Hey, what are you doing this weekend? I’m helping my father bottle this year’s crop of Casa Grimaldi: bottle of red … bottle of white. Not exactly, just red vino in our household. We like the cancer-killing grape.
Yeah baby, garlic, olive oil and red wine. What else do we need? Bread!!!
Maybe I’ll bring a few bottles to the next OIB party. But only if Bruce Hubler flies back from his comfy corner of the Sunshine State.
Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with a few press releases to sip.
News release from Mayor Bill Finch
City, Supervisors and Firefighters Sign Tentative Agreements
Mayor Says “Thank You” to All City Unions
BRIDGEPORT, CT (March 20, 2009) – The Mayor today applauded the efforts of the Bridgeport City Supervisors Association and Firefighters Union Local 834 in helping to close the City’s current $20 million budget gap by approving significant contract concessions.
The Supervisors and the Firefighters together are responsible for $1.9 million in concessions. Overall, the City has garnered a total of $8.34 million worth of savings from union concessions, layoffs and position eliminations, 10 to 20-percent department budget cuts and deferral of payouts for holiday pay.
“All of our city unions – their leadership and the rank-in-file – deserve my sincere thanks, and that of every Bridgeport resident for stepping up to the plate during a very crucial time for the City and making the sacrifices necessary to help us close this budget gap. I appreciate their efforts and thank them on behalf of all our residents,” said Mayor Finch, during an event held at Fire Headquarters Friday morning with representatives from all City unions that negotiated concessions.
The Supervisors Association agreed on a new five-year contract, from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2013, which calls for two years of zero-percent pay increases, followed by increases of three percent on July 1, 2010, two percent on Jan. 1, 2011, two percent on July 1, 2011 and two percent on July 1, 2012.
In addition, BCSA members will take 10-day furloughs by the end of this fiscal year, the most number of furlough days of any employee union. BCSA includes 116 supervisors on the City side and 60 who work for the Board of Education. The savings total $824,267.
In addition, the Supervisors agreed to a change in their healthcare premium cost share, or co-payment, which will increase over the next five years from 12 percent in 2009 to 25 percent in 2013. New hires will start by paying a 25-percent co-payment, which will then rise by one-percent a year to a maximum of 50 percent. In addition, any employee hired after the effective date of the current contract will now have to complete 25 years of municipal service, regardless of age, in order to qualify as a retiree who is eligible for full health benefits upon retirement.
Based on current staffing levels in the Supervisors Association, the savings from the healthcare premium cost-sharing could yield approximately $600,000 over the life of the contract.
The City also agreed that there will be no layoffs of BCSA members through Dec. 31, 2009, and will credit any BCSA member who has already taken a voluntary furlough toward the 10-day furlough agreed upon during negotiations.
“The Supervisors Association has really helped the City,” said Mayor Finch. “The healthcare cost-sharing is a momentous step forward in bringing the City’s costs in line with its revenues.”
“In these times of unprecedented economic upheaval, the BCSA knew that it was now time to work as a team and set aside any past differences with the Administration in order to avert job layoffs. To that end, major concessions were given in exchange for job security for BCSA members until December 2009. We are hopeful that at that time, the economic climate will be brighter and our jobs will continue to be secure,” said Bernd Tardy, president of the Bridgeport City Supervisors Association.
In advance of their contract coming due in June, Firefighters Union Local 834 agreed to defer payment to retirement for banked holiday and personal days accumulated in the last year. In addition, Firefighters will be able to carry over an additional one week of unused time from this current year and have it paid out at retirement. All banked days will be paid at the employee’s current rate of pay at retirement. The vacation/holiday payout would have cost the city $1.1 million before the end of this fiscal year.
“The Firefighters Union has stepped up to the plate to negotiate with the City. Deferring this payout is a key component in our cost-savings strategy for this year’s budget. We appreciate their cooperation,” said Mayor Finch.
(Click on the graphic for a larger version.) Finch Thanks Unions
News release from Susan Bysiewicz
BYSIEWICZ PRAISES COMMITTEE’S OVERWHELMING PASSAGE OF BILL TO FILL U.S. SENATE VACANCIES BY SPECIAL ELECTION
SECRETARY OF THE STATE URGES FULL PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL # 913 TO RESTORE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT OF VOTERS IN CONNECTICUT TO CHOOSE U.S. SENATORS
HARTFORD: Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz today praised the Connecticut General Assembly’s Government, Administration and Elections Committee for its overwhelming passage of a bill that would mandate that future vacancies in the U.S. Senate in Connecticut be filled by special election. Senate bill # 913, approved by the GAE committee by a vote of 11-3, would set up a special election for U.S. Senate 150 days after a vacancy occurs in Connecticut.
“Only the voters of Connecticut should have the right to choose a successor if a U.S. Senate seat goes vacant,” said Secretary Bysiewicz. “We have seen cases of nepotism, cronyism and corruption when governors abuse the awsome power to appoint a U.S. Senator. All you have to do is look to the examples of states like Illinois and Alaska and you will find reason enough to make this simple but long overdue change to our state’s election laws. This decision should rest in the hands of the people alone. I commend the GAE committee for its overwhelming vote of support of this bill, and thank co-chairs Rep. Jamie Spallone and Sen. Gayle Slossberg for their hard work to advance this through committee. I urge the full Senate to adopt this measure and send it onto the House.”
Under current law, the governor can appoint a successor if a Senate vacancy occurs. That successor either serves out the rest of the previous senator’s term, or until a special election can be called to choose a replacement. Senate bill # 913 would remove the authority of the governor to name a U.S. Senator. The bill would also provide enough time, with some exceptions, for parties to hold nominating conventions and primaries if necessary to determine their candidate for U.S. Senate.
In Connecticut, U.S. House vacancies are filled by a special election within 60 days or 120 days in the case of a primary. Senate bill # 913 would restore Connecticut law to what it was prior to 1947, when U.S. Senate vacancies were filled by special election.
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42 comments
Just pure horse pucky. Finch thanks the unions for concessions. Big Deal!!! These concessions are nothing more than deferrals payable at a future date when our financial status may be even more perilous. Has anyone the foggiest idea where the money will come from to honor the commitments made by Finch? I blame Finch for pandering to the unions in a “politically correct” move to ensure their support the next time Mario lets him run for office.
That, Bruce, is another reason why I am displeased with city leadership elected or not.
With Barack Obama in the White House the Democratic National Committee now has a strong direction and a strong leader. As a long-time resident of the Chicago area, Mr. Obama has seen first hand the shortcomings of machine politics. He hasn’t come right out and said that he plans to reduce or eliminate public corruption but the appointment of Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General speaks volumes.
On the local level, Jim Himes knows about machine politics and how it has made Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, an unattractive place for development and investment. Too many individuals holding elected and/or appointed office (such as zoning, building, etc.) in this town are subject to manipulation by the leadership of the DTC. Himes has opened an office to ensure that at least some of the federal economic stimulus funds get down to the street level, providing working capital to small business and creating jobs.
The Democratic Party is not an ideology to be referred to as if it is the Holy Gospel. It is a collection of common needs and goals. Why is the Common Good an alien concept in this town? ACORN is an honorable organization. The ends that the organization pursues don’t always justify the means employed to achieve them, but their motivation is always honorable. Some of ACORN’s members (and the local branch of the NAACP) play the race card a little too often, and it has blinded and distracted people that ought to know better from the bigger problem inhibiting revitalization and development in Connecticut’s largest city: greed. Too many self-interested jerks looking for a percentage for themselves.
Obama … for that reckless comment he made about his bowling skills on Leno comparing them to the “Special Olympics”. Sure, he meant nothing by it. A private citizen might have gotten away with it. But the man wanted to be President (and I’m glad he is) so he needs to know that he must act “presidential” all of the time. AND he needs to let every aspiring athlete with “special” abilities know that their individual achievements are as worthy as anyone else’s. I think OB will do just that.
What is the big deal? The comment was a tad insensitive, but it wasn’t intended to be offensive. There are too many people in this nation with TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS, watching television and listening to professional gas-off artists like Rush Limbaugh.
Can anyone tell me why Finch keeps appointing and hiring people immersed in imbroglio, like this last appointment to P&Z? His hires have been an ED guy from NY that was “let go” from Rhode Island, people from the Ganim administration, Fabrizi’s hacks, out of towners without a clue, and political barnacles. Have there been any hires or appointments that can be described as any of the following: inspired, well qualified, not an incestuous political ass kisser, or even well thought out?
Yeah Old Man Shanley ran the Beachside and they used to hose and squeegy the beer-laden cement floor down every night. Ask Peter Allen former proprietor of “The Naut” and he’ll fill you in on the details of the Giants. I’m old but not that old.
You were probably hanging out with those old Arnold College guys who went to UB in the early 50’s.
Johnb; Finch needed someone on P&Z that would reverse the tough conditions set for contractor storage yards. Mark 4 was told he had to leave Seaview Ave. Guess who applied for a storage yard for the adjoining property? You got it his latest candidate for P&Z Mr. Tiago. Guess who else had problems with P&Z and storage yards Mr. DiNardo.
Finch got rid of the chairperson who was putting a stop to these storage facilities. Look who he has appointed since Gail Solis a Timpanelli drone, now Tiago close friend of John Ricci. Mel Riley a totally clueless person became chairmen of P&Z. The big question is how did Tiago pass through ethics when he has zoning problems himself? Could they be bought and paid for also?
Yahooy, the “Naut” was the joint. Bill and Pete, two ex-Jar Heads running a gin mill! Those were the Good Old Days. Hanging down at Buddy’s Store listening to Mississippi Queen on the jukebox and playing pinball. Socializing with all the N.Y. girls in town for the summer!
Barnacle Bill was the Naut’s permittee extraordinaire. He never considered it a good night unless more people crawled out … than walked out! Some fabulous bands got their start there in the ’60s: Sticks ‘n Stones and Friends to name just two.
To the OIB bloggers,
You have my word. Mr. Tiago will not go quietly into the night.
As a member of the Miscellaneous Matter committee you can be sure that he will be adequately grilled and I will use all of my efforts to make sure a zoning deadbeat will feel the heat.
Bruce, Yahooy, Wondering, re: yesterday, my sensitivity is officially dialed down. Lennie, if you don’t mind I have a little press release for your Monroe readers:
PRESS RELEASE
The Monroe Democratic Town Committee held its annual Jefferson, Jackson Gala honoring long time councilwoman Dee Dee Martin on Friday, March 20, 2009 at Roberto’s Restaurant in Monroe. Over seventy people turned out to Honor Mrs. Martin who has been a council member for more than 15 years and very active member of the Democratic Town Committee. Several elected officials came to speak about Mrs. Martin’s accomplishments including Congressman Jim Himes, State Treasure Nancy Wyman, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, Monroe First Selectman Tom Buzi, and Ray Baldwin First Selectman of Trumbull.
I am so proud to be the vice-chairman of the Monroe DTC with our chair Patty, a Bridgeport employee and OIB reader. I see great things happening in our town’s and region’s future.
99% of Finch’s appointees to date have been POOR DECISION-MAKING MOVES … Some of these folks have no clue about what they are doing … And when it comes to major decisions, Adam Wood comes a-calling making sure they vote a certain way ’cause the Mayor depends on it …
MCAT … dial it back a bit more. It’s too early to put up with your Linda Lollipop renditions. Gosh!!!
MEATBALL … Buddie’s Store??? Way before my time. That makes you so old you should be dead.
Ran into “Barnacle Bill” at Torres’ place in Black Rock a couple of weeks ago … maybe longer. Didn’t recognize him. Poor guy is living in a veteran’s home in Norwalk. I was sitting at the bar the day Barnacle came back from the Court House after losing the place with the guy from the Sea Grape following a locksmith ready to change the locks. Sad. Nothing like tossing back a Mr. D with raw urine flowing from what was once a lavatory. I forgot the Sea Grape guy’s name. He was good people. I heard he died.
A band that grew up on the Reef road and played at the Naut was Soft White Underbelly, better know as Blue Öyster Cult. As far as the Finch Cabinet, the only one in that office who gives a damn about anyone in the city is the lowest-paid person in there; you need something done you call Chris Rosario and he gets answers.
Had a roommate that was really into the club scene in Fairfield County as a youth. He saw the Vagrants (Leslie West, pre-Mountain), The Yardbirds (with Jimmy Page, eight or nine months before he formed Led Zeppelin and conquered the world), Cream, the Rascals, etc. He was never into Blue Öyster Cult, claiming they “weren’t Long Island enough” (whatever that’s s’posed ta mean). Personally, I really enjoyed BOC. Living up in the Hartford area, the New York bands playlisted on WHCN 105.9 FM were great reminders that there was a better world some place.
Clearly math, drinking and not spelling were your strong suits.
I used to love taking the PSAT’s and SAT’S. I always had several sharpened #2 pencils to help me make different designs in filling in the blanks. My scores were so low, that I guess you could say I drew a blank.
Sorry Yahooy, it’s a GoDaddy thing, OIB’s server. They’re more concerned with promoting that car babe than helping the little peeps that started with them. They screw with sites for no good reason, then won’t tell you why. So if we’re ever down it’s GoDaddy.
Yahooy, sometimes I wish I were dead! Having to deal with all the shit your generation dumped on us! I would not brag about my age. At least I grew up in an age when people had some integrity and responsibility.
Yahooy, So the world is a better world today? Or nothing has changed. Still just one big ball of shit. “Old and in the way, Gold has turned to gray, no one heeds the words you say you’re just old and in the way” Jerry. Excuse me while I go put my old Combat Commander to my head!
With Barack Obama in the White House the Democratic National Committee now has a strong direction and a strong leader. As a long-time resident of the Chicago area, Mr. Obama has seen first hand the shortcomings of machine politics. He hasn’t come right out and said that he plans to reduce or eliminate public corruption but the appointment of Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General speaks volumes.
On the local level, Jim Himes knows about machine politics and how it has made Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, an unattractive place for development and investment. Too many individuals holding elected and/or appointed office (such as zoning, building, etc.) in this town are subject to manipulation by the leadership of the DTC. Himes has opened an office to ensure that at least some of the federal economic stimulus funds get down to the street level, providing working capital to small business and creating jobs.
The National Democratic Party is not an ideology to be referred to as if it is the Holy Gospel. It is a collection of common needs and goals. Why is the Common Good an alien concept in this town? ACORN is an honorable organization. The ends that the organization pursues don’t always justify the means employed to achieve them, but their motivation is always honorable. Some of ACORN’s members (and the local branch of the NAACP) play the race card a little too often, and it has blinded and distracted people (that ought to know better) from the bigger problem inhibiting revitalization and development in Connecticut’s largest city: greed. Too many self-interested jerks at the top of the pyramid looking for a percentage for themselves.
This has nothing to do with grapes, but a lot to do with issues of education and leadership.
Just attended a lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough (John Adams; Harry S. Truman; 1776). Thought provoking to say the least. Certainly relevant to the challenges facing Bridgeport and the nation.
To a ‘sold-out’ crowd, he made no excuses for his belief that “although the nation’s founding fathers were young in years and experience, quality education imbued them with character, integrity and honor, which so many people are (now) conspicuously lacking.”
His prescription for America’s educational system, which he concludes is falling behind: “Go back to certain basic REQUIRED courses; history, math, science and a second language. Give greater recognition to teachers who bring a depth of understanding and passion to what they teach. And for parents, reinstate dinner-time conversations.” No revolutionary ideas here, but try suggesting that curriculum to some boards of education across the country.
When asked about the attributes of America’s “historically eminent leaders,” he emphasized their intelligence, integrity, reliability and resiliency under adversity. And their willingness to set aside their own self interest for a more noble, common cause.
But he came back to the simple brilliance of John Adams in describing what mattered the most in choosing a leader: “Regard the honor and moral character of the man more than all other circumstances.” Combine these with commitment, and the talent required by the challenge, and you have the best chance for success.
His preliminary take on Obama: “He’s gifted, articulate and bright. He personifies what we’ve long said we believe in … ambition to excel. And he has certainly excelled all the way.” An inspirational leader … only time will tell if he is right for the times. That assessment generated strong applause from the mostly gray-haired or no-haired audience.
At the end, I pictured the same presentation given to a combined session of the Bridgeport Common Council and Board of Education. Well … maybe not. But everyone could benefit from McCullough’s insight into the life of John Adams, and how that history is still so relevant today.
Bruce I agree with you 100%. I love McCullough and his book on Adams. (HBO did a great miniseries on it too.) One of the things that I found very helpful in the past few years was reading biographies of our founding fathers, such as Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Washington, etc. … While Adams and Jefferson had fundamental differences as to the role of the states and government, they were able to respect each other and many times focus on their common ground. The lack of awareness about our history and how government works is frightening. Elected officials serve themselves and their constituents much better with a basic understanding of the principles (all of them) on which our country was founded. For one it would them help not repeat the mistakes of the past and also how to find middle ground in the present.
Just pure horse pucky. Finch thanks the unions for concessions. Big Deal!!! These concessions are nothing more than deferrals payable at a future date when our financial status may be even more perilous. Has anyone the foggiest idea where the money will come from to honor the commitments made by Finch? I blame Finch for pandering to the unions in a “politically correct” move to ensure their support the next time Mario lets him run for office.
That, Bruce, is another reason why I am displeased with city leadership elected or not.
With Barack Obama in the White House the Democratic National Committee now has a strong direction and a strong leader. As a long-time resident of the Chicago area, Mr. Obama has seen first hand the shortcomings of machine politics. He hasn’t come right out and said that he plans to reduce or eliminate public corruption but the appointment of Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General speaks volumes.
On the local level, Jim Himes knows about machine politics and how it has made Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, an unattractive place for development and investment. Too many individuals holding elected and/or appointed office (such as zoning, building, etc.) in this town are subject to manipulation by the leadership of the DTC. Himes has opened an office to ensure that at least some of the federal economic stimulus funds get down to the street level, providing working capital to small business and creating jobs.
The Democratic Party is not an ideology to be referred to as if it is the Holy Gospel. It is a collection of common needs and goals. Why is the Common Good an alien concept in this town? ACORN is an honorable organization. The ends that the organization pursues don’t always justify the means employed to achieve them, but their motivation is always honorable. Some of ACORN’s members (and the local branch of the NAACP) play the race card a little too often, and it has blinded and distracted people that ought to know better from the bigger problem inhibiting revitalization and development in Connecticut’s largest city: greed. Too many self-interested jerks looking for a percentage for themselves.
Bridgeport Kid …
Holy Shit … Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!!!
Thankyewverymuch [bows].
Philistine of the week?
Obama … for that reckless comment he made about his bowling skills on Leno comparing them to the “Special Olympics”. Sure, he meant nothing by it. A private citizen might have gotten away with it. But the man wanted to be President (and I’m glad he is) so he needs to know that he must act “presidential” all of the time. AND he needs to let every aspiring athlete with “special” abilities know that their individual achievements are as worthy as anyone else’s. I think OB will do just that.
What is the big deal? The comment was a tad insensitive, but it wasn’t intended to be offensive. There are too many people in this nation with TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS, watching television and listening to professional gas-off artists like Rush Limbaugh.
It sounds more like a Sour Grape Weekend to me!
Yahooy–I’ll meet you at the Sea Grape. Oh that’s right it used to be the Nautilus when you were hanging out there with the NY Giants!!!
UOB likes grape skinny!
I asked earlier this week, am asking again, and will continue to ask the following:
Where’s the $20k missing from the tax collector’s office?
Isn’t this more important that stomping grapes!!! I thought there was a videotape? Is this going to be another cover-up for mismanagement?
C’mon bloggers, let’s talk about it.
What’s “grape skinny”?
Speaking of grapes … nobody would dare order vino at the Nautilus I remember. Probably why yahooy is puzzled by “grape skinny”.
Can anyone tell me why Finch keeps appointing and hiring people immersed in imbroglio, like this last appointment to P&Z? His hires have been an ED guy from NY that was “let go” from Rhode Island, people from the Ganim administration, Fabrizi’s hacks, out of towners without a clue, and political barnacles. Have there been any hires or appointments that can be described as any of the following: inspired, well qualified, not an incestuous political ass kisser, or even well thought out?
UOB
If you remember me holding court at the Naut … you’re too old to drink.
Besides, the Giants hung out at The Beachside.
yahooy
Yeah Old Man Shanley ran the Beachside and they used to hose and squeegy the beer-laden cement floor down every night. Ask Peter Allen former proprietor of “The Naut” and he’ll fill you in on the details of the Giants. I’m old but not that old.
You were probably hanging out with those old Arnold College guys who went to UB in the early 50’s.
Cool. I still don’t know what “grape skinny” is.
johnb:
Answer to your question: NONE!
Well there was Michele, Nancy and Rina … oh wait they’re gone.
The Oracle of Omaha Steaks!
I like a nice bottle of Hungarian Bull’s Blood known as Egri Bikavér followed up with a lovely glass of Ice Wine as my dessert wine.
Johnb; Finch needed someone on P&Z that would reverse the tough conditions set for contractor storage yards. Mark 4 was told he had to leave Seaview Ave. Guess who applied for a storage yard for the adjoining property? You got it his latest candidate for P&Z Mr. Tiago. Guess who else had problems with P&Z and storage yards Mr. DiNardo.
Finch got rid of the chairperson who was putting a stop to these storage facilities. Look who he has appointed since Gail Solis a Timpanelli drone, now Tiago close friend of John Ricci. Mel Riley a totally clueless person became chairmen of P&Z. The big question is how did Tiago pass through ethics when he has zoning problems himself? Could they be bought and paid for also?
Yahooy, the “Naut” was the joint. Bill and Pete, two ex-Jar Heads running a gin mill! Those were the Good Old Days. Hanging down at Buddy’s Store listening to Mississippi Queen on the jukebox and playing pinball. Socializing with all the N.Y. girls in town for the summer!
Meatball:
Barnacle Bill was the Naut’s permittee extraordinaire. He never considered it a good night unless more people crawled out … than walked out! Some fabulous bands got their start there in the ’60s: Sticks ‘n Stones and Friends to name just two.
To the OIB bloggers,
You have my word. Mr. Tiago will not go quietly into the night.
As a member of the Miscellaneous Matter committee you can be sure that he will be adequately grilled and I will use all of my efforts to make sure a zoning deadbeat will feel the heat.
Bruce, Yahooy, Wondering, re: yesterday, my sensitivity is officially dialed down. Lennie, if you don’t mind I have a little press release for your Monroe readers:
PRESS RELEASE
I am so proud to be the vice-chairman of the Monroe DTC with our chair Patty, a Bridgeport employee and OIB reader. I see great things happening in our town’s and region’s future.
99% of Finch’s appointees to date have been POOR DECISION-MAKING MOVES … Some of these folks have no clue about what they are doing … And when it comes to major decisions, Adam Wood comes a-calling making sure they vote a certain way ’cause the Mayor depends on it …
MCAT … dial it back a bit more. It’s too early to put up with your Linda Lollipop renditions. Gosh!!!
MEATBALL … Buddie’s Store??? Way before my time. That makes you so old you should be dead.
Ran into “Barnacle Bill” at Torres’ place in Black Rock a couple of weeks ago … maybe longer. Didn’t recognize him. Poor guy is living in a veteran’s home in Norwalk. I was sitting at the bar the day Barnacle came back from the Court House after losing the place with the guy from the Sea Grape following a locksmith ready to change the locks. Sad. Nothing like tossing back a Mr. D with raw urine flowing from what was once a lavatory. I forgot the Sea Grape guy’s name. He was good people. I heard he died.
I still don’t know what a grape skinny is. I hope it’s nothing like what Anna referred to as being left behind on a sweater.
A band that grew up on the Reef road and played at the Naut was Soft White Underbelly, better know as Blue Öyster Cult. As far as the Finch Cabinet, the only one in that office who gives a damn about anyone in the city is the lowest-paid person in there; you need something done you call Chris Rosario and he gets answers.
Had a roommate that was really into the club scene in Fairfield County as a youth. He saw the Vagrants (Leslie West, pre-Mountain), The Yardbirds (with Jimmy Page, eight or nine months before he formed Led Zeppelin and conquered the world), Cream, the Rascals, etc. He was never into Blue Öyster Cult, claiming they “weren’t Long Island enough” (whatever that’s s’posed ta mean). Personally, I really enjoyed BOC. Living up in the Hartford area, the New York bands playlisted on WHCN 105.9 FM were great reminders that there was a better world some place.
Sea grape guy previously referred to is the late Steve Levine. A bon homme.
Lennie …
What’s up with your blog site? It’s slower than Tom Kelley taking the SATs.
yahooy
Clearly math, drinking and not spelling were your strong suits.
I used to love taking the PSAT’s and SAT’S. I always had several sharpened #2 pencils to help me make different designs in filling in the blanks. My scores were so low, that I guess you could say I drew a blank.
The Oracle of Omaha Steaks
Overheard at the “Street of Wet Dreams” over at the Liberty Rock was that yahooy was shooting blanks.
After Anna was emancipated from yahooy, she exclaimed; “Let Freedom Ring!”
At least I’m still shooting. You?
Sorry Yahooy, it’s a GoDaddy thing, OIB’s server. They’re more concerned with promoting that car babe than helping the little peeps that started with them. They screw with sites for no good reason, then won’t tell you why. So if we’re ever down it’s GoDaddy.
Yahooy, sometimes I wish I were dead! Having to deal with all the shit your generation dumped on us! I would not brag about my age. At least I grew up in an age when people had some integrity and responsibility.
MEATBALL
When you were popping back frappes at Buddie’s Store, Sam Tedesco, the personification of integrity, was mayor of Bridgeport.
Yahooy, So the world is a better world today? Or nothing has changed. Still just one big ball of shit. “Old and in the way, Gold has turned to gray, no one heeds the words you say you’re just old and in the way” Jerry. Excuse me while I go put my old Combat Commander to my head!
Getting away from the fights and back to the Naut, does anyone know if it was true that Jethro Tull played there one Sat night?
With Barack Obama in the White House the Democratic National Committee now has a strong direction and a strong leader. As a long-time resident of the Chicago area, Mr. Obama has seen first hand the shortcomings of machine politics. He hasn’t come right out and said that he plans to reduce or eliminate public corruption but the appointment of Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General speaks volumes.
On the local level, Jim Himes knows about machine politics and how it has made Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, an unattractive place for development and investment. Too many individuals holding elected and/or appointed office (such as zoning, building, etc.) in this town are subject to manipulation by the leadership of the DTC. Himes has opened an office to ensure that at least some of the federal economic stimulus funds get down to the street level, providing working capital to small business and creating jobs.
The National Democratic Party is not an ideology to be referred to as if it is the Holy Gospel. It is a collection of common needs and goals. Why is the Common Good an alien concept in this town? ACORN is an honorable organization. The ends that the organization pursues don’t always justify the means employed to achieve them, but their motivation is always honorable. Some of ACORN’s members (and the local branch of the NAACP) play the race card a little too often, and it has blinded and distracted people (that ought to know better) from the bigger problem inhibiting revitalization and development in Connecticut’s largest city: greed. Too many self-interested jerks at the top of the pyramid looking for a percentage for themselves.
Yes. Jethro Tull played at the Naut. During breaks, Barnacle Bill would bring him grape skinny’s (whatever the hell they are).
This has nothing to do with grapes, but a lot to do with issues of education and leadership.
Just attended a lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough (John Adams; Harry S. Truman; 1776). Thought provoking to say the least. Certainly relevant to the challenges facing Bridgeport and the nation.
To a ‘sold-out’ crowd, he made no excuses for his belief that “although the nation’s founding fathers were young in years and experience, quality education imbued them with character, integrity and honor, which so many people are (now) conspicuously lacking.”
His prescription for America’s educational system, which he concludes is falling behind: “Go back to certain basic REQUIRED courses; history, math, science and a second language. Give greater recognition to teachers who bring a depth of understanding and passion to what they teach. And for parents, reinstate dinner-time conversations.” No revolutionary ideas here, but try suggesting that curriculum to some boards of education across the country.
When asked about the attributes of America’s “historically eminent leaders,” he emphasized their intelligence, integrity, reliability and resiliency under adversity. And their willingness to set aside their own self interest for a more noble, common cause.
But he came back to the simple brilliance of John Adams in describing what mattered the most in choosing a leader: “Regard the honor and moral character of the man more than all other circumstances.” Combine these with commitment, and the talent required by the challenge, and you have the best chance for success.
His preliminary take on Obama: “He’s gifted, articulate and bright. He personifies what we’ve long said we believe in … ambition to excel. And he has certainly excelled all the way.” An inspirational leader … only time will tell if he is right for the times. That assessment generated strong applause from the mostly gray-haired or no-haired audience.
At the end, I pictured the same presentation given to a combined session of the Bridgeport Common Council and Board of Education. Well … maybe not. But everyone could benefit from McCullough’s insight into the life of John Adams, and how that history is still so relevant today.
Bruce I agree with you 100%. I love McCullough and his book on Adams. (HBO did a great miniseries on it too.) One of the things that I found very helpful in the past few years was reading biographies of our founding fathers, such as Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Washington, etc. … While Adams and Jefferson had fundamental differences as to the role of the states and government, they were able to respect each other and many times focus on their common ground. The lack of awareness about our history and how government works is frightening. Elected officials serve themselves and their constituents much better with a basic understanding of the principles (all of them) on which our country was founded. For one it would them help not repeat the mistakes of the past and also how to find middle ground in the present.