UPDATE: See commentary section, Walker FBI posting.
David Walker, the former U.S. Comptroller General, certainly pays a whole lot in taxes for his waterfront home in Black Rock as well as his 2008 Porsche registered in the city, but his critics wonder if he’s paying all he’s supposed to pay, particularly a Jeep Liberty with Virginia plate CG 007. Walker, a blunt critic of Mayor Bill Finch’s taxing policies, pays roughly $34,000 a year in property taxes on his house with that amount certain to increase under the mayor’s budget proposal. He pays $1,691 in taxes on his Porsche, according to city tax records. The Walker household also has a 2012 Ford Escape registered in the city with an $837 tax bill.
OIB asked Walker about the Jeep with the Virginia plate after a Walker critic forwarded an image of the vehicle in his driveway. Walker’s email response:
I have two vehicles registered in Bridgeport. They are by far the most expensive vehicles of the three we own. I have one registered in VA because we have a second home there. It is a 2003 Jeep Liberty that we bring up to Bridgeport for the winter months since it’s a four-wheel drive. It is in Virginia for over six months a year which is why it is registered there.
According to the city of Bridgeport website under scofflaws, a motor vehicle registered in another state but housed or garaged in Connecticut for three months is taxable locally.
“Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 203” requires that Motor Vehicles registered in other states but “housed or garaged” in Connecticut for 3 months are taxable in our state, and must be declared as personal property annually; and that failure to declare subjects the owner to penalties and multiple year assessments, and will result in the issuance of an infraction notice. If you are living in Bridgeport, Connecticut please register your MV with the State of CT as required by law per (including but not limited to C.G.S. §14-12 and §14-12a), immediately!
So city tax authorities would need evidence that Walker housed/garaged the vehicle in Bridgeport for three months.
Walker, a national financial watchdog who spoke often of a national financial collapse before it happened, has recently turned his attention to the city as an incubator for the plight of urban areas. He’s a key figure in the formation of Citizens Working for a Better Bridgeport, a coalition of neighborhood activists lobbying for passage of a state bill that would bar city employees from serving on the City Council as well as an emerging voice protesting the mayor’s budget proposal.
Walker moved to Bridgeport a few years ago purchasing the waterfront home of Chris Shays, the former congressman defeated by Jim Himes in 2008. Walker is the founder of the Comeback America Initiative seeking solutions to America’s budget crisis.
More on Walker here.
More on city scofflaws here.
If Walker lived in Greenwich, that same house would be taxed at $23,380.
Gee I wonder who this unnamed person was who took the picture of David Walker’s vehicle. Could it be a member of the Finch Mafia?
David Walker does not need me to defend him but I have to wonder is this what happens when you go up against this administration? I guess so. I wonder if I am next. If I am bring it on!!! Finch, make sure your house is in order if you want to play hardball. Hey Adam, is your house in order? This is a bunch of cheap bullshit pure and simple. You want to stop us from trying to make Bridgeport a better place to live. You won’t stop us from trying to help ALL people in Bridgeport.
I have to wonder why a Jeep is so important to the Finch administration. Is it going to make that much of a difference in the city’s taxes?
I put a towel over my Puerto Rico license plates. Any pictures of Sal DiNardo properties?
The Tax Dept. keeps sending me a tax bill every two years on a CAR I never owned!
The dumb bastards have been doing this for over ten years now. DiNardo never pays his taxes, send that asshole a bill.
Seems like Mr. Walker go caught. This is the loudmouth who was yelling and screaming at the snow meeting louder than anyone yet he has a car garaged here illegally registered in another state. Ignorance of the law is no excuse Mr. Walker especially from someone like yourself who claims to know everything. I don’t know who is worse, you or Finch.
BRG,
Read the article instead of tripping over your opinions.
Legally registered in another state where he has a home and where the car is garaged the majority of the year.
Two cars, each more expensive than the four-wheel drive SUV in the picture, are registered in CT at a home where there are two drivers.
Walker, ignorant of tax law? Doubtful. And your own dumfounding statement you can’t tell the difference between Walker and Finch means you need to turn on whatever brain cells remain “before” you write on OIB.
I am a neighbor of Walker and saw how his driveway managed to get cleared by public trucks very early on Tuesday AM after the storm (though they did pile some snow mounds onto a hedgerow). On the other hand the plow left me stranded as the last driveway on Beacon not cleared. That led observant neighbors to speculate on whether this was one of those amazing coincidences or just a Finch form of payback. Probably will never know as Tuesday afternoon snow was removed from Beacon St, Beacon Court, Penfield Place and the end of Seabright where it meets Beacon by Captain’s Cove equipment. I was not surprised to see two of those streets along with Hackley and some other citizen-cleared streets NOT ON THE LIST of cleared streets the City promptly took down so the public could not see what they had missed. So my snow shovel is still out as a reminder of how poorly Mayor Finch can behave before, during and after a case of mismanagement of public service. Time will tell.
John, maybe you should stop tripping all over yourself while you try to kiss Mr. Walker’s behind. If the car is here over three months it is taxable here PERIOD! Nobody gives a damn about your snow shovel … my next-door neighbor is an EMT who with her coworkers had to go blocks in through the snow on the East End to bring patients to the ambulance so spare us the sob story of poor Mr. Walker who owns three cars and houses in two states. And BTW most people don’t bother reading your articles anymore since they are very long-winded.
BRG,
Stop reading them. Won’t bother me one bit. People are reading them and THAT IS WHAT BOTHERS YOU, isn’t it?
I suggest my snow shovel, as a symbol of what Finch decisions delivered to everybody including the EMT workers, is memorable at the moment. It resonates because lots of people had to shovel snow. And now we have to step through piles of stuff you leave on this site, to post the heavy lifting required because our Council members are not up to the task after failing to strengthen financial monitoring and independent reviews for far too long.
And now you have read about THREE MONTHS of garaging a car before it becomes taxable in Bridgeport, has Walker had the vehicle up here that long? Or is that duty above your pay grade? Do you just get up to spew anger and vitriol?
Finally, if anyone has a respectful relationship with another neighbor, citizen, is the role of ass-kissing the only model you can think about? How much ass-kissing have you been subjected to, to cause this aberrant focus? Were you abused as a youth or adult? It makes your comments no less unpleasant but at least it begins to explain your attitude with most of the world through the words you use on OIB. Time will tell.
Another posting from Sominex John …
Tee Heee Heeee
I actually know for a fact David has two vehicles he keeps “garaged” here in Bridgeport. One of which is conveniently cropped out of this photo. Both of the vehicles that are registered in CT and garaged in Bridgeport are worth FAR more than the Jeep depicted here. Let’s take the Connecticut registered silver Ford Escape Hybrid that is sitting real pretty to the right of the Jeep in the driveway for one. Do you see it? Yeah, me too. And the article already addressed the Porsche.
Dave pays his share of taxes. Let’s get real. Try something better next time. This looks and smells exactly like what it is. A very lame attempt to divert attention from the fact there is a voice people are listening to saying things that make sense, at a time when the Finch administration is vulnerable and the City Council even more so.
Honestly, I think Dave would rather pay the taxes he does NOT owe for this than put any energy into trying to defend this ridiculous, petty and obvious hissy fit. NEXT.
He should pay his taxes on the vehicle … he sounds like another rich guy who tries to get away with not paying taxes on something. I hope they put the boot on his car.
Maybe our taxes wouldn’t be so high if so many people didn’t do what Walker does and register their cars out of state.
Where were you when one of your council people didn’t pay his car taxes for a number of years? Sounds to me like you have a personal vendetta against Mr.Walker. The many has two residences and brings the four-wheeler up here for the winter. BFD, which means Big Fu**ing Deal.
Sorry Andy but I don’t have time to go around Black Rock inspecting license plates, the city should be doing that. AND it is a big f-ing deal. First of all according to state law as mentioned in Lennie’s article it should have been registered here and I bet it was up here for more than six months out of the year. When we have people with old beaters getting booted for a few hundred dollars it is offensive he gets away with it. And he is not the only one.
Do you think we should give him a volume discount on his taxes? Obviously if the jeep is taxable in B’port then he is NOT paying his share of taxes. It would be nice if you showed the same concern for the people in say the East End who struggle to pay $200 car tax bills.
BRG,
Very lame. Judging by the nastiness and bile you spew so regularly, you must live a very lonely, bitter life.
Give Walker a break. This seems more than reasonable.
Lame describes the postings of Walker’s defenders and his lame excuse for avoiding paying taxes on his vehicle. Walker is the one who is reminding us constantly he was a high-ranking govt official and we all have to bow down to his every word. The only people who seem to be impressed with him are the kaffee klatsch people at Harborview Market including the long-winded man with the snow shovel.
The only thing the snobs do in mayoral elections is guarantee the Machine’s victory.
No one knows or cares who Foster or Walker is. Last election proved that.
The Machine did not win its referendum in November and much was invested in that goal.
Can anyone point me to a listing of the current Capital Budget on the City web site? The best I found was for 2011. And where is the School Building Construction Committee listed? Or the Technical Review Committee, the Capital Finance Committee, or the Executive Committee appointed by the Mayor? When do they meet? Where are the minutes kept? The Mayor tells us about a TRANSPARENCY award in his Transmittal letter yesterday and this material is not in an obvious place. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Especially when the Mayor in the same letter tells us the “debt service growth due to an historic investment in education infrastructure” because his “Administration has pursued a very aggressive school construction initiative” for Bridgeport students and “to pump millions of dollars into our local economy.” Schools are built with large amounts of dollars and partnering with State of CT. However shouldn’t local taxpayers know about the projects? And see the plans, timetables and results developing over time in print as an example of Open, Accountable and Transparent governance? Trust, but verify! Where are the answers? Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee … I read your postings whenever I get insomnia.
What is the difference between a Snob and a Reverse Snob?
Answer: Nothing. A snob is a snob is a snob.
David Walker, I notice you list your areas and focus as:
You seem to want change pensions and retiree healthcare AFTER THE FACT. What is your solution before who are under their current contract and where does “GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION” come into play when unions are at the table with the City? Workers take zero pay raises because the City states they have no money and instead pensions and retiree healthcare are accepted by the union because those payments are down the road. You seem to put the blame on the worker.
Don’t underestimate David Walker:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_M._Walker_(U.S._Comptroller_General)
It looks like he has been around the block a few times …
indices, don’t overestimate David Walker.
I read that article, seems like he didn’t get along too well with his subordinates.
Obviously the photographer thinks Bridgeport finances are in order, and he is attempting to create a controversy. He should probably be taking pictures of all those in City Hall who received 10–14% pay raises last year, while the city taxpayers suffer under the city’s financial burden from a lack of fiduciary responsibility. I do know David has a house in Virginia, and he spends a lot of time down there, and they do have a car tax.
I don’t owe any taxes in CT for the Jeep and won’t pay any on it. The Jeep is properly registered and we pay property taxes on it in VA. My wife and I already pay more in real estate and personal property taxes to Bridgeport than the median household income in Bridgeport. In addition, I wouldn’t have to bring my Jeep to Bridgeport if the City were competent about cleaning the streets and keeping them in good repair. Finally, I can make spies happen in Bridgeport, too. They’re called the FBI.
No it is NOT properly registered. If the car is here more than 3 months out of the year you are in violation of the law. GET IT? Are we supposed to be impressed you and your wife have a lot of money? It seems like you think the city should cater to you before anyone else. The city did a crappy job … something tells me by your tone as long as they had plowed you out you would have been fine with it.
BRG,
You are tone deaf. You keep playing movies in your head. Get out more often. Come to the meetings, ask some questions (unless you already know the answers, but that has not been showing up in your posts). Maybe you can go shopping. Or have a good cry. Train for a marathon? Talk to a friend … maybe stay away from OIB if it lathers you up so much. Time will tell.
John, the world doesn’t revolve around you and your buddies at the kaffee klatsch. I know I don’t know all the answers … unlike your buddy. And btw why don’t you read his remarks about the gun control law … he is worried about how it will affect the Bass Pro … he is more concerned with that than the carnage that destroys lives in this city every year … not exactly a humanitarian.
And how many of those destroyed lives in BPT are caused by assault rifles owned by some guy in, say, Ridgefield??? This $17 million mistake is not going to make a bit of difference and the $17 million could have put a lot of cops on the streets in BPT where they could have actually made a difference. Who is the humanitarian here? 20 some odd kids are shot in Richie rich Newtown and Malloy spends $17 million. How much did he spend on all the poor, minority kids who get shot every day in BPT? Zero? Oh wait, he cut the aid to BPT. That would be less than zero.
And you are a bore!
BRG,
This is my last comment to you. The Jeep is not “garaged” in Bridgeport for three months. It is our only vehicle for Virginia where we have a townhome and we bring it up for part of the winter when the weather is bad. I also travel at least 50 percent of the time and leave the car at LGA or JFK when I’m out of town. News flash, they aren’t in CT! Either you have a reading problem or a comprehension problem. Get a life and try to do something to make a difference for a change.
Is that a problem Walker? First of all I don’t believe what you say. That picture sure looked like it was in CT … PROVE IT. I find it hard to believe you bring it for “part of the winter when the weather is bad.” Are you really that omnipotent? I knew you were conceited but this takes the cake … you predict the weather among your many other feats. This is your last comment to me? Is that a promise? Will you go back to Virginia or Alabama or wherever you are from? Pretty please?
BRG: why is it you think Mr. Walker owes you an explanation for anything? The tone of your posts suggests you have a personal problem with him. You do realize you are coming after him with all of your weapons drawn and thus sending attention his way, don’t you? And like it or not, not all of the attention is going to be slanted in favor of your point of view. Maybe some will be, but the normal Joe will look at the ferocity of your attacks on him and and wonder what YOUR deal is. So if you want to assure Mr. Walker keeps accumulating more sympathy support, have at it. I think Mr. walker is a fine and upstanding citizen of Bridgeport. But you are getting in your own way more and more as each reaction finds its way to this blog.
BRG,
Walker does not predict the weather. He listens to the weather reports and did so with better results for him than the Mayor’s responses to those same reports. That’s when the car arrived.
I do read your posts. I cannot remember why you hold Finch in low regard. Can you tell us again? Such info has not been included in your last dozen posts. So help us.
What did Walker say that causes you to doubt him? He posts his name. (You don’t.) He has identified his house value, the taxes he pays, the cars he registers where and the tax implications, and he has repeated for your benefit several times he has no Federal Pension/retirement benefits.
That’s quite a record of OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT for Only in Bridgeport. Not one the Mayor shares as he produced SNOW JOB stacked with City employed or related loyalists.
As of this morning you have posted almost 20 times on this subject. Really has good hold of your mental landscape. Envy, jealousy, self-pity, low self-esteem? What’s in play is certainly a little sick. What is it about the Harborview (that is really a pay as you go community center that operates without taxpayer support and is attractive to folks from the suburbs as well) that causes you such angst? Did you have the good cry yet, or run a few miles? That’s what you need if you are suffering insomnia!
Last night some members of the City Council did gather for a review of the 2012 external audit with Tom Sherwood, Anne Kelly-Lenz and Andrew Nunn as guest instructors. No agenda for the instruction on this important subject that was addressed formally for the first time in memory.
2012 fiscal year that looked like it finished with a slight surplus actually finished with a $3.6 Million deficit. We needed to resort to our decreasing City Fund Balance. And contradictory references to the subject of City “long term liabilities” on pages 3 and 16 of the document with one claiming decrease and the other an increase of some $38 Million did not have a ready answer, either. One cannot tell whether those present, only some of whom asked questions came away any more knowing than before. The session did nothing for the council persons not present. Time will tell.
He does not have to prove he did not have the car in BPT. They have to prove he did. You see, he is presumed innocent until PROVEN guilty. That is how our system works. You must have missed that part of civics class. Until you can prove anything you are just throwing around rumor and innuendo.
Mr. Walker, don’t you think comparing your taxes paid with persons with lesser median household income is rather insensitive? Not everyone is as fortunate or well-off as you are. Spoken like a true elitist I must say.
You go, Godiva. Dave was lucky enough to be born with a contract from god in his pocket that granted him a successful life. It is not like he worked hard, made good choices and struggled to get where he is. For all his success our tax system then punishes him with having to pay your way. That would be your daddy’s job, not Mr. Walker’s. You should spend less time thinking about how Dave did so well and more time thinking about why you did not.
Why should a rich guy have to pay more than anybody else? We all had the chance to do well in high school. Why is an expensive house taxed at a higher cost than a cheap one? The owner of the expensive house does not demand more city services. He often demands less. Dave does not have kids in school, make more trash or anything like that. If taxation is based on representation those who pay more deserve more representation but they often get less. Taxation in this country is the only system I can think of where people are expected to pay more to get less. Since we all get the same services we should all pay the same dollar amount. It is nobody’s fault how much you make but yours.
I’ll go out on a limb here and assume you missed my point in a previous posting. I simply found it insensitive of Mr. Walker to say he pays more in taxes than the average Bridgeport citizen’s income. As for myself, I am well above average income. I’m well-educated and I work hard to maintain that lifestyle, so it’s unfounded for you to assume otherwise, that I did not fare well. As far as my parents, let’s just say my Daddy’s rich and my Momma’s good looking–so hush little baby, don’t you cry.
Sal uses dealer plates from his days as a used-car salesman, that way he doesn’t have to register them at all, just keeps on putting these plates on multiple vehicles he stores in his garages in Bpt behind his office and the strip joint next door. He has many high-end cars, BENZ’s and better.
The city loses millions of dollars in revenue because of vehicles that are improperly registered out of state as it appears Mr. Walker’s vehicle is. And many of these people are the first ones to complain about the crappy state of the city. I am not letting Finch off the hook, anyone who has read my postings knows better … he should be removed from office. But Walker is not the answer and the kaffee klatsch at Harborview is not the answer. The world doesn’t revolve around the wealthier parts of Black Rock.
Stop picking on Sal! I smell smoke!
*** If pictures of Walker’s VA registered Jeep is the best Finch supporters can come up with on OIB, then shame on Mr. Walker for not supplying more juicy personal and political ammunition for this city’s comfortable political admin. hackers, no? *** LET’S TRY LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE! ***
This has nothing to do with Finch … and btw finch and his flunkies should be removed from office. But there is a problem with wealthier people in town using out-of-town residences to improperly avoid property taxes while some poor schlump with an old car who is a little behind on his taxes gets booted.
BRG,
Again, your ignorance is showing. First you have already admitted you don’t know how long the Jeep has been here. But you are against Walker because he has earned the wherewithal to own multiple vehicles and a vacation home in addition to his residence. Are you advocating he pay taxes on the same property in multiple communities? The booting of cars happens when taxes have been due and remain unpaid for a period of time. That is a different subject than paying a tax on a legally registered out-of-state car.
By the way, where does your financial anger terminate? How small a residence? How few cars, or other property, does one need so you feel better about yourself; competitively speaking, that is? Why don’t you begin to unravel your philosophy and personal preferences for us? You may feel better.
Or a schlump gets $35 tickets for parking overtime downtown with an old beater car for being 15 minutes late with a Parking system that is late about 4 years with meters that will accept credit cards when quarters are not available. Why not find some sympathetic causes that don’t betray your class warfare sentiment? Time will tell.
Just proving my point.
I’m forming a Bow Tie Bozo club for all OIB posters who think JML is a long-winded pedantic putz. I have set a limit of 15,000 members so join early.
Can I be President? JML is a legend in his own mind!
yahooy’s president of the Bow Tie Bozo Club. Ha ha ha ha!
I used to think it was six months, I guess I was wrong.
BRG, take a chill pill, okay?
Seems Mr. Walker may be a corporate shill. In this link it mentions Walker wants corporations to take over most of the work of the Postal service … bet he wants the same in B’port … I wonder who is payrolling that foundation of his …
Bow Tie Club ruins this website of great info and a window into the inner doings. Walker thinks this is his personal place to toot his horn and JML writes novels of unreadable drivel.
Personal agendas by wealthy Caucasian people will never beat a well-oiled machine.
Pool your money and find a qualified leader of all the people in the city.
Or go to Greenwich and use your “Brains and Egos” there.
And what were you chosen for again? Just wondering …
It always gives me pause when someone rants and tosses around words like “Caucasian.” The use of this word implies there is some kind of racially motivated conspiracy afoot.
You know what? I think you are right. There is.
BULLSHIT
Andy: This post was not meant to support Chosen 1, it was meant to point out Chosen appears to have a problem with the Caucasians. I should have been more clear.
I see no reason to mention race at all on this blog but this person does it consistently and I was just holding a mirror up to this person.
Mustang my last post (Bullshit) was not in response to your post it was meant to go under Chosen’s post. With him (her) it always comes down to the race issue. Chosen has been known to post under many names. I have to wonder if he isn’t BlackRockGuy.
Well said!
I was Chosen to express my opinion as does anyone else. Grimaldi puts up good inside info and these other people act as if they are being asked questions.
You are about as understandable as JML.
You are also a Philistine and will never be allowed to be a member of the club.
Philistine! Priceless, haven’t heard that in ages.
I must say it was real nice to get a reply from Dave Walker at Apr 3, 2013 at 4:06 pm
“I don’t owe any taxes in CT for the Jeep and won’t pay any on it. The Jeep is properly registered and we pay property taxes on it in VA. My wife and I already pay more in real estate and personal property taxes to Bridgeport than the median household income in Bridgeport. In addition, I wouldn’t have to bring my Jeep to Bridgeport if the City were competent about cleaning the streets and keeping them in good repair. Finally, I can make spies happen in Bridgeport, too. They’re called the FBI.” Now is that a threat from Dave Walker and who is he directing that comment at?
Great observation, Ron. Does David Walker have any evidence of corruption? Is it posturing? Always interesting when someone claims to have influence with the FBI.
Lennie,
You know something about timing. And I guess you have observed posturing, back in the day as well as currently with the Finch administration.
I am going to guess you have talked to the FBI on one or more occasions. And it is certainly possible Walker has, though perhaps for unrelated reasons.
I have also talked on more than one occasion to get the facts on what the FBI is interested in. They are not concerned with Charter violations, or with routine management issues, but they are vitally interested in fiscal mishandling where the public is disadvantaged at the expense of self-interested parties who do benefit. That’s the picture. If you keep enough secrets in the dark, opaque (rather than the claimed transparency), it is difficult to see. Takes time to locate, document and prove. And that is why I continue to close with, Time will tell.
When are you going to get laryngitis? Time will tell.
Walker seems to forget he is a “former” govt official. Hopefully it will stay that way.
Local Eyes Rumor Mill:
Birth of a new nickname–
All across Bridgeport, including the fashionable Black Rock section, people are saying the same thing: James Bond’s got nothing on Double-O Dave, if you don’t believe me, just look at the license plate.
Walker was handpicked by presidents and recruited for the senate and now has FBI buddies? The three years he has picked to live in Bpt is a deep honor for us who live in the 99% of the city he’s never heard of or been in.
This is Dave Walker last post // Apr 4, 2013 at 5:55 am
That’s just great Dave Walker but now address this comment that you made,
“Finally, I can make spies happen in Bridgeport, too. They’re called the FBI.” I asked this question earlier, “Now is that a threat from Dave Walker and who is he directing that comment at?” I think Dave Walker is scared to answer that question.
Lennie Grimaldi makes a great point when he said, “Does David Walker have any evidence of corruption? Is it posturing? Always interesting when someone claims to have influence with the FBI.”
Ron,
Let’s just say it’s become very evident to me after living here for three years, Bridgeport is a target-rich environment. No further comment is appropriate in connection with this matter at this time. BTW, you need to be more constructive and solutions-oriented in your posts. Adios.
Dave Walker, I respect your comment “No further comment is appropriate in connection with this matter at this time,” but I only questioned you earlier because you brought up the subject.
I think it’s ridiculous to talk about one person in particular who actually OWNS property outside of Connecticut, and has A vehicle registered there. Why don’t we talk about the hundreds of vehicles that are in the city that are not registered in Connecticut and are CONSTANTLY parked on our streets? I can show you three on my street alone. And trust me when I say, “The people who are driving these vehicles DO NOT HAVE PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF CONNECTICUT!!!” Why isn’t anyone talking about them?
Sunshine you are one hundred percent correct, there are so many simple things this city could do to improve like just enforcing existing laws fairly. It is sad and very disappointing to read all these comments attacking one individual who offers a different point of view. He must be striking a nerve somewhere to garner so much commentary. I think he should keep up the good work. This city has so much potential it is hard to understand why nothing has been accomplished in such a long time. Some change might make a difference. Taxpayers of Bridgeport should support people with a different point of view like David Walker. The existing powers that be do not appear able to capitalize on this city’s assets. Is it not time to try something different?
Go to Harding and watch all the Beemers with NY plates drop kids off for school. That is how you know Harding is a great school. If it were not a great school why would all those NYers drive by Greenwich, Westport and Darien to drop their kids off at Harding?
My brother owns a couple of acres of property in Georgia. He was considering garaging it in Bridgeport for a few months of the year, but thankfully it won’t fit.
Can Walker really make spies happen? How cool.
All of this bullshit over one vehicle is amazing. Where was the outrage when the city administration funded 80-plus ghost positions to the tune of $4.5 million two years in a row? Where was the outrage when there is no accounting for almost $10 million over two years? It was shown here or at budget meetings. Now many on this blog most recently BRG want to harp over one vehicle that is properly registered and taxes were properly paid although not in Bridgeport which in this case is legal.
It seems people are expressing their anger in the wrong place. You are constantly being screwed by this administration and most of you stay silent on that issue.
Andy, it is more than one vehicle. He is not the only one pulling this crap and I don’t believe a word out of his mouth. No one brings a car up for just a few weeks. There are thousands of vehicles all over the city that should be registered here that aren’t. It adds up. Another example of where the Finch admin has failed. Walker deserves to be called out on this since he seems to act like he is better than the rest of us. We are being screwed by the admin but we are also being screwed by people who register their cars out of state. We pay extra whether it is someone with an old beater or someone with a Mercedes.
BRG,
It’s about time you said something sensible instead of spewing personal insults at Mr. Walker. If the administration of Bridgeport thinks it’s okay to pin a target on his back for a one-time offense and ignore all the others who have been here doing the same thing day after day, month after month and year after year, then there is truly no hope for these schmucks in the long run. Honest people are tired of being taxed to death while others sit back and lie and cheat their way through life. What would you rather talk about?
I am tired of hypocrites and apparently Walker is at the top of the list. If he is knowingly not paying taxes on the vehicle and then is screaming about taxes when there are poor people people for whom a $200 auto tax bill is a huge item I fail to see why I should give this union-busting corporate shill a break.
Look, if I have property in another state and spend a lot of time there and I need a vehicle why not buy one and leave it there? If I do that I may be forced to pay taxes on that vehicle because it’s located in that state for a long period of time. This issue is character assassination at its lowest level.
Look, the powers to be Finch and Company have stooped to lower things than this. They must feel Mr. Walker is a serious threat to their future reelection plans thus the assault.
Perhaps they are being patient for the next primary, referendum or election when street money appears, and some of the “elect” have a payday. It happens. Just like Mother Nature’s snowstorms. Or padding City budgets so supposed watchdogs do not understand what they vote upon.
Heard a story recently about the origins of City Council stipends in the early ’80s. Some Council persons wanted payment for their representation activities. Nine thousand dollars seemed fair pay for what was looked at as a part-time job. And that is how it came to be taxable, though if you handed in reimbursement vouchers as called for, you could also use those on Schedule C of your Federal Tax Return to reduce the effect.
But why does there continue to be such secrecy by Council persons? What are they doing with the funds? I mean will the poor taxpayers of the City really begrudge the working watchdogs a steak dinner at Joe’s or a plate of pasta elsewhere, even when the bills total $1,000 or more? Of course, if the numbers never show up, who is to know? Put your behavior on behalf of the public out in the open and disclose how funds are spent. Failing to do that generates some truly negative feelings. Time will tell.
Is this story really about targeting those who seek more transparency in the city? I hope not.
Many in Bridgeport are grateful, as I am, for Dave’s efforts to make the city a better place.
Bridgeport Now, good to hear from your corner of the world.
Program suggestion: Please ask BlackRockGuy, yahooy, Chosen 1, Local Eyes, anna and Godiva2011 on your show. I don’t care what the topic would be, I suspect their commentary or answers to your questions will be the same based on multiple postings on OIB.
Andy Fardy, David Walker and I have been guests already as have some other posters. But there is an aggressively silent minority that has a message for the City to hear and then vote on.
TV is an active medium, so perhaps you might ask the entire BOW TIE CLUB to show viewers how they tie one on!!! (Secret: It is as easy as tying your shoes, folks.) Maybe they wear loafers? It might be genuinely funny. Of course, they may not wish to share their thoughts and faces in real time with the public. Time will tell.
Lennie,
I have some suggestions/requests:
* Require OIB posters to use their name.
* Limit the number of comment posts to a topic.
* Install a software application that will block comments from people who have their head up their ass.
Thank you.
Tom, thank you for your suggestions.
With all due respect BlackRockGuy, I couldn’t care less about this guy’s car registration. Bridgeport has serious issues that need substantive discussions followed up by strategic plans, not tirades and personal attacks. Here’s a real issue for you: Personal Safety! I live and work downtown. I used to walk the two blocks from my apartment directly in front of the mayor’s office to my office, and now I drive because of how dangerous it is. Three large men surrounding me one block from the Mayor’s office at 5:30 PM in the early evening makes you on your guard, followed up by another man trying to snatch my purse at 5 PM as I walked back from the train on a work day. All this in the last 3 weeks. Oh, and my car … been vandalized 5 times in the 2 years I’ve owned it. Cops didn’t even bother to come out to take a report. What has this administration done? The only thing I see is them giving themselves raises as they turn around and raise citizens’ taxes. Enough! Shame on them and shame on you.
It was no big deal when John Rowland was a congressman his campaign motor home was registered in Florida, he only changed it to Connecticut when he ran for governor. Walker only doing it as a sign of protest of the city of Bridgeport’s high car taxes. He did get us on the list for highest property tax in the country, and the worst place to retire list, but he couldn’t get us on 10 Worst Places to Live with Allergies list. Maybe he will have better luck getting the FBI to come to Bridgeport list.
*** BRG obviously drinks lots of the present-day city government kool-aid and might even work for the city as a union or non-union employee. Anyone with that type of thin skin against valid criticism of city operations, its management and political representation must have some kind of connection within ’cause it sure seems like it from prior OIB postings, no? *** TIME TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE ***
*** BRG’s minor tit for tat is from a city government kool-aid drinker looking for love in all the wrong places. Why, ’cause everyone who blogs on OIB and complains about Bpt’s city government, its politics and players, etc. is just full of it, no? *** DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR ***
BlackRockGuy, I’m surprised by your non-response to my substantive post. I’d just like to add that due to the inability of this administration to make the streets of downtown Bridgeport safe, I have decided to leave Bridgeport thus causing the city to lose my property tax revenue. Unless and until Bridgeport addresses its fundamental lack of public safety, competitiveness and basic needs, it will remain unattractive to business professionals such as myself who will choose to live, work and thrive elsewhere. Now that’s a real issue to debate.
KMB: I am very sorry to see you are moving out of Bridgeport but I understand why. This administration and its police chief do not have a clue. It’s amazing, we have a large force and we spend a ton of money on police protection and what happens? We have about 150 police officers we can’t find.
We only put 21 cops in the street on a shift. The police no longer answer quality of life complaints such as yours. They tell you to get a report at police headquarters. This chief has no answers, when asked about police OT he named a fifth deputy chief to monitor OT at another $100K salary.
We have freaking cops on horseback, on Segways, bicycles and doing a lot of other bullshit that really doesn’t protect us.
This PD should take a page out of Rudy Giuliani’s book and start by policing quality of life issues. This is the most disconnected PD in the area.
Good Luck wherever you move to.
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for your well wishes. I moved here after 15 yrs as a single gal in Manhattan. Giuliani declared war and fought for quality of life issues. He flooded the streets with cops, and as a result I never once felt the fear there I do here in Bridgeport. It’s sad because the downtown is beautiful and has such potential. All it needs is the right leadership.
Finch screws up the budget and finds out he needs more money from us. That little tidbit draws just a few comments. Walker parks a car registered in VA in his driveway and creates a frenzy of nearly 100 postings. Priorities people, priorities.
Yahoo!!!
Myopia at its finest.
Give the Jeep a red, white and blue paint job; and a snowplow would definitely help Bridgeport.
The budget was prepared in time for a private review with the CT Post on April 1. But the City Council was not privileged enough to receive the reports on Monday. They got their hard copy on Tuesday. And that’s a fact. But they propagated the City error regarding the tax increase. A mil rate of 41.1 with a 2.5 increase as was reported factors out to about 6%. Should have been obvious to someone. Or should have been checked by someone? But this City is so trusting, errors frequently are not called to attention.
In my book the CT Post should give themselves a “thumbs down” for their part in misinformation to the public. That is a disservice to the community. It begets lack of trust. It’s budget time. Trust but verify. Time will tell.
OMG you broke 100 Lennie! How MF cool is that?
Okay … posters let’s move on now, I am really sick of getting emails about this post. K? Thanks!
WOW, over 100 comments on our 10-year-old Jeep. We’re set to take it back to Virginia next week but it’s so famous maybe I should try to sell it in CT first? By the way, my sports car has the same tag, but like my wife’s Ford Escape Hybrid, it’s a CT tag! I’m looking forward to the City Council’s public hearing on the budget this coming night. I’m be there and so should everyone who posts on OIB.
Thank you, Dave. Not bad for a little site you say is not as “important” as the Connecticut Post. Your input is appreciated.