New Rochelle has hired Michael Freimuth as its new Commissioner of Development.
Freimuth spent the last 7 years as Director of Development for the City of Stamford, CT. Prior to that he served for 12 years as Director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development of the City of Bridgeport, CT, from 1991 to 2003.
Michael Freimuth graduated from The George Washington University School of Business in 1978 with an MPA in public finance, public administration. He earned his BA in Economics from the University of Connecticut in 1977.
Freimuth will fill the position held by the Craig King who passed away last night after a long illness.
Elizabeth Kim of Greenwich Time has an excellent backgrounder on Mr. Freimuth:
Former Stamford economic development director takes similar job in New Rochelle
Michael Freimuth, who served the city under former mayor Dannel Malloy since 2003, also led the city’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He was replaced in January when Mayor Michael Pavia appointed Laure Aubuchon as the new economic development director.
Freimuth informed the mayor and members of the Old Town Hall Redevelopment Agency of his decision Thursday afternoon.
Read the entire article.
my response to Galletta
i apologize to the people who read my invective. It is unworthy of me and I should not air my distates in public. I even apologize to Galletta for personalizing it as I did. While true I have absolutely no respect for his type of citizen and yes, I would like to take it to a different level, it simply plays into the hands of people who would rather curse the darkness than light a candle.
I welcome him putting his discovery about my hypocrisy onto the blog. I want it made public. I ask that if it came with a letterhead, that this be shown as well. I am going to pursue the issue, I have been advised to contact the NYS Board of Electons and not the County for both verificatiion that this is proper FOIL information, does it really represenet hyprocrasy even if correct, and more.
What I am having trouble understanding is myself — responding to people who are always on the wrong side of issues and who haven’t influenced any significant change in the city. They should simply be, as Bob Cox said about others, treated as Trolls and not taken seriosly. But I do — I think what started this was simply the comment that the City would have collected $ dollars if they did not grant an abatement and other favorable terms for Avalon. This is like digging up a corpse and deetermining it is dead. I don’t know if the numbers track, I don’t even know if Perino released them or stands by them. I don’t care — it is ancient history. It is like saying that the past is prologue, nothing or nobody changes.
Galletta is not alone. There are too many people here who dig in their heels and play the blame game. How do we know what they would or could do given the power to do so? It is always the elite northsider; you wonder if some of this is even anti-semetic or racist in tone. I don’t know and make no accusations, but I see nothing in terms of any affirmative action.
Several years ago, I atteneded a Bramson fundraiser. Lots of people were there including then Councilman Boyle. Boyle was a fine local representative, but I was struck by the fact that he did not join other council people at the dais; but rather was surrounded by a group of supporters at a table in effect distancing themselves from the participants. I tried several times to engage Mike Boyle and others into the substantive debate of the effects of school taxes onto the New Roc taxpayer. He would have no part of it; it would be easy to say that he was a union member and distanced himself from the fray. I don’t know if that is the case any more than Anthony Galletta accusing me of hypocrasy based on what he sees as a voting record. I want everyone to see it so post it and do so without delay. After all, Mike Boyle is in the majority of current and former councilmen who say nothing about the school district so all I can say is that he did little to reach out publically city-wide, but a hell of a lot for the people in his disttrict.
Louis Trangucci is the embodiment of a decent man. As I mentioned earlier, he approached Avalon and asked them for funds to help the city. He is a rock-ribbed conservative and one with a good heart. Marianne Sussman is a progressive liberal who loves the city and, although many of her politics are not of my choosing, she worked with Louis to make an omelet out of broken eggs. This is what it should be all about! God Bless them.
Ok, I got to mature sometimes so take your shots. I am a Bramson backer, I have faith in the new school trustees, Sara Richmond, Chrissane Petrone, to improve this sorry situation. I have tried to provide material for the voter, but my material tends to be dry and non-inflammatory. But it appears as information if you would like to view it.
I am an unabashed christian, a prior volunteer with the good sisters of Ursuline, and a former substitute teacher after retirement who has its own issues.
I admire Bob Cox, who can personally infuriate me, but his courage, convictions, and strength of will and love for the city places him hire on my list. I admire, love and work some with Jim Killoran of Habitat who is a blessing to a fractured community.
I have trouble with a non-functioning school district, city long range planning and development, the lack of strength of the city council, and some of what passes as decision-making by chuck strome. I am 100% in support of veterans, first providers, and teachers who reach out and give back.
I distrust flag waving, bumper stickers, and people who like to see everything half empty, not full.
So that is it — in a week I will give my typical 750 or so reads and no comments on the school/union contract. You will be informed and the rest is not in the purview of a FOIL.
I will let you all know where this voting business came from and who authorized its release.
warren gross
My Final Word Warren
This will probably be my longest post as I want to answer every insinuation, accusation and personal attack you made. Be advised Warren that the school district is responsible for school board budget and trustee votes so the records are in City Hall with the Board of Education. I filed a FOIL request and paid the copy fee for the documents as spelled out in the FOIL legislation. Whoever advised you gave you the wrong information so contact the NYS Board of Elections if you wish to waste your time. I don’t know who your advisor is but getting the wrong information will lead to developing the wrong conclusions!
Next you reveal your true colors and your underlying frustration with “people like me”. You feel “people like me” are “always on the wrong side of issues” well Warren who died and left you as judge and jury? That is your problem, only Warren Gross is entitled to his opinion and if you don’t agree with Warren Gross you are wrong and on the wrong side. Stop being so full of yourself and allow the free exchange of differing ideas.
As far as Trolls go it is you who does little more then muddy the waters and cry foul when taken to task on the facts and when that fails there is always your ace in the hole, the age game.
You mention former councilman Michael Boyle and yes he and his family are close friends. What you don’t realize is that the reason he sat alone with supporters is because he was shut out by the rest of council which were democrats. They never consulted him on the re-districting and Michael would not attend the three by three meetings specifically crafted to avoid the open meetings laws. Michael requested that re-districting work shops be held in public and that was soundly rejected by the democrats. As far as council members who do nothing about the school district why do you single out Michael Boyle? Why not include Idoni, Bramson, Stowe, Fertel and the progressive liberal Sussman? We agree that Lou Trangucci is the salt of the earth. You base that on his public persona but I know him personally and consider him a friend.
As to the new school trustees I have no knowledge but hope they will stick by their pledge to make the district more transparent and find inventive ways to control spending.
What I don’t understand Warren is how you can, “have trouble with a non-functioning school district” and not understand that the deal struck last week severely diminishes the school district’s revenue stream to the tune of $4 million this year and allows that insanity to continue til 2035?
For someone who is in “100% support of the Veterans” you initially opposed saving the Armory. Now you have to your credit changed your opinion which means you came over to the dark side and joined us (the people who are on the wrong side of everything)! Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
As for the documents I will send them to Bob at your request. When viewing the documents you will see the sign in sheet with your signature at the extreme left and an empty box to the immediate right. If you had voted, there would be two signatures side by side signatures for the voting officials to compare. The years in question are 2005, 2006 & 2008. I’m sure there will be a perfect explanation so let me accept now. The only way to make effective change is to take advantage of the privilege to vote regardless of your opinion but those who don’t take advantage should not offer guidance or criticize those who do.
I absolutely LOVE IT when you label me a lowlife and insinuate that my posts have anti-semitic or racial tones. This type of personal attack from someone who has no knowledge of my heritage, background or religion proves how little you care about the truth. There is no bigger melting pot then the West End of New Rochelle and I would not trade my childhood or life in New Rochelle for anything. The one thing I learned in that melting-pot was to fight for what you believe in and that’s what I do best. The inference in general reveals you as the jackass you are so no need to further address it.
This will be my last post on this topic because we are beating a dead horse. If you want the last word feel free maybe I owe you that much in respect of your age. Either way, I still look forward to seeing you Tuesday at Java Dreams at 10 am but before I sign off I can’t resist saying that I am proud to call Michael Boyle and Lou Trangucci friends and you Warren in all respect for your age can never match up to my friends or PEOPLE LIKE US!
Anthony Galletta
my finalword anthony
ok, you made some reasonable points. this is my final word as well. I will see you at the Java Dreams at 10am. Maybe we can work something out, maybe we can’t. I don’t know you but simply have an enormous lot of issues with someone who would pull a foil on a blogger who holds no legitimae office, simply has an opinion and then indicate to the world that he is a hypocrite. i appreciate the education of where you got the data and i will find out what was on the ballot those days. if someone ran unoppoed, or if i thought there was no difference between candidates, why vote? I could have been elsewhere — unimportant! this has only gotten personal because you and i have subsantive disagreements on basic matters. So I will let this rest as well and try to control my temper.
you don’t need to respect my age and you certainly don’t need to respect my ideas. if i am pedantic, it is not a fatal flaw, simply a failure to communicate. but i am not generally crurel or vicious and you can foil my backgound to see who i am and what i have done. i am a work in progress.
the only problem i have with your response may be due to my wriing or your interpretation. I am not or did not mean to single out boyle as being the only councilman who has not even marginally looked at the problem of the burden the school district has placed upon us. they all have in my memory and continue to do so. as far as i know he is a really good guy and i wish him well. the context was that he is a teacher and my remarks were heavy-handed. he was no better or worse than his contemporaries.
i will see you at the java and maybe we can agree to disagree or who knows, even agree on many matters. as a matter of fact we do — it is a question of outlook i think. i want to trust and move ahead and i cannot see that you do.
as far as Loou Trangucci is concerned, we know each other a lttle bit. He is a super, super guy and I taught his son at Isaac. I would campaign for him in a heartbeat. I seen his honesty on channel 754 which is more than i can say for many of his contemporaty
see you on the 16th
warren gross
stamford a cesspool?
come on check the facts. we have the ballot box to vote in or out who we like or don’t like. do a little research into this city and compare it to bridgeport or new rochelle. get the facts straight. it is a city with enormous growth and its risk is that its great mayor is term limited and out which probably explains why this guy left. what do you need to judge a city especially during this freakish economy. schools rated higher than most, tax base to die for, entertainment that attracts famous acts, great irish pubs and restuarants, and so on and so on. cesspool, come on there are too many people on this blog who throw rocks at everything. give it a break. run for office and if you cannot do that, look at who you want to see vanish and work with others to vote down. you might go where the money really is; the school district and especially the unions. they are bleeding you dry.
blogs tend to be so damn negative. it is a damn shame. it is the only place that you can call someone a crook or thief without consequences.
warren gross
Practice what you preach
Warren, I agree with you that there are many similarities which New Rochelle and Stamford share. I also agree that the new commissioner is very well qualified although following a class act like Craig King will be difficult. I wish Mr. Freimuth
much success in that if he succeeds New Rochelle will succeed and prosper (without tax abatements). BUT Warren when you suggest that we use the ballot box to, “go where the money really is; the school district and especially the unions. they are bleeding you dry.” I have to chuckle. You are correct that the school district is where the money is and that’s why the most recent Avalon deal amounts to the City grabbing chump change in comparison to the monetary devastation done to the school district but you have no right to challenge anyone to vote or criticize anyone for not voting unless you, Warren, exercise the privilege to vote. To my point, when someone (Warren) casts only two (2) votes in the last five (5) school district budget elections they don’t have the right to advise or criticize anyone. To miss a vote in any given year is understandable life is challenging but to miss 60% of the last five school budget votes while pontificating about making change at the ballot box is hypocritical to say the least. . Don’t waste your time and energy trying to justify your voting record, voting is very easy either by absentee ballot or in person and yes I have the records to support my statements which I will be glad to publish if you challenge me. You can’t live in a glass house and throw stones
Anthony Galletta
voting
you are a lowlife, someone who lurks in the shadow with a clipboard and a foil report. not even sure you should have access to such data but i would need to see it. have contacted attorney generals office on who has rights to voter data.
that said, you could well be wrong. even if you are not, there are other circumstances: perhaps the people running were all of the same type, perhaps there was only an incumbent running, perhaps someone in the family died, perhaps … well even you get it.
publish it that would be actually helpful to me to have on the record.
as for you, this is a new rochelle blog — go home to your somers palace. don’t give us your story that you were driven out. I got twenty years on you at least, fixed income, and lots more life experiences. you want to foil that as well? go ahead.
you want to meet with me in person you dark soul. glad to do it. we don’t need you huddling in a corner with a notebook, telling people for the 100th time about abatements and give backs, looking always for the worse in people and in situations. you haven’t a good word for anyone unless it is someone who shares your angry little view of the world.
it is not you i dislike. you ain’t worth disliking. i dislike what you represent– the blogger who hides behind foil data, who lurks in the shadows saying every politician with a taint of liberal or progressive thought is a crook or is on the take.
i left this blog because i saw where it was largely going.once nightcrawlers like you came onto the scene, it was worth 30 or 40 points of accelerated blood pressure.
ok lets get this done one way or the other. my 73 years of trying to be better versus your whatever years of hating everyone and everything. you are not a nice person and my friends and family are sick of your personal attacks from behind a rock.
so print away and it is only a question of time before you are seen for who you are by more than me.
warren gross
It’s a Date!
Now, now watch your blood pressure. I hide behind nothing. I have been in the trenches and in front of the line without ever bumping into you. I don’t need or want your respect because I have earned respect among those who count. I love it when people like you respond by attacking me personally because that means you can’t refute the facts which support my opinions. You have no knowledge of me or my background otherwise you would be aware of my extensive volunteer work. For your information FOIL is for the free exchange of PUBLIC information as the attorney general will inform you. As usual your experience is not supported by fact; I never said I was driven out of New Rochelle; it was a decision to be near family period. I have offered to meet you multiple times on this blog the last time Bob and others were present and you didn’t show. But since you claim to want to meet I will gladly meet you at Java Dreams on Tuesday at 10 am. I will bring the voting records to support my statement.
The reason you don’t like what I represent is because things are not the Rosie picture you like to paint. I do the research and leg work to develop my posts and use supportive documentation to substantiate my opinions. While your life experience counts it can’t match the black & white facts. You see Warren the main difference between your world and mine is the Gray area. You pontificate and muddle the waters in hopes of singing Kumbaya while I try to examine things based on statements and facts. That’s why your posts are much longer than mine.
Either way a meeting would be great so let’s do it this Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at Java Dreams @ 10 am. To be clear, Java Dreams in located at the base of Avalon 1. All bloggers and or readers are welcome and out of respect Warren, your first cup of “Joe and” is on me.
Anthony Galletta
Are you Kidding me?
Bridgeport is a Cesspool. Stamford isn’t much better. What the hell is he going to develop? We’re broke because of bonding, the tax base has eroded and so has the confidence in the sitting Mayor and council. I think there will be a lot of new faces come election time.
I like Stamford
I worked in Stamford for 6ish years and think it is a great city. There are a lot of business, retail, shopping and residential. There is a tangible urban/suburban vitality. The interstate cuts through the city, making it convenient. It has a striking train station, a large seated Lincoln sculpture and other outdoor art, a vibrant mall, proximity to the sound, express trains to NYC, etc. Stamford is not a cesspool at all.
Another polical hack on the
Another polical hack on the taxpayer dime! I can only wonder what his salary is and what exactly is this guy going to do for us? Give away Millions to Cappelli, Avalon, Trump and Home Depot? Nope that’s already been done! Lets cross our fingers and hope for the best, this is New Rochelle after all!
I wonder if Lou Cappelli
I wonder if Lou Cappelli recommended him for the position.
new hire?
I thought there was a hiring freeze?