McCarthy Salutes UB Gymnasts Publicly, Finch Privately

UB gymnasts
UB gymnastics team won its sixth straight national championship.

For six straight years City Council President Tom McCarthy has honored the University of Bridgeport women’s gymnastics team in a public ceremony in City Hall. Mayor Bill Finch has always been a no-show, but he did something Monday night he had never done before, a private–if not public–acknowledgment of UB, a major asset to the city. CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart has more:

Anyone standing in the hallway outside would have witnessed Finch, in an impromptu moment, wading into the small group of nationally recognized gymnasts, introducing himself, shaking their hands and congratulating them.

“The girls never mentioned the mayor went up to them, but I’m glad he did,” said Mary-Jane Foster, vice president of university relations, who was still inside with the council at the time.

Also Monday, the mayor declined to weigh in on what supporters called a historic move for UB and Bridgeport Hospital, which announced plans for the latter to relocate its 130-year-old school of nursing to the university within two years.

Full story here.

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10 comments

  1. For a long time I felt Bill Finch should put his personal feelings aside and act like a Mayor.

    It is clear now UB does not need Finch and can wait for the next mayor for a normal relationship.

    Rather than a ceremonial city council citation, perhaps McCarthy should divert city funds so he can make a contribution to UB like he did for North End Little League and other non-profits (and not pay taxes).

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  2. I agree 100 percent. This anti-University of BRIDGEPORT is over. Even I am tired of talking about how important the university is to the South End. If Finch is a no-show at the commencement with Malloy, that simple diplomatic gesture will be a day the Mayor lives to regret. It will ultimately eclipse any positive momentum he has and be a sad day for the City and a local institution. I will assume Adam Wood will do whatever is necessary to advise Bill on this issue as I am certain he will leave the administration to work on the Clinton campaign and then Finch will be surrounded by mediocre political neophytes. I cannot even verbalize my total disgust if Mayor Finch does not show up and embrace the University of BRIDGEPORT. Mr. Callahan is on the money, keep repeating, “I want another term as Mayor,” besides, Mayor Finch, it is the right thing to do. I guess like putting public housing downtown across the street from The Arena and Harbor yard. I just had to throw that in. Why give your adversaries more fodder? I believe you will do the right thing. I am an optimist and do not believe Mayor Finch is a fool. People do evolve. Take the high road. Congratulations to the University of BRIDGEPORT. Thank you for being a source of pride for the City.

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    1. Steven Auerbach, I’m glad you woke up and started to smell the coffee about Bill Finch and him showing up for anything to do with the University of Bridgeport. He is not man enough to admit he is wrong.

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      1. Ron, I do not believe Mayor Finch was initially wrong. Long before he was mayor, he understandably was concerned with the funding situation at the University. It was a cult and many agreed with Bill Finch and supported his position. The University has turned around and is beginning to regain its status it had 30 years ago. I believe the Mayor will do the right thing and I am hoping this blog will not be talking about a no-show for weeks after the commencement. This should be a fun and exciting day for the graduates and the Governor. The Mayor should enjoy the festivities and put anti-UB behind him. So Ron Mackey, I do believe the Mayor will be there.

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  3. In case you missed my posting from yesterday on this topic:
    “NCAA female college gymnastic champs were there to sustained standing ovations from Council and public present.
    Half the group was there but as the Coach said, many were in class at that time. They have been presented and saluted six times now. The Coach also said it is wonderful females come to University of Bridgeport specifically to get an education and be on the squad. That’’s something Bridgeport should be proud of.

    However, I mentioned “class” as in “classroom” where some of the girls were handling their responsibilities. Mayor Finch, so GREEN he must feel he is the “CLASS” of the grass was not present in the Council chamber room. He appeared later to run the meeting.

    There may be those who feel I am too critical of the Mayor. Not really. I don’t know him other than as the elected leader of the City. It is in that context I offer comments about what is done, what is undone, what is illegal or a violation, and what could be done. What is it that happened at UB, so many years ago, that is so bad as to make him unbending in his disregard for this important community stakeholder? Was it a different place, with different people and different times? Probably … but if the Mayor is unchanged and committed to remaining so, we all lose because of a personal issue, perhaps a wound of some type, from which he refuses to heal? What does that say about Mayor William Finch? Should we expect a transformation? Time will tell.”

    It appears the question is still wide open. Therefore, time will tell.

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