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University of Bridgeport

Musto Dodges Bullet, Plus: P.T. Fire Report

March 12th, 2010 · 21 Comments · Development, Education, Political Analysis

I’m thinking the pol who dodged a bullet this week more than any other–following Jodi’s Jail reversal–is State Senator Anthony Musto.

Anthony was flapping his wings, eager to kick out a press release when Governor Jodi Rell announced a $20 million juvenile detention center for girls in Anthony’s district on the Upper East Side. Anthony praised the governor for her vision to plant another prison in Bridgeport. Anthony’s political skills need a barber’s belt and razor.
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What’s With The Fire Report? Plus: Herrmann’s Hermits

March 11th, 2010 · 22 Comments · Development, Political Analysis, State Politics

Retired Superior Court Judge Carmen Lopez got a little cranked up when she viewed a News 12 report last week that cited the high blood alcohol level of a mother who perished along with her three children in a fire at P.T. Barnum Apartments last November.

Lopez wants to know why a portion of a state fire report was leaked to the media so she contacted Robert Ross, director of the state Division of Fire, Emergency and Building Services seeking an explanation. Her letter, dated Tuesday, follows. Notice how Carmen loves to trap prior representations made by Ross.
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Debicella Urges Cut In Payroll Tax Says Himes Bloats Deficit

March 10th, 2010 · 25 Comments · State Politics

Decisions, decisions coming from lots of pols.

Marilyn Moore is considering a primary against State Senator Anthony Musto who defeated her in a close Dem primary in 2008.

Former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy today will officially announce his candidacy for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. He’s been raising moolah as an exploratory candidate, but will now form a full-blown committee for governor under Connecticut’s dubious public financing system. It’s dubious because a federal judge ruled the state law violates the rights of minority-party candidates. The case is being reviewed by a federal appeals court, and legislators are looking at fixing the law. But will they?

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The Jail Bail, Plus: Botti’s Fat Mouth

March 9th, 2010 · 16 Comments · Development, Education, Events

Who gets the credit for vanquishing Jodi’s Jail? State Rep. Chris Caruso who led the initial opposition? Mayor Bill Finch who joined in when the neighborhood chorus against became ear-splitting, and put city lawyers on alert for a lawsuit? Jodi Rell herself for realizing that the state’s largest city has enough prisons?
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Bye Bye Jodi’s Jail?

March 8th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Development

It appears that Governor Jodi Rell has decided Bridgeport is not the place for a juvenile detention center for girls. She had proposed building a $20 million facility on state-owned property on Virginia Avenue, but then Upper East Side neighbors, led by State Rep. Chris Caruso, screamed no way.
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Bridge Over River Pequonnock, And Haywire Harkins

March 8th, 2010 · 11 Comments · Development, State Politics

Mayor Bill Finch and Congressman Jim Himes were joined today by a bunch of local officials at Knowlton Street and Crescent Avenue as demolition begins on the hulking upright leaves of the Congress Street Bridge.

This is a nice public relations hit for the mayor and congressman. The bridge represented a flashpoint in the 2008 congressional campaign when Himes conducted a press conference to illustrate a symbol of urban decay lacking priority by incumbent Chris Shays. Rule number one: never crash an opponent’s press conference, especially one so unknown at the time. Well, Shays did just that protesting to reporters and confronting Himes that demolition of the bridge was never conveyed as a priority by city leaders. Shays did Himes the biggest favor you can do: turning an ordinary story into a big one.
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Love Is In The Air, Acclaim For Mario, Plus: Shays On Sohn Plea, And Meet David Walker

March 5th, 2010 · 39 Comments · City Budget, City Council, City Politics, Education, Events, State Politics

Weekend Update: Can you believe it? Mario Testa was reelected by acclamation by the 90-member Democratic Town Committee Thursday night. No opposition. No screaming. No food fights at Mario’s restaurant. Yes, let’s all join hands and sing around the campfire. City politics has become a little too quiet. Please, someone start a good rumor. I’m getting ill. I may have to come out of retirement. (Don’t worry, the electorate is safe.)
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