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Almanac
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Business New Haven
4/19/1999
By: BNH
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We Need To Shut Up - Now More Than Ever
According to at least one well-placed source, the reason New Haven Mayor John DeStefano's weekly Inside City Hall call-in show no longer graces the Thursday-morning airwaves on WELI (960 AM) is because station management insisted the Hizzoner share his airtime with an actual 'ELI air personality, who would ask the mayor actual questions pertaining to actual issues. In its original incarnation the show had avoided controversy like the plague, with DeStefano and sidekick/co-host/Ed McMahon-equivalent Chuck Mascola taking up such pressing issues as baby oysters in New Haven Harbor when the LCI scandal was smoldering in City Hall last summer. Faced with the prospect of such pitiless scrutiny, DeStefano said, “Not in this lifetime,” or words to that effect.
Mid-Life Crisis?
Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim is said to be seriously eyeing a run for governor in 2002. For now Ganim is concentrating on running for a fifth term as the Park City's chief executive this fall, but told the Connecticut Post, “I'm not going to be Jasper McLevy,” referring to the Bridgeport mayor whose tenure spanned 20 years. Many observers believe Ganim's fate will be linked to his success in pulling off the $1 billion Harbour Place retail development, financing for which has hit a snag. Ganim turns 40 years old this October.
Blow Up
Demolition work at New Haven's Science Park, scheduled to begin in January, has yet to begin at all. In December, directors of the financially troubled incubator closed a $15 million deal with the state intending to rehabilitate the R&D building complex over several months. Science Park officials cite legal details that remain to be worked out regarding the release of state money for the project.
David vs. Goliath?
The ten-year battle between Milford resident John Ludtke and the IRS appears to be heading for some sort of denouement. Ludtke was a manager with Harbour Landing Development Corp., which built the Harbour Landing condos in New Haven. The company failed in 1990 owing some $45,000 in payroll taxes. The IRS slapped Ludtke with a $70,000 personal tax lien since his signature had appeared on payroll checks and tax returns - even though Ludtke held no financial interest in the company. Acting as his own attorney, Ludtke filed a $97,000 counter claim in federal court against the IRS for damages after the latter rejected settlement offers, he says. The IRS has moved to dismiss Ludtke's claim of misconduct and negligence, but the former BNH contributor expects the matter to come to trial next year.
The Apple of Connecticut's Eye
The Buffalo-based T.L. Cannon Corp. says it plans to open at least four Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar stores in Connecticut by year's end, with more to come in 2000. The company, which holds exclusive franchise rights to the Nutmeg State, owns and operates 25 locations in New York, including a strong presence in the Albany/Hudson River Valley markets.
There presently are 1,100 Applebee's nationwide, about 800 of which are franchise-owned. The typical Applebee's, which features casual family dining, occupy about 5,000 square feet, can accommodate some 200 diners and employ 125 workers, 70 percent of whom are full-time.
So, what makes Applebee's a “neighborhood” restaurant? According to a Cannon press release: “Each restaurant has a 'localized' décor which features...memorabilia and artifacts specific to an area or region. Examples include historical photographs of local landmarks, items from local schools and fire and police departments and memorabilia related to regional sports teams.” Why, that sounds just like us!
Quote of the Fortnight
“[David] Rusk's version of the new regionalism is essentially a reworking of the misguided liberal policies that helped bring the cities to ruin 30 years ago. But instead of the federal government funding urban dysfunction, he now calls upon the region to perform the same disservice.”
- Fred Siegel, reviewing regionalism guru David Rusk's book Inside Game/Outside Game in the April 7 Wall Street Journal.
Your Opinions Please
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Business owners interested in particpating as part of a special group of opinion makers in an expanded monthly Business New Haven, Citizens Bank business survey, fax or email your name and contact number to us today for more information.
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