Has Greenwich Crowned a King?

 

Screenshot (greenwichtime.com)


By the looks of things, Greenwich may have crowned a king without residents knowing about it. First Selectman Fred Camillo (R) continues to run the Town by doing what he pleases, regardless of public input or the various boards and commissions saying to slow down or put the brakes on his dreams of turning areas of Greenwich into pedestrian thoroughfares like New York City. This is the same First Selectman who created the Antisemitism & Anti-Hate Task Force for those that disagree with him or fit his agenda and not to mention has begun to dox residents who FOIA our local government because accountability and transparency would help in draining the local swamp. 

Greenwich Resident Rich Niemynski wrote an excellent piece in the Connecticut Centinal highlighting the blatant disregard for the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and by extension Greenwich residents, of whom the RTM represents. 

Camillo’s Head Fake -- Greenwich Avenue Bump Outs Getting Installed Anyway, Despite the RTM's No Vote Read

In a December 13, 2022 Greenwich Time article, it was reported that the RTM "voted to 114 to 72 with 12 abstentions to overrule a decision made in September by the Planning and Zoning Commission to grant municipal improvement status to the bumpouts at Greenwich Avenue’s intersections with Havemeyer Place/Arch Street and Fawcett Place/Grigg Street."

Greenwich RTM slams the breaks on bumpouts. Will the approved state money go to waste? Read

Niemynski outlined the issues with the continuation of these bumpout projects, namely:

  1. Reduced Parking: The number of parking spaces has been reduced by approximately 4-6 spaces just for the West Elm Street bump out.
  2. Safety Issues: Due to the elevation difference between the bump outs and the roadway, combined with the height the planters and the tall plants inside the planters, it's nearly impossible for drivers coming down the Avenue to see whether people are crossing West Elm Street. The line of sight is effectively blocked unless you are driving an especially high vehicle.
  3. Smaller Turning Radius: The smaller turning radius forces drivers to swing wide into adjacent lanes to navigate turns, increasing the risk of collisions not just with cars but with pedestrians!
  4. Reduced Emergency Response Time: Emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks, have difficulty navigating the tight turn around the bump outs, and have even become stuck in the intersection, backing traffic up the Avenue while trying to navigate the tricky turn.
  5. New Flooding & Drainage Issues: Planters in the bump out act as "dams" blocking the flow of water during rainstorms, creating serious flooding issues for businesses located at that intersection.
  6. Narrowed Crossing: When slower pedestrians are waiting to cross (e.g., handicapped individuals, senior citizens, small children), faster pedestrians get frustrated and walk out into the flow of traffic to pass them because they can't fit through the narrowed crossing.
  7. Confusion Over Handicap Parking: People think all of the "end spots" next to the bump outs are handicap accessible thanks to all the extra space between the end spot and the planter. I watched a number of people in wheelchairs exit their vehicles in that end spot (in front of Baccarat) and they were forced to enter the lane of traffic in order to use the ramp to reach the sidewalk.
  8. Tripping Issues: The parking spaces adjacent to the flower beds are a hazard, especially for seniors and individuals walking with canes who have been seen repeatedly tripping and falling into the planters due to the lack of room to maneuver.
Perhaps His Royal Highness should step down from his high throne and remember there is a legislative body that he must work with. Greenwich is not a Monarchy and it's about time Camillo stop acting like it is one. 

Residents deserve to know why His Majesty is forging ahead with this unapproved project.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview With Tod Laudonia, Republican Candidate for Connecticut House, 151st District

Image
  Screenshot (votefortod.com Campaign Website) GVAT recently reached out to Greenwich Resident Tod Laudonia, Republican, running for the Connecticut State House representing the 151st district. Laudonia is no stranger to to public office having served four terms as Greenwich Tax Collector and 14 years on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) where he served on the Transportation and Parks and Recreation Committees. His family has been a staple of the 151st district (Cos Cob) for more than a century and is well known in Town and beyond. We wish to thank Mr. Laudonia for his time in answering these written interview questions. You can learn more about Tod Laudonia's campaign by visiting his website  Here Q: Why are you running for State Representative of the 151st District? A: I am running because I feel as though Hartford could use an injection of common sense. We have gone on long enough with elected officials who hold themselves above those who elected them. They are now in the
Read more

An Open Letter to the Board of Education

Image
Screenshot (Public Domain) Dear Board of Education Members, We are writing today to ask that you not renew the contract for Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones. We are Greenwich Voices For Accountability and Transparency, an alliance of taxpayers, concerned residents, grandparents, parents, families, business owners and everyone with a vested interest in our communities in Greenwich who want to preserve and protect our Town through proper governance and engagement. We represent many parents within our organization with children attending schools across the district. We stand united in our resolve to see a change in the school district leadership position of Superintendent. The Superintendent of Schools in Greenwich is the educational leader responsible for overseeing the school district and ensuring high-quality education for all students. This individual holds a crucial role in the community, working closely with administrators, teachers, parents, and students to ensure that the district
Read more

Dear Establishment Republicans, We're Tired of Your "Bipartisanship"

Image
  Screenshot (Public Domain) Bipartisanship, the concept of both political parties working together towards common goals, is often seen as a key component of a functioning democracy. In a state like Connecticut, where the political landscape is largely dominated by Democrats, the idea of bipartisanship only benefits one side of the aisle. This is because bipartisanship tends to work in favor of the party that holds power, which in Connecticut's case, is the Democratic Party. Despite the intentions of bipartisanship to promote compromise and cooperation between parties, it always leads to unequal outcomes and favoritism of the Democrat agenda. One of the main reasons why bipartisanship always works in favor of Connecticut Democrats is the sheer number of Democratic representatives in the state legislature. With Democrats holding a majority in both the state House and Senate, they have more power to push their agenda and initiatives through, even with some bipartisan support. This
Read more