New Haven Independent

Posted by: Hood Rebel | December 17, 2008 12:40 PM

....And Blango should have said "Why wouldn't it be appropriate Mr. Wyatt? What precisely are YNHH objections to this idea?" Christ!

Posted by: Nemo | December 17, 2008 12:57 PM

Ceding authority of the sidewalks to Y-NHH even in theory is bad public policy. How soon we forget their paid goons arresting union organizers on public sidewalks.

Posted by: Ben | December 17, 2008 1:23 PM

It would be interesting to know if engagement and attendance at the physical public forum is giving way to digital participation. (ex. this website)

It will be interesting to see how public officials weigh the participation of those weighing in in the digital space in the future.

Posted by: anon | December 17, 2008 2:02 PM

Banning smoking from anywhere within 200 feet of a hospital, school or library makes total sense.

But that blue line needs to be longer. Smoking should be banned from the entire city, as it is a contributor to outdoor air pollution as well, therefore causing many other health problems.

Posted by: Streever | December 17, 2008 2:13 PM

The digital participation is interesting--and important--but I do think it's crucial that people who oppose ideas show up in person. I know that some of the local gov. do follow these discussions, but when so many are merely anonymous attacks, it must be hard to take them credibly.

As many of the anonymous commentors on this site have proven time & again, people who hide their identities are free to propose outlandish ideas, bizarre conspiracy plots, & other nonsense in an effort to turn people against solid ideas & work by others.

Posted by: No Way | December 17, 2008 2:30 PM

The public officials shouldn't consider the testimony of people on public forums at all! The benefit of holding public forums is that it forces people (real live people with residences in New Haven) to give their name and address and stand behind their comments, answer questions and be part of the public debate. online communities are fun exercise in public opinion, but are clearly not representative. The majority of poeple here hate DeStefano, but yet he wins with overwhelming majority. Gary Doyans makes frequent inaccurate comments here and goes to finance meetings where he says nothing, or where he is proven to be misstating facts, yet on this site, he is a god. This is nice, but it is not a substititue by any means.

Posted by: Alphonse Credenza | December 17, 2008 3:59 PM

Does anyone really think they would have done differently if a few people showed up to complain?

Posted by: City Hall Watch | December 17, 2008 10:02 PM

There is a long history of the public showing up at public hearings, we testify, the committee and the BOA then vote exactly opposite of what we wanted them to do. Showing up at this hearing would have not made a difference. It never does. It's a fig leaf.

Besides, activists were at the UI hearing across the plaza trying to keep offials from raising our rates. Meanwhile 500 feet away, the hospital and the BOA were giving away our rights. Want us to be in two places at once?

Posted by: Streever | December 18, 2008 10:58 AM

City Hall Watch,

Yes, sometimes, the public shows up & is incorrect, or pushing something for themselves alone, & not taking into account the bigger picture. Other times a lazy or incompetent board member or alder is simply dismissing good advice.

There is also a long history of public testimony driving public policy, & it's damaging to everyone of us to have a distorted view (that your testimony doesn't matter) spread.

We need more people engaged in civics & OUR city now, not less. If you wish to simply complain, you can do so, but the value of you working for change is infinitely greater.

Did you even actually care about this issue, or are you simply a broken record on "no one at the city listens to me"?

Posted by: City Hall Watch | December 18, 2008 2:12 PM

Streever:

You should ride your bike down to a few more of these public hearings.

By the way, the public is never "wrong." They come to the hearings, testify about what they know, what they want and what their opinion is. That's not wrong. That's right. And they usually get three minutes to say it. They don't have the big picture? You have to be kidding.

Posted by: Streever | December 18, 2008 5:24 PM

Sometimes people are wrong. For instance, when they claim that only 3 minutes are granted, which is rarely true.

Not everyone purely argues their opinions, CHW, some people actually have facts & information. Sometimes, their facts are wrong.

Sorry, I attend a lot of meetings & hearings, & i've yet to see anyone with your name. When I do, I'll make sure to count how many minutes you are allowed to speak.

Posted by: 84318666 | December 18, 2008 6:19 PM

Anonymity should be a requirement in the comments section. A pleasant egalitarianism would be achieved if ideas were forced to stand on their own merits. A comment would no longer be unduly dismissed or praised simply because of the standing of the person voicing it.

As far as smoking, the percentage of Greeks who smoke is the highest in all of Europe. The inspiring events taking place in Athens suggest those who desire to live the most fully are also drawn to a pastime (smoking) that allows you the luxury of deciding your own mortality. Give up on the idea that New Haven will ever have a neighborhood as exciting as Exarchia. (A)

Posted by: vblaisdell | December 23, 2008 1:38 AM

OK. First we give YNHH the neighborhood, and now we give it the very air around it. So they can tell us how to properly live our lives? Maybe we should let them declare a "no French fry zone" to combat heart attacks and strokes. How about an "eat your vegetables" zone? A sugar-free zone ought to cut the rate of diabetes in New Haven. And, they could ban auto traffic for a half mile around to force patients to get some exercise before they check in. So nice to know that "our" hospital is looking out for us.

Could that be the same hospital that ran up huge charges on indigent patients and then put liens on their homes to collect the bill? Could that be the hospital that fought tooth and nail, breaking the law when necessary, to keep its employees from joining a union? Could that be the hospital that kept its free bed funds a secret from poor patients? Are we supposed to think they freaking care about us, the public?

You have to wonder, when the ER is full of teenagers with bullet wounds, why YNHH would decide that smoking on "its" sidewalks was a big priority. A painted blue perimeter...nice touch.

You also have to wonder why any sane alderman or woman would just sit there and watch this PR scam fly over their heads.