Saturday, October 11, 2008

Getting to know: The Fall River Office of Economic Development and the Redevelopment Authority

Recent reader comments on Fall River Community expressed some curiosity about the Fall River Office of Economic Development and the Redevelopment Authority. I am still trying to figure out the operation myself but the following clip from Redevelopment Chair, John Almeida, indicates that their group turns little piles of crap into things.....(although I seem to recall the RDA taking a flourishing business, the Dockside Lounge, and turning it into crap).

Some background on the clip - the Fall River Office of Economic Development (Ken Fiola) and the Redevelopment Authority (John Almeida) were before the city council to request/discuss their takeover of the downtown parking garage. A venture which they clearly, based on the full meeting, had not researched whatsoever.

Please enjoy getting to know your Fall River Redevelopment Authority/Fall River Office of Economic Development!



They really shouldn't let Mr. Almeida do any speaking for the organization. He couldn't look any more disinterested.

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shamrock,

He doesn't sound disinterested he sounds like he is totally over it after 10 years of crap. He mentions the fact that fiola casually mentioned this parking garage takeover only recently. It sounds like he is throwing him under the bus.

EB

Tom Paine said...

Actually there is no such thing as the Fall River Office of Economic Development. To research them on the Sec State web site you must look up

Jobs for Fall River INc. which is DBA

FROED

Anonymous said...

Isn't that an oxymoron?! :)

shamrock said...

funny!

Anonymous said...

Yeah! A Dennis Frantz quote! What's the over-under on more Buntz at the next FROED meeting? I wonder if Punky Al-Meathead has all them Hill Street Blues on videocassette. Beta, maybe?

Is Ken nodding off around 2:17?

Anonymous said...

No I think he was trying to hide when his name was mentioned, how he only contacted the redevelopment authority right before they went before the council instead of planning this 5 years ago when the new courthouse was being planned.

Anonymous said...

That was disgraceful. Remind me not to hire Mr. Almeida as a motivational speaker at my next corporate event. Who thinks it's a good idea to have Mr. Almeida represent their position? If he is the designated spokesperson, what does that say about the rest of the committee.

Is he paid? Maybe we will never know, similar to how Mr. (please don't fire me Mr. New Mayor) Fiola's salary.

Mr. Almeida, if you needed to have the conversation about parking 5 years ago, where were YOU?

Anonymous said...

He said he was there 10 years and there is an article about correia asking him to serve as chair? There is obviously a need for term limits on these "non-profit" jobs.
They are definitely non-profit for fall river residents.

Anonymous said...

Annual gala celebration sponsored by the Friends of Saint Anne's Hospital
Location Venus de Milo, GAR Highway, Swansea, MA
Facility Saint Anne's Hospital
Fee $125 per person
Description An elegant evening of dining and dancing (& wrestling !!!!)
Contact Saint Anne's Hospital Office of Development, 508-235-5055
Schedule On Saturday, October 4, 2008, at 6:00 PM.


Save the date for this elegant evening of dining and dancing in support of the Hudner Oncology Center, the area's most comprehensive cancer care center.
A complimentary cocktail hour will be followed by a four-course dinner and dancing to the music of “GQ and the Lady.” Black tie optional.
Evening includes a silent auction with surprise items, including an exclusive New England Patriots package, courtesy of Anthony Cordeiro Insurance Agency, and a champagne toast for a two-carat loose diamond, valued at $2,000, courtesy of Louis and Ed Silva, Hannoush Jewelers of North Dartmouth. The grand raffle will feature the following deluxe packages:
- “Vacation Sensation” package (estimated value $2,460), with trips to Newport, RI, Providence, RI, Maine and Nova Scotia, and Plymouth, MA
- “Sports Fanatics” package (package value: $750): Boston Red Sox package (game tickets, restaurant gift certificate and baseball signed by Nolan Ryan) and a golf package (four foursomes with carts at Owl’s Nest Country Club, Campton, NH)
- “Décor Galore” (package value: $800), including a “Deck the Halls” Christmas package, Thanksgiving centerpiece, Mother’s Day bouquet, Valentine’s Day arrangement, and Easter Sunday centerpiece.
Our appreciation to this year's Candlelight Ball sponsors:
- Platinum Sponsor: Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation
- Gold Sponsor: Bank of America.


what former president of the froed and bidder on police station and the son of radio owner and local developers got into a black tie fistfight at this event??!!

No wonder why we don't have any economic development in the city!!

Anonymous said...

Did anyone with a camera phone snap a picture? What was the reason for the fight?

Anonymous said...

not sure but there were eyewitnesses of them fighting
in their tuxedos !

shamrock said...

Cacoila and beer for anyone who gets me a picture!

Anonymous said...

maybe his sister or hurricane took one!

Anonymous said...

http://www.friendsofstannes.org/index.html

Anonymous said...

Please, they let him have his "joe 40 oz" show on the radio. Do you think they allow him to attend the functions? Herren was nowhere near the "civilized" people.

Anonymous said...

Civilized is not 2 "upstanding business leaders of the community"
fighting in tuxedos. Goes to show you can dress em up but you can't take em anywhere!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know what triggered the fight?

Anonymous said...

I wonder if it is business related

Anonymous said...

Alright so it was Tony Cordeiro vs. one of either Bob Karam or Jim Karam's sons? If I had to guess I would say it was Bob Karam's son, maybe he is a punk just like his daddy.

Anonymous said...

Steve Karam

Anonymous said...

maybe they call him BooBoo Karam because he gets beat up.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't sound like it with all the claims of bullying at wssar.

Anonymous said...

When will the findings of the MCAD complaint be released?

Anonymous said...

Would Keri R have to be notified first when those results are in ?

Anonymous said...

Anon 14:46 ---
"black tie fistfight"
How about "acting like a couple of penquins laying claim for space at the (Fall River)zoo..."

Anon 21:14 --- "Upstanding?"
How about "chest puffing?"
Oops--sorry, I think that's what puffins, vs. penquins, do.

So what are we dealing with???????

Anonymous said...

They may be "business men" but in a sense these "developers" are running the city. Just check their political connections and who benefits from these "projects"
they never complete.

That is what we are dealing with in Fall River-kids in a sandbox beating each other up.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know what triggered the fight?

a woman

Anonymous said...

really which one ?!

Anonymous said...

Really? They are both married.

Anonymous said...

Pleez---can we stick to real issues vs. gossip?

Anonymous said...

The last comments are gossip but the fight was real and in public so it is relevant as we were discussing economic development and local developers .

Anonymous said...

Certainly agreed. We all need to be concerned about economic development efforts and the connections associated with these two "upstanding businessmen," the current administration, OED, the Redvelopment Authority, etc.
But we should not be concerned or propagating gossip about anyone's potential(?) personal transgressions. Don't care to know or read about, and it's not relevant to any of us.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry steve we won't name names, but don't be too sure about antony cordeiro.

Anonymous said...

To radiofree,

You may want to check out a barfight a certain "high school has been" was involved with in December 2001. The criminal charges were dropped. However a civil case netted the complainant at least 50K in 2005. Muah!

Anonymous said...

Not surprised the criminal charges fell through-was it in the fall river courts? At least the civil case worked-it must have been pretty cut and dry either that or they had atty frank.

Anonymous said...

He busted some guys jaw really bad. That was at the old Leo's i think

Anonymous said...

and the criminal charges were dropped?

Anonymous said...

what is funny is karam is on the redevelopment authority, alot of work should get done with these antics.

Anonymous said...

Maybe thats why karam lets him stay. they are both bullys that got sued for it

Anonymous said...

but karam has the money to squash it. did herren ever even have a real job after high school ?!

Anonymous said...

No but he had somthing comming to him which got sucked up.

Anonymous said...

What would he have coming to him?
I know how it would be sucked up.

Anonymous said...

This case is all public record, if a citizen journalist wanted to dig.

shamrock said...

I don't really see a need to dig. It is pretty obvious that Mike is at best a bully and at worst a guy who may have broken someone's jaw. Digging wouldn't be a great use of my time because it would likely just confirm what I already suspect.

If he ever gets some kind of political appointment in Fall River I promise I will dig.

Anonymous said...

Now that would be political suicide! He would shoot his mouth off and it would be over!