New Haven Independent

Posted by: Enough is Enough | September 1, 2009 11:41 AM

Stephanie's unwillingness to answer the reporters question by "pleading the fifth" or not answering "yes or no on the matter" shows you how much of a rubber stamp she'll be for the mayor.

She couldn't answer the questions because the mayor wasn't around to give her guidance and of course she wasn't going to piss the mayor off by answering the wrong way. If the people of ward 14 want to vote in a puppet THEN SO BE IT. If you are TRUELY tired of the mayors tactics and policies then you all need to think hard about voting for Joan. At least she answered the questions and criticized the mayor where criticism was due.

Posted by: Jay | September 1, 2009 12:07 PM

Hehe, Yale is going to pick up the tab for tweed? Not bloody likely.

Posted by: The Count | September 1, 2009 12:08 PM

Candidate Joan Forte states that Yale should "pick up the whole tab" on Tweed because "they use it more than the average person." She would have a hard time convincing Yale professor David Cameron: Seems as though every time the subsidy was reduced, it never was enough in Prof. Cameron's eyes. And if he feels that way about the city's money, you can be sure he'll be dead set against Yale using funds which could go toward his salary for anything else. As for Yale's use of Tweed, I have NEVER seen a Yale transit bus at Tweed, even during the busy winter holiday season. They feel the student traffic doesn't justify it. Indeed, when a group of Yale students travelled to New Orleans to assist in disaster relief, they took the train to New York, then surface transportation to the airport. Ms. Forte, are you aware that Yale contributed funds towards Comair's New Haven-Cincinatti service in 2004? Or that, when the area towns did contribute monies towards Tweed's operations, East Haven was the only town that DIDN'T HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE because it was felt that their putting up with Tweed was contribution enough? I don't like Tweed being on subsidy, either. That's why I am optimistic about the current improvements being made to make the field more navigable to commercial airlines offering service to destinations Southern Connecticut residents want. This in turn will lead to an increase in collections in passenger facilities charges, reducing Tweed's dependence on subsidies. And, by the way, additional jobs for those locals who hate crossing the Pearl Harbor Bridge. Oh, sure, Tweed still has its detractors. I expect them to be first in line at the terminal ticket counters when the above comes to pass.

Posted by: Ward14resident | September 1, 2009 12:38 PM

Ms. Forte came to my door and by the time she left I still had no idea that she was the one running! I learned that from this article. Ms. Bauer you have my vote, at least I understood why you were at my door and your pamphlet was concise and well written.
As an aside, I am tired of the mayors antics/leadership but I don't think Ms. Forte is the answer.

Posted by: Enough is Enough | September 1, 2009 1:05 PM

ward14resident,

So by electing someone who will follow the mayors wishes and policies thats the answer. I understand. You make perftect sense.

Thanks for the clarification I too know who I am voting for. Joan.

Posted by: Chatham St | September 1, 2009 3:41 PM

Does anybody else think the New Haven Independent might be taken more seriously if it even pretended to offer unbiased coverage?

Apparently Mr. Appel has endorsed Joan Forte for Ward 14 Alderwoman. His opinion is duly noted.

Posted by: Paradox | September 1, 2009 4:17 PM

NHI is very bias in all its coverage. I like that it covers things not in the register, but you can't read this stuff as true of factual because it will sway your thought process. Paul hates Destefano and every chance he gets he slams him to boost the ratings, keep us coming back...

Posted by: AndersonScooper | September 1, 2009 4:51 PM

Let's be clear.

If we want better traffic enforcement in New Haven, we need to change State law.

Right now, CT law requires almost all of the ticket revenue for moving violations to go to the State. New Haven gets to keep only $10/ticket.

So traffic enforcement doesn't pay for itself in the state of Connecticut.

Right now in New Haven we have only 6-8 traffic cops, and most of them are working the day shift. Clearly we need more, particularly in the evening.

Talk to your neighbors, your aldermen, your State Reps and the Mayor, and tell them to make traffic safety a priority for New Haven.

Posted by: Enough is Enough | September 1, 2009 7:25 PM

chatham,

don't attack others because your candidate didn't know how to deal with the press. Stephanie was asked the same questions Joan was asked. LETS BE REAL.. Stephanie chose to plead the fifth and beat around the bush..

Allan is a good and fair reporter compared to others

Posted by: Fairhavener | September 1, 2009 8:31 PM

Joan ... would make a crumy Alderwoman as well Stay home Joan

Posted by: Jon Doe | September 1, 2009 8:51 PM

TO: Enough is Enough

That was the first thing I said when I Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale was supporting Stephanie Bauer that she too would be another rubber stamping Mayor Johnny's girl. The second thing was that she was going to continue where Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale left off at and continue with her safe streets program. People the streets in Fair Haven are more unsafe today then 3 years ago. Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale safe streets progam was a joke. Take a ride around Fair Haven and look for the improvements she talks about. Then take a ride on her street (Front Street) and you'll see the improvement she braggs about. She live on Front street and has done a lot of work to increase her property value.

I meet Joan when she knock on my door and after reading this artical, I belive she will do a better job for all of us in Ward 14.

TO: AndersonScooper

You are so right the reasons why the Mayor and NHPD don't push traffic ticktets is because there is no money in it for the city. That's what it all boils down to MONEY. And it is sad because people that should be getting tickets are breaking the law. What next they shouldn't go after other crimes also because there is no money in it.

If you go to the crime log on the NHI and look up these violation on the map 99% are in the Downtown ara. Yes they have pick up written more this year but they are still in the downtown area. These people doing these crimes know that they can get away with it in the rest of the city. Anyone who have ever commuited on I91 or I95 knows where the state police set up for speeders and these guys know the same thing here in New Haven

Posted by: DEZ | September 1, 2009 10:38 PM

Wow, and all I want to do is comment on the comments in the article! Firstly, thank you Tywanna Johnson for not taking the easy (cheap) way out and ruin your fine antique home with vinyl and faux everything. It looks beautiful, and I believe there should be a tax credit to those who take this route. In so doing, they are adding to the housing stock by being caretakers of the property and increasing housing values for all. They should be rewarded for this expensive endeavor which benefits us all. If for absolutely nothing else, it adds ro curb appeal in the neighborhood.

"There has to be some kind of mechanism to stop the speeders. Someone's going to get killed in Fair Haven. Why can't lay people use radar guns and convey the information to the police?"
Ugh, Joan? people have died on Fair Haven streets due to speeding. Ask Stew Hutchins and Crystal Manning. They'll clue you in. Then try the Christmann's, Ian and Carolyn, they'll clue you in too.

Posted by: anon | September 2, 2009 12:23 AM

I would like to see a breakdown of traffic tickets by neighborhood for the past 3 years. I don't think the entire increase is due to downtown.

Can someone from the city post the neighborhood breakdown here? (or maybe the NHI has it)?

Posted by: Mark | September 2, 2009 7:39 AM

Tywanna Johnson should look into a tax exemption that the city offers for Veterans. I am unsure of the exact details, but if she did serve in Iraq, she may be eligible.

Posted by: Ward 14 Committee member | September 2, 2009 9:31 AM

Joan,
Are you kidding me? As a ward 14 committee member, I was at the meeting where you basically had a tantrum because you thought you should have been nominated and endorsed by the committee. I'm sorry you feel that way, but honestly you seem to be more destructive than constructive and many have taken notice of that.

No tax break for historic homes? Do you know what we go through to maintain the historic quality and maintenance?? Obviously not. A painting program is a great idea, but that doesn't help us restore our historic homes and in the end we end up penalized by the city with a tax increase. How is that fair?

BTW...Ms. Johnson, your house is beautiful...great job and thank you for continuing the spirit of so many who cherish these old homes!!

Regarding the bump out above. People are irritated? I would be interested in whom. As a close neighbor, I think it has been a wonderful traffic calming measure and in a City that says they get it but are painfully slow to act, I'm for whatever we can get. What I don't get is you!

And finally to Stephanie...if you want us to vote for you stop pleading the fifth and give your opinion. Even if the opinion differs from people, an actual opinion is far more respected than no answer at all. Be honest and open and good luck.

Posted by: Enough is Enough | September 2, 2009 1:43 PM

To ward 14 committee member and ALL,

Thats just it! Stephanie WONT BE ABLE to differ from the administration. You can hope and pray all you want however at the end of the day she is a Ralph girl.
She couldn't even comment on the mayors request to give a raise to some of his top staffers. come on! What does that tell you. Wake up people. Don't critisize the mayor and then on election day pull the lever for Stephanie if so you are all hypocrites because she will be one of the mayors cronies

Posted by: Erin Sturgis-Pascale | September 2, 2009 3:53 PM

"There has to be some kind of mechanism to stop the speeders. Someone's going to get killed in Fair Haven."

For the record, there WAS someone killed in the exact location where the Chatham bumpout was built and that Joan appears to be objecting to! I know because I was there and it was one of the motivating factors that led me to run for alderwoman in the first place. That 'mechanism' is exactly what I've been working on for the last four years. It would be a real shame for Fair Haven to take a step back should Joan be elected because she clearly doesn't have any understanding of what we have been working on all this time.

So...if traffic calming doesn't work and nothing has improved in Fair Haven, how could my property values have gone up as Jon Doe claims? Per usual, his complaints are nonsense and driven by some personal vendetta.

The rational choice for the next Alderwoman in Ward 14 is clearly Stephanie.

Posted by: Ward14resident | September 2, 2009 4:03 PM

Enough is enough,

Get a grip! Reality check... this is local politics. Joan is retired and looking for something to do.

Posted by: Erin Sturgis-Pascale | September 2, 2009 4:23 PM

Ward14Resident's comment reminded me of something I'd like to see Joan take a position on.

Would she support legislation that would ban changes to city retirement plans of retirees who go on to be members of the Board of Aldermen?

I'm assuming that the point of the BOE criticism is that board members should be fiscally independent of city hall. I would think that this would be important for retirees as well.

Posted by: anon | September 2, 2009 4:41 PM

That bump out is really nice, but probably a little bit too small. Let's adopt international standards (used in so many other cities and towns) that say that pedestrian crossing distances need to be 10-15 feet or less if you want people of all ages and abilities to feel comfortable walking around their own neighborhoods.

If we do real neighborhood improvements that significantly improve walkability, I think there will be much more support for the program than there will be if we continue the good-but-not-great stuff.

Posted by: City Hall Watch | September 2, 2009 10:47 PM

I was going to give Stephanie Bauer a pass, but that must have been in a weak moment. She doesn't deserve one. These same questions or very similar ones have been asked of others who are running for the BOA. They're legit. That Bauer has no answers, finds nothing to disagree with at City Hall and thinks the unbudgeted stealth raises are just fine is exactly what this city does not need. We need people on the board who are thinking, questioning, truthmongers and watchdogs who are more concerned for citizen rights than being a single issue lapdog who pants with glee every time DeStefano throws you a bone.

As for the pension issue - I've read your post three times and still don't get your point. If by some chance you don't think city pensions need serious reform, then aside from ignoring really important issues, you've also ignored the financial data that has crossed your desk for years. The city pension plan from one end to the other is grossly, monsterously underfunded to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Perhaps you have some taffic calming idea on how to pay for it.

Posted by: cm | September 3, 2009 12:47 AM

HELL-O everyone,stop the trash talk and pretense-
the 14th ward aldermanic seat is clearly up as a "caretaker" situation for the next two years-this is obviously not a contest for Rhodes scholar in the "hood"(or even for Yale employment, Erin!) The voters are not going to elect another Kroogman,Jolly or even Sturgis-Pascale (some would say that's just fine..)so thanks for all your traffic efforts, but it's time to get REAL on 9/15!!!!The question is which of these two WOMEN will take "care" for awhile while the rest of us search for a viable, credible alternative candidate for the year 2011 and beyond-it's just that SIMPLE,folks, and both of these ladies know it..(yes, I do believe that Ms. Bauer can think without the men if truth be told) SO who will care for us while we search?Ralph's puppet (and not the traffic queen's fist choice as we ALL know) who cannot cope without someone there to literally pull her strings or the ditzy but sincere lifelong resident who truly loves Fair Haven and will LISTEN to the neighbors en ingles y espanol a todos. no geniuses here, just fearless honesty over the panic-stricken non-responses of our own living Peter Principle robot
CHOOSE real IN the 14th over rehearsed from outside the ward, please

Posted by: robn | September 3, 2009 8:31 AM

Tywanna Johnson's suggestion of a city historic renovation tax credit is one of the most simply put and valuable suggestions I've heard in a long time. Our property tax structure rewards one of the worst behaviors in real estate...Profiteering by speculators who defer maintenance on rental properties and allow them to decline. Why should these guys get taxed less and the people who renovate get taxed more? A local program could reward people for good behavior and in the long run, potentially reverse declines in value and raise tax income more evenly...instead of loading it on the backs of people who do the right thing.

Posted by: Chris O | September 8, 2009 11:18 PM

I think the raising taxes on improved properties is a disincentive. DuH Take the condition category out of the assessment process and watch New Haven flourish. Two similar houses, one decked out and one derilict- same tax rate. This will also spur the local economy with home improvements and put the broken window theory in effect city wide.

Posted by: Franklin | September 10, 2009 9:22 AM

Let's face reality,Fair Haven: Stephanie Bauer is merely a puppet, a stand-in for furthering the Mayor's political agenda. Joan Forte may not be Hillary Clinton, but she has the fundamental interests and priorities of Fair Haven at heart...and for many years at that. Don't be fooled by Bauer's sham campaign for the Mayor.