Please Take the Survey!!! Which phrase is the best match for our new signage? This can become the official welcoming phrase for the the swat team manning the guard house. Choose one.

a. "Go ahead make my day."

b. “Do you feel lucky, punk?”

c. "Hasta la vista, baby"

Blocking views with boats on lifts, tall walls, and grotesque homes is is not neighborly. Bending laws and rules designed to protect the environment and regulate building is not clever, it is greedy and selfish; Being guided not by one's conscience but by what you can get away with is not a behavior to be proud of or something to teach to your children.

Stonington lacks an enforceable noise ordinance because the township never got it approved by DEEP. To some people, this means that they can build and make noise 24/7, tormenting those who live near them.

Recently, a resident asked a developer to limit bulldozer noise in the evening; they were told, "Shut the F--- up!"

The developer knew about the unenforceable noise ordinance and felt it was therefore OK to make whatever noise they wanted to. How can anybody behave like this? Is this a behavior learned from parents who also felt this way?

Good neighbors don't need a noise ordinance to tell them how to act.

A loophole in the zoning rules allow you to dig next to protected wetlands. If you drain wetlands, it will kill the natural vegetation and the land will no longer be considered to be wetlands, which means now can build on it while ruining the view and the environment. I asked the Zoning and Planning officials about this, and they confirmed it is a legal strategy to destroy costal wetlands, but added "Of course, we don't recommend people do this but we can't stop them." They also are not doing anything to stop it. Fortunately, most residents realize that destroying tidal wetlands is reprehensible. Unfortunately there are some who don't.

Very carefully written regulations are necessary for those residents who lack a moral compass.

A handful of people can ruin a phenomenal place called Masons Island. They depend on loopholes and unenforced regulations to build huge mansions, that fail to fit with the natural environment, giant vanity docks with lifts and houseboats.  They don't care about other residents, wetlands, or wildlife. They use financial resources to buy experts and lawyers who intimidate local officials and bulldoze opposition. 

Being passive and hoping these bullies will grow a conscience is easy, but guaranteed to fail. 

Fred Rogers was born and grew up in the Pittsburgh area. He stressed kindness, compromise, and helping others. Sadly, his message has not made the 500 mile trip to Masons Island. 

Now we have threatening signs all over warning of trespassing, dead end streets, and no bikes or walkers. If the budget allows, will we see a moat, barbed wire, and Dobermans?  How about the Guard House? It has always has always been there, but it was only staffed on weekends, and the guards were friendly. 

I suggest MIPOA (Masons Island Property Owners Association)  adopt this variation of the Mister Roger's theme song,  

♫♫ "Won't you please, won't you please, won't you please get the hell out of our neighborhood!" ♫♫  

For full effect, the guards can sing this while wearing Fred Rogers style sweaters

The dock proposal appears to be in limbo. Undoubtedly there is a great deal going on behind the scenes. The Harbor Management Commission is re-writing their management Plan; The timing is interesting; Is Mr. Naik trying to influence the process? We have not seen any indication that he has altered his plans for a mega dock in any way. However, this would be a good opportunity for him to re-evaluate his goals.

Aside from a few macho men, who feel that environmental protection something that less important people do, Mr. Naik's supporters seem to be limited to those whose financial interests supersede concerns for the environment. CT DEEP has launched enforcement actions against him for violating CT environmental laws at both of his properties. Perhaps he did not understand the environment impact of his actions and plans, or the widespread support of protecting the environment in the face of climate change. If so, this is an opportunity to learn and grow. His plans for huge boats in a shallow fragile ecosystem is simply absurd. He needs to either change his plans drastically or purchase a site that is appropriate for big boats. This leaves a few reasonable solutions.

1) Re-design the dock for a boat that can be used without damaging the immediate ecosystem, and doesn't ruin the character of the waterfront. A 21' center console boat, or a 12' inflatable RIB like I have would be ideal. If he wants a big boat, keep it at the marina.

2) Donate the parcel to an environmental charity, and allow the public and the migratory birds to use it.

3) Offer to sell it to parties who are willing to donate to save this ecosystem from damage.

Any of these options would help to redeem his reputation. He could show his family, friends, and other residents a new understanding of environmental issues and become a leader. Admittedly, it is unusual to see adults make such changes, but it is not impossible. It takes both strength, and humility to do so; characteristics that rarely go hand in hand. Is a legacy of building a vanity dock with a giant boat that destroys views, restricts public use, and decimates wildlife Mr. Naik's dream? Some people may find it impressive. It isn't. 

Mr. Naik and his team had to withdraw their dock proposal from the HMC meeting scheduled tonight. It has not been rescheduled, and no reason was given. I doubt that he has given up in his quest to create a mini-marina in a shallow wetlands area that will devastate the ecosystem. 

Why do I think that he isn't going to quit? The most consistent feedback that I have received since starting this website is that Mr. Naik will persist until he gets what he wants, regardless of neighbors and environmental concerns. Here are some quotes:

"He is too powerful, you can't beat him."
"Do you have any idea who you are up against?"
"He makes lots of donations, you can't win."
"He doesn't care about the environment, he won't stop"

These statements have come from very knowledgable local people/officials. It is sad to think that that financial success imbues one with the right to destroy habitats, violate laws, torment neighbors, financially crush opponents, and block residents from enjoying pristine areas that are public property. Maybe having this kind of power is akin to the so-called "runners high," recognizing that the later doesn't destroy the environment and only hurts people by making them feel out-of-shape.

Despite that fact that it may offer a psychological boost to Mr. Naik's team, I'll say this:

"You have hurt me. I've spent hundreds of hours fighting your ill-conceived assault on a pristine ecosystem and I am truly tired. I sold back my vacation time to pay legal fees; Time I should have been using to deal with the stress Covid has dealt to front-line healthcare workers like myself. You have hurt me, my family, and the patients I take care of. Even though your dock is temporarily off the agenda, you can at least take satisfaction that you have at least accomplished something. Be proud."