I have no idea why Jim Amann is getting involved in this. Again.
While conceding he has not been fully informed about the town's decision to terminate the development agreement with Utopia Studios Ltd., House Speaker James Amann said Thursday he can see no good reason not to at least attempt mediation and try to avoid lengthy litigation.
The Milford Democrat played a pivotal role in keeping the project alive in the summer of 2005. At that time the town was prepared to walk away from the project in the belief that the Utopia group was not demonstrating the validity of its $1.6 billion plan to develop the Norwich Hospital property into an entertainment and movie-studio complex.
Amann and labor leaders at that time lobbied hard to bring the parties back together. The odds of reviving the project this time appear far longer. (Choiniere)
I remember when he involved himself before, and it seems like we're basically at the same point again. Utopia's developers were basically giving the town of Preston the same sort of runaround that they are now. Amann and the unions brought everybody back to the table, and for a while it seemed like things were fine.
Now it's falling apart again, and again it's Utopia's fault. Anyone else see the pattern? Amann and the unions, of course, won't be left holding the bag should Utopia disappear in a puff of smoke: Preston and its taxpayers will.
Preston is absolutely doing the right thing. Utopia (a word that, by the way, means "no place") was too good to be true. Other offers from better companies are coming in, and Preston is running out of time (as the article notes, they have only two years left on a five-year option to buy the land from the state and turn it over to a developer). Time to move on, Mr. Speaker.
Source
Choiniere, Paul. "Amann Calls For Utopia Mediation." New London Day 1 December, 2006.
8 comments:
Expect Amann to put himself in front of the cameras as much as possible.He's made it clear he intends to run for Governor in 4 yrs.
Amann made sure Rell got elected and I wouldn't be one bit suprised if part of that deal was that rell will retire after this term
Well, why shouldn't Amann get involved? First of all, it's state-owned property. Shouldn't someone from the state be involved with state-owned property?
"Well, why shouldn't Amann get involved? First of all, it's state-owned property."
If that is the case then when is Preston selling it?
They didn't make the payment, show them the door and stop wasting time and money.
Amann wants the CT skyline to look like Stamford's. Bridgeport just OK'd 50 story apartment buildings along the waterfront where industry once worked. How all these people will find work and get to work is beyond me. And can't wait until Fabrizi comes running to the bonding commission for a new wastewater treatment plant. It's only monsy!
Is it true that Amman used to work for up and coming developer/engineer Bob Landino, who just got shut out of running for Sec of State?? Has Landino or one of his clients an interest in developing Norwich ??
"Amann is shilling for the building trades union - it's about jobs for them just the way the Casinos, Adrien's Landing, etc was."
How dare Amann try to add a few thousand jobs to Connecticut's economy! The nerve of him!
I give Amann credit for fighting for a project and not abandoning it when it's politically opportune. Kudos to Jim "The Crusher" Amann.
"You're right 7:11; Preston's leaders are wrong to protect Preston citizens from a boondoggle. Go Crusher Go!"
How do we know it's a boondoggle yet?
That's the whole problem! Preston wants to completely abandon the project without even talking to the Utopia people about it first!
Don't you think at least both sides should discuss what is going on first before they abandon the project?
That is all Amann is saying they should do -- talk about it first before they decide to abandon it. He's not saying they should go forward and do it no matter what.
There should at least be some kind of discussion going on here before they cancel the project altogether.
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