Holy Moses! Newton Endorses Foster–‘Broken Promises’ By Finch For Jobs

Former State Senator Ernie Newton’s syntax is far from perfect, but he has a way of turning a phrase borrowed or his own. The Moses of his peeps told supporters at an East End campaign event by Democratic mayoral candidate Mary-Jane Foster focused on job creation that “All saints have a past, all sinners a future,” a reference to his return–and desire for a second chance–from prison more than a year ago, as well as some of his constituents.

Newton endorsed Foster’s candidacy for mayor stressing the city needs a chief executive who knows how to create jobs and put people back to work. The credibility strength of Foster’s candidacy is her private-sector vision to create the ballpark and arena at Harbor Yard. It’s something she can point to as a jobs accomplishment.

If Foster’s going to close the deal to defeat Mayor Bill Finch next month she must do so from a jobs perspective. OIB polling shows taxes and jobs are the biggest issues. Connect the two in a message and you give beleaguered voters a reason to vote for you. The Finch forces, no doubt, will try to undercut Foster’s message.

Newton is a lightning rod among some city voters, but OIB polling shows he’s well regarded among voters in the State Senate district he represented. Corruption charges forced him from office many years ago and Ernie proclaimed after his sentence he was the “Moses of his people.” Ed Gomes, also a Foster supporter, now has the senate seat Newton occupied. Newton says he will be campaigning actively for Foster in his old senate district. From the Foster campaign:

Newton: “Too many broken promises by the Finch administration”

Democratic candidate for mayor of Bridgeport Mary-Jane Foster toured a development-ready property that has been vacant for approximately 15 years and discussed the impact neighborhood development–or the lack of it–has on unemployment, taxes, and crime with former State Senator Ernest Newton and other community representatives. Newton also declared his support for Foster’s bid for mayor. A developer expressed interest in this site to the Finch administration with the goal of expanding the business by constructing a LEED certified building and creating upwards of 40 jobs per shift, but the mayor failed to bring the project to completion.

“Mary-Jane has a proven track record for creating jobs for residents of Bridgeport and creating second chances for people who are trying to turn their lives around and become productive members of society,” Newton explained. “Her tent is big enough to include everybody.

“This community has had too many broken promises in the last four years by the Finch administration,” he continued. “The only major developments in the last four years have been Mark IV’s rock blasting, Lajoies’ Mount Trashmore II, and a pier to nowhere.”

The proposed development at 22-96 Williston Street would have been the first in the United States to recycle construction and demolition materials and included constructing a new building designed to LEED Gold specifications. The project required a minimum of 10 individuals to operate and once up and running, it could require upwards of 40 people per shift. Given the lack of parking, the jobs created would have been best suited to local residents who could walk, bike, or take public transit to work. The work involved was appropriate for both women and men, and ex-offenders were encouraged to apply.

“I have a long history of finding innovative ways to support the Bridgeport economy, create jobs, and promote financial independence,” shared Foster. “I’m proud to say that between the Ballpark and Arena, we created 140 permanent jobs, 90% of which are filled by Bridgeport residents, some of whom were folks in need of a second chance. The Bluefish team alone has pumped $40 million in to the Bridgeport economy, because we made a commitment to ‘buy local.’ As mayor, I intend to bring that same commitment to City Hall.”

Foster has outlined a number of initiatives designed to grow jobs and support small businesses. Highlights include:

* Championing a meaningful “Buy local” campaign to promote the purchase of goods and services from our Bridgeport businesses so we reap the maximum return to our local economy.

* Opening up access to capital by creating a local loan guarantee program where lenders (traditional and non-traditional) will be more willing to lend to new and established entrepreneurs in Bridgeport’s neighborhood small businesses.

* Supporting our existing and start-up businesses with access to quality technical assistance to promote success. A business-to-business mentoring program similar to the one established by the Clinton Global Initiative in New York can help our small businesses succeed and add jobs.

* Supporting small business-friendly tax policy as part of my State legislative agenda.

* Exploring the feasibility of creating a local tax credit for hiring Bridgeport residents.

* Exploring a temporary rental subsidy for small businesses for locating in areas targeted for redevelopment.

* Working and coordinating with all City departments, especially Public Safety and Public Works. We need to focus efforts on our small business corridors throughout the city so they are attractive to customers in and outside of Bridgeport.

“I will act locally,” Foster added. “It is not enough to simply hold forums and meetings with our small businesses. We must create a small business-friendly environment in our city and implement strategies that provide the tools small businesses need to succeed.

“Likewise, economic development in Bridgeport cannot just be about downtown and Steel Point. My administration will partner with the neighborhoods to build upon the vision and momentum that the Neighborhood Revitalization Zones have started. They’re not getting the kind of attention, respect, and support from this administration that they deserve. Identifying businesses that are appropriate for each neighborhood is a critical part of making Bridgeport a dynamic, vibrant community.

“Finally, it is clear that encouraging business and growing jobs is at the heart of so many of the issues facing Bridgeport. The ripple effect helps to increase revenues to the city, stabilize taxes, and lower crime.”

A transcript of Foster’s remarks follows:

I thank Ernie for his kind words, his faith in his city and in my ability to lead, and his endorsement of my candidacy. I’ve known Ernie for over 15 years and he knows me as a hard worker, good for my word, and someone who kept her word when we developed the ballpark and arena.

I thank Ernie and all of you for this opportunity at this time and place to talk about what we really need. We need jobs. We don’t need more talk about more jobs. We need jobs. To revitalize our city, bring down taxes, educate our kids, and live in a safe, clean, and yes, green city, we need jobs. We need a mayor who knows how to get it done.

This site is a lost opportunity. A lost opportunity to bring jobs into this community. A lost opportunity to bring a new taxpayer and employer to our city. An opportunity to provide 40 or more jobs to East End residents-gone. Folks, this is what 40 lost jobs looks like.

Seaview Plaza-another lost opportunity? Where is the leadership there? Why does it still sit on the drawing board? Pleasure Beach-another lost opportunity? Water taxis to where? Water taxis to what? Enough of the lost opportunities. What is the delay? Why aren’t these opportunities a reality?

The ballpark and arena were developed and opened in less than five years. From the time we opened our company until the day the arena opened was just over 5 years. 361 construction jobs and according to a study done by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council at the time, these projects pumped $2 million into the local economy. When I developed the ballpark and arena, I made sure we bought our goods and services locally. That kept businesses open and businesses growing-locally. We hired locally. Today there still are about 140 jobs between the arena and ballpark and 90% of them are held by Bridgeport residents. That is the kind of commitment I made then and I make to you now.

I will respect the worth and potential contribution of every neighborhood. I will grow business and jobs not just downtown but in every area of the city. The East End is rich in geography and opportunity. I will work with the community here-the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone and everyone interested-to grow business and industry here while respecting the waterfront and neighborhood.

With me as your next mayor, the opportunities here will not be lost. We will seek them out, we will nurture and shepherd them into reality. The East End and the rest of this wonderful city will seize opportunities and instead of being “the city with so much potential,” we will be the city that realized its potential. I look forward to working with you.