As the City Council considers a revised tax incentive package for a developer it initially rejected, former Mayor Joe Ganim is calling on the legislative body to torpedo the latest proposed abatement for the East Side Housing development of JHM Financial Group, asserting “It is a slap in the face to Bridgeport taxpayers for Mayor Finch to propose giving tens of millions in tax breaks to a developer to build a housing development.” Finch’s campaign manager fired back, declaring “Joe Ganim only support projects that line his pockets with taxpayers’ money.”
A City Council committee to weigh the revised tax abatement was cancelled on Wednesday due to a lack of quorum. Ganim issued an email to council members urging rejection of the abatement.
Statement from Ganim:
“It is a slap in the face to Bridgeport taxpayers for Mayor Finch to propose giving tens of millions in tax breaks to a developer to build a housing development. Overtaxed Bridgeport taxpayers would like a similar break. These multi-million dollar giveaways by the Finch Administration also hurt the city’s ability to have sufficient funds to rebuild schools, build parks, or fix our streets. While tax subsidies can be a useful tool to attract projects which create jobs or economic activity, this multi-million dollar tax subsidy to build housing is not justified and beyond the pale what cities normally offer developers.”
Finch’s Campaign Manager Maryli Secrest responded:
“Joe Ganim only supports projects that line his pockets with taxpayers’ money. At the Father Panik site, Joe’s scheme involved hiring fellow criminals to develop the land in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks and work on his house. But Joe’s plan fell apart after going to prison for 16 counts of federal crimes, including his failure to pay taxes on the millions he stole from taxpayers. Clearly Joe only cares about himself and cannot be trusted.”
The exchange between the campaign camps is an an appetizer for what’s to come in this mayoral election cycle in which Ganim seeks a comeback against Finch running for a third four-year term.
Thursday night at the Holiday Inn Downtown, Finch’s 2011 primary opponent Mary-Jane Foster makes her official entry into the race. The Democratic Party endorsement will take place July 21, followed by a September 16 primary. Finch and Ganim are jockeying for the party endorsement.
Does anyone else think this subject might get some of the facts made public so a credible dialogue on the “economic development” arguments can take place? Would anyone like to see the format for ALL such agreements prepared in the Finch years in office and a listing of all such agreements sponsored by the Mayor’s office and approved by the City Council?
Then could we see the same info for the Ganim-Fabrizi years by way of comparison? Are we discussing something important to the City? Are these deals benefiting local taxpayers in general or hurting them short- and long-term? Are they handcuffing future administrations? Which “tax deals to provide encouragement to investors” has cost the greatest? Which are the longest? How much in future taxes has been forgiven?
Stonewalling an answer by the Finch Campaign Manager will be difficult to maintain until November it seems to me. Are there other numbers to look at? Why not look at the numbers we know very little about? At the moment we have some general knowledge of Ganim’s history, but almost none about what Mayor Finch has been up to. The secrecy is wrong and pointing fingers at Ganim only weakens Finch’s position in my opinion. Perhaps the moment is right for Bill to have a State of the City talk to show how the tax giveaways for residential projects creates big benefits for the 100% taxpayers who are subsidizing the City expenses fully. Time will tell.
It sounds like Campaign Manager Maryli Secrest is back on her male hormones again!
Is the fact Ganim went to prison going to be the reason Finch and company don’t answer his questions? As a matter of fact they don’t answer anyone’s questions. I hope that snarky bitch running Finch’s campaign lets Finch talk.
Andy, you are so right. So every time Joe raises a legitimate issue, the paid handler Maryli will respond with canned and played-out response. Let’s hear what Finch has to say. Is this going to be the way they play responses to the voters of Bridgeport? Maryli, if you’re any good, you have to know you’d better get real or this negative cop-out is going to backfire big time.
We can see a pattern developing. Ganim takes a position on an issue and Finch’s campaign spokesperson (perhaps advised by the taxpayer-funded ministry of public enlightenment) fires back reminding everyone Ganim committed crimes while mayor.
Thank God Bill Finch spoke up and exposed Ganim’s bad deeds back then.
Oh, but wait. Bill Finch never spoke up. Finch was an active participant supporting Ganim as a member of the city council and was rewarded with an appointment as head of BEDCO with funding for the position in the city budget.
Finch’s campaign manager needs to brush up on her facts. Joe Ganim was never convicted of using a dime of taxpayers funds to line his pockets.
Mayor Finch spent $600,000 of taxpayer funds on a driveway in Stratford, $370,000 of taxpayer funds for a reevaluation that has been placed in a trash can, over $100,000 on a settlement for the victim who was beaten by police officers in the park, over $200,000 for the legal representation for the illegal takeover and the three attorneys who attended every Charter Commission meeting and drafted the revised City Charter that failed miserably, etc. You can just go on and on.
Add $300k just spent on two projectors for displaying artwork on underpasses in Bridgeport.
Jennifer, is that serious? Culture? What’s that about? Could you post a link?
Ask your city council member, or call Rick. It is true.
Once a vote is taken by the City Council, doesn’t that make it a done deal? I never heard of a Mayor attempting and getting away with changing a Council vote. If that’s the case, then we don’t need a council at all. Forget about the legislation in Hartford, if the council vote means nothing and the Mayor can change it at will. Only in Bridgeport for sure.
Something is up with Finch pushing so hard to get that developer a 35-year tax abatement. Why is he so hell bent on 35/35+ years? For a housing development? Once the development is built, there will be zero jobs created, only some temporary work (during construction) for a few subcontractors. There will be no permanent jobs created from building housing. And what exactly is the developer “giving back” to the City for such a sweetheart deal in which he will reap millions before the tax abatement has even expired? Something stinks. Bad!
It really does. Twenty years, take it or leave it!
The same developer got a 60-year tax abatement for his last 600 apartment project. I suppose he was being reasonable asking for fewer years.
I think the tax abatement is cause for renegotiation but isn’t it a hoot an area that is desperate for housing and underserved across the board would be the target of Ganim’s attacks? Why? Because when people are told by their churches that gentrification of their neighborhood will make their rents go up, then people like Ganim from a wealthy Easton neighborhood begin to make noise. Better the East Side continues its downward spiral. What we need is Ganim and Newton to keep the neighborhood as a reminder that Bridgeport does not deserve to improve. We don’t need parks to help improve the quality of life and when ignorance is bliss it really is bliss. To be clear, any abatement that will exist after my death is totally unacceptable. A 20-year abatement to improve housing and neighborhood and pride is priceless. I’d suggest the neighborhood get involved. Any abatement over 20 years should be torpedoed. But Ganim offers nothing but rhetoric to the only community that admires his attitude of a 10-year wait for an apology. Got to give him credit. Good or bad he is getting press and I admire that, not his rhetoric but his ability to regurgitate what has already been discussed. But it is a wake-up call for Finch, my choice and if there is anyone else running for Mayor.
Hey Steve, read below and tell me about Finch and please no recipes.
Steve, what synagogue are you talking about when you said people are told by their churches gentrification of their neighborhood will make their rents go up?
Ron Mackey, no synagogue would allow a politician to speak from a pulpit in front of the ark holding the Torah and I have never met a Jew who doesn’t support gentrification of a dilapidated area. Nor would they support a 35-year abatement unless it really helped improve the quality of life for its residents. There is a reason most Jews vote Democrat and I can assure you it is not for the social services and freebies. It is because social issues are important to most Jews and we generally always support helping those who cannot help themselves. I am sure any politician would be welcome to speak in a social hall at the temple but an endorsement from a Rabbi is far from the norm.
You know what’s a killer? We are giving developers coming to Bridgeport unbelievable tax breaks even when they are not qualified to get them. Finch’s administration has done this over and over. Now where we have Hispanic businesses on East Main St who have stuck it out and developed a customer base, we have the Finch administration come along and make parking on a large part of lower East Main St illegal. They have painted the lines that was now the question is why? Where are the customers going to park? They are not and these businesses will go out of business. It a shame and what does Finch have against Hispanic businesses?
Andy, I am aware of the East Main St. froblem. First, I do not think the Mayor is against the Hispanic community and neither do Hispanics. I think the Mayor was thinking about future East Main St. being the major artery it is and will become. I understand they are looking for parking lots in the area to help.
Andy, as usual on this blog, people address one problem and equate it with another and when they do, expect a recipe, damn it!
Steve, future plans, really. I took a ride through that area. There are no lots, the only thing I see is the people are ignoring the no-parking rules. This was a bullshit move. Please don’t keep saying the future, that’s what we heard about steal point and it’s 30 years into the future.
And Andy Fardy, welcome to the future. It is here and so is Steelpointe. My wish for you Andy as well as myself and others on this blog is we live to see and enjoy the vision of Len Paoletta.
I would also like to say, just as the Bridgeport is getting better tag line has become tired and redundant, I’d save the Ganim attacks of lining his pockets when it is appropriate. Like a three-minute commercial highlighting in black and white the rise and fall of Joe Ganim. I’d time it for three weeks before election. It is up to Mary-Jane Foster and Howard Gardner to attack Ganim as they are going to be like piranhas going after the anti-Finch votes. If I were Mayor Finch’s coordinator I’d take the high road and then let Finch crush Ganim with a reality check to the entire city. Hey, that’s me. Ganim is running like Mary-Jane Foster and Howard Gardner are invisible. They pretty much are. There is no need to comment on any of Joe’s comments. We all know the driveway is going to be an issue. John Ricci is an issue, all the ex-city employees working for Ganim etc. etc. etc. But until the race starts I’d let Ganim be background noise and treat him the way he is treating Foster and Gardner and do I need to mention Dave Daniels and Charlie Coviello? Let’s be positive and let’s save the real nasty stuff for later. 🙂 I do not think we have to. I think it will be very quiet. But that three-minute commercial will be horrendous and at the same time very sad we will have to relive it and throw Ernie and Rowland in for good measure to prove a leopard never changes its spots!
We are giving huge tax breaks to developers, which is a problem in and of itself at various levels, but the biggest problem in this picture is we are giving them to the wrong developers for the wrong developments.
Our development is essentially “jobless” crowds out our future development opportunities.
52-acre strip malls and seaside power-plant/waste disposal sites (sorry–I meant Eco-Technology Parks) aren’t going to make life “Better every day” for Bridgeport’s long-suffering residents.
Go away, Bill. Take David with you. And offer to take Dan Malloy as well.
(Mario, does the Democratic Party or the taxpayers have to pay for Bill’s going-away party?)
Steve, there is no need for MJF to do Finch’s work. Let Finch answer Ganim, why should MJF? It would sound like she is defending Finch. She gains nothing by fighting with Ganim.
Andy, so far Ganim has done an amazing job going after the anti-Finch vote. Bill Finch already has a fan base and Mary-Jane Foster lost most of her fan base to Ganim and I am back with Finch as I was eight years ago. If you do not think MJF needs to crush Ganim and get the anti-Finch votes I can only guarantee MJF will finish a distant third ending her political career and the very reason I was hoping she’d sit this one out.
Steve, MJF will be discussing Bill Finch’s last seven years in office and all of the screw-ups he has managed to create. What is MJF going to bring up about Ganim who has been out of office for 10 years? Should MJF bring up the cost of items in the commissary or the amount of visitations? Really, Steve.
Well she can address why Joe was making a hefty 38 cents an hour while Lennie was only making 12 cents an hour. Why? Because he is privileged? 🙂 Andy, that would be the only exceptional advise I would offer to my friend Mary-Jane. Let the cards fall where they may and let the best man win.
I believe MJF will do what she feels is necessary to run her campaign and get her message to the voters. But she is a classy lady, and I know she’ll achieve that without having to gutter-fight like this Maryli.
Lisa Parziale, you make me smile 🙂
If Mary-Jane does not kick Ganim’s ass, she will be a classy quickly forgotten candidate and I think the class you are hoping for will serve Joseph well. Mary-Jane is no fool. If she surrounded herself with trash in a previous campaign then she will easily pick up a glove and get in the game and knock out Ganim before she goes for Finch’s jugular. Lololol that will make this an interesting non-sleeper event. Mary-Jane Kick ass! I am supporting Finch but I’d like you to be a not-to-distant second.
Joe is absolutely right. Cheap shot Mr. mayor, very cheap shot.
City Attorney Hamilton Burger claimed the City Council’s vote to be advisory. But it mattered enough for Finch to schedule a do-over meeting, so the Greenwich Millionaires and his staff could again try to gain City Council support.
Finch wants the East Side Housing development plan of JHM Financial Group to only pay for trash and snow removal, for 770 units for the next 40 years.
This will be the largest tax abatement project in the history of New England!
177 units.
It does not take much money to purchase a state and city budget, does it?
www .ctpost.com/local/article/Developers-of-Stamford-station-project-gave-big-6107781.php
Finch is hell bent on getting this passed. McClutchy gave Finch $4000 for his campaign with a wink and a nod Finch would see to it this passes. Pay to play in Bpt is how it works.
Ganim alert … Ganim alert … Ganim alert … Ganim alert
I just ran into Joseph Ganim at Stop & Shop. It was nice to see him and I have to admit he looks good, well rested and hungry. We had a nice terse conversation and he is always respectful knowing how bad I have been trashing him. People did come up to him to wish him well. I had to get the ingredients to make my Vietnamese rolls and it looked like he was stocking his headquarters. I wished him well.
The committee meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum. Did Joe’s email spook them or is their absence indicative of their usual indifference to the job they were elected to?
Mr. Ganim is correct on this item.
The alleged “wonk” Finch is innumerate, and so of course he doesn’t get why multi-decade abatements are nonsensical.
After 40 years, that is on day 14,610 from the start of the 40-year abatement, the abatement ends and tax rates will normalize … because?
Maybe because no one who made the deal will still be alive … and anyone who is won’t remember?
No serious evidence justifies such hyperextended abatements.
And I thank the members of the City Council who know better and vote against such hyperextended abatements.
And the fact the developer in question has donated handsomely to Finch’s re-election illustrates that–despite what John Stafstrom proclaimed in May in introducing his illustrious client from the Holiday Inn rostrum (see
www .ctpost.com/local/article/Mayor-touts-successes-future-goals-5308364.php
)–that truly pay-to-play is alive and well in our city.
I’m just a undecided voter who is taking it all in. I mean was the city doing so great when Finch took it over from Fabs? I don’t think so. One thing for sure, I know Ganim has two votes from my parents.
It will be interesting to see how Mr. Castillo votes this time, hoping Finch grabbing him around the neck in anger after the last vote failed doesn’t influence him this time. Perhaps Mr. Castillo can ask for police protection this time, no telling how Finch will react if this fails again.
News flash! The Mayor and the Council need to grow the net grand list faster than the budget in order to provide much-needed residential property tax relief over a reasonably short period time. Does this proposed deal contribute to achieving these key goals? It does not sound like it does and it could well make things worse. Any incentives need to be reasonable, not decades long in length. They also need to make economic sense based in the estimated impact on the City’s budget and financial condition. Has this developer made any political contributions to Finch or Council members?
From an article in last month’s CT Post:
“The developer–the JHM Group of Stamford, whose owner, the McClutchy family, has given generously to both the state Democratic Party and Mayor Bill Finch’s 2015 re-election bid …”
Source: “City, developer hope to salvage tax deal” Brian Lockhart, Published 7:40 pm, Saturday, May 9, 2015
www .ctpost.com/local/article/City-developer-hope-to-salvage-tax-deal-6253507.php
“An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.”–Thomas Jefferson
As for the developers’ recent donations to the current crop of leading CT State Dems who made us so proud this week, see:
Developers of Stamford station project gave big to Democrats
Ken Dixon
Updated 11:16 pm, Saturday, February 28, 2015
www .ctpost.com/local/article/Developers-of-Stamford-station-project-gave-big-6107781.php
Great post, Pete!
Getting bitter every day!
1. bitter
adjective bit·ter \ˈbi-tər\
: having a strong and often unpleasant flavor that is the opposite of sweet
: causing painful emotions : felt or experienced in a strong and unpleasant way
: angry and unhappy because of unfair treatment
This developer has in Bridgeport our tax dollars to business in the form of: state tax credits, local tax abatements, guaranteed federal income via section 8 housing, minority business grants for these projects and isn’t this project on BHA property? And that is a pretty nice subsidy package.
Dave Walker, according to Mayor Finch and his crack staffer Tom Sherwood we grew the taxable Grand List by $107,000,000.00. This is how we avoided a tax increase this year.
I asked for proof of the growth, but as usual, I was ignored.
There was no such growth! Tom Sherwood will provide cover for this charade until November, then Mayor Finch will unleash the truth.
Is this the same Finch whose administration hangs out at certain pub diagonally across from the annex and partaketh of food and beverage that is passed on to the taxpayers in the form of a job for said bar owner? And also caters meals to city functions at inflated prices to get the bar tab paid? Finch will not defend his position on anything. He’ll simply keep saying Ganim is a thief and think the voters are stupid. Maybe the Latino store owners along East Main Street can rally together and stop Bird brain’s plan to ruin their business. Go to the press. Don’t let this Mayor ruin what you worked hard to attain!
What is the big deal about the abatement? The people who will live in the units will have trashed them long before the abatement ends.
Multiple housing units, funded with state tax credits, guaranteed rent from federal taxes via section 8, state minority grants, local tax reductions via abatements and full use of city services. All to a private for-profit developer. That is the big deal. We are paying for all of this.
Please show me one public housing project that is not in total disrepair. The city needs market-level housing to improve the City’ image. Period.
Does anyone know what it costs to put up a billboard sign? I’m thinking it’s about time we put one up like the one four years ago, “Anyone but Finch.”
Straight Arrow, set up a “GoFundMe” site and we can all pitch in. I’ll bet we can rent many billboards!
another GREAT Job by the Dems
GE looks at leaving Connecticut in response to higher taxes
Updated 1:46 pm, Thursday, June 4, 2015
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — The chief executive officer of General Electric Co. has told employees the company has begun looking at the possibility of relocating its Fairfield headquarters in response to the Connecticut legislature’s adoption of a two-year budget that again raises business taxes.
CEO Jeffrey Immelt said in an email obtained by The Associated Press that he has assembled an “exploratory team” to review the company’s options to relocate to another state with a “more pro-business environment.”
He cited “significant and retroactive tax increases for businesses” passed Wednesday night despite lobbying by GE.
Immelt says the conglomerate that manufactures appliances, aircraft engines, wind turbines and other large industrial products buys $14 billion in goods and services from Connecticut companies.
The state budget debate included unusual public lobbying by several companies.
Talking about billboards in Bridgeport, take a train through the City and you will find one failed PUBLIC housing project after another, and one trashed commercial building after another. What great advertising for the City.