I received several emails today - all congratulatory - for FOIL'ing the Town of Kent on the "Great Land Swap/Hockey Castle/Foursome Partners" thing... whatever it's called this time around.

Why did I feel the need to do this, as several have asked? It's simple: the deal - as we know it now - stinks. I mean, stinks. You think your kid drowning in Axe before his Saturday night date stinks? You have no idea.

The part that really stinks is that we know virtually nothing at all about this deal, a deal which will make several private property owners rather wealthy - possibly at the expense of the taxpayers of the Town of Kent - and ultimately, the county. Sure, there's this ten acre "swap" going on and Kent's Recreation Czar, Bill Heustis, will land yet another property on our Monopoly board at which the taxpayers of Kent will ultimately spend millions of dollars. But Town Supervisor Arne Nordstrom referred, rather vaguely I must add, to several unnamed issues coming soon that will affect the Town of Kent if we don't take this "Deal". The one of these issues he dared to speak of was a new Highway garage. Something necessary? Yes - but at such a vast cost?

Twice during the discussion last evening, at which the public was neither welcome to ask questions nor comment, Supervisor Nordstrom mentioned commercial development at the site. But Arne's been told numerous times going back to March of this year that the property is zoned INDUSTRIAl. This means; a chicken processing factory, a sit-down restaurant, an office park, a repository for nuclear waste from Indian Point, a rendering plant, R80 residential homes, a Gay Theme Park... but NOT commercial. No Malls. Period. But still, last evening he mentioned it at least twice.

What's with that?

And, what of the Hockey Castle? My inside sources have long confirmed that this thing has moved out of the area and is no longer interested in our neck of the woods. But Councilwoman Pat Madigan mentioned it twice.

So Pat, are they in our out? You know - tell us!

If they're gone, and that was the alleged impetus for this whole thing, why has it morphed into something it wasn't? Oh yeah, I get it! First it was to free the Iraqi people, now it's oil... hey, you take your lead from the Top Guy and run with it. It worked for the President, why not Arne?

At a previous meeting the board was instructed by the Town Planner that a full SEQRA review was required for this "Deal" but last night Arne claimed that once the Town Board was Lead Agency...

Whoa! Stop there! DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!

The Town Board as Lead Agency? With Arne, Pat Madigan and Herr Rhode and Councilman D'Ambrosio blowing in the wind, as a voting block? We might as well just give the Keys Of The Town to whatever developer comes waltzing out of the night, shut down the recycling center and move to Guatemala.

Yes, that's what got *everyone* in the audience up in arms - not just me - and cat calls rang from the gallery. No joke. Watch the tape. (Also watch Councilman Rhode comment on how we people have "no respect" after the brouhaha which resulted from Arne telling us we had no right to speak to the board on the matter.)

Arne was adamant that the Town Board - not the Planning Board - be the lead agency for this SEQRA review and this is after he was informed at a previous meeting that Foursome Partner's should perform and pay for the review on their own. No, not in Kent. In Kent, the Fox watches the hen house and Arne dispenses taxpayer funds without permission of the board and no one says anything other than Councilwoman Doherty.

Luckily, the Councilwoman tried to explain to the Supervisor what transpired at the last meeting since he either forgot or doesn't want to remember. This time he gave the board maps - which we paid for - that had confusing dates on them, an update, Arne claimed. But at the meeting last night there were no less than THREE revisions to the Agenda with the last handed out to the audience at 9PM while the meeting was going on. With all the Official Confusion who's to know what's right and what's right or, um, hmm...

So, I FOIL'd every document that refers to this property going back to the Spring of 2006 when Arne claims it first came up. Some have recommended other items I should ask for but I'll see what Arne comes up with and then, if necessary, create an amended FOIL request.

Look, let's be fair here: On the one hand, this could be the best thing since sliced bread and if it is then a hearty Mazel Tov should go out to everyone involved. On the other hand, this could be a huge bust for the town. On the other hand, (As a Jew I'm allowed as many, "on the other hands" as Sholom Aleichem,) based on the rather rapid pace at which this is moving there could be nefarious play here and if there is I want in. (Everyone has a price and I have mine*. Let's talk.) On the other hand, perhaps it's nothing more than a fair and equitable deal. But, we just don't know and, if the Town Board becomes the lead agency we'll never know. Is that what we want?

Thanks to everyone who wrote words of encouragement, offered ideas and suggestions and, of course, commiserations. It's people like you - an active and caring citizenry - that are the true Patriots and are striving to make this nation of ours great as its myths. Huzzah!

Namaste,

J