How will the black vote break in the Democratic primary? Donald Day, retired city firefighter with a gift for turning a phrase, issues an appeal in this commentary for black voters to support Mary-Jane Foster for mayor in the cause of economic empowerment. Although Day no longer resides in the city, he’s still active in issues particularly the racial makeup of the police and fire departments. He served as president of The Firebird Society. During the course of the campaign OIB will publish commentaries that serve as candidate endorsements. Day can be reached at donday1951@aol.com.
This is an open letter to the Black residents of Bridgeport concerning the election for the Mayor of Bridgeport. Brothers and Sisters, as we approach the election for Mayor we are inundated and bombarded with candidates who tell us what they’ve done for us, what they will do for us and how good they’ve been to the Black community.
All of that may be true, but the time has come for us as a people to take control of our destiny and start to do what is best for us, our communities and best for the City of Bridgeport. I listened to former Mayor Joe Ganim talk about what he did for Bridgeport and how good he was for the residents and Blacks in our community and he is right, he was good for Blacks in Bridgeport. I love Joe like a play cousin and he was certainly good to my organization, The Firebird Society. Under Joe, Blacks were hired for the police and fire departments. Blacks were in leadership positions in his administration. He kept the taxes down which benefited not only Blacks of Bridgeport, but Bridgeport as a whole. He was GOOD for Bridgeport.
Mayor Bill Finch espouses what he’s done for Bridgeport and how he’s brought development to the city and how the city is a GOOD place to live, work and to raise a family. By the way that tag line is one that he stole from me. I have numerous letters that were sent to Mayors Ganim, Fabrizi and Finch while I was President of the Firebird Society extolling the virtues of living in Bridgeport, with those exact words, to make Bridgeport a better place to live, to work and to raise a family.
Pardon me for getting off topic my people. Mayor Finch too has been GOOD for Blacks in the City of Bridgeport, GOOD for nothing! Fewer Blacks, women and Bridgeport residents have been hired for the police and fire departments under Bill Finch than in the (40) forty years prior to his becoming the Mayor. Blacks for the most part are not included in leadership roles in his administration, in fact he has hired more individuals as department heads from outside of Bridgeport than any Mayor in the (40) forty years prior to his becoming mayor. Mayor Finch has never embraced the Black community as a whole until this year when he realized that his taking the Black community for granted might cost him this election.
Sisters and Brothers, aren’t we tired as a people of accepting GOOD when we can have BETTER, and I truly believe that Mary-Jane Foster is that BETTER that we deserve. Mary-Jane is a proven business leader who can move this city in the direction that will benefit us as a people and Bridgeport as a whole. Who better to bring businesses to our illustrious city than a proven business leader? Who knows business better than a proven business leader? I came to Bridgeport in 1969 and since that time we’ve had a myriad of lawyers, a real estate agent, a grocery store clerk and now a Mayor who brought no discernible talents to City Hall. At what point do we as a people and as a city opt for a Mayor who has the qualities that a struggling city needs to move forward in the 21st century? When do we as a people and as a city say GOOD isn’t good enough to lead this city and that we are now demanding BETTER?
The thing that I find most beneficial to the residents of Bridgeport is the fact that Mary-Jane has said “she intends to create jobs for Bridgeport residents by using meaningful hiring preferences for residents and every development deal will include hiring of Bridgeport residents who are paid a living wage.”
This is huge for the City of Bridgeport and for the Black community. Bridgeport has the largest applicant pool for city jobs than any other city in the State. According to DOL stats 32% of Bridgeport residents have a college degree. Why do we feel the need to send Bridgeport’s tax dollars to every city in the State to the detriment of this city that we all love? Did you know that in the Bridgeport Fire Department the average firefighter with (5) five or more years on the job is making in excess of $80,000 per year and if you multiply that by 300 who live outside of Bridgeport you are talking about $24 million per year leaving the city, or in excess of over $461 thousand dollars per week leaving the city with absolutely no benefit to the City of Bridgeport or its residents. When you look at the police department because of outside overtime, there are even bigger salaries leaving the city every day, every month and every year. The only candidate who has said anything about this phenomenon is Mary-Jane Foster. Bridgeport residents have an inherent right to work in the city in which they live and pay taxes over individuals who come here just for the money to take back for the uplift of their communities.
Bridgeport, let’s not vote with our hearts, but with our heads. Bridgeport, let’s not accept GOOD when BETTER is at our fingertips. Bridgeport, let’s move this city forward with the leadership that will certainly make it a BETTER place to live, to work and to raise a family. Bridgeport, let’s support the candidacy of Mary-Jane Foster, because she’s the only candidate who can deliver BETTER to all residents and not just GOOD or GOOD for nothing.
Today is the “Day” for Foster Care!
Litmus test for those seeking the African American or Puerto Rican Vote. Name ive Great African Americans and their accomplishments (can’t include Martin, George Washington Carver, Harriet or Rosa). Do the same for Puerto Ricans (I would allow anyone except probably Rita Moreno and Raul Julia). If you refer to us as Latinos you’ve already failed.
The Reverend Richard Allen, 1816 founded the AME Church
Sojourner Truth – nationally noted speaker on abolition and women’s rights
Martin Delany – first African American field officer in US Army
Harriet Wilson – first African American to publish a novel in North America
George Washington Buckner – first African American to serve as diplomatic minister to a foreign country
Jose Miguel Agrelot – Guinness Book of World Records for longest non-stop radio show
Pedro Albizu Campos – President of Nationalists Party of Puerto Rico – very interesting history on both the mainland and the Island.
Ricardo E Alegria – driving force behind creation of Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
Rafael Alers – Music!
Roman Baldoriot y de Castro – abolitionist, publisher
Tomas Batista – artist
And being able to properly pronounce the Caribbean Ocean would be a good add to your list of questions. Thanks Hector, that was a great learning exercise.
Good Job!!!
Hector, let me start first here in Bridgeport, Cesar Batalla, Judge Carmen Lopez, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor and The Young Lords and two of their leaders, Pablo Guzmán, Felipe Luciano.
As for blacks, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Nat Turner, Adam Clayton Powell and Jackie Robinson.
Donald Day, you are so right, during our collective 16 years as President of the Firebird Society Joe Ganim as mayor never told us a lie but I can’t say that about Mayor Finch, he is hardheaded, a liar, refuses to accept advice.
Mary-Jane Foster’s plan about hiring Bridgeport residents would greatly help provide job opportunity for the black community and also increase the buying power here. The black community must now look at their own family and their own pocketbook and wallet and say to their selves which candidate can I truly trust to help my life and my city the best? Our vote must go to the candidate who will move all of us forward and we can trust them, it’s not about somebody being a nice guy, or who pops up at our church only when it’s election time, or who takes a picture with, or a candidate who has been telling you lies for years and who attempted to take your voting rights away or who loves to hired people from out of town.
It’s time for new leadership and a new vision for our City, MJF has shown the vision and leadership right here at the University of Bridgeport, something all Bridgeport residents can feel proud about.
This is 2015 and we cannot go back to the past or keep doing the same thing over and over again, been there, done that. 2015, it’s time to move ahead with honesty, vision and leadership and Mary-Jane Foster is that person as our mayor to move us out of the dark past and into the future.
I’d ADD JOHN HANSON, FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT, history is so scared of him and what he signifies, they have divided him into two different personas, one who was black, could do the things they said he did and another who is Anglo, DID THINGS A BLACK MAN COULDN’T (at that time). I am right now looking at the back of a $2 bill and I clearly see the black gentleman seated on the left (purportedly JOHN HANSON).
Hector, while I appreciate your black and Hispanic history lesson, my post is about the future of Bridgeport. In my humble opinion, the litmus test for getting the black vote has absolutely nothing to do with whether an individual knows five great black Americans.
If we as a people don’t know where we’re going, any road will take us there.
My position is if they are only interested in US as a people NOW, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROMISE A LOT MORE THAN SOME JOBS AND EMPATHY. Now if they have been one with the struggle, knowing those answers should be relatively easy. As long as we feel we need our hands held we’ll be led anywhere. It will take a candidate from our community to actually CHANGE that, preferably one who hasn’t fronted for anyone else.
Donald, reading your comment I would be inclined to vote for Joe Ganim as he in your words “he was “Good” for Bridgeport,” being that he is looking to be even better now. We can take a look at how minorities in particular fared while Mary-Jane was head of the Bluefish, i.e. how many were in management or decision making positions? I would figure she would run the City much like the Stadium was. I would question the “proven business leader” thing but I’m sure you know of other PROJECTS than just the “STRUGGLING” BLUEFISH AND COULD ENLIGHTEN ME?
Hector, in the last 25 years what Mayor created and provided jobs for minorities BEFORE they became mayor?
RON, SIMPLE ANSWER. “DINKINS.”
Hector Diaz, what are you talking about, what person who was mayor in Bridgeport in the past 25 years who provided jobs for minorities BEFORE they became mayor?
I don’t know Hector how many were there in management positions and how would you know you who was there? She did bring the Bluefish here and Joe brought what???
Hector, did you know I was 120 lbs? Joe “was” good but he brings a package with him, whether real or perceived, correct? C’mon man, you can’t ask a hypothetical and really expect a real answer.
Who wrote this? What has changed in three days?
Hector A. Diaz // Jun 5, 2015 at 5:02 pm
I want to be clear, in all my years of politics, it’s never been personal. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to run, enduring the negativity associated with it, walking on eggshells to get their message out. When I support a candidate I do so fully. Never has it been my intention to insult or personally attack even those who use those tactics. May the best candidate win, hopefully Bridgeport will shine through the next election and the new administration hold true to the needs of this City we call home.
I still believe and mean what I wrote, my QUESTIONS are just that, questions and they are based on observations. It is never personal, until it is. If one or all or some take anything I ask personally then they need to look at themselves, not me.
Unfortunately, Hector Diaz is full of it. He is a Ganim toady looking for a city job from Ganim. Bringing up how many minorities were hired by MJF and her husband is bullshit and a sad ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT MJF. I can tell you most of the vendors were minorities as were a lot of the grounds crew. I don’t know the racial makeup of the team itself.
Andy, your sister.
Andy, HER HUSBAND? DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD CHECK HIS HISTORY WITH MINORITIES (HE DOES HAVE A VOTING RECORD BASED ON A SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHIC)? UMM, I DIDN’T BRING THAT UP. YOU DID. ANDY DID ANYONE EVER TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOU REMIND THEM OF SNUFFY SMITH, AS I SAID IT AIN’T PERSONAL ‘TIL IT IS, OH AND I HAVE A GREAT JOB ALREADY.
Hector, now you are the resident genius, Anytime you want to get into it, no problem. If you want to get into it about the guy you are backing no problem. Like DD pointed out, you write sanctimonious bullshit in one post and then write something different in another post so my question to you is which side is up?
Andy, thank you for the GENIUS THING, that’s mighty white of you.
And mighty brown of you.
Gee, a reference from the only type of book you can read, Ricky. Hector, you may have a great job already and that is great but you know you want back into the city and you know you can’t get elected so your pal Ganim will come through.
Andy, my simple lesson on history for you. If Christopher Columbus discovered America but he only got as far as Puerto Rico, then wouldn’t that make Puerto Ricans the true Americans and others foreigners (you included)? If you don’t like the truth go back where you came from.
Hector, did you know Christopher Columbus was actually a Jew and tried to find a new land for the persecuted Jews in Spain during the courts of inquisition? You didn’t know that? Because history books have not caught up yet. So were the first true Americans Jews … omg … 🙂
Steve, I’ve read that.
Hector, get your history right. Columbus made five trips to the Caribbean. The first place he handed was Hispaniola the next three times he landed in the islands off the Bahamas. SO GET IT STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU TRY AND GIVE ME A HISTORY LESSON.
Andy, I am very up on my history and some of yours. Hispaniola is the Dominican Republic now, the other islands near Bahamas are Puerto Rico on his second trip he left his brother to govern what he named San Juan now Puerto Rico. HE EXCLAIMED AT ITS SHORES “the most beautiful lands he had ever seen, the land I’ve been looking for” “where the sun married the ocean,” we could talk potatoes if you’d like, this is a subject you’re out of your league on.
You had better re-read history as Columbus never landed in PR. Read slowly, Hector.
Lol, Andy, it is with great pleasure I read your last comment, it shows how really ignorant you are. For you to openly declare it fills me and I’m sure many others here with joy. Pay Attention.
Hector, do you really know what you are talking about? Your posts indicate you are suffering from terminal dumbass.
“When Christopher Columbus LANDED in Puerto Rico in “1493m” he claimed the Island for Spain, Christening it San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist)” Andy, whatever you do, do not … I repeat, DO NOT … GOOGLE … “THE PERFECT HUMAN BEING,” your head might just POP!
Hector, in case you did not know it, MJF’s husband is not running for elective office.
Andy, you brought him up, not me.
Hector, from your previous post “DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD CHECK HIS HISTORY WITH MINORITIES (HE DOES HAVE A VOTING RECORD BASED ON A SIMILAR”
Hector, I think you need a check up from the neck up.
Andy, I didn’t bring him up in this convo. Easy enough to go up the list of comments to see when he was bought up in this article.
Do you guys really want to have this debate with me? It would be no problem to go from asking questions to making statements and providing past experiences as has been happening with my candidate. Andy, since your first reflex is to insult, you might want to get out a dictionary, I play the DOZENS well.
Hector, taking the high road is hard work, walking uphill requires strength and effort. Anyone can take the low road, walking downhill is easy.
I believe you’re better than your post questioning her hiring practices and commitment to the minority community.
Thank you Donald, my respect for MJF or her husband is unwavering, My question was brought up due to the nature of the article above, my only reference for an opinion on her commitment to OUR communities is the Stadium where she had firing and hiring authority. You have had the opportunity to spend some personal time with your candidate and may have a better grasp of her intentions than many of us do. In any case, the questions I ask are being asked daily in our communities.
Donald Day, although I am thrilled you are supporting Foster, the fact you do not live in Bridgeport is disturbing to me. I actually thought you were a lifelong resident. A few months ago you were with Mackey singing Ganim’s praises with Ron Mackey. Now, Marilyn is supporting Foster and you guys follow suit. Apparently, you have gotten wiser. Talking to the black community as brothers and sisters is so yesterday. It does work in Church but not the general public on non-churchgoing members of the black community. Honestly, I had no idea you were not a Bridgeport resident. Your credibility has been compromised and Mayor Finch has huge support among the black community. Why we are even talking about the black community is ludicrous. We should be voting for a Mayor who cares about the entire city and not candidates who try to race bait and give the impression a candidate has let them down. I do think it is awesome you had the ability to pen a supportive letter for Mary-Jane Foster and have a platform to expose your support. Perhaps you can be interviewed by Marilyn Moore’s “Moments with Marilyn.” Good luck with your endeavor. Mary-Jane Foster is an excellent candidate and should have no problem eclipsing Ganim if she had more people like yourself taking the word to the streets. If Ganim is not chopped liver by July, Foster is in trouble. Steelpointe, Steelpointe, Steelpointe!
Steve Auerbach, I’ve lived in Bridgeport except for two years my entire life. I support Joe Ganim’s right to run for office based on a number of reasons. First, I believe in giving a second chance, second, at that time Mary-Jane Foster had not made her decision to run for mayor but as I said, Joe has the right to run for office. I like Joe, I found him honest in my dealings with him but this is 2015, time has moved on and it’s time for an honest new direction and a new vision and leadership for Bridgeport. I’ve found Bill Finch is a liar and doesn’t accept advice from anyone, it’s his way or the highway.
Ron Mackey, I totally respect and support your right and decision to support Mary-Jane Foster. My wish for her is she is supported by good and honest people who have the best interest of the city at heart. I also wish for her an organized group. If Pat Fardy is lending her assistance to the office I say yayyy. I am supporting Mayor Finch because for the first time since I was 30 lbs lighter, with a full head of hair and before anytime I can remember after I moved here in 1967, the city feels alive. There is a rebirth happening in every corner of the city. I do not know Finch to be a liar. I do not care if Finch was fired from every position he ever held. He is where he belongs and if his journey did not have bumps, he never would have run for Senator and Mayor. Mayor Finch is the first Mayor who discusses environmental issues. A green Mayor in a dirty city. How appropriate for future generations. The Mayor lives in the heart of Bridgeport in one of my favorite homes on Beardsley Park. His children have been raised in the Bridgeport school system. There is more development happening in our city than in the pastfive decades. I am not one of the Finchettes as Mr. Fox likes to say. I am not part of his inner circle. I have never been offered a job or a commission and I am supporting this Mayor. I have many friends and acquaintances on the Democratic town committee. Not one of them ever did me a favor nor did I ever ask for one. I am supporting Mayor Finch in spite of all these things because I do not think it would be fair or just to not let the Mayor continue the amazing progress he has made. I do wish the North End got more attention. The attempt during the Fabizi administration to do streetscaping on Main St. was a horrible waste of money. North Bridgeport is the gateway to Trumbull. It should look impressive. It does not even remotely come close. The million dollar mile as it is known to investors looks like shit. That being said I am supporting Finch. The PR daily is exactly what I would do as the Mayor and as his communications director. Someone has to market the city and who better than me or the Mayor’s office? 🙂 The Mayor, Forstone, Spinnaker, Eric Anderson and Kuchma have invested too much money to change captains now. I Find Mary-Jane Foster to be an excellent candidate but to be honest, if it weren’t me running for Mayor I could not imagine any other at this point in time. Joe Ganim? Well he deserves what is coming his way. But due to his amazing confidence he could not see the gross humiliation that will bury him. I still maintain this will he a very quiet election cycle and Mayor Finch should reign victorious. But as we know, life offers no guarantees.
Steve, you have no problem at all with people like Paul Timpanelli and the others who live out of town who run and make day-to-day decisions about Bridgeport. Donald Day as the elected President of the Firebird Society of Bridgeport had a duty and responsibility to represent his membership about the issues involving Bridgeport, he took an oath to look out for their best interest.
Mayor Finch likes to take credit for the City’s smoke detector program but it was started under the leadership of Donald Day as the Firebird President in 1992 as it was the Firebird Society who gave out and installed free smoke detectors to anyone with the assistance of Charles Tisdale and ABCD. For years the Firebird Society were the only ones providing this service to the residents of Bridgeport plus Don was able to secure CO2 detectors and portable fire extinguishers to give to Bridgeport residents.
Ron Mackey, Mayor Finch is no fool. He gives credit where it is due. Do you think Mayor Finch or anyone voting for him believes any original ideas manifested from his creative process? A Mayor surrounds himself with talent that works well with him as Ganim or Foster would do. Every single person ever elected surrounds themself with talent that can enhance the future of this city. Mary-Jane is no different. She is being advised by Moore, Gomes and Walsh. G-d only knows who is advising Ganim and Finch. Well, I hope it is not Charlie Valentino or Charlie Coviello for that matter. 🙂 Ron, sincerely, good luck! Let me know when you guys are hosting a barbeque; I’d like to say hello. I can be very respectful to the opposition because I am genuinely a nice, honest and sincere guy. I even told Joe Ganim I would stop attacking him as the campaign heated up. People can make their own decision.
Steven, am I hearing you correctly, you think you know more about what black folks are calling themselves than I do because you know two black people? Really? Steven, this is just for your edification and you can’t tell other white people, but black folks NEVER quit calling each other Brother and Sister. WE just don’t do it around white people; you know they get nervous when they think we all know each other. SHH.
When I came up with the concept and idea of preference points for Bridgeport residents that is now part of city government and gave it to Don Clemons to present to the City Council, I didn’t live in Bridgeport. When Ron and I ran study groups that resulted in 40 to 50 black, Latino and women Bridgeport residents being hired as Bridgeport firefighters, I didn’t live in the city. When Ron and I ran study groups that helped 40 or more blacks, Latinos and women to be promoted I did so while not living in the city. When I approached Home Depot and KIDDE and got smoke detectors donated and put them in the homes of Bridgeport residents, I didn’t live in the city. Where I live has nothing to do with my commitment and love for this city.
Everything I learned about being a man, I learned in Bridgeport. Bridgeport taught me about hard work, giving and keeping your word, making mistakes is part of the human condition and they don’t define you as a person and forgiveness is the greatest thing you can do as a person. You find it hard to believe a black man who doesn’t live here could love this city unconditionally and still work to change it for the betterment of blacks. I deal with everything in life from an Afrocentric perspective and my sole objective is to see other blacks from Bridgeport enjoy the same career and financial successes working for the City of Bridgeport has afforded me. See Steven, I understand and embrace the philosophy Service to others is the rent you pay for your space on Earth and my service is to uplift the black condition.
My credibility has absolutely nothing to do with where I live. My credibility is determined by how I live my life; my credibility is determined by how I treat the least among us. My credibility is determined by how I’ve tried to make life better for those young Sisters and Brothers who aspire for a better life through the Bridgeport Fire Department. My credibility is determined by my unconditional love for my friends, family, my people and the city I still call home, Bridgeport. Don’t judge me, Steven, you’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter.
Donald Day, my brother from another mother. I didn’t say I had two black friends, you did. Your perception of the world is really just black and white. You are a product of the ’60s. I commended you for your support of Mary-Jane Foster but to be honest, your letter to your brothers and sisters is not going to amount to a hill of beans. I think it is awesome Lennie gave you a spot on the blog. I am happy when people are supporting Foster. I find most of your post intelligent. You do not live in Bridgeport and therefore most voters do not care about what you have to say. By the time you are finished telling everyone how wonderful you are and how you care about the black community, they are not sure if you are supporting Foster, Finch or Ganim. Most do know you are a total Moore loyalist. Her confidant, driver and friend. I am pleased you are supporting Foster. I am sure you have more black friends than I do. How lucky you are. I value all my friends no matter what color they are. I suppose you are hoping to offset the black ministers supporting Finch and Ganim. Well you go. You are the Man! The black man for Foster! You should change your sole objective, it alienates people!
Steven, I am unapologetically a friend and supporter of Marilyn Moore’s and have been for years. Everyone who knows me in the black community knows I don’t live in Bridgeport. Mayors Ganim, Fabrizi and Finch all know I don’t live in Bridgeport. Andy Fardy knows I don’t live in Bridgeport. Senators Moore and Gomes know I don’t live in Bridgeport. Every black politician in the city who knows me knows I don’t live in Bridgeport. It appears everyone knows I don’t live here with the exception of you. That’s not a problem for me.
I said it once and I’ll say it again, I speak from an afrocentric perspective and my whole life is making Bridgeport, Connecticut and America a better place for Black Americans. I’m not, nor ever have been anti-white. I just have an undivided, unyielding and unapologetic love for black folks that probably transcends your understanding. That’s your problem, not mine.
Donald Day, I get it. I love black folk also. I love their food and their culture. I am not going to argue who loves black folk more, you or me. I do not have a problem with you loving black folk. Look, I live in Bridgeport, I have many black friends and more black acquaintances, I go to many black parties, many of my neighbors are black. I thank G-d I am a white gay Jew. I do not want to be black. I prefer black music, I am a huge fan of Empire, I like Tyler Perry and watch BET. I am not uncomfortable with any comment I make because I live among the people I address. I wouldn’t eat chitlins if they were served with gold leaf. I also wouldn’t eat a burger with gold leaf that sells for $500. I am a regular at Ms. Thelma’s and as intelligent as I find you I find your afro-centric mentality not very inviting. My neighbors who are black are not Afro- Americans and do not ever want to be called that. I will commend you one last time for your support of Mary-Jane Foster. I do not believe your letter will help her campaign. It will however, make more anti-Finch white residents vote for Ganim.
You know I love ya, Steve. It appears to me your most recently supported candidates seem to have come from central casting. They look like ideal white men people would vote for, but when the facts and figures are weighed, not much substance behind the facade.
But I could be wrong!
Jennfer, let’s see about my white Central casting. I am a huge fan of Barack Obama, his approval ratings are lower than George Bush. I supported Scott Hughes when I really respected Andres Ayala. The group supporting Hughes wanted to overthrow the town committee and now they are supporting Ganim. Go figure. I wouldn’t vote for Bernie Sanders and he is a Jew. Jennifer, no offense. My voting record is anything but central casting. I put the first woman Mayor in office and she was an Arab. So Jennifer, save the Central casting white society for your Republicans. I am a Democrat and I support every nationality willing to run. But power to you Jennifer, I see you are embracing your blackness or trying to. You still will not dupe black people into voting for a Republican. Now if Torres were Puerto Rican that would be newsworthy but alas, he is Cuban and they are always Republican. 🙂 Jennifer, no cookie for you! Last cycle I supported Foster, I would happily vote for any candidate regardless of race. But as you know we all have our own agenda.
Naw. Your very often posts about Finch and Musto are the candidates I know you supported, the two most recent and important.
Jennifer, I am absolutely supporting Bill Finch. Anthony Musto only because he supported Mayor Finch and Bridgeport issues. That was about as deep as my support went. I thought Mary-Jane Foster should have run for that office and taken the same route to Mayor as Finch. I was even hoping my council woman Michelle Lyons would have made a great Senator. I am not disappointed with Marilyn Moore. I did not support her until after the primary and I can assure you it had nothing to do with her ethnicity. But now that I read Donald Day’s post I wonder if she shares the same ideology. Well I am sure she does and there is nothing wrong with having pride in your heritage. But hey, if her goal is to be an obstacle for Finch at the expense of progress then I have a problem.
Hector Diaz, what are you talking about, you mention Mary-Jane Foster’s husband, what point are you trying to make, please inform us all.
Hector, you said, “We can take a look at how minorities in particular fared while Mary-Jane was head of the Bluefish, i.e. how many were in management or decision making positions?” What person who was mayor in Bridgeport in the past 25 years who provided jobs for minorities BEFORE they became mayor?
Ron, again in this thread I DID NOT BRING UP MJF’s husband until Andy mentioned him, I questioned the “proven business leader” comment because I need to be enlightened to what “in business” she has done giving her supporters the perfect opportunity to speak on it. If those business ventures involve her husband then why would we not bring him up? You asked who did what in the last 25 years, I answered “I THOUGHT WE WEREN’T LOOKING FOR “GOOD,” WE ARE LOOKING FOR BETTER.”
Hector, what are you saying? You keep talking in riddles, you said, “I THOUGHT WE WEREN’T LOOKING FOR “GOOD,” WE ARE LOOKING FOR BETTER”? What does that have to with comparing the jobs with the Bluefish MJF and her husband created to what any Bridgeport mayor has ever created in the past 25 years? You act like you know something about Jack her husband by making suggestions, either say what it is or stop throwing mud around, it doesn’t look good for you, Hector. Mary-Jane Foster has more business experience than any candidate running to be the mayor of Bridgeport before holding office.
Ron, you are misreading and I’ll agree to not bring him up, the last few times I’ve mentioned him it has been about me not bringing him up. What I have said is “I RESPECT BOTH MARY-JANE FOSTER AND HER HUSBAND JACK MACGREGOR UNWAVERINGLY.” This statement I’ve made many times. If we can’t question your candidate or you jump to protect instead of finding out the answer and throwing it in my face if the numbers are high, or keeping it to yourself if the numbers are low. They are questions, no more, no less, you make statements like “she has more business experience than ANY candidate,” but I can’t ask what that business is and what her track record with minorities is? If I make a statement about my candidate, you can question me directly about that statement and I won’t get mad, or look for an ulterior motive. But you can’t ask me to justify my candidate based on statements you made about yours. There can only be MUD thrown if there is SOME DIRT IN THE MIX, RON.
Hector–it seems MJF has impressive support by elected officials and former city employees with a strong history of community service who happen to be black. Is it the Puerto Rican community you are specifically asking about?
JENNIFER, the black and Puerto Rican community in my opinion is one and the same.
Hector, that comment almost sounds like the typical Republican from the Bible belt. Coming from you? The black and Puerto Rican community is the same? I don’t think so!
To take it a step further, when it comes to race my ideology would be in line with that Of Albizu Campos (whom you answered as one of the great ones), Arturo Schomburg or even Roberto Clemente.
Hector, just as no one black person, whether religious or political, speaks for the black community, I am certain the same holds true for the Puerto Rican community.
I’ve only been in Bridgeport since 1969 and don’t recall those two communities being in sync with each other in decades.
Donald, I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND WOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO SPEAK FOR ANYONE BUT MYSELF, BUT WE ARE MORE IN SYNC THAN YOU MAY THINK. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUERTO RICAN NIECES OR NEPHEWS? DON’T WORRY, SOMEDAY YOU WILL.
Hector, the Puerto Rican community and the black community are NOT in SYNC politically in Bridgeport. There is no dialog, no common agenda, nothing; and politicians know this and they continue to keep us divided. Just look at the numbers, blacks and Hispanics together are the majority in Bridgeport but we have no power, yes a few elected people who basically take their orders from the mayor, the DTC and the State leadership. It’s time for change, now.
Why yes Hector, I do have a Puerto Rican niece and she is the shining star we all love and adore. Strictly speaking with respect to politics, we are in sync with national politics, but not so much locally. That is undeniable.
Hector, allow me to illustrate my point. According to which site you go to, blacks and Hispanics makeup from 70.1% to 76.3% of the population of Bridgeport. For the sake of this conversation let’s say 70% of the population is us, why aren’t there a black and a Hispanic running for Mayor now with an expectation of winning? Why hasn’t one or both been a Mayor in Bridgeport? Huh? In sync, my man?
Donald and Ron, the division of our communities is not seen in the schools or on the streets, the gyms or on the jobs. In politics it is by design and we’ve allowed it. If my fight is that of Don Quixote, so be it. I’d be interested in getting a few of us together socially be it before, during or after the primary and election. I recently attended a couple of workshop-type get-togethers at the Bridgeport Library directed at minority male adult/teen/youth relationships and while sitting there watching the youth speak their minds my thoughts were of how beautiful it could be if we put something together similar for like-minded adults within our communities. Feel free to call me at your convenience, (203)666-9361.
Andy, I ordered you a book “The Chronological History of Puerto Rico.” Did you know San Juan Puerto Rico is the oldest established city in the western hemisphere? If your head didn’t “POP” when you Googled “the perfect human being.” Lol, that’s what I love about knowledge, it’s free, you only need to look for it, but knowledge isn’t enough, what we need most is to be AWARE.
Hector, save your money because I don’t care about San Juan, just like I don’t care what you have today because it’s all bullshit.
Have a nice day, Andy. 🙂
I always do.
Andy, is that before or after you tell little kids Santa Claus is not real?
Steve, I love telling little kids there is no Santa Claus. I love telling little kids their mom and dad are the tooth fairy and I love telling little kids most adults are total assholes.
Excellent!