Shell Beach Public Access Entrance is a Hazard! Maturo LIED to us! Vote for Jack Stacey, who will make sure that our Beaches are safe!

November 1, 2013
When under the gun of the election and scrutiny by the press, Mayor Maturo is all talk and NO action! 

On May 2012, when the New Haven Register addressed the community’s concerns, Maturo punted to his town engineer, Kevin White, who stated, “It will eventually be fixed. . . .We are working with the (state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) now.”  He called the project small, but involved . . . The process can take months -- he did not have a timeline.

One year later, DEEP confirmed that by May 2013 there was NO coordinated effort with DEEP & in fact no permits submitted to DEEP.  They had not heard from the Mayor’s office or the town engineer’s office.

In October 2013, in response to the community protest to make the public beach access and sea wall safe, Mayor Maturo told the New Haven Register, “The town engineer gave me a report today stating he is in the process of applying to the DEEP to get permission to rebuild that wall, because we can’t do it without DEEP.” Maturo said, “Do I think the wall needs work? Yes.”

More than a year & a half later, on November 1 2013, DEEP officer, Krista Romero, confirmed that there had been NO communication from the mayor’s office. 

More than a year and & half has passed and despite people stumbling and falling at the sea wall entrance and it continuing to crumble with each storm, NOTHING has been done to repair or rebuild the sea wall and NO communication has been forthcoming from Mayor Maturo to the concerned community.

You have a choice at the polls this Tuesday!  Show Maturo that he cannot continue to disregard the safety of East Haven citizens and vote him OUT!!!!!  His mayoral opponent, Jack Stacey, has been communicating his concern and ways that funding and a fix could happen. 

Thank you, Jack, for caring about your community and sharing your plan of action!

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Oct. 18, 2013
Please plan to attend to show your support!
Press Conference:
A protest of Mayor Joseph Maturo’s “lack of regard for citizens’ safety” 4 pm, Monday, Oct. 21 2013
Shell Beach Entrance at corner of Morgan Ave. & Old Town Hwy.

Read my interview with the New Haven Register
http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20131018/resident-plans-protest-of-treacherous-east-haven-sea...

October 17, 2013:  I am sharing this timeline so everyone understands that more that a year & a half has passed and the stairs and seawall remain a hazard and safety issue for anyone entering Shell Beach.  Thank you for you comments and suggestions!!!

May 15, 2012:  NBC news spot w/ Audrey Washington,   East-Haven-Sea-Wall-Woes*

April 29, 2013: http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-maturo-east-haven-town-council-repair-the-shell-beach-seawall-...

May 20, 2013:  Kevin White's office stated that they were waiting for DEEP to approve a Certificate of Permission sent several months prior.  When I called DEEP/ OLISP, Lead officer, Kevin Zawoy, confirmed that his office had never received a Certificate of Permission request to repair the seawall. He shared that he had told Kevin White in Feb that they could proceed with the seawall repair once a site survey was completed.  So this was the first lie coming from the Mayor's office representative.

May 28 2013: Email to Maturo again requesting any info regarding seawall repair:  " This Memorial Day weekend saw many families maneuvering the steps which required dangerous leaps to the beach because of the damaged structure.

Another concern is the lack of signage at the Sea wall entrance, and a safety barrier since they were all swept away by both Storms Irene and Sandy.  The signage advised "Please Clean Up After your pets", "Please Don't Litter, Help Keep Your Community Beach Clean" and "No Parking". 

The safety barrier was enclosed by a chain strung along concrete posts.  This prevented vehicles from being parked adjacent to the seawall where kids often play and park their bikes.

It is extremely important to address the above concerns, as well, when repairing the sea wall to insure safety for our community."

May 29, 2013: Maturo's promise to repair the seawall -- a lie.  He dumped sand the following week which quickly washed away.

July 28, 2013: Email to Maturo requesting status of Seawall repair & Safety signage & parking barrier replacements. Still no action.

July 30, 2013:  No communication from Maturo.  In answer, three boulders were placed over the remaining sand, and on top of the seawall, providing the perfect weapon of destruction to homes in their path with the next storms.  I have video to prove that even boulders this size can be moved by the storm surge forces. 

The stairs remain untouched and still unusable and very unsafe.

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October 15, 2013,  Mayor Joe Maturo failed our community again!!!  NO repairs were made to the Shell Beach seawall or stairs as promised in May.  People continue to climb from the first step to the beach since there is as much as a two foot gap between.

Maturo & his engineer, Kevin White, refused to answer the latest emails detailing the increased level of danger posed by his team, who placed large boulders on sand that has since washed away.  The boulders present a threat to children who often play below & around them, as they sit precariously on the broken sea wall.

Fortunately, we have a choice this November.  Jack Stacey shares our concern that citizens have safe access to Shell Beach.  Let Maturo know that he cannot ignore East Haven's citizens and get away with it!  Vote for Jack who will make sure that our Beaches are safe!

As the post stated below,

May 29, 2013:  Mayor Joe shared today that the Shell Beach Sea Wall repairs will begin some time next week.  Plans also include adding more sand and replacing the safety and no littering signs.  (See Oct update -- Mayor Joe LIED to us!)

Thank you for sharing your concerns and for signing the petition.

May 22, 2013: The Shell Beach Sea Wall and stairs should be repaired soon. We've stepped up the urgency of our petition since warmer weather and holiday outings to the beach are arriving soon and more folks will attempt to enter and use Shell Beach. Our petition got the attention of the East Haven Mayor's office and the Department of Energy and Environment (DEEP)/ Office of Long Island Sound (OLISP). With the help of State Representative James Albis and District 4 Town Councilman, Michael Riolino, Mayor Maturo and the East Haven Engineer's office were alerted to the urgency of our situation and that, indeed, people have fallen and been injured at the sea wall. I recently worked with Kevin Zawoy, tha DEEP/ OLISP Enforcement Officer to clarify the necessary steps required to repair the Shell Beach Sea Wall and Stairs. The Mayor's office is now aware that once a site survey is completed, the work landward of the Coastal Jurisdiction Line (CJL) can begin immediately. When I hear of the date, I will let you know! Happy & Safe Memorial Day Everyone! Kariann Price, Morgan Point resident