With students back at school, the city’s town-gown divide with Sacred Heart University continues. SHU has an intriguing relationship with the city. Campus proper is located in the town of Fairfield, but the university’s connective growth across Park Avenue includes dormitories, administrative offices and classrooms in Bridgeport proper.
North End City Council members AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia and Michelle Lyons have been vocal critics of overcrowding student tenants in residential neighborhoods that injures quality of life and stresses law enforcement. Another North End council member Michael DeFilippo, a property owner of multiple units, has a different point of view citing the university’s strong economic impact that spends dollars in the city and creates job opportunities.
The mayor’s office issued a news release on Thursday asserting “city departments addressing public safety and quality of life concerns in the North End of Bridgeport have been taking action.”
Following multiple complaints by North End residents, business owners, and concerns voiced by North End City Council members, Mayor Ganim has called for city officials to perform inspections of properties and enforcement of ordinances designed to curb noise, overcrowding, and parking violations.
“This is not a time for residents to take risks or intentionally make neighbors feel uncomfortable. The restrictions and protocols inflicted upon all of us due to COVID should be taken seriously and with consideration. Any infringement on public safety, and quality of life by anyone in our city won’t be tolerated. Overcrowding and noise violations are being addressed with authority in the North End.”
Residents should be advised that various departments are inspecting and enforcing housing code and noise violations, along with parking enforcement. In the last two months the city has issued notices of violation or tickets to 12 of the 18 properties that have been inspected.
Additionally, landlords of three properties that were observed to be overcrowded are complying with city requests or violations, and have agreed to take immediate action to reduce the number of unrelated individuals living at their property to ensure compliance.
North End residents may report public safety and quality of life issues that may be related to SHU students at 203-371-7995, or call the Bridgeport Police non-emergency line at 203-576-7671, always call 911 for an emergency.
Of course DeFilippo has a different point of view!!! Look up how many homes he owns and rents to students. You know, some of those same out-of-state students that cast their ballots in the 133rd. Oh I’m sorry, the ballots that were collected at those rental houses.
Get real Bridgeport.
*** Not enough staff at city housing to mind the office & be out in the city doing inspections, too little, too late. ***
a little too late for the 2 councilpersons from the 134th. this is something that city officials should have been doing all along. the city will not take any kind kind of meaningful action until there is a fire in an over crowded rental that kills multiple students – and the city gets sued for not enforcing zoning laws already on the books.
Where is the Fire Marshal? Why don’t we hear a spokesperson from the Fire Marshal Division giving the public an update on Fire Code Inspection back logs? Don’t the residents of Bridgeport deserve to know that their lives are all in danger?
“…Residents should be advised that various departments are inspecting and enforcing housing code and noise violations, along with parking enforcement. In the last two months the city has issued notices of violation or tickets to 12 of the 18 properties that have been inspected.
“Additionally, landlords of three properties that were observed to be overcrowded are complying with city requests or violations, and have agreed to take immediate action to reduce the number of unrelated individuals living at their property to ensure compliance….”
18/3(!) — only 1000/1000 to go!….