5 p.m. update: Mayor Bill Finch has vetoed the City Council ordinance dissolving the Bridgeport Port Authority, joining Gov. Jodi Rell’s veto of state legislation that caused the city’s legislative body to take the action over loss of home rule. See the mayor’s statement below followed by Rell release regarding her veto:

Statement from Mayor Bill Finch Re: Port Authority Veto

“In anticipation of the Governor’s veto (today) of HB 6649, I have decided to veto the City Council’s vote to dissolve the Bridgeport Port Authority. I want to thank the Governor for listening to my concerns regarding this legislation, and I want to commend her for carrying the ball in vetoing this bill.

I respect the Council’s position on the performance of the Port Authority and appreciate their concerns. I believe that this is the best result, and one which will allow the City to maintain the measure of local control that is needed. We have worked and will continue to work with the Port Authority to ensure that the long-term plan for the City’s waterfront moves forward in a realistic and efficient manner in alignment with goals set forth by the City.”

Rell release

House Bill 6649, An Act Concerning the Programs and Activities of the Department of Transportation: This bill would have made several changes to statutes affecting the Department of Transportation, including amending the process for a municipality to terminate or modify a port authority and requiring the DOT to erect numerous signs naming roads, bridges, overpasses and other infrastructure. None of the provisions, the Governor said, are critical to the DOT’s daily operations and the proliferation of signs would be costly to install and maintain “at a time when significant financial challenges have made it necessary to implement reductions in the state fleet, designate furlough days and eliminate all non-essential contractual services,” the Governor wrote in her veto message.

The Governor said that since the DOT Commissioner’s approval is not necessary for the establishment of port authorities, it is incongruous that his approval is required for termination. She noted that the language, inserted last-minute into legislation by lobbyists, would have stripped the city of Bridgeport of its authority to terminate its port agency.

“We have historically allowed municipalities to form, modify and terminate various types of special districts without state interference,” Governor Rell said. “This process appears to have worked successfully since its inception and I see no reason to change the process now.”

 

Decisions, decisions

Just a few weeks away from the Democratic Town Committee endorsement session.  City Council and Board of Education seats are in play.

This is an off cycle for mayor who runs every four years.

For the BOE the Dems have two seats open. Max Medina, the long serving president of the BOE, will  not seek reelection, as well as John Olson.

Some of the names floated to fill those slots include retired Superior Court Judge Carmen Lopez, former City Clerk Tom Mulligan, former City Councilman Keith Cougar Rodgerson and Joe Giaquinto Jr. a resident of the Upper East Side who waged a close primary for City Council in 2007 against incumbents Bob Curwen and Rich Paoletto.

Curwen and Paoletto are being challenged in a September primary this year by long time city pol Andy Fardy, a retired city firefighter and Ann Barney, a 25-year employee of the BOE.

A retired educator, Giaquinto is a nice guy who taught English in city schools for several years in the 1970s before joining the Danbury public school system. His family has a long and distinguished history in the city. He is also a cousin of Bridgeport standout athlete Nick Giaquinto who played in the NFL.

On the Republican side, former State Senator Rob Russo will be running. He’ll get in as a result of state-mandated minority party representation.

News release from Jodi Rell

Governor Rell: Retirement Incentive Program Far Exceeds Goal - 3,856 Employees Leave State Service
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that a total of 3,856 state employees have left state service as a result of the Retirement Incentive Program she negotiated with state employee unions, far exceeding the cost-cutting program’s target of 3,000 retirements. Assuming that all other elements of the far-reaching agreement work as expected, overall savings to taxpayers are likely to be greater than the original estimate of $700 million.

The Retirement Incentive Program (RIP) is part of a comprehensive agreement Governor Rell negotiated with state employee bargaining units. It includes significant changes in employee health care and pension benefits and agreements in individual labor contracts that include wage freezes and furlough days for all state employees.

“The many years of service and dedication that the retiring employees have given to the people of Connecticut are deeply appreciated - and each of them will be missed,” Governor Rell said. “However, I am very pleased by the success of the RIP, which is critical to cutting the size and cost of state government. With our state continuing to feel the ravages of this global economic downturn, we must take every possible step to make Connecticut’s government more affordable for taxpayers.

“I have already taken steps to ensure that the savings we are achieving through the RIP will be preserved,” the Governor said. “The practice of rehiring retirees on 120-day contracts will be sharply curtailed. There have been too many reports of abusive ‘double-dipping,’ so all such contracts will have to be approved through my office and the retirees will come back at no more than 75 percent of their previous salary. Similarly, state agencies have already been given guidelines on how and when we will ‘refill’ positions left vacant by retirements.

“Those of us who remain state employees will continue to provide the superior service that Connecticut residents expect and demand,” Governor Rell said. “By severely restricting the rehires for these positions, we can ensure that our government is permanently smaller - and less expensive.”

Book It

THE BARNUM MUSEUM IS ONE OF 269 ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE
TO RECEIVE BIG READ GRANT FROM NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
Bridgeport and Shelton will be reading and celebrating “The Maltese Falcon”

by Dashiell Hammett during Big Read project

The Barnum Museum announced today that they have received a grant totaling $20,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to host The Big Read in the Cities of Bridgeport and Shelton . The museum will administer the grant and act as the host organization. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 30 selections from U.S. and world literature. This year’s Big Read will focus on “The Maltese Falcon,” by Dashiell Hammet and a variety of activities will take place from October 1 through November 24. More than 20 organizations are partnering this year to create innovative and engaging programming for a diverse audience.

The Barnum Museum is just one of 269 nonprofits–including arts, culture, and science organizations; libraries; and municipalities–to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2009 and June 2010. The latest Big Read grantees represent 44 states, the District of Columbia , and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the 2006 pilot program with ten participating organizations, the NEA has given more than 800 grants to support local Big Read projects.

“We are delighted to be participating for the third year in a row in The Big Read,” said Kathy Maher, Executive Director and Curator for The Barnum Museum. “Every year, I marvel at how reading one book contributes to unifying many of the people from both Bridgeport and Shelton . All of our differences seem to merge as we mutually experience and discuss those things that a great book offers.”

Some people were surprised when The Maltese Falcon, a detective novel, appeared on The Big Read list. Yes, it is a detective novel-one of the best ever written. It’s also a brilliant literary work, as well as a thriller, a love story and a dark, dry comedy. While Hammett’s private-eye classic is fun to read, it is also morally serious. While some of the language and popular expressions used in this 1930 novel may be unfamiliar today, they are wonderfully colorful. Detective Sam Spade becomes embroiled with a mysterious client, avenges the death of his partner, and chases a priceless treasure in this classic American private-eye novel.

A great book combines enlightenment with enchantment. It awakens our imagination and enlarges our humanity. It can even offer harrowing insights that somehow console and comfort us. Whether you’re a regular reader already or making up for lost time, participating in The Big Read will be a worthwhile experience.

 

Hey, you want to be executive director of the Bridgeport Port Authority?

If all goes according to plan, as of today, Joe Riccio is no longer serving in that role.  I’m betting with Riccio out the port authority lives. Another question: will Mayor Bill Finch seek to overhaul the five-member commission? The mayor has a couple of picks on that board that must be approved by the City Council, in addition to whoever is city development director.

Riccio earned $119k a year, so the job pays enough to attract representative experience.

Former Director of Economic Development Nancy Hadley (under John Fabrizi) has both her supporters and detractors on OIB. She’s well regarded in the city’s business community, not so in the political community. Nancy, as they say, breaks a lot of china, but that’s not such a bad thing. Finch replaced her with Don Eversley who spent a few years as a development official in Providence, including other places.

Finch is close with Mike Freimuth, development director under Joe Ganim. Freimuth has had that role in Stamford for several years. Would Mikey come back to play? That prehistoric noise you just heard was Freimuth saying, Lennie, leave me alone. But Freimuth is honest and smart, knows the territory and also knows how to navigate the political process.

John Bucky Marsilio, one of the most effective department heads in the history of the city when he served as director of Public Facilities under Joe Ganim, would add a lot to the job. The city got cleaned up under Bucky’s leadership, he understands infrastructure and he understands development. And the thing about Marsilio that makes him so valuable is his ability to maximize revenues.

Do you know why the city now receives millions more a year in taxes from the regional garbage plant in the West End? It was Marsilio who came up with the idea to lobby state legislation to make the plant pay full taxes when it had paid a fraction of the total for the prior 25 years. Not Joe Ganim, not John Fabrizi, not Bill Finch and not anyone in the city’s legislative delegation came up with the idea. It was Marsilio.

Whether Hadley, Freimuth or Marsilio, lots of brain power out there to help the city. Hopefully, the mayor will start using it.

With the current budget crunch, Finch has so few discretionary appointments to fill. I cannot imagine the mayor and Chief of Staff Adam Wood not running the selection process for a new executive director, be it a pol or a professional.

So, who’s on your list to take over?

If you want to know just what an executive director of the BPA does, see areas of responsibilities and interests from the Bridgeport Port Authority website:

Created in 1993 by City ordinance and State Statute, the Bridgeport Port Authority’s mission is to promote trade and commerce, develop and promote port facilities within the Port District. Its main functions are to:

To provide secure docks, terminals and structures for passengers, customers, workers and users of Bridgeport Port Authority owned facilities, in accordance with the standards of the Coast Guard Maritime Security (”MARSEC”) guidelines.

Promote global trade and transportation to and from the Port of Bridgeport.

Provide Foreign Trade Zone Opportunities. The BPA is the grantee for Foreign Trade Zone number 76.

Oversee, stimulate and encourage new development initiatives for the Ports of Bridgeport which stimulate job growth and tax revenues

Connecticut’s Port of Bridgeport, located in the heart of the most densely populated region in the United States, provides an accessible and non-congested gateway to the entire Northeast. The BPA through its management initiatives is committed to serving the needs of the global business community and to passengers seeking alternative means of transportation from Connecticut to other points along the east coast.

BPA Activities:

Bridgeport Port Authority

Is committed to the vision that the Bridgeport Harbor is an important economic development asset for the City, the Region and the State.

Develops projects and practices that will help reduce congestion and exhaust emissions along Interstate-95 in Connecticut

Incorporates green technologies and practices in its port activities

Is expanding ferry services to provide a High-Speed Ferry for commuters

Keeps the Port secure, directly impacting the safety of the power plant, railroad lines and Interstate 95

Pursued dredging of Bridgeport Harbor to restore Federal Channel to its authorized depth

Is a Quasi-Public entity with a long term vision for Bridgeport’s ports and facilities

Oversee redevelopment of Union Square Dock and Ferry Terminal (now know as an as the Water Street Dock and Ferry Terminal)
Remove the operation of a Port from day-to-day City operations and politics (Don’t ya just love that one?)

Is responsible for the construction of a ferry terminal building at the Water Street Dock that accommodates more than 1 million passengers and visitors annually (approx. cost $3.3 million)

Responsible for reconstruction and improvements to the Water Street Terminal bulkhead and Ferry Dock (approx. $2.85 million)

News release from Jim Himes

Himes Announces Health Center Modernization Funding
Three Southwest CT Community Health Centers to Receive $2.8 million in Recovery Act Grants

Washington, DC - Congressman Jim Himes announced today that three health centers in southwestern Connecticut will receive grants through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. The grants are for construction, repair, and renovation, including modernizing usage of information technology.

“These funds will be used to repair our ailing community health centers and prepare them for the future,” said Congressman Himes. “The hospitals receiving these grants will put people back to work and invest in more efficient responses to health care needs in southwestern Connecticut.

The Norwalk Community Health Center will receive $250,000, Optimus Health Care in Bridgeport will receive $1,763,750, and Southwest Community Center in Bridgeport will receive $801,110.

The Recovery Act’s Capital Investment Program grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records. For more information on the Recovery Act, see www.recovery.gov or www.ct.gov/recovery.

News release from Mayor Finch

City Begins Demolition of Five Blighted Properties

Fire-damaged 563 Stillman St. first to fall

BRIDGEPORT, CT (June 29, 2009) - Demolition crews hired by the City today began tearing down the first of five blighted properties that are scheduled to come down during the next month.

Mayor Bill Finch and Councilwoman Maria Valle, D-137, joined neighbors of 563 Stillman St. Monday morning to watch as Industrial Wrecking, Inc., began its work. The property has been unoccupied since a fire destroyed the six-family house two years ago.

“Blighted properties take a toll on the neighborhoods and my administration is working on tearing these buildings down and finding new and appropriate uses for them, ” said Mayor Bill Finch. “We want to encourage private developers and nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity, to create low and moderate-income, owner-occupied housing to take the place of what we’ve knocked down.”

“The Mayor and the City deserve credit for seeing this project through. It is important to continue this work in our neighborhood,” said Valle.

The City will use approximately $172,000 from its capital bonding funds to pay for the demolition and cleanup work on the five properties listed below, and a sixth, at 480 Clinton Ave , which has been delayed until after a hearing before the Stratfield Historic District on July 7.

Below is a listing of the properties and the scheduled dates for demolition:

Week of June 29 - 563 Stillman St. and 983 Kossuth St .

July 6 - 37 and 45 Revere St .

July 15 - 309 Carroll Ave.

Each demolition is scheduled to take from 4 to 5 days from knockdown to cleanup of the site.

 News release from Wholesome Wave Foundation

Wholesome Wave Foundation Launches

Park City Harvest Program as Part of “Nourishing Neighborhoods” Campaign

Neighborhood Farm Stand Program, in partnership with the City of Bridgeport Health and Social Services Department, Brings Healthy, Affordable Produce to Underserved Bridgeport Communities

On July 1, Wholesome Wave Foundation, founded to make locally grown, healthy sustainable foods available to all communities, will launch its first Neighborhood Farm Stand Program with the grand opening of its Park City Harvest pilot program at the Bridgeport Health Department, 752 East Main Street in Bridgeport Connecticut’s East Side. The Neighborhood Farm Stand Program is one of three farm-to-community programs under Wholesome Wave Foundation’s “Nourishing Neighborhoods” campaign umbrella, which was created by chef and sustainable food advocate Michel Nischan and Wholesome Wave Chairman Gus Schumacher.

“The City of Bridgeport , through its Health and Social Services Department, is delighted to partner with the Wholesome Wave Foundation to bring fresh, green, and healthy foods to the tables of the residents of Bridgeport especially in these economic times,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “Making a coupon or voucher double its worth by stretching to feed more Bridgeport families is exactly what we should be doing right now. This one small program will touch thousands of lives.”

Wholesome Wave Foundation is launching its first Neighborhood Farm Stand Program deep within underserved Bridgeport , Connecticut communities. The Park City Harvest farm stand pilot program, supported by the Double Value Coupon Program, will have a multitude of positive effects on the communities it reaches.

Explains Nischan: “This “Nourishing Neighborhoods” program is a five-fold stimulus. First, it creates fresh produce availability in “food deserts”; second, it develops local jobs to manage neighborhood “market” stands; third, it improves well-being by offering healthier food choices to vulnerable families; fourth, it provides income support to the farmers selling in these neighborhoods; and finally it serves as a solid investment in reducing future health care costs by decreasing the growing diabetes and obesity problem.”

The July 1st grand opening of the Park City Harvest program will include demonstrations on how to use the produce bought at the market by Chef Peter Gorman of The Unquowa School in Fairfield , Conn. ; a nutritionist commenting on the foods prepared; AmeriChoice by United Healthcare passing out jump ropes, healthy snacks and exercise flyers and much more. Festivities begin at 11:00 a.m.

“Good nutrition is the cornerstone and foundation for tackling all of the major chronic disease conditions and also one of our greatest health disparities,” said Dr. Marian Evans, M.D., Director of Health and Social Services, City of Bridgeport . “We are happy to have the City of Bridgeport named as part of this wonderful program that is reaching people throughout the nation. It is also a part of Mayor Finch’s goals and objectives in ‘greening’ the city, creating employment, and developing healthier lifestyles for our citizens.”

The Park City Harvest program was made possible through the volunteer work of the members of the Healthy Bridgeport Alliance, founded to make healthful, locally grown food available to those in Bridgeport who need it most.

In addition to the Neighboorhood Farm Stand Program, the other farm-to-community “Nourishing Neighborhood” programs are its innovative Double Value Coupon Program and Market Box Nutrition Program. The Double Value Coupon Program doubles hunger relief benefits when recipients use them to purchase healthful, fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets in or near their neighborhoods. The Market Box Nutrition Program was launched at the Norwalk Community Health Center (NCHC) by Wholesome Wave, which purchases surplus fruits and vegetables from farmers and delivers boxes of produce at an affordable and subsidized cost to families that have little access to fresh food.

About Wholesome Wave Foundation:

Michel Nischan, President/CEO of Wholesome Wave Foundation, is chef/author/food advocate and a leader in the sustainable food movement. He founded Wholesome Wave Foundation - with seed funding from the Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation - in an effort to make locally grown, sustainable foods available to all. Nischan is a 2008 James Beard Foundation Award winner for his work on the PBS series, Victory Garden and author of two best-selling cookbooks - Taste Pure and Simple; Chronicle Books 2003 (a Beard award winner in 2004) and Homegrown Pure and Simple; Chronicle Books 2005. He serves on the boards of the Amazon Conservation Team, the James Beard Foundation and Harvard’s Center for Health and the Global Environment.

Statement, invitation from union rep

Please join the Bridgeport Community this Wednesday, July 1, 2009 from 11am -3pm as we come together to support the workers at Price Rite, located at 164 Boston Ave. in Bridgeport, as they come together to demand the freedom to choose a union and improve their jobs without company interference.

Many workers have been harassed, threatened, and even demoted when they tried to simply form a union. Price Rite makes millions of dollars in Bridgeport, shouldn’t they at least let the workers decide for themselves if they want a union without interference?

Join us, as we sign a community letter to Price Rite asking them to ensure that workers have the freedom to choose to join a union, do they can bargain for the kind of hours, wages, and benefits that help so many working families in Bridgeport.

See you there!

Sincerely,
Jorge Cabrera
UFCWIU
Region 1, Northeastern
202-674-0760

PS–I encourage you to visit www.wakefernworkersunited.org for more information about this important campaign.

 

noon update: The Bridgeport Port Authority and its Executive Director Joe Riccio have agreed to part ways effective Tuesday.

OIB friend Denis O’Malley, chairman of the port authority board, disclosed today that Riccio has agreed to a six-month severance of  approximately $58,000. Under the terms of Riccio’s employment contract he was scheduled to be paid until October 2010. He earned roughly $119k yearly. O’Malley statement:

Due to a dispute over the proposed legislation affecting the Bridgeport Port Authority and local control, the Bridgeport Port Authority and its Executive Director Joseph Riccio have mutually agreed to part company as of June 30, 2009.

Riccio had come under fire after port authority lobbyist Jay Malcynsky spliced language on to a bill in the last days of the regular legislative session that gave the state Department of Transportation final say over the dissolution of the port authority.

This threw many City Council members into a fit over loss of home rule and, as a result, the city’s legislative body voted to disband the port authority before a gubernatorial signature could sign the state measure into law. The local legislation, however, has not been signed by Mayor Bill Finch who has reservations about dissolving the quasi city agency. Riccio’s departure could sway the mayor to veto the city ordinance and influence appointment of a new executive director, especially if legislators in Hartford move forward with reversing the state legislation.

The five-member port authority board has moved in earnest to keep the agency afloat. And this latest move leading to Riccio’s departure is an effort to persuade city officials to repair rather than dissolve the port authority. City Economic Development director Don Eversley is also a member of the board.

Port authority supporters, including the city’s former Director of Economic Development Nancy Hadley, say the port authority access to funding sources is key to furthering waterfront improvements.

Riccio was represented in negotiations by former Mayor Tom Bucci an experienced labor attorney. Had Riccio been terminated for cause, for not seeking board approval regarding the state legislation, a nasty legal battle could have erupted with the port authority paying out much more than $58k.

The settlement with Riccio also saves tons in legal costs. Under the terms of the general agreement signed by Riccio he’ll be out as executive director on Tuesday and he’ll receive his negotiated severance by the end of the week.

Clean It Up!

Prodded by Bob from BePo, we’re launching Clean It Up! a feature from our days at the Bridgeport Light, a community weekly paper that took on illegal dumpers, filthy establishments and yes even a few that featured the word reputed in front of their name. 

Residents on the East Side have been complaining about Club SIXXat 2536 East Main Street, a dance bar with ear-splitting music and patrons that spill out into the street. 

It’s located in the former Fitzwilly’s. For you nostalgia buffs the old Fairway. The club also has some issues pending before the state Liquor Control Division, according to website minutes of the state Department of Consumer Protection.

Andy Fardy, a candidate for City Council in the 138thCity Council District, (along with other residents) is trying to get the restaurant to clean up its act. As Fardy points out:

News release from The Gallery at Black Rock

Peter Konsterlie: Directional Prada

Opening July 17, 2009 - August 28, 2009
The Gallery at Black Rock

The Gallery at black Rock is pleased to present Directional Prada, Peter Konsterlie’s one-man show opening July 24,2009. Konsterlie’s work in directional Prada explores the themes of branding and its relevance to contemporary artists and how they relate to the need for artists to have a “brand” to continue doing what they love. He seeks to delve into what a “Konsterlie painting” is about.

Konsterlie’swork blends figurative representational line drawing, with abstracted patterns and visual signposts. The power of pattern and repeated design are hallmarks of the Konsterlie painting. He believes strongly in the visual power of repeated drips pattern. Gestural strokes of paint and repeated create pattern and texture Directional symbols draw the eye to points of imagination, significant and not.

In several paintings Peter uses anatomical figures and images from popular culture to create a dialogue on the subject of mortality and the medical experience.

Bring your eyeballs.

The show will have an opening reception on July 24th from 6 pm until 9 pm
The Show runs through August 21st 2009