All this talk about land swaps between Bridgeport and Trumbull has me thinking (always a peculiar thing) back to the days of State Rep. Lee Samowitz. Twenty years ago or so Lee proposed the ultimate land swap. Divide Bridgeport into the suburbs. Before there was a Bridgeport there was a Stratfield. City proper as we know it today was controlled by Stratford to the east and Fairfield to the west. Bridgeport was incorporated as a town in 1821 and a city in 1836, 175 years ago. Damn Stratford left all the bridges to Bridgeport.
Just think of the possibilities if Bridgeport were carved up into suburban towns so reliant on the city’s regional services. I’m open to suggestions about the configuration. I spoke to former Black Rock City Councilman Pat Crossin about this and he said, “As long as Black Rock goes to Fairfield I don’t care what happens.” I’m sure State Rep. Auden Grogins, the blonde banshee from Black Rock, would also be fine with that. Let the annexation begin.
Okay, Fairfield gets Black Rock. But how far east do you go? How about all the way to Park Avenue? That way Fairfield absorbs P.T. Barnum Apartments, Captain’s Cove Seaport (Kaye Williams would be happy with that), the Aquaculture School and West End sewage treatment plant. But Fairfield would also get the regional garbage to energy plant in the West End that generates $10 million per year in taxes to the city. So that’s not such a bad deal. Big win for Fairfield. Except they get all the beered-up Sacred Heart University kids living and creating havoc in the North End. We would need to gerrymander the carve-up to make sure Fairfield gets the party students.
What about Trumbull which sends Bridgeport all of its poop? Since the West End sewage treatment plant is now in Fairfield proper, Trumbull can negotiate sludge fees with Fairfield. Trumbull absorbs its Bridgeport piece with a straight shot down Main Street taking in the North End all the way to UB and Seaside Park, and east to the Pequonnock River.
It will now be called the Trumbull Bluefish. Trumbull gets all of downtown, ballpark, arena, Housatonic Community College, all the courthouses too. Trumbull also snags City Hall and the annex which are up for sale. Instant revenue. By this configuration, Trumbull also inherits developer Sal DiNardo so he then can negotiate his tax deals with First Selectman Tim Herbst. Good luck to both of you! Sal’s sister Nancy, Democratic State Party Chair, lives in Trumbull. I assume she won’t mind her brother as a resident business. Oh, that’s right, Sal’s main office would be in Trumbull but he has properties all over the city so he would negotiate tax breaks with Trumbull, Fairfield and Stratford which inherits the old Remington plant. Former State Rep. Chris Caruso also becomes a resident of Trumbull so he can scream about corruption there.
Everything east of the Pequonnock River goes to Stratford which means they get Bearsdsley Park and zoo, Pleasure Beach, the airport, the East End sewage treatment plant and Bridgeport Hospital. Stratford also absorbs former State Senator Ernie Newton, City Councilman Bob Curwen and Democratic town committee member Andy Fardy. (That scream you just heard came from Andy for putting him in the same sentence with Curwen.) Bill Finch would also become a resident of Stratford. Bill can then challenge Stratford Republican Mayor John Harkins for the top job there.
What about the Bridgeport Board of Education? Hey, here’s a solution … abolish it. No one wants it. Let the towns take it over. No wait, here’s a better idea, let the state take it over. The Bridgeport BOE really doesn’t report to anyone. Certainly not to the mayor financially as the school system does in New Haven. It doesn’t work. Let the state have at it.
And here’s the best part of this land swap, Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa goes to Monroe! Isn’t he there anyway?
Park Avenue? Too far Lennie for Fairfield’s sake. You really think Fairfield would want to deal with the Puerto Rican Parade? I say let’s go up to Wordin Avenue. The line on the middle of the road serves as the borderline; that would put our OIB friend Mojo with me in Fairfield. Fairfield gets P.T. Barnum and Stratford gets Marina Village and beyond. Fairfield would have the West Side Police Station, the halfway house on Clinton and I’ll cut the line across Fairfield Avenue towards Laurel Avenue; up to Norman all the way to to North Avenue; right onto Park Avenue taking a left towards Sacred Heart. I believe that would put our OIB friends Bob (the troll) Walsh in Fairfield. This will also give Fairfield the Wood Avenue firehouse. Here is the kicker. Leave Mitch Robles’ ass in Stratford along with Senator Musto. We’ll get a real State Senator with Senator McKinney in Fairfield. Here’s the sweet part, the future DiNardo halfway house goes with Mitch and Musto to Stratford. Fairfield would begin at exit 26 off I-95.
Joel, you have got to take the bitter with the sweet. You keep Musto and Robles. For god’s sake my new city is stuck with Curwen, Newton, Ed Gomes, Ford and Ayala. Why do we in Stratford have to take all of the do-nothings? We will have enough.
No, no, tc. I’ll take it to federal court. Keep in mind I drew my lines according to the census track and all other federal rules.
Dexter the Black Rock Laundry molester is now open. Located at the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Martin Terrace, Dexter Laundromat is poised to compete for Black Rock laundry. It’s across the street from a place called Ruby Tuesday, I believe. I hear they display the best Pink Meat in Black Rock. So while your clothes are drying, check out the best Pink Meat and let us know what you think.
That laundromat is the biggest ripoff. There’s another place on Fairfield Avenue that claims to offer “free” dryers. That’s a lot of bullshit. The customer has to buy a card, like a metro card, and add money to it. It is inserted into the washer and then the dryer. It may seem like a good deal but it works out to be more expensive than washing clothes at a laundromat with coin-operated machines.
Forget the laundromat, Kid. What about the Pink Meat?
How soon can we make this happen??? I’d love to live in Trumbull without having to buy a new house and move all of my stuff!
Gee, you raise and interesting possibility. The number of OIB readers from Trumbull will most likely increase.
Lennie it will be my pleasure to now be a part of Stratford. That’s my type of town. Working-class down-to-earth people. I realize I will have the drawback of being in the same town as Curwen & Newton but shit happens.
Newton would have to get a real job as his political bullshit won’t fly in Stratford and Curwen will have to start over. With Curwen that means he will have to brown nose and sell out a whole new group of people. I suggest you move Curwen to Trumbull so he can be with the DiNardos.
Black Rock always thought they were Fairfield, it’s a good fit now they can really be part of Fairfield.
As far as the North End goes, good riddance. They always thought they were better than the rest of Bridgeport, wait until they find out they are not. Wow.
It’s time for the suburbs to find out how hard Bridgeport is to manage, wait until they see all the halfway houses and tax-free properties. Wait until they see all of the tax-exempt streetcorner churches they will be getting.
Best of all Local Eyes will be part of the North End, they deserve each other.
Can we move tomorrow?
Downtown could be re-branded as Park City and be its own entity. It could annex Seaside Park.
Ummm, yeah.
TC, STRATFORD is in MY OLD SENATE DISTRICT. SOUTH END OF STRATFORD AND I WON THE DISTRICT BY A LANDSLIDE.
TC, I HAVE A JOB AND IT’S NOT WITH THE CITY. IT’S WITH Recovery Net WORK PROGRAMS.
YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
Don’t be so sensitive, Ernie.
BK
I think you meant a full illiterate felon.
Ernie, you certainly did not win the elections you did because you covered a small section of Stratford. Like I said Ernie, get a real job.
You see Ernie this post was tongue in cheek but let me tell you what I worry about.
I worry about my city and what is happening to it. I worry we will keep electing people to office (pick any office) who will do squat for Bridgeport. I worry about people who have already had a chance to help the city and failed. Ernie you failed, want to come back and screw us all again? I worry people like Finch will still be in office even though he has shown he does not know a damned thing about this city or a damned thing on how to fix this city.
Ernie can you imagine a politician wanting to trade city property to an adjoining town that has stated it will build its sewer treatment plant on that site? Can you imagine a group of politicians (State Delegation) keeping quiet on a proposed jail in a residential neighborhood for almost a year? That happened in my district and if it had not leaked out it would have happened.
Ernie on a serious note I wish you no harm. I hope you have a happy and fruitful life. I just think and everything else put to the side that you never were that effective on a state level. You were more effective on a local level. If that pisses you off so be it.
tc, I think you are a nice guy but I don’t worry what people say. You know the people will decide, tc. And I don’t take any of this PERSONALLY!
tc, you are so right. The PEOPLE have NO voice. All the people who could SPEAK OUT WORK FOR THE CITY!
Ernie will be re-elected to his old state senate seat. Hey Ernie, if you’re re-elected will you be making any efforts on behalf of “your people” to make the local economy less dependent on WIC, EBT and the proceeds from drug sales?
BK, WE NEED JOBS. IN A FEW WEEKS I’LL BE MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT A COMPANY COMING TO THE EAST END OF BRIDGEPORT. A $3 MILLION project hiring residents of the East End. And ex-felons.
A dumb 1st grader at that.
We’re stilling waiting for your expression of remorse, Moses.
BK, I SHOWED MY REMORSE BY NOT RATTING ON ANYONE TO SAVE MYSELF. THINK ABOUT IT.
“I showed remorse by not ratting on anyone …”
How’s that again? You took the fall for others? Is that what you’re saying? Sounds like that’s what you are saying. Could these people you took the fall for be the same people who are funding your election campaign? Ernest “T” is therefore being financed by the same people he “… didn’t rat out.” Amazing. This $3 million business you’re about to announce … a chop shop?
This $3 million business is probably another job “training” program that will put a lot of people into the job market with a little specialized training and absolutely no social skills. All the while a few people at the top make a lot of money for doing nothing that benefits the people of the city of Bridgeport.
Five years ago, who would have thought yahooy and the The Bridgeport Kid would be double-teaming Ernie Newton in a webzine called Only In Bridgeport?
That’s not remorse. All that means is you condone violation of the public’s trust. Which makes you a scumbag, in addition to being A CROOK.
Ernie, listen to me! Don’t go there, leave it alone. You just made it clear there were others involved or you have information of other possible violations.
The probe is ongoing and comments like this can produce another visit by the feds. By the way Ernie, while you where serving your time, I found evidence that showed the Black State Senator was investigated while the White Senator and his family were allowed to get away.
Joel, I’m just telling it like it is. yahooy/BK I expect that from both of you, but in my community I have much respect, something yahooy/BK know nothing about. RATSSS!
yahooy, The Bridgeport Kid, watch your front door:
www .youtube.com/watch?v=isaXqowHZuU
So crime in “your” community goes unchecked, murder, drug dealing, robbery, prostitution, etc., all the classic urban ills are permitted to thrive because the only law anyone has respect for his “stop snitching,” the wannabe gangsta’s credo?
Are you at all sorry for what you’ve done, Mr. Newton? Are you sorry for violating the public trust or are you merely sorry for getting caught? Not that remorse will do much for your image. You’re still a convicted felon, a crook.
I blogged on this same subject in January!
blog.ctnews.com/kantrowitz/2011/01/08/
Hey, you coming here trying to accuse Lennie of plagiarism?
I don’t want to live in a South End that is part of Trumbull. I’m afraid of the melon heads.
I wouldn’t mind living in Black Rock if it were part of Fairfield. There would be a lot less litter on the streets.
No, melon heads reside in Monroe and Easton. I’ve seen them in my youth. It’s why I’m strange and twisted with a big fat round head. It is possible that some melon heads have moved across the border into Trumbull.
We should burn them before they lay eggs.
In the early ’70s we would ride to Dracula’s Drive in Trumbull to see the “melon heads.” I’m wondering how many OIBers can tell me where Dracula’s Drive in Trumbull is.
JC, Wow that takes me back! If memory serves me right, the melon heads were in Easton.
Drug dealers, carjackers, even Barnum Festival ringmasters–that’s one thing.
No Trumbull melon heads.
Paging Lennie Grimaldi:
In the event that Bridgeport is broken up, what will happen with the OIB blog/webzine and what new name would it have? You didn’t think about that, eh?
Actually Speedy, great question. It means I would host Only In StratfieldTrum and run a nostalgia webzine called the Best Of OIB.
Yeah, and the Only in Bridgeport books become collectors’ items.
www .theblogformerlyknownasonlyinbridgeport .com?
Melon head eggs will get into the effluent pipes at Trumbull Town Hall and come downstream and infect our community.
Stratbull might be a nice name.
But that does nothing to protect us from melon head shit.
Wear a wreath of garlic, carry a vial of holy water and write a hundred novenas. That will keep the melon heads and their shit at bay.
Paging Lennie Grimaldi.
Talking about drawing district lines, what is going on with the Bridgeport Redistricting Committee? I’m close to some lines; who are the Democrats plotting to move in or cut out of districts? It’s the Gerrymandering Spring Show, Lennie. Where is the Republican Party participation in the process? Is there some hidden plot to place the district lines within the addresses used by elected officials who never lived in the district to begin with? I hear there is no need to get tickets to the Gerrymandering Spring Show.
Hey Joel, do you think they will redistrict the lines in the 138th to include Shelton so Martha Santiago’s dream of returning Mike Marella to the council can be realized?
It’s possible, tc. Shelton (Street that is) isn’t that far from the 138th. Mike can move in with Rich in case you are talking about Shelton the town.
The Gerrymandering Springer Show! They’ll tape it in Stamford (well outside the inchoate district lines in Bridgeport). Get a guy with a Morton Downey Jr. personality to host it. Someone who knows the importance of violence in professional hockey. Have Joe Ganim and Bill Finch on as guests and pit them against each other, just goad them into a bitch fight …
What is a melon head?
Ernie Newton asked me to tell you to look in the mirror for your answer.
All this talk of breaking up Bridgeport is akin to blasphemy. If you guys don’t like or want to live in Bridgeport, then get the hell out. I’m especially annoyed with tc and Joel who have never been short on input as to what Bridgeport needs (in their opinion) to be a better city. If it’s as easy as moving then do that. If you want to be part of the solution, let’s get to it. The breaking or parceling off of this city is not an option. I thought it was a crazy idea when it was first bought up. NOT ONE of the surrounding communities have EARNED the right to think itself better than BRIDGEPORT. Lennie, you know better.
Chill, Hector! This is all hypothetically speaking. Who are you kidding, Hector? When people ask you where you live, you respond “Black Rock” the ONLY surrounding section of all communities who think they are better than BRIDGEPORT. Lennie, you know that is the truth.
Joel,
When someone asks me where I’m from I say “Black Rock” because that’s where I live, the neighborhood I call home. Everyone knows where it is.
“Over in Bridgeport?” they ask.
“Yeah …”
Hector, my man, chill.
Who wants melon heads hanging around the Seaside Park bathhouse?
Hector, you’re annoyed with me? Gee whiz!!! You know what, tough shit. This was tongue in cheek and was just to have a little fun.
Listen, you holier than thou??? Believe me if I did not love Bridgeport I would have moved long ago. In fact if I did not love Bridgeport I could move tomorrow, leave my house vacant and buy another house.
Unfortunately for you and others I am staying and I am working to make this a better city. What are you doing, Hector?
I thought it would take a fire to get a rise out of you. I guess it’s easier than I would have thought. For all the times you’ve questioned my posts. I’m surprised!!! I really couldn’t give a s – – t what you do, tc.
That’s true until you decide to run for another office, and then you will be kissing my ass like in the past.
I have never and would never kiss your ass. Not now, in the future or in the past.
Hey Hector, a couple more lines for you!
I would not kiss it in a train
I would not kiss it in a plane.
Evenly heavily edited by Ray, Ernest “T” still comes across like the illiterate dummy he is.
Ray, you really shouldn’t edit these posts. The people have a right to know just how inarticulate some of these candidates for public office are. Rewriting what they say robs us of the opportunity to judge for ourselves. What a candidate says is very important. How that candidate says it is as important. You are doing the community a disservice.
A “Ray” of sunshine is always appreciated. If what is written is not understood and leaves the reader in the dark, the “Ray” helps to bring it out to the light. I’m sure Ernie Newton loves the “Ray” or the Sun for different reasons than other Black people. I wonder if Ray Fusci knows why Black people love the sun? Answer: It makes Bobby brown and Keith sweat. Ernie Newton, call me at (203)345-9597.
yahooy, your point does not apply. How many candidates for public office can you cite who do their own writing? For example, when have we ever seen anything written by Finch himself? That’s why they all have campaign managers/press secretaries. Many of them have speech writers.
If you want to insult anyone’s positions on issues, be my guest. Pick on their ideas, but don’t pick on their writing skills.
Holy shit, check out that “Ray.” It’s a freaken’ Blue one too. You missed a good play at the last OIB party without a “Doubt.” WARNING: Anyone on OIB who messes with “Ray” gets shot down with Lennie’s “Fusci.”
Booty, Nice one!
yahooy, you are correct, this is a reversal of censorship. We all have made typos in these postings but let our own stupidity “speak” for itself. If someone is not capable of stringing a sentence together it goes to show their level of intelligence/stupidity and should be protected as such. Leave our comments unadulterated, our scars & warts visible for the world to SEA.
P.S. Considering CT in general here is my proposition. Let’s give the entire state to Rhode Island & let them redraw the town lines.
Ernest “T” must have promised a considerable amount for OIB campaign advertising.
You think so, yahooy? I don’t think it would be a wise investment of ad money. How many Blacks or Hispanics do you think read OIB? I say 5, two Blacks: donj and Ron Mackey. And three Hispanics: Mojo, Hector Diaz and me.
Joel, what about Celia Cruz and Eddie Palmieri. There have been a few others. There are many more readers than posters. I’m sure Mr. Gomes also reads it.
Redistrict? Did I hear someone say redistrict??? Only in Bridgeport could I live in the same house for 32 years and have lived in 2 different (but adjacent) aldermanic districts: the 133 and 134. And I was gerrymandered out of the 134 into the 133 and then back into the 134 …
Sounds like Non Keeley 🙂
BULLSHIT
“What a candidate says is very important. How that candidate says it is as important. You are doing the community a disservice.”
I rest my case.
RAY FUSCI
“… when have we ever seen anything written by Finch himself?” If we were allowed to see how inarticulate and stupid he is, we might have made a better choice.
I further rest my case.
Not so quick buddy! Did you know Ben Quayle, the son of former vice president Dan Quayle, was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010? It is rumored Dan Quayle is responsible for teaching his son Ben how to spell.
You can leave now.
Some debate is a healthy thing. This is all bickering, i.e., arguing about stupid “man” shit. Dial back the testosterone just one notch, fellas.
Rather than carving up Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe should consider annexation by Bridgeport as a prerequisite condition for sharing our essential infrastructure … That certainly seems fair to all concerned! Trumbull’s tax-base and quality of life have been totally dependent upon Bridgeport from the get-go, and Monroe isn’t going anywhere without linkage to Bridgeport’s infrastructure …
I, as a writer, always welcome Ray Fusci’s copy-editing skill.
How is that for sucking up?
Does he charge by the letter?
On that note, is it likely our WPCA could ration new sewer connections in Trumbull and Monroe? If so, could that power be used for Bridgeport’s benefit? If so, how?
Joel Gonzalez // Mar 31, 2011 at 1:27 am
yahooy, The Bridgeport Kid, watch your front door:
www .youtube.com/watch?v=isaXqowHZuU
Another outrageous and blatant threat that Grimaldi and Fusci choose to ignore. You are both walking on very thin ice.
I would personally deploy the 10th Mountain Division to prevent Bridgeport from being broken up. Or, if this scenario is anything like the movie Red Dawn, Patrick Swayze and Bob Walsh are going to be killing Russians long after the budget crisis subsides.
Mounty, is it true yahooy and The Bridgeport Kid have requested the deployment of the 10th Mountain Division to watch their front doors?