Black Rock City Council members Sue Brannelly and her newly minted partner Steven Stafstrom will host a “community conversation” on Sunday 3 p.m. at Harborview Market, the epicenter of chatter in Bridgeport’s most politically active neighborhood, owned by two-time Republican mayoral candidate Rick Torres. Now that’s what you call bipartisanship, Democrats hosting a conversation at a market owned by a Republican.
This conversation comes as Black Rock’s council members are both in unenviable positions–Brannelly, the co-chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, and Stafstrom, a new council member–navigating a treacherous budget process with a tax increase proposed by Mayor Bill Finch that represents close to $1000 and in some instances more for the average homeowner in the neighborhood. Black Rockers are noisy. And they vote in the highest proportional numbers in the city.
This is an election year for the council. The mayor, who has a four-year term, is not up until 2015. To Brannelly’s credit she’s thrown herself into a budget grinder as the co-chair (East Side councilman Angel DePara is the other) of the budget committee. Brannelly has built prestige representing Black Rock, but she is now the face of the budget process in her neighborhood and holds significant influence over what stays in the budget and what goes in her effort to minimize the tax hit in Finch’s budget proposal. Brannelly will balance the loud voices of her constituency with what she believes is responsible spending.
Stafstrom is a 30-year-old lawyer who moved to the neighborhood with his wife about five years ago. Stafstrom recently became a proud papa. If the sleep deprivation from his newborn isn’t enough, the new hours getting to know his constituents will certainly cut into his shuteye. Brannelly and Stafstrom could be facing a Democratic primary in September, depending on how they vote in this budget process, and assuredly Republican challengers in the November general election.
The council is just a few weeks away from voting on Finch’s spending plan. The budget then goes back to the mayor for possible veto action before the council sets the mil rate in June for the budget year starting July 1.
I’ll be attending the meet ‘n’ greet. I do not own property but I am concerned and alarmed by Bill Finch’s proposed tax increase. It is extremely unfair for homeowners in Black Rock and the North End to shoulder a majority of the city’s debt, paying for substandard city services that everyone suffers.
Hey Kid,
Thanks for disclosing your ‘concern and alarm’ is not personal. Perhaps you have a car? Perhaps you want to purchase property someday in Bridgeport? Perhaps you have an idea for a new business venture to serve the public, invest some money, time and energy in whose address will be in Bridgeport? Those are all reasons to observe and respond about budgets and taxes.
As a Black Rock property owner I do not feel unfairly picked on personally. I do think we do not receive services equivalent to the taxes we pay, but I think some neighborhoods may get less attention (squeaky wheel phenomenon) than ours and I start off assuming on October 1, 2008 the revaluation produced relatively comparable and fair values across the net grand list. (If I did not, I had the opportunity to promptly seek two levels of review in the City and later another opportunity in the special State court with counsel.)
So welcome to the “Conversation” at Harborview. Let’s see whether it is a one-time event or something that may become a part of City PUBLIC MEETINGS, if only briefly. What do we have to lose? If they gave out awards to cities for practicing OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT governance, would we get a certificate? Practicing? Not putting together reports that contain errors, change formats from year to year making comparisons difficult, and show values that are not consistent with other City-produced reports! We have a way to go. Time will tell.
Why not instead have it at the library or some venue that is not the domain of Torres’ kaffee klatch buddies? The people on Sailors’ Lane will get their services and the poor neighborhoods will once again get ignored. Sue Brannelly is a tool of the machine and so is the unelected Mr. Staftstrom who was appointed with no input from the wider Black Rock community. Sorry but Rick Torres and his kaffee klatch don’t speak for the whole community.
“Sorry, but Rick Torres and his kaffee klatch don’t speak for the whole community.”
A faceless, nameless, shameless blogger couldn’t possibly be speaking for the whole community either. At least Torres leaves his doors open for the whole community.
Why don’t you cut off another one of your fingers? The only people you speak for are self-mutilators and paranoid people whose homes look like bunkers.
P.T. Barnum Apartments
Seeing Black Rock City Council members Sue Brannelly and Steven Stafstrom will host a “community conversation” on Sunday 3 p.m., why not have it in the neighborhoods? The website for the Bridgeport Housing Authority states
GENERAL INFO:
Located in the Black Rock area of Bridgeport, P.T. Barnum Apartments is considered a row house or townhouse-type complex comprised of first and second floor units.
So why not have it at Gary Crooks Memorial Center, 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport CT in the Community Center?
Now let me see, now why wouldn’t they hold the meeting there?
Ron, how many do you think would show up from PT?
Lennie, I don’t know, maybe none but at what point will the elected City council members from that district go into P.T. Barnum and ask the residents there what are your concerns and at the same time tell them what issues they are working on? It’s called politics, they are also voters.
Good point, Ron. When they realize they need their vote. That’s what makes the 130th district a fascinating political study, poverty smack up against relative affluence. The feeling has always been among the Democratic Party establishment that if they lose Black Rock School, the Longfellow School vote that includes P.T. Barnum Apartments will bail them out. Is that constituency taken for granted? It is among some.
Seems like the only people they care about are the kaffee klatchers at Harborview Market. Stafstrom doesn’t represent anyone but the machine. He was elected by the City council members who don’t even live in the district.
To answer your question Lennie, I’d say one person and I’ll even take it a step further and tell you the person’s name would be Wanda Geter.
Ron,
I have been a resident of Bridgeport for 27 years. I have been a taxpayer for the same period and a volunteer for local and regional boards for almost 48 years.
Steve and Sue will have to answer for themselves, but perhaps you can answer why folks who live at PT, when invited to participate in planning for, supporting development of, and looking for short- to long-term development activities too often stay out of the loop? The most recent example of which I am aware is the Black Rock NRZ that has been operating during planning and then implementation for over 5 years. One of the first activities required of an NRZ is to define the NRZ territory. It was early decided PT and Captain’s Cove were important parts of Black Rock, and stakeholder participants were invited, appointed, included and pursued. If you personally know of anyone who wishes to participate with the NRZ group for Black Rock, please let me know as I am on the nominating committee and we are currently seeking candidates. We talk to people beforehand to find their level of interest, energy and commitment. We try to be helpful in scheduling times and activities that are convenient. Please help us. Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee, try holding some of those Black Rock NRZ meetings at Gary Crooks Memorial Center. Let’s be honest, those who live in Black Rock do not want to have anything to do with P.T. Barnum and those who live in P.T. Barnum know those who live in Black Rock want no part of them.
For years most of the meetings have been held in the Cathedral of Faith right on Fairfield Ave, a walk not much farther from P.T. than the Stop and Shop. Did you know that? I personally have been at the Gary Crooks Center and at Longfellow in years past at P.T. tenant or Parent Teacher gatherings attempting to get people to participate.
Still asking. Still honest. And the folks who agreed to the geographic boundaries did so unanimously. So I am still asking, Ron. Want to help???
When people state clear preconceptions of what must be going on, they create a wall of their own. They stay behind it. They use racial words only they can use. And they prevent themselves from participation.
How many times have I personally asked you to call me so we may converse? Several, at least. How many times have you tried. Honestly? I will defend your right to an opinion on OIB or to choose to keep company with those you know already rather than meet someone new, but I will argue with you about the separations in our community over which lots of people are attempting to build bridges through daily acts.
Neither of us is Moses, about to part the waters, but your type of prophetic voice leads nowhere, let’s be honest. Is that how you wish it? Time will tell.
JML, my issue is not with you, I do not question your way of dealing with issues, I respect what you write. You fight battles your way and I do the same my way. I’m not saying your way is wrong and my way is the right way. My issue is with the elected councilmen and the fact they “won’t” go into P.T. Barnum.
Say it Ron, because they are black. Maybe they are not holding it there because there has been no interest shown in the tax problems facing the entire Black Rock area. Ron, there have been notices of meetings at the library and at the community center and at Black Rock school (mayor’s forum) with very little participation from the minority community.
It seems a neighborhood group that is very active and gets great participation from residents gets panned on this blog regularly as being too rich and too out of touch, that is bullshit. The rest of this city sits on their dead asses and does nothing. This city is getting what it deserves for keeping quiet and panning the wrong group of people.
Andrew C Fardy, good point but because there is no interest shown in the tax problems facing the entire Black Rock area from those in P.T. Barnum Apartments so let’s excluded them and let’s not inform them on how they can help on this issue and maybe we can assist on problems at P.T. Barnum; no, that doesn’t sound like a good idea.
Yes Andy. I think it is because they are poor. And it is a very select “neighborhood group” like the people who hang out at Torres’ market. Contrary to opinions outside of Black Rock, it is not a community center.
*** On the contrary ACF, even though the list of “active” voters at P.T. Barnum Apts is small, getting out the message and political information in general concerning city government and how it’s affecting everyone is crucial towards hopefully getting more voters on the active voter bandwagon. The more info available to the public, the better the chance it will influence citizens to get involved and go out and vote during local elections, no? However past and present it’s no secret those who sit on the city council representing the 130th district basically are only interested in the Black Rock area. It is what it is! *** TIME TO GET THE WORD OUT, EVERYWHERE! ***
Sue and Steve set the meeting place and time–no one else. There are flyers about the meeting around the Black Rock area and on Sue’s Facebook page. It is an open meeting, the more people there the better.
And how many fliers do the kaffee klatchers distribute around PT or Orland St! Sue’s Facebook page … isn’t that just precious? How many people in PT do you think are on Sue’s Facebook page?
Black Rock Barb, that’s nice but do you want people to help who have not been involve before who live and vote in the district to know what the issues and problems are in the district and maybe by talking with them and having meetings where they live to hear what their problems are?
I don’t care where Steve and Sue decide to hold the meeting. As I said, it is an open meeting. The more people attending the better.
Black Rock Barb, then go where the voters are and there is no reason not to move the meeting to other locations. What is wrong with having the meeting at the Gary Crooks Memorial Center? How many times has Sue Brannelly and her partner Steven Stafstrom ever been at P.T. Barnum Apts? How many meetings has Sue Brannelly as a City Councilwoman held meetings there? You know, their votes do count.
Because Black Rock Barb probably wants a cup of coffee and hang around with the kaffee klatch gang.
And this is my problem with regard to where Sue and Steve hold their meetings because? As I said, open to all–if you have an issue with P.T. being left out, why not go there your own fine self and let everyone know about the meetings?
Ron,
I have found most people will tell you what bothers them if they get to know you and see you care. For instance, they may see you at a Library event, or a school reading session, or a game at Ellsworth or while mentoring a neighborhood youngster. Alternatively it may be at the Stop and Shop or at the Black Rock Food Pantry. Are you there regularly like a neighbor? Do you bother to listen respectfully and respond similarly to greetings? Then people may begin to share real problems, or they may not.
But on the other side, the folks of PT and Black Rock are getting “great representation” at City Council meetings with the regular appearance of Cecil Young (who has talked the rats of Black Rock to death by now) and myself with a variety of governance observations to help people all over Bridgeport. When people of all ages live in relative poverty, often times the community has organized to assist them in acts of mercy and kindness. Behind those acts often is a need for working on issues of justice that will free people to work for their own deliverance from limitations. Those who in this moment have relatively more affluence (of time, treasure or talent) are called to share it while they can. The community becomes stronger, more advantaged and actually wealthier in many ways. Time will tell.
Ron, let me get this straight. No one in PT has a car and no one there knows where the library is? Nobody there knows where the Black Rock center is? Sometimes you need to travel. The area is well tended to on voting day, lots of street money out there.
Really Andy … that works both ways. I am sure the Kaffee Klatch gang is probably better equipped than anyone else in the city to attend these meetings.
Why and how is that???
I appreciate the invitation to attend but have a scheduling conflict. I have provided both Sue and Steve with a number of specific budget suggestions. The “bottom line” is we should not have any increase in taxes. Our tax burdens are already too high and our tax levels are impeding Bridgeport’s recovery and economic development.
Translation: I’ll let any of the other council members vote for the tax increase.
blog.ctnews.com/connecticutpostings/2013/04/18/award-for-best-budget-season-quote-so-far-goes-to/
What’s up with all these Black Rock handles? Maybe I’ll change my handle to TheOtherBlackRockJoel.
I for one would love to hear from Mrs. Black Rock Guy or Mrs. Chosen 1 …