News release from Mary-Jane Foster campaign:
Mary Jane Foster, candidate for the Democratic nomination for mayor in this fall’s election, today called on the City Council to demand any construction contracts entered into by the city for the PT Barnum train station require setasides for Bridgeport residents and that all apprenticeship positions must be filled by Bridgeporters.
“Bill Finch, in his eagerness to claim progress on the East Side Rail Station, is already bypassing the real economic development possibilities for the city and rushing paperwork through the council. He has submitted grant applications for the rail station without any home preference requirements,” Foster claimed.
“I am tired of hearing from the city of Bridgeport why we can’t do things instead of how we are going to do things. Surely with the city’s unacceptable unemployment rate we can figure out a way to make these types of setasides attainable,” the candidate continued.
Foster said that a key component is apprenticeships as well as construction jobs. She explained that the apprentice positions can provide Bridgeport residents with real skill sets and a career path going forward. “Bill Finch and Joe Ganim were asleep at the wheel when it came to requiring this for Steel Point development. Bill continued his sleep walking when it came to Bass Pro Shops. When I am mayor I guarantee you that this ‘demand nothing’ practice ends once and for all,” Foster added.
Foster said through both policy and ordinance she will require and enforce jobs for Bridgeport residents for any project that includes the city’s financial assistance whether it is through tax abatements, Payment In Lieu Of Taxes, capital improvements in conjunction with a project, direct financial assistance, grant match or grant passthrough.
“And I will remind Representative Himes and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy that they represent Bridgeport in Washington and if there are any obstacles in the way of this happening I expect them to deal with those issues,” Foster continued.
Foster noted that while her two opponents are arguing about who gets to use the word “works” in their campaign slogans, she is the only one stepping forward and proposing a real course of action. “The people of Bridgeport do not need to get railroaded over the job issues. Somebody needs to stand up for Bridgeport residents and that somebody is me,” Foster concluded.
Nothing wrong with Bridgeporters getting jobs. What makes this demand different from let say JML demanding at his regular attendance at council Meetings?
First you have Joe Ganim opening up an illegal substation for police, now we have Foster making demands on the council.
We do have a Mayor and a council that were in fact elected and with all the new construction happening we are going to need every able-bodied Bridgeporter to participate.
We should have Bridgeporters working!
We don’t.
Currently, JML has no authority, responsibility, or if you wish to use the word, legislative power. By the way Steve, since you do not attend those meetings and hear my spoken words, though you may read them on OIB or view them on videotape replay, where do you see me “demanding” as you put it? Mary-Jane is hitting the ball as it should be hit. We all know “jobs” are one of the big issues, but where are the “contenders” focusing on the subject? If jobs and training for them were a byproduct of the Finch administration with seven years of building schools, do you think we would have heard the solid metrics from Brett B? Too many opportunities have passed along with hundreds of millions of State and local funds. Who has been responsible for missing the opportunity? So missed opportunities turns into public safety issues for people without jobs or hope of getting on the UP escalator. By the way, the escalator at City Hall annex has been out of order for several years anyway, and I have always thought this was an economy issue on the part of the Finch gang. However for guys who often use the elevator in the part of the building they can access with keys and passes, maybe it has been left that way as a symbol that the upward-bound escalator is truly out of order in Bridgeport. Don’t you see how much has been spent on insignificance rather than on that which is material to the role of City leadership? Time will tell.
Steve, why don’t you haul your ass down to Brass Pro Shops and find out how many of the construction workers are from Bridgeport?
My guess would be zero.
But please, no stories; no lies.
Bridgeport does deserve better.
Andy, as I am sure you know, I go to Steelpointe every week. I do not interview workers and ask where they work. I am sure they are union workers and I am sure as soon as the next major announcement comes within 3 weeks, the minority businesses in the city will be part of the mix. Maybe even that celebrity, Mr. Coleman with the great smile who does do an amazing job marketing the city.
The man “with the great smile” should be in line with the rest of us taxpayers settling our obligations. Then he can smile. Or is his real job with the city? Or perhaps the reelection campaign? It is truly confusing at this time, Steve. We are glad you are on the case getting all our questions answered by the Mayor and staff, even when you are not interested in the subject matter. Time will tell.
Coleman is a tax deadbeat. He should not be paid for anything by the City of Bridgeport. He should be paying the City. Pretty simple concept.
That’s the kind of leadership I alluded to when I said Bridgeport deserves better leadership. A mayor who looks out for the residents they govern, what a novel approach.
Oh Happy Day! Amen!!!
Mary-Jane Foster, thank you, this should have been done from day one. These developers want tax deals but can’t give Bridgeport residents set-aside employment is a disgrace, our tax dollars are good for them but not our workers. Himes, Blumenthal and Murphy are a disgrace to Bridgeport because they know better. The Finch administration did nothing to get any set-asides, nothing, they were just happy anybody wanted to come here to make him look good. MJF, thanks for your vision, honesty and leadership.
While the boys are playing police chief, at least we have someone who really cares about Bridgeport.
It looks like Bill Finch’s mayoralty is in trouble. First, the two strongest challengers for the Democratic nomination jump on his case about the appalling lack of a police presence in Trumbull Gardens. Ganim and Foster have both called “Bullshit!” on Finch’s claim “Bridgeport is safer now than the past 40 years” or whatever qualifies as bullshit (anything that comes out of his mouth, actually).
Now Foster is demanding jobs on behalf of Bridgeport residents. It’s not that big a deal. New York City offers tax abatements to developers. The thickest string attached is creation of local jobs. Why is it the Finch Administration is unable or unwilling to do that?
The funny thing about all this is Ganim has not opened anything yet. He is saying he has but he has not and Finch is so stupid to fall for it, he is already saying it is illegal when nothing has happened. Ganim is pulling his strings. There is nothing illegal about him calling it a police substation. This is no different from Ganim saying he is opening a NASA station and Finch is saying it is illegal. Of course it would be illegal, but THERE IS NO STATION –duh! What people don’t get is Ganim can say all he wants but Finch plays to it. Finch would have been smarter if he downplayed it and was like “yeah right, buddy, open up an army bunker next door while you’re at it” Show me the equipment and I’ll tell you if it’s a substation. But Finch fell for it.
Keep swinging away, MJF.
The more great ideas like this, the more people will pay attention to you.
Let Ganim and Finch fight over who opened the first substation.
Let Ganim and Finch fight over who gets to use the word “works” in the slogan.
People want good ideas that work for all of Bridgeport. And you are the only one who is constantly delivering them.
Foster is offering the only realistic hope for Bpt to get better every day. Let’s let the juveniles spar over miscellany, and elect an adult.
Hmmm, I actually like that.
Other than Mary-Jane Foster, Bill Finch and Joe Ganim, did anybody support any of the activities Downtown? I mean I saw many many many people I know at Tiagos, City Lights and Bijou and all it was pretty exciting. Do any bloggers actually become part of the scene or just like to act as if they give a shit about anything??? Just curious. I mean it was great seeing the Mayor doing his thing, Mary-Jane and company doing their thing and then just as the pride parade was about to leave, Joe Ganim and friends show up doing their schtick. I always see a familiar face. Dave Daniels meeting and greeting but never if ever have I ever seen a blogger downtown except John Marshall Lee at the occasional symphony, Turkish restaurant and rarely at city hall. Probably since there was a day when I served the city seven days a week, attended every meeting and it was exhausting. Now I focus on what I want–sorry JML. John, I put my faith in my elected officials, AmyMarie Paniccia and Michelle Lyons. I choose my entertainment. Sitting for hours listening to dry information is not my form of entertainment, sorry. I am grateful you enjoy that. Me, I am too busy trying to find time for myself and patronizing establishments in the city and oh yeah, I feed off other exciting pro-Bridgeport people. Negative people are boring and not constructive. To give you my idea of Hell (I have many ideas), it would be sitting at a table unable to use my loquacious gift, sitting in silence for eternity listening to you and Carolanne Curry carry on an incessant conversation talking about Finch for an eternity! 🙂 JML, still waiting for your Mayoral choice. I did ask a number of times! Time will tell.
Steve,
Like so much else you are off base. Mary Lou and I did not miss the City Lights art show last evening inside the gallery. Fascinating and professional quality to my eye. And the performance art on Markle Court was starting to percolate as we had to leave for another meeting.
And Steve, if asking were the fast answer to getting, then I would be able to share lots more info on the Finch’s Fiscal Trail, but I get a response from the Finance Director who does not like to answer questions, thank you. The City Council for the most part sits on their hands relative to the City financial situation. And you are bored. Steve, your answer … Time will tell.
JML, my question to you was simple. Just a name and I asked you five times. Your questions to the Finance director I am certain would take much longer to answer.
JML, I did not question your attendance last evening. I stated other than yourself, I have never run into an OIB blogger supporting any Bridgeport activity and I of course am only referring to those who blog with an identifiable name. In 12 hours you will find new and exciting people to spar with. I am late for my photo shoot–ready for my closeup, Mr. Demille!
I regularly attend downtown events. I haven’t seen you either.
I would vote for the first politician who is in favor of and would fight for term limits.
Charlie, I agree with term limits 100%.
Yes you do, Maria. YES YOU DO!!!
Good policy, Mary-Jane, but you’re only about 2% of the way toward a comprehensive plan to resuscitate Bridgdeport.
We need to hear a lot more.
Here you go, Jeff:
onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/foster-outlines-50-day-plan/
The big-ticket item is the $700 million that has been spent since 2003 for school construction projects. The mayor and the Council president have rigged participation on the School Construction Committee so all contracts are slipped through, O and G calls the shots with no oversight.
This is “privatization” Bridgeport style. When the facts are disclosed about the lack of oversight on how decisions get made, and changed, and modified again, throwing away millions of dollars already spent, there will be complete disgust with this operation. It is not the privatization that was at fault, specifically, but the failure to keep all processes open, accountable and transparent to the public that must pay off the debt in the years to come.
In nature everything has a season, for plowing, planting, growing and harvesting, or for leaving fallow, but in local City government, that runs without check and balance, its momentum is money and you need to look at who is operating the controls and see what that is costing us. Unelected, unchecked and operating for whose good? Time will tell.
JML, I tried to get the Council to address the issue of the Board of Ed construction spending. The dormant Education Committee suddenly had an issue. Every department head showed up and they manipulated Council people to make it a circus and totally did not address the issue in the end. There were experts and knowledgeable people brought in but Brian Lockhart totally whiffed and the experts were muzzled. The amount of attention paid to this issue was telling and revealing and the administration was really worried about it being blown up. Then Denese Taylor-Moye resigned from chairmanship and McCarthy appointed Holloway to co-chair it with Mary McBride Lee.
MJF is calling on the Council to act on her issue. How will she address the culture present as I brought up in the post above?
Bringing jobs to Bridgeport should be a goal. That would mean the businesses are willing to move here and local developers and trade workers would get priority. Another area of focus should be to prepare the younger generation so they are sufficiently trained and qualified for those jobs that are outside of BPT. CT is a commuter state, either to NYC or North and South to other points in CT. As long as we work to develop the residents, they in turn can earn a real living wage. I have friends who have worked in other towns for years, they go to where the jobs are. But they reside and stay in BPT. They become homeowners and taxpayers and contribute. So while it may sound nice for a campaign (not just MJF, but all three major candidates) to constantly say “bring jobs to Bpt” it should also be a goal to develop Bridgeport residents so they can compete for those jobs at companies that will not move here. Perhaps having the local colleges develop programs that allow working adults to easily translate prior work experience into credits. SHU has that now, but is a lengthy process. Or giving local residents (five years or more) a % off tuition since they are not residing on campus, etc. We need outside of the box thinking. Bringing business is good, but to compete with other states, you have to offer tax breaks to entice them. And some of us are not willing to allow that. Also, any business that does relocate here cannot be forced to hire BPT residents, just like Norwalk or New Haven does not HAVE to hire residents of those towns. Just a few thoughts.
As an aside, to Jeff, carolanne, and Maria in particular–can you hardly wait for a Bpt development plan announced by Joe Ganim with the asshole Donald Trump standing at his side? Good old Joe. Zebras don’t change their stripes.