|
June 10, 2005: In Springfield, Massachusetts, a fine fish flipped for the feds
in a case of deep fried corruption at the Springfield Housing
Authority (SHA). On June 9th, X exec Francis X. Maroney of the
SHA pled guilty to charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.
The agency was allegedly plundered by its top XX for decades.
Maroney was a few steps below the alleged ring leader: housing
authority executive director Raymond B. Asselin. Stingray Asselin
allegedly brought his whole family on board for the feeding.
Maroney confessed to taking bribes from public contractors: he
also mentioned doing laundry for the Asselins. (Not the kind that
requires quarters.) Among the bribes Maroney enjoyed was a free
makeover for his home in Belchertown. Yup. Belchertown. The most
radical home makeover of all is eminent domain. Aka ED. Now
abused nationally in the name of revitalization. With private
property being taken from the lesser and given to the greater.
The Supreme Court is considering ED's constitutionality. The
State of Utah isn't waiting. Utah banned the use of eminent
domain by redevelopment agencies in March. But Mayor Adam
Schneider of Long Branch, New Jersey is standing tall. "Maybe the
best thing that could happen is that they could throw me out of
office" says the maybe X Mayor in defiance of the negativity
coming his way re his taste for waterfront ED. We dig ED too
whinnied redevelopment reps Jeffrey A. Nadell of K. Hovnanian
Homes and David Barry of Hoboken-based Applied Development as
they joined Schneider on a dais. The royal presentation of a
"case study of the redevelopment process" (thanks Asbury Park
Press!) was served on June 9th to the Northern New Jersey
District Council of The Urban Land Institute. They know good
eats. Some call it creative destruction. Meaning: you gotta get
up to get down. Or is it the other way around? In Albany, New
York, angels have landed. The kind led by Curtis Sliwa. In May,
SUNY Albany prez Kermit Hall showed a slide of Sliwa during
a luncheon speech before the Albany Roundtable. In context of a
crime combat talk re the Student Ghetto. Once upon a time I asked
why BID bux couldn't cover security types for slipping shopping
strips in Albany. Stoney was the silence. Nice to know crime
fighters from afar are now AOK. Hark-- do I hear the Midtown Plan
walking? Further west in New York some folks on the Internet are
watching state Senator Tom Libous. Others elsewhere have their
eyes on the NFI message board. Seeking enlightenment on rumored
chop jobs by lunatics. Attention Will Robinson! The campaign war
chest of Mayor Dave Roberts of Hoboken, New Jersey has swollen to
a quadruple D cup. Receipts runneth over at $750,487. In a town
with pop 40,000. Banana splits for everyone! Courtesy of state
Senator Bernard Kenny, the HCDO, plus a host of developers and
no-bid public contractors. Meanwhile, two wildly wealthy men
who've worked with Jersey's most creative chefs are suiting up to
run for the statehouse. As reformers. Go Corzine! Go Forrester!
It's a mad mad mad world. But Lord it sure is tasty.
Carola Von Hoffmannstahl-Solomonoff
Next on the menu: Bring the Blogs Home. Then: Westward Ho
the Wagons!
Send comments or confidential tips to:
mailto:editor@mondoqt.com
|
