Not only does Mr. Foley not have a campaign platform, as witnessed by the lack of new topics to talk about in his latest article, but he doesn’t seem to have a clue about redevelopment.
Mr. Foley, a retired teacher knows all too well you need to show up to class in order to pass the test. Redevelopment class is the second Tuesday of the month. I have been Chairman for 3 1/2 years and I have yet to see Mr. Foley step through the door. I believe I run a very open and honest process and our board members are more than willing to hear from the public and to share their ideas with the members of the public.
What discussion has Mr. Foley had with the Board regarding redevelopment?
Who has he met with in order to determine that “his plan” is better than the current one?
What is his plan?
Regardless of Mr. Foley’s apparent lack of insight into the redevelopment project, we don’t consider the downtown redevelopment project to be a campaign issue. It is a priority project for our Board and for Mayor Staffieri. It is a project that will move forward towards completion. The developer, according to the contract, moves at a pace that allows him to line up his tenants and financing without holding back the City. If he doesn’t perform, he doesn’t continue with the project. There is no urgency to make an announcement. Every step has been outlined and agreed upon. If, and this is highly unlikely, the developer does not hit a benchmark, the agreement will be terminated.
If I was the teacher, I would give Mr. Foley an incomplete for his failure to attend redevelopment meetings. Perhaps Mr. Foley keeps repeating himself because there is nothing to talk about. Good news for Derby residents, not so good news for Mr. Foley.
Thank You.
Joe Bomba
Chairman, Derby Redevelopement Agency
What a surprise. No discussion of issues…just an article attacking Foley. This line struck me as rather ironic: “Perhaps Mr. Foley keeps repeating himself because there is nothing to talk about.” I would venture to say that perhaps the author wrote an attack article because he has nothing to say about the issues facing Derby. Thank you for wasting my time, Mr. Bomba.
Dan Foley has a reason for not attending redevelopment meetings, as he is retired, like myself. However, if I was running for the Mayor’s office — it would behoove me to attend these meetings. He should be attending these meetings like the other DERBY DAN, Dan Waleski, Derby Citizen of the Year, does!
However, Waleski, who has run for Mayor as an Independent candidate in past years — isn’t a candidate for Mayor, this year.
Waleski has even criticized me in the press, for not attending these meetings in the past –and I was not running for city office, like Dan Foley is.
Joseph Bomba is correct — Democratic Mayoral hopeful Dan Foley should have been attending redevelopment meetings to gain some expertese on this election campaign issue. In the long run, however, Mr. Foley is only hurting himself, by failing to attend these meetings.
He needs all the help he can muster, to defeat a popular incumbant, Mayor Tony Staffieri, on Election Day.
dann
foley — should be attending redevelopment meetings
As a spokesperson for the Foley campaign, I feel compelled to respond to Mr. Bomba’s column. In the opening sentence of his commentary, he claims Dan Foley does not have a platform. Apparently Mr. Bomba wasn’t paying attention when Dan Foley laid out his platform during his acceptance speech. Not only does Dan Foley have a platform, it is extremely thorough and well though out. Mr. Bomba, please read Dan Foley’s platform here … http://derby2011.net/2011/07/dan-foleys-acceptance-speech/.
Mr. Bomba goes on to claim “redevelopment class is the second Tuesday of the month.” Well, I just checked the City of Derby website and noticed that the last meeting was held in June. Other than the meeting in June, the only other meetings in 2011 were in January and May.
In 2010, there were only 7 meetings. In 2009, there were 8. In 2008, only 6. With a record of cancelling approximately 50 percent of the meetings, I’m not quite sure why you would say Dan Foley has not been at Redevelopment Agency meetings when you yourself are busy cancelling them.
Mr. Bomba, please explain to the taxpayers of Derby why on September 8, 2009, your agency announced plans to hold roundtable discussions on downtown redevelopment with the public, then less than a week after the election, you cancelled these discussions with the same Derby taxpayers.
With your record of cancelling vital meetings, I seriously question your ability to chair the Redevelopment Agency.
Finally, Mr. Bomba, had you been in attendance yourself, Dan Foley spoke at the last open public meeting on the latest plans for downtown. I suggest you pay more attention in class.
Rob Hyder 641: You defend Dan Foley’s involvement with redevelopment, even though he apparently — does not attend redevelopment meetings?
What city board meetings does Mr. Foley attend? What city boards has served on, or does he serve on presently? As a senior citizen, 20 years older than Mr. Foley, I still take the time — to serve on city boards, as I have interest and pride — in the City of Derby –and I am not seeking the Mayor’s office. Recently, I was attacked in the press by the Foley camp, along with my Shelton High School — class of 1948 — as being responsible for the lack of downtown Derby renewal, in a flaky political shot, because I happen to actively support — Mayor Tony Staffieri.
At least I have taken the interest to serve the City of Derby, and still am serving on a Derby board.
If Mr. Foley has found the interest to serve the the City of Derby, out of retirement, twice in the past two years, as Derby’s Chief Executive — where was his interest to serve the City of Derby, in other capacities, before he retired as a school-teacher?
Non-politically — “HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES TO DANIEL FOLEY!” May you live to be a hundred years-old! Good luck and may God bless you!