Post by Wethersfield.com on Mar 14, 2004 22:19:59 GMT -5
Citizens Launch "PPWN" to
Protect Town Neighborhoods
"People for the Preservation of
Wethersfield Neighborhoods"
Leaflet for Quality of Life
Wethersfield, CT
March 14, 2004
A group of energetic neighbors in the vicinity of Wethersfield High
School has organized to confront what they see as a growing trend in town - the
sacrifice of quality neighborhoods to the whims of the Town Council, its boards,
commissions and advisory committees.
PPWN went public on Friday, March 12, 2004, following an announcement
made on Rick Garrey's "Wethersfield LIVE" program on the local Cox Cable
channel 14. PPWN president Ronald Rodd called in to the show to confirm that
announcement.
He also emphasized that his group was concerned about the Town of
Wethersfield's apparent lack of interest in providing the affected neighborhoods
meaningful input into the WHS athletic fields redevelopment plans.
People for the Preservation of Wethersfield Neighborhoods - PPWN - is
the brainchild of the neighbors in the Westway and Church Street Extension
area. Mr. Rodd's home and others there are within easy earshot and sight of
Wethersfield High School's athletic fields. They are deeply concerned about what
they see to be as an imminent threat to the quiet enjoyment of their homes and
properties by the anticipated high intensity use of those fields once completed.
Prompted by the Town Council's rush to rebuild Cottone Field with
artificial turf and stadium lighting, the neighbors have felt compelled to help,
not only themselves, but other individuals and neighborhoods in town who are
suffering similar treatment by the Town government.
Rodd sees this organization as a framework for more effective civic
actions by town residents if they will join in. PPWN will be reaching out and
encouraging other challenged neighborhoods to join forces with PPWN so that the
overall quality of life in town is protected, enhanced and restored where
already damaged.
PPWN points to several actions by the Town government which the group
sees as having callously degraded the, until recently, high quality of life in
Town.
They point to the 180-foot tall communications tower forced upon a
prime residential neighborhood on Ridge Road near the WVFD fire station
there. In the Town's rush to get a job done, the wishes of the neighbors were
circumvented and ignored. Effective alternative sites were not considered, they point
out.
PPWN sympathizes with the neighborhood near Ridge Road and Nott Street
where high explosive blasting is about to commence. The Town intends to alter
a road for "safety" purposes when no need for that alteration has been
substantiated and the firm responsible for the ballistics has been banned from
working in other towns.
The group supports the efforts of an Old Wethersfield group and
individuals who are forcing the Town, the MDC and the DEP to confront, via litigation
and threat of further litigation, the intolerable and unhealthful pollution by the
MDC of the Wethersfield Cove. Rodd takes encouragement from these actions
which shows that polite persuasion must sometimes be replaced with effective
organization by citizens and the confrontation of the powers that be.
People for the Preservation of Wethersfield Neighborhoods feels that
there is and will be greater power in numbers behind a well organized and
financed group. When neighborhoods work together for the concerns of each other, all
will benefit, Rodd points out.
When efforts to meaningfully participate in "discussions" about plans
which will impact a neighborhood are thwarted, rebuffed or undermined by the Town,
we have no choice but to take action on our own and confront the Town
leadership, he stresses.
Mr. Rodd and PPWN look forward to working with all challenged
neighborhoods in an effort to preserve the quality of life in Wethersfield. Concerned
individuals are encouraged to contract PPWN via email at PPWN@hotmail.com .
Protect Town Neighborhoods
"People for the Preservation of
Wethersfield Neighborhoods"
Leaflet for Quality of Life
Wethersfield, CT
March 14, 2004
A group of energetic neighbors in the vicinity of Wethersfield High
School has organized to confront what they see as a growing trend in town - the
sacrifice of quality neighborhoods to the whims of the Town Council, its boards,
commissions and advisory committees.
PPWN went public on Friday, March 12, 2004, following an announcement
made on Rick Garrey's "Wethersfield LIVE" program on the local Cox Cable
channel 14. PPWN president Ronald Rodd called in to the show to confirm that
announcement.
He also emphasized that his group was concerned about the Town of
Wethersfield's apparent lack of interest in providing the affected neighborhoods
meaningful input into the WHS athletic fields redevelopment plans.
People for the Preservation of Wethersfield Neighborhoods - PPWN - is
the brainchild of the neighbors in the Westway and Church Street Extension
area. Mr. Rodd's home and others there are within easy earshot and sight of
Wethersfield High School's athletic fields. They are deeply concerned about what
they see to be as an imminent threat to the quiet enjoyment of their homes and
properties by the anticipated high intensity use of those fields once completed.
Prompted by the Town Council's rush to rebuild Cottone Field with
artificial turf and stadium lighting, the neighbors have felt compelled to help,
not only themselves, but other individuals and neighborhoods in town who are
suffering similar treatment by the Town government.
Rodd sees this organization as a framework for more effective civic
actions by town residents if they will join in. PPWN will be reaching out and
encouraging other challenged neighborhoods to join forces with PPWN so that the
overall quality of life in town is protected, enhanced and restored where
already damaged.
PPWN points to several actions by the Town government which the group
sees as having callously degraded the, until recently, high quality of life in
Town.
They point to the 180-foot tall communications tower forced upon a
prime residential neighborhood on Ridge Road near the WVFD fire station
there. In the Town's rush to get a job done, the wishes of the neighbors were
circumvented and ignored. Effective alternative sites were not considered, they point
out.
PPWN sympathizes with the neighborhood near Ridge Road and Nott Street
where high explosive blasting is about to commence. The Town intends to alter
a road for "safety" purposes when no need for that alteration has been
substantiated and the firm responsible for the ballistics has been banned from
working in other towns.
The group supports the efforts of an Old Wethersfield group and
individuals who are forcing the Town, the MDC and the DEP to confront, via litigation
and threat of further litigation, the intolerable and unhealthful pollution by the
MDC of the Wethersfield Cove. Rodd takes encouragement from these actions
which shows that polite persuasion must sometimes be replaced with effective
organization by citizens and the confrontation of the powers that be.
People for the Preservation of Wethersfield Neighborhoods feels that
there is and will be greater power in numbers behind a well organized and
financed group. When neighborhoods work together for the concerns of each other, all
will benefit, Rodd points out.
When efforts to meaningfully participate in "discussions" about plans
which will impact a neighborhood are thwarted, rebuffed or undermined by the Town,
we have no choice but to take action on our own and confront the Town
leadership, he stresses.
Mr. Rodd and PPWN look forward to working with all challenged
neighborhoods in an effort to preserve the quality of life in Wethersfield. Concerned
individuals are encouraged to contract PPWN via email at PPWN@hotmail.com .
