Monday afternoon Mayor Bill Finch signed into law the City Council ordinance that allows city police to prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from being at specific locations such as stores and restaurants without a parent or legal guardian between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sundays through Thursdays, and between midnight and 6 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays.
OIB readers have debated the validity of such an ordinance; some for it, some against it. The enacted curfew could receive a court challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union. The curfew will be phased in over the next several weeks as the city implements a community information plan and training program for officers. The curfew will also include some exceptions such as for employment.
The recent wave of violent crime is tricky community communications for the mayor. How do you show you’re responsive to resident concerns without contributing to the appearance local law enforcement cannot put a lid on the crime surge?
An extended wave of violent crime can be an economic development killer for the city at a time there’s optimism with outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops as an anchoring tenant for the Steel Point redevelopment area that will create hundreds of jobs. The Connecticut Post pounding the legal hunting gun sales at Bass Pro while officials confront the illegal firearms transported into the city adds new dimension to the issue. The Post’s (so far) persistent negative portrayal of Bass Pro seems like the goal is to make enough noise to kill the deal with the city. Would you rather have no Bass Pro or a leading outdoor retailer creating hundreds of jobs? Why demonize Bass Pro? It’s not the problem.
In addition, the crime issue has also taken center stage in the Aug. 14 Democratic primary between Ed Gomes, Ernie Newton and Andres Ayala.
If the PD does not respond to quality of life calls such as vandalism, suspicious persons and the like because of manpower issues how can they be expected to stop juveniles who are out after curfew?
The PD has as many officers as they did 20 years ago but they have allotted their manpower to BS duties such as horse patrol, bike patrol, atv patrols in the park and many other details. The PD has not gotten rid of their sick, lame and lazy officers, they just stay on sick leave and take up a space that could be filled by a new officer.
There is a cry that Bass Pro should not sell guns here, that is ridiculous this is an outdoor outfitting company not a Walmart.
Seeing the blog is quiet I was just wondering. Why don’t we open the schools at night? I know this is not a new idea but we have to provide a place for these kids to go. We have at least two schools with swimming pools, one on the East Side and one in the North End.
Many of these schools have night janitors so opening the school we won’t have to pay janitors. We would need to find the funds to pay for program monitors.
Having monitored the city budget for the past few years I know there is money in this year’s budget to fund this idea. The mayor would just have to take the money he budgeted for positions he is not going to fill and pay these monitors.
These kids need something to do and a way to blow off steam so they are not bored and restless.
You cant hope to make the situation better by passing feel-good laws that will not work.
This is the most dysfunctional city in the state as are the politicians and media that serve it–CT Post.
Get this G.D. Bass Pro Shops out of the ground … Let’s build up Bridgeport.
Cannot understand the idiot pols who equate Aurora Colorado to Bass Pro Shops. The pieces of shit who are gangbanging did not buy their guns at Walmart or wherever. They got them illegally on the street.
More to the point, while it is terrible to have innocent children or anyone hurt randomly as recently occurred, the f’ng neighborhood knows who did it and do not have the balls to drop a dime. With the exception of children, they are as much a part of the problem as the gangbangers … Curfew is ridiculous.
Great Post coverage–Do they even live in town and know the City?
I read the Post story several times because I just couldn’t believe the conflation of illegal guns and guns sold legally at Bass Pro Shops. One has nothing to do with the other. One other problem I had with the story is the assertion (made with no actual data to back it up) of ‘a flood’ of illegal guns into Bridgeport and the insinuation they (the illegal guns) are coming from states with more permissive gun laws.
The Connecticut Post has become such a rag sheet it serves no purpose other than to line the bottom of a bird cage. Irresponsible reporting at its very worst. Trying to create a facsimile between Bass Pro Shop and illegal guns sold on the street is just plain absurd.
And they endorsed the Bird Man not once but twice. Perhaps the third time will be the charm.
The Connecticut Post is not a “fact-checked” publication. The reporting, by local reporters, is always questionable.
When rags fail let rumors fill the gap …
Rumor Mill: Bridgeport’s new curfew law will be RETROACTIVE to July 31, 2010 when citywide timestamped video began.
What really gives with the Post’s various attempts to vilify BPS? This latest attempt is a reach at best, but preposterous on its face. If they are attempting to kill this deal for BEPO, they are not anywhere near diabolical enough and I am thinking folks who will buy into this load of crap probably don’t read the paper or follow it online. In my mind, those postulations beg the question, why? It really just bakes my noodle.
Do you like your noodle baked al dente?
Read the Post editorial the other day regarding the Bored of Ed. and demanding resignations and calling for new elections. I guess they don’t know how the Charter reads on this issue.
Al dente, Grin. ‘Nuf said.
It’s unfortunate most if not all urban cities are suffering from an increase in shootings and violent crime. We need to increase the police visibility in our neighborhoods.
We need to institute programs for our young kids and teenagers. Programs that allow them to keep busy, play ball and have access to computers. This can be done and we do have the money. We have to stop paying administration appointees, outside lawyers and as of today per diem employees of the BOE. Paying the Vallas people $950 a day is crazy. They will be leaving in awhile and we will be stuck with positions that pay $200K.
Lay off two of the Vallas people (savings $400K). Lay off three mayoral appointees (savings approx $200K). Cut the monies to outside lawyers (save approx $350K). Reduce labor relations by one secretary and one labor relations official (save $150k). Total savings $1.1 million, more than enough to implement the programs listed above.
These damned politicians need to stop passing feel-good laws and start doing what’s right for the kids and all of Bridgeport.
Andy,
Since you are in a budget-cutting mode, can you tell me what a water pad, water playground, or such an installation truly costs? I heard $80,000, then $200,000 from someone in the Administration, and finally an article in the CT Post talked about $275,000 at Newfield.
I think Ron and you as former firefighters are happy to see hydrants remain uncompromised in the event of fires. However, does anyone have the background on how many people are using these facilities, who installs them and maintains them, what the useful life of such facilities are and what budget is finding the money??? Is it a Parks Department project that is contained in the current Five-year Capital plan??? Anyone? Time will tell.
*** Lots of things to work out before the curfew is in effect and being enforced. Just to name a few, who watches these kids and where, what if mom or dad says, “keep him or her, I’ve had enough,” who benefits from the fines, City or State? Something needed to be done in the eyes of the public, no? *** NO EASY TASK AHEAD, BPT. GOOD LUCK! ***