New Haven News and Comments: Recent Comments

Comment on NOW is the time to Save Jury Pool

Ron Steinman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:29:12 GMT

If anyone knows who is putting up on the telephone poles the nasty looking 9/11 and Obama pictures please let me know and I will get their name to the city. They look ugly and nasty. If you see one please stop and take it down. I really don't think we need people coming into our city and seeing things like that.

Thank you
Ron Steinman

Comment on NOW is the time to Save Jury Pool

Julie Workman — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:57:20 GMT

Shawn,

Please check the other blogs before posting. We had calmed all the rhetoric down regarding the remonstrance, and I was trying to bring the city together again by making some suggestions on beautifying the city. Please check the other posts, and maybe you will come on board as well.

I do have to address your charges, however. The blue was not underhanded, fraudulent, etc. As for the double signatures, we were required to sign each and every packet we carried so that if there were any problems the person checking signatures could find us easily. That would account for many, many of the double signatures. I remember that without doing that your side had a few double signatures of its own. This tells me that some people just didn't understand the process and mistakenly thought that you were allowed to sign more than once. What good would it do to have someone sign more than once? We all knew that the signatures would just get thrown out. Why go to all the work of standing there and having them sign? It would be wiser to just move on to the next, as I did when someone said they signed the yellow. By the way, it was the practice of most of our team to kindly thank someone if they signed the yellow and move on. I would say, "Would you like to hear why I signed blue?" If they said no I said thank you and walked away.

No one is bitter or selfish in this issue. We were just exercising our legal rights. Can you deny those to us? I do believe they were handed down by the State of Indiana, and we are perfectly within our rights to do a remonstrance if we feel that something isn't justified. Just because someone doesn't agree with you, it doesn't mean they hate you.

I don't believe New Haven would become a ghost town with or without the big project. We all wanted a pool. It just came down to size. It amazed me that when the scale-back was done on the plans, they scaled back the pool but not the bath house and offices. Where does the public benefit more? They will never see the offices. They will, however, see the pool if they can afford the entrance fee. Laugh if you want, but there are people, many of them, without jobs and struggling to put food on the table. Obviously, you are lucky enough to NOT be one of them. I knocked on three doors in a row where every member of the family was laid off and had been for a long time. Another house, both members were being laid off on the same day from two different companies! We have 10% unemployment. What do you say to the one out of ten in your city who doesn't have a job?

New Haven lived and grew when it had two pools, and it lived and grew with three. We all love our city. I've lived here nearly all my life (that's 46 years, by the way because I'm one of the old dinosaurs that has NO vision). We all want what is best for our city. Some of us just see that this could have been done before the pool got into the condition it is if someone had had vision.

Moderator's Note: This is the last comment I'll publish on the yellow/blue remonstrance battle. It's time to move on. I want this to be an open and informative blog, but I think it's pretty much been beat to death, and nobody's going to change anyone's mind at this time. Thoughts about features in the Jury Pool project, ideas on the community center project, city entrance beautification ideas, political opinions ... anything dealing with New Haven would be great. The plan for this blog was to have discussions on everything going on in New Haven. Please contribute.
Thanks,
Craig

Comment on Guest Editorial by Mary Franco - JURY POOL BUILDS PRIDE

Julie Workman — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:47:52 GMT

Thanks for the reply Anna. I do want to state that it is very important to me to keep this an inexpensive process for the city. If we have to do a little fund raising to pay for it, that is ok. I just don't want the city doling out any more money. I think this can be done without too much expense. I'm open to opinion.

Comment on NOW is the time to Save Jury Pool

Mike — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:07:00 GMT

Letter to the Mayor.

Hi Terry,

Wow the people got to voice their opinion about Jury pool and it was much closer than I ever expected. As the Mayor I really feel you need to work with the Park Board
to get sidewalks installed leading into Jury. After speaking with Mike about it yesterday he said he would speak with you and council about it at last nights meeting.

Mike tells me they really feel the building cost will come in under the $3.5 million. Not sure if the bond bank or whatever is used will allow this or not but here is my thoughts.

Say the building cost come in at $3.0 - $3.2 million. Can we please go ahead and bond out all of the approved bond and use the remaining money for the sidewalks? The
Park Board has repeatedly said they expect the attendance to more than double. We have all seen the kids wearing flip flops with towels around their necks running across
the highway and down the middle of the street to get to the park. As you and I both know with increased traffic comes more chances of a terrible accident. The use of cell
phones, texting, eating while driving and other distractions are a recipe for disaster.

I know money is very tight but if the building cost come in low can the extra money be used for sidewalks? Maybe this would be something the community would get behind to raise
money or maybe there is some grant or foundation money that could be applied for?

Terry you have been a great leader over the last ten years or so. Now I am asking you no really begging you to please install sidewalks as park of the pool project. I do not
want to ever see on the news, hear on the radio, or someone telling me New Haven lost a child walking to the park when it could have easily been prevented with something
as simple as a sidewalk.

Please Terry, lets do what we all know is the right thing. Lets prevent something from happening that we all will be proud of.

PS: Please note I would be more than happy to have my taxes raised over the next 20 years knowing the sidewalks I helped pay for could have just saved a child's life.

Sincerely,

Michael L. Mowery

Comment on NOW is the time to Save Jury Pool

Mike — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:55:22 GMT

Harold,

Nice comments. I believe you are speaking from the heart.

I would like to comment about your statement of fund raising. Last night was the first time in the last several years that I ever remember you ever agreeing with fund raising. I find it shameful that you say "Not one of they endorsed my suggestion". We have been making this suggetion for over two years. We feel like it fell on deaf ears.

There was so much excitement in the fund raising meetings that only a few council people attended. We still do not know what happened. After the City Council meeting where Mike stated fund raising efforts should be saved for the community center the meetings were just dropped.

I find it very strange that now after two years you bring up this suggestion as if we were even given a choice. I think you need to address the Park Board and Mayor as to why these meeting were scrapped. Are we willing to fund raise to save what we have in New Haven, well that was made very clear two years ago by the people and our leaders felt differnetly.

I would really like to see this fund raising commitee come back together. What a great way for the people to really feel good about something good they have done for New Haven.

Sincerely,

Mike Mowery

Comment on NOW is the time to Save Jury Pool

Shawn M Shearer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:58:11 GMT

Once again Councilmen West, you have called it like it is and I certainly appreciate your candor. I am tired of sugar coating this issue. Let's look at the undeniable facts.

The Blue side tried every underhanded, fraudulent, and deceiptful tactic to get their way. In my opinion, 10 to 15 percent of the signatures were acquired under false pretense anyway. I think several people signed not knowing the facts! The petition were nearly as close as the numbers say.

The Yellow side went through every proper channel to try and represent their side and their point of view. They asked for permission at every venue, they told the truth and they played fair. Anyone to say otherwise has sour grapes and is acting childish because they did not get their way. Well I say take your ball and go home and pout until you can act like an adult!!

There is a very small minority of bitter, selfish individuals that have stone walled this project and will continue to do so from now until eternity. If it does not directly benefit them they will never be for any project and will not be happy until they have turned New Haven into gated retirement community or a ghost town.

The saddest thing behind all of this is how ridiculously stupid we have made ourselves look to people outside our community. We are a joke, laughing stock.. Extravagant spending ! What is this the 1930's? Well, I hope we can afford to put some gas into the horseless carriage take a ride to the big city!!!

This has way more to do a swimming pool.
Either evolve or face extinction!

Shawn M. Shearer
FROM New Haven...
FOR New Haven

Comment on NOW is the time to Save Jury Pool

Harold E West — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:48:47 GMT

Last night the New Haven City Council voted 6-1 to proceed with the Jury Pool project. This was based on the results (though yet unofficial) of the remonstrance process. It should have been over.

At the end of the meeting Councilwoman Hill and myself were challenged for our stands on the project by members of the Blue Team. I chose not to respond at the time as we did not need another shouting match at Council over this issue. Having slept on it, I have decided to use this forum to respond.

I was challenged over my previous statement I read at Council and as was published. Why? Apparently, because - 1. I stated I intended to offend some people.
2. I apparently singled out the Blue Team's tactics when the Yellow Team was guilty of underhanded tactics

3. The Blue Team was sincere in stating they wanted to save Jury Pool.

Let me address these issues for the last time!
1. I intended to offend anyone on either side of the issue who used less than honest tactics to push their side of the issue.

2. I clearly stated that I did not appreciate the conduct of the remonstrance process and included anyone on either side of the issue.

3. If I misunderstood the intent of the Blue Team's change to "Save Jury Pool" I was not alone. I actually believed that the Blue Team had a good chance at winning and probably would have had it not been for this tactic. Simply, there was no alternative plan on the petition drive. You were either for project as proposed or you were not. I suppose that since I favored either the full Jury Pool project or the permanent closure of the pool, I would not have been welcome on the Blue Team if I decided to oppose the bond.

If anyone on the Yellow team is guilty of dishonest or heavy handed tactics, they should be ashamed. As to the Yellow Team gathering petitions at the football game, I don't know if that was ethical or not (each person can make their own judgment on that). What I do know is that I have heard from several very credible sources that blue signs were placed near the curb or on the edge of people's lawns without permission. (Including one of my neighbors who I thought was against the pool because of the sign by the curb at the edge of his property)

I also suggested last night that those who felt they were not given a proper chance to raise funds for the project start now to organize fund raisers for the other pools or park projects so we don't have to go through all of this again. Not one of them endorsed my suggestion.

This is my final term on the council. I won't be here when Meadowbrook or New Haven Pool need replaced or major overhauls. I only pray that it will be handled better by BOTH sides of the issue.

Harold E. West
New Haven City Council

Comment on Guest Editorial by Mary Franco - JURY POOL BUILDS PRIDE

Anna Bowman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:50:24 GMT

I am in awe! Haven't been on the web-site since my comment on Oct. 13th. But - Great ideas from everyone! The power of Pride for New Haven! That is probably the best thing that could have come out of the remonstrance process - past all of the negativity and on to the possibilities of what we as a community can achieve in beautifying our city. Count me in! Especially on the 930 corridor entrance from the west. "Welcome to New Haven!"

Comment on Guest Editorial by Mary Franco - JURY POOL BUILDS PRIDE

Julie Workman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:58:07 GMT

You know Ron, I never thought about those signs, but you are so right. And Mary, thanks for your input too. I think we have a plan that might work going here. I will have to re-energize a little here, and maybe I can get to a council meeting to bring this up. Hopefully, if I post here people will spread the word. I think we should start with Ron's idea about taking down old signs whenever we see them. Also, you are so right about the area out by 930 and 469. It's the first thing people see of New Haven coming from the opposite side. None of this is hugely expensive and is very possible. I've been a little wiped out lately, but I really want to make this a reality. I just think we will have to remember that cost is a factor, and it's time to find ways to beautify our city without spending a fortune to do it. One thing I noticed is that when downtown was revitalized they removed the trash cans. I think we could place attractive trash cans in downtown. I used to pick up any trash while I was walking through town and throw it away, but I'm not going to carry it all the way home from down Lincoln Hwy. It's usually kind of dirty after laying in the street. I vote for trash cans.

Comment on Guest Editorial by Mary Franco - JURY POOL BUILDS PRIDE

Ron Steinman — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:55:46 GMT

Julie
I am impressed that others notice how the city looks. I would like to see the intersection of I-469 and US 30 landscaped and trees planted. When I went to Troy, Ohio to look at their pool I noticed that all of their interchanges were done that way. They mowed the grass like a lawn and had trees with mulch around them. I am sure that the city would have to work with the State of IN. but first we have to want to take care of we have like you said. Right now we can't even get the citizens to take down the garage sale signs they put up. You would think if they had time to put them up that they would be nice enough to take them down. But they don't. I tried to make an effort to take them down on a regular basis but was told that it was not my job and to stop because that was the Neighbor Code Depts. job. Well I have not taken any down for months and right now there are garage sale signs from June still on the poles plus child care signs and Obama face pictures and 9/11 signs. When I go into a city one of the first things I notice is how clean it is. Ft Wayne has done a good job of trying to keep the signs under control.
So that is the first thing and in my opinion the easiest to do to help make our city shine. All you have to do is drive the main roads once a week and take them down. It is also easy to police. Garage sale signs have address on them and others have phone numbers on them.......well why don't we as a city just send them a nice letter or call the number on the sign and explain we have an ordnance against that type of signage. Don't know but I guess if the same people keep doing it then maybe some type of action could take place but until then just a nice letter and or a nice phone call to ask them to take it down.
Also weeds in our new flower beds downtown. Roger Clayton pulled the weeds himself on one section but there were weeds throughout the area and around the trees.
These are just a few of my thoughts about the subject. I am like you, it is the little things we can do as a city to make us look good for people wanting to move to our area.
I as a citizen would help in anyway I can. If ever citizen would just take down a sign and or pull weeds in an area that they live or work or pull down a sign as they walk past,this would probably take care of itself.

Just my opinion as a citizen of New Haven
Ron