Riverside Files - Final Installment

Transparency in government is laudable and broadcasting live city council meetings is educational and entertaining but much, if not most, of the business of municipal issues takes place outside of the public's view.

One of the ways a great number of municipal, business and community concerns are discussed, promoted and problems resolved are through the services provided by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, which include seminars, programs, marketing, their Town and City Divisions, Strategic Partnerships and other networking events.

The members of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut have more in common with each other than they do with the communities in which they live, work and operate.

They are the movers and shakers, the dealmakers and, too often, the heartbreakers for residents of Southeastern Connecticut.

They are members like -

Jay Levin: Lobbyist for Thames Shipyard & Repair, Cross Sound Ferry Services, Cross Sound Services, Inc, Logistec, Coastline Terminal Company and the CT Department of Economic & Community Development-all marine related. Mr. Levin is also a Regional Benefactor of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and was responsible for the preparation of the infamous Municipal Development Plan that demolished the entire Fort Trumbull neighborhood. Mr. Levin wrote, not one, but two, opinion pieces for The Day supporting the sale of Riverside Park to the Coast Guard Academy; Coast Guard Academy, NL both gain in sale of Riverside Park land in 2010 and Coast Guard, New London both gain in sale of park in October of this year.

Stan Mickus: A client of lobbyist, Jay Levin, a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, Vice President of Cross Sound Ferry Services, Public Affairs Officer for Thames Shipyard, Regional Benefactor of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and their Legislative Affairs & Manufacturer’s Council

Gary Farrugia: Publisher of The Day and member of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut On The Day’s Board of Directors is Linda Smith, wife of Merle Smith, a 1966 Coast Guard Academy graduate and former head of the Coast Guard Foundation. Also on The Day’s Board of Directors is RADM Douglas Teeson, Class of 1965, and a former Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy. It is interesting that absent from the November 4th, Day’s endorsement of Daryl Finizio is any reference to the Riverside Park issue which, according to their own columnist, David Collins, is the biggest of the New London mayoral race.

Tony Sheridan:  President, Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut who wrote a letter to then Mayor Rob Pero, which was released to The Day on July 10, 2010, before it appeared on the City Council agenda, titled Chamber urges NL to transfer park land to Coast Guard

Ed DeMuzzio: Mr. DeMuzzio is a 1963 graduate of the Coast Guard, the CEO of the CCI, Inc and does a significant amount of business with the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association and other CGA related organizations, recently wrote a Guest Editorial for The Day supporting the sale of Riverside Park to the Coast Guard Academy. In addition, DeMuzzio is listed in the 2009 Coast Guard Academy Alumni Report as having donated a total amount of between $10,000 to $24,999 to that association. He is also the Co-Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Ledyard-Groton City-Town Division.

Andy Russell:  New London Development Corporation Board of Directors and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and is VP/ General Manager of Hall Communications (WNLC/Kool 101)

My list of movers and shakers, dealmakers and heartbreakers, all members in good standing of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, whose main job is representing the business interests of their members, would not be complete without mentioning RADM Scott Burhoe of the Coast Guard Academy.

RADM Scott Burhoe was the representative who first made the public aware of the Coast Guard Academy’s “… need to secure additional space for future growth,” although there was, without a doubt, much confusion regarding the amount of land the CGA wanted, how much they were willing to pay, what they planned to put there, when they might put anything there and whether or not the Academy has any vacant land of its own. (See Riverside Files and

When powerbrokers like those listed meet in rooms like those provided by the  Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut to discuss their personal business agendas regarding issues like the sale of Riverside Park, what can the citizens do?

The answer is simple - VOTE!

But the question regarding the proposed sale of Riverside Park is not quite as simple and involves far more than 9.14 acres and $2.9 million dollars.

It is a matter of moving away from the Beggar Mentality that Dr. Norman Garrick told the audience at a recent forum that New Londoners suffer from.

It has to do with residents having enough concern for all of New London’s children and grandchildren, no matter their color, culture or where they live, that they will not allow anymore of their heritage to be sold.

And it has to do with the fact that, finally, the residents of this community recognize that what the children and families of New London say they need is the most important thing of all.