On a day Mayor Bill Finch delivered his state of the city address to the business community at the Holiday Inn comes word from the state Labor Department that Bridgeport’s unemployment rate hit 15 percent in January. Mayoral speeches to the business community generally are favorably received, but this news provides an opening for mayoral challengers be they John Gomes, Mary-Jane Foster or former Mayor Joe Ganim if he jumps in.
The mayor chatted optimistically in his speech about the state of the city considering the economic climate. The unemployment news at a time City Hall is for sale/lease, pension payments deferred and the city borrowing to pay operating expenses is sobering news for a chief executive. Which of the challengers can talk about job creation in the face of the unemployment news? Gomes can from the perspective of a small-business owner, Foster can from the fruition of her proposal for a sports entertainment complex that became the ballpark and arena, and Ganim–who can spin just about anything–can address jobs from his nearly 12 years as mayor.
Finch was dealt a blow a few weeks ago with word that roughly $12 million in funding for the Steel Point redevelopment area was yanked by Congress. Finch would have pointed to that development as the foundation for long-term job growth. Now, it appears the decades of off-again, on-again for the ambitious development is back to the off side. In a related matter Mike Stone, who served as the point person on the project for developer Bridgeport Landing, has left the building. See link to Jennifer Lynne’s comment.
For my money the mayoral candidate who can best articulate job creation/economic development will emerge as Finch’s chief competitor. Can they? Finch will have plenty of dough to make his case to voters.
The Labor Department reports the city’s unemployment hasn’t been this high in roughly 20 years.
For the same period Hartford and Waterbury has unemployment at 17.1 percent and 15.1 percent, respectively. The unemployment rates in Bridgeport area towns are generally high single digits.
The last three years have been a lie. From the $600 tax breaks to the Calamarians getting jobs while good people get laid off or intimidated, to the budget getting fudged by Sherwood to now massive unemployment. Ganim’s no better as he took good workers and privatized to put money in his pockets. One constant in all these three years is McCarthy as he does nothing but be a Calamarian and a yes man. Caruso let us all down by leaving but did what he had to do for himself and I can’t blame him. Foster I’m not sure about as she was a big Calamarian at one time but maybe she changed. I don’t know. Gomes is good so far and if today were Sept. 13 Gomes has my vote. I’m voting out Calamarians and voting Gomes.
How do you think Gomes got his job in CitiStat?
Political payback.
Patronage.
You scratch my back, I scratch yours.
Calamarian squared.
Grin Reaper // Mar 16, 2011 at 10:22 am
To your posting
Since you and I were there, you know the truth is that Bill wanted to appoint someone to take the punishment who wasn’t one of his cronies. Finch knew the work of CitiStat would be stepping on toes.
Hardly political payback when you already have the knife sharpened. More like assassination, but you know that …
If you study political appointments in the City, rarely have so many competent people been treated by Finch so abusively: Hadley, Bakalar, Lupkus, Jambriska, Jacobs, Hunter, Mount, Abate, Evans, Riccio, Gomes, Curry, the public health nurses, the school-based health program employees just to name a few kicked out unceremoniously (by Finch and his group).
Mr BPT: Enough already with this Calamarian bullshit. Was Mary-Jane a big Calamarian as you call her because she supported the Democratic candidate for mayor who was Bill Finch? A lot of us supported Bill Finch when he ran for mayor. We found out we made a mistake as time went on. Did Mary-Jane get a city job? No she did not.
Maybe you should rethink your post as it is not factual but politically motivated. You are calling Mary-Jane a big Calamarian and state you support Gomes which is fine in and of itself but let’s be honest.
Gomes was the recipient of an appointed position with a high salary in the Finch administration as was his chief spokesman Carolanne Curry. If they had not pissed off the powers that be they would have still been working for the city. What city job did Mary-Jane have under the Finch administration???
Again. It’s time we heard this stuff from her. Do your candidate some good and get her talking. She will lose if she remains as tightlipped as she is. WE WANT A CANDIDATE WHO WILL PUBLICLY DENOUNCE THE CALAMARIANS AND PROMISE TO RID THE CITY OF ALL OF THEM. You catchin’ my drift, bucko?
If you want her to say I denounce all Calamarians (using that word). it’s not going to happen. If you want her to show where this administration went wrong and how she plans to make the proper changes, that will happen in due time.
The timetable MJF has set may not be to your liking but she will be out there in plenty of time with a complete agenda that is well thought out and more importantly doable.
You sound like one of Caruso’s campaign people during the primary. I’m telling you this for her own benefit. Her remaining mute is DEAFENING and speaks loudly.
Remember Caruso lost for exactly the same reasons.
PS … SCHMUCK.
How much time do you think is left? It is mid-March.
Ah, the name-calling starts. Good man!!! Look, Caruso lost because he had no platform. All he did was run around yelling corruption, corruption and had nothing to prove it.
Look, when you get some political experience then tell me what should be done. Can’t wait to see the next name you call me. When you are losing an argument it’s always wise to resort to name-calling. Have a nice day.
town committee // Mar 16, 2011 at 6:25 am
to your posting
tc,
Can you answer the question why Gomes was given less salary than people with similar positions in the City? I know why I was given less salary.
And if Finch wanted honest directors in his departments, then he would appreciate what good people were doing. Like all the others before him, John M. Gomes expected that honest, intelligent performance was going to piss off Finch.
Now we know why.
tc,
You have to get a healthier perspective on what patronage can be with a healthier elected administration. You’re doing a disservice to your candidate.
Better question, why did you both take the jobs and the keywords are healthier elected administration. You obviously thought that when you took the jobs.
town committee // Mar 16, 2011 at 2:55 pm
To your posting
tc,
You bet we did …
I rest my case …
Here’s the bigger question: what’s the unemployment rate among DTC members? Bet it’s a lot lower. Finch is trying to buy this election by giving jobs to people who aren’t qualified and aren’t deserving. All the while he is shaking down the working people. He is a disgrace. Excuse me while I go puke.
I think the unemployment rate amongst the elite political people is about .5%. It could be lower after last night’s $500 a plate fun fest at Testo’s.
Must have been some sight watching those political suck-ups who want to keep their jobs shelling out big bucks to his “honor.” A grand if you came with a spouse! Only in Bridgeport indeed. Wonder if the PD Chief was there? He owes his job to a classless sham of a Finch scam test procedure switcheroo. Must have been lots of kleenex around to wipe the pooh off of noses.
The Phantom // Mar 16, 2011 at 8:41 am
to your posting
Whew! Where have you been? Good point.
There is an article in the RAG today about a Fairfield developer who is still trying to sue Ganim et al. for how Joe corruptly denied development opportunity to those who would not “pay to play.”
The charges against him in his criminal trial and this one represent only a small portion of all of the allegations of corrupt behavior “The Golden Boy” used to rob the city blind.
Why he would ever contemplate a run for office knowing full well his campaign will be smeared with his past digressions is beyond my ability to comprehend. All of the disgrace and embarrassment he endured prior to and during his trial will be revisited by his political enemies. He may present a bravado of “Who cares? What’s done is done,” but he has to think about his family. Secondary to whatever financial impact may be associated with the family law practice, he has to think about his wife and children. The children are 10 years older now, far more susceptible. His wife stoically stood by him throughout. They don’t deserve to have to relive his disgrace for the sake of his misplaced political ambitions. Besides, we don’t need him and we don’t want him. There are better people out there.
I showed up at Testo’s last night with my $600 Tax Rebate Check/IOU.
And I gave it to some chick at the door. I grabbed a beer, small bowl of ziti and a slab of veal. Just as I sat down to eat, when some greasy little bastard taps me the shoulder and tells me the “check I just gave the Mayor is NG!“
I said, there must be some mistake. I Know it’s good! The Mayor promised me a $600 rebate check and I’m passing on to him! He said, “the Mayor did not mail out any rebate checks yet, and you’re just some dumb bastard who believed it.” He said, “spit out the veal and get the f – – k out.”
I said, “That’s no way to treat a voter!” So wrap up my ziti & veal and give it to Caruso in the parking lot.
Now who do I vote for???
Who is the greasy little bastard you are referring to?
Who do you think?
I’d like him to say it.
BTW, #%*&^*&. I’m trying to HELP with MJF. When you get more experience and can figure that out, let me know!!!
yahooy, you sure fooled me and probably everyone else who reads this blog.
LOL.
I waited all day but no response. First off Surf & Turf was served which means lobster & steak. Second of all Mario does not use the language you claim was used. I have to assume you wrote this with tongue in cheek.
tc you can’t give Jimfox a pass. I never get one from you and I’ve expressed the fact that some of my posts ARE tongue in cheek.
blog.ctnews.com/lynne/2011/03/15/heart-of-stone
If I knew Mike Stone was leaving I would have helped him pack just to get him out of town sooner.
And the sooner the rest of Mid-Town and Bridgeport Landing and their lies and false promises are booted out of town the sooner a new administration can begin doing something with that property.
All of this nonsense about the TIGER Grant is pure BS. That did not exist and was never talked about in their latest scam proposal. They were going to finance the project themselves and through their taxing district all along. Now all of a sudden a funding source that did exist when they signed their latest LDA has been yanked and the project is dead again.
Throw them the hell out. Reimburse them for the fencing and lets find some real developers who are committed to doing something.
Bye-bye, it’s not been nice knowing you.
Bob, reimburse them for the fence? I know you typed that in jest. What about the $$$ owed the citizens of Bridgeport for the dreams they have tried to sell them? At the very least we should be charging them “daily” for the use of the property in their “portfolio.” I personally know of a developer {Bridgeport born} who developed W. Hartford’s Blue Back Square (pls. Google, I’m sure OIBers will be pleasantly surprised) who’s expressed an interest in working in Bridgeport. It’s time we got rid of the fakers and dealt with someone who has an interest in the re-emergence of Bridgeport. Those of you born and raised here can usually see the difference between those with Bridgeport blood in their veins and those only trying to make a dollar off us.
Steal Point is a sham and a scam. I guess Stone was between a rock and a hard place. He saw the handwriting on the wall and sailed out of town.
I don’t know what is more pathetic.
The way BLD lies to the city to get the LDA or the way the city bends over backwards to help them keep the development rights.
Now that Stone is gone they will probably blame him for being the real problem and give them a couple of more years and they will be right back on track.
tc I said maybe she changed. You are a nasty old man just ‘cuz I like Gomes.
Vazzy’s calamari is much better than Testo’s.
Mr BPT, right, I am a nasty old man but here is what you wrote: “to the Calamarians getting jobs while good people get laid off or intimidated to the budget getting fudged by Sherwood to now massive unemployment.” Gomes got a job not MJF.
And next “Foster I’m not sure about as she was a big Calamarian at one time but maybe she changed.”
She did business with the city a long while ago and spent Millions of dollars and employed over 140 Bridgeport people albeit part time. So what makes her a Calamarian? BTW what is a Calamarian?
Ask Lennie.
town committee // Mar 16, 2011 at 2:51 pm
To your posting
tc,
You’re doing good, tc.
BTW, that’s exactly what I want to know. What’s a calamarian …
Name-calling like this brings up very negative memories on what names ethnic groups can be called as a put down. Not necessary …
Mario Testa was once dubbed “Don Calamari” in mock of his control of this city. Those who follow his tenets are, therefore, Calamarians.
There is no ethnic implication intended.
Nor implied. The mockery is based totally on the fact that Testo’s once was renowned for serving the best calamari. Now it is second rate in deference to that served at Vazzy’s.
Any further requested elaboration might require the “Philistine of the Week” be bestowed upon you both for pomposity and priggishness.
He is now referred to as El Squid. Find an ethnic slur in that!!!
Grow up. Is that what you learned in Black Rock?
BTW Caruso had a magnificent platform. He just refused to tell the voters about it.
tc you used to fight for what’s right, now you are fighting against anyone not for Foster.
Bottom line is OTB or One Term Bill. Period.
Gomes and Foster seem to be on the same page and Ms. Curry types nothing but positive things about the Foster camp. Maybe you (tc) should learn from Ms. Curry.
Maybe you are right. I have no bones to pick with Gomes and Carolanne however when people want to give them a free pass for being past members of the administration and paint MJF as part of the Testa crowd I have to speak up. I am glad John Gomes is in the race, it will offer Bridgeport voters another option. When people write about MJF and distort the facts I can’t let it go by. Be against Foster that’s fine just post the truth. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
See … I’m not the only one who thinks you’re crotchety. I think maybe you should rinse your dentures a little more thoroughly in the morning. The residue from the cleaning powder is giving you a big case of the vapors.
Don’t need to rinse them, I soak them at night.