There’s strength in numbers, especially in Bridgeport’s growing Hispanic community in an election year. Governor Dan Malloy is expected to visit Bridgeport on Friday to attend a fundraiser for the Hispanic Democratic Caucus, a key leadership bloc to rally voters he’ll likely need to win a second term.
Hispanics, by sheer numbers registered to vote in Bridgeport, are becoming a growing force in city elections. Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, the state’s chief elections official, and Sandi Ayala, Bridgeport’s Democratic Registrar of Voters, confirm Bridgeport has roughly 25,500 registered voters of Hispanic origin out of roughly 70,000 total registered, approximately 36 percent of the entire electorate. Ayala estimates 90 percent of Hispanic electors are Democrats comprising about 50 percent of Democratic registration.
Bridgeport has the highest number of Hispanics registered to vote in Connecticut followed by Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury and New Britain, according to Merrill. Hispanics registered in Bridgeport are twice the number of Hispanics registered in New Haven. The gap between Hispanics registered to vote and those actually casting votes is wide with several voting precincts in Hispanic-dominated neighborhoods challenged to break into the teens for Bridgeport local elections. But the potent number of registered Hispanics can no longer be ignored by party regulars and candidates for office, as evidenced by Malloy’s scheduled visit.
Connecticut Latino News has more on this:
Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s soft-pedaled re-election campaign will take a turn toward hard politicking on Friday when he visits a fund-raising reception on Main Street in Bridgeport for the Hispanic Democratic Caucus (CHDC). The week that started off with Three Kings Day will end with the visit to the king-makers, the Governor being the one bearing gifts. Or IOU’s rather, given that this election year is not a budget year, and it’s one particular budget item that is at the top of the Latino leadership’s wish list.
“I think the last time the governor showed up at one of the caucus events was before he was governor, when he was coming in during the primary,” said state senator Andres Ayala, Jr. (D-Bridgeport). In the 2010 election, a delayed vote count of Bridgeport precincts made for a nail-biting result, turning what looked like defeat for Malloy into victory against Republican candidate Tom Foley.
More here.
Already geared up for the Mark Boughton for Governor campaign to begin.
Malloy cares less about Bridgeport, except while on the campaign trail, and hands out more cushy fake jobs than anyone else.
How many vote?
I have on numerous occasions questioned, challenged and tried to push the Republican Party, David Walker, CW4BB, Jennifer Buchanan and Rick Torres on reaching out to the Hispanic community and voters and all I would get back was I was trying to play the race card. Well, keep on not paying attention while the Democratic Party and Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Bridgeport Democrats keep getting the Hispanic vote. Talking to a few Hispanics is NOT talking to the Hispanic community.
Here’s a thought: How about not trying to twist everything around on David Walker or CW4BB. Get your own coalition going. Why don’t YOU do something?
Bond Girl, I was making good suggestions to EXPAND the voter base, there was nothing twisted. Bond Girl, just read what Lennie wrote, if Walker and CW4BB want to get their candidates elected they might want to reach out to voters who don’t look like them. To tell the truth I hope they keep on doing what they are doing, NOTHING but talk. Bond Girl, what are you doing, are you doing something?
Yes, I am. More than my share. I would not even think of writing a comment like that if I weren’t.
Ron,
I will guess “voters who don’t look like them” can relate to numerous clues to identity and not just race. So I do not identify your message today as specifically racist.
For some time, as you know I have written about a variety of City subjects. And you also know I have invited you to a face-to-face and offered my phone number to you as well. This is my “one-person” campaign “to reach out to voters” who may not look like me, think like me, live like me, worship like me but still are concerned about the community at large and are unafraid to reach back. So far you have avoided such a meeting with me and I have not heard you express yourself on results of your own “reaching out” beyond people you already safely know. I gently ask, “Why are you on the case of Walker and others who have done something in the past year beyond talk?” Are you so set in your mind and ways, meeting someone new could unsettle you? Might you or the other learn something previously unknown? Set a great example for others who will see more in seeing you ‘walk the walk’ rather than merely ‘talking the talk.’ The life of Mandela and King provide real examples for seeing more than old friends at a new table. Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee, you said, “The life of Mandela and King provide real examples for seeing more than old friends at a new table.” Let’s not forget these two men were praised for not leading their people against those who held them back, that’s why they are looked up to and that is the reason they both won the Nobel Peace award for telling blacks not to turn against whites.
You just have no idea. And why? Because of the goading posts you write. No one wants to tell you anything. Rest assured, the silence will continue commensurate with the amount of time you spend blaming anyone you can target. Things are happening. Folks are just choosing to keep you out of the loop with good reason.
Bond Girl, oh I’ll lose a lot of sleep over that. It’s called give and take.
When urging Republicans to reach out to Hispanics, just what are they supposed to say?
All too often when politicians reach out to minority voting blocs, it’s to bribe them with more government money so they will get that voting bloc.
Unfortunately they sell their vote to politicians way too cheaply and expect very little in return like a better job climate, improved education, etc. … And that’s if the Bridgeport Hispanic community votes.
To paraphrase “You get what you pay for,” you also get what you vote for. Minimal voter turnout is why Bridgeport has the worst, most ineffective state delegation. Not very bright and easily controlled.
Newton, the Ayala clan, etc. make the point.
Denis OMalley, it’s done the same way Republicans politicians have always done when they reach out to bribe Wall Street, the banks and big business with more government money so they will get that voting bloc.
A political community that allows itself to be defined by the Queen of Absentee Ballots has–as they say–an issue.
Besides, “Hispanic” means nothing: What ethnic group inside of “Hispanic” are we talking about? Of course, the overwhelming number are Puerto Rican Americans, but there are Cubans and Dominicans, possibly other islanders. Are the Portuguese included in this overarching delivery of registration? How about Brazilians? Mexicans? Forgot to mention Verdeans. (Sorry Ed Gomes.)
And, uh, voter turnout still sucks. Which goes back to the first sentence.
JC … blame the SEEC for the Queen of AB’s triumphs with the elections. It seems they sweep it under the rug all the time. Why don’t you walk through said political community and you will find out firsthand how the Q.A.B. operates.
Jimmy C,
Ed Gomes will kick your ass if he sees this posting. Cape Verdeans are African Americans not Hispanics, Latinos or Portuguese. The Cape Verde islands are off the West coast of Africa and many of its citizens have Portuguese-sounding names from the slave trading days.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic
Hispanic-is an ethnonym that denotes a relationship to Spain or, in some definitions, to ancient Hispania, which comprised the Iberian Peninsula including the modern states of Andorra, Portugal, and Spain and the Crown Colony or British Overseas Territories of Gibraltar. Today, organizations in the United States use the term as a broad catchall to refer to persons with a historical and cultural relationship either with Spain and Portugal or only with Spain, regardless of race. However, the U.S. Census Bureau definition states that Hispanics or Latinos can be of any race, any ancestry, any ethnicity.
Cape Verde – Uninhabited on their discovery in 1456, the Cape Verde islands became part of the Portuguese empire in 1495. A majority of today’s inhabitants are of mixed Portuguese and African ancestry.
A Cape Verdean would be Hispanic if they are of Portuguese decent.
I’d be interested to hear reasons why the Puerto Rican American vote still drags behind African Americans and the combined European Americans.
Most people are second or third generation away from the island. I can’t figure if they are lagging–or not–from the normal integration into American society, if there is a cultural thing, lousy candidates or what.
I’ve seen the community–like everyone else–hit the voting machines when hot about something. It is not sustained and I am a little surprised. Their elected officials are moving into the political system, but I thought the number of folks voting would be higher. Still too young?
Jim Callahan, good observation and I don’t have an answer but I recall a conversation I had with then-Mayor Joe Ganim when I was thinking about running for the City Council with a Hispanic running mate in his district and Joe told me there were a good number of Hispanics who were registered voters BUT they do not come out to vote in the numbers whites and blacks do. It seems after all those years Joe was right, sad but true.
*** I have been involved in Bpt politics, on and off since “2001.” The Bpt DTC, West Side NRZ, Bpt Public Housing Authority and the Bpt City Council. I have always heard about the push for more Hispanic registered voters in the city and its overall potential to become a key voter bloc that would be needed by any candidate who was seeking to be the Mayor of Bpt or State Governor, etc. Yet when it’s time to actually vote during important elections, the “active voter” numbers are low! Also, just who is this city or state Hispanic Democratic Caucus and how did they get on that particular board? Does the average Hispanic voter know who they are and what there function or political mission is? Or are they just another self-appointed Hispanic political group that claims to speak for the masses of Hispanic voters in general? Beware of political groups that claim to support or speak for any minority political groups when it comes to voting overall. *** Don’t be fooled when it comes to politics, be an individual and do your political homework before you commit your vote! ***
Friday’s event seems to be gearing up to be “THE EVENT” of 2014 with confirmations from Governor Malloy, Treasurer Denise Nappier and newly sworn-in Mayor of New Haven Toni Harp. Congratulations to the organizers, with Sazon Y Mambo as its venue this promises to be a great event.
Big deal, Hector!
It is a big deal, for once an organization thought to have its function in Bridgeport and at a privately (not politically connected) owned venue. The fact the upper echelon of Connecticut Politics is attending must be pretty regular for you, maybe I missed some, can you “invincible” remind us of any others?
Read this sorry-XXX letter that is in the Connecticut Post, and this going to help whom?
This letter is in response to an economically misguided Connecticut Post editorial that celebrates the increase in the minimum wage in Connecticut.
The professed goal of the new legislation is to increase the quality of life of low-wage earners. While I wholeheartedly agree with the desired ends of this legislation, the real ends accomplish the opposite goal. The Connecticut Post and state legislators ought to instead focus on job growth.
When government imposes a higher minimum wage, in the very short term, lower wage earners feel a positive bump in their quality of life. However, their “good intentions” have set an unintended economic process in motion. The mandated employers are faced with higher payrolls, but no increase in productivity and can elect to do one of three things.
1. The employer can raise his prices. This will result in fewer items sold, adversely affecting his or her sales. In time, this will cause the employer to downsize the company–in other words, eliminate jobs.
2. He or she can take a pay cut. Although there are good reasons for taking a pay cut, a government dictate is not one of them.
3. The employer can move his or her business to a state–or country–with a more attractive business environment, again eliminating jobs from Connecticut.
Logic commands most business owners will go with options one and three, reducing the Connecticut workforce. It isn’t complex. There is a reason that places like Texas are seeing record levels of population growth–jobs!
True, these places have a lower cost of living than Connecticut. But why is that? The unintended consequence of artificially increasing the minimum wage increases the cost of living.
Remember option 1? The employer raises his prices to offset the increase in payroll. Ultimately, the consumer pays. The very people who this aims to help will suffer most. But fear not, government will return again to “help” and in the process continue to drive up the cost of living.
In a free country and when a market is healthy–namely pro-business states–there is a natural version of the minimum wage. Not long ago in Bridgeport, it was not uncommon to see $30 an hour jobs at places like Carpenter Technologies.
They had to pay high wages to compete with others like Casco, Sikorsky, Jenkins, Bullards, Bassick and countless others. Bridgeport was flush with jobs not because politicians artificially inflated wages, but because Bridgeport showed the world it was a thriving business environment.
Today, we have the opposite. We are screaming to the rest of the world not to start businesses here. Connecticut leads the nation in taxes of all kinds. Bridgeport, of course, is ranked as the highest taxed city in the nation. So to add a final insult we tell the business world if you want the privilege to be here, get ready to pay more. What a great slogan.
The populist arguments employed by the Connecticut Post pit the “elites” against the working class in order to sway public opinion. They simplify the argument until the reader has no choice but to join the call for increased wages lest they be labeled heartless. This strategy is simplistic, shallow and irresponsible. The debate is about good vs. bad business policy which affects the state’s job numbers. Politicians ought to be judged on their ability to grow jobs, not on their ability to use government’s force to dole out shortsighted favors.
Rick Torres
Bridgeport
The writer is a member of the Bridgeport City Council, representing Black Rock’s 130th district.
Nothing to do with Hispanic voters but you are correct, Ron. Raising the minimum wage is not going to help anybody. Rick left out one thing: #4- In order to keep the necessary profit margin to NOT go out of business, employers will have to reduce or automate their workforce. Fewer employees means long wait times and poor service for customers. Watch for an increase in ‘under the table’ jobs. It will work like this. I pay you $7.50 ‘under the table’ and you take home $7.50 or I pay you $8.25 and you take home $7.40 after taxes. It is a government trick. The real low-income problem is not the low pay. It is the high taxes and cost of living. Like BPT’s affordable housing problem. The cost of the house is not the problem. The high property tax is. When they tell you we are going to fix the problems by raising taxes to build houses people can afford, that is a lie. You fix the problem by lowering taxes and letting builders build houses people want to and can buy.
Stop & Shop has put in self-checkouts because they are cheaper than workers (BTW- Stop & Shop jobs are union and came with health insurance). Most places have all but eliminated the buggy collecting guy. If you want a buggy you better bring one in from the parking lot yourself. These people used to have low-paying jobs. Now they have no job. So who DID it help???
If you want to fix our wage problem do one of the following. 1-Lower the number of workers compared to the number of jobs. Labor is a supply and demand issue. 2-Make CT more affordable to live in so people can live on what they can earn. 3-People need to get the skills employers are willing to pay for. If your best skill is the ability to gather buggies in a parking lot, anybody can do that. If you can weld or account, then you would demand a higher pay.
www .theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/01/if-you-really-care-about-ending-poverty-stop-talking-about-inequality/282906/
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Laffer’s laugher on minimum wage
01/08/14 04:00 PM—Updated 01/09/14 12:57 AM
By Steve Benen
In the world of Republican economics, Arthur Laffer–yes, the man who brought us the Laffer Curve–has been among the most prominent conservative voices of his generation. His notoriety rose during his tenure in the Reagan White House, but more recently he’s helped Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) shape his regressive state-based economic agenda.
This morning, Laffer appeared on Fox News arguing that the minimum wage should be $0 (there’s a lot of that going around in Republican politics lately). He added:
“[T]he minimum wage makes no sense whatsoever to me. I mean, honestly, it’s just the teenage–black teenage unemployment act and this is the very groups that we need to have jobs, not be put out of work because of the minimum wage.
“So I’m really very much in favor of at least for teenagers getting rid of the minimum wage so we can bring them back into the labor force, get them the skills they need to continue being productive members of our society for years and years. I mean, that’s the way I’d go on minimum wage.”
Is that so.
I suppose in the far-right caricature of a low-wage worker, it’s easy to make assumptions about race and age, but to characterize the federal minimum wage as the “black teenage unemployment act” is not only offensive, it ignores reality altogether. Consider some of the details published this week by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
For example, most Americans who work for the minimum wage are adults. A whopping 84% are over the age of 20, while nearly half (47%) are over 30.
What’s more, Laffer’s assumptions about race notwithstanding, most minimum-wage workers (57%) are white. Nearly half (47%) work full time.
It seems some on the right have an image in their mind about the “typical” American who works for the minimum wage: an African-American teenager working at the mall of a fast-food restaurant. Perhaps it’s this distorted image that helps drive Republican opposition to an increase.
Perhaps if conservatives gave reality a closer look they’d reevaluate the policy on the merits?
But Ron, you are being tricked. First off, only 4.7% of all workers make minimum wage. It is only a small part of the workforce. More than half the workforce is over 30 but only 40% of 4.7% (or 1.88%) of the work force is over 30 and makes minimum wage. So minimum wage laws mostly affect young workers. You would have to ask why are people over 30 working for minimum wage. Just a job for fun, old people supplementing their income, working moms getting back into the workforce after having a baby, side jobs? They are working these jobs because they are easy and it is all they need.
Look at how raising minimum wage affects workers:
2.bp.blogspot.com/_5aAsxFJOeMw/SW-Amw0tH0I/AAAAAAAACEg/t_aX6eb2CRI/s1600-h/pct-num-emp-age-16-19-age-20-up-since-nov-2006-with-gdp.PNG
Notice the drop in the number of employed people when MW is increased.
This chart says ~60% are under 30 YO, I guess there is some disagreement in how old a minimum-wage worker is.
1.bp.blogspot.com/_5aAsxFJOeMw/SPZjO4RZEmI/AAAAAAAABUI/Md87MoGu-Po/s1600-h/2007-Federal-Minimum-Wage-Earners-by-Age-Group.PNG
Now ask, since the inception of minimum wage, are minimum-wage workers any better off than they were? If you answer NO, that means the minimum wage laws are not helping. That would leave us with 3 choices. 1- Do away with the law because it does not work. You have the skills you have and get the job you can get and you get paid what the market will pay. Supply and demand. 2- Make minimum wage $25/hr or $50/hr. Then it would be a living wage and we would not have to raise minimum wage every couple years. I mean, if you want to help let’s go all the way. Why nickel and dime? If this sounds ‘stupid,’ why is $8.25 good? Or is that just less stupid? 3- Make every job pay $8.25/hr regardless of what it is. If you should get $8.25/hr just because you work why should a doctor get more? He is just working as well.
Lastly, you should buy a new TV so you wouldn’t have to look at everything in black and white.
*** JUST ‘CAUSE THEY’RE REGISTERED DEMS DOES NOT MEAN A SURE VOTE! ***