News release from City Councilman Enrique Torres, the Republican candidate for mayor:
A Resolution drafted by City Councilman Enrique Torres obliging City Hall employees to provide information requested from individual city council members was approved by the Bridgeport City Council last evening.
Prior to this resolution, a sitting city councilperson would have to convince a majority of the voting body of the City Council to pass a resolution to request department data from the department head. In the past, this cumbersome and time-consuming process was generally self-defeating with members of the council typically giving up after repeated denials and obfuscations. The City Council is now one step closer to being treated as an equal branch of government by the Office of the Mayor.
Said Torres, “As a newly elected City Councilman, I walked into the Tax Assessor’s Office in late 2013 and asked for a copy of the City’s Grand List. I was told by the department head that the Assessor’s Office was not required to provide me with a copy of the list. An elected representative of the people was denied access to information from a City employee.
The passage of this transparency resolution ensures that council members will be provided access to documents needed to legislate effectively. It provides a further check on the Mayor’s Executive power and is a victory for government transparency.
Continued Torres, “I would like to personally thank all the council members who courageously voted for this resolution. This is a big step towards transparency in Bridgeport city government.”
Thank you Councilman Torres for opening this path to critical information about City governance for those who have been elected as representatives of the people and who are expected to be able to make sense of decisions based on current and comprehensive information of all types in time to form a solid understanding before voting.
There are more than a couple people in the City who have asked what you have done for the City. This is just one activity you can take pride in. It is part of your legacy. Just think if you had been able to move the dial on ACCOUNTABILITY or OPEN process or HONEST reporting, for instance? You have moved “land-based taxation” into a study process at least. And while you have not backed away from budget funding of necessary priorities, you have called into question the processes the City uses to get taxes when people fall behind, attempting to stay effective by getting funds for the City but not causing the least able to be further beaten down with no gain to the City. Time will tell.
Whenever Tax Bill Finch claimed his administration was transparent, he was lying his ass off. The Crook is claiming his administration is going to be “transparent” but that’s a crock of shit. He committed perjury at his criminal trial–Judge Arterton cited twenty-two instances over two days he was on the witness stand. Yet The Crook is incapable of manning up to admit he lied and facing the consequences. Mary-Jane Foster claims she will have a transparent and open administration but she hasn’t revealed the compromises she made to accept the support of Bill Finch’s machine apparatus. Naughty naughty, Mary-Jane. Did Ol’ Scratch make you sign on the dotted line? Rick Torres is not merely talking about governmental reform, he is actually walking the walk, making it happen.
At this point the discussion shouldn’t be about who is running a better campaign, who is running a stealth campaign, who is out of the race. David Daniels, Tony Barr, Chris Taylor and Charles Coviello are all running for mayor. Why is no one criticizing or lauding their campaign efforts? Mr. Daniels is an honorable man with wonderful intentions, as is Charles Coviello. Chris Taylor is the Pat Paulsen character this year. Tony Barr for all intents and purposes is an angry street thug. Plenty of topical material there.
Only Rick Torres has addressed the predatory “boot and tow” program, which is intended as a punitive action despite Anne Kelly-Lenz’s claims to the contrary. Bill Finch didn’t care that poor and African American people were unfairly and discriminately targeted. “Those people should learn to pay their taxes.” THOSE PEOPLE. Who are THOSE PEOPLE, Mr. Finch? Were you referring to all the African American voters who think a convicted felon is a better option than four more years of lies and bullshit?
Now the City Council is able to operate more independently of the mayor’s office. Rick Torres did that, not The Crook, not Mary-Jane Foster, not Tax Bill.
B Kid, while I concur with your observation a fair number of blacks had their car towed and sold, it’s equally correct a fair number of Puerto Ricans and poor whites had their cars towed and sold. So please don’t make this a black/white issue when in reality it’s a poor person issue.
To say Rick is the only person who cared, not Joe or not Mary-Jane is disingenuous at best because Rick was a city council person and he is only doing his job as an elected official. The other two are running for a position in city government and whichever is elected then and only then can they be held accountable for what they don’t do that’s in the best interest of the residents of Bridgeport.
I agree, Don–no need to diminish the intentions of anyone who is willing to run for citywide office in this city!
This morning at the “political” table we were discussing this resolution. An attorney who is also a former: city clerk, city councilman and school board member said when he was on city council all he had to do was pick up the phone and call a department head to get the information he needed to help him make a decision on a city issue or budget item. It is such a shame in the last 20 or so years it became so difficult for our elected officials to find the data they need from city departments. In February this year councilman Torres was told get an FOI like everyone else. Well, it would appear finally a city council person understands the importance of easy access to vital information and got everyone else on council to agree. The question I am left with is why did it not happen before. Why does it appear this council has been asleep at the wheel for years, with up to 60-year tax abatement, approved without question, no request to see the details of where and how our tax dollars are spent. Which is why
I am voting for John Marshall Lee for city council for SURE.
JML has spent years speaking up for all of us at council meetings, hours at committee meetings, years pouring over the city budget. He has earned my vote, and as unworthy as I am as a Republican, even I believe I deserve to have a person like this on my side in city council, much like Torres has been for the last two years. Yes, of course I am voting for Torres two times. same ballot. It’s legal, I swear!
Jennifer, a big part of the problem is there is no challenge to council members, they don’t want a primary so they agree to do what the head of the DTC and whoever the mayor is, wants. If you and other like-minded voters would become Democrats you can challenge all these Democrat council members because Republicans are no threat.
Or the Democrats could vote the DTC-endorsed candidates out of office. I do admire your advice–someday I might “wise up” and surprise you!
Jennifer, that can happen. Just get a group of like-minded people to run a slate in March 2016 for the Democratic Town Committee. Those nine DTC members in your district control who is endorsed to run for office. Jennifer, this is a much easier path to make changes because Republicans can’t make those changes. Now is the time.
Jennifer, I don’t know who you’re talking about, but he is absolutely correct. If a council person was denied information, it became an issue to all of us, and was stopped. I’m sure I served with your friend.
Sorry, Jennifer. But for the past 20 years the individual you are referring to did nothing but what he was told to do by whomever the mayor was.
Too bad we don’t have council members and a council president with balls and a backbone.
Bubba, who is he???
Does anyone have a link to the text of what was passed? As Lennie reported back in June, the City Attorney weighed in and said the resolution in its form then didn’t pass legal muster and council members could file FOI requests if they wanted something. I suggested a small change to get around Anastasi’s objection. I wonder if Rick did something similar, or is Anastasi going to obstruct the new resolution.
onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/city-attorney-anastasi-tells-torres-to-file-an-foi-request-swain-says-opinion-severe-roadblock/
McCarthy did not pull it off the docket when a question was raised–as there is a state law regarding personnel files and other privileged information, so it would appear the text was changed. Yippee.
Booty, if the council stood together and strong, they could override a Mayor or City Attorney.
Lisa, you’re right. But given the makeup of the Council and all the present and future conflicts of interest, what is your estimate of that happening?
Ron, one-party rule has destroyed this city. It’s a difference in beliefs and policies.
It was a well-intended gesture by Rick to submit it and those who voted for it. A resolution is a communication. It is not law and is not binding. It does not amend or clarify charter or ordinance. We can only hope the next administration commits to open, accountable and transparent government.
While this may be true, that it is non-binding, it sounds like a good excuse to ignore the intention of the “communication” and continue to block the will of the people by dismissing their representatives. Not an acceptable answer.
Tom, you’re right, but a strong council can amend an ordinance, and request a Charter Revision be formed, and the people can change a charter provision if they so choose. For so long the Council has been “kept down on the farm,” totally unaware of the authority and power vested in them as a body.
I don’t know anything about binding or non-binding resolutions, but I do know a victory for “The People” when I see one. Anything that promotes open government is the right direction and a bedrock of freedom. This is the same impulse that established the Freedom of Information act. Bridgeport, being quite audacious in its treatment of citizens on so many levels, needs to move in this direction. Too bad the papers and radio and other communications outlets will make this a minor story. This is intelligent governing and makes a freedom-seeking individual want to see more of Torres’ ideas.
Okay, they put it on the front page.
When department heads come to the City Council seeking approval of their budget it’s then time to tell these department heads no to their budget. Now they make it clear to them what they need from those departments.
Ron,
In principle I do not disagree with you but who will be taking this stand-up position regarding budgeting? Five of current seven Budget and Appropriations Committee are standing down this year.
Committee composition? Have you seen much attention to ‘department heads’ in recent years who claim OPM makes up their budget document and they do not necessarily understand or agree with the proposal? And ‘ghost employee expenses’ still show up? And not all departments are heard? Why not? Time will tell.
My question is “Or what?!” The past administrations simply do not enforce the charter, ordinances or resolutions. So if a council member asks for something and doesn’t get it or gets lip service, how is this enforced? It isn’t.
Need a new mayor. A game changer. It isn’t Joe for sure. Can only be MJF!!!
Now let’s get city employees off the council and then I can truly believe we are working with a sincere non-interested council in anything but the benefit of the citizens of the city of Bridgeport.
This was a Rick Torres proposal, Amazed. Your other comments make me clarify this for you.