Kelo Report, Part 2

[TackleTheWorld]

Hi, Lauren here, resident of the embattled Ft. Trumbull neighborhood of New London, Connecticut.  Day 53.

Status of utilities:
electricity     On
gas             On
water           On
phone           On
cable           On

Let me tell you about what I was thinking on my trip to prison. 
At my arraignment, the prosecutor cast doubt on my identity since I wouldn't give my social security number.  He asked to raise my bail because I might be someone other than Lauren Canario, who admitedly has no criminal record.  Using that reasoning bail for a confirmed criminal should be low because they are a known quantity, but a person that never touched the legal system is a dangerous unknown and should have high bail. Then my attorney had her say. We had briefly spoken in the bail office where she said not to say to much as it was not a private conversation.  I gave her my address and accepted her representation.  When she spoke in court she said I had been unresponsive and asked to withdraw from the case.  Thanks, I thought, for teaching me how much to trust I should trust officers of the court. 
The impression of the court was that I was conducting a protest of some sort.  My intention was only to attend the city council meeting and didn't believe they would arrest someone for just standing outside the meeting waiting for it to adjourn.  Since I had bail raised I was expecting to get a phone call to arrange it, no such luck. 
Arriving at state prison, I was pretty angry and refused to talk or move when commanded.  Soon I was being interviewed by the phychiastrist.  Once again I didn't believe they would treat me as insane just because I refused to help with my own captivity.  Not only didn they send me to the mental ward but they put me in solitary confinement, on suicide watch, under bright lights 24 hours a day.  At the end of the day, shackled hand, foot and waist, I looked at the blank wall reasoned: If the world is sane, it will correct itself and I'll be free soon; If the world is insane, prison is as good as anywhere and it doesn't matter if I get out.


Sad note: one of the property owners here, but not one of the Kelo 7, (technicaly, the property wasn't taken by eminent domain due to bankruptcy limbo.) has sold to the NLDC for $310,000.
Susette Kelo says she fears being disenfranchised in the upcoming election due to eminent domain difficulties.  She says election workers tell her that her address does not exist. There have been complaints to the state secretary of state, but no response.  Further details later.

Happy note: Jim, my husband has completed work in Las Vegas and is on his way to join me at last. Yippee!


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[FTL_Ian]

If the world is sane, it will correct itself and I'll be free soon; If the world is insane, prison is as good as anywhere and it doesn't matter if I get out.

Wow.. I wonder what would have happened without the protests outside...

How is your information booth coming along?  Got any pics?

[KBCraig]

I don't know if she's already submitted a photo, but I'm thinking Lauren deserves automatic admission to the Shrine of Female Listeners.

I think her official FTL photo should be her booking photo, aka "mug shot". Such photos are generally FOIA-available; we see them all the time whenever the authorities are looking for someone. Perhaps our correspondents at FTL can check that on Monday. 

Kevin

[Russell Kanning]

When she spoke in court she said I had been unresponsive and asked to withdraw from the case. Thanks, I thought, for teaching me how much to trust I should trust officers of the court.

We thought something fishy was up .....

.... I hates lawyers (in a yosemite sam voice)

[FTL_Ian]

I don't know if she's already submitted a photo, but I'm thinking Lauren deserves automatic admission to the Shrine of Female Listeners.

I think her official FTL photo should be her booking photo, aka "mug shot". Such photos are generally FOIA-available; we see them all the time whenever the authorities are looking for someone. Perhaps our correspondents at FTL can check that on Monday. 

Kevin

Sorry, but we can't make exceptions.  All shriners must be validated!

Ian

[Michael Fisher]

Oh that guy sold his home to the NLDC?  Of course he did.

During our rally for you on Sunday, I knocked on his door to see if he would like to join us.  He was on the phone, said he was "too busy", and shut the door in my face.   

I was in complete disbelief.  When walked back over to the rally and told Cathleen and Don about it, they were shocked.  How can people have so little respect for themselves or their neighbors to allow this to happen?

This man's neighbors sat in front of bulldozers to protect his neighborhood, but 5 years later, he's too busy to care, and then sells out his neighborhood's property rights to the government.

bleh.   

[Michael Fisher]

Lauren, Avner and I think you should write a respectful, informative LTE to The Day about what happened to you.  The government tried to make you look insane, and that is unacceptable, IMO.

Avner would also like to talk to you.  I'll PM you his phone numbers.

[Michael Fisher]

Lauren Canario is now considered by the media to be a leading opponent of eminent domain in her area.? ? ? The media is actually asking her opinion on new developments in the eminent domain battle!? ?

This is HUGE!? This is the ultimate goal of forming good relationships with the media.? ?



New London cutting ties with development group
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=3996381&nav=3YeX

(New London-WTNH, Oct. 18, 2005 5:15 PM) _ They were on the same side in the fight over eminent domain but now the City of New London and the agency charged with developing Fort Trumbull are at odds.

So much so city councilors voted to cut all ties to the agency.

by News Channel 8's Tina Detelj
Recently city councilors say the relationship had become strained.

Councilors say they were left in the dark about key decisions for developing the city's waterfront and they simply were not going to take it anymore.

The fight over Fort Trumbull has turned allies into enemies. City councilors have voted to cut ties to the New London development corporation or the NLDC which worked with the city to develop Fort Trumbull.

Gerard Gaynor, city councilor, says,"I think basically it was to let the NLDC know that we are serious."

Councilors backed three motion this week, first revoking the NLDC's designation as the city's "implementing agency" and then taking back this abandoned Navy facility which was turned over the agency for development.

The third motion demanded the NLDC turn the title to its property here - over to the city.

It may add up to an even more uncertain future for Fort Trumbull.

Thomas Londregan, city attorney, says,"We are really in unchartered waters here. I don't think this has ever happened before in the State of Connecticut and with the Department of Economic Development."

The city attorney says the situation is complicated by the fact the NLDC also has financial agreements with the state - which holds a $73 million mortgage on the waterfront properties.

Tony Sheriden, Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, says,"Our ultimate goal here at the chamber would be to see the peninsula developed."

And Tony Sheriden believes the council's move could make that happen.

Tony Sheriden, Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, says,"Nothing was happening up until now and someone needed to take some steps and move forward."

Lauren Canario, tenant, says,"Well it's kind of early to tell."

Lauren Canario is a bit more cautious. She moved to New London to join the fight against eminent domain and was arrested during a city council meeting last month. She is not so sure the council's decision will help the remaining residents.

Canario says,"If the NLDC is gone the city council will be out in the open with all of its intents and strategies."

The deputy commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development says they are assessing what the council's decision will mean.

[Kat Kanning]

Cool 

[Tom Sawyer]

AWESOME BABY! YEAH!!

(in my best Austin Powers voice)

[KBCraig]

Excellent!

Silly city councilors. They stopped using the playbook, and started questioning NLDC's plans. The plan was for the council to put NLDC in charge, then sit down and shut up.

Good folks like Suzette Kelo, et al., made that a bit difficult by putting the council on the hot seat. 

When I was looking at the Underground frapper, I noticed Lauren wasn't on there, and was hoping for a Fort Trumbull update. Good timing!

Kevin

[Russell Kanning]

Nothing like making them back down. Turn up the heat.

[polyanarch]

You mean a government that lies? 

Is there such a thing?

[polyanarch]

...no hell below us -above us only sky 

[toowm]

Pfizer earnings are down 52%.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051020/bs_nm/pfizer_earns_dc

It couldn't happen to a nicer company.

BTW, I had a friend who was a drug rep for Pfizer. She always tried to do what was right, read the research on the products, and was honest with doctors. Despite this handicap relative to other reps, she did pretty well, until Viagra came out. Then the unscrupulous reps connected with internet sites and her sales were (relatively) low. She stuck it out, but it?s clear Pfizer is a company that relies on corrupt politicians and corrupt salesman. I think that their researchers are doing good things, but the rest of the industry is shady.