Stratford council delays vote on beach sale

We must stop dilly dallying and sell the land to save it for the people and the children and our future. Forget about the opponents, they only see dollar signs!

Emeral,

Thank you. The Mironistas don't bother me much. They only come out when you tell the truth and at night.

After they've had a few drinks (or whatever) they feel brave enough to post. They simply can't understand why someone with nothing to gain would criticize their emperor.

Make or Break wrote:

We must stop dilly dallying and sell the land to save it for the people and the children and our future. Forget about the opponents, they only see dollar signs!

What the hell are you talking about?

We know the reason most opponents dont want to sell it because they either want to expand the airport or develop it. Both of which will likely a cold day in hell of chance will never happen. Save it for the people not elitists or millionaires.

Make or Break wrote:

We know the reason most opponents dont want to sell it because they either want to expand the airport or develop it. Both of which will likely a cold day in hell of chance will never happen. Save it for the people not elitists or millionaires.

I oppose the sale.

I do not want to expand the airport.

I CERTAINLY am not rich or an elitist.

I would love to see it developed and made into something that everyone can enjoy and that will
bring tax revenue to Stratford, and customers to
Stratford's small businesses (no, I am not a business owner).

Furthermore, the people who had the cottages were not rich or elitists either. Those cottages were passed down through families.

Why the chip on your shoulder?

Pleasure Beach Lover wrote:

Tax and Spend-
When was the last time you walked Long Beach West over to Pleasure Beach?
If the answer is never, then your
opinion doesn't count.

You will be surprised to learn that I have lived in Statford for 30 years and still do. I have walked Long Beach, Short Beach, Pleasure Beach etc.

The place is a dump. Trash, rats and burned out cottages. You would think we are talking about ocean front Florida or CA property.

The land has no access and is not inhabitable. It will take millions to clean it up and build access. Where are you planning to get those funds?

A small town minority is trying to be vocal to void the sale. I think 80% of the town would vote to sell it.

I am sure I have walked it more than you. This is only about going against a Mayor Miron initiative.

$10M is a steal for the town.

SELL THIS RAT HOLE

Read the following from the Towns Website regarding the facts of LBW sale:
LONG BEACH WEST OPTION AGREEMENT:
http://stratfordct.qscend.com/filestorage/129 ...
LONG BEACH WEST PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT:
http://stratfordct.qscend.com/filestorage/129 ...
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS PRESENTATION:
http://stratfordct.qscend.com/filestorage/129 ...
DEP LETTER REGARDING LBW:
http://stratfordct.qscend.com/filestorage/129 ...
LEARN THE FACTS CLICK ON THE LINK AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.

Why are we dealing with Trust for Public Land? If USFWS wants the land let's deal with them directly and cut out the middle man. Why do we need TPL?

As more comes to light about this deal the more it doesn't pass the smell test.

As I have said before there should be no rush to do this deal. If the land is so valuable to environmentalists they'll come back with another proposal. Let them come back in 18 months when we have a new and hopefully competent mayor to broker a deal that makes more sense to everyone, especially Stratford residents.

Typical politics as usual attitude. Keep the status quo and never move this town foreward. Why dont we just let it sit for 20 years and never do sh*t about it? Lets get the ball rolling and sell them to the feds. TPL can likely lobby for money and has the channels to get it, you ever think of it that way?

Use:

You have to remember how all of this has been presented. Access or no access, boardwalk or no boardwalk, pay for cottages coming down or not, if feds take over who is responsible in case of an accident..... These are straight answers we are not getting the correct information on. So when a resident sits and seriously thinks if it is a good idea or not how can one come to a concluion with this type of information. It makes myself a bit uneasy that the trues facts that all parties agree on are just not coming out on this.

Use Common Sense wrote:

Typical politics as usual attitude. Keep the status quo and never move this town foreward. Why dont we just let it sit for 20 years and never do sh*t about it? Lets get the ball rolling and sell them to the feds. TPL can likely lobby for money and has the channels to get it, you ever think of it that way?

Sounds like a great plan!

Umm...would you sell your house based upon the likelihood of someone raising the money in 5 years. In the meantime you still get to pay for the insurance and maybe start all over again after the time expires.

If so, what's your address? I think I have a buyer!

Hey David Mooney, Chairman of the Stratford Democratic Party, glad to see you have chosen to comment extensively on LBW controversy. How come you haven't called for Dick Miron's resignation from the town's payroll? Would you have us believe that if he bilked your family in such a vulnerable time, you would hide like a coward? Your silence in this matter is absolutely disgraceful, you should either demand his immediate resignation, or resign yourself! What say you Mr. Mooney?

Dave Mooney wrote:
<quoted text>
Ms. Spear said the cottages could be resold, reoccupied, improved, etc. Nothing beyond the footprint of the current non-conforming use. The cottages are grandfathered. No hotels, casinos, etc. can be built there. No *new* development can take place.

Tax and Spend wrote:

<quoted text>
You will be surprised to learn that I have lived in Statford for 30 years and still do. I have walked Long Beach, Short Beach, Pleasure Beach etc.
The place is a dump. Trash, rats and burned out cottages. You would think we are talking about ocean front Florida or CA property.
The land has no access and is not inhabitable. It will take millions to clean it up and build access. Where are you planning to get those funds?

A small town minority is trying to be vocal to void the sale. I think 80% of the town would vote to sell it.
I am sure I have walked it more than you. This is only about going against a Mayor Miron initiative.
$10M is a steal for the town.
SELL THIS RAT HOLE

For your information....I grew up in Stratford and have lived here for most of my 51 years. I have taken MANY walks to Pleasure Beach so don't be so sure you've taken more. How dare you assume that you've been there more than me?

It's all about thinking outside the box. As I have said in my previous posts.....it would be great to have something that outsiders actually come to Stratford for.
The idea that maybe they'd spend some of their hard-earned cash in our town and make it a more desirable place to visit is probably too lofty an idea for you.

Here's the difference: you walk over and see all the negatives, I walk over and I'm amazed by how peaceful and quiet it is, how relaxing that beach is, and dream about what it could be.

As long as we're at it, why don't we sell off the remaining few assets our town has.....Shakespeare
Theater, Short Beach, Bond's Dock, etc. Who needs it?
It's all about CASH....that's all this freaking country is about anymore, and it's pathetic.

Ms. Spear said the cottages could be resold, reoccupied, improved, etc. Nothing beyond the footprint of the current non-conforming use. The cottages are grandfathered. No hotels, casinos, etc. can be built there. No *new* development can take place.

To Dave Mooney and Ms. Spear-

I hear what you're saying but I still want to know WHY it cannot be developed beyond the footprint of the existing cottages. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY!!

Pleasure Beach Lover wrote:

<quoted text>
For your information....I grew up in Stratford and have lived here for most of my 51 years. I have taken MANY walks to Pleasure Beach so don't be so sure you've taken more. How dare you assume that you've been there more than me?
It's all about thinking outside the box. As I have said in my previous posts.....it would be great to have something that outsiders actually come to Stratford for.
The idea that maybe they'd spend some of their hard-earned cash in our town and make it a more desirable place to visit is probably too lofty an idea for you.
Here's the difference: you walk over and see all the negatives, I walk over and I'm amazed by how peaceful and quiet it is, how relaxing that beach is, and dream about what it could be.
As long as we're at it, why don't we sell off the remaining few assets our town has.....Shakespeare
Theater, Short Beach, Bond's Dock, etc. Who needs it?
It's all about CASH....that's all this freaking country is about anymore, and it's pathetic.

Sell the Shakespeare Theater? Do you know someone with money that wants to buy it?

Pleasure Beach Lover wrote:

<quoted text>
For your information....I grew up in Stratford and have lived here for most of my 51 years. I have taken MANY walks to Pleasure Beach so don't be so sure you've taken more. How dare you assume that you've been there more than me?
It's all about thinking outside the box. As I have said in my previous posts.....it would be great to have something that outsiders actually come to Stratford for.
The idea that maybe they'd spend some of their hard-earned cash in our town and make it a more desirable place to visit is probably too lofty an idea for you.
Here's the difference: you walk over and see all the negatives, I walk over and I'm amazed by how peaceful and quiet it is, how relaxing that beach is, and dream about what it could be.
As long as we're at it, why don't we sell off the remaining few assets our town has.....Shakespeare
Theater, Short Beach, Bond's Dock, etc. Who needs it?
It's all about CASH....that's all this freaking country is about anymore, and it's pathetic.

You are absolutely kidding yourself if you think people from around this country will travel to see LBW in Stratford.

No one will pay money to do there.

Again, it is a dump, everyone in town knows it except you. Sell it and sell it fast.

I am greatly dismayed about the potential sale of Long Beach West. I am an environmentalist, and strongly believe that we should protect and manage the environment for all living creatures; but, having said that, I am first, and foremost, a realist.
I believe that selling our legacy for the alleged purpose of protecting the environment is a disservice to the people of Stratford, and, more importantly, to the future generations of Stratford. It is unclear to me how Stratford will benefit by giving up this spectacular piece of property.
It is more important to realize that the Fish and Wildlife Service’s primary, and quite frankly, only mission is protection of fish and wildlife. They do not create recreational opportunities for citizens.
I would be more supportive of this sale if we were selling it, together with Pleasure Beach to the National Park Service, at least then, I know everyone would have access to the property.
I am not convinced that the sale of Long Beach West to Fish and Wildlife will make the property more accessible to our citizens., Nor am I convinced that Bridgeport will sell their piece of Pleasure Beach to Fish and Wildlife.
By Stratford taking the “deal” from Fish and Wildlife first, we have only served to increase the value of Bridgeport’s portion of the property, with no benefit to Stratford. This is an intolerable position. If a deal is to be put together, than both Bridgeport and Stratford must come to the table together, and together develop plan to either,(1) sell the property to the appropriate federal agency, which will ensure that all of us can use this property, or (2) create an economic opportunity for both our communities.
I am tired of other communities benefiting from our missteps.
During a recent public hearing a speaker said “the beach was there before me and will be there after me”. I agree. Long Beach West, like so many of our wonderful natural resources, is part of the legacy of Stratford. We should not take thirty pieces of silver today simply to gather some cash, and deprive our children and our grandchildren of, what should be, their heritage and, most importantly, their future.
There are many unanswered questions and as taxpayers of the federal, state and local government, I believe we need to understand more about the intentions of Fish and Wildlife and the Mayor’s office before we simply buy into this sale.
Stratford has done a good job of protecting our natural resources and our quality of life in regards to those resources. I believe this sale is a mistake and not in the best interests of Stratford.
We have very little open space left in town and turning a big piece of it over to an authority that will, in all probability, restrict our access to, what should be our land, is simply not in Stratford’s best interest.
This magnificent waterfront property, with beautiful beaches sand dunes and views that are second to none, is a place where we should be able to go and relax, enjoy our family time, read a book, or simply take in the beauty of nature. A wooden walk way a few feet wide, traversing through a small part of the property, is not what I call access, and simply does not allow for Stratford’s citizens to enjoy what is rightfully ours.
Remember, we do not leave our children this world, we merely borrow it from them. If we sell what is rightfully theirs today, what will they have tomorrow.
I urge the members of the Council to resist the temptation to pick up a few dollars today, but to lose one of the last vestiges of Stratford’s magnificent waterfront forever.
We can do better with this property, and, for the sake of future Stratford generations, we must do better.
I strongly urge the Council to reject this offer and work to create a Long Beach West that all of Stratford will want to use and that we can be proud to call Stratford’s.
Jonathan Best

Forward thinking doesnt seem to be in the GOP's vocabulary in town huh? Sell LBW

No way No how wrote:

Forward thinking doesnt seem to be in the GOP's vocabulary in town huh? Sell LBW

To whom? For how much? When? For what use?

USFWS after intermediary, 5 years and for preservation and restoration duh. Come on. Contracts can be finalized by the TC and the minute details can be added in then. Use your head for the Love of Pete.