Norwalk political notes: Crosland for probate judge

Updated, 6:34 p.m.: Additional info on Darnell Crosland; clarification about Firetree email. NORWALK, Conn. – Here’s what we have for you in political notes this Friday:

• Crosland for probate judge
• Coppola confirms Firetree sober house on the way
• Common Council goals for 2018
• A Rilling New Year’s resolution
• Moccia in charge?

Crosland for probate judge

Attorney Darnell Crosland is once again running for probate judge, he said.

The Democrat, formerly president of the Norwalk Branch NAACP, ran unsuccessfully against longtime incumbent Republican judge Anthony DePanfilis in 2014. This time, he appears set to run against former State Rep. Larry Cafero.

While Crosland told NancyOnNorwalk in early January that he was going to run, he’s had no further comment since then.

“Darnell Crosland has always been a voice and an advocate for poor and disenfranchised people. He grew up in the Bronx, where he worked with the Bronx Legal Aid Society and was assigned to the Housing Division. His goal was to make sure that the low income people had heat during the winters,” the Crosland, Rapaport & Graham website states.

Crosland, a criminal defense attorney, is managing partner of the firm. He has served on the Young Professionals of the Urban League, the Shelter for the Homeless and currently serves on the board of the Connecticut Counseling Center, according to the website.

“In these positions, he has helped to raise over $300,000 annually to help shelter the homeless and try to eradicate homelessness in Connecticut,” the website states.

Mayor Harry Rilling made Crosland a Zoning enforcement hearing officer in 2016. “I am considering taking the bench as Justice Marshall has done, and in the meantime I have accepted an appointment by our mayor as a mini-judge, or hearing officer, for the town of Norwalk,” Crosland said at the time, announcing that as the reason he was stepping down as NAACP president.

Cafero announced his candidacy in December.

“I welcome him to the race and look forward to speaking to him during the campaign,” Cafero said in an email.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Ed Camacho said last month that he thinks Crosland has the DTC’s support and that he is not aware of any other candidates.

Firetree ‘has a vested right’

It became public knowledge that Firetree LTD is planning to open a sober house at the former Pivot House at 17 Quintard Ave., after Bob Weiner, a neighborhood activist emailed members of the Quintard Leaders group to pass on news. Weiner said Friday that there are six or seven people in that group.

On Thursday evening, Corporation Counsel Mario Coppola returned a Wednesday email from NancyOnNorwalk, saying:

“It is my understanding that Firetree will be sending a formal submittal to the City Planning and Zoning Department requesting confirmation that it can continue to use the property in the same manner as Pivot House for a sober house for residents who are being treated for alcohol or drug dependence.  As you know, the owner of the subject property has a vested right to continue the same legal nonconforming use that Pivot House had at the property.  This vested right is for use as a sober house only and there is absolutely no right to use the property to provide a residence in conjunction with a contract with the state or federal prison system.  It is my further understanding that the formal submittal from Firetree will confirm that Firetree is definitely not proposing to use the property for any use associated with the state or federal prison system.”

Yerinedes, Bowman weigh in

NancyOnNorwalk sent an email last month to every Common Council member, asking what challenges they thought were in store for 2018 and what they hoped to accomplish.

Two responded.

Council member Faye Bowman (D-District B) outlined these goals:

• “Streamline the city’s Social Services systems by identifying gaps, creating a system of outreach, and a system of training for social service providers.
• “Evaluate whether or not our infrastructure can handle the planned building boom and if not what changes need to be made and what the cost is associated with those changes.”

And this suspected challenge:

• “Updating our infrastructure to keep up with all of the planned new apartments: from transportation, to safety resources, to school seats, etc.”

Council member Chris Yerinides (D-District A) on Jan. 2 wrote:

“I’m still getting the hang of the Council, but there is something that I want to work on specifically.

“Some time over the summer (if my memory serves me correctly) an ordinance banning the storage of fracking waste expired. I very much want to make sure it is renewed, and that we aren’t jeopardizing our city’s and citizens’ health. It’s an issue that I was passionate about prior to being elected to the Council, and one that I am dedicated to working on in the Ordinance committee during my term.

“I expect the Council as a whole to be focused on the Walk Bridge project, and its impact on our city’s businesses. The project can severely alter traffic patterns, and in turn, our city’s economy. I have faith that this Council will be able to reduce those impacts to the best of our ability, and have the foresight to begin making these adjustments prior to the project’s start. I have always been proud of Norwalk’s small businesses, and I want to make sure that we do all we can to protect them from these state projects.

“In (December’s) Land Use & Building Management Committee meeting, members were brought up to speed on other various city projects. Much of the attention is on the renovations of our school system. I don’t anticipate that changing with this new council. Even though I don’t currently have kids, I personally believe that education must be at the forefront of our city government’s platform. We are attracting new residents to our city every year, and consistently exceeding our projections for children in our public school system. The construction projects to accommodate these increases are diligent, and I have faith in the planning. I’m excited to continue working with the rest of the Council and Board of Education to ensure that our public schools are a hallmark of our city, and a nationwide model for education.

“Personally, I will continue to work within and with the community to unite people with our local government. I believe we will function better when everyone is not only heard, but understands that their voices are heard and appreciated. I do my best to make sure people know about meetings and issues, are comfortable contacting me, and that I am transparent in all of my dealings as a member of the Common Council.”

New Year’s resolution

Mayor Harry Rilling’s main New Year’s resolution was “improving my health, to include a weight loss program,” he said.

“In this position you’re going to events all the time and it’s very easy to gain weight. It’s also very difficult to find time to exercise,” he said on Jan. 7.

Even with the Saturday walks, “I don’t do as much exercise as I used to do,” he said, explaining that it’s tough to get up at 5 a.m. to exercise if you’ve been to a late meeting the night before, and it’s impossible to find time to work out and then clean up in time in between leaving City Hall at 5 p.m. and coming back for a meeting at 7:30 p.m.

He had his annual physical in early January and, “Everything was really good, very pleased with the results,” he said. “So I know at least I’m healthy which makes me happy. But I know I have to increase my level of health and my level of fitness so that I can continue to be healthy. It’s really hard very hard…. Losing weight is difficult. But you have to be disciplined. It’s easy to go to an event and pick up hors d’oeuvres and stuff, drink a glass of wine. It’s not easy.”

Too much fun to leave off this list

Norwalkers may have been surprised on Jan. 4 when former Mayor Richard Moccia sent an email warning them of a snow emergency.

Moccia hasn’t been Mayor since November 2013.

The email has a link embedded in it; when NancyOnNorwalk clicked “read on” late Thursday the page that turned up said, “We’re sorry, but there is not a web page matching your entry.”