Saluting P.T. And Friends

Bridgeport … where the circus never left town

My late great friend James G. Clark, that genial wordsmith for the Connecticut Post and others, could certainly turn a phrase.

That line is right up there with GOP operative Phil Smith’s dandy …

Some towns play political softball, some towns play hardball … in Bridgeport they play hand grenades.

Clark and Smitty of course were serenading city politics but it’s impossible for me not to think about those lines during Barnum Festival time and all those opportunistic pols that will show up for all the good stuff this weekend.

Fireworks Friday night, Champions on Parade Saturday night, and the Great Street Parade kicks off Sunday at 11 a.m. As your favorite pol marches up Park Avenue keep your verbal hand grenades in check, although a tomato or two might apply. What’s a parade without a little political ribbing? Hey, mayor, did you really wink when Joe Riccio asked to push through that legislation to save the port authority from the City Council?

I can hear the mayor now. “What? Who? When? Who’s Joe Riccio? It’s a great day for a parade!”

So enjoy the weekend everyone. I’ll be around in case some big breaking news occurs. And just in case you haven’t drowned in all of my port authority coverage, here’s just a little more: a memo that went out to City Council members on Thursday from Finch Chief of Staff Adam Wood.

Members of the Bridgeport City Council:

I wanted to provide a brief update regarding an issue that I know is of concern, the Mayor’s review of the resolution passed by the City Council this Monday night, June 22, 2009, to dissolve the Bridgeport Port Authority. The Mayor is in agreement with many of you, that recently passed state legislation is not in the best interest of the City of Bridgeport. This legislation clearly needs to be amended to allow the City and its leaders to retain a measure of local control over the port and its operations. It is also clear that changes need to be made at the Port Authority.

The Mayor’s entire administration is working diligently and in constant communication with the Governor’s office, state legislative leaders and our own attorneys and Port Authority leaders to address all of your concerns and to ensure that we don’t lose sight of the time-sensitivity of this legislation’s potential adoption (the DOT bill is currently in Governor Rell’s office pending approval or veto). As you know, the Mayor has a 21-day executive review process. Because of the complex legal issues and liabilities (these were discussed with each of you in the form of a memo from our City Attorney prior to your adoption of this resolution) involved with this resolution’s potential adoption, we are proceeding with caution to address your concerns and also to be sure that the city does its due diligence to understand the full scope of potential liabilities.

 BAM Fest News Release

Citibank, Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce (Affiliate of Bridgeport Regional Business Council), People’s Bank, Cablevision, Carlson Construction, WEBE108/WICC600, and more

Endorses

BAM Festival
Friday, June 26, 2009
Bandshell at Seaside Park, Bridgeport CT
Come out and enjoy Live Performances, Fashion Show, Fireworks, Boat Rides, and more … for more info call 203-332-7366

1 Barnum Dyke, Bridgeport, CT 06604
4:00PM – 9:00PM (performances and Fashion Show); 9:00PM – 10:00PM (Fireworks; and 10:00PM – Midnight (After Party)

News release from SuBy

Bysiewicz: With Governor’s Signature, U.S. Senate Vacancies in Connecticut to be Filled by Special Election

Secretary of the State Led Drive to Enact Long Overdue Election Reform Restoring Democratic Right of Connecticut Voters to Choose U.S. Senators

Hartford: Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz today praised Governor M. Jodi Rell’s signature of Senate Bill No. 913, An Act Concerning United States Senate Vacancies, which passed by overwhelming margins in both the state House and Senate. The law takes effect immediately and mandates that vacancies in the U.S. Senate in Connecticut be filled by special election to take place 150 days after a vacancy occurs. The law contains exceptions reserving a gubernatorial appointment in the event of 50 or more Senators perishing in a national catastrophe, or if the vacancy occurs during the final year of the Senator’s term.

“Despite earlier reservations, Governor Rell has done the right thing and signed this long overdue election reform into law, said Secretary Bysiewicz. “This law places the critical decision of electing a U.S. Senator back in the hands of the voters where it has always belonged, and also provides a more than adequate timetable for parties to hold primaries and nominate candidates. By enacting this bill we avoid the kind of nepotism, cronyism and corruption seen in other states such as Illinois and Alaska when governors have misused their power to appoint Senators to vacant seats. This is a win-win for voters and for our state government, and I hope it serves as an example to other states.”

Bysiewicz added, “The enactment of the Senate Vacancy law is especially gratifying for me personally, since I have fought for its passage both as Secretary of the State and previously as a lawmaker.”

The enactment of Senate Bill No. 913 restores Connecticut law to what it was prior to 1947 and makes Connecticut the 6th state to require special elections to fill U.S. Senate vacancies, the others are Alaska, Oregon, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. U.S. House vacancies in Connecticut are filled by a special election within 60 days or 120 days in the case of a primary.