In a letter to the editor, published in the August 10, 2009 edition of the New Britain Herald, Don Naples called Alderman Phil Sherwood to task for his disrespectful treatment of developers appearing before the Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee. At this meeting, Phil Sherwood taunted the potential developers of Pinnacle Heights, saying “where’s the beef?” as reported here by the New Britain Herald. This is not the first time Phil Sherwood has made such grand statements. He was also quoted in June as saying “We are the people in power, we can make them do whatever we want” with regards to the proposed turnover of the garage adjoining the Hospital of Central Connecticut to the hospital itself.
While the news surrounding the garage is old, there is a recent chapter to that shameful story. At the meeting of the Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing on September 8th of this year (as reported in the Herald), Steven Godfrey, Vice-President of The Hospital of Central Connecticut, brought a letter from President Laurence Tanner which officially withdrew them from negotiations regarding the early termination. Now, rather than receiving a large infusion of cash immediately, valued to be greater than expected returns from the garage fees, the city gains nothing and has potentially soured relations with an institution that is of vital importance to the community. It would be painful enough if Mr. Sherwood’s posturing and antics only affected himself, but they affect all the citizens of New Britain. We can not afford to let him serve another term and bring more shame and humiliation to the City.
