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Thread: Bell Lackawanna?

  1. #16
    Member andreahaxton's Avatar
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    Post Clarification

    First of all I did NOT mean to copy the OLV stuff----they are not in this at all.

    I am pointing out the major money being spent on the Martin Road---normans' folly project.

    Before any of you attack---Yes, I did vote Yes on the project along with the other 4 Council Members for the project. I am all for Vision and Growth.
    When I questioned the cost of the infrastructure VS the return on the City of Lackawanna's investment------I was promised by Charlie Jaworski and the other Councilmen that the project would pay for itself from the sale of the lots. Another one on the top of the huge pile of what they hid from me, this is alot bigger money than what they led me to believe. Hood-Winked Again.

    They told me there was a long list of purchasers and they would determine who got what lot by a lottery method of selection.

    Well I attended the City Auction for the lots---somewhere along the line they changed it to an auction but did not PUBLICLY market their sale at HUD-Belmont---local real estate brochure's, or even have signs on Martin Road.
    The ONLY reason it got into the Buffalo News was because a long-time community activist gave them a news tip. I believe they kept it low key for the same reasons they did in the 70's---and they wanted who they wanted for their neighbors. The land is also a good deal compared to Hamburg, etc.

    Go drive down the newly made streets and check out the new curbs, etc.
    How about the $500,000 pump station that was supposed to go in because most of the lands are a wetland with some being Federally protected wetlands. The sump pump was upgraded but there is now a HUGE "Retention Pond" dug behind the lots.

    Go walk down Verel and Brown Streets at the huge "SWAMP" created when Martin Road school was built! What is going to happen when 30 cellars are built if they find 27 more families to build their dream houses in Lackawanna.

    Three lots were sold to a LA Judge, LA Policeman, and LA Fireman. The covenants are very stringent But I believe they are already modifying to make the homes more cost effective to the purchasers. Concrete driveways vs asphalt?

    Do not get me wrong---I am happy to see progress, BUT.....The cost is --WHAT? Will one of you in the know please tell us--put in a Bflo News article---prove me wrong, I would love it!
    ALL of the old sewers had to be pulled out from the 1970's " Kennedy " development that was going in but never went anywhere because of........

    One reason was due to racial prejudices and the others due to the wetlands.

    Will the Citizens of Lackawanna ever know how much of their money went in to subsidize these high end homes? Money that could have been used in playgrounds, street, sidewalks, beautification, etc.

    Will the residents who live on "normans way" and "love terrace" send their children to Lackawanna Schools?

    . How did the WETLANDS get by the LA Planning Board?

    Looking at the big picture folks, this is what they do best---Cover-UP from the Citizens and use their money to get something they want for their own gain!

    The whole project should have been sold to a developer and would have been done probably. What other community other than Lackawanna does their own .............did someone say , see ya at Rodney's?

  2. #17
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    The greatest thing about the Martin Road folly is that Norm and Love have an empty street named after them. How fitting empty streets for empty promises and a rapidly decaying city.

  3. #18
    Member literal's Avatar
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    The new elementary school was built on a swamp! That's no secret. It took a lot more than estimated to fill the area before the school was able to be built on that ground. There was a reason the Diocese sold it and did not want it for themselves.......years from now there will be lots of problems.

    I am happy to see new developments but not in that same area. I hope these families really check into this before they start building. It would be a shame if they had the same problems like the homes in Amherst.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  4. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by literal View Post
    The new elementary school was built on a swamp! That's no secret. It took a lot more than estimated to fill the area before the school was able to be built on that ground. There was a reason the Diocese sold it and did not want it for themselves.......years from now there will be lots of problems.

    I am happy to see new developments but not in that same area. I hope these families really check into this before they start building. It would be a shame if they had the same problems like the homes in Amherst.
    I think the building technology is a little more on top of things now then 5 even 10 years ago, its not suprising that you people know about the construction trade also though!

  5. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by mnb811 View Post
    The greatest thing about the Martin Road folly is that Norm and Love have an empty street named after them. How fitting empty streets for empty promises and a rapidly decaying city.
    Why dont you just go away , you dont care about Lackawanna at all, all you care about is wanting people to fail so you can enjoy it and smear them. You and your kind are filled with jealousy and envy,and thats a tough way to live, isnt it?

  6. #21
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lackawanna #1 View Post
    Why dont you just go away , you dont care about Lackawanna at all, all you care about is wanting people to fail so you can enjoy it and smear them. You and your kind are filled with jealousy and envy,and thats a tough way to live, isnt it?
    LMAO YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT JOBS LOOK AT OUR CITY YOU GUYS RUINED IT!!!!Jealously really??? I wouldn't want to take credit for wrecking this city. You need to take off the rose colored glasses your wearing and look at the decay all around you. Specifically the second ward where I live.Furthermore I can't envy people who do nothing for the people but do everything for themselves!!
    Last edited by mnb811; October 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 PM.

  7. #22
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lackawanna #1 View Post
    I think the building technology is a little more on top of things now then 5 even 10 years ago, its not suprising that you people know about the construction trade also though!
    How about fixing up rundown sections of the city before building houses with all kinds of rules that drive up the cost. How about spending money on infrastructure before building Norman's Folly? How about improving the school system so people will actually spend 150grand on a house here? Common sense anyone? Lmao guess not.
    Last edited by mnb811; October 2nd, 2010 at 12:32 PM.

  8. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by mnb811 View Post
    LMAO YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT JOBS LOOK AT OUR CITY YOU GUYS RUINED IT!!!!Jealously really??? I wouldn't want to take credit for wrecking this city. You need to take off the rose colored glasses your wearing and look at the decay all around you. Specifically the second ward where I live.Furthermore I can't envy people who do nothing for the people but do everything for themselves!!
    What jobs are you talking about,were you bypassed for one?

  9. #24
    Member literal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lackawanna #1 View Post
    I think the building technology is a little more on top of things now then 5 even 10 years ago, its not suprising that you people know about the construction trade also though!
    Sorry but I WAS THERE and know what the construction problems were.....
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  10. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by lackawanna #1 View Post
    What jobs are you talking about,were you bypassed for one?
    I wouldn't work for this city for free to much BS. I love my job been and have there for 20plus years. It obvious jobs are what you all care about because if you didn't things would look a lot better around here. Just look at the city budget and the money that you shifted out of the general fund to save jobs. Just look at the schools and the people you got rid of and replaced them with. Meanwhile the city is rapidly deteriorating. Good job. You guys think no one notices your political bs what a joke.

  11. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by literal View Post
    Sorry but I WAS THERE and know what the construction problems were.....
    What trades union did you work for? How much time did you spend on site, or did you get updated by boe members that have no clue about construction trades either? its been ten years since construction completed, I have heard of no ploblems as of yet, or are we assured that they will not be evident til the 25 to 30 year mark.

    Can you explain what the problems were and if you were there then why didnt you resolve them?
    are you refering to the swale?

  12. #27
    Member andreahaxton's Avatar
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    Post It is called Listening.

    When you attend meeting----read the provided paperwork (if any), and just sit back and listen to the people involved. And then you listen some more.

    When I was on the Council you all know that the boys left me out of the who, why, and whens of the issues.
    So.....I went around them and did my own research--made my own visits and phone calls. The boys were pretty slick about leaving me out of the loop---
    They got me on a few because they openly lied about tings like normans folly, re-treeing Lackawanna, and fixing the playgrounds. Shame on them. Yes, it is about them and some of the citizens.

    BUT, they have ruined and made a mess of OUR City---I tried to stop them and did not take part in their self-serving agendas and pillaging of the Citizens Money.

    Just go back to the beginning talk of the project and talk to the people involved to do the research of the land itself--they have nothing to hide and were also told the project needed the $500,000 pump station to make the project feasible.

    I personally was at the meeting with the County regarding the pump station when they promised it would go in. I questioned the exorbitant cost and was told all the people in Sewer District 6 would only pay for it. I thought it should be put on the homes going in the sub-division becausse tax bills are ready high, but......no one else ate meeting cared about the cost.

    Now the situation is that County Ex. Collins came in and now there has to be a " Retention Pond ". Hmmmm.....
    Everyone involved from the beginning mandated a new half a million dollar pump station----now a big hole , I mean "pond".

    Go drive down Verel and walk to the right along the path at the very end. Case closed.

  13. #28
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mnb811 View Post
    I wouldn't work for this city for free to much BS. I love my job been and have there for 20plus years. It obvious jobs are what you all care about because if you didn't things would look a lot better around here. Just look at the city budget and the money that you shifted out of the general fund to save jobs. Just look at the schools and the people you got rid of and replaced them with. Meanwhile the city is rapidly deteriorating. Good job. You guys think no one notices your political bs what a joke.
    We noticed you avoided the truth again!

  14. #29
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    Post East Coast Bell, LA--Who is really watching the till?

    Pay scandal, resignation deflate City Council in Bell, CaliforniaBy the CNN Wire StaffOctober 5, 2010 1:01 p.m. EDT
    "I believe this is in the best interests of the residents of Bell," Luis Artiga said of his resignation Monday.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
    Four current council members are facing criminal charges related to corruption allegations
    One of the four, Luis Artiga, resigned his council post Monday
    Report: Council meeting canceled after only one member shows up
    Eight current and former city officials were arrested last month
    RELATED TOPICS
    California
    Crime
    Read more about the case from CNN affiliate KTLA.

    (CNN) -- The future of the beleaguered Bell, California, City Council is unclear.

    Four council members, among them Mayor Oscar Hernandez, are facing criminal charges in what the Los Angeles County district attorney has called "corruption on steroids."

    One of the four, Luis Artiga, resigned his council post Monday, saying, "I believe this is in the best interests of the residents of Bell -- the great residents of Bell -- my family and the church because of the ongoing criminal case."

    After Artiga's resignation, a scheduled council meeting was canceled for lack of a quorum after only one member -- Lorenzo Velez, who is not facing charges -- showed up, CNN affiliate KTLA reported. Hernandez and Councilwoman Teresa Jacobo called in sick, the station said, and the fourth council member -- George Mirabal -- remains in jail.

    Some of the people on hand cheered Velez as he took a seat, according to KTLA. But "due to a lack of a quorum, we won't be able to have our regular meeting," he said.

    However, public comment at the meeting was allowed to proceed, KTLA said. About 200 Bell residents were present, it said. Many of those who spoke were angry, and during the comment session, which stretched to more than two hours, some blamed interim City Manager Pedro Carrillo for not moving fast enough to restore the city, according to KTLA. Velez told the commenters that, as the only council member present, he could take no action.

    A call to Bell city officials from CNN was not immediately returned Tuesday.

    Hernandez, Jacobo, Artiga, Mirabal, former City Manager Robert Rizzo, former Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia and former council members George Cole and Victor Bello were arrested last month and face charges that include misappropriation of funds, conflict of interest and making or receiving illegal loans. Prosecutors allege they misappropriated more than $5.5 million, were paid for phantom council meetings and deliberately misled citizens about how much they were paid.

    "They used the tax dollars collected from the hard-working citizens of Bell as their own piggy bank, which they looted at will," Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said at the time.

    High salaries paid to officials of the city sparked local outrage and national attention when they came to light in July. Rizzo, Spaccia and Police Chief Randy Adams resigned after media reports they were making several hundred thousand dollars a year each. Adams was not charged.

    California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown recently sued several of the former officials to recover the "excess salaries."

    Rizzo's last annual salary was more than $787,000, according to Brown's office. Adams earned $457,000 and Spaccia received $336,000. Before recently cutting their pay, Bell City Council members received $96,000 yearly, compared with $4,800 yearly for council members in similarly sized cities, Brown said.

    Bell, a town of about 36,000 in southeastern Los Angeles County, has a median household income of less than $35,000, according to census figures.
    Last edited by andreahaxton; October 6th, 2010 at 10:20 AM. Reason: Date added

  15. #30
    Member literal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lackawanna #1 View Post
    What trades union did you work for? How much time did you spend on site, or did you get updated by boe members that have no clue about construction trades either? its been ten years since construction completed, I have heard of no ploblems as of yet, or are we assured that they will not be evident til the 25 to 30 year mark.

    Can you explain what the problems were and if you were there then why didnt you resolve them?
    are you refering to the swale?
    I was the Superintendent (and not the Building & Grounds one) and was told about every problem...change order and that's all I will say.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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