the mayor at all. It needs somebody who believes a phone call to your alder is all that's required to make a point and get something done - not a full fledged demonstration with placards, signs, priests and the like. Ed's view that property taxpayers, and homeowners are political slackers is exactly why he should be replaced.

Several weeks ago, Ina Silverman told taxpayers in her ward - you don't like the taxes - you should have appealed your assessment. She, like Ed, Sergio, Roland Lemar, Alex Rhodeen and the others all miss the point. The point is our city is in deep trouble - our school children are not being educated, our homes and neighborhoods are under attack by thugs; community policing is all but dead and property taxes and city fees are so high we can barely pay them. We're now resorting to towing cars, foreclosing on homes and hurting people even more. Rubber stampers do not solve problems and are not solving problems.

Ed Mattison is not an agent of change - hell, Ed's connections at City Hall have not brought about much good at all in Cedar Hill or elsewhere despite being a nice guy and working with the homeless. The rest of us are working so as not to be in need of his homeless services. It's time to quit settling for sorry representation from somebody who is compromised in his ability to represent the public.

Posted by: Fedupwithliberals | October 9, 2007 9:08 AM

Everyone makes great points in their comments. The common theme here is that alders in this city, especially East Rock, do not represent their constituents, but rather their own political agendas and pet projects. No doubt Ed got the Behavioral Health Network some money. I believe that he is a psychologist by profession. Nothing like padding your own colleage's pockets at our expense!

Remember this come election day. Vote everyone out, including DeStefano.

Posted by: Edward Mattison | October 10, 2007 12:03 PM

I think I will let my record speak for itself, but I would like to answer the questions about what our organization, the South Central Behavioral Health Network gets from the city. We have a contract for $90,000 to house homeless individuals who are living in city-funded homeless shelters. We move people to sober houses when they are ready to lead a sober life. All of the money we get the from the city goes to paying rent for these folks. We donate all the bill paying, accounting, record keeping and other services necessary to keep the project going. Case management services are donated by the agencies whose clients live in the sober houses. The value of all the services is at least as much as the city pays. I am a former legal aid lawyer, not a psychologist. I have no objection to robust debate, but I don't accuse other people of crimes, conflict of interest or corruption and I don't think it helps our city for anybody to do so unless they have some proof. Ed

Ed Mattison
Ward 10 Alderman