Liberate The Library! Plus: Rell’s Budget, Tax Cuts, Tax Hikes

4:30 p.m. update: Do you know why I call this webzine Only In Bridgeport, named for my book of the same name? Because of one-of-a-kind stories.

Yeah baby, the underdog Liberate Libraries Committee fighting the city attorney’s office won a court victory in its quest to have voters decide whether one mil should be appropriated as a tax levy to fund library services. Superior Court Judge David Tobin has scheduled legal parties to meet Thursday morning for a final ruling. The judge first wants to make sure the city clerk’s office certifies the 50 petition signatures required to place the question on the ballot. I checked in with the clerk’s office and the signatures have been certified.

Yeah I know, all kinds of unanswered questions, but if passed by voters the library will enjoy $2 million more than approved by the mayor and City Council.

Mayor Bill Finch announced days ago he wanted voters to decide the issue even though that did not stop him from authorizing his city attorney to fight this in court. But hey, city officials won’t be happy if this passes so let’s see if the mayor and City Council President Tom McCarthy unleash the political attack dogs on election day. My guess is yes. God forbid this crew in City Hall be steamrolled by the little library board.

Lawyers for Liberate Libraries Committee cited an obscure state statute that empowers library supporters to bring a direct referendum to voters. What’s to stop a competing organization/person from doing the same? Could there be dueling referendum questions? Must library supporters go through this excerise every year. This should be some showdown. What happens if it passes? When does the library get its money and how? What happens if it goes down?

Library supporters we’ll need to run a coherent citywide campaign to get this passed. One thing’s for sure this referendum will increase voter participation in what is expected to be a pathetically low turnout for City Council and Board of Education seats.

Statement from Jim O’Donnell, president of the Library Board, who along with OIB friend Sly Salcedo, argued the plaintiff case in court.

Basically we were able to convince Judge David Tobin that, like Santa Claus in A Miracle on 34th Street, the TOWN of Bridgeport does exist and the City of Bridgeport must allow a referendum pursuant to C.G.S. 11-36.

Judge Tobin made a specific finding of fact that the Town of Bridgeport still exists; but even if it did not, the City of Bridgeport assumed and is responsible for all the obligations imposed on Towns as reflected in Article I Section 3 of the City Charter when the Town and City were consolidated in 1889. Both C.G.S. 11-36 and 11-32 were enacted (and other than minor technical revisions) have remained the same since 1881. Because the rights authorizing 50 electors of a town to petition for a library referendum existed in 1889 when the consolidation occurred, the City, whether the Town exists or not, must allow the rights to be exercised.

We have to return to Court Thursday at 10 to learn whether the Court’s preliminary mandamus order requiring the Town Clerk and Registrar to confirm by 5pm (Wednesday) whether at least 50 of the 147 signatures we submitted are “electors” of Bridgeport. If so, Judge Tobin will enter a final Order of Mandamus to compel placement of the question on the November 3, 2009 ballot.

The Governor’s Budget

Whoa! Governor Jodi Rell has offered a compromise budget that calls for increasing the income tax on the wealthiest of Connecticut residents, something legislative Dems have demanded. In doing so Rell is telling her base Republican support I must do this to get a budget passed. This is a tough swallow for Rell. Will she seek reelection? News release from the governor below:

Governor Rell Offers Compromise Budget Alternative

Latest Budget Plan Would End Budget Stalemate;

Governor Calls on Legislature to Approve Budget by September 1

Governor M. Jodi Rell, in an effort to move negotiations forward and have a budget in place by September 1, today presented a compromise budget alternative that provides an immediate tax cut for everyone, requires $520 million in spending cuts and proposes $710 million in new revenue.

“We need a state budget. It is time to move negotiations forward, not inch-by-inch but with great strides toward a meaningful agreement,” Governor Rell said. “If the Democrats show flexibility on the spending side, I will be flexible on the tax side. Therefore, I am offering a true compromise with my fourth budget that should be voted on and signed into law by September 1.”

“This budget maintains my number one priority to cut state spending and shrink the bloated bureaucracy of state government,” the Governor said. “Over the past 20 years, state spending has far outstripped the ability of Connecticut taxpayers to pay for it. My budget’s bottom line makes government more affordable – not just for the next two years but for the next 20 years.”

The Governor’s fourth budget plan cuts spending by $520 million, eliminates the inheritance tax, provides all families with tax cut by reducing the sales tax from 6 percent to 5.5 percent and exempts small and medium-sized businesses from the temporary 10 percent corporate surcharge proposed in her last budget plan and the Democrats’ last plan.

On the revenue side, this plan calls for increasing the income tax to 6.5 percent on individuals earning $500,000 per year and joint filers earning $1 million or more. The plan would also increase the tax on cigarettes from 2 to 3 dollars.

In exchange, the Governor is requiring that Democrats identify an additional $520 million in spending cuts.

“Due to my steadfast opposition to the Democrats’ tax plans, Connecticut taxpayers have already been spared $1.5 billion in new or higher taxes. Our state would have been devastated by the various Democrats’ budgets that relied on as much as $3.3 billion in new taxes when we began these negotiations.

“Frankly, I would prefer not to offer a budget plan like this. However, I have shown flexibility when it comes to revenue and a willingness to compromise in an effort to end this budget impasse. It is long overdue for Democrats to do the same when it comes to making real, meaningful spending cuts.

“My proposal keeps in mind the needs of Connecticut families, who are struggling in this national recession,” Governor Rell said. “I have often said that when I am at the budget negotiating table, I am negotiating on behalf of our families — and the budget that I have promised to deliver to them is one they will be able to afford. The Democrats must meet me halfway so that we can finish the job we started so many months ago.”

From the Connecticut Post

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport may soon have to unseal thousands of documents generated by lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by priests now that a U.S. Supreme Court judge has denied the diocese’s request to keep them sealed.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg on Tuesday denied the Bridgeport diocese’s request to continue a stay on the release of the papers until the full court decides whether to review the case.

But the diocese hasn’t given up in its long fight to keep more than 12,000 pages from 23 lawsuits sealed, releasing a statement that it is “disappointed” by Ginsberg’s ruling but “intends to proceed with its announced determination to ask the full U.S. Supreme Court to review the important constitutional issues that this case presents.”

Diocese spokesman Joseph McAleer declined further comment in an e-mail Tuesday evening.

The documents have been sealed since the diocese settled the lawsuits in 2001 and paid victims more than $30 million. They could provide details on how retired New York Cardinal Edward Egan handled the allegations when he was bishop in Bridgeport.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s latest addition now on exhibit

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – August 25, 2009 – As part of a national effort to ensure the survival of certain endangered species, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is the new home to Naka (pron. Nuh-‘KAH), a four year old female Amur – or Siberian – tiger that recently arrived from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York. Naka’s arrival at the Zoo is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Special Survival Plan (SSP). Naka joins the Zoo’s new male tiger, Booskin, which arrived in December 2008.
 
“We are lucky to add Naka our Zoo family — both for the enjoyment of our visitors, and to help save this precious species,” explained Gregg Dancho, Zoo Director. “The Zoo is proud of its role in Special Survival Plan conservation program. This addition of Naka is a great example of how AZA accredited zoos can work together to help save a species from extinction.”
 
Naka is ‘petite’ in comparison to her male counterpart, Booskin. Naka weighs in at approximately 275 pounds compared to Booskin’s 400 pound girth. Both may be seen, in adjoining exhibits during the Zoo’s daily hours of operation. These enormous cats have pale yellow-orange fur above that shades to creamy white below. They have a long fur coat (up to 3 inches along the belly) to protect them in temperatures to 50 degrees below zero. All tigers have pale blackish stripes with a distinctive pattern on the face as unique as a fingerprint.
 
Plans are in place to breed Naka and Booskin in the next year. Female Amurs give birth to 2 to 3 cubs, which may stay with their mom for up to two years. The Amur is a critically endangered subspecies of tiger. Only approximately 44 of these great cats survive in northern Asia and suffer from habitat loss and poaching.
 
The mission of the AZA SSP Program is to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species. The program started in 1981 as a cooperative population management and conservation program for selected species in zoos and aquariums in North America. 
 
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Adult admission (ages 12 & older) is $11.00, children (ages 3 -11) and senior admission (62 and older) is just $9.00, and children under 3 years old are free.  Members of the Connecticut Zoological Society are also admitted free. Parking at the Zoo is free of charge.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo:
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won’t want to miss our Amur (Siberian) tigers, Andean condor, ocelots, red & maned wolves, Andean (spectacled) bears, and golden lion tamarins.  Other highlights include our South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with “pop-up” viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep and other barnyard critters, plus the hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer and more. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful carousel. For more information, visit www.beardsleyzoo.org