Ken Fiola's Recommendations to RDA

Ken Fiola's Recommendations to the Redevelopment Authority on 64 Durfee.

Peabody's Low Income Housing Proposal

I know it is easy to be impressed by nice pictures, but did anyone read Peabody's proposal for 64 Durfee Street? Because all evidence indicates that FROED/RDA/Correia have not. They are vigorously arguing that this proposal will not be low income housing.

“I take exception to the opponents coming to their conclusion that this will be a low-income housing project,” Redevelopment John Almeida said of Councilor Cathy Ann Viveiros’ description. Mr. Almeida, I suggest you and your cohorts read Peabody's proposal...page 7 for example which states, "To finance the re-development of this project we intend to apply for Low Income Housing Tax Credits." Page 7 also indicates that Peabody will be using other sources of low income housing funds to develop this property, such as "Housing Innovations Fund," a program for the creation and retention of alternative forms of housing for low ­income and extremely low income persons and families.

Peabody's proposal states that they will look to the Fall River Housing Authority, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Transitional Assistance (aka welfare) to pay the rent on many of the units.

If this isn't low income housing, I don't know what is; but with the likelihood that 64 Durfee with be sold to Peabody Properties, I am looking on the bright side, maybe someone will get arrested over this.

Finding a Pattern

Fall River Community recently did a post about campaign contributions Carole Fiola received from E.A. Fish of Peabody Properties. Peabody recently bid on 64 Durfee Street. This got me wondering if the Fish contributions are just a coincidence or if they are part of a pattern. (*Bob Correia also received contributions from Fish).

Ken Fiola is the husband of Carole and treasurer of her campaign. In his role as Executive Vice President of FROED, is charged with making recommendations to RA on awarding contracts, choosing between submitted proposals on projects, and helping to award tax increment financing (TIF) agreements.

Hartwell Commons, developed by Frank and Nicola Marchione of Catahoula Corp., was recently awarded a TIF agreement at the request of FROED/Fiola and Mayor Robert Correia. Correia accepted numerous campaign contributions from the Marchiones as did Ken Fiola as Treasurer of his wife, Carole Fiola’s, campaign.

4/9/2003 Marchione, Frank
16 Ice Pond Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Business OwnerHoneydew Donuts
Fiola, Carole
$200.00

4/6/2004
Marchione, Frank
16 Ice Pond Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Business OwnerHoneydew Donuts
Fiola, Carole
$200.00

12/2/2004
Marchione, Frank
16 Ice Pond Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Business OwnerHoneydew Donuts
Fiola, Carole
$140.00

4/21/2006
Marchione, Frank
16 Ice Pond Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Business OwnerHoneydew Donuts
Fiola, Carole
$200.00

5/1/2007
Marchione, Frank
31 Semple Attleboro, MA 02703
Business OwnerHoneydew Donuts
Fiola, Carole
$200.00

4/28/2008
Marchione, Frank
31 Semple Village Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Business OwnerHoneydew Donuts
Fiola, Carole
$200.00

11/24/2008
Marchione, Frank
31 Semple Village Road Attleboro, MA 02703
DeveloperSelf Employed
Fiola, Carole
$200.00
________________________________________________
4/12/2007
Marchione, Frank
31 Semple Village Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Correia, Robert
$300.00

8/24/2007
Marchione, Frank
31 Semple Village Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Correia, Robert
$250.00

8/13/2008
Marchione, Frank
31 Semple Village Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Correia, Robert
$250.00

8/18/2008
Marchione, Frank
31 Semple Village Road Attleboro, MA 02703
Correia, Robert
$250.00
12/1/2008

Marchione, Judy
31 Semple Village Rd. Attleboro, MA 02703
Correia, Robert
$500.00

1/16/2008
Marchione, Nicola
4 Lee Street Walpole, MA 02081
Correia, Robert
$250.00

4/18/2008
Marchione, Nicola
4 Lee Street Walpole, MA 02703
Correia, Robert
$100.00


I'm starting to see a pattern..........

Helpful tips for Destroying the Character of Fall River

I posted this clip about Bob's desire to knock down our historic buildings last month but it is still very relevant

I know Bob Correia, Ken Fiola, John Almeida, and everyone at the RDA and FROED are working hard to achieve the ultimate destruction of everything good in Fall River. To help them in their mission, I offer the following suggestions from Art In Ruins:

How to Demolish a National Register Building in 10 Easy Steps:

1.) Acquire a building that was once used for industry, preferably an obsolete one. These buildings have been known to be situated close to water and shipping lanes, so will have great views which you can exploit later.

2.) Don't worry if the building was on the National Register, or protected by the State. Don’t listen to the people who may have great ideas to redevelop the project. You don't want all that hassle and all those “conversations."

3.) Sit on it. For a long time. It would help if it was already derelict when you bought it because the previous owner was losing money as their industry was becoming obsolete.

4.) Let graffiti accumulate. Hipsters will love it, but they don’t vote and so they won’t raise an eyebrow when you eventually take it down.

5.) The neighborhood will soon forget about the activity that went on there and the buildings own “glory days”. It will start to look horrible, and they will start to complain about it.

6.) Keep sitting on it. It would help if you complained about the cost of potential renovations while you did so.

7.) Let security around the perimeter go lax. Teenagers and vagrants will get in, wreck the place, and maybe start a fire or two. If you are lucky, that will take care of it. If not, it becomes a hazard and a public nuisance.

8.) Finally, after years of neglect, declare the place not worth saving, and obtain an Emergency Demolition Permit, which trumps all Historic considerations in favor of Public Safety. The city will go along because the neighbors have been complaining, and since you hold the checkbook, they will be too scared to demand anything more from you.

9.) (Optional) Build a parking lot while you “wait for the market to become ripe”

10.) Build something there that won’t last for as long as the building you just let go to waste, but instead will remain shiny and new for about five. Sell it off once you’ve made your money, and let them worry about the upkeep.

Correia's "personal" donation

"I am pleased to join with Ms. Cloutier and Mr. Donovan by personally making a donation and by making available the city trolley" Mayor Correia SouthCoast Today 12/31/08

So the trolley wasn't there. Also, Correia's campaign finance report came out last week and SHOCKINGLY, his "personal" donation was from his campaign funds and not really a check from his "personal" account.

12/8/2008
CD Recreation 72 Bank Street Fall River, MA 02720
Donation- Great Night
$500.00

(Although made out to CD Rec, the donation was to 2008 New Year's Eve in the Neighborhood/Back to Main Street Event - processing the money though CD Rec allowed use of their non profit status for tax purposes)

FROED/RDA Meeting about 64 Durfee Street

Is open to the public and will be held tomorrow at 3:30pm at government center. This is the time and place according to the RDA today during a phonecall with them. I just read a comment from a reliable source on the Herald News that the meeting is at 3:00 not 3:30. I would go with 3:00 to be on the safe side. I wouldn't doubt it if the RDA was giving out inaccurate information. Please attend if you can. And if you haven't read FRC's blog on the issue, click here.

_________________________________________________________

Meeting is at 3:30

6th floor government center

Snowjob

I went out around 11:30 this morning and the roads were TERRIBLE. Heading up Durfee Street toward Milliken Blvd. I discovered why the dangerously icy, snowy city roads had barely, if at all, been touched by plows. The Fall River Department of Public Works plows clearly had more important plowing to do in the parking lot of the Karam's 10 North Main Street (aka Bank of America/Karam Financial/First Bristol Corp.) building.

How will Correia justify this one? In the middle of a snowstorm, the roads covered in snow, cars fishtailing around me, and city plows aren't plowing the city streets, they are plowing the Karam's parking lot. This essentially put the interests of the Karams (for a building that probably isn't even open today) above public safety.

Mayor McCheese

The following is my reaction to the Mayor's Letter to the Editor

Valentine's for the Troops

Martin Luther King Day of Service

Please come join in

to help make this a fun and inspired event.

http://www.usaservice.org/page/event/detail/dayofservicejanuary19/4j439


1,000 VALENTINES
FOR
THE TROOPS

Monday, 19 January 2009
9 am until Noon

BANK STREET ARMORY
72 Bank Street, Fall River

Children and folks of all ages!
Come and be a part of Fall River’s efforts to create
1,000 Valentines and posters of support for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We're helping provide materials and coffee and snacks but best of all will be you to guide the kids and the kid in all of us making Valentine cards for our troops overseas.

Sponsored by SAVE OUR NEIGHBHOODS, CITY OF FALL RIVER, B.O.L.D, and ARTS UNITED

QUESTIONS?
V4Troops@gmail.com

Doh!

Yes we all make mistakes, but Councilor Casey really worries me.

From WSAR interview with Hurricane 1/6/09

Fall River-tastic Store

Visit the Fall River-tastic store for all of your "whackjob blogga" clothing item needs and fabulous 2009 "Anyone But Bob Correia" campaign paraphernalia.

Property Assessments

The 2009 Assessments and real estate tax bills came out recently. If you feel that the assessment of your property is overestimated or inaccurate you should file an abatement with the assessors office. Forms can be found here and must be returned to the assessors office (I believe by Feb 2 2009, although deadlines may vary).

View Fall River Property Information (including assessments) HERE

Also for information on the tax rate increase see:
http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x1720635163/Property-tax-rate-unclear-at-Council-delays-vote

Dear Herald News:

Thank you for today's edition. It is fantastic.

Vote Tampering

Is this a sign of what is to come in the 2009 Fall River elections -

The Herald News offered a poll today on their website "Mayor's first year." I voted at noon, and along with most (73 other people), I indicated Correia was "Failing." At that time about 7% of the approximately 90 voters thought he was was doing an "Outstanding" job. I was a little surprised that there were about 6 people left that thought he was doing an outstanding job but realized they were probably relatives.

Around 3:00 I went back to check the results and noticed a large spike in "Outstanding" votes. Soon after this the Herald News posted a message that, "This poll was reset at approximately 3:30 p.m., because of multiple votes from individual IP addresses. The ability to vote multiple times from a single IP address has now been disabled."

Sad? Desperate? Both?

New Year 2009

Someone dropped the ball yesterday at city hall and for once the Mayor was no where in sight. Mayor Correia's presence was felt, however, when revelers in the single digit temperatures tried to get into to city hall to await the 2009 ball drop beginning at 10:30pm and listen to the DJ, who was announced on the city website press release, and were welcomed by locked doors. (**Also a distinct lack of trolley at the festivities despite Correia's committment to provide trolley service between the evening's venues).

Despite his anticipated arrival and listing on the service program, Correia was also noticeably absent from the annual New Year's Eve ecumenical service offered by the First Baptist Church and attended by many, including the Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River.

Congrats to the local community activists who joined together to organize this event. This was tangible evidence of the power of the people. Most impressive was the fact that this event was organized in a matter of weeks and at a minimal budget. Thank you to all those who participated. You are the ones that make Fall River great. Despite Correia getting his name on "Back to Main Street: New Year's Eve in the Neighborhood" press releases his participation and pledged contributions to the event were lacking.

And finally.....Correia said he was cancelling First Night because of the hungry and homeless in Fall River. Did the hungry and homeless ever get the $30,000 that is usually used for First Night?