Irene Approaches Scene

From Mayor Finch:

Flood map areas: www.bridgeportct.gov/EmergencyMgmt/Documents/SLOSH-bridgeport.pdf

Bassick and Harding High Schools to Serve as Shelters

At a press conference held on Friday afternoon at the City’s state of the art Emergency Operations Center, Mayor Bill Finch and City officials urged all City residents to remain calm and prepare accordingly as Hurricane Irene bears down on Bridgeport and the rest of Connecticut this weekend. The storm is expected to hit the area late Saturday night into Sunday with high winds, the possibility of up to 10 inches of rain and flooding. Mayor Finch urged all residents living in low-lying areas to voluntarily evacuate to a relative or friend’s home on higher ground prior to the storm’s arrival.

“Residents in low-lying areas of the City – the South End, West End, Black Rock, East End and part of the East Side – can expect to see significant flooding due to high amounts of rain and the expected storm surge,” said Mayor Finch. “I urge everyone in these areas to please find somewhere else to stay for the next couple of days.”

City officials do not have the authority to order a mandatory evacuation that decision is made by the Office of the Governor. The City will open Bassick and Harding High Schools as shelters beginning at 12 noon Saturday.

Mayor Finch added, “Our city very rarely gets a direct hit from a massive storm, this is one of those very rare occasions. We cannot take this lightly. Certain roads will be closed and electricity may be out for a significant period of time.”

Forecasters expect Irene to be a low Category 2 Tropical Storm when it enters the region between 10 p.m. Saturday and midnight.

Mayor Finch reiterated the importance of staying informed. “Do not assume that everyone knows about the severity of the storm. Please knock on your neighbors’ doors. Call your friends and family and ensure that they are properly informed.”

Residents should stay alert to news reports on TV or radio and online, and/or information from the City on its website, www.bridgeportct.gov  Facebook and Twitter — @CityofBptCT for updates on the approaching storm.

Police Chief Joseph Gaudett advises all residents to stay indoors during the storm. “Our focus during the storm is human health and safety. Please stay off the roads during the storm.”

Charles Carroll, Director of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, announced that all City parks, including Seaside and Beardsley will be closed to the public at noon tomorrow. He added, “We’re emphasizing safety first, including with our Public Works crews.”

Fire Chief Brian Rooney reminds residents to avoid using candles. “With the anticipated loss of electricity, we’d like to remind everyone to have functioning flashlights ready and available. Do not use candles or other flames for lighting or heat.”

Pets are allowed at both shelters. Parking for shelters are available at the JFK Campus, 700 Palisade Avenue for those staying at Harding High School and at Park and North Avenues, the parking for the former grocery store location, for those staying at Bassick High School.

During the storm, the public can call the Emergency Operations Center at 203.579.3829 or 203.576.1311. If you have a medical emergency call 911.

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  1. www .ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?Q=476900&A=4004

    HARTFORD, August 26 — With Hurricane Irene set to strike Connecticut this weekend, Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen is announcing an imminent abnormal market disruption in energy resources under Connecticut General Statutes Section 42-234, putting wholesalers, retailers and consumers on notice that charging unconscionably excessive prices for gasoline, heating fuels and other energy resources is prohibited.

    Under the notice, posted today on the Attorney General’s website at www .ct.gov/ag/site/default.asp, the abnormal market disruption period began at 1 p.m. today and runs through midnight, Wednesday Aug. 31, unless otherwise amended.

    “Consumers need to be aware that in times of anticipated market disruption on energy products, some unscrupulous market players may seek to extract excessive profits from consumers,” Attorney General Jepsen said. “If anyone suspects excessive profiteering, they should report it as described below. My office and the Department of Consumer Protection will monitor the market and consumer complaints, will act accordingly to halt any such practices, and seek penalties as needed against violators.”

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    1. If the storm makes a swing toward the east Bill Finch will try to take credit for interceding with The Almighty. Then he’ll be able to say “I did that!” at the next debate.

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  2. Although I appreciate the Mayor’s civil preparedness I don’t think it is necessary for Bill and Auden Grogins to be scaring the bejesus out of people telling them to evacuate where I live. Several public safety officers resented them interfering with their jobs. The mayor and Grogins were creating mass hysteria with asking people to give the officers their next of kin information if you chose not to leave. Their efforts would be much better served in the South End and East End areas of our city. I would never suggest these moves were politically motivated. Well … almost never.

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  3. Those moves weren’t politically motivated, it was in the best interest of the people in Black Rock to heed the warning. It’s a no-brainer, a very sizable portion of that area is extremely prone to flooding, and the residents can attest to that. My aunt lived on Ellsworth St. back when Gloria hit in ’85 or ’86 and it was a mess. Yesterday when Bloomberg evacuated sections of Brooklyn, etc., he warned the residents in the same manner. In fact he stated he was ordering body bags for those who were refusing. No one should be so cavalier as to think they are not in harm’s way.

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    1. Hate to melt your chocolate but you are wrong. Gloria, in September of ’85, caused havoc with trees. No flooding. The only area where I have seen excessive flooding was on Anchorage Drive. The below sea level areas surrounding Seaside Park like Seaside Village and along lower Central Avenue in the East End are more prone to flooding. I will specifically reference the December ’92 flood with a similar moon and high tide. Bill was pandering when he should have been where the people who need help the most need to be served. I guess his polling numbers must show a weakness in Black Rock. Once again I appreciate his civil preparedness just not his political pandering. See you tomorrow night when we can croon Goodnight Irene. Stay dry.

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      1. The mayor and other elected officials also walked Seaside Village & Marina, along with other streets in the area of Seaside Park. This effort should be commended rather than critiqued by anyone, even the Foster fans. The general population doesn’t view things as negatively as some of you who for whatever reason, even under dire circumstances can think of nothing else other than to find a way to bash Finch for his concern for peoples’ safety. This isn’t about politics, stop milking it.

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        1. It would have been commendable if Finch had helped with the evacuation WITHOUT the CT Post photographer.

          Did he go to UB to make sure all the students got out? Oh I forgot … the MOONIES!!!

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    2. Everything Mayor Finch does from now until September 13th (or God forbid November 4th) is politically motivated. After that he’ll go back to not giving a shit.

      I hope the storm doesn’t delay Monday’s court hearing.

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  4. Finch, McCarthy, Grogins and the rest of the DTC hee-haw gang were out to score political points by “warning” people. Were it not for an impending primary against a strong opposing candidate it is doubtful Mr. Finch would be going door-to-door.

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  5. Instead of Bassick, let’s go to Testo’s. It’s on higher ground and a sacred, untouchable place in Bridgeport. We can laugh at the storm around us.

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  6. “We don’t want to see a Katrina here,” the mayor declared. Yeah, right. If that sort of disaster befell Bridgeport the city would NEVER be rebuilt. Not under hizzoner’s leadership.

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  7. PULEEEZZZE. Leave it to Finch to leverage a potential natural disaster in our City into a campaign opportunity for his piteous and transparent cause. What a shame we as citizens would even consider this would be the case, but we are jaded as a people, and expect nothing dignified from this administration.

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    1. One benefit of living on the other side of Black Rock is–ironically–the wall of “rocks” from the railroad tracks. Anyone selling a generator?

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  8. It’s unbelievable how even when the governor and the president have deemed this area a disaster zone, all you can do is throw cheap shots at the mayor for doing his civic duty to warn citizens to evacuate. Other mayors in surrounding towns are doing the same thing. Maybe none of you appreciate the door-to-door efforts, but most people with an ounce of common sense do and are heeding the warning. As for Ellsworth St. in the aftermath of Gloria, my aunt’s basement was flooded and a portion of her roof was badly damaged.

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    1. Godiva you would figure knowing a hurricane was coming for 5 days now, Bill Finch would have ordered or requested the WPCA to clear all the garbage off all major drains in lower areas. I went and cleaned the sidewalks and unclogged all drains in both intersections of my street. I couldn’t do shit about all the garbage already in there.

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  9. Rooney, stick those candles where the sun don’t shine. Try making sure the FF’s equipment is up to date and certified. Your lack of leadership killed two FFs already. You piece of s__t.

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  10. Irene needs to hurry up and push through. Monday’s hearing can’t get here fast enough. Jason Bartlett has to tell the truth. Either he took no independent action to learn the requirements of CT state primary election law or he did. In either case, it makes his claim he “relied” on the advice of Ms. Ayala laughable. The law requires his reliance to be reasonable. It also requires him to have undertaken his own due diligence. Either he got bad advice from the MJF camp lawyers or he got no advice from them at all. Both situations are fatal to MJF’s position.
    Even if he somehow squirms through this dilemma, he will still have to explain why he demanded Ms. Ayala change the petition from three to four BOE candidates. Poor Mr. Bartlett. He must be dreading this hearing … for very good reason.

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    1. It’s not as simple as that. Santa Ayala knew there were flaws in the petitions, asked for them to be returned and reissued them with an even bigger flaw. She defended herself by claiming “It’s not my job …” which contradicts the mission statement and the regulations that apply to the registrar of voters.

      The burden of proof is on the plaintiffs but the standard of proof in civil court is much lower than the criminal docket.

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    2. I made a very interesting observation in that the statute Ayala “found” has holes like Swiss Cheese. It is said it has so much holes on it that MCAT is holding it tonight against the winds of Irene, as she expect the winds to blow right through it.

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    3. I think what happened was Ayala could not eliminate enough signatures to disqualify the petitions on the grounds there were not enough valid signatures.
      Ayala eliminated over 1200 signatures and unfortunately for Ayala MJF still qualified by 167 signatures. I can tell you I have never seen so many signatures eliminated as was done for this primary. When the count was finalized Ayala had to go to Plan B. Too bad, it just exposes her as the incompetent she is.

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    4. It is unreasonable to assume any candidates know the ropes in any campaign. The registrar of voters is responsible to provide guidance to all candidates. This was your duty and you betrayed the public trust. I trust the gravity of your betrayal will come down on you like the wrath of God.

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      1. You folks are either uninformed, in complete denial, or both. First, the statute has so few “holes” that Mr. Coviello tried to withdraw his name from the petition last week when the MJF camp learned of the problem but before Ms. Ayala formally rejected the petition. Second, when you read the civil complaint (Lennie posted it here earlier this week) closely you see the only real argument the plaintiffs make is they relied on Ayala’s advice. So, you can claim there are holes but that’s not really what MJF’s lawyers are saying.
        Moreover, there isn’t anything any one of you has said here this week or has been reported publicly that shows the MJF camp did anything to inform itself of the laws. You are content to blame others, as the MJF camp is, but it was MJF and her team of lawyers and advisers to know the rules. Plainly, they didn’t.
        Lastly, if you believe the MJF camp’s ignorance is a legal and justified excuse I am embarrassed for you. You really want people who can’t be bothered to know the rules of the law to run our city? Yikes!
        As I said before, Mr. Bartlett has to be dreading this hearing. Which is it, Jason? Did you do nothing to learn the rules or were you given bad advice from the MJF legal team? Neither excuse will stand up in court, but at least all of us OIB bloggers will know the truth.

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        1. Thanks for being embarrassed for us! Whew! I was wondering when someone was going to offer to do that! Mostly, what we know is WE DON’T WANT FINCH. WE DON’T WANT FINCH. WE JUST DON’T WANT HIM. DO YOU GET IT? This is not a coincidence, after Sandi taking 5 days too long to rule on the petitions. 5 days. It seems to me an on the ball ROV would have caught this unfortunate problem by the cert date. But I commend the attempt at subterfuge. Bottom line … WE DON’T WANT FINCH. Four one-syllable words.

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      1. Ron: off point again. The point of the MJF complaint that is to be heard on Monday is not to “get” Ms. Ayala but to get MJF and her slate in the primary. And the point is at that hearing, more important than what Ms. Ayala supposedly did is what Mr. Bartlett and the MJF camp clearly didn’t do, namely, read the applicable rules.

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        1. Ron,
          Santa Ayala will suffer some consequences for her actions. She’s offered only excuses for her actions. Excuses don’t provide legitimate justification for rejecting petitions she knew were flawed. The SEEC is going to hear the complaint against Bridgeport’s “Democratic” ROV. The hearing in Superior Court tomorrow morning is a civil action.

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  11. I’m in the bunker ready and expecting for Irene to be as mean as OIB bloggers–I guess Irene hasn’t heard of OIB. I even tied down my tomatoes–or is tomato? Got my Mary-Jane Foster signs inside, have you? There are reports of Irene blowing away “Finch” lawn signs and clogging drains all over Bridgeport. Rumor has it Tom Kelly is planning to file a suit and is looking into whether (weather in this case) this is a another Finch plot to appear like a hero after Irene passes.

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  12. The hurricane is not a political issue. Finch is doing what he is supposed to do. People’s lives are at stake. As for lawn signs, yes it was wise to bring them in as they become projectiles during hurricanes. I picked up 43 signs. The residents are gonna wonder WTF. I will replace them Monday and apologize. The signs I removed were Mary-Jane Foster signs–43 in the North End. I guess the Finch signs that are planted in vacant lots with 2 feet tall grass and foreclosed homes will just become part of the litter in the streets on Monday. When I went to the movies after driving around retrieving signs I was at the Bow-Tie Cinemas–Nice to see so many Foster signs there.

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  13. *** Are all needed city services ready for this storm? Time will tell & “positive city services” during & after the storm could be an election boost, no? *** STORM RIDERS ***

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