UPDATE: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and the Rockefeller Foundation announced on Thursday the winners of the $1 billion National Disaster Resilience Competition in which Bridgeport is scheduled to receive $38 million out of the $54 million awarded to Connecticut to improve flood control protection in the South End following destruction by Hurricane Sandy, according to mayoral spokesman Av Harris.
“Mayor Ganim was actually at the White House for the conference of mayors when he was pulled aside by federal officials and told Bridgeport was to be receiving the lion’s share of this $54 million awarded to CT so he could not be happier with this result,” said Harris. “It is also the result of a lot of hard work by the city’s economic development office and is very happy that their diligent efforts have paid off to benefit the city for years to come.”
Castro was in Bridgeport last week to celebrate the opening of an affordable housing complex in the East End.
From the HUD announcement:
Secretary Castro traveled to Norfolk, Virginia where he joined Governor Terry McAuliffe in announcing the winners of the competition. Through NDRC, HUD will provide funding for resilient housing and infrastructure projects to states and communities that were impacted by major disasters between 2011 and 2013.
State of Connecticut:
The State of Connecticut will receive $54,277,359 in NDRC funding to support a pilot program in Bridgeport that is part of the State’s broader Connecticut Connections Coastal Resilience Plan. The Coastal Resilience Plan is focused on reconnecting and protecting economically isolated coastal neighborhoods through investments in mixed green and gray infrastructure that protect against flooding while strengthening their connectivity to existing transportation nodes.
Here’s a break out of some of the money, according to a news release by Governor Dan Malloy:
- Bridgeport – South End East Resilience Network – $34,368,759: Elevation of University Avenue and construction of a greenway earthen berm to create a new baseline for the establishment of an urban coastal community that will be protected against future storms and sea level rise, removing the risk to reinvestment and inviting new development to strengthen this extension of downtown Bridgeport.
- Bridgeport – Community Design Center – $1,000,000: Construction and rehabilitation of an anchor community center in the South End to serve as a design center and central location for future recovery efforts.
- Bridgeport – South End District Energy Infrastructure Study – $350,000: Analysis of opportunities to utilize micro-grids, cogeneration systems, and alternative energy sources to limit disruptions in energy supply due to emergencies.
Thank you to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of HUD and the Rockefeller Foundation and those here on the local level because this is something that has been needed for years. As someone who has lived in the South End for 30 years we have often been hit with very serious flooding and especially here in Seaside Village. We have lost so much, items that insurance doesn’t cover, I’ve had to relocate three different times from floods. As a community we have decided to stay instead of running away and although it has taken 30 years for help to come during my time here I’m still grateful for this help.
Ron Mackey, it would be respectable to acknowledge although Joe Ganim WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THIS GREAT NEWS AT HIS RECENT TRIP to Washington DC, credit should also be given to Mayor Finch and our elected officials who have been fighting for this money. $38 million is a great amount of money to help with the problem. Thank you Mayor Finch and Mayor Ganim.
STEVE, MAYBE OUR PAST MAYOR CAN TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TORNADO MONIES.
There must be a clear definition of what this comment means:
“The Coastal Resilience Plan is focused on reconnecting and protecting economically isolated coastal neighborhoods through investments in mixed green and gray infrastructure that protect against flooding while strengthening their connectivity to existing transportation nodes.”
This is significant news, from Ron Mackey’s perspective along with all others who reside in the vulnerable neighborhoods of the South End, and from that of all of Bridgeport. At a time when dollars were spent by the City supposedly that could be reimbursed fully by certain grants that came to us automatically because of our statistical standing and all we had to do was account for them by timely reporting, more than once the City has not been reimbursed because of administrative failure. That cost taxpayers unfortunately.
In this case the grant was highly competitive it seems. So the need was there, but alternatives and solutions must have been well presented and argued. Congratulations to the City departments that participated. Now perhaps the South End NRZ or City OPED might provide the details of what can be done with these funds and other lesser amounts already known and in what time frame. And can we ask the new administration to find a way to present Grant Accounting to the City Council and public in general so the public can become informed WATCHDOGS on this process? Will the South End residents become more secure from storm damage? Will jobs come to local workers and businesses from the grant dollars? Will the work be done quickly and well? Can the public know the work to be done and the flow of time and dollars in chart form? Time will tell.
I guess the FEDS didn’t get the message about ignoring us if Joe won.
Hector, the Feds will not ignore Joe. I know you have been very vocal against the future train station, but I know now that Joe Ganim is supportive, you will believe it is the best for your neighborhood!
Steve, I live in Black Rock. It wouldn’t make a difference to me what or who thinks it’s a good idea, unless it’s an actual train STATION and not just a parking lot with a train stop, it’s a bad idea in my opinion.
Credit should be given where credit is due. All the work for this was done in the FINCH administration, and apparently under the aegis of David Kooris and the Bridgeport Economic Development Team. Mayor Ganim had nothing to do with this except being in the right place at the right time when the grant was decided. To Ganim’s credit, it seems Kooris is being retained as the head of the Economic Development Department. It’s even possible more grants or monies may be received where the work was begun in the Finch Administration AND as the Obama administration winds down. Ganim will be responsible from now on to seek and find additional monies that we know this city needs. There has been some concern his administration has been slow to get its act together but by retaining Kooris and his team, Ganim will have continuity in the critical Department of Economic Development.
The appearance of Federal money seems to be a good thing in this instance, but shouldn’t applause for leadership come about as a phase or the entire project is completed? Instead several people want to lavish praise on Bill Finch, Joe Ganim or Finch and Ganim, and it is strange in a way to see Steve Auerbach in the debate because he has on several occasions said he is not interested in financial matters. (What he does like is to be a “cheerleader” and have a smile on his face, not a bad thing!)
My objection for all this too-ready praise is from researching, uncovering and discovering the fiscal details up to the present time. There is a developing story at the moment that was kept quiet for many years that has annually cost City taxpayers $50,000 to $70,000 more than necessary in these financial times for a borrowing of an authority, not the City directly, to cover expenses undertaken by the Authority that found itself without revenues; a mayoral appointed commission that does not provide minutes or any financial filing to the City Clerk for public review; and a decision to pay off a large obligation by using funds in a City department account that had been borrowed without departmental or City Council transfer approval. Lots of great questions, Steve. Lots of bad fiscal practice by people in the Finch administration over the years and right up to their departure. Hold the praise until the “fat lady has sung.” Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee, I would say applause is deserved at the beginning of any project that may be seen as having a positive impact on a community as well as at the completion of a project as you correctly mentioned in your prior post. I am curious as to another statement made. In your analysis, would you say the financial matters of the City Of Bridgeport were handled in an OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT and HONEST manner by previous mayoral administrations eg: McLevy, Tedesco, Curran, Panuzio, Mandanici, Paoletta, Bucci, Moran, Ganim(1) and all hell broke loose in the Finch administration?
Lennie, this last update that breaks down where this money is going is creating more questions than giving answers. The update states, South End East Resilience Network – $34,368,759: Elevation of University Avenue and construction of a greenway earthen berm to create a new baseline for the establishment of an urban coastal community that will be protected against future storms and sea level rise, removing the risk to reinvestment and inviting new development to strengthen this extension of downtown Bridgeport. How does elevation of University Avenue and construction of a greenway earthen berm help prevent flooding in Seaside Village?
Don’t forget, the Congressional and Presidential elections are looming. Could it be our entrenched representation from down county just found the opportunity to purchase Bridgeport’s winning margin of votes in time for the primaries and fall elections?
The $38 million is surely significant and needed for flood control for the flood-ravaged South End. The South End certainly needs and deserves it. But we should remember what happened with other funding for Bridgeport projects, such as the $45 million for the long-hyped Bridgeport Intermodal Transportation Center. How did that project turn out? Where did the $45 million go? Did it ever come? We probably shouldn’t get too excited about the project and money until we know the details/timetable of the project and have the money in our hands.
HUD along with the Dept of NO Energy, Dept of Education along with Interior should be blown up and flushed to South America. Colossal waste of the taxpayers’ money. If there are any taxpayers left.
You sound like Rick Perry.