Little Pink House_ A True Story of Defiance and Courage - Jeff Benedict [37]
Beachy liked the idea. But Susette had no idea how to form a neighborhood association. She didn’t know how to mobilize. And she had no experience working with the press.
“It’s not that hard,” Mitchell assured her. Susette should start, she suggested, by finding out how many people in the neighborhood were willing to join such an organization.
Other than Von Winkle and a couple of people on her street, Susette barely knew anyone in the neighborhood. She had moved there to start over, to go unnoticed, and to maintain her privacy, not to become a political activist.
“You wanna save your home?” Mitchell asked.
“Yeah,” Susette said.
“Then go door-to-door and see how many neighbors you can enlist to the cause.”
Beachy nodded in agreement.
“All right,” Susette said.
Beachy had another suggestion: when going door-to-door, she should ask every property owner to write a letter to the city council and to the mayor’s office indicating that they didn’t want to give up their homes.
Mitchell liked that. “We could present all the letters at a city council meeting,” she added.
“That’s a good idea,” Beachy said.
Mitchell offered to organize a series of events that would generate media coverage. She suggested activities like a neighborhood walk with a tour guide to point out historic landmarks. Each event would include press releases and build public opposition to the NLDC’s plans to demolish the neighborhood.
After an hour, the meeting broke up with each pledging to take on certain assignments and tasks. Susette felt comfortable with Beachy and especially liked Mitchell.
“This is going to be a battle from hell,” Beachy said, grinning at Susette.
Susette flashed an uneasy grin.
“And you are going to become the poster child for eminent domain,” he told her.
15
OFFING TONY
Tony Basilica was convinced that the NLDC would gain control of the Fort Trumbull neighborhood one way or another. He planned to make damn sure they didn’t get hold of the navy-base property, too. He and Markowicz had worked hard and long to formulate a sale that would both protect the historic buildings and generate much-needed tax revenue.
And more was at stake: power and control. Two weeks after the state and NLDC officials had shown up at his committee meeting, Basilica had gotten a letter from Governor Rowland’s commissioners of economic development and environmental protection. They wanted Basilica’s committee to reevaluate its plan, pointing out that Pfizer’s presence required a new approach. “We have therefore urged the City to request the postponement of any announcement of public sale by the Navy,” the letter read. “We are, however, aware that it is the Local Reuse Authority which controls the conveyance and reuse process.” The letter closed by reminding Basilica that the governor wanted the state to have a chance to develop the navy property, and the state would bring appropriate resources to the city for that purpose if the public-sale option went away.
But Basilica had never liked Rowland, and he ignored the governor’s overture. The navy had made it clear that it would not suspend public sale of its facility without a formal written notice from the reuse committee to suspend, and without an alternative strategy for the property, Basilica refused to issue a formal notice. Instead, he told the navy it should proceed with its public auction, since no alternative plan for the site had emerged. Defiantly, Basilica sent a copy of his letter to Claire.
Before going door-to-door to recruit neighbors, Susette called Von Winkle. “Do you want to join the Fort Trumbull Neighborhood Association?” she asked him.
“Are you out of your mind, Red?”
“No. I’m trying to fight this.”
“Well, you go ahead and fight it. We’ll see what happens to you.”
She didn’t bother asking him to sign a letter saying he opposed the NLDC’s plans.
Susette approached