Saying Mayor Bill Finch is building “a city that works for everyone,” former NBA hoopster Kevin Johnson, mayor of Sacramento California, has endorsed him for a third four-year term. Finch’s reelection campaign released a video of the endorsement. An endorsement from Johnson is a way for the Finch campaign to reach out to the African American community where former Mayor Joe Ganim has strength.
“A city that works for everyone” is also a theme trumpeted by Ganim who’s trying to emphasize a campaign of inclusion.
Johnson, husband of education reform advocate Michelle Rhee, visited Bridgeport in 2012 when Finch pushed an effort to persuade city electors to support a yes vote on the Nov. 6 charter question that if approved would have granted him the power to appoint members to the Board of Education. The measure was defeated by voters.
Finch and Johnson became friends through their work with the United States Conference of Mayors. Johnson visited Bridgeport recently at an event at the Cardinal Shehan Center.
Johnson spoke of Finch’s work creating jobs, bringing in economic development, promoting public transportation, building new schools, and investing in pre-K.
“Mayor Finch is creating jobs, building a city that works for everyone,” says Johnson in a Finch campaign release. “He doesn’t want to leave anyone behind, and those are the values that are good for people in Bridgeport and across the country.”
Johnson, a three-time NBA All Star, played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns.
“The country is yearning for elected officials who have principles,” says Johnson. “This is the kind of leader that we need. Somebody who understands how to get it done. Getting him re-elected will be extremely, extremely important for the community.”
“I thank Mayor Johnson for his support of my re-election campaign,” said Finch in a campaign statement. “I have worked closely with Mayor Johnson on national issues, including job creation, urban renewal, economic development, green jobs, clean energy.”
“I have worked closely with Mayor Johnson on national issues, including job creation, urban renewal, economic development, green jobs, clean energy,” Mayor Finch states for our benefit in his re-election bid. Bill, while you were working on these national issues (in your spare time, perhaps) there were public safety and education issues in addition to unemployment boiling along in Bridgeport.
Why has the City kept beating on the education issue of not enough State and Federal money coming to Bridgeport relative to New Haven and Hartford, when each of those large CT cities is “investing” more than $4,500 per each student from local taxes while Bridgeport lags seriously behind at $2,750 per student for the 2013-14 year? Might it be reasonable for our City to squeeze some dollars from ghost expenses, share some dollars from Lighthouse (hidden revenues of $850,000), and other places in the budget where a vote from the parents of the youngest children want to see intervention for their kids to enter Grade 1 with skills at State levels? Very few kids go on to a pro career. Everyone needs to read. And Johnson’s sports career leads him to expect close guarding, but Bill Finch is about hiring others to spread his message and cannot connect his own principles and what he stands for with what is grinding along daily in the City. I wish it were different but if you live here and watch closely, you understand three trips to help a friend is not enough playing time for your observations to be helpful or accurate.
Mayor Johnson, with all due respect, what goes on in Bridgeport and keeps going on is far from principled in the Mayor’s office and also distant from the “open source” process you applaud. The Mayor is spending funds advertising his “public service responsibility” of maintenance road resurfacing and line painting while the school budget grows little if at all. OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT are great institutional values. Governance according to those values can be called principled. Without leadership values, the people languish. When will change come about? Time will tell.
Kevin Johnson and Bill Finch have one thing in common, both have cut police hiring in their cities that led to a marked increase in crime. This is the mayor he wants to emulate? A another sad state of affairs for Bridgeport and its residents by Mayor Finch.
Donald Day,
This may not be the first time in the last 50 years demographics or economics have caused a drop in the “crime rate,” however that is defined. When you take credit for something not of your making like fewer young males of a certain age in the area and therefore fewer committing crime, then when bad things happen to good people you have to appear in control, and your methods of operation are once again open to interpretation. We have budgeted $89 Million of Bridgeport taxpayer dollars in the year ahead for the Police Department exclusive of special grants from outside. Are we going to get an explanation that is real? Or are we going to have some community meetings where people express their anger, outrage and sorrow and go away unimpressed by the City response? We did that with snow storms and no report came out! And we never got there, at least yet, with building expensive roads in the suburbs for friends and no report once again. Time will tell.
He had to go three thousand miles for a celebrity endorsement. For those who don’t know, KJ and his wife are/were BIG proponents of the takeover of the BOE, in Sacramento it’s been done. Wes Matthews (Los Angeles Lakers two rings, 10 years in the NBA) and the majority of former professional athletes from Bridgeport are supporting Joe Ganim, oh and LIVE here. Kenny Spears former St. Louis Cardinals AND A HOST OF OTHERS, NAMES AND POSITIONS/TEAMS TO BE FURNISHED UPON REQUEST.
DON and RON, the article indicates this may be an attempt to reach out to the African American/black community, lol, I’m blacker than KJ.
WHO’S NEXT, JOHNNY MATHIS OR DARIUS RUCKER (HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH)?
Kevin Johnson has the nerve to state “the country is yearning for elected officials who have principles.” Let’s run down your “principles:”
In 2008 you were accused of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old you were mentoring. You paid a large settlement but continue to deny the allegations.
In 2012 you came to Bridgeport to promote Finch’s attempt to take our right to vote away all while Sacramento had an elected school board.
You attempted a coup at the Conference of Black Mayors, and once your coup failed you drove a successful organization that had thrived for years, and then started your own Mayor’s organization hoping to put nails in the coffin of the Conference of Black Mayors.
In early 2015, one of your employees has filed a lawsuit claiming you harassed her also.
Let’s not forget you are married to the disgraceful Michele Rhee, the founder of Students First which is funded by billionaires, millionaires, and Wall Street executives in order to demolish teachers unions, promote charter schools, promote the Common Core and massive testing tied to teacher evaluations. Michelle Rhee who also did everything in her power to bury an expansive cheating scandal during her tenure as Chancellor of D.C. public schools. And, your charter schools were bankrolled by none other than Bill Gates who has spent close to $3 billion to promote and support Common Core, and donates to just about any organization that supports charter schools, testing, Teach for America, etc.
I hope your endorsement of Mayor Finch is as successful as your endorsement of Finch’s attempt to take our right to vote away.
I believe we all know how that worked out.
Omg Maria and John Marshall Lee, the candidate, now what will constituents think of you? But these were allegations and of course Mayor Finch cannot help who likes and supports him. He has been trying to get me to support another candidate, but hey, he has that allure that brings the Kevin Johnsons of the world who are elected, respected officials and a hero to basketball fans. Good thing this blog does not make headlines “Accused molester says yes to Finch.” Lololololol. Honestly, let’s call this the character assassination blog! Another sad day for Bridgeport said the blind man.
What people will probably think is Maria conducts research before she posts comments. Google Kevin Johnson and skip any blog postings. Every statement I made can easily be verified.
Steve, personally I would consider someone convicted of taking kickbacks more reputable than someone who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old they were mentoring.
I think most parents with children would agree.
If it were true.
JML, this is really a joke, right? You do pay taxes, right? Apparently you preferred the image of the city Joe Ganim left us. Imagine no economic development and the schools were worse than they are now.
Donald Day, I do not hold it against Kevin Johnson he is a black man supporting Finch.
Hector A. Diaz, you are blacker than KJ, was this what it was, a black endorsement or a celebrity endorsement JML reveres and respects until he adds his other agenda to the pot? JML, word of advice to you. You are no longer a blogger, you are a candidate. Focus. You can be turning off a supporter of yourself who is voting for Finch and sir, that can make and break an election.
This endorsement was on the money. I am sure just many local celebrities. Ernie will endorse Ganim. Moore will endorse Foster and hopefully, today as we speak Malloy will support Coviello.
Why does every post have to be a negative? Sacramento Mayor Johnson is respected and Green initiatives are a huge deal. Ask Pope Francis, don’t ask a Republican.
Steve,
Thank you for your free advice. It costs you nothing (but earns you Bill Finch’s praise and a smile) but you are aware perhaps you need to be careful of what is freely given as it may be harmful to your health. So I will pass on your “political advice” on the basis I have a track record of posting. People know where I stand on many things and the worst thing most accuse me of is I go on too long.
Keep posting on restaurants where you and I have had similar positive experiences. I ate at O’Manel on Monday evening after announcing at the City Council meeting, for instance. Great meal with friends and young Portuguese wine.
If you would, when you disagree (or are fearful of my posts) go to Bill Finch, Adam Wood, Andy Nunn, or others as appropriate, and dig out a response for what I state, if there is one. That would be helpful to all. I think it’s too early to state my own Mayoral preference for sure, but I am looking for integrity, responsiveness, and OATs as you might guess. Does that begin to answer your question, or just confuse you? Time will tell.
No, it means Finch, Gardner and Foster may have your vote. John, I am glad you enjoyed your meal at O’Manel’s. The paella is a favorite. Whether I agree or disagree with your post, I would never bring it to Finch’s attention and I honestly do not know Adam Wood, though I’ve heard he is a very sharp politician. I have met his wife. I have never met Andy Nunn.
When it comes to political advice you would be wise to take my free advice. You would be even wiser to not judge me on Anthony Musto. If Mayor Moran listened to my advice, dumped Rowland and supported Weicker, Bridgeport would look a lot different today. Ganim would be a prominent lawyer, the Republican party would be a more serious contender, etc. But alas, life is a series of decisions. Good or bad we must live with the consequences.
Steve, Kevin Johnson is not respected. There are quite a few articles about his disgraceful behavior. Google him. There is plenty of evidence to support this position.
Maria, first, there are thousands of articles a foot thick on Joe Ganim. I do not doubt you have researched this man to disparage his character. All I know about him is he was a revered NBA player. He is good friends with Magic Johnson who almost did a great project in Bridgeport under Fabrizi. I know he is black. I know he was the first African American Mayor in Sacramento the capital of California. He has been re elected. First elected in 2008. It should be noted he developed a non-profit while he was still in the NBA giving back to his community. He is very well respected and most likely will continue to be a strong leader and role model in the black community. The allegations you are referring to.are just that. He was not as Mayor Giordano of Waterbury a convicted pedophile nor our very own convicted felon. He is Kevin Johnson, a man offering his support to our Mayor. Not worth all the negative comments.
The truth, how lucky is Mayor Finch, he listened to the crybabies and kept himself out of the marketing of the city, which was not a good idea, while Ganim was all over the TV while he was mayor, now the Bridgeport Bluefish and Bridgeport Hospital both have positive Bridgeport commercials. How lucky is Mayor Finch?
Very!
The truth is Kevin Johnson staged his press event near an emergency exit for a reason.
I think there are probably several Finchettes who want to “exit” his campaign because they are starting to feel they are on the losing side.
You think? It could be. I hear many Ganim supporters are going with Gardner. I wouldn’t be concerned with that either. It is going to be a very quiet uneventful summer other than major development announcements. I do give all the campaigns credit for their ability to make believe Steelpointe is not important, Downtown is not improving, parks and playgrounds are not important quality of life issues. These will be Finch’s narrative to tell over and over and over again. You just can not make believe people do not see positive changes.
Steve, who are all these Ganim supporters who have jumped ship to join Howard’s campaign?
Why, are you going to break some friends’ legs?
Finch is so out of touch with the people of Bridgeport, he needs someone to fly across the country to say how great he is. How pathetic.
So pathetic! Yup!
Am I reading this right? A city employee and not a campaign employee?
blog.ctnews.com/connecticutpostings/2015/06/16/finchs-office-augments-communications-team/
Yes, Jennifer. Another hired hand in the taxpayer-funded ministry of public enlightenment for the campaign push. Spin, spin, spin.
It is always amusing to read Steve’s posts. Steve’s reactions are likely a gauge the Finch campaign uses to determine if their propaganda is getting through to those who do not filter.
Most of us who post express why we disagree or provide a point of view based on facts, our experience or our bias.
Some people like bright shining new things. Fish certainly are lured onto a hook by what looks like substance. Some even swallow the hook, line and sinker.
Tom White, Jennifer and Maria,
I totally get it. If your candidate were making all these decisions you would be ecstatic. Finch is the Mayor and has timed his announcements to suit his reelection bid–Duh. I do not think any constituent does research like Maria Pereira and it was just a feel-good piece that does not serve your goal. Why would anyone assume anyone would make a positive comment? I will tell you the negative comments just make Finch stronger. All the other candidates just sound like blah blah blah.
Jennifer, some people like shiny new things because for 50 years we have been staring at garbage and urban decay. We have a green mayor with bricks and mortar, new fields and playgrounds, new school and a more vibrant downtown. We can deal with a few green signs. He is Irish for crying out loud. Let’s hear it for Irish Pride!!! 🙂
From the Onion, as told by a carp:
“Shiny as it is, wriggly as it is, and tempting as it would be to just snatch it up, there’s a feeling in the downstream area that it isn’t to be taken lightly,” said a brown trout and self-described expert in shiny objects. “No one will soon forget the example set by that perch a couple years ago. Why, they say he brashly ignored the elders’ repeated warnings about suspiciously colored worms, and he went for the shiny worm and has not been seen for two years.” Smiley Face!
Ahah, an endorsement from Kevin Johnson??? Laughable at best, it’s like the Finch campaign puts this stuff out there without any thought whatsoever. What a circus.
Accused of misconduct with a minor, never prosecuted, though where there’s smoke there’s fire. You would think Finch’s campaign would know this also, or is it a knee-jerk reaction? “An African American endorses us, quick! Put it out there!”
www .phoenixnewtimes.com/news/the-summer-of-95-6423171
What makes this endorsement relevant? Is Sacramento roughly the same size as Bridgeport, share the same population demographic, number of schools, same economic problems, education problems, taxes, and/or safety issue? I don’t get the relevance. From what experience level does this man speak? Bring on an endorsement from a Mayor of a City that has come back from the brink of disaster and then you may have my attention. (Well maybe not mine.) This Mayor is the incumbent and looking to give residents a reason to re-elect him after a sluggish eight years wrought with imposing tax after tax on residences and businesses, failure to grow the economy in any meaningful way, hiring self-impressed cronies from other cities, and slapping the faces of the residents time after time to push his own agendas. A buddy from the Capitol of a State located in the country as far away from Bridgeport as geographically possible and still be walking on the same continent is not particularly noteworthy.
Odds are the other candidates know a mayor or two in this country, and I highly doubt we will see them touting endorsements from Mayor of Boise Idaho or Wichita Kansas. (Just examples.) In other words, BFD.
I like the Finch endorsements by Gov. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Wyman. That says it all!
www .youtube.com/watch?v=Yd0fBXwDBmo
Jimfox, that made me chuckle.
“Mayor Finch is creating jobs, building a city that works for everyone,” says Johnson in a Finch campaign release. “He doesn’t want to leave anyone behind, and those are the values that are good for people in Bridgeport and across the country.”
Obviously Johnson hasn’t been here.
Kevin Johnson is full of shit.
Mayor Finch and his publicity staff are full of shit.
Steve A is also full of shit.
They are known as the Three Amigos.
Andrew, honestly, thank you for putting me in a very respected group of leaders. I accept that.
Steve, Kevin Johnson was a very good NBA player, someone I enjoyed watching but you should look up what Maria wrote and you might be surprised. KJ is really big on pushing charter schools and that has been his main reason for his visits. When someone has the NBA status like KJ, doors open up everywhere when he come to town because those in power at any level love rubbing up to someone like KJ.
Ron, for the record, Mr. Johnson’s support of charter schools is not a negative for me. Parental choice for those who must live in the city is not an awful thing, if the desired result is received.