Harp Backs Lamont; Lamont Backs Tweed

Mayor Harp can visit the Cove for a surprise press conference during the work day, with Lamont who has " talked to the business leaders and academic leaders". But the Mayor wouldn't (and won't) engage with the neighbors of the surrounding communities. Will Harp be at the "workshop" on Saturday morning?

As I wrote about here, East Haven has been left completely in the dark:
https://patch.com/connecticut/easthaven/east-haven-kept-dark-tweed-airport-expansion

I can't even finish reading this article because it makes me sick! I know who I will not be voting for in the next state election! Do you see how sneaky they are? Then people wonder why I have this aversion to politicians! Do what's right for your constituents and stop being selfish blank blank blank! The fact that they don't let people get up and speak in public to the whole group at these so-called meetings is because they don't want everybody to hear what some informed people know so they're trying to keep things under the radar or more likely under the rug! How can they even move forward without any input, that we know of, from East Haven? I can't believe that Albis, Fasano and the mayor are all silent on this issue!

I don't understand why politicians are endorsing Lamont. How is he more qualified than Bysiewicz? It seems to me the only way in which he is the better option is in terms of ease of spelling his name.

Working constructively with the neighbors, I think making Tweed a regional airport will be just vital to economic development to New Haven, East Haven, and central Connecticut. I've talked to the business leaders and academic leaders. I know how important a more frequent regional service is to our community," Lamont told the Independent Thursday morning.

The Democrats in Connecticut asses are in trouble thanks to Dan Malloy.Ned Lamont Is nothing but a clone of Ex Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Both are Businessman. .Ned Lamont peeps made there Money from J P Morgan.So his allegiance is to the oligarchy who are the enemy of the poor and working poor. Be careful what you ask for.


But Lamont has clearly had the momentum among New Haven politicos in recent weeks. (He has also hired three of them — Hill Alder David Reyes, former Upper Westville Alder Sergio Rodriguez, and Beaver Hills Democratic ward co-chair and state Democratic committeewoman Audrey Tyson — to work on his gubernatorial campaign staff.)

To My latino And Black Brothers and Sisters..The DEMOCRATIC Party THINKS LATINOS ARE SANGANOS. And Blacks as Lost Sheep.The Black and Latino community owes nothing to the Democratic Party especially loyalty You put them first and they put us last..To My latino And Black Brothers and Sisters beware. Very soon Sell Out Treasonous Judas Goat Leaders will soon be coming to the Hoods and El Barrios do not Drink there Kool-Aid.

It's the year when all of the white politicians will be back in the so-called Negro community jiving you and me for some votes. The year when all of the white political crooks will be right back in..Don't be throwing out any ballots. A ballot is like a bullet. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket.
(1964) Malcolm X, "The Ballot or the Bullet


Part One.
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Part two.

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Another correction here. They aren't talking about paving just 1,000 feet. The current talk centers on paving 1,500 feet total: 1,000 on the south end and 500 on the north. This is all planned to be done on currently reinforced turf that acts as part of the safety areas required by the FAA, and within the current airport fence line. The proposal to change part of this area from turf to pavement would not affect current flight paths, and would add runway for departures in both directions, and allow for a longer roll-out for aircraft in both directions as well.

Mr. O'Brien will have to forgive us for asking if his story reads more like an opinion piece than an unbiased news article, what with the "relentless expansion" phraseology used therein. Such terminology has been popular with the Stop Tweed crowd in the past. We question how it can be "relentless" when there hasn't been an extension of any of Tweed's runways since 1967. Over fifty years ago! And in that time, Tweed hasn't built any new infrastructure outside of the re-construction of an old airport hangar on the west side to become the current terminal building. The only major project undertaken in the past fifty years has been the installation of the improved grass overruns on the north and south ends that were FAA requirements for air carrier airports, to improve safety. East Haven fought that tooth and nail as well.

In retrospect, the airport hasn't asked for much from its communities for decades, and now that it wants a modest runway improvement to increase safety, operational ability, bring new service, and go to other, farther destinations, again, the community thinks it is relentless expansion.

Think about it. If the State of Connecticut hadn't done road or bridge improvements on I-95 for over 50 years (as has previously happened!), there would be, and has been, great public outcry in protest of poor infrastructure.

@Tweed Facts Yes, it's an opinion piece of mine, and never pretended to be anything else. Yes, East Haven is being kept in the dark.

You and the rest of the Tweed boosters should have learned your lesson from the language in this bill: it's being pushed through the house even with the (well-reasoned) objections of Robinson, pilot organizations, and pilots. Wasn't it just last month that you were complaining in all-caps about "lack of transparency" from the airport? That you were taken by surprise and kept in the dark?

When the closure of 14-32 is codified in law, you'll have a small taste of what the neighbors experience when we get walked over and kicked around by the airport and our elected officials.

So sad what has happened to the Democratic Party - no longer on the side of the common working person but yet another tool for corporate elites. These limousine liberals are liberal only in name - they differ very little from Republicans except they serve different donors. Assign both of these dinosaur parties to the trash heap of history where they belong. These people need to reacquaint themselves with FDR's philosophy that saved the working class when Republican policies of the 20s nearly destroyed the nation.

Tweed is all about money. The economic impact analysis done in 2011 estimated $30 million per year "additional output" in our region. The CT senate could not pass a fair work week bill which would have impacted thousands of low-income workers. But there's no economic "impact" there. Just lots of people who do the right thing. They go to work everyday for large employers like Wal-Mart who drive down wages in the region, and take advantage of lax labor laws. Lamont and Harp can't stand up for low-wage workers, but they can shout for Tweed.

I hope the Tweed expansion is passed.

Funny first time I can recall New Haven "activists" ever "supporting" or"protecting" East Haven.

The airport extension bill.. HB 5537.

sHB 5537

AN ACT CONCERNING SHARED SOLAR FACILITIES AND MUNICIPAL AIRPORTS.

SUMMARY

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/BA/2018HB-05537-R000459-BA.htm


"Lastly, the bill (1) eliminates a provision that limits Tweed-New Haven Airport's Runway 2-20 to 5,600 linear feet in length and (2) requires the airport's Runway 14-32 to be closed."

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2018(If passed).

@JCFremont Clearly, you don't understand the area. There are close ties between the East Shore / Annex / Morris Cove and East Haven, as you might expect from neighbors. There's a very long and interesting history as well, which still shows in the disconnect between New Haven neighborhoods east of the Quinnipiac and City Hall.

But, y'know, we're the ones who don't understand the situation in the ground, in our own backyards, as we keep being told by people from all over the state (including the appointed politicians on the Tweed board).

Tweed facts: Question: Does the current runway only allow take-offs southbound, and landings from the north? From flights I have taken, that seems to be the pattern. I know the CRJ-200s are loudest on approach, not take-off, so more approaches from the less populated (water) south would seem better. I also know it's always best to point into the wind on take-off, so presumably a second orientation would mean less ground speed required for some take-offs.

Lamontable Notes:

@FacChec Thanks, I do think we need to refer back to the bill. I don't know what version of the bill you're quoting, so I want to be clear about the changes. This is the language in the raised bill and the one currently in the House calendar:

"Sec. 2. Subsection (c) of section 15-120j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, [Runway 2-20 of the airport shall not exceed the existing paved runway length of five thousand six hundred linear feet] Runway 14-32 shall be closed."

So, the language in brackets is removed, meaning no restrictions on runway length, and closing 14-32 (which has been effectively closed for 3+ years) is held up as quid pro quo no one wants, especially pilots.

Additionally, it limits the ability for CT residents to sign up for the solar facility as an "energy supplier" by removing that terminology (something the State OCC is not happy about and testified against):

"Sec. 3. Section 16-1 of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (d) as follows (Effective October 1, 2018):

(NEW) (d) A subscriber organization, as defined in section 1 of this act, shall not be deemed to be an electric distribution company or an electric supplier solely by virtue of the fact that such subscriber organization owns or operates or contracts with a third party to build, own or operate a municipal airport shared solar facility, as defined in section 1 of this act."

Under CT state law, we can only choose "energy suppliers", and Sen. Larson has made it quite clear at board meetings and the BOA meeting that this facility, if it ever materializes, will benefit the airport first and "could" "may" "eventually" benefit residents. A skeptical mind might conclude that the solar facility is a farce, never meant to be implemented, and just a legal courier for the runway restriction on Tweed to be removed.

Mr. O'Brien, you seem to be under the assumption that we somehow support the backdoor nature of the legislation up for consideration. We didn't support that before, and we still don't. We have it on good authority that the support for closing Runway 14/32 only exists among a select handful of Hartford politicians rather than community support for the idea. It is, to our reckoning and that of many other residents, being used as a political bargaining chip.

We're unsure what "lesson" we should be learning. Your comment sounds vindictive. We aren't blind nor unaware of the highly political nature of the proposed airport project. Airports are always used as political bargaining chips. Let us be clear. We support the paving of existing safety areas on Runway 2/20. We support community projects, backed by residents, that address traffic, safety, and sound concerns. We support an economic development zone within the East Haven corporate park that seeks to bring more jobs and revenue to the area. We support transparency in every step of the process. And no, we aren't opposed to shared solar per-se, just the closing of a critical crosswind runway which doubles the capacity of the airport half of the time in order to make that happen. Such a closing was unnecessary out at Hyannis, MA. They are a success example of what solar and airports can do together, but they did not sacrifice their crosswind runway to do it.

We believe rooftops of a new terminal, and existing airport buildings, and those inside the commercial park in East Haven, are prime real estate for solar panels. No need to sacrifice one resource for another.

Just because you and we seem to be on opposite sides of the fence, doesn't mean we don't share common values in how the process should be conducted.

As to your first question, we aren't sure if Mayor Harp will be present Saturday either. At least we haven't heard one way or another yet.

Somewhere in Bridgeport, an ex-con sheds a quiet tear.

Toni tried to get a deal for a Casino in Bridgeport. She has partnered with Ganim. She is pushing for dropping the restrictions on Tweed.

Between 2 Rocks,

I second your assessment -- I've been wondering the same thing myself..

Maybe people are confused, and rightfully so.
Everytime I see a picture Ned Lamont here in NHI, he looks like a beleaguered Matthew Feiner in disguise.....

Wouldn't be the first time it happened -- We already wound up with a Stephen Colbert look-a-like in Hartford for the past eight years...

Update: The community members we had at the event were roundly ignored (some would say purposefully). Political photo op #2 in the Cove in the past two weeks, and not a single word uttered to a resident, not even casual conversation.

Might as well trot out cardboard cutouts with pre-recorded sound bites. Democracy at work.

10:22 on this video, Lamont promises he and Harp will talk to us.

https://www.facebook.com/WTNH8/videos/10155323895955736/

Let's see it, Mayor. Don't ignore us again on Saturday. Mr. Nemerson as well - it's not cool to hover over us and not announce your presence, any more than it would be appropriate for you to engage with us anonymously in Internet comments sections.

Seriously rotten that East Shore neighbors scrambled to attend this hastily arranged mid-day photo opp, and then were studiously ignored by a gubernatorial candidate and their own Mayor!? Like hands raised high up in the air to ask questions -- Ignored, no eye contact. No post-event approach or anything.

@Robn, your comment has me in tears! 😂 Be nice. Truthfully, if Ganim didn't take the hit for all those other shysters, most would be voting for him now. Alas, not too sure if the state would give him a chance.

Sean - I never use a nom de guerre - I don't know if Paul is allowed to verify that but I promise when it's me its got my name on it.

I did get to Jepson late and I apologize if I didn't get introduced. I sat at the noise reduction table for about 70 minutes and I talked to a dozen folks, some were getting the full noise abatement $40,000 package, some were outside the zone and a few were wrestling with FEMA's 50% of value caps on their insulation and window works.

I did also walk around to the other tables to listen to what people were talking about - I was certainly available to talk to anyone about anything.

I will certainly be certain to announce myself next time - I'm always available to you or anyone else by phone or email. And thanks for using your real name Sean!

@1644 Our apologies! We somehow missed your question earlier, and wanted to make sure you got an answer. Sorry it's so late!

No, the current runway is not restricted to single-direction operations. Aircraft both private and commercial may land in either direction. The direction is determined by the prevailing winds at the time of arrival or departure. You are correct in stating that aircraft land and takeoff into the wind. In fact today, the airline was landing to the south (i.e. approaching from the north). Using the airline as an example, they will always land into the wind as best they can, so their using a southerly approach from over the water will always be simply because the wind is out of the north.

Not quite sure what you mean by a second orientation, but the speed an aircraft requires for takeoff is primarily affected by the aircraft's weight. There is a calculation that is done to determine the speed at which the aircraft must be travelling in order to generate sufficient lift to take its payload airborne.

Thanks for the questions!

@1644 Apologies, little scatterbrained. An addendum to my previous answer to your question (hoping the moderators get that one approved before this one, otherwise this will sound weird!)

When the wind is calm at Tweed, the usual prevailing runway configuration is to land from the south. This aids in noise abatement. Similarly, the airline in calm wind situations can land to the north, and depart to the south. This also aids in getting them enroute to their destination in a more efficient manner.

The departure of Alexion served as the tipping point for New Haven's airport policy. The city just could not re-position itself as a biotech center when a biotech firm decides that it's better to forego the incentives and leave rather than be cut off from the rest of the country, or at least that country beyond the Northeast Corridor. And in the case of New Haven, there was a good chance that Alexion wouldn't be the only defector. Other business endeavors might also be moved to "vote with their feet."
In actuality, this has been a long time coming, as both business and leisure travelers for years flew out of Bradley or the New York airports to other U. S. cities and have seen first-hand how those cities have improved THEIR airports, leaving them to wonder, "What's wrong with New Haven?" "Why can't they do the same?"
And while New Haven may may compete with other cities by offering tax breaks and financial incentives to prospective business tenants, if those competing cities have better all-around access to more places, then it's almost a sure bet that that city's better air service will be the difference that wins the day.
I would LOVE to see an East Shore homeowner take a realtor to court for misrepresentation and/or fraud for either not disclosing the airport's proximity or downplaying its impact. Any takers?

Sean I live in East Shore "I can see [and hear]planes approaching the runway. I know a good part part of New Haven think the other side of the Q-bridge is East Haven and we all choose to live over here to avoid the "real" New Haven, ever notice many comments about the area from the west side of town about the "make up" of this side. What is disappointing is the you share the same NIMBY attitude of residence near the Yale Bowl, wailing about any ideas that might draw a crowd over there other than the every other year Yale-Harvard game. Your statements that give a thousand feet they'll turn Tweed into JFK is no different than some of the hyperbole that expanding routes will turn New Haven into Sillicon East. The truth is hopefully in the middle. As far as landing routes the southern strip is mostly over water as for the North, those houses built off of Oak Street will be affected. Well if you bought a house there with an expectation that Tweed would continue to be nothing more than a plaything that would be no less naive than buying a house next to a failing factory expecting or hoping that there would be no chance of some investors coming in and enlarging it.

JC Fremont- You are right about the "NIMBYs" in Westville. But first let me say that I grew up in East Haven about a mile from the airport and I could never understand why a small percentage of my town could hold hostage an airport that existed for years before we moved there. It is still the same mentality- don't worry about East Haven being shut out – many have made it their mission in life to shut the airport down.
I, on the other hand, recall the decade of the 90s when I frequently used tweed to get to a number of destinations. It had a variety of choices. To this day I still want to see it thrive even though there is a possibility we may move back into that neighborhood.
Back to Westville. It is more than just Yale – Harvard games. Many weekends there are parking bands and street restrictions on Yale and Central avenues due to high school and collegiate games played on the fields there. Many of those people are from out of town and out of state. Do you know what I say? Bring it on. I live three blocks from Yale Bowl and the tennis center and would welcome additional sporting events and music concerts. The neighborhood purchased their homes long after the Bowl and tennis center existed. Those facilities are there to be used just as is tweed airport. My opinion won't change if and when I move. Reasonableness and logic should always govern these discussions.
For the opponents: stop arguing that increasing the runway will NOT bring additional airlines and revenue while at the same time arguing about traffic congestion and noise. Pick one false argument and stick with it.
Finally, let go of the "notice of intent" argument. I can tell you from practice and experience it is never used in these type of circumstances.

@Matthew Nemerson while we're chatting, any updates on the meeting tomorrow? I've heard rumor we will have time for actual Q&A / discussion in a "town hall" format.

Will Mayor Harp be attending? Any representation from East Haven or Mayor Maturo?

@Westvilleman, I guess the problem Tweed has is that it stratles the East Haven/New Haven border, one of the reasons New Havens foray into minor league baseball was that Yale Field was both in New Haven and West Haven. Well this is Connecticut where they once had two capitals. I have heard rumors that Yale had plans to expand the athletic facilities out there including expansion of the Tennis Center.

Jingle jingle jingle. Can you hear the money in my pockets?

This land is my land, this land is your land, from California, but not the Tweed Airport, or its ribbons of runway, or the wetlands or the sparkling sands of Long Island Sound surrounding the airport, or the air above the airport or that blows through the neighborhood and into our homes, or across the endless skyway and the nests of the osprey and other hawks living on that land, it's not theirs either. It's not the deer's land or the golden valley of the fox. This land was made for you and me.

JCF: I think Yale could care less about the Tennis Center. I was built to attract the Volvo, which had outgrown Stratton. Away from bucolic Stratton, however, the tournament lost its appeal, and has had trouble getting sponsors. Last year, I believe New Haven put its own tax dollars into the tournament to replace funds the state had cut. I don't understand why New Haven seems so attached to the tournament. The only hotels in the area are the sleazy ones, and I think most fans just drive up from Fairfield, Westchester, and the city for the day, so it doesn't generate much business activity for New Haven.

@1644, getting a bit off subject but the players and top promoters stay at The Omni, Study and New Haven Hotel, I'm sure some will stay at the New "boutique" hotels. The lines officials and doubles players and qualifying players stayed at The Residence Inn until the city tried to turn it into The 3 Judges and forced them over to the West Haven Hampton Inn. Upgrades have been made to The Stadium has been upgraded in recent years but hey let's celebrate something else leaving New Haven.

Congratulations Mr. Lamont and Mayor Harp on yesterday's celebration of Mayor Harp's endorsement of Mr. Lamont. As a life-long Democrat, I was happy to see to the return of political fesitivities that I remember from long- ago- a crowd of Dem pols, city employees, and the Mayor setting the tone for another old school Democratic race.
I was delighted that Tweed Airport was the chosen venue for the announcement. Nostalgia ruled the event - the same, predictable, enthusiastic comments from Tweed supporters and the Mayor. 2018 will be the Year that Tweed delivers on its 20 year promises!
I do hope that Mr. Lamont had an opportunity to review the financials on Tweed's expenditure of over millions of the residents' hard-working dollars in support of Tweed since 2000.
The optics were a bit strange, given the national Democratic Party's commitment to move beyond the missteps and problems of the 2016 national election and mobilize the power of grassroots coalitions to attract new voters to the party. To that end, where were the citizens of New Haven? I think that Mr. Lamont is aware that ultimately he needs the voters, not the Mayor, to win.
I wish both Mayor Harp and Mr. Lamont good luck in their efforts. I do hope that each of them steps away from campaigning and studies how to deal with the awesome fiscal challenges that the State budget.
Our state legislators are working day and night to craft a budget that will save New Haven residents and businesses additional pain in the form of taxes, while tirelessly attempting to save vital state and local services.
The saga of Tweed Airport offers important evidence-based lessons - 20 years of the same old, broken promises on its financial performance and accountability. Even more important, the City of New Haven's 2018 runway expansion initiative is an assault on social justice's priniciples of transparency and cooperation between a City Government and its residents.

TL;DR

Is being endorsed by someone who says federal laws don't matter a good thing? This is a person who openly says her city will help illegal aliens avoid the law. Democrats are such whores. Lamont would put out a press release if he got the endorsement of a goat.

What ever happened to the mayor's last great transit initiative, a 1-hour train ride to New York? That would almost certainly do more to make the city "connected" than having a few flights a day to Chicago and Atlanta.

@ jdossgollin, a train ride to New York is one thing, Getting to the New York airports is another thing. Imagine dragging bags, young children or senior citizens transferring to subways and buses. Its not as easy as it sounds. A few flights to Chicago and Atlanta would make travel seamless to almost any destination as both Chicago and Atlanta are the two largest hub airports in the country and flying out of Tweed would eliminate hours of ground travel time and traffic jams on the parking lot known as I-95.
I've done both, and Tweed wins hands down.

@sscampion- "To that end, where were the citizens of New Haven?" They were at work and paying taxes. Harp announced the photo opp earlier that day to avoid the citizens she supposedly serves. The nostalgia for the Democratic Party of old is nice but unfortunately that party no longer serves the working class and is yet another tool of the corporate elites. Bring on that leaded jet fuel!
@johnrmccommas - "the Democrats are such whores" agreed but nowhere near the republicans. Trump is a treasonous whore for Putin's oil money while his party dropped fiscal conservatism like a hot potato the moment they could empty a trillion and a half dollars into billionaires' pockets. Both pig parties feed at the public trough while we pay the bills. It's impossible to vote for either Dems or rep if one has a brain. Power to the People!!

Jdosdgollin, a 1-hour train ride from New Haven to New York? Sure! All you need do is straighten out the many curves on the line and rebuild the bridges so as to raise the speed restriction!