UPDATE: item tabled Monday night.
From Brian Lockhart, CT Post
Monday could finally bring some closure to the two-year fight over changing the city’s liquor laws.
The Zoning Commission may, after multiple delays, vote on a proposal from the planning department to halve the required distance between package stores and sensitive uses-schools, day cares, houses of worship, hospitals–from 1,500 feet to 750 feet.
The commission’s meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace.
If approved, the distance change would be a victory for Michael DeFilippo, whose fledgling North End liquor store, Vitro’s, was shuttered by a Superior Court judge in early 2016. The judge tossed out the zoning variance the young, politically connected businessman had received in late 2015.
Full story here.
Anne Philips is 100 percent correct. “If it was Joe Schmoe it wouldn’t have been a problem”. Correct Anne!! It would have been unanimously voted down by the zoning board because it violates the the states enabling zoning statutes which the city must follow. No one would care about spending over 2 years to try to help Joe Schmoe because Joe Schmoe is not connected. Because they can’t accomodate politically connected Defilippo individually, they’ve chosen to write a regulation that violates the state statutes AND threatens every current retail establishment that sells alcohol who in the future may want to sell their business to other investors. AND They have deemed it ok to do this to a population of Bridgeport business owners who happen to be 90 percent minority owned. AND there has been no support from the community in favor of this change just considerable opposition. The duty of a board member is to ensure that its regulations comply with law and protect the health and safety of the citizens. This text amendment does neither and MUSt BE VOTED down.
And by the way, what “signal” would Anne Phillips and or the entire board send to potential investors should they pass this amendment to “open the door for them”? This amendment would require a potential investor to be approved to buy and or sell an ongoing concern. Businesses that are in place are protected by law to continue their current use regardless how many times the business may change hands. No investor will come to Bridgeport if there is a threat of not getting a return on their investment……unless they are politically connected.
The use is property related not people related.
Not that I am against someone making money,but find something else besides a liquor store the city has enough if these.
Where is the company that is going to create jobs for many city residents and just a few?
I have to wonder why it is sooooooooo important for Michael Di Filippo to open a liquor store in a city that has too many bars and liquor stores. Christ, every bodega and convenience store sells beer, wine, mlt liquor and wine coolers.
This seems to be more about Mario wanting to show people he gets what he wants, than Defilippo getting his store.
That’s what I think. Mario wants to prove he is Biggus Dickus.
This is a quality of life issue that has become another circus and embarassment to city they have cultivated a numbness and disenfranchisement of and thumb their noses at the courts.
Then the reporter gives credence to the professional whores to “balance” the story?
Painful
And I expect they will go with what the boss says, AGAIN and be sued AGAIN and LOSE AGAIN
I’m a resident of the district and join my fellow residents in opposition to this travesty
One has to ask why it is so goddamned important for Mr. DiFilippo to open a liquor store in Bridgeport. The town line is nearby, why is he not working with Fairfield to open a liquor store in that municipality? A high end wine/spirits shop would be in step with that town’s demographics. Oh right, Mario Testa has no juice over there. Don’t that take the shine right off his shoes…
Lets look at people that were forced to go with this change.
1. Lynn Haig whose job is not protected
2. Ann Philips who will do what she is told or she will be off the Zoning board
3. City attorneys office
WHOSE IS GETTING SCREWED:
The residents of Bridgeport, we need another liquor store like we need another pizza restaurant.
WHO BENEFITS;
MARIO TESTA
Just another show of power where he gets what he wants no matter what the law states.
Shame award goes to DiFilippo who gave up his balls and his brains to be a stooge for Testa
This is bought and paid for. The leech of Madison Avenue will get what he wants. However well-meaning, all the opponents have accomplished was increasing the loathsome Willinger’s billable hours.
I’ve been told that there will be a good turnout from various council members, school board members and principals as well as public participation I would urge anyone with an opinion to attend and speak. The item is first on the agenda. Let’s see if they move it to the last. The only time they left it for first is the one time opposition was not there as they were informed by Haig that she was not presenting it and then went ahead with her presentation!!!
It will not go down easy, not with all the opposition.
Imagine if you all paid attention to how corrupted Total Wine & More is in regard to Liquor Law, Corporate influence and general disdain for any and all small business across the country?
You can say the same thing about Walmart, Peter. That’s capitalism. Deal with it.
It’s Corporatism. At least get it right. When corporations pay off politicians to change laws that allowed family businesses to flourish for 75 years, that’s Corporatism.
it is absolutely ridiculous that this matter continues to be tabled. Does Testa,DeFilippo,Willinger et al think that opposition to this zoning change will simply disappear. I don’t think so.I am so surprised that Anne Philips has taken the position that has been stated.
Perhaps Ms. Philips is not aware of the entire situation? After all, she recused herself from one of the hearings and was absent for others. As I stated at the hearing, looking at notes from meetings that were not attended is vastly different than being there to listen and see the various members of the community speak. From what I’ve been told the board “tabled” the issue and will form a “subcommittee” to look into Haig’s proposal a bit more. Attorney Green made a comment that since the Zoning Board and OPED do not “own” property, the question is who is bringing the issue forward for this length of time. Of course everyone knows the answer to that but that’s besides the point. One would think that honest, free thinking and professional people would have dumped this issue a long time ago, But as Ms. Philips stated, I guess it’s not just “Joe Schmoe” looking to do this because “Joe” would have been denied from day one and would have been ushered out of the room if he asked for laws to be changed just for him. Laws that can and will negatively affect the residents of Bridgeport. Haigs proposal clearly could be subjective, discriminatory, and confiscatory, depending who the applicants will be. Joe Schmoe wouldn’t be given the time of day! More to come.
Andy F. and Rich, please don’t underestimate Anne Phillips, she doesn’t do what she’s told to do, and has no reason to. She dedicated ten years of service on P & Z, and took orders from no one, I believe she is the most knowledgeable commissioner sitting, yet her fellow-commissioners ignore her input. She follows a couple of strong, honest women, Dottie Guman and Pat Fardy, she knows whats going on. Don’t underestimate her or predict what her next move will be.
Ok Lisa. We’ll see then. If she knows “what’s going on” then we know how the vote should go. If they ever get to that moment!! I can only refer to her comment in yesterday’s article and I can tell you that the “tax base” comment has no place in this argument. Malloy told everyone that the State would realize more income from increased days and hours of operation. So now the stores can be open for 20 more hours including Sunday’s and the results have proven that statement wrong. That’s a fact statewide, large operation or small, few stores if any have benefited and neither has the State. That regulation ruined our industry, increased operating expenses, took owners and employees family time away on the one day we had off and if this proposal ever passes it will open the door for additional corrupt practices at the CITY HALL level and allow for subjective, discriminatory And confiscatory practices. Like I said to use miss Phillips words- Joe Schmoe has no chance unless he’s connected. OPED “taking this up” is a farce. The only input has been Willinger and as I stated at the hearing last night: everybody knows it. So….we’ll see.
Rich, Anne’s new at interacting with reporters and sometimes unintentionally misspeaks. Let’s see, I’m as curious as the rest of you.