Statement from ex mayor and senator Bill Finch:
“Residents of Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe deserve to live in safe communities. This weekend’s violence shows very clearly that Bridgeport needs more resources to dedicate to fighting crime and protecting our residents. Chief Porter and those serving our community in law enforcement are working hard to serve the community and solve these crimes. However, the Chief highlighted how the City of Bridgeport is struggling to recruit and retain officers. We need access to additional resources from the state and federal government to grow the number of women and men serving the community and provide them the resources they need to do their job, including equipment, training, and community policing resources to keep our communities safe.
I applaud local leaders and the Governor for convening and focusing on this issue and its solutions. The Governor has been a leader on preventing gun violence and providing resources for our urban centers, but we need even more help to bring an end to shootings like this.
Senator Gaston passed a bill, SB 421, through the Senate this year to improve law enforcement recruitment, retention, and mental health in Connecticut. He also deserves credit for focusing attention on these issues. If elected, I look forward to working with him to ensure that this legislation and additional measures to provide more resources to our men and women in law enforcement advance through both chambers and get to the Governor’s desk for signature.”
Bill; you’re nice guy. An intelligent, capable guy. But do you really think that the Gold Coast-/suburb-controlled GA/Governor’s Office is going to agree to do anything meaningful to help Bridgeport to regain its socioeconomic health? Of course not, because if that happens then Bridgeport will be the political power in the state, and that just doesn’t fit into Gold Coast/suburban plans for the Connecticut…
Bill Finch has listened to Jeff Kohut’s observations about our Gold Coast communities for years. I would call his attention to the sled-dog observation that “only the lead dog, gets a clear view” and with Stamford’s population growing as well as its Grand List financials, perhaps we need a change of viewpoint for the District that is in contest as Marilyn Moore retires.
COVID put a hurt on the youth and families of Bridgeport as the numbers show. Youth lost ground and mere dollars will not restore the loss. Who is firing the weapons? No one supports spontaneous firing of weapons without legal cause, but the presence of Governor and Mayor together do nothing for those in the field attempting to provide public safety.
As a matter of fact decisions at executive levels for years kept confident, experienced, and well qualified leadership on the bench and into retirement before recognizing that ability to lead a public safety force was locally available. And despite low numbers relative to “old staffing charts” decreases in criminal activity including shootings has decreased measurably perhaps from training, pride in the unit from newer officers, and leadership that understands.
As I observe Chief Porter moving around the entire community, primarily to communicate with folks, to ask and answer questions , to actually listen to community responses. Perhaps a good part of his success has come from keeping communication and outreach, rather than merely reaction to incidents, as part of his schedule.
Is there a lesson to the candidates including Bill Finch for this State Senate office? Will multiple open, accountable, information sessions with Q&A create trust across the borders of three towns, with diverse cultures, eager for the opportunity for a place at the table to hear, contribute and share to the community, and equality of democratic opportunity to contribute to the welfare of all. Do the town committee members of the Democratic Party in each of these communities believe in practicing democratic activities for the benefit of all? Will they work at it to get to improved voter turnout at the ballot box and respect from other parts of the State? Time will tell.