UPDATE: Tuesday night the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, by 6-3 vote, approved a “Petition of 1775 Madison Investments, LLC”–the North End restaurant owned by Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa for a change from residential to commercial zone opposed by many neighbors. Documents in the case raise questions about the actual residential address of Testa who lists his restaurant as his voting address. The Commercial Recording Division of the Connecticut Secretary of State’s Office, however, per documents submitted by Testa, lists his LLC business and residential address as 41 Bridge Road, a villa he owns along Lake Zoar in Monroe. Testa was still Democratic Town Chair during this LLC filing on March 19, 2003, ironically the date on St. Joseph’s Day former Mayor Joe Ganim was convicted on corruption charges that would lead to Testa resigning his chairmanship he regained in 2008.
Testa has reiterated over and over Bridgeport is his primary residence and Monroe is nothing more than a weekend retreat. Testa’s business filing, however, places him in direct conflict with his words and voting registration. It also calls into question his voting history in Bridgeport while records show a Monroe residential address. In addition Testa has been a frequent critic of Bridgeport political players who live out of town, although he doesn’t mind asking for campaign contributions when it’s convenient. Testa invested millions of his own money several years ago to renovate the building and property of his Madison Avenue restaurant, the epicenter of city politics that has a reputation for good food and a strong customer following.
A search of Testa’s business filing for 1775 Madison Investments LLC here www.concord-sots.ct.gov/CONCORD/online?sn=PublicInquiry&eid=9740 lists his business and residential addresses as Monroe.
Speaking of FICTION, Mario’s lawyer really did just say Mario has a summer home in Monroe and he thinks Mario lives in Bridgeport. I could not believe I heard that.
Mario must have been listening to some Led Zeppole when he made his filing. T-Mac sent in a letter saying it should be an OR zone, not the proposed OR-G zone.
Willy has been trying to bulletproof his presentation for an appeal. George “Omar” Zariff gets applause for bringing up Stop and Shop!
Steve Auerbach is spinning positive with his Pom-Poms but speaking against proposed zone change. Steve, he truly is Up on Bridgeport! Auerbach hitting it out of the Park!
Where’s the CT Post!
Don’t see Chosen 1.
Keila is on the beat!
My good friend Mario told me to tell you, Lennie G, he will “tagliare le palle” the next time you come to Testo’s and put them in a nice zuppa alla modenese.
Simon says … my cashews are alive and well!
We all know this man is a cook. He just hasn’t been caught.
Kid–you made me laugh out loud! Funny and true.
This has a Federal ring to it, like the “bells of hell go “ring a’ring for you but not for me,”
but that song is old. Has Mario voted in both towns (cities)? It would be Wrong, pays car taxes Where? Federal disclosure of residence along with Federal deduction of paid tax on residence. Car insurance for what town? Ding Dong, the Witch has problems.
I hear the invitations are in the form of Absentee Ballots!
blog.ctnews.com/connecticutpostings/2013/04/30/testa-goes-before-zoning-tuesday-hosts-mayors-ball-saturday/
Darn it! I didn’t get an invitation to the Mayor’s Ball. Gosh, wonder who did?
The Mayor’s Ball is actually the annual fundraiser for Bridgeport PAL. One might ask why the mayor lends his name to one non-profit over all the others. One might also ask if the mayor’s preference towards PAL will influence newly appointed councilman Mike Marella. One might ask …
Where does all that money go at PAL? How exactly is it used? Salaries?
It will be very disappointing if the commission supports this proposal. Willinger practically attempted a filibuster. I couldn’t believe he expected anyone on the dais or in the audience to swallow his sugar-coated crap! I am happy a few people spoke. I was very disappointed at the turnout. McCarthy’s letter was sad. I am thankful Michelle Lyons spoke out as well as Jack Hennessy and Jennifer Buchanan. There was a gentlemen who spoke who really moved me and I do not know him. He spoke of gutting out his family home he had owned for years. Barbara Freddino had asked WILLINGER some good questions and put him in his place. Of course I was disappointed in a few people who did not show up. I was not planning on speaking, but I would have beat myself up if I did not put in my two cents. Let’s hope tomorrow’s news does not disappoint.
Question to those attending–I was there–was I the only one who heard Tom McCarthy’s letter read? I understand you have voted for a Zone change–entered into the record before a vote? Then his letter went on to read his request for a different zone classification before the vote? It did not read considering, it read Zone change! I think this letter does not pass the smell test. I understand the commission voted for the zone change request–really?
Interesting article filled with innuendo and very little facts. First off, Testa’s place in Monroe is not a villa, it’s a converted summer home on the lake. Since when is it against the law to own more than one house?
It’s easy to check on where Testa votes, go to Monroe and see if he is registered to vote there. I guess its easier to speculate than to seek the facts.
Testa lives above the restaurant Sunday through Saturday afternoon. What difference does it make where the LLC is located (address)? It’s common practice for principals in an LLC not to use their home address.
Let me state I am not in favor of the zone change and in the past my wife has voted against the zone change when she was president of the zoning commission.
Andy, what’s the innuendo? Do you prefer the party chairman live out of town? For decades Mario has stated his primary residence is Bridgeport. If that’s the case why was Monroe listed as his residence in the LLC filing? As for his house in Monroe God bless him for having the ability to own a piece of the American dream, even building his own beachfront on Lake Zoar. Mario’s always meowing about political players in Bridgeport living out of town so it does call into question his credibility when as Democratic Town Chairman in 2003 he listed Monroe as his residence in the filing. In addition, Mario’s been a flaccid party chair since folks like you supported his return in 2008. Are you happy with the way Mario has conducted party business? To your credit you resigned from the town committee in disgust. To Mario’s credit the guy invested millions of dollars in the restaurant when relatively little development was going on. True, this matter is about zoning, but it’s also about Mario’s contradictions.
Lennie, here is what I mean by innuendo. First you call the house in Monroe a Villa when it is a nice house but it’s a converted summer home. In my experience as an investigator most people who file LLC’s don’t use any of their homes on the filing papers. I did support Testa for town chair back then because I thought Stafstrom was doing a bad job.
Concentrate on the outrageous issue, zoning. Bridgeport is where Testa is involved in business and politics. He claims the restaurant as his principal residence. That means he has a drivers license with a Madison Avenue address, he has a voter registration credential that indicates a Madison Avenue address, his 1040s fed and state shows Madison Avenue, his car is registered in Bridgeport and his car insurance and health insurance is rated for Bridgeport. That’s what he needs to show bona fide official residence. If he can, fine. If he can’t then he is a bullshitter.
yahooy, why does he have to show anything you stated above? Nobody requested this stuff when Marella was put on the council, nobody asked for this stuff when Christine Ayala ran.
You are right, the issue here is ZONING and nothing else. Does Testa pay property tax in Bridgeport? Yes he does.
Everyone is worried about Testa living in Bridgeport but just about every top member of Finch’s administration lives out of town and nothing is said. We just got rid of an economic development director who live in NYC and there was no big deal made about where he lives. It was his sleeping habits people complained about.
“Christine Ayala RAN”
Yes–down the street
Ha ha, nice choice of words, Andy.
I wish the prick lived in Alaska. The issue is Zoning not his residence. These guys play loose with that stuff and they should be whacked. For now, let’s fight the zoning request. I don’t think Madison Avenue is doing that well. Mario may want out at a huge premium. Too big a cost to the local neighbors to allow this to happen. Where’s the FBI on this?
Fardy,
Don’t tell me you’re soft on the residency issue.
* * * This is more of a private discussion in the backroom of Sol’s Cafe * * *
Damn it Lennie, we all know Mario has had that flood zone dive up in Monroe since you were growing up. You’re recycling garbage can linguini from when Mandy was mayor.
The villagers should be going after Condo Chuck with torches and pitchforks for trying to make Bridgeport zoning sing an Italian opera for castrato.
* * * Now back to your usual webzine. * * *
I agree with Andy.
He’s nothing more than a cheap-shoe political hack of the lowest order. Who cares what his principal address is? He only thinks he’s the mayor. He’s not the mayor, right? The mayor should at least live in town. No? Time will tell. ***
Well, the votes are in and the North End lost. Hopefully, we are wrong and Testa will do good by his neighbors. I want to to thank the few who took the time to try to oppose this zone change. This was not a political stand against Mario Testa as Willinger tried to claim. This was a genuine concern for the neighbors and an attempt to preserve a neighborhood before little by little it turns into a commercial strip. I wish his business continued success as we all benefit from that and personally I could care less where he lives. Whether he has a shack on Lake Zoar or a villa is not of importance to me. His presence and respect for the neighborhood is. Testo’s is always well maintained and I guess I knew the end result before I opened my mouth last night. The idea the Mayor’s Ball would be held anywhere else but Testo’s is just plain ignorant. It is a nice facility and hope they all enjoy. Time to move on to other exciting happenings in the city. And one word about PAL … I wish I were in the position to contribute to that cause. I am not. Mike Marella has done an amazing job with that as well as the property at Beardsley Park. Personally, I can only see him as an asset to this city. But then again, I have nothing against the man so I only see what can benefit the city.
This is further confirmation that Mario Testa is a goddamned liar.
Many of the regular posters on OIB share cute, funny remarks. Some I do not understand. I do understand the only regulars who do any fact-checking are OIB host Lennie, John Lee and Jennifer Buchanan. Lennie’s point about Mario Testa is the facts used for a zone change contradict what Testa’s voter registration states. I am actively engaged in efforts to expose questionable activities through FOI requests and a Federal lawsuit. Lennie exposes a questionable situation and posters comment. I suggest if you have such fervent views on matters, get off your asses and do some meaningful research. For example, how does the registrar of voters certify addresses?
Sorry Tom but I do fact check what I put on here.
Me too. Mario Testa is indeed a cheap-shoe political hack. Look it up under cheap-shoe political hacks.
The citizens who were there last night voted 23-0 against this and and over a third of the local residents signed a petition opposing this and yet the Commission voted for it?! This decision is likely to be appealed and the Bridgeport political machine will also be subject to increasing challenges in the future.
Dave Walker, now I know you don’t believe that. This is Bridgeport.
Ron,
I believe it is possible or I would not be engaged. I also know it is essential if you want to revitalize Bridgeport and create a better future.
Dave, I do agree with you to engage but I do not agree with some of your solutions. You said the vote of those attending was 23-0, that is not engagement.
Mackey,
Your comments reflect a defeatist attitude as well as a demonstrated indication of your limited ability to understand the dynamics of the impact machine-influenced municipal management has on the well-being of the entire community. The Zoning decision is a sad situation. We have had enough. Walker is absolutely correct that increasing challenge to these continual insults are indeed forthcoming. They are welcomed by those who care.
yahooy, to the contrary I fully understand the dynamics of the impact machine-influenced municipal management has on the well-being of the entire community but the challenge is to spread the word and the understanding of the issues. I believe President Obama called it “community organizer.”
Auerbach doesn’t check facts either. He called me loathsome, for crying out loud!
Stop being a cry baby, yahooy.
I am neither crying nor a baby. Check your facts before you post.
Boo hoo.
*** TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE! ***
No. The challenge is to make something happen. Period.