New Haven Independent

Posted by: BranfordGadfly | May 15, 2009 4:23 PM

Do we really need to fix the town green? It is so quaint and charming like it is. Also, road improvements may actually make the situation worse by allowing cars to go faster.

Posted by: JohnH | May 15, 2009 11:29 PM

It has been said that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. I recall the book and movie "The Fountainhead" where a skilled architect had his work ruined by the premise that the general populace should be allowed to have their creative influence incorporated into his design. You need be very careful here. The design program may be developed with public input, but the response should be in the hands of the designers.

Posted by: Gil Kelman | May 16, 2009 10:14 AM

Letters to the editor authors should be strong enough in their beliefs sufficiently so has to affect their names to a letter! Gil Kelman

Posted by: BranfordGadfly | May 17, 2009 6:51 AM

So true, Mr. Kelman. And I can certainly see how the "incendiary" and "controversial" comments on this particular page would evoke such concern on your part. Thank you for your special insight (wink).

Posted by: Green Watcher | May 17, 2009 8:24 AM

Looks like no matter what the public says, town government will just disguise their proposals in an effort to manipulate the public into buying into their plans. Wake up folks and speak up for your Town Green before it's too late. Go to the meeting on June 15, 2009 and be heard.

Posted by: Pat Santoro | May 17, 2009 10:53 AM

Hi Gil,
I couldn't agree with you more. It is very easy to speak from an anonymous position, it is very brave and honest to attach your name to your thoughts and ideas.

Posted by: susan barnes | May 17, 2009 11:27 AM

Finally, a subject on which Gil and I agree. But where have you been in the past? There are MANY who continually lack the courage of their convictions and post without identifying themselves. Have you asked the Eagle to do something about it? Other newspapers require names to post letters. Why should this not be expected of the Online Journalism Project?

Posted by: JohnH | May 17, 2009 8:52 PM

Gil,
It really is a community blog, not a newspaper editorial page. I don't care where ideas or comments come from. They rise and fall on their own merit.

Posted by: susan barnes | May 17, 2009 9:33 PM

ONLINE JOURNALISM PROJECT. Sounds like it wants to be more than a "blog", John. AH, but you are among those of whom Gil, Pat & I speak.

Posted by: Rocco Esposito | May 18, 2009 11:02 AM

Dont these people have anything better to do than think about the green? Once more they say they want to improve ped. safety.
I have never felt unsafe on the Branford green. Also they say we need to improve drainage. Whats that all about? I have never seen the green wet. I will admit, that I do not hang around the green, but I have looked at it alot over the last 40 years. I just don't understand what this is all about. Lets concentrate on more important things. These are tuff times

Posted by: Streever | May 18, 2009 5:20 PM

Wait--
increase drainage
reduce paved area
install a roundabout
NOT widen the road

I'm sorry, this is exceptional. Great work. Keep on rolling.

JohnH: Rand essentially pushed for a all or nothing/black & white/"right to be a horrible human being" world. She got it, in her own social group--which fell apart very quickly, when everyone realized what it meant when you lived in a group that involved no compromise and the underlying premise that you were each a perfect genius, incapable of wrong. I think that's a good way to characterize the basic flaw in Randian thought--it requires all of us to be perfect geniuses.

Even a genius can be questioned--and wrong. Rand's world view is a sad & lonely one, with no basis in reality.

I say if the committee proposes a new town green that improves safety & the city government backs it, sounds like people are doing good work in Branford. Best luck.

Posted by: JohnH | May 18, 2009 10:04 PM

Streever, you are taking my comments deeper than they are intended. The Howard Roarke position from a design perspective is that when everyone puts their input into design (not design programming which IS a group effort), the coherent interpretation of the designer is lost. That is where the old joke that a camel is a horse designed by a committee comes in.....

Posted by: anon | May 19, 2009 2:03 PM

Will the town be installing bicycle greenways around and through the Green, or do they expect everyone to ride on the sidewalks?

Posted by: Green Watcher | May 31, 2009 4:36 AM

Just so you folks know, the REVISED plan for changes to the Branford Town Green still includes the addition of 32 PAVED DIAGONAL parking spaces to be created on Blackstone Drive and Taintor Drive on each side of the Congregational Church. The Town boasts that it is eliminating pavement on the Green by narrowing and moving the entrance to Town Hall Drive. What they fail to tell you is that they will be ADDING approx. 5,500 square feet of asphalt to the Green in order to create these parking spaces. Our Town Green is a vital historic parcel of land that we need to protect before it is too late. Your presence at this hearing is needed so you can voice your opinion concerning the negative impact this parking will have on the Green. Please attend the June 15, 2009 public hearing meeting to be held at Blackstone Library at 7:00 P.M.--your help is needed.