In all fairness…
Anyone following my writings through the years knows that I am a stickler for the truth. Whenever I say something, I either give proof of my sources or where I got it from. That’s why it irks me so much when I hear unfounded accusations about anyone. Normally, I don’t try to clarify it, except if there’s a risk of having the public think I was the one who started it.
It all began with the Oak St. lot being cleaned and that controversy has developed into lots of inaccuracies. You may see our edition of May 15, 2016 when I wrote about City Councilor Estela Reyes and the acquisition of the Baptist Church building and the 92 Oak St. lot purchased by her partner Junior Rozón. At that time, I printed the same documents you see here showing that she and her partners purchased the building directly from the church. Some people are given to the task of saying that she bought it from the city when it was city-owned. That is not true and terribly unfair to Councilor Reyes.
I published the documents last year and they are available to be sent to anyone who wishes to see them. Just send me your email address and I will send you what I have. I deal with facts only.
The same occurred with the lot purchased by her partner Junior Rozón. From the moment the city proceeded to clean up the area, all hell broke loose. The connection between Rozón and Reyes was established and all comments referred to her as owner. Also unfair. The document shows it was sold to him alone. Let’s deal with facts only.
Meanwhile, take a look at the deed signed by Mayor Dan Rivera; even though he is not in the real estate business, he signed for the sale of that land. There are certain provisions that Mr. Rozón agreed to abide by including a landscaped plan and a storm water management plan to the Land Use Planner within thirty days. I don’t know if that was ever done.
Also, the use is restricted to green space, parking, or accessory use or structure for an abutting property only.
The deed states that “in the event of default by Grantee or her successors or assigns in the performance of or compliance with any of the conditions/restrictions set forth above, Grantor shall have the right to enter the premises and declare a termination of Grantee’s title and begin an action to recover the premises…”
That means that the city has every right to return the $3,300 Mr. Rozón paid for the land for non-compliance of the agreement. The mayor has admitted that it was cleaned last year although Mr. Rozón was never asked to reimburse the city for the cost of the cleanup.
Should the city opt for taking the land back, we will eliminate the possibility of having to pay them a premium price when the Oliver School reconstruction is set to begin next year. Now we hear that Councilor Reyes and her group of investors are trying to acquire to two additional lots on Oak St. owned by the city. If construction is set to start and we’ll need that land, who in his right mind will be in favor of selling it to anyone.
Mayor Rivera, this is an election year. If you want to do the right thing for the city and put an end to this controversy, act according to the law.
There’s something else I have to look into. It has been said that the 92 Oak St. lot has been declared tax exempt. It is not; it is taxable property. What was tax exempt was the Baptist Church that the group purchased but since it is privately owned now, it should be paying taxes. I’ll check on that.
Conditions at DPW City Yard
I was happy to see an article last week in the Eagle-Tribune about the present conditions of the city yard because the employees work in infrahuman conditions there.
Rumbo did a similar article that was published in our August 1, 2004 edition and apparently, nothing has changed. Neighbors were complaining about the stench coming from the piles of trash that included sewer waste and dead animal. If you read that article from 2004, it sounds like what’s happening today. No one should be forced to work under those conditions and one administration after another, has not placed sufficient interest on their health and well-being to find the money to fix it.
No napkins – you’re out!
Last week, there was another city employee suspended for one day. Mayor Rivera suspended Brian, a maintenance person at City Hall because they ran out of napkins in the mayor’s office.
That’s it, Danny. Teach him a lesson that you call the shots.
Every time I go to City Hall, people walk by me and whisper things of pure disgust with the administration. When they asked me how much longer we’ll have to cope with this tyrant, I just respond: “I’m doing my best.”
Gagnon Park renovations
The renovation of Gannon Park was inaugurated on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The following day, some undesirable people threw their lunch leftovers on the street, as shown in the photo.
Note that I do not qualify the authors of this inconsiderate act as hog or pigs because it could insult a breed of animals that I believe are very clean if given the right conditions.
