City Wars Covers Intensity Of Campaign Trail

Filmmaker Don Sikorski shares his latest episode of City Wars chronicling Joe Ganim’s comeback bid for mayor in real time. The latest installment focuses on the first debate between Ganim, Bill Finch and Mary-Jane Foster.

See all episodes here.

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9 comments

  1. That’s a bet I would not make, donj. There are better candidates for Mayor than Finch. Foster is better, Daniels is better, Gardner is better, Torres is better, and the electorate decided Ganim is better.

    Finch’s supporters are out of touch with what is going on in the City as a whole. They truly believe their own press. The majority do not care about a “let’s look at the big picture” line of crap, or “Hartford will turn off the money” (oh, shame on Hartford for that in advance if they are that small-minded and want to penalize the whole City because their candidate lost). The majority care more about the quality of their daily lives than the “image” of Bridgeport to outsiders. The voters are sick of being treated like crap by City Hall; plain and simple. In Bridgeport, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. The majority are hurting and in need of relief. There are simply more “have nots” than “haves” and they have found their voice.

    The majority need jobs, lower taxes, funded schools, services, and the immediate cease and desist of the Administration squandering our taxpayer dollars on BS pet projects and an inflated government teaming with out-of-towners, and Finch (or Wood) yes men. Folks, there is a city out there beyond the walls of your bubble. The warnings were there, it was just a matter of time until critical mass was reached.

    I almost feel bad because I would imagine the incumbent’s supporters wish he were a better mayor too. They too are saddled with this front man whom they have to babysit on a daily basis to make sure he does not do anything “too” stupid each day. Settling for marginally stupid must be the norm for them. Damage control dollars should be built into the budget.

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  2. Why raise the subject of the budget (or as I have commented from time to time the Operating Budget, the Capital Budget and the Grants Budget (for City and BOE)? Confusing?

    Perhaps, but City Council members get to look at only the Operating Budget for an annual review and vote, with any chance of seeing some detail. Why don’t they ask for more and receive it? Great question, right? Are they so well satisfied with activity by the Mayor’s Office they wag their tails like pets, rather than their necessary watchdog role?

    For the Capital Budget, two pages with more than 30 City projects totaling $42 Million for this year was what was provided to your CC. Is that enough? Have the CC members read the Charter that calls for the people to be solicited for their “Capital ideas” and hold a meeting? Not held in Bridgeport separate and distinct from Operating Budget hearings!!! And what material would a taxpayer study to see what happened with 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Capital Budget spending, completions, and/or incomplete projects?

    Finally, the June 30, 2015 annual FY close (Draft) showed the City had more revenue than expenses, before the audit that is ongoing at this time. The actual amount of surplus exceeded $16,400,000 rather than the $400,000 projection advanced. What was that $16 Million difference? The Mayor did not know when I asked him at a brown bag lunch in August. A call from his Finance Department told me it was due to BOE summer salaries that are part of the 2015 BOE budget. OK, but I asked what the other $7 Million surplus remaining was caused by? I was told they would email an answer. Nothing in over three weeks.

    What financial shape are we in? What is the exact number of current public safety employees available for police duty? If 25 more will be eligible for retirement on January 1, 2016, how do we catch up when overtime is busting the budget each year? When will the public look at where we spend the money taxes are raised for? Time will tell.

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    1. Wow, John Lee!

      Surplus? The City of Bridgeport, as of June 30, 2015, had a budget surplus?

      Why isn’t the Mayor proudly announcing this?

      Wait, a surplus of $400,000 or $7 million?

      No one in the current administration knows which?

      Really?

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