Alex Popp

preservationist. skeptic. persistent.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

Today’s Wreaths Across America ceremony at the The Old Burying Ground at Byram Shore Road organized by a new Greenwich DAR chapter. This first annual event at the graveyard was attended by First Selectman @fcamillo and Byram Veterans Association.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@GreenwichWise Currently Riverside School has a $45M placeholder. But with wing addition, new pre-K, interior renovations, classroom expansion, and housing students, expect the costs to double+. Maybe a completely new school. Is it time to rethink this project and only do what's necessary?

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@laser158689 Opposition to hockey rink plan 100% agrees. Why have undersized Stazza Field?

Also note countless TF meetings discussed geothermal energy. But, look for that $9M installation plan to get dropped. Ironic bc that was a critical reason why Morlot was selection over the other sites.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@gwvact Cost may reach $60M. Byram gets 40K sqft warehouse that towers over W Jr Hwy, access road that splits today’s open space, smaller Strazza Field, balls in Grove, less access to memorial trees, retaining walls, 1000 truckloads of fill, no geo plan, increase traffic year round,

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@GreenwichWise With the Byram Hockey Rink, RTM members were told to follow the flood of emails supporting the project, and then the vote is in favor. Now, with speed cameras, it's the opposite. Hundreds of letters opposing the initiative get no traction, and the RTM votes to support.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@GreenwichTime Excess capacity will significantly challenge the BOE’s ability to adequately fund essential educational services in the face of physical plant O&M cost. In this era of fiscal challenges, when does excess capacity in the school system become problematic?

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@GreenwichTime This current approach departs from Town Charter principles and standard practice, where A&E and construction are funded separately. The motion wasn’t about the TF, the site, hockey teams. Not even about the rink. It was about preserving RTM oversight and protecting the taxpayers.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@gwchsentinel $60M+ park redesign non conforming to TOG regs. No parking, traffic, engineering studies. Lack of Byram, McK Ter support. $9M geothermal plan, no specifics. Strazza baseball field undersized. Donors elusive. Rink towers 45ft over W Jr Hwy. 50 trees clear cut. 1000 trucks of fill.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@GreenwichWise (Reposted): At May BOC, one RTM delegate congratulated BET for such a smooth three hour final budget meeting. I was in disbelief. Where are the conservatives willing to stand for principles?

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@laser158689 @gwchsentinel @GreenwichDTC @fcamillo @GreenwichRTC At BOC, one RTM delegate congratulated BET for such a smooth three hour final budget meeting. I was in disbelief. Where are the conservatives willing to stand for principle?

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@laser158689 “Maybe 10% use the rink during the year. The silent majority are subsidizing rink time for the superusers. 90% of Greenwich that are non-skaters should not be subsidizing the 10% of Greenwich who are skaters by such a degree.”

Vast majority of letter writers are hockey families.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@laser158689 I did! This vote not about the Task Force, site plan, teams, # of emails. Not even about the rink. It’s about good governance, protecting taxpayers, preserving RTM over site. It’s about adhering to the principles of the Town Charter.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@GreenwichWise And an hour later at 3:30AM on Mead, a women fell asleep on her horn. Yes, that’s right. It blared and woke the neighborhood. DWI and car towed.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@laser158689 Plus, the consistent push, in your face replies, just to get new rink leads me to believe vast majority, including the school community, don’t understand the specifics of the park redesign. Ex. I asked one letter writer what enhancements to grove, he replied he’ll get back to me.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@laser158689 This DPW/TF approach departs from Town Charter principles and standard practice, where A&E and construction are funded separately to preserve RTM oversight.

If it’s a good plan and the right price, RTM will pass an interim appropriation at the right time.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@politics_ferdi The RTM is being rolled. A&E and construction must be funded separately to preserve RTM oversight. Never imagined we would undermine our role as the Town’s final budget authority.

All cap projects take ling time. Just how it is. NLS. Cohen CC. Hamill bc Drake refused to listen.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@GreenwichWise Those oversized bump outs at Glenville Pizza are going to take time to get used to. Kinda like they belong on Greenwich Avenue.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@gwvact At same meeting, BOC quickly cut $100K from Baldwin Sherman Park bc of uncertainties, but when applying same standard, failed to accepted Aldo’s motion to cut $38M construction fund from Hamill. Ironic bc rink plan is riddled w uncertainties, outdated costs, & non conformities.

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@gwvact This approach departs from principles and standard practice where A&E & construction are funded separately preserving RTM oversight.
Approving A&E & construction funding together shifts final decision making from RTM to BET, undermining RTM’s role as Town’s final budget authority

[Alex Popp @AlexJPopp]

@gwvact PZ concerned about curb cuts, but at the proposed Byram Hockey Rink, little thought on the facility towering 45ft above Western Jr Hwy and clear cutting of dozens and dozens of street trees.