2109. That’s the number of certified petition signatures challengers to Mayor Bill Finch must secure to place their name on the ballot for a September 13 Democratic primary, according to Democratic Registrar Sandi Ayala. Opponents must turn in the paperwork no later than two weeks representing signatures from five percent of roughly 42,000 registered Dems.
Tuesday night at Testo’s Restaurant was clearly an OIB moment, not because the mayor was nominated as expected by party regulars via acclamation, but because of the personalities bolstering the event. There was former Mayor John Fabrizi, who hasn’t had a lot of good to say about Finch for nearly four years, placing the mayor’s name into nomination for another four years, erupting into a volcanic embrace about the goodness of the Finch mayoralty. My oh my, does someone in the Fabrizi household need a job or want a job saved? So it goes. Was Fabs sticking fingers down his throat or crossing his fingers while delivering that froth? Let me guess, Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa tells Fabs, it’s a lot easier to get you what you want if you do this.
Then there’s former Mayor Joe Ganim whom Fabs replaced in office in 2003. Joe worked Democratic Town Committee members, catching up with old friends, handshakes and hugs, and then bailed before the meeting got underway. What’s up Joe’s sleeve? Will he actually run as an independent? Several sources say Joe’s trying to leverage the threat of a mayoral run in exchange for the Finch administration settling developer Alex Conroy’s litigation against the city in which Joe is personally on the hook. Conroy says he lost a development deal because he would not pay bribes to Joe. Yes, city politics is crazy business. What will Joe do?
Finch’s main primary challenger Mary-Jane Foster did not place her name into nomination Tuesday night. Why not? To place her name before party regulars would undercut her message of running outside the party apparatus.
Several Board of Education slots were not endorsed Tuesday night as the state has seized control of city schools, albeit a court challenge pending. It has a number of party regulars wondering if the state can just blowtorch the BOE how many other elections can it reverse?
Now that the party has not endorsed BOE slots, does this mean candidates can simply secure petition signatures to run for the BOE? What happens when the state returns school authority to the city? What is the makeup of the BOE?
Confused?
City Councilman Bob “Troll” Walsh, a thorn in the side of three mayors (and many others) has decided to end his long run on the city’s legislative body, representing the West Side. Troll says 16 years is enough. What does Troll have planned? His former council partner Lisa “Honey” Parziale toyed with making a comeback and even had the town committee endorsement from the 132nd District locked up before deciding against a run.
I think I know who wants to be the next Superintendent of Schools …
Fabrizi NOSE the score–he’s the new replacement superintendent of the BOE. Then he can make his kid’s friend the pedophile in charge of school security.
Don’t tell me Johnny Fabs actually thinks he is qualified to be superintendent, even on an acting or temporary basis. That is just too over the top, even for Bridgeport.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
You have the “Village Idiot,” “Fabs the Cokehead.” “Joe the Felon” and “Bohannon the $800,000.00 taxpayer-paid private attorney.” What a group of SH_TB_GS.
I think what is important to remember is the fight for all of us is not that the structure or the apparatus is so deeply flawed the City of Bridgeport has reached a disastrous level of government operations and economic operations. I tend to think it is our elected and appointed leadership that is so deeply flawed the city of Bridgeport has reached a disastrous level of government operations and economic operations.
It’s people who pull Fabrizi stunts. It’s people who grant Ganim largess and it is people who have populated the Democratic town committee who no longer think of Bridgeport, only their jobs. And that’s a statement directly from DTC chairman Testa. They haven’t yet subverted the petition process with Party machine antics, so every OIBer who wants to save this city from another four years of hell, join me in getting Petitions signed during the next two weeks.
Time to put actions behind the words.
We can change the outcome finally …
carolannecurry@gmail.com
You nailed the problems, Carolanne! Structure that needs reform! Operations and finances at City level that cannot be genuinely praised nor ultimately excused! And people who are so interested in their own job, pay, benefits and what is in it for them that the City is radically diminished.
Get the petitions out. Talk to Democrats. Listen to them and help them see the above problems in a new light. Reform, a mayoral replacement and renewed attention by citizen taxpayers and voters. Be part of the solution during the primary period.
Vote Foster!!! When are absentee ballots available?
Mario has some … if you need more he’ll have completed ones available upon request.
They can do whatever they want at the reunion of felons and soon-to-be felons. The most important aspect of this process is now taking place. If the voters pull the levers again for the party instead of the individual, they deserve whatever misery comes their way. This may be a republic but the citizens must ensure they participate!!!
“It’s NOT the people who vote who have the power. It’s the people who COUNT THE VOTES who have the power.” This quote is from Mike Trivisano from Cleveland, Ohio. Mike is a talkshow host there and says exactly what’s on his mind. He’s right on the button as Cleveland makes Bridgeport look like Disneyworld. Don’t let anyone kid you otherwise.
Last night’s DTC meeting was one of the strangest I have ever attended. Here was John Fabrizi nominating Bill Finch for mayor with a fiery rah! rah! speech. It was hard not to get sick to your stomach listening to PURE UTTER BULLSHIT. I have been in Fabrizi’s presence many times when he badmouthed Finch to no end. Now he was singing the praises of Finch. What a whore.
After listening to Ralph Ford and Lydia Martinez mumble their way through seconding the nomination it was time for Finch to speak.
This was one of the worst acceptance speeches ever given to the DTC. There were three references to President Obama, one John Kennedy reference and then he went on to promise Pleasure Beach would be open to the public. (Didn’t he promise that a few years ago?) He then promised to build on steel point. He then took all the credit for the development downtown which actually occurred under chief ass-kisser Fabrizi. He then talked about a second railroad station and new jobs coming from the Remington Woods site. That was it. There was no talk of future plans for Bridgeport and public safety. The audience of observers did not applaud. Sad, very sad.
Lennie,
Could you print these speeches for us? I would never voluntarily walk into that building but I would love to hear what was said.
tc,
Thank you for your early report. Although I like to occasionally yank your chain I do respect your opinions & observations. Politics really do make strange bedfellows. A Roman orgy is nothing compared to BPT.
Bob Walsh, thank you for all you have tried to do for Bridgeport. It’s too bad we did not have more like you and Baker on the council. If we did we would not be in the hole we are now. Bob, Good Luck.
If this is true, it just goes to show how down and dirty the backroom politics are in Bpt. John Fabrizi is no more qualified to be BOE Supt than I am. This is a way for him to boost up his already inflated pension. I too have heard Fabrizi badmouth Finch on countless occasions. Something is not right here. There is a deal in the making … Only in Bridgeport.
Joe Ganim isn’t trying to use the threat of running for Mayor as a means of leverage for his own gain!!! This is just one of the many rumors spread by the DTC and Finch machine! Everyone knows Ganim is the only person who can stop Finch from winning. If I were to take a wild guess, Ganim will only sit out this election because he doesn’t want to put his teenage children and wife through what would be one of the dirtiest campaign Bridgeport has seen–not to mention any race Ganim runs in will garner national notice due to his past conviction.
I agree. If Joe runs it’s because he wants his job back. He wants to redeem himself. And he wants revenge because as we all remember, Finch was the first one to call for Ganim’s resignation … even though Joe helped him out many times when Finch was jobless and on the verge of homelessness.
If Ganim wants redemption, he should apply to have his law license reinstated and work diligently to represent his clients with skill, courage and honor.
No more public office. I understand he “paid his debt to society” and all that. He forfeited the public trust. Only the truly ignorant would ever consider him worthy of public office.
I am a bit unsettled today after reading there are some in this town who think Fabrizi should be our next Superintendent of Schools. Such a notion is outrageous, frightening actually and completely consistent with Mario Testa’s and Paul Timpanelli’s mantra that they can do whatever they want. To hell with the people.
Can you seriously consider what effect Fabrizi would have on the education of our children? Our whole problem with the BOE is, firstly, many members are incompetent. The work is beyond their intellectual capacity. Secondly, the precious funds we all struggle to provide are “earmarked” to areas that have nothing to do with keeping our kids in the classroom while attaining high levels of academic achievement.
Fabrizi has demonstrated no skill whatsoever in anything he has ever done except in his ability to navigate the calamarian waters. The man must be put in his place. The state will do that.
What??? Fabrizi for Superintendent of Schools???
You people need to get your water checked or something. Embrace the State takeover. You people don’t have a clue.
Ganim wants revenge against the machine and will back Gomes. Just watch and see.
I noticed many members of the Town Committee were sitting on their hands when Finch finished his speech in silent protest to his Board of Ed. hijack hijinks. The behavior of the mayor, Malloy, Wood and Bellinger is very disturbing regarding the takeover issue. I guess that’s why we call it transparency. You can see right through their actions. We need more than Scotch tape to fix this disenfranchisement mess.
I’ll be raising my glass to Mr. Walsh this evening for his outstanding service to Bridgeport. It has been an example of Service above Self versus the Self Service employed by many of our city officials.
I heard Finch-Wood-McCarthy arrived early for drinks @ Testo’s. They were looking out the window at a dog leg in the air licking himself–Macarthy said “I wish I could do that”–they all nodded agreement. Mario replied “You all better make make sure the dog is friendly.”
That was a good one.
town committee–I can’t disappoint you all of the time.
No doubt Ganim is a genius and playing a perfect poker hand in his revenge plan against the machine. And while all the other two-faced losers are for sale, Joe needs no cash. Anyone else see Joe and Gomes huddling in the parking lot? I did.
So Gomes is sucking up to Ganim. Blech!
CONTEMPT
anna
Again you are full of shit.
Chosen, I sincerely hope you actually saw this and are not stirring up the shit again. A rumor like this will do your candidate more harm than good. Or maybe Carolanne is right, and you’re a plant trying to discredit Gomes while saying you support him.
Booty // Jul 27, 2011 at 1:52 pm
To your posting
Booty,
You got it right. This appears to be a classic act of sabotage. You can follow the shit right up to the doors at 999 Broad Street.
I thought Chosen 1 would cut this out, but his ego is in the way because he can say all he/she wants because he/she is writing anonymously.
So Chosen 1 is not part of the Gomes campaign?
It ain’t all that anonymous!
After being on the DTC for many years last night I looked around at those present and realized I was in the presence of 87 people who really do not give a shit about Bridgeport. The ass kissing that went on last night made me wish I had the chapstick concession.
Once we get rid of Finch our next mission is to get rid of most of the TC. How do we do that? We play hardball and take their city jobs away, we also take the jobs of family members and most of them will then leave. There were very few there who actually gave a shit about Bridgeport.
What about Mario, tc? How come you didn’t say anything about getting rid of Mario? Seems to me you had enough chapstick of your own.
Daaamn, lol. ‘Tween Mario and MJ, tc needs lip fillers.
You need a brain.
You know that was uncalled for, take the body the head will go. Besides posting drivel on here, what are you doing to effect change? You still don’t get it do you?
The news said Finch was nominated unanimously. town committee stated he is a member of the democratic town committee and was there at the convention.
This means tc had to have voted for Finch. Now he’s posting he wants to get rid of him.
What am I missing here?
You are missing the fact only one vote was cast for the mayoral nomination because there were no other nominations thus no role-call vote. Check with Martha Santiago my district leader, we had two no votes in the 138th if there had been a role-call vote.
If you had two votes in opposition, you could have nominated and seconded another candidate; standing up, having your voice heard and your vote counted. Sounds like you are hiding behind parliamentary procedure.
Have you ever stood up at a town democratic meeting and made any motion to establish rules that prevent a town committee member from serving if they or a family member has a city job?
My voice was heard and Finch knew when he polled the district leaders where the two negative votes in the 138th were coming from.
Standing up to make a motion you know won’t pass proves what?
No opposition = submission.
tc,
You know me, I know you. I knew your brothers, I know your sons. I have had ice cream with your grandchildren. The future of BPT is the future of your family, we can no longer afford to let the corruption continue, let’s end this.
I am the only one I know of on this blog who has actually brought things to the FEDS on Bridgeport corruption. At the very least I am the only one actually coming out and saying it.
I think I liked it better when Bridgeport politicians laid all the cards out on the table.
By saying little, the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee said a lot.
Only Mario, maybe, knows where the opposition to Finch is buried among “organized” politicians. Quiet Bridgeport politicians are dangerous Bridgeport politicians.
By the way, if Troll dropped out, and Honey wouldn’t take an endorsement, who WERE the endorsed candidates for aldermen in the 132nd? And what candidates for aldermen are going to be on the same line as MJ?
By not endorsing candidates for Board of Education, the Democratic Town Committee is endorsing the mayor’s decision to ask for a state takeover. Will other people file for Board of Education anyway?
It’s nice to see Fabs wasn’t struck by lightning for nominating Bill.
Brantley and The Arson Parson.
The threats and job offers were flowing for the past two weeks. Weren’t many if any DTCers who didn’t get a reminder call.
tc didn’t answer the question about getting rid of Mario Testa. I think he’s confused.
“Standing up to make a motion you know won’t pass proves what?”
It proves you’re a two-faced typical calamarian who doesn’t have the balls to stand up for his convictions.
If you had a pair of balls you would have two things to play with.
yahooy is prepubescent.
Three things. Don’t compare me to you.
If he had a dick he’d have three.
“Standing up to make a motion you know won’t pass proves what?”
It takes courage to stand up in front of any group and say “here is what I think; here is where I stand; here is my vote to prove it.” Regardless of whether it passes or not.
I think you have just shown what it proves. When the time came to stand up, you were silent.
tc,
Does El Squid frighten you that much you would compromise your so-called personal ethics?
Jesus you still don’t get it. I said many times on this blog Mario is a personal friend and politics does not enter into that friendship. Is your power of retention really that bad? Now I know you and some of the other children on this blog just don’t understand that; tough shit. I asked you once and I will ask you again, besides posting bullshit here what have you done to make changes? Just so you know, no one frightens me. I just prefer to act like an adult.
First off, thanks for the promotion. I prefer if you will refer to me as yahooy, calling me Jesus is a bit much.
I’m ashamed of you. You had an ideal opportunity to stand up and demonstrate to a room full of the very people who have driven this town into the shithole it is. You could have stood up and said you have had enough and want something different.
You didn’t do that did you? You know why?
I think you actually do know why.
That’s enough out of you!
Why don’t you tell me why, I have no idea what you are hinting at.
I’m not hinting.
You are a hump. You are a blowhard. You are a political hack with no sense of conviction. You are spineless and have let the people of this city down. The one time you had a chance to express your dissatisfaction in open forum with all of worst of Bridgeport present you sat on your ass.
Can you imagine the publicity we Anti-calamarians would have garnered from your protestation? “PROMINENT DTC MEMBER DENOUNCES EL SQUID AND CALAMARIAN CONTROL.”
yahooy, you are all talk and no action. You post shit on this blog and that’s as far as you go. Standing up and saying the mayor is a shithead and Mario is a jerk would have accomplished nothing and that’s if it wasn’t ruled out of order. Everyone in that room who knows me knows where I stand and who I support. I have left no doubt on this blog or in letters to the CT Post. I have met the editorial board of the Post along with BEACON2 for more than two hours and that story will be out sometime in August. So loudmouth, and that’s what you are, what have you done? Nothing because you are full of shit.
Andy, who is BEACON2?
Finch’s Raise: 2010–$121,649
2011–126,538. A raise of 4,889.00–Hmmm, he said at the State BOE meeting, I am not getting a raise you can ask my wife, guess he lied again.
He’s a real Pinocchio.
It cost me a seat on the Town Committee two years ago.
The Chosen 1 has been exposed as a flip flopper. His reputation has gotten a bit SMOKEY.
Didn’t you and FINCH spend the superbowl together?
LOL, try again.
You don’t think people who read this have been calling who you thought you knew who I was?
Finch must be loving that John Gomes is now running against Mary-Jane Foster.
John Gomes is a Ganim suck up. Good grief. Mr. CitiStat is now City Stunt.
anna // Jul 27, 2011 at 5:19 pm
To your posting
anna,
Check your sources.
I think we’ve got a problem with truth from one of our posters.
I don’t mind outrageousness, but lying about a candidate is not okay.
Let’s take a deep breath, anna and not jump where Chosen 1 wants us to jump.
Curry and Chosen 1 are playing good cop, bad cop.
anna // Jul 27, 2011 at 8:03 pm
To your posting
That’s not like you, anna.
Do you think I’m into “playing” in this campaign?
AFSCME 1522–CITY SLUT
Ronin // Jul 27, 2011 at 8:04 pm
To your posting
Ronin,
Do I need to be aware of something here?
carolanne curry–correct me if I am wrong but Anna is “really” president of ASFCME 1522–you worked for CitiStat–they are the city sluts.
Ronin // Jul 27, 2011 at 11:30 pm
To your posting
Ronin,
Many thanks … no I didn’t know the president of local1522 was the poster, but it makes a great deal of sense to me now.
Yes, during CitiStat days we got to know Anna pretty well but I wouldn’t have used “slut” as a descriptive term at the time.
Foster must be loving it that Finch and Gomes are now running against her.
Er, only Finch is on the ballot, gotta lotta signatures to go get ’em.
Foster wants five appointed and four elected members on the BOE, Finch stole our democracy, and Foster wants to give us back less than 1/2. I can’t make this stuff up!
There seems to be an acoustic problem here!
Four more for da Finch.
tc,
Sticks and stones are all I care about. Your bullshit has no effect on me whatsoever.
You are a coward. A mindless sycophant with a big mouth from which you spew vindictive with a wink.
Had you made the bold statement Finch was a shithead and Mario a jerk and was ruled out of order, they would have not been able to unring that bell.
I have no respect for you.
Yahooy, do you really think I give a shit what you think? I really have to wonder if you think at all. Let me suggest you post less and take a course in Politics 101 because you are clueless.