To the editor:
Now with the election in just a few weeks ahead, this letter will show an insider’s view of how Longshore planning is going at this critical time.
This public letter is a followup on our (my husband and I) Oct. 4, 2023 letter and, in particular, to a response to the comment made by the chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, David Floyd.
His comment pertains to his unprecedented means and methods he uses to force his aggressive planning and actions forward WITHOUT INPUT from the RESIDENTS of Westport. The members of the Westport Community Gardens and other Westporters involved experienced the painful M.O. of the chair already, and probably won’t read the chair’s lengthy comment at all.
What is new and much more severe in the Longshore Plan, which is masterminded by the chair of the PRC?
At the Board of Finance (BOF) meeting on Sept. 6, 2023, the chair of the PRC, David Floyd, did not answer a critical question by the chairman of the BOF truthfully: He LIED! — with the first selectwoman present at the meeting.
What was leading up to this critical 9/6/23 BOF meeting with the Longshore Plan?
The plan was started apparently some time early in 2022 by the Parks and Rec Commission led by Chair Floyd. The 170-acre Longshore Park has a relatively small residential area in the northwest corner which is mutually shared with the public and the permanent residents. The very aggressive and radical Longshore Plan by the chair was developed in 18 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY CONTACT with the permanent residents of Longshore, including us and obviously without any dialogue.
Apparently the commission hired a survey company “Stantec,” which did a superficial generalized survey paid for by Westport taxpayers.
Why did STANTEC NOT CONTACT US RESIDENTS? The Longshore residents are the most knowledgeable source of information because they live in Longshore for generations.
Why not talk to the residents? Because Stantec had to follow the chair’s mindset of ZERO CONTACT with residents. Stantec became a tool for the chair to “legitimize” the extremely aggressive plan for changing Longshore.
We, the residents of Longshore are the victims of one of the aggressive plans by the chair. A pickleball complex with pavilion, parking, etc., was planned in the residential zone a few yards distant from our residence and our neighbors.
Since the BOF meeting by now is more than four weeks ago, it is probably prudent to reiterate the major events of this critical meeting. The Sept. 6, 2023, BOF meeting which was held in the auditorium of Town Hall and live-streamed was a high-level, very important meeting because First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker was there and also Jen Fava, director of parks and recreation, and David Floyd, chair of PRC.
Item No. 7, the Longshore Plan by the PRC, became center stage.
Chair Floyd started the meeting with going over several zones of his Longshore Plan and was cut off by BOF members to make time for BOF questions. The chairman of the BOF asked David Floyd: Was there a “PUSH-BACK” TO THE LONGSHORE PLAN similar to the events at community gardens at Long Lots?
Chair Floyd was stunned. His answer was “NO” and came after the question was asked a second time.
The NO answer was NOT TRUE. It was a LIE. Was there, in fact, a “PUSH-BACK” by the Longshore residents? YES!
1. There was an e-mail exchange between residents of Longshore and the chair after the 18 months “ZERO-CONTACT” period came to an end and the commission made a final decision on the Longshore Plan and PUSHED FORWARD in the implementation process.This e-mail exchange ended with a B/S from the chair.
2. There was a detailed letter to the first selectwoman with photos dated June 28, 2023, sent by us (me and my husband). NO ANSWER!
3. Finally, there was a big “PUSH-BACK” meeting held on Aug. 14, 2023, at the Longshore administration building with Chair Floyd, RTM members, ALL permanent Longshore Residents and Director of Parks and Recreation Jen Fava.
NO ANSWER by the chair to the request by all residents to move the pickleball court complex to another location in the 170-acre Longshore Park.
After the Aug. 14, 2023, meeting, the chair took the Longshore Plan straight up to the Sept. 6, 2023, BOF meeting.
Now, after the NO answer to the PUSH-BACK question, the meeting went on seamlessly with P&R Director Fava continuing, point-by-point, with the Longshore Plan, starting with the relocation of the maintenance shack to a flood-zone area. The director responded to one of the BOF members that there is no problem, the maintenance personnel will be informed to stay back. The very high price tag for a new maintenance shack of $7 million was questioned by the BOF member and the director quipped back that the price included inflation.
The next point, the swimming pools and the question of relining or new construction, was discussed. The director suggested new construction and adding a second “kiddie” pool as a spare pool in case “a little kid had an accident.”
Next, the director wants to add two more paddle board courts to make the courts ready for international events. Several more points were brought up.
At the end, First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker was weighing in and explained mostly in lawyerly language the authority and power given to her as a first selectwoman.
Let’s close this letter to the editor with a personal note. We (my husband and I) are now living in our Longshore residence for 49 years, almost half a century. We raised our two children here and are now retired.
My husband extended his career in the engineering/construction field by many years beyond retirement age to work in rebuilding the World Trade Center after the horrible terrorist attack. My husband went to a meeting in the WTC shortly before the 9/11 disaster. He was lucky that he was not one of the many Westporters that perished on that dreadful day.
A documentary of my husband’s part in the rescue effort shortly after 9/11, which included footage of Westport, was made by an international television station and broadcast in various languages all over the world.
We looked forward for a peaceful retirement in Wesport when we were hit suddenly with that pickleball court complex being very close to our home. We and our next-door neighbor are the most affected by the pickleball complex. We feel that we are in a “free fall” here in Westport.
Irmi Streidt
Westport
What a disgraceful situation. I really feel for the residents of Longshore.
There’s an old joke that you never want the Town of Westport as your neighbor.
But on a more serious note, once again, we find our local government unresponsive and completely off the rails. Like Parker Harding and Community Gardens, here’s a perfect example of the sort of thing which we, as residents, could bring to the RTM via petition. That is, until two weeks ago when 29 RTMers voted to strip us of that fundamental right. Many of those members are now running for reelection as if nothing ever happened.
Speaking for myself, I have a long memory.
Persistence, Mrs Streidt. And karma. Keep going.
This is just astounding.
Literally what is going on here ?
Zero transparency with a capital “0” and agendas which, none, or the overwhelming majority do not want, getting rammed down our throats.
I should be shocked. Shocked would be an appropriate emotion, but I’m not.
It’s been the same with Parker Harding, the same with the community gardens.
Free fall was so appropriate.
What is happening is unacceptable on every level.
Irmi thank you
I don’t think it’s appropriate at all for Irmi Streidt to bring up the fact that her husband was an almost -victim of 9/11. It’s not relevant to the point she’s trying to make about not getting due process and her opinion heard fairly about the changes at Longshore. She’s trying to show off as somehow more ‘American’ than the local officials and the rest greater Westport that would benefit from the additional pool and courts.
It is disrespectful to actual victims and their survivor families to flaunt her experience so reckless in a way to shame others in the community. As a Longshore resident Irmi Streidt appears ‘out of touch’ as well.
I do not think bringing up 9/11 or her husband being in the towers that morning is in any way disrespectful.
He clearly was there. And I’m sure now quite possibly could suffer from PTSD for all we know.
The last thing he needs is the sound of “pop,pop “ like gunfire a few yards from their home.
There are plenty other places in longshore to put those courts.
Best suggestion so far is right beside the longshore inn restaurants patio.
Since you do not think these home owners should complain about the noise then I don’t suppose la plage will have a problem either.
That will also give to the people the courts so desperately needed, with a lovely view right out over the water.
It’s a perfect alternative.
Far away from homes.
If restaurants patios all over town are built on roads and in parking lots, surely building the pickleball courts beside a restaurant is perfectly acceptable.
How were Irmi’s comments remotely disrespectful ?
She sounded perfectly reasonable. Though understandably annoyed. She has every right to be.
She does not and nor do her neighbors want these courts in her back yard.
It’s a massive park. Find another spot she asks. And don’t LIE. All sounds most reasonable to me. And to all the other commenters taking her side.
I see nowhere she attempted to “shame” people or “show off”.
What a self serving misinterpretation of her letter.
Irmi has every right to voice her disgust and concern, as has any resident in Westport about anything they find egregious.
Think Parker Harding, and the community gardens.
Should all the effected residents go mute on those topics also ?
I think NOT.
.
When I read Ms. Streidt’s letter, I thought to myself this is what it looks like when someone is fighting for a voice and feeling helpless.
Agreed
I would offer that the First Selectwoman is demonstrating to us a pattern of administration (for lack of better word) that is in reality a continuous absence and denial of humane leadership. Is this happening out of ignorance or deliberate decisions that tear at the social fabric of this Town. The list grows each day.
When the voices of residents are no longer heard and her decisions appear to be made with no concern for these voices, we have a problem.