Kudos to an OIB friend supplying a sweet piece of pictorial history. As a followup to the Steel Point item on Tuesday Dr. Frank Gerratana, whose father was photography chief for the old Bridgeport Herald, shared an aerial taken by his dad circa 1957 as construction of the Connecticut Turnpike advances across the harbor on the East Side when the Steel Point area power plant (center right along the harbor) was a testament to smokestacks. Who’s piloting the aerial shot? Let me guess, a young Morgan Kaolian?
Here’s a modern aerial image of the area taken from the opposite direction by Morgan Kaolian.
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The Steal Point property looks like the minds of Bridgeport’s leaders, barren and bereft of ideas. Think of all the taxpaying homeowners and businesses who were displaced some 10 years ago. For what purpose?
Don’t you see Mayor Tedesco and his family waving from the base of Rtes 25 & 8 with a sign thanking the government for securing their financial futures?
I will remain optimistic regarding Steelepointe. I just want Bridgeport to be a destination where you do not have to go through littered streets and derelict properties to reach. The future of this city is definitely with new young blood who are full of hope and not jaded by a history of corruption. I am looking forward to a great future in this city as I have since I was young with hair on my head and always believing this city has the potential to reclaim its glorious past. I refuse to get caught up in all the negativity. We will all sink and swim together whether we are Republicans or Democrats. I will not waste my vote to humor anyone or prove a point. Mary-Jane Foster is no longer in the running and I have never missed an election. I will be voting for Bill Finch because I do not want to wake up on Wednesday and have someone change the direction we are going. I want Steelepointe and downtown development. I always go out of my way to patronize the downtown and the arts in this city. I may not have a pot to piss in these days but I believe in Bridgeport. Until the day I give up on Bridgeport and move away, I will always be positive and hope for the best. I am hoping Bill Finch does not disappoint in his second term and I am certainly not going to spend the next four years attacking the Mayor. He must succeed! The taxpayers cannot afford any more of a burden and Steelepoint is the biggest part of the puzzle to generate tax dollars. Housatonic Ave. and Seaview Ave. are two other important arteries in this city that could really change the make-up of the city. I am hopeful about the development project in the south end by the University of Bridgeport. Do not test fate. Vote your conscience. The other two candidates are very nice guys. Neither has a chance to win. Neither has made their case and I will not waste my vote. I expect most people will sit out this election. I will vote and I will vote for Finch. And I have stated all the reasons why. I have always shared information of whom I am voting for because I hope the candidate I am voting for is the victor. My support of Mary-Jane Foster was sincere, but unlike many I do not and never have despised Bill Finch. Four years ago he was my candidate and every week I had to move Finch signs to mow my lawn. Next Tuesday it is Finch. For me anyway. I feel as bad as Finch must have felt when he supported Ned Lamont and now Dan Malloy is the guest at his fundraiser. Yes Politics makes strange bedfellows and on that I must admit I have always been a bit naive.
Come on Steve, you are going overboard here. Have you forgotten all the reasons you busted your ass for MJF?
You state you feel as bad as Finch did for supporting Lamont over Malloy. Does that mean you feel bad about supporting MJF over Finch?
Finch is still Finch; yes, the same one you worked so hard to defeat in the primary. Steve, get your head out of your ass and your lips off of Finch’s ass and think before you post this drivel.
My head is never up my ass when it comes to my belief in Bridgeport. I worked my ass off for Foster and I am embarrassed to say that because I did it because I was passionate in what I was doing. Did you imagine I would spend four years of my life hoping Finch fails? Excuse me, but I was not on the town committee anytime in my life and I have only recently met many of them. I did not get fired from Finch and I have no reason to kiss his ass now or four years ago. I have always put Bridgeport first. I happen to know and respect many individuals who are part of the Democratic Town Committee. I have never criticized anyone else for their stand. You have been there for many administrations. Why now all of a sudden … I always said the problem with Foster’s campaign was more people were there because of a personal disgruntled loathing of Finch. I was not one of those non-paid volunteers. I gave my time and effort and energy and we lost the primary. We move forward like in most elections. I do not equate my support for Foster with Finch’s support of Lamont or Malloy’s lack of support for Foster while she supported him. What I am saying is politics does make strange bedfellows and again excuse my naivete but in my case I can assure you there has been no financial gain and of course that is the city’s loss. If you choose to stay home or vote for Torres or Kohut that is your choice. When I supported Finch four years ago Torres bucked his own party in support of Caruso. I didn’t support Caruso, why would I support Torres? I do not share his vision. I share Finch’s vision for economic development just not his choice for the director he has chosen. tc, I am sorry you are not happy with my decision to vote for Finch. I am also voting for Michelle Lyons, AmyMarie Paniccia and Dennis Scinto. I will pass on Santa Ayala. OMG tc, the visual of my head up my ass and lips on Finch’s ass is pretty scary. I cannot believe you said that to me–oh yeah, yes I can, you are one guy I would have loved to campaign for. You should not have left the DTC. You could have been part of the solution. Now your negativity is just going to be part of the problem. I am also voting for Barack Obama. Sorry, you’re for Cain–well he is done and so are pretty much all of the Republicans thank G-d!!!
Steve: just to clear up any murkiness you may have regarding the concept of “Politics makes strange bedfellows,” the phrase is basically used to describe those who flip alliances on a dime for purposes of self interest.
My self-interest is now and has always been the Future of Bridgeport.
What a sad thing to hear. Steve, look at the pictures above. Look at the (lack of) development on the Pequonnock River. Look at Derecktor Shipyards, all of East Main Street. You’re going to give ANOTHER chance to the same Machine that’s been running this city into the ground for years on end. It’s just a shame. Looks like with your help, my taxes will stay through the roof! Actually, maybe they’ll go down, once I head over to Fairfield.
Btw–The photos are amazing!!!
Steve,
Well said … Kudos on your comments! Wish more in this City mirrored your views.
Finch disappointed when he was senator, championed a bill that actually brought $1.5million to start a barge facility on the harbor. This would have created over 200 jobs and taken 80 tractor-trailers off I-95 from Port Newark, NJ (thus reducing pollution and wear and tear). But when Stafstrom and his minions wanted to revive the moribund Steelpoint and got Finch elected, Finch reversed himself and the money went back to Hartford. And Steve, you think Finch will change? Not a chance. This is the longest full-time job he’s ever had and it sets him up for a wonderful pension and other perquisites.
First comes WALMART then comes a super DOLLAR TREE. Then tattoo parlors, pawn shops and hooka lounges. You go ahead and vote for Finch, Auerbach. He will turn our dreams into shit.
omg!!!!!!!!!
lololololol
Will we be able to walk to the Dollar Tree and hooka lounges from the Super Wal*mart?
Steve, the reason for my response to your post was you make it sound like Finch had the city going in the right direction. Please point out what positive economic steps have been taken by Finch over the last four years. Tell me about his treatment of city employees and their families. Tell me about the false budgets that have been submitted by the Finch administration. Tell me about the $60 million in pension funds that were not paid into the pension fund, all the while claiming the budget is balanced. Tell me about the BOE situation were Finch had been meeting behind closed doors since January with the intent if disbanding the elected BOE. Tell me about the comment made when the president was in town “Guess who’s coming to dinner.” Tell me about the comment democracy can be suspended for awhile as many people in Bridgeport are illegals or felons and can’t vote anyway.
Steve I realize the mayoral field does not offer a great selection but the slim field does not mean Finch is the second coming. That’s how your posts have come across, to me anyway.
No one worked harder for MJF than you did. If I had you working for me when I ran I may have won. Vote for whomever, just don’t try and change what he is.
Mayor Finch is not the second coming. The machine is strong but not that strong. Honestly, if Bill were hated where were those people? During campaign both camps say things that are not always factual. If people really believed the city was going in the wrong direction they would not have voted for Finch. It was a nice day and voter turnout was pathetic. Let’s face it, tc. Even Mary-Jane had surrounded herself with individuals I wasn’t thrilled with. But I focused on the main character. She did have few councilman who were impressive. A few years ago I voted for Anthony Musto. So much for Marilyn Moore.
The second coming? No. The only choice for right now? Yes. Why put someone else in office who will use the last four years to make excuses? Can we all move forward and hope for a great future? I mean really, I know we enjoy character assassinations, but enough already. There is work to do. The fat lady has not yet sung and all must be hopeful.
If people saw through the veil Finch holds over their eyes, they’d vote for anybody but Finch. He’ll tell you education is growing, there are more jobs, there’s great opportunity!
Joe Pesci said it best in “My Cousin Vinny.” Finch will tell you about the bricks being laid in the city and how we’re growing. But … “When you look at the bricks from the right angle, they’re as thin as this playing card. His whole case is an illusion, a magic trick.”