Is there anything better for politicians in campaign season than working a little league crowd? Mayor Bill Finch on Saturday greeted the peeps in the North End to celebrate the opening of three new baseball fields at Blackham School resulting from a partnership with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.
“The kids of the North End Little League will be playing on brand new turf fields on opening day,” says the mayor. “Crews worked all winter long to make it happen. This is an investment in our future and in our children as we continue to make Bridgeport a place where families choose to raise their kids and grandkids.”
Former Mayor Joe Ganim attended opening day ceremonies working the crowd. The North End political power couple Tom and Michelle Lyons were in attendance. Hmmm, who are they supporting? Tom seems to be supporting Ganim. City Councilwoman Michelle? She’s not saying yet, not publicly at least. Michelle is seeking reelection to her council seat.
Finch’s 2011 primary opponent Mary-Jane Foster campaigned in the North End as well, knocking on doors with State Rep. Jack Hennessy.
Mayor Finch should be very proud of these three new fields. The neighborhood knows who to thank. So where were the other candidates? I always said one thing about Joe Ganim, he was always where he needed to be, like Chris Caruso. I remember Joe and his entourage, usually his brothers, showing up at Common Council meetings during the Moran administration. Those two years were a blur. I would like to think Tom and Michelle Lyons, two of my favorite politicians, were supporting Bill Finch, but this is Bridgeport where politics really does make for strange bedfellows. Good luck to all.
Omg … Bummer Saturday, did not know that but the Greek Festival in Waterbury was Great!
Hmmm. Michelle Lyons not endorsing Finch this time around??? Can it be??? She also voted against the sweetheart tax break for one of Finch’s biggest contributors. Can it be?
Lennie,
Thanks for alerting folks the fields were not happenstance. My research tells me there are perhaps several dozen fields and play areas that were lately funded in November and December 2014 with purchases by the City of nearly $9 Million focused on two vendors. One is the Ripken Foundation, but unlike previous work in the City in Black Rock, this work had the City paying 90% of the expense with Ripken contributing perhaps $500,000. And if the funds that were used in the fall were not budgeted in the Operating Budget, must have been the Capital Budget? Any comments at the hearings this past month?
Christmas in springtime? Not. This Santa Claus is running for office and hopes people do not connect the expenses with the items purchased. And photo-ops are special, and Council members who cannot remember what they voted for are ready for credit, and folks who have had other ideas are left in silence by the “City getting better every day” machine.
The Ripken Foundation has not made a statement I have seen. Wonder how many in-town unemployed they put to work while they worked “all winter long” to get the fields ready. Time will tell.