Charter Panel Selects Officers At Organizational Meeting, Public Hearing Set For March 10

Educator Faith Sweeney was selected to lead the 13-member Charter Revision Commission during its organizational meeting Friday night. A public hearing for community input has been scheduled for March 10, 6 p.m. in City Council chambers, 45 Lyon Terrace.

Committee member and regular OIB commentator John Marshall Lee shares this report.

These were brief observations I offered in print for the fellow Committee members last evening. Eleven of the thirteen were present at the two hour meeting where a committee chair, Faith Sweeney, vice-chair, John Hosier, and Secretary, Rev Terry Williams were elected. Many members of the City Council were present from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM for the initial meeting. A draft report is due from the group by June 16, 2025.

Comments on City of Bridgeport – Charter Review Process
As we gather for our first meeting, I am pleased to meet each of you, as a fellow Bridgeport resident and citizen who believes that as Americans, we have duties as well as rights. A City Charter is a way of structuring the ‘public power’ of each citizen to ensure safety of person, the security of property and a promise of opportunity to future generations .

The combined power of each informed and capable adult citizen resides in leadership from a Mayor; legislation and representation from 20 City Council members, an assortment of other officials for whom we currently vote (without perhaps understanding why); and broader public opinions that we may not inform nor educate as an important part of the “power pyramid”. Open, accountable, transparent, and honest values must show.

I am a thinker on subjects that are likely called ‘politics’ but which I reference as ‘governance.’ After reflecting on the rules of law, observations on what may be missing in the operation of our community, I have regularly addressed the City Council in Public Speaking sessions, with comments published in City archives.

In my opinion, our Executive branch has adequate “power” to do the things expected of it, but perhaps too little organization and structure to fully accomplish them well.

The City Council has far less budget, voter support, and framework relative to its current structure than the Executive branch and oversight without enforcement power, creates ongoing power vacuums.

Public opinion force has diminished through the years. Polarization of people from Internet popularity rather than professional journalism and media leaves too many ill-informed as to facts, data trends, or professional opinion. How do we heal the interests of public opinion such that registered voters trust officials, become better informed, and vote at each opportunity so that all of us know in aggregate what each of us has come to know and trust?

Do we have enough time for an independent review and report by June 16? I do not know but I believe that TIME WILL TELL as it always does. John Marshall Lee 2/28/2025