The city has released its latest television, radio and digital ads in a $250,000 taxpayer-paid media campaign featuring Bridgeport mother Monica Jackson promoting quality of life improvements for her son.
“Everything I do, I do to give my son a better life. That’s why the green jobs being created here in Bridgeport are so important,” says Monica Jackson in the campaign. “In Bridgeport, I know that my son can get a good education and a good job. We can walk right to the park from our home, go to the arena, even Pleasure Beach now. This is home. This is where I want to raise my family.”
The marketing campaign includes the website which kicked off last November to boost confidence among residents and city investors, according to city officials. City development chief David Kooris says the campaign is working.
“Job creators and investors from across the city and all of Fairfield County have been raving about the marketing campaign,” said Kooris. “The bottom line is that Bridgeport is getting better every day. It’s becoming a place where companies want to invest and hire people, where people want to live and work, and where our strong communities are making for an even stronger economy. We set out to ensure the word was spreading. From the feedback we’ve been getting, it’s working.”
Media placements include the Connecticut Post, OIB, Cablevision and local radio stations such as Spanish station Radio Cumbre. The campaign comes during an election year as Mayor Bill Finch seeks a third four-year term. Finch is facing several potential challengers including former Mayor Joe Ganim who formed an exploratory committee for the city’s top post last week. Ganim, as mayor, also leveraged city finances to promote city develop and destination points on the airwaves.
Finch has not appeared in any of the spots. Connecticut law prohibits incumbents from appearing in taxpayer-funded media campaigns during an election cycle.
So what say you, good use of taxpayer funds or not?
Media campaigns in an election cycle are de facto incumbent campaign messages. Bridgeport residents deserve their money back from the Finch campaign funds. Where was the city marketing initiative in non-campaign years???
It really is Baffling!
Baffling Bill thinks he can Buffalo the voters. This p.r. campaign is so thick in shit, it’s turning my blue eyes brown.
lol.
Feedback?
“Job creators and investors from across the city and all of Fairfield County have been raving about the marketing campaign,” said Kooris. “The bottom line is that Bridgeport is getting better every day. It’s becoming a place where companies want to invest and hire people, where people want to live and work, and where our strong communities are making for an even stronger economy. We set out to ensure the word was spreading. From the feedback we’ve been getting, it’s working.”
Where are the new companies located in Bridgeport that are paying taxes? Aren’t there plenty of Bridgeport candidates who want to be cops? If I were mayor nobody outside Bridgeport would be allowed to join the force until every Bridgeport applicant who was qualified was hired.
Chief Joe Gaudett knows nothing about law enforcement, which I know from personal experience. He would be fired on my first day in office for cause. I have a list of incidents that are documented in writing. I would love to share these with every Bridgeport citizen. I don’t make innuendos or witch hunts.
This is an expensive variation on stupidity.
Call stupid those who believe this crap.
Call stupid those of us taxpayers who paid for this drivel.
Yeah, this is definitely a good use of taxpayers’ money. The city needs to continue finding every available avenue to market the state’s largest city to make the city more inviting to developers and young families. The ad in question is not new, I have seen it for weeks. Bridgeport investing in marketing is long overdue. 100 years overdue. Bravo and for all the sour grapes out there, I understand you think it makes your candidate look less desirable because these commercials actually make residents feel good. Honestly, anyone who doesn’t think marketing the city is long overdue is just being ridiculous. If ever there were a time to push the city it would be now!!! So yes, money well spent!
Marketing for the city is long overdue. Financing it with taxpayer dollars in a campaign year to do nothing but puff up a guy who has real reason to need it is outrageous. He can use his campaign funds and use these dollars to actually benefit taxpayers. Of course, the ad isn’t new, neither is construction on Steel Point. In our new netherworld, we just announce the same stuff over and over and over and over. That way it gets better every day. You bet it’s ridiculous!
That is the point. It is not marketing the city to outside interests. It is trying to sell the city to its residents. Wasting your own money selling you on where you live. Another page out of the Ganim playbook.
Bob Walsh is correct. This taxpayer-funded marketing campaign is not directed to those who would invest and bring jobs to the city. It is clearly a ‘feel good’ campaign to put the incumbent in a positive light. It is also obviously directed at a population who uses city services but does not pay for them.
Is Bass Pro open yet?
Mayor Finch in his final year in office, along with Paul Timpanelli and the BRBC wants us to keep looking though the large lens of the telescope to see those bogus projects Finch and Tippy keep coming up with.
Soon those Finch bogus green signs will appear on every street corner with Tom McCarthy and the City Council slugs claiming another great paving project or perhaps a new park bench or a water fountain. Maybe a new park like the eight million dollar Knowlton St Park that sits on contaminated soil.
Maybe 177-unit housing project with a 40-year tax abatement program like the eyesore that’s going up in Black Rock.
Here’s the list of bogus projects that appear though the fat lens of the Finch-Timpanelli Telescope.
Just keep in mind that Liars never figure and figures never lie.
RIVERBANK LANDING–Tax abatement for 10 years, this project will pay less in property tax than if it was built in Greenwich or Fairfield. Very little gain to the Grand list.
Bass Pro–Twenty-year return on our tax investment. No gain to Grand list.
All Steel Point projects will not show significant taxes for at least 20 years. No gain to Grand list.
Housatonic Community College–Lafayette Hall–Tax exempt. No gain to Grand list.
Jewish Senior Services–Tax exempt. No gain to Grand list.
MILESTONE APARTMENTS–Tax exempt. No gain to Grand list.
Barnum Train Station–Tax exempt. No gain to Grand list.
Downtown North Village Project–Pie in the sky, after November’s election. No gain to Grand list.
Harding High School–Tax exempt. No Gain to Grand list.
ECO-Technology Park–Tax abatement. Very little gain to tax rolls.
Bijou Square–Credit goes to John Fabizi and Bob Keeley. Add to tax rolls.
Lake Success–Pie in the sky, after November’s election. No gain to tax rolls.
Port Jefferson Ferry–After November’s election. No gain to tax rolls.
Remington Shaver Development–Pie in the sky, after November’s election. No gain to tax rolls.
The Smile Project. Pie in the sky, after November’s election. No gain to tax rolls.
U-Haul–Completion date unknown. Very little gain to tax rolls.
University of Bridgeport–Tax exempt. No gain to tax rolls.
Fox,
Why are you so God-damned negative???
Just be happy the city is creating dreams that will not come true but then when they don’t they will offer you a sincere apology and a damned good reason why.
Such negativity has no place in our city of dreams!!!
Bob, you’re right! Finch and Tippy are selling nothing but dreams to the taxpayers of Bridgeport and the BRBC. It’s all Bullshit from a Bully Mayor!
It’s getting better all the time
I used to get mad at my school (No I can’t complain)
The teachers that taught me weren’t cool (No I can’t complain)
You’re holding me down (Oww)
Turning me round (Ohh)
Filling me up with your rules (Ooo)
I’ve got to admit it’s getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It couldn’t get no worse)
I have to admit it’s getting better (Better)
It’s getting better since you’ve been mine
Me used to be angry young man
Me hiding me head in the sand
You gave me the word
I finally heard
You’re doing the best that I can
I’ve got to admit it’s getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It couldn’t get no worse)
I have to admit it’s getting better (Better)
It’s getting better since you’ve been mine
Getting so much better all the time
It’s getting better all the time (Better, better, better)
It’s getting better all the time (Better, better, better)
I used to be cruel to my woman I beat her
And kept her apart from the things that she loved
Man, I was mean but I’m changing my scene
And I’m doing the best that I can (Ooo)
I admit it’s getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It couldn’t get no worse)
Yes, I admit it’s getting better (Better)
It’s getting better since you’ve been mine
Getting so much better all the time
What is this ad campaign besides a link on Lennie’s website?
This advertising campaign is being conducted in an election year?! It is a thinly veiled pro-incumbent advertising effort filled with distortions and omissions. It should be paid for with campaign funds or halted immediately.
*** Depending on whom you’re asking and the type of job and home living they have, it may be getting better and moving forward! *** One step forward gets a video and two steps backward gets none? *** Forget About It ***