Hey, after that formidable defense of Chris Dodd by Marlys in the prior post I’ve concluded that Dodd’s Campaign Manager Jay Howser and Democratic State Party Chair Nancy DiNardo should hire her as Dodd’s chief flak.
In honor of Marlys’ defense of the castle, I’ve linked Dodd’s U.S. Senate page under government so you can monitor all the wonderful stuff Marlys says Dodd has done for Bridgeport (now that Dodd’s back from Iowa). I hope Dodd sucks up so much to Bridgeport in the next year that there’s a chicken in every pot … a few turkeys as well and some quail too. I love quail. As long as Dick Cheney’s not around.
So good for Marlys for sticking by her guy (even though Dodd didn’t stick by Lieberman after Joe lost to Ned Lamont). I’ve also added Jim Himes’ link as well. Yeah Lennie, it’s about time.
And while we’re on the subject of defense, how about all that love in the prior post for Joe Ganim? So if the choices for mayor were Ganim, Chris Caruso, John Fabrizi and Bill Finch how would you vote?
That sound you just heard was Bob from BePo pulling out a razor blade.
Poised For A Primary
Wednesday afternoon I caught up to Miguel Tomasio to discuss arrangements for the next OIB party July 23, 5:30 p.m. at Miguel’s fantastico restaurant Taco Loco on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock.
Mark your calendar; Miguel’s gonna throw us a cool party to kick off day one of the Gathering of the Vibes weekend at Seaside Park featuring Crosby, Stills & Nash and a whole bunch more. Before you go there, come see us at Taco Loco where all the cool loco folks meet. Come for a beach drink, or any kind of drink, first cocktail on OIB, plus Mexican delights.
While at Taco Loco I also caught up to Isa Mujahid during his lunch hour from his job in the city Health Department’s lead poisoning prevention program. So far we know of only two September primaries taking place for City Council and Isa has decided to challenge incumbents Warren Blunt and Richard Bonney in the 135th district.
Isa knows a little bit about campaigning. The 30-year-old resident of Old Town Road worked as an organizer for Action for Community Organization for Reform Now before landing a city job about four years ago. He’s been knocking on doors making a pitch to voters about the need for stronger constituent services and a more accessible government.
He knows he has a tall order taking on an established pol such as Warren Blunt also an employee of the Health Department. So far, he’s running on his own but has not ruled out a running mate to aid his cause.
Isa is throwing a $20 ticket fundraiser Friday at 4 p.m. at Amici Miei, a neat eats place downtown on Main Street in the City Trust building. A $20 ticket is a refreshing change from all the gigantic loot tossed around in high profile races. Remember those pasta night fundraisers for $20 bucks?
I’m probably the worst photog on the planet but while I chatted with Isa he posed while I tried out my new Verizon Blackberry Storm for my inaugural snap. Isa promised he wouldn’t hold it against me.
Let The Games Begin
Okay, the 2010 gubernatorial election is starting to heat up. See veto news release below from Gov. Jodi Rell followed by a response from one of her Democratic challengers Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz. Yeah I know, lots of reading material today. Can’t help myself.
Governor Rell Vetoes ‘Pooling,’ SustiNet Bills;
Creates Health Care Reform Advisory Board
Cites Billions in Unaffordable Costs
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has vetoed bills that would have established a Board of Directors to implement a health insurance program called SustiNet and opened the state employee health insurance program to employees of municipalities, non-profit organizations and small businesses. At the same time, Governor Rell issued an Executive Order establishing a Health Care Reform Advisory Board to develop state-level policies in response to reforms under consideration at the federal level.
The bills are House Bill 6600, An Act Concerning the Establishment of the SustiNet Plan and House Bill 6582, An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership.
“These are well-intentioned bills that seek to address critically important issues, but they ultimately fail to resolve the central problems of access and affordability,” Governor Rell said. “These bills also raise serious fiscal concerns that – in a time of record budget deficits, record unemployment and record business closures – simply cannot be ignored. These two bills would cost billions of dollars before any economic recovery is complete.
“At the same time, there are daily developments in Washington that have the potential to make extraordinary and fundamental changes in the way health care coverage is provided in our nation,” the Governor said. “Because – like the proponents of these bills – I believe these issues must be worked out for the benefit of all our residents, I am creating a broad-based panel to develop policies ensuring Connecticut is ready to make the most of the developments at the federal level.”
House Bill 6582, An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership
This bill seeks to attract a number of new employee groups to the state employee plan – nearly all of whom already have health insurance, some of whom will be unable to afford the cost of the plan and all of whom may jeopardize the favorable ratings and costs of the current state plan. Given that the plan – which covers approximately 98,000 active and retired state employees and their 97,000 dependents – is financially supported by state taxpayers and insures, those are risks the state cannot afford to take, Governor Rell said.
In particular, the Governor noted concerns raised when similar legislation was considered that would have opened the federal employee plan to other groups. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office said groups with higher medical costs would be attracted to the plan, driving up rates for all members while driving down overall membership.
Governor Rell also noted that while the state currently has agreements for healthcare coverage in place through July 2011 that guarantee effective cost containment, including premium caps, the bill calls for switching to a self-insured plan that could result in an additional cost of at least $69 million for 2010 alone. Nor does the bill establish any reserves, while self-insured plans commonly establish a reserve of approximately two months’ worth of anticipated claims.
House Bill 6600, An Act Concerning the Establishment of the SustiNet Plan
This bill would have established a nine-member Board of Directors to make recommendations for implementing the SustiNet Plan – but would not have given the board any other option, including the ability to suggest that the plan would be too expensive or unworkable in light of potential federal reforms.
“Limiting the board of directors to a specific approach is particularly unwise at this time,” Governor Rell said, noting the discussions under way in Congress.
Moreover, the Office of Policy and Management has estimated that the SustiNet plan will likely cost approximately $1 billion per year. The nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis has estimated the cost of allowing all uninsured adults with incomes less than 300 percent of the federal poverty limit (FPL) into HUSKY A or B, as provided in this bill, at $530 million.
“As staggering as this figure is, it does not reflect the costs for those with insurance whose employers would be encouraged to drop their plans, which could easily double this cost,” Governor Rell noted.
The Governor also expressed concern that the unelected Board of Directors would potentially have broad authority over billions of dollars in state, federal and private health care expenditures. Nor would that board have any representatives from health insurance industry, the hospital industry or the business community.
“The authority to establish public policy of this nature, given its broad implications, should be retained by the legislative and executive branches and not delegated to an authority to determine at some future time,” Governor Rell said.
Executive Order No. 30
Governor Rell issued Executive Order No. 30, establishing a 15-member Connecticut Health Care Reform Advisory Board to develop a set of proposed health care policies in response to federal health care reforms.
“Such policies shall emphasize cost containment, maximizing federal matching funds, best practices designed to enhance access to preventive care, and assuring health care coverage for all children entering the primary and secondary school system,” according to the order. Issues the panel should consider include changes to improve the health of state residents and their access to health care, providing coverage for Connecticut residents who would otherwise be uninsured, increasing the range of health care insurance coverage options available to residents and employers and slowing the growth of per capita healthcare spending both in the short-term and in the long-term.
The board is to make interim recommendations by February 1, 2010, and submit its final recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2011.
News release from SuBy
Bysiewicz: Rell’s veto of Health care Reform Bills Hurts Connecticut Families and Small Businesses
The Health Insurance Policy Council in its 2007 report “A Framework for Health Care Reform for Connecticut” cites that 52.2% of uninsured workers and dependents are in firms with less than 50 employees which confirms that a large part of Connecticut’s uninsured population is found with small employers. Also, a recently released Families USA report found that 758,000 people lacked health insurance in Connecticut at some time during the years of 2007-2008.
Secretary of the State Urges Lawmakers to override Governor, Enact Meaningful Legislation to Offer Small Businesses, Non-Profits & Municipalities Affordable, Quality Health Care
Hartford: Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz expressed disappointment at Governor Rell’s veto of two crucial health care bills. Bysiewicz today is urging the General Assembly to override the governor on both H.B. No. 6600, an Act Concerning the Establishment of the SustiNet Plan, and H.B. No. 6582, an Act Concerning Expanded Access to the State Employees’ Health Insurance Plan.
“The Governor’s veto represents a huge missed opportunity for our state – an opportunity to take advantage of real savings in the administration of our state’s health care system and to promote job growth and economic development that will come from investing in quality, affordable health care for all,” said Secretary Bysiewicz, Connecticut’s chief business registrar. “The Governor’s Executive Order establishing a health care advisory board falls far short. We don’t need another commission to study the problem. We know what the problem is and how to fix it. What we really need is health care reform – now!”
Secretary Bysiewicz added, “I urge the legislature to override these short-sighted and ill-advised vetoes by the Governor. We can’t take no for an answer. Too many small businesses and hard working families are counting on us for leadership on this critical issue. Thousands of businesses have shut their doors in Connecticut in the last year, and entrepreneurs have told us time and time again that health care is their number one expense. Small businesses have created 90% of all new jobs in Connecticut over the last decade, so anyone who is serious about reviving our economy must support improvements in our health care system to cover more people and bring down the cost. These two bills offer a sensible and comprehensive approach to health care reform in Connecticut and position us well to be ready for federal legislation.”
Both the Senate and House passed the bills overwhelmingly, which would allow municipalities, businesses with fewer than 50 employees and non-profits to join the state employee insurance pool. According to some estimates, the bills would trim excess costs from the $22 billion private and public providers spend each year in Connecticut on health care, and would provide more options for Connecticut’s small businesses. The SustiNet Plan proposes to unite the HUSKY and SAGA plans into a self-insured health plan and may cut health care costs by as much as $1.7 billion by 2014,. The benefit package will include mental and dental health care. SustiNet would be funded by a combination of individual premiums, and modest contributions from businesses with an annual payroll greater than $318,000 that do not offer health insurance to their employees.
The CT Healthcare Partnership would also provide an affordable option to cover the employees of small businesses and non-profits by allowing them to buy into the state employees health insurance pool. While Rell vetoed a similar bill in June 2008, Bysiewicz hopes that the Legislature will override the most recent vetoes.
Joe Barney’s The Best
In July, The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport is offering three one-hour workshops to learn circus skills, suitable for children age six to twelve. The programs will run on three consecutive Thursdays; July 9, 16 and 23 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and will be presented by Joe Barney of Center Ring Productions in Bridgeport. The sessions are all free with general admission to the museum.
Adults $7, seniors and college students $5, children 4-17 $4 and children under 4 free. Connecticut residents receive $1 off Tuesday through Friday through September 6, 2009 as part of the state’s Staycation program. Please be prepared to show your I.D. R.S.V.P. to 203-331-1104 x106 Jaime Knoedler. Events made possible in part by the Fairfield County Community Foundation.
July 9, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Now You See It, Now You Don’tLearn some of the mystifying magic that you can use to amaze your family and friends. This will be a make and take workshop so everyone will bring home some tools of the trade. Join award winning comedy magician Joe Barney for plenty of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs.’ You’ll leave wondering, “just how did he do that?”
Joe Barney of Bridgeport is a professional clown and performing artist in residence with Clowns of America and the Northeast Vice President of this group. For many years, Barney performed and traveled all over the country appearing as P.T. Barnum with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus and now has a grown son, Alex, touring as a clown and pre-show host with the 138th Over the Top edition of The Greatest Show on Earth®.
Barney has appeared numerous times on national television programs from Good Morning America to Entertainment Tonight. He has also been the subject of articles appearing in publications from People Magazine to the Los Angeles Times. Barney was the Producer and Director of a variety of Six Flags theme park shows from 2004 through 2008. He designed and built the Celebration Parade for the Great Escape a Six Flags theme park and the Bugs Bunny Float for Six Flags New England.
Support This!
Ready for some summer fun? Please join us for this special event.
The Norden Club and the Black Rock Community Council Presents
An outdoor summer concert featuring the Celtic sounds of Pogey
www.pogey.ca/index.htm
A concert to benefit the Black Rock Food Pantry at the Norden club with Black Rock Harbor as the backdrop.
Tuesday, July 28. 6pm-10pm – Admission $20.00 plus one non-perishable food item is required.
Bring a lawn chair if you wish. Food and drink will be available for
purchase.Invite a group of friends or come alone and join us.
If you would like to in addition help sponsor this event there are two
opportunities.
A $25.00 sponsorship puts your name on the sponsor board by the stage. A $100.00 sponsor gives you an 8′ area on the fence at the concert to hang a banner. Please call Ray Corby at 767-9002 with questions or for more information.
OIB friends Bruce Hubler and Mary-Jane Foster sit on this board. Check out Playhouse on the Green. Yeah, baby!
PLAYHOUSE ON THE GREEN RECEIVES $25K GRANT FROM FAIRFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Bridgeport, CT- Playhouse on the Green, a not-for-profit theater company in downtown Bridgeport, has received funding in the amount of $25,000 from the Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF). The grant provides general operating support as the Playhouse continues its theater and education programs from June 2009 through June 2010. This is the first time Playhouse on the Green has received funding from FCCF.
Formerly known as the “Polka Dot Players”, in 2007 Playhouse on the Green recommitted to its mission by returning to its roots as a community theater. To launch this new phase, the shows Six Degrees of Separation and Barnum–The Musical (in cooperation with the Barnum Festival and The Barnum Museum) were produced by the Playhouse in May and June 2008, followed by the first “Project Broadway” summer theater program for kids and teens, in which 75 local children participated. From September 2008 to May 2009, the Playhouse’s first full season since 2002 was seen by more than 6,000 audience members and included productions of The Underpants, The Rocky Horror Show, The Santaland Diaries and Season’s Greetings, Twelve Angry Jurors, and The Wiz. The 2008-2009 season also saw the debut of the “Playhouse Greenhouse” arts education program in partnership with RYASAP; and “Best Night Bridgeport”, a New Year’s Eve celebration in cooperation with The Barnum Museum, City Lights Gallery, and other downtown organizations.
In 2009-2010, 6 mainstage productions are being planned, and an expanded 6-week “Project Broadway 2009” program began its first session on July 6, 2009. As a primary partner of RYASAP’s “MYO: Mine, Yours, & Ours: What’s Right in Relationships” Program, part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national Start Strong Initiative, the “Playhouse Greenhouse” program will be expanded in 2009-2010 to include more opportunities for kids and teens. Adult learning classes also are being developed.
“We are so pleased and honored that Fairfield County Community Foundation has invested in the Playhouse in this way,” says Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Matt Schicker, “This ‘vote of confidence’ in our community theater, and the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to the arts in Bridgeport in general, is very meaningful, especially in these tough times. Thanks to the FCCF’s belief in our mission, we are redoubling our efforts to provide our audience and artists the best programs possible at an affordable cost.”
About Playhouse on the Green
Playhouse on the Green is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit theater company in residence at a beautiful 228-seat jewel-box theater in the heart of downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut. Playhouse on the Green’s mission is to enrich Bridgeport’s cultural life by providing an eclectic variety of live stage entertainment and arts education programs at an affordable cost, as well as providing opportunities for area artists. Among these programs are its mainstage season of plays and musicals; “Playhouse Greenhouse” and “Project Broadway”, its arts education programs for kids, teens, and adults; a music and comedy series; and the “Page to Stage New Play Reading Series”, which brings the new work of Connecticut playwrights to the stage. Playhouse on the Green is generously funded by Fairfield County Community Foundation, People’s United Community Foundation, Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District, City of Bridgeport Community Development Block Grant, and CT Arts Endowment Fund Grant, as well as sponsorships and donations from businesses and individuals in the Greater Bridgeport area and beyond. More information can be found at www.playhouseonthegreen.org.
About Fairfield County Community Foundation
The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of community and regional philanthropy to improve the quality of life throughout Fairfield County. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds and contribute to existing funds. The Foundation also provides philanthropic advisory services, and develops and leads initiatives to tackle critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards for community foundations. The Foundation has awarded over $110 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org.
Readers of this blog should know that today’s post contains a reference to ACORN which is an acronym for Action for Community Organization for Reform Now which is a group identified with subprime mortgages. ACORN has recently changed their name is response to the sharp criticism they have received.
Readers of this blog should be warned before the next OIB gathering that Mr. Local Eyes is obnoxious when intoxicated.
Amici Miei is on Main Street in the CityTrust Building, not Fairfield Ave.
Thank you for that. I’m spending too much time on Fairfield Avenue!
Lennie
I wouldn’t let “you hold it against me” either.
Ya GOTTA HAND IT TO HIM, Grin Ripper is funny–wink!
But here’s why I’m writing:
The ACORN chapter in Bridgeport “placed” many mortgages here. In its role as a non-traditional bank, ACORN was a genuine mortgage originator. However, their loan standards were MUCH LOWER than a traditional bank. All an ACORN broker had to do was make sure the potential homeowner wouldn’t default in 90 days! By then the loan would be buried in securitization and ACORN would have new money. Traditional banks were on the hook for 30 years. ACORN took no risk but their damage is still all over town–no wonder they changed their name.
What was good for ACORN was bad for Bridgeport and I’m prepared to use mankind’s most accurate measuring device to prove it.
ACORN is still the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, that has not changed. ACORN is not a lender. ACORN offers mortgage counseling, CHFA 1st time Homebuyer education programs and prescreening for banks. For the past decade plus, ACORN has been one of if not the only community organizations to campaign nationally against Predatory (aka subprime and inflated interest) Lending. ACORN continues to have strong relationships with CHFA and several Banks in the area because of their education and screening processes. Many families in the city who have bought homes without the help of organizations like ACORN, have gone to ACORN for counseling and help negotiating with banks in order to avoid foreclosure. All of this is, of course, free of charge.
Nice guy, Ganim. While he was smiling and patting you on the ass, he was draining your wallet. The man is not in the clink because somebody gave him custom-made shirts and a case of 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet. The man is a convicted thief and has lost the public trust.
As to Dodd … I can’t wait for the shit to hit the fan when he is actively opposed. Actually Dodd makes Ganim look good.
Wake up you Philistine Ph*#ks!!!
Now I’d definitely vote for Ganim.
I said this yesterday and I will say it again I don’t post unless I’m passionate about the issue and with Ganim I hate when the few Ganim-haters try to say something bad about him. The fact of the matter is he was a great mayor and I will vote for him if he runs again. I would love to see him be Mayor again.
ACORN was a lender. When they sold the mortgage they ceased being the lender but they remain the originator. Mortgages are in my “wheelhouse”. Isa, you never said, “Local Eyes, I know more about ACORN than you do”. Now I’m saying, “Isa, I know more about ACORN than you do!” C’mon, let’s put it to the test …
All those programs you mentioned were a smokescreen designed to draw attention away from the larger agenda: selling homes. ACORN was not financed by members. Instead, it was a leading employer until many brokers left of their own accord. I need not wonder why.
In conclusion, everything I said is true. Everything you said is misleading.
The following appears in google:
“Now comes word that ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is changing its name. But no matter if it’s ACORN or COI — Community Organizations International.”
ACORN is under investigation in at least 14 states, Pennsylvania included, for allegations of voter registration fraud. The FBI is involved. ACORN is responsible for 400,000 fraudulent voter registrations nationwide.
ACORN also played no small part in the subprime mortgage mess, championing loans to those who could not afford them.”
Local Eyes has a distorted sense of self.
Local eyes. My intention was not to mislead anyone and I apologize if there was confusion. ACORN, as I know it, is not a bank and does not lend money. ACORN has fought predatory lending for over ten years; some of those campaigns I was involved in myself. Due, in large part, to the work of the Bridgeport ACORN office, legislation was proposed and passed in CT to cap interest rates on Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) that people receive on their Income Tax Returns. Unfortunately, this ruling was overturned by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals but continues to be championed by AG Richard Blumenthal, as CT continues to be at the forefront of consumer protection.
That said, Local Eyes, it is possible that a previous relationship you may or may not have had with ACORN Housing, a separate branch of ACORN, that I never worked for, has given you certain insight and information I do not have. I concede that much.
My campaign, however, is not about ACORN (or any other community organization I have worked with). My campaign is about the people of Bridgeport. Their interests are my primary concern. Any individuals and organizations working to improve the quality of life of my fellow Bridgeporters have my full support and efforts. Any policies and practices that are detrimental to my neighbors, regardless of their origin, will find opposition from me.
It pains me to say it, but after reading all of this pro-Ganim idiocy, I can only conclude: My hometown is doomed. We’ll get the leadership we deserve.
Len, thanks for running the note about the benefit for the Black Rock Food Pantry. Like many others elsewhere, they have a tough job trying to help all those who need it.
I would pick Ganim. Let me break it down. Fabz was a horrible mayor he did not win a convincing win against Rick Torres. Up to this day I still can’t believe Torres did so well citywide. Here is what I did not get: how the hell did he lose the North End by so many votes? I thought the North End was a little more friendly to republicans. Torres ran better on the east and south and that was a surprise. I wonder if Torres won Black Rock does anybody know why all of this happened??? By the way I did not get the chance to vote in this one because of issues. Now on to Caruso; I voted for him in 2007 primary but to tell the truth I’m tired of him and will not vote for him ever again. Finch is not a good mayor but I’d rather have him then Fabz. So the bottom line is I would vote for Ganim, he is a great guy.
Joe Ganim was mayor during one of the largest periods of economic growth in our country’s history. What do we have to show for it? Pretty trees planted on the esplanades. No commercial activity to speak of which would help ease the burden of the overtaxed residents of our fair city. But the halfwits, dimwits and nitwits of this city would re-elect him again! But Ernie Newton would get re-elected also.
Ernie Newton is a shoo-in for reelection. Ganim is too. Neither of them was observed smoking crack with prostitutes, or keeping prostitutes on the office payroll, or trying to pick up gay guys in a public men’s room. Joe and Ernie just took money and some shirts and some imported French squeeze. Well, ol’ Joe took the shirts and the booze.
Joe and Ernie … Sounds like the name of a cartoon or puppet duo, if “Sesame Street” originated in Bridgeport. Joe ‘n’ Ernie could teach children how to take bribes and lie on the witness stand. In between spelling and grammar lessons, of course.
We get the leadership that we ask for. The mentality of the Bridgeport voter is if it has a democratic tag I will vote for this person no matter what. If we ran a three-eyed rooster under the democratic tag the chances are the rooster would win and be elected.
It is time for a change and the only one that can effect that change is the Bridgeport voter.
Ann and I are running a primary against an incumbent or maybe 2 incumbents and the chill factor on my district TC is amazing.
People have got to stand up and say I have had enough I want change. For them to do this they need an alternative to the same old incumbent running for the same office.
Isa, until today I have never had a relationship with ACORN. My experience has been limited to my reading and conversations with ACORN brokers some of whom have moved away.
If you worked for a different branch, my words did not pertain to you.
However Bridgeport sure as hell has a relationship with ACORN: they originated the mortgages on many of the homes now facing foreclosure and tax liens. Gulp.
Here’s the bright side: We have common ground: both of us are pro-Bridgeport. We both seek ways to improve The Park City’s features and benefits. Here’s my contribution: www .BridgeportCTUSA.com
anna, if you like it, you call it “style”, if you don’t, you say he’s drilling a dry hole …
Get your information straight, Mr. Eyes. You’ve been wrong before. Try to not let it happen any more.
Let me give you some insight about the North End. Guys like Fabrizi, Finch and Musto will always run good on the North End; they appeal to voters in this section of the city. I bet Lennie would agree with me on that. Central went big for Finch in the primary that was one of only three precincts that Finch manhandled Caruso in. Now to Fabrizi I think he did win big at Central in 2003. I am no fan of Fabrizi and I would never vote for this guy. But the question is who would I vote for and my answer is I would vote for Ganim. Ganim was a good guy and he was also popular in the North End too.
It makes me ashamed I live in this once-great city; you assholes would vote for a ax murderer too probably. That little punk is in jail for a reason you jerkoffs, wake up.
Wake up, indeed; you Philistines.
Smiling Joe and his corrupt band of bag men did more towreck our little burg than any other mayor in the history of our fair city. Some of you may have noticed that we have seen ZERO corporate growth since he became mayor and, of course, since. No one in their right minds would come to this city with investments knowing that ther is a significnt price to play. I’m not satisfied with arenas and ball parks and community colleges blossuming up during his reighn of personal greed. How much property tax is paid by HCC. So, we all suffer and will continue to sufffer until we get a mayor that caqn attract and retain tax paying companies to lessen the burden on the home owners. Right now we are carrying the frieght.
So, if you reelect stick fingers, how is he going to attract the investments we need?
I can see it now, Joliet Joe meets with the CEO of a major corporation who asks why he should move a big part of his business to Bridgeport. Jail House Joe looks him in the eye and says,”I learned a lot in prison thast will enable me to ensure that your business is profitable in the shortest possible time. I spent a lot of time with Ernie Newton who helped develop my neww corporate friendly philosophy.”
Alot of people liked Joe. I did. Not now. Can’t we find someone without a criminal record to bring us the prosperity we deserve?
I saw the damnedest thing yesterday, a city employee riding an industrial-sized beast of a machine, vacuuming up the litter and trash festooning the sidewalks on Park Avenue between State Street and Fairfield Avenue. I had to laugh–it reminded me of a bit Roseanne Barr used to do in her standup comedy routines about doing housework when Sears & Roebuck started selling a riding vacuum cleaner.
There will never be prosperity in Bridgeport because everyone has an agenda. Just look at Main St. You have Timpanelli and Bridgeport Regional Business Council, then there is the downtown task force and God know who or what else. Where is downtown going? Nowhere! Yeah you have some cleanup and some good things but take a ride down there and you would think you were on a trail in the mountains. Enter downtown and what is still standing that old dump called the Poli and Majestic. Good way to start when coming in to Bpt.
You have competing groups looking at the Turbana Banana site. One group wants the Ferry and a Mini Port Jefferson. The other group wants a favored developer to develop the site.
You have Remington Woods where duty-free manufacturing was to be built; that’s so much bullshit.
Everybody has their own agenda and that revolves around what’s good for me.
In the meantime we have a mayor who just does not have the balls to lead the city and to move it forward. You have council people working for developers and their pet projects. You have a zoning commission staffed with yes people and who are putting as much spot zoning as they can in all areas of the city and telling the public to take a walk.
Bridgeport will never move forward with the leadership we have. Our leadership is unqualified, under-trained and basically doesn’t have a damn clue. They spend their days breaking the career civil servants’ balls and demoralizing the entire working force.
Move Forward? It’s TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!!!!
Hats off to you, T.C. Bridgeport will never become prosperous again; at least not with the DTC elitist power structure in place. There are too many well-connected individuals with their own agendas and little or no concern for the well-being of the rest of the people of the city of Bridgeport. I’ve seen first hand how the folks on the lower links of the economic food chain are treated like second-class citizens, how some of those well-connected assholes look down their greasy whiskered snouts at those of us that are having a harder time of it than they are. Did it ever once occur to a single one of the pompous, self-interested and self-important assholes with bribe-receiving friends in high places that only a few people are fortunate enough to be born with a silver nipple in their mouths?
The local economy will only be robust when everyone is doing well, and I mean EVERYONE. Not just the well-heeled heels that own fancy Italian restaurants.
I have seen and experienced first hand what happens when you fight these people. I fought Ganim on the leasing of the Golf course and almost won. I knew and they knew that the company they gave the bid to had no money. They knew that they needed to put the course up as collateral. I lost a council vote by 1 vote that would have stopped them from using the course as collateral. My term was up and out I went.
They did the same to my wife recently. They knew she was against spot zoning and they knew she could keep it off the agenda. They busted her hump until she told them to go screw. Now you have spot zoning in the new master plan. Greenwood Street is now going to be zoned multi-family again which is totally against the neighborhood wishes. Incidently this was the same property I was offered a $5,000 bribe to get my wife to let the condos go through. That one went to the FEDS and died. Spot zoning on Old Town & Main. Spot zoning on Madison Ave.
I won’t quit and we can bring this city back. I Love Bridgeport and 99.9% of its people. So I will keep trying and keep pointing out where the BS is. We can bring this city back and we can get rid of these shitheads and we will get rid of them; it may take awhile but we will do it.
Just had dinner with two of my cousins and an aunt; while at dinner I asked would you vote for Ganim if he ran again and all three said yes. That just shows you how popular he still is and even anna would vote for Ganim she said it on this blog. There are a lot of pro-Ganim people on this blog and that is good. Ganim is so popular he would win as an independent. Bridgeport Kid would you vote for Ganim again? Just asking ’cause we were always on the same side I remember when it was just me and you supporting Auden and we were correct about something was changing on the North End and that was Auden running neck and neck at Central.
I relocated to Bridgeport in early 2000, largely attracted by ol’ Joe, surrounded by his beaming blonde wife and two perfect children, solemnly intoning “The people of Bridgeport, working our way back.” And then he turned out to be a crook. He did a lot for BPT, there’s no questioning that. But at what cost? The city’s reputation took a heavy blow when he got up on the witness stand and lied like a rug on a wooden floor. The city’s rep took a bigger hit when Ganim was convicted and Judge Arterton sent his ass up the river for nine years. I’d be interested in what he has to say after his release. I’d like to know if he is contrite. Would I vote for him? I can’t honestly say.
You know where I stand. Ganim in 2011 all the way for the simple reason that he hired competent people and treated the employees with respect.
TC, you commented that the current leadership “spends their days breaking the career civil servants’ balls and demoralizing the entire working force.” This is SO TRUE. But as a councilman, how will you change this? Only a few councilmen had the balls to cut Andy Nunn out of the budget and they were quickly overruled. How then will you clean house? Which is so desperately needed.
(Spoken like an old delta bluesman) I’ve been to The Crossroads, there ain’t no devil down there.
I agree city hall smoker, Ganim 2011!!!!!!!!! Ganim 2011 Ganim 2011. Ganim has the majority of the support on this blog I couldn’t agree more with you city hall smoker.
I’m with you on that city hall smoker Ganim 2011 all the way. You said that Crowe will not run again and D Roach’s wife is filling in??? Lennie do you think a primary will happen?
CHS: Ann & I will work to rid the city of the political appointments and created jobs that cost the professional civil service employee jobs. Ann & I will lobby other council people and point out why this is wrong. We will bring these matters to the public so that they can truly understand what is taking place. Right now the council with the exception of Walsh, Lyons and Vizzo are quiet on these subjects.
Ann & I both feel that the career civil service employees are the backbone of this city. We feel that what has taken place to date illustrates this as the city is falling into disarray and no one appointed to city jobs by this administration knows what the hell they are doing. Services to the public have suffered as a result of this administration’s meddling.
We know we can’t work miracles but we can be a voice for what is right. I hope I have answered your question.
“Ann & I will work to rid the city of the political appointments and created jobs that cost the professional civil service employee jobs. Ann & I will lobby other council people and point out why this is wrong.”
You know you are running for City Council … no?