Part 21 (1/2)
”Had you ever heard about eminent domain before the Fort Trumbull munic.i.p.al-development project?”
”I am sure I must have read about it in the newspaper,” Claire said. ”Not here, but in the New York Times New York Times.”
Berliner had a series of questions about the content of the NLDC's munic.i.p.al-development plan, including its specific mention of constructing a coast-guard museum on Parcel 2 in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood.
”I'm not aware of that,” Claire said, ”sorry.”
Berliner had trouble understanding how Claire didn't know that the museum was pegged for Parcel 2; it was a major structure in the heart of the plan. ”I will represent to you that that is what it said in the actual MDP,” Berliner a.s.sured her.
”That the coast-guard museum was going to be there?” Claire asked.
”Yes,” Berliner said.
”I didn't read the MDP,” Claire said.
Berliner loved the answer. The biggest cheerleader for the MDP hadn't read it?
Berliner then asked about the NLDC's plans to construct a hotel and conference center.
Claire pointed out that there were a total of six proposals included in the development plan.
”Okay,” Berliner said, unsure of Claire's point.
”I realize this was confusing for you all,” Claire said. ”Because Scott was giving talks about taking homes for health clubs, which was drivel. He must have known that, or I a.s.sume he did.”
”Well, I don't think this is the forum to resolve that issue.”
Claire looked at Berliner. ”It is probably better to ask me questions based on what I actually know.”
Her condescending tone amused Berliner. ”Have you been involved in any discussions about the need for office s.p.a.ce in the Fort Trumbull MDP area?” she asked.
”Again, I am sorry, the question is misformed for me, the word 'need.'”
Berliner reviewed her notes. They contained questions about the NLDC's decision to exempt the Italian Dramatic Club from eminent domain. She began by referencing an e-mail from Steve Percy to Claire, which said, ”We are not pus.h.i.+ng Italian Dramatic Club.”
”Was that news to you?” Berliner asked.
”I don't remember, my goodness,” Claire said. ”Sorry.”
”Do you recall Jay Levin being involved in the issue of whether the Italian Dramatic Club should be relocated?”
”Yes.”
”What do you recall about that?”
”I recall seeing on the wall of the IDC a letter that Jay wrote. I recall Jay at a meeting, I believe, at the IDC. He had many friends in IDC.”
Berliner handed Claire a copy of Levin's letter to Aldo Valentini. ”Is this the letter that you recall seeing in the IDC?”
”On the wall, yes.”
”Did you personally have discussions with Mr. Levin about whether to relocate the IDC?”
”It is too broad a question. I just told you that he was at a meeting that I was at at the IDC, so you really need to relate. I don't understand the question.”
”Who else was at the meeting?”
”Quite a crew of us,” she said, mentioning Aldo Valentini and George Milne, among others.
”Who called the meeting?”
”I don't remember.”
”Do you know if you suggested the meeting?”
”It would be unlikely that I would call a meeting at the IDC. Women go down at the bas.e.m.e.nt level. So I would have been unlikely to call a meeting on their territory.”
”What was the purpose of the meeting?”
”Given the letter that Jay had written, which none of us had seen, and having no idea why he wrote it or what he was even talking about in February, we needed to sit and say, 'Let's look at options to move.' And that's exactly what we did.”
”Did you discuss with people in the government of the City of New London whether the IDC should be allowed to remain?”
”Your verb doesn't make it possible for me to answer the question,” Claire said.
Claire's stubbornness impressed Berliner. She had never deposed anyone who had such an ego. While she tried to figure out what to ask next, Claire kept going. ”The verb should ... You want to know which verb, I guess?”
”Okay,” Berliner said.
”'Allowed,'” Claire snapped.
Berliner started a new line of questioning before suddenly pausing to organize her train of thought.
”Go ahead,” Claire interrupted. ”Ask your question.”
It occurred to Berliner that Claire got a kick out of trying to turn the tables on her. Berliner determined not to give her the satisfaction. ”Did you discuss the IDC with George Milne?” she asked.
”Well, in order to invite him to the meeting,” she said, ”I am sure we were going to talk about the status of the IDC.”
Berliner kept pressing.
”This was not a big deal,” Claire insisted.
”It wasn't a big deal?”
”It just wasn't,” Claire said. ”It's not a residence, so it has a distinctive-it's just a different ent.i.ty, and if it could stay and blend, fine. If it couldn't, they were willing to move and were even excited about it. They were going to get air-conditioning.”