unanimous decision ordering full disclosure to Ethan of
the bid given to the CRRA by Signal Environmental Systems (aka Wheelabrator
Environmental Systems) for redevelopment of the Bridgeport Project. However,
the CRRA appealed that in Superior Court. In ignoring established legal
norms in several key areas, the Superior Court reversed that Commission
decision.
The Commission appealed that decision to the Connecticut Appellate Court. On May
11, 1989, Commission Attorney Susan Liemer argued before the Appellate Court
as follows:
"And so we have a lot of accountability questions here for the CRRA ... I would maintain
that the public of the State of Connecticut would be helped by us prevailing in this case.
Unfortunately, again for legal reasons which stretch established norms, the
Appellate Court dismissed that appeal.
Since then, Ethan has spent much time and money obtaining additional
information to support his position in that case and also in additional steps
through the Connecticut Courts.
In December of 2001, it became public that the CRRA made an unauthorized $220
million investment in Enron. Shortly before this, Enron had given $80,000 to
the Republican Governors' Association over which Conn. Governor John Rowland
is Chairman. However, even with such additional information, despite
numerous petitions made by Ethan, the Connecticut Supreme Court has to date
declined to act on the substantive earlier errors of the state courts.
There are also implications of these matters and state preferences for the
CRRA with Joseph Lieberman who was the Connecticut Attorney General when the above
described agency actions occurred, and also for current Connecticut Governor
John Rowland who appears to have benefited from these patterns of bias since
he became governor in 1994.
With respect to state action to allow nondisclosure of separate but related
information which the Office of the Governor might have regarding
questionable CRRA activities, the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission
(with commissioners who are appointed by the Governor) recently issued a
decision which punched new holes in Freedom of Information law. On October
16, 2002, the New London Day stated that the "[Commission] hearing officer's
decision is flawed and should be reversed. To do otherwise is to trample on
the rights of the people of Connecticut."
In June, the New York Times published an editorial in which it urged that the
Connecticut Enron connection be fully investigated. It can be but Ethan and
public interest oriented people like him need your voices of support.
11/05/02 eb
