Junee Kirk:
"Editor:
It is unfortunate that Nikos Hecht, former hedge fund trader now local developer, was so abusive to our ranger Trevor Washko, telling Trevor (according to newspaper accounts) that Hecht had contributed a million dollars to the trail system, threatening the ranger saying that he would see to it that Trevor would lose his job, then later lying about the whole incident. Such conduct is not only unbecoming, but I’m sure an embarrassment to the Hecht family and friends. At the very least, Nikos should give the ranger a written apology, and at best he could contribute that million dollars he lied about, now to the county open space program. It could certainly use it.
Resources for enforcement and education are limited and the open space program certainly could use such donations. This whole incident speaks to a greater problem: that all the enforcement and education will never be fail-proof. While resources are limited, what the open space board should do is to protect this critical wildlife habit by closing it off, indefinitely, to all mechanized vehicles, bikes, dogs, and hunters.
When I first came to Aspen, in 1967, we had over 280,000 head of elk in this valley. Today we have only 30,000 head. The wildlife managers say they are simply not reproducing as they once did, due to the fact that their habitat has become increasingly more fragmented with trails, roads, development, and encounters with humans. Their stress rates go up radically each time they encounter humans, particularly moving bikes, autos or dogs. Wildlife experts say the adrenal glands go into stress mode, which in turns lowers their reproduction rates; hence the drastic decline over the years....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Nikos Hecht. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nikos Hecht. Show all posts
May 27, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Owning the town comes with a price"
Dave Danforth:
"An Aspen developer felt he had to deny an open space ranger’s report that the developer swore he’d get the ranger fired after receiving a $100 ticket for trespassing on a closed trail.
Usually when someone denies an account written up by law enforcement, they take issue with a fact or two. But Nikos Hecht simply denied the whole thing. The April 7 episode, featuring an (allegedly) irate Hecht who claimed he’d contributed to saving open space, never happened, Hecht said.
Hecht eventually paid the ticket. Whatever his attitude towards the ranger, the (alleged) adventure raises an interesting question. Is there a limit to the number of people who can suggest that they own the town?
If wealthy folks are willing to pay up for a little special treatment, do we really have a beef with that? Why not accommodate them? Hecht’s (alleged) behavior is simply an example of a well-heeled citizen wondering why, in view of his wealth or stature, he isn’t owed a little slack......
.......Yet there’s a phalanx of others who think they’re due a little extra respect not because of lifetime achievement, but because of lifetime wealth.
It wouldn’t be entirely facetious to simply accommodate them. Instead of making developers crawl through all sorts of twists and turns requiring a band of experts (lobbyists), let’s grease the skids a bit. For a lofty contribution to the right cause, (Open space? Employee housing? A few park benches? Free jazz?) couldn’t they just buy the fast track and get it over with? They’re going to get the same result anyway.
We’ve given unparalleled power to a band of meter enforcers, whose sole job is to raise revenue for City Hall. Instead of making esteemed citizens feel like crooks, why not sell them a season pass? Now, for a discount, we’d get a 10-pack of violations. We’d feel entitled...........
...........So, who owns Aspen? First and foremost, the true candidate will never be caught dead proclaiming such stature. They don’t have to. (Think Klaus Obermeyer). And, in an ideal world, the next open space ranger who runs into the next (alleged) Nikos Hecht will have a “square” (credit card swiper) in order to dispense a little favor on the spot for a well-earned premium payment..."
(Read more? You should. Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"An Aspen developer felt he had to deny an open space ranger’s report that the developer swore he’d get the ranger fired after receiving a $100 ticket for trespassing on a closed trail.
Usually when someone denies an account written up by law enforcement, they take issue with a fact or two. But Nikos Hecht simply denied the whole thing. The April 7 episode, featuring an (allegedly) irate Hecht who claimed he’d contributed to saving open space, never happened, Hecht said.
Hecht eventually paid the ticket. Whatever his attitude towards the ranger, the (alleged) adventure raises an interesting question. Is there a limit to the number of people who can suggest that they own the town?
If wealthy folks are willing to pay up for a little special treatment, do we really have a beef with that? Why not accommodate them? Hecht’s (alleged) behavior is simply an example of a well-heeled citizen wondering why, in view of his wealth or stature, he isn’t owed a little slack......
.......Yet there’s a phalanx of others who think they’re due a little extra respect not because of lifetime achievement, but because of lifetime wealth.
It wouldn’t be entirely facetious to simply accommodate them. Instead of making developers crawl through all sorts of twists and turns requiring a band of experts (lobbyists), let’s grease the skids a bit. For a lofty contribution to the right cause, (Open space? Employee housing? A few park benches? Free jazz?) couldn’t they just buy the fast track and get it over with? They’re going to get the same result anyway.
We’ve given unparalleled power to a band of meter enforcers, whose sole job is to raise revenue for City Hall. Instead of making esteemed citizens feel like crooks, why not sell them a season pass? Now, for a discount, we’d get a 10-pack of violations. We’d feel entitled...........
...........So, who owns Aspen? First and foremost, the true candidate will never be caught dead proclaiming such stature. They don’t have to. (Think Klaus Obermeyer). And, in an ideal world, the next open space ranger who runs into the next (alleged) Nikos Hecht will have a “square” (credit card swiper) in order to dispense a little favor on the spot for a well-earned premium payment..."
(Read more? You should. Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
May 21, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Ranger reports verbal abuse over citation for trespassing"
Chad Abraham:
"A local developer on Friday vehemently denied an open space ranger’s account of what transpired during the issuing of a trespassing ticket in April at an entrance to Sky Mountain Park between Aspen and Snowmass Village.
Nikos Hecht, who has multiple building projects under way in Aspen, is due in Pitkin County Court on Tuesday for the misdemeanor trespassing citation.
That the encounter happened April 7 near the park entrance next to the southwest side of the Aspen airport is about the only common element in Hecht’s version of what happened and that of Trevor Washko, a seasonal ranger for the county open space and trails department...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"A local developer on Friday vehemently denied an open space ranger’s account of what transpired during the issuing of a trespassing ticket in April at an entrance to Sky Mountain Park between Aspen and Snowmass Village.
Nikos Hecht, who has multiple building projects under way in Aspen, is due in Pitkin County Court on Tuesday for the misdemeanor trespassing citation.
That the encounter happened April 7 near the park entrance next to the southwest side of the Aspen airport is about the only common element in Hecht’s version of what happened and that of Trevor Washko, a seasonal ranger for the county open space and trails department...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 26, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "More redevelopment projects submitted for downtown Aspen"
Curtis Wackerle:
"There is no on-site parking planned with the Victorian Square development, and affordable housing requirements are proposed to be satisfied through the purchase of affordable housing credit certificates. The applicant is Victorian Square LLC, and Garfield, the attorney, is listed as the contact on the application on file in City Hall....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"There is no on-site parking planned with the Victorian Square development, and affordable housing requirements are proposed to be satisfied through the purchase of affordable housing credit certificates. The applicant is Victorian Square LLC, and Garfield, the attorney, is listed as the contact on the application on file in City Hall....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 7, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Aspen council advances plan for Annie's, Benton buildings"
With all the past attacking, by local press, of individuals daring to push the envelope socially in the Roaring Fork Valley; one has to acknowledge the noticeable change that has recently been showing up in 'tone change' of local reporting.
To quote the Aspen Daily, ZG and of course, Buffalo Springfield: "....there's something happening here...what it is ain't exactly clear...."
Yes, we really and truly are 'sick of Mick'. And there is more than one individual that feels that way.
As you conservatives cast your vote this year; 'Remember Dan Maes'. And try not to forget the Colorado conservative sector's version of Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland. 'Tom Tancredo, the Human Tank'.
Andre Salvail:
"....Approval of an ordinance on first reading is not necessarily an indication that the council will support the ordinance when it comes up for final adoption. Typically, a proposal gets unanimous support at first reading as a simple courtesy to the applicant and to take the discussion to the next level.
But Mayor Mick Ireland, who expressed many concerns Monday about aspects of the process that has gotten the project to its current point, cast a vote against introducing the ordinance anyway...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
To quote the Aspen Daily, ZG and of course, Buffalo Springfield: "....there's something happening here...what it is ain't exactly clear...."
Yes, we really and truly are 'sick of Mick'. And there is more than one individual that feels that way.
As you conservatives cast your vote this year; 'Remember Dan Maes'. And try not to forget the Colorado conservative sector's version of Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland. 'Tom Tancredo, the Human Tank'.
Andre Salvail:
"....Approval of an ordinance on first reading is not necessarily an indication that the council will support the ordinance when it comes up for final adoption. Typically, a proposal gets unanimous support at first reading as a simple courtesy to the applicant and to take the discussion to the next level.
But Mayor Mick Ireland, who expressed many concerns Monday about aspects of the process that has gotten the project to its current point, cast a vote against introducing the ordinance anyway...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 31, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Hecht has agreed to make concessions in Annie’s negotiations"
SandBox sends out a thank you to Nikos Hecht for his tolerance and his patience in dealing with the City of Aspen over Little Annie's.
Sure, it probably was strategic on Hecht's part to sit back after Mayor Mick showed his inner self and let that reality come fully out into the open.
After all, Hecht will be doing business in Aspen for a long, long time and the heavy weight of unnecessary obstruction that the City of Aspen often puts up, with Mick at the wheel, has reached the point of needing to be eliminated from due process.
Eventually term limits, voters and likely elections transparency will give Hecht a hand.
In the meantime, with relative ease and expediency Hecht, Frisch and Torre sat down and worked out the details.
The result is very much a win-win.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Sure, it probably was strategic on Hecht's part to sit back after Mayor Mick showed his inner self and let that reality come fully out into the open.
After all, Hecht will be doing business in Aspen for a long, long time and the heavy weight of unnecessary obstruction that the City of Aspen often puts up, with Mick at the wheel, has reached the point of needing to be eliminated from due process.
Eventually term limits, voters and likely elections transparency will give Hecht a hand.
In the meantime, with relative ease and expediency Hecht, Frisch and Torre sat down and worked out the details.
The result is very much a win-win.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 28, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Charlie Leonard "Inalienable Rights"
My goodness.
Between Charlie Leonard and Maurice Emmer, Mayor Mick is having a tough week.
"..So, when Hecht suggested he might pay fewer development and affordable fees and housing fees and reduce his parking requirements in exchange for dramatically reducing his development rights by preserving Little Annie's and the Benton building, the mayor dishonored himself and his office by falsely accusing Mr. Hecht of being a “blackmailer.”
Even if you don't like Mr. Hecht, his original plan to tear down his buildings, or his proposal to reduce his city-imposed development fees and requirements, it is not an act of blackmail for a property owner to offer to pay fewer fees in exchange for giving something of real value to the city.
After seeing the mayor's letters last week, however, I developed a different theory. My theory is Hecht may have learned through secret sources that the mayor had read and believed the silly nonsense contained in Robert Frank's book and threatened to out him.
But then again, like the mayor's plan to control our economic activity through zoning laws, it's just a theory...."
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
Between Charlie Leonard and Maurice Emmer, Mayor Mick is having a tough week.
"..So, when Hecht suggested he might pay fewer development and affordable fees and housing fees and reduce his parking requirements in exchange for dramatically reducing his development rights by preserving Little Annie's and the Benton building, the mayor dishonored himself and his office by falsely accusing Mr. Hecht of being a “blackmailer.”
Even if you don't like Mr. Hecht, his original plan to tear down his buildings, or his proposal to reduce his city-imposed development fees and requirements, it is not an act of blackmail for a property owner to offer to pay fewer fees in exchange for giving something of real value to the city.
After seeing the mayor's letters last week, however, I developed a different theory. My theory is Hecht may have learned through secret sources that the mayor had read and believed the silly nonsense contained in Robert Frank's book and threatened to out him.
But then again, like the mayor's plan to control our economic activity through zoning laws, it's just a theory...."
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
January 23, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Letters to the Editor "Can't have it both ways"
David Grimes of Greensboro, N.C., and Aspen writes in, in response to Mayor Mick's latest flamer regarding Nikos Hecht, the Benton Building and Little Annie's:
"...I am not intimidated by the potential loss of employee housing for myself nor the fear of losing my job for writing something negative about our mayor..."
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
"...I am not intimidated by the potential loss of employee housing for myself nor the fear of losing my job for writing something negative about our mayor..."
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
January 16, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Letter to the Editor "Victimized because of his success"
"Obviously I am biased about the proposed project and the process by which it is being handled — Nikos Hecht is my son — but Mr. Ireland's divisiveness and disdain for working with those he clearly has a vendetta against is disheartening to say the least. Characterizing a project as “extortionist” is beyond the pale. Perhaps it might occur to the mayor that: (1) developers are not the enemy in any city, much less a tourist-oriented town, (2) it is not a sin to have worked damn hard, to have been successful and then to have chosen to put those rewards back into the city where one was raised, (3) turning local developers away (particularly extraordinarily generous developers who continually and charitably give back to locals) is a precarious, slippery slope, and (4) it should be obvious that a developer has the right to make money on his or her investment — in other words, buying a property in the city of Aspen should not be expected to be a gift to the city.
One can only hope that the waters for negotiation have not been so muddied by this kind of unseemly, nasty rhetoric that neither side benefits..."
(Brooke Newman, Aspen)
(Read the rest of this terrific letter? Click title. Comment to discuss)
One can only hope that the waters for negotiation have not been so muddied by this kind of unseemly, nasty rhetoric that neither side benefits..."
(Brooke Newman, Aspen)
(Read the rest of this terrific letter? Click title. Comment to discuss)
January 12, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Letters to the Editor "One-sided civility"
(See related story here)
SandBox sends out a thank-you to Steve Falender.
Surely, we have enough divisive energy floating around the local governments that we do not need more from Mayor Ireland.
Very refreshing to hear someone stand up to him.
" ...I can imagine how quickly and harshly the mayor and council would react to an applicant or member of the public who accused the council or staff of “blackmail” or attempted “extortion,” warning that we are to express disagreement in a civil and respectful manner. How disappointing that not a single council member was willing to confront the mayor for his inflammatory words and tone and to remind him that civil discourse and respect are expected of council as well as the public...."
(Steve Falender, Aspen)
(Learn more? Click title and link within post. Comment to discuss)
SandBox sends out a thank-you to Steve Falender.
Surely, we have enough divisive energy floating around the local governments that we do not need more from Mayor Ireland.
Very refreshing to hear someone stand up to him.
" ...I can imagine how quickly and harshly the mayor and council would react to an applicant or member of the public who accused the council or staff of “blackmail” or attempted “extortion,” warning that we are to express disagreement in a civil and respectful manner. How disappointing that not a single council member was willing to confront the mayor for his inflammatory words and tone and to remind him that civil discourse and respect are expected of council as well as the public...."
(Steve Falender, Aspen)
(Learn more? Click title and link within post. Comment to discuss)
January 10, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Mayor: Little Annie’s proposal is ‘blackmail’"
In a stunningly non-surprising move, Mayor Mick Ireland once again just opens his mouth and steps into yet another'mud-pit' in order to wrestle with Aspen developer Nikos Hecht.
Oh, lordy. (sighs...rolls eyes...)
What's the prob this time?
Do we really need the City of Aspen to pay Nikos for the pleasure of a triple-size penthouse instead of affordable housing just so we can keep Little Annie's?
Stay tuned! Aspen. Live!
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
Oh, lordy. (sighs...rolls eyes...)
What's the prob this time?
Do we really need the City of Aspen to pay Nikos for the pleasure of a triple-size penthouse instead of affordable housing just so we can keep Little Annie's?
Stay tuned! Aspen. Live!
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
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