If you had a vote in the state legislature, facing a massive budget deficit, would you vote to increase taxes or gut government? Or perhaps a combination of the two?
I’m asking because what pols do in Hartford will certainly impact what happens in the state’s largest city. For the most part, Bridgeport officials say that Governor Jodi Rell’s budget, although painful, doesn’t bludgeon state funding to the city. Yes, prospective bonding authorization under the governor’s plan such as funding for the Congress Street Bridge will be pulled back, but she hasn’t blowtorched city funding, and the infrastructure pullback could be replaced by Barack’s stimulus package.
Clearly, the Democratic-controlled legislature will jerk around her budget and there is a concern in City Hall that the Democratic majority may not be so sensitive to Connecticut’s largest cities. For instance, why would some state senator from Brooklyn, CT (yes, there is such a place northeast of us) who happens to be senate leader, give two shits about Bridgeport?
Yes, Don Williams is a Democrat, the cities suffer social and expense burdens escaping the suburbs, so he’d be sensitive to Bridgeport, right? Not at the expense of his rural base. Dems control the legislature, but Democratic suburban and rural pols such as Williams control the agenda.
For all of State Rep. Chris Caruso’s seniority in Hartford, almost 20 years now, he has failed to become a major player directing funds to the city. Can you think of anyone else in the city’s legislative delegation that has juice? The delegation has three new faces this session, representing nearly half the delegation. Realistically, what can they deliver?
That’s why Mayor Bill Finch will be working overtime trying to persuade whatever friends he has in the legislature not to screw the city. And the budget he eventually submits to the City Council in April will be a leap of faith because the state legislature’s session runs into June.
Overall, Connecticut is the highest-taxed state in the country. Income tax, sales tax, gas tax, business taxes; to go along with local property taxes and auto taxes.
Will decision-makers in the legislature cut the state work force or cut funding to the cities? Or do what they do so often, raise taxes?
By the way, not that he doesn’t have his own issues in federal government, if you want to meow to Congressman Jim Himes about all of this he will host the grand opening of his Bridgeport office, 211 State Street, 2nd floor on Thursday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
News release from Mayor Finch
15 Faith-Based Organizations Receive Grant Awards from Bridgeport Advancing Capacity Together (ACT)
Mayor Finch recognizes work to help end homelessness
BRIDGEPORT, CT (Feb. 18, 2009) – Mayor Bill Finch recognized the efforts of 15 local faith-based organizations by awarding grants ranging from $8,000 to $20,000 from Bridgeport Advancing Capacity Together (ACT) program. ACT is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant-funded program to build capacity in local faith-based organizations that serve those who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The event took place on Tuesday at Taste and See Outreach Ministries, Inc., in Bridgeport, one of the 15 grant recipients.
“The City of Bridgeport is proud to partner with the Compassion Capital Fund and HHS, United Way , The Council of Churches, duBay-Horton Associates and The Workplace, Inc to provide funding to these organizations that are helping to bring an end to poverty in our city and the surrounding towns,” said Mayor Finch . “I am pleased to present the first-round grant awards, which will help these 15 organizations an opportunity to build their capacity to more effectively serve Bridgeport residents. This program, along with the City’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, is part of a concerted effort on the part of the City of Bridgeport to bring an end to poverty in our city.”
Over the next three years, ACT will offer 60 faith-based and community-based organizations admission into the program through an RFP process. The purpose of the program is to provide technical assistance to strengthen the administrative, financial and operational capacities of these organizations. The program consists of an intensive organizational assessment, an individualized technical assistance work plan and a comprehensive classroom-based workshop series designed to address capacity needs. In addition, organizations will be eligible to access specialized capacity building assistance through a sub-award process.
“Community-based organizations are a critical piece of our economic well-being, and I applaud these organizations–and the City of Bridgeport–for their work to make Bridgeport a great place to live and do business,” said Congressman Jim Himes (D-4). “I look forward to working together to help move Bridgeport forward.”
The 15 participating organizations at today’s event will receive a total of $237,023. Over the course of four rounds of funding, $1.8 million dollars of funding–$1.5 million in federal funds and $300,000 dollars of matching funds from the City’s Community Development Block Grant funds–will be distributed among organizations that apply. The funds also will be used for classroom capacity workshop series, individual organizational assessments and for development of technical assistance plans for participating organizations’ board and policy development.
Round 2 applicants will be announced in March. Applications for Round 3 will be available in June 2009. Please contact the Council of Churches at 203-334-1121 for further information or visit the ACT website at www.bridgeportact.org.
Participants are as follows:
A Different Perspective, Inc.
Alpha Community Services
Bread of Heaven Ministry, Inc.
Bridgeport YMCA
Center for Women and Families
Fairfield ‘08
Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises
Hall Neighborhood House
Jesus Saves Ministry
Miracle House
Operation Hope
Pivot Ministries
ReFocus Outreach Ministry
St. John’s Family Center
Taste and See Outreach Ministries, Inc
Lennie,
Last week you were praising the mayor more for sucking up to the guv and basically bashing his former colleagues for the unfunded mandates that he himself voted for and NOW you expect him to run up to Hartford and beg these same people to bail him out?
I am sure that the mayor will have no problem doing this but Lennie I hear that the people up in Hartford are really getting tired of his act.
The election of our delegation always misses out on the point that we are sending less-than-qualified people to Hartford. Our representatives and senators are for the most part inexperienced and carry no weight in Hartford. Take Caruso out of the picture and our next most senior rep is Clemons. Here is a case of an empty suit. What important committees is he on? What kind of power does he have in Hartford?
We got rid of Keeley who was chairmen of the Bond Committee and for better or worse he did have some power in Hartford. Now in his place we have Auden Grogins who has her own agenda. She is one of three new representatives we sent to Hartford. They will get nothing done for Bridgeport. Senator Gomes could do something if he would just stop talking and going out to dinner. We are screwed and we just don’t know it.
To Lennie’s point, I had a long conversation with a friend who was a state rep from Simsbury regarding what I felt (and still do) on how unfair the car insurance rates were to cities; that the legislature had to do something because the CT State Insurance Commissioner was in the bag.
In no uncertain terms, he told me fair or unfair did not matter. Neither he as a Republican or any of his Democratic suburban counterparts would do anything that would raise suburban car insurance rates even a fraction.
If you’ll remember Lennie, over a burger & beer after a round of very mediocre golf (on my part), I suggested that Joe Ganim should join with all the other cities in the state in a class action suit against the CT Insurance Commission.
However that was right about the time he was thinking about running for governor … Why piss off the suburbs!
Denis, one would think that someone in Hartford would at least propose a moratorium on the section of the state statute mandating auto insurance coverage on Connecticut registered vehicles. I’m sure there are people out there who have lost their jobs and can’t afford the minimum insurance requirement as a consequence. Once the insurance company notifies the state DMV of a policy cancellation, it proceeds to suspend the registration if proof of insurance is not submitted to DMV. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down. Remember that these are the same folks (those elected) that complain about federal government unfunded mandates.
*** If I had a vote, I would vote to do both; increase certain taxes & gut certain Gov. programs, depts. and streamline state government, etc. *** Now that Amann is history Bpt. legislators are doomed; Caruso & Hennessy are not liked. The rest are either still getting their feet wet or just hopeless, as far as what important legislation they can achieve by themselves or as a group! And that’s assuming that they can & want to get together as a united group in something positive! The only ace in the sleeve Bpt. has is State Senate leader D. Williams that used to be buddies with Finch back in the day. How & where that relationship has gone since Finch became Mayor will depend on just how much help Bpt. will get. Other than that, Bpt. once again with one of the largest legislation representation up in Hartford, is still one of the weakest in bringing home the bacon! Sad but true & has been that way for a while, but now, “forget about it”! We are “Doomed” & will continue to be, due to the local choices made by the District Dem. local town committees & endorsments by the entire Bpt. Dem. town committee as a whole. ***
I am surprised no one picked up on Fabs spending $32,000.00 on office furniture as it was reported in Saturday’s newspaper.
Did he really need to do that?
Did he really need to do that?
Of course not. Just like he did not have to and should not have bought the Bookmobile from Seattle for $100k and have it shipped all the way on a flatbed truck.
Where is that pig today? (I mean the Bookmobile …)
*** The bookmobile was purchased by DiNardo Inc. & donated to the city of Bpt.; not by Fabrizi & the city! ***
Some of Governor Rell’s most drastic proposed spending cuts involve services to the elderly, the poor and the infirm. Didn’t hear about it? Préparez vous mouchoir, mes chers et chéries. You will need them “if you’re a single mom on Medicaid. Or dying of HIV/AIDS and in need of a caregiver. Or an emergency-room patient who needs an interpreter.” (I’m quoting this from Andy Bromage’s fine article in the Weekly.)
“The wealthiest residents, meanwhile, aren’t being asked to sacrifice much of anything, except maybe a few extra bucks for a driver’s license.”
Does any of that sound fair? Why are the poor and less fortunate being made to suffer even more indignities than we already have to suffer? Does anyone know what it’s like to be homeless? I do. And I know who my real friends are, the folks who were decent enough to actually give a shit by reaching out a helping hand with a few dollars, a place to crash for a couple of nights, a meal, a cup of coffee. Most of the people who have lent a hand are people whose living situation is only marginally better than mine, because they know what it’s like. There have been a few so-called “friends” like the asshole that had the audacity to inform me that all of my problems are “self-inflicted” (after lying to my face about offering to assist with a job and a place to stay) or the self-important jerk who told me “all you really need is a job”. Gee, thanks. I never thought of that. I’m only poor, not stupid. Thank you for your sensitivity.
I went to a homeless outreach fair at United Congregational Church today, at the corner of Park Avenue and State Street. Several organizations had booths set up to address specific issues: mental health, substance addiction and abuse, housing, etc. Some of the programs were “faith based,” as Bush Lite euphemistically referred to them. (For the most part the attendees steered well clear of them, including yours truly. We know from personal experience that God moves mountains and a man has to bring the shovel, so the claims that Jesus will make everything all better–as though He were a magic tiki doll–don’t hold much truck.) Connecticut Works was represented. Boy, oh boy, did they have a boatload of good stuff to offer, classes on how to use PowerPoint, how to write a résumé, interview skills, etc. (AND we got a nifty ballpoint pen!) Most of that is fine and good–many of the men in the shelter I’ve been staying at do not possess any of those skills. What we all need is a job, an opportunity to earn a living and experience the feeling of contributing to society once again. None of that other stuff matters. (And I’m still trying to fathom exactly how learning to produce a PowerPoint presentation is going to be of any help to a person that has neither PC skills or a PC and is looking for a menial job …)
There are many men and women that have turned homeless into a lifestyle choice and are content to eat in soup kitchens and seek medical care from free clinics. I’m not one of them, and I’ve met several others who are not. I am working and would love nothing more than to find a better-paying job. The economy is making it tougher for people in my position to do that, unfortunately. And a self-important asshole had the nerve to tell me that all of my problems were “self-inflicted.” As if all those subprime mortgages issued by predatory lenders are MY fault. As if the listing economy is my fault.
I feel you kid! Not the way you’d like, but I feel you.
I wonder if wondering is wondering how these 15 organizations were selected and if they will ever be audited before funds are originally provided or after they have been used?
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he shall eat for a lifetime.
Where’s The Juice? The one thing that O.J. Simpson “The Juice” and the Bridgeport delegation “The Juiceless” have in common is that they are both as ineffective as incarcerated people.
The Bridgeport delegation has an advantage despite the fact that the Democratic majority may not be so sensitive to Connecticut’s largest city. Senator Musto can do just as some state senator from Brooklyn, CT (City Kitty, the Brooklyn Bridge is not in Connecticut) would do. Musto can align himself with Governor Jodi Rell–giving her veto power–and let Don Williams come to his senses on his own.
Is the Governor one (1) Senator short of the power to veto?
Joel you know damn well the squeaky wheel gets the oil. This is the liberal way to feel good and think they are doing something swell. This is like using a spoon to bail out the Titanic. Audit??? Not a chance. You see if you throw out a little money you can say at least you did something. Knowing all along you were just doing a CYA.
Lennie, I think you know what would happen If I were in Hartford and yelled “cut”. I’d probably be tackled and led away in handcuffs by Capitol Police.
I’d cut like a Hollywood movie director. I’d cut like a Gillette Quattro. I’d cut like a modern Bridgeport cocaine dealer. I’d cut like Bridgeport high school students. I’d cut like Finch cutting NAGE membership. I’d cut like I was City Kitty cutting the hair of the first customer in three months.
Jesus Joel, I’m covering up in fear of my twins getting cut.
Don’t worry Lennie, been there done that! Just take a look here:
video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=ae001ff4-b934-465d-87a1-286d8e5cd12d&playlist=videoByTag:tag:news_u.s.+news:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:mk:us:sf:ActiveStartDate:vs:0&from=MSNHP&tab=s3>1=42003
The world is in a financial crisis … our state is in a financial crisis … our Hartford delegation is trying to get blood from a stone … and people on this blog are trashing our delegation who I am sure are doing their damnedest to extract the blood from the governor’s stones … do walk a mile in their shoes before blog trashing … okay?
Leave the blood extracting to the pros at the Red Cross.
More on Dodd’s deeds.
www .connpost.com/ci_11733945
Bpts Finest: Every 2 years we have an election and send people to Hartford to do our business and bring monies back to Bridgeport. At the end of every session they come back to Bridgeport with less monies than Hartford, New Haven & Stamford.
This delegation is among the most disliked in Hartford. Look at who we send, Caruso almost 20 years experience and no important chairmanships or committees. Hennessy several terms and nothing from him. When was the last time you read about Hennessy and what he has done in Hartford?
Clemons other than being the leader of the Black Caucus you never hear what he has brought to Bridgeport. We have 3 new legislators who need to learn the ropes but their performance on the council does not hold out much hope.
Gomes, a BS artist and everyone’s friend produces nothing.
Finest if you want to hold a pity party for this group have at it.