| Kasparian is the guy that the "Englewood Reporter" covered with the following story in 2007.... http://www.theenglewoodreport....
Here's an extended quote from that article....
To utilize the new zoning, the development firm S. Hekemian Kasparian Troast LLC (HKT) proposed some years ago to develop a major site in Englewood?s industrial area south of Route 4, and received the support of the City Council for their plan. The original plan for a large office, hotel and residential project received opposition from industrial property owners who objected to losing their land under eminent domain, and from citizens in neighboring Leonia, from which the property would have been accessed. In addition, there was concern in some quarters over the reappointment of Councilman Doug Bern as the lawyer for the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority, whose chairman was none other than Michael Kasparian of HKT. Concern also arose from the apparent relationship that some Englewood Council members enjoyed with Democratic County Chairman Joseph Ferriero, whose law firm represented HKT. However, this plan was eventually aborted after a judge ruled that legal procedures had been improperly followed.
More recently, HKT submitted an altered plan, no longer reliant on eminent domain, and with a new access road from the north to be constructed by the City. Known as Flatrock Square, it included an office building, an 8-story hotel, 399 residential units and a parking deck.
After numerous hearings before the Planning Board, during which HKT resisted the office building requirement, a sudden agreement was reached in August, 2005. Through the auspices of Mayor Michael Wildes, the Planning Board conducted a midnight vote, which allowed for an all-condo project. The Chairwoman of the Planning Board, Hillary Ballon, resigned over the episode (?Englewood planner resigns in protest,? The Bergen Record, 9/20/05).
The HKT drama continues in 2007, as the developers are appearing before Mr. Wildes? Planning Board to get yet another change on the project. HKT has now requested that the all-condo requirement be waived, claiming the condo market is too weak, and has offered cash payments to the City instead.
Here's something from the The Englewood Reporter that's from just last month... http://www.theenglewoodreport....
It's not just the H of developer HKT that has been active. Michael Kasparian, who once served as the president of Hekemian Kasparian Troast LLC, the developer of Rt 4 South, is now likely to replace Joe Ferriero as head of the BCDO pay-to-play machine. Kasparian still serves as chairman of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority (which controversially gave then Englewood Councilman Doug Bern a gig as their attorney after Bern OK'd the redevelopment of the Rt 4 South property). Indicted BCDO Boss Joe Ferriero served as Hekemian Kasparian Troast's lawyer.
Of course, all who come bearing gifts deny that they are expecting a quid pro quo. And, of course, those who benefit from the BCDO pay-to-play machine only stand for "promoting good government."
But are those bearing gifts, incredible dividends and political "goodwill" conning us against our wills, or are we willingly turning a blind eye?
Who among those receiving largesse from a developer will urge their flock or members to suspect and vet the corporate motives of Mssrs. Kasparian and Hekemian when they develop in their communities? Wouldn't such due diligence be an ingratitude to a "friend's" generosity?
Ask the nice people, charities and banks who were impressed for decades by the financial returns and charitable generosity of a successful, good man -- Bernie Madoff.
But alas, if we are to believe the quote and the headline in todays Bergen Record story, Michael Kasparian has "changed his spots" and has decided to join governor Corzine in his call for reforms that would end pay to play... http://www.politickernj.com/ma...
Corzine promised that the plan -- parts of which he's already enacted through executive order and parts of which will require legislation-- will end pay-to-play once and for all, at all levels of government.
We have reached a point where New Jerseyans have come to believe that instead of government of, by and for the people, we have a government of, by and for political contributors, lobbyists and those who are at every level of pay to play, said Corzine at an outdoor ceremony in front of the state house. Today, that era ends.
I'm pleased that Both Kasparian and John Corzine are now evidently both on the same page with me on this issue!!! ....At least rhetorically.
The proof will be in the pudding, and the devil (if there is one here) will be in the details.
I would like to see Chairman Kasparian and Governor Corzine and Steve Rothman all come together and hold a press conference to publicly declare their support for Loretta Weinberg's "Party Democracy Act" http://www.bluejersey.com/show... which has been languishing in Committee. Let's get that bill out on the floor for an open vote and see just who the enemies of reform are! Perhaps in a floor vote it would pass overwhelmingly as many would be ashamed to publicly declare themselves as allied with the "good old boys network" that the Act is designed to democratize!
It has come to my attention that Kasparian also had a few words to say last night on the subject of how expensive it is to finance campaigns in the media. He even mentioned (I was told) that he felt that the public owned the airwaves.....implying, I suppose that media outlets should give special ad rates to political campaigns or, better yet, free time!!! Perhaps we should all implore Congressman Rothman to introduce some legislation to that effect! Now that the Chair of the BCDO has become a self declared enemy of the pay to play system all things are posible, eh?
Before we can all declare victory and go home, let's see what concrete changes are actually made in policy, personnel, legislation, fund raising practices, cronyism, sweet heart deals, etc etc etc.
It would be truly a "many splendored thing" if the new BCDO Chair Michael Kasparian has suddenly found religion and will do a "180" in terms of changing the Joe Ferriero bossed BCDO into a democratic and progressive organization! Hallelujah!!!
Seriously folks, the question that must be asked and answered is whether Michael Kasparian has had a sincere conversion and is honestly reversing a career lifetime of being a creature of pay to play in order to become a reformer.......or is he just mouthing some words to take the wind out of the sails of his opposition by co-opting their message?
Ronald Reagan said it well....
"Trust, but verify".
Or to quote another oldie but goodie....
"Where's the beef"??? |
