Kelo Report, Part 1

[Pat McCotter]

"He said he plans to build a piece of art to represent the 6,700 people Canario promised but cannot deliver."

[Russell Kanning]

They were working on that before he got so disappointed in the rest of us.

[Pat McCotter]

NLDC Says It's Standing Firm, Won't Cut Loose Its Leadership
City officials ready to act; Joplin defends Goebel

 
By TED MANN
Day Staff Writer, Politics/Government
Published on 9/24/2005

New London? As a City Council-imposed deadline approached, the New London Development Corp.'s board of directors refused to budge Friday, declining to seek the resignations of President Michael Joplin and Chief Operating Officer David M. Goebel at a two-hour meeting.

And while officials from the city and the state agree that relieving the NLDC of its responsibility for the Fort Trumbull development project could create colossal headaches for the city and its administration, attorneys on all sides were preparing for that possibility.

NLDC board members declined to comment publicly Friday on their meeting, saying they were preparing a statement to be released today.

But in an afternoon interview, Joplin defended Goebel, who has been sharply criticized by state and city officials since the NLDC issued relocation notices ?? the first step toward eviction ?? to several Fort Trumbull residents, without notifying the city or the state and in apparent contradiction of earlier plans it shared with the council.

?I think that they're wrong to think Dave Goebel has done anything wrong,? Joplin said. ?And I think they're wrong to think the situation will be rectified by his absence.?

Joplin has said he will leave the NLDC if Goebel is forced out.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday that both men should go, and that the city would remove its imprimatur from the NLDC if the agency's board failed to ?reconstitute its leadership? within a week.

With both sides refusing to blink, state and city officials were warily preparing Friday for the possibility that the council would make good on the threat, dissolving its years-long relationship with the NLDC and potentially shifting the burden and liability of the stalled project to the city.

Attorneys for the state and city met at the New Haven law firm of Wiggin & Dana, which represents the NLDC, for a discussion that touched on the potential ramifications of such a change, and how it would actually occur.

Thomas J. Londregan, the law director for the city, declined to comment on the substance of the meeting, and an attorney for the NLDC did not return a message seeking comment.

Meanwhile, some councilors said they thought the state was being reticent in its criticism of Goebel, whose leadership has been criticized by members of Gov. M. Jodi Rell's administration, but who has not been publicly asked to step down.

The state may be concerned that ousting Goebel could trigger a mass of resignations across the agency.

?I think they want to keep the NLDC there, because they need it as an entity,? said Councilor Rob Pero.

?I think they're worried that if they push too much, they'll all go,? he added, referring to the NLDC board members. ?But they won't all go.?

The state has made abundantly clear that it does not approve of the way the NLDC has handled its responsibilities, said Ronald Angelo, a deputy commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, who has worked closely with the city and the NLDC.

?I think the state has been very clear that we are not at all pleased with the (relocation) letters being sent out, and very displeased with the process,? Angelo said. ?I think we're very, very clear on that.?

But whether the council actually moves to take back development authority from the NLDC, which has directed the Fort Trumbull project since its inception, is the city's call, he said.

?Frankly, it is for them to decide,? Angelo said. ?The City Council needs to decide if they can continue to work with NLDC in its present form.?

The councilors remain determined that they cannot work with Joplin and Goebel, and Joplin said he is just as determined that he and his second-in-command will stay on, regardless.

?Dave Goebel will be forgotten, and I certainly hope that Michael Joplin is forgotten,? he said. ?But I want to look back and be able to say I made a contribution, and I want Dave Goebel's substantial contribution to be recognized, and there's no reason why it should be cut short.?

[Michael Fisher]

I assume the journalists have the facts mixed up.

Lauren's strength is unbelievable - almost mythical.  This is pure nonviolent noncooperation backed by love and you can see it in her eyes and in her smile.  She is doing this alone and she does not even care.  It seems like she is in a fast of silence.  She has disrupted certain parts of the government to the point of near paralysis by the magnitude of her refusal to cooperate.  This is amazing.  The government doesn't even know how to handle ONE noncooperator.

I'm going to protest in support of her in front of the York women's prison tomorrow.  If they arrest me, then so be it.

It's about time we clog the system with our whole weight.  What is our life worth if not for these moments?

[Lloyd Danforth]

Hey Lloyd should we come through Hartford and meet up with you on our way to the prison?

No, invite me when there is some anti- Eminent Domain stuff going on down there. ?I don't see what Lauren's actions have to do with anything. ?A lot of people , including FT Trumbull proprerty owners were not allowed to enter the meeting, but, only she was arrested. ?
I understand she is not cooperating with the authorities, because she believes they don't have the right to do what they are doing to her. ?I agree with her. ?But, I would be telling them. ?I would not remain silent and hope they figure it out for themselves.
When I add her husband's comments to this brew, I am even less interested.
Thanks for the offer, though.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Sure Mike, I'll bet they're way fucking paralized over this.  If you get arrested, make sure you refuse to give your name or get fingerprinted.

[Michael Fisher]

Her husband is just frustrated because his wife is in a women's prison on absurd charges. ?I don't think we should judge him.

[Michael Fisher]

Sure Mike, I'll bet they're way fucking paralized over this.? If you get arrested, make sure you refuse to give your name or get fingerprinted.

???

[Lloyd Danforth]

That is why she hasn't been released.  Simply because she has refused to give her name or be fingerprinted.  Did you think they were holding her because she threw a fit at a town meeting?

[Michael Fisher]

The government ?can't back down because she won't kneel before them,? he said.

That's the whole point of this.

[Lloyd Danforth]

He makes it sound like its a Stalemate, but, it isn't.  The Gov doesn't have to back down.  They don't have to do anything.  They can just throw her in a cell until she is ready to cooperate with them!

[Pat K]

I posted this as a response to some posts on the FSP web site. It does not apply so much here but I print it as food for thought..... ? You see the problem is that Lauren has taken a stand, on real issue that should have outraged us all enough to take a stand. But we have not and it shows us what real pussies we are. So now we will ignore or worse attack her. Some of us will attack her husbands words spoken in the heat of passion. We will invent reasons and excuse the state of course.
No never declare that the state in unquestionably wrong, for then you will feel you have to confront it and not have the courage to do so. Better to hide behind words.

The FSP= Radicals, Rebels, Freedom Fighters?

We and I include myself have a long way to go to be worthy of any of those.

Maybe with Lauren's example and the example of a few other brave people among us we will learn.

Until then be ashamed, I know I am.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Pat.  Come up here to CT, get yourself arrested, refuse to give your name and be fingerprinted and never even tell the authorities why.
Then explain to me what principal this all about and how it moves the fight for liberty forward.

I praise Lauren for moving to FT. Trumbull and appreciate her keeping us informed about what is happening there.

Giving the finger to the gov and telling them they have no rights over you is activism.

Blocking whatever authorities who come to take FT. Trumbull property is activism.

I don't know what getting arrested for a questionable reason, jailed for refusing to cooperate and not even letting them know why is.

[Michael Fisher]

I don't know what getting arrested for a questionable reason, jailed for refusing to cooperate and not even letting them know why is.

Refusing to leave when not allowed into a "public" meeting, along with many others, is not questionable.

I just got off the phone with Lauren's husband.  He was just upset and regrets what he said.  I think we should forgive him and I already have.  If you want to talk to him about Lauren, just send me a private message and I'll send you his phone number.  He said it really feels good to hear from Lauren's supporters.

Lauren is suffering for our freedom - this much is clear.  The least you can do is stop bashing her for exercising her human right to remain silent, especially when this is done at her expense and for our gain.  We would be there for you just as well as Lauren and I would like to think you'd be there for us too, Lloyd.

It's not like she killed someone.  She is just trying to help protect these families from the tyrannical government.

[Kat Kanning]

Meet at the prison @ 1:00 pm tomorrow?