Black Rock voters are active, informed and choosy about candidates for public office. The Black Rock School voting precinct has roughly 1,500 registered Democrats, below the registration average of city polling districts, with also the highest number of registered Republicans in a GOP-challenged community. The Democratic registration may be small, but it is mighty in turnout. It could eclipse 50 percent of the vote in the September 16 primary. The other night a public safety forum took place in the neighborhood.
CT Post scribe Brian Lockhart has more:
The historic waterfront Black Rock enclave bordering Fairfield known for its lovely homes and dining, drinking and shopping options, is engaged.
That also means residents there–predominantly white and middle class–get out the vote.
Which is why, although other areas of town are plagued by homicides and violence, many would gladly trade their problems for Black Rock’s. It’s also why Mayor Bill Finch, his top cops, and two of the candidates trying to unseat the mayor, attended the Community Council’s crime prevention forum Wednesday.
Full story here.
According to Brian Lockhart’s excellent reporting,
“Police Captain Brian McCarthy acknowledged “several armed robberies” in Black Rock, many of those perpetrated by individuals riding bikes.
‘Our detective bureau, our robbery squad, is on it,’ McCarthy said.
“Information about the bike-riding bandit robberies–part of the public’s right to know under the state Freedom of Information law–never reached the media, and was not publicized by the allegedly transparent Finch administration. The police ‘yellow sheets–reports that detail arrests and other crimes–are no longer kept updated on a daily, or even weekly basis for reporters and the public to review. –
“Reporters now have to exclusively call Finch’s spokesmen to get any kind of police information. Rarely are they allowed to talk to police supervisors, which is at odds with the practice of most transparent and progressive mayoral administrations and police departments in cities across the U.S., where reporters often speak directly to supervising officers, rather than appointed civilian spokesmen.
‘Finch is not going to talk about crime in Bridgeport, and certainly not in Black Rock,’ said Councilman Enrique Torres, R-130, the GOP’s mayoral candidate …”
So if Finch and his major domo Adam “Pecker” Wood are controlling all the information, how are we to believe what Hizzoner says? He’s lied before:
• Mayor Finch claimed z’Bridgeport is the safest it’s been in 40 years” (a statement made hours before a mass shooting at Trumbull Gardens that left one person dead and eight others wounded)
• Mayor Finch told a reporter for News 12 that taxes haven’t gone up during his tenure (when in fact they have been raised four times)
• Mayor Finch promised a $600 tax credit no one has seen, not a penny
• Mayor Finch has claimed to have created “thousands of jobs;” that may be true but none of them were set aside for Bridgeport residents. Twisting the truth is still a lie.
The truth will set you free, Mr. Mayor. It’s also easier to remember.
Bridgeport Kid, like I said before it’s all in how the Chief and Major play with the numbers. At this point even if they were to put the information out to the public, who’s going to believe it?
The Gullorant will instantly believe anything.
The reason Joel Gonzalez is an expert on crime is because of his criminal past. Your desk job at the BPD doesn’t mean anything when it comes to crime expertise. You’re desperate for relevancy.
OIB hospital? Dr. Moe? Get a five-fingered grip!
And our experience consuming booze and free food at OIB events makes you an expert at anything? You need to see a doctor to have your head surgically removed from your ass, Loco Eyes.
Local, the difference between me and the rest of society who do and say as you have just done, is they haven’t gotten caught yet. You are a perfect example. Remember the night when Lennie Grimaldi had an event in Black Rock at Danny Roach’s place? At the very end, Lennie and a group of friends stepped outside where I was smoking a cigarette. Lennie said goodbye and stated they were going to the Gallery or some place nearby. Mojo was still inside the bar and you steeped outside with your cane and approached me. You asked me if knew where you can get “some pot” and put your index finger and thumb together to your lips. You wanted some marijuana from me. I didn’t know you other than from this blog. I told you NO and you immediately disappeared. It quickly hit me that you tried to set me up. As soon as I got in my van, I spotted an unmarked BPT detective vehicle and two marked patrol cars coming out of the side streets. I told Lennie Grimaldi about this incident a while ago. You are just another piece of shit who would sell their mother just to get a job. By the way, you were promised the position of Director of Downtown Special Services District if you succeeded. You failed then and you failed now. Let me make it very clear to you and any other individual or group who sets me up. I will first try to defend myself in the legal system. I know I will not prevail in it–it’s all fixed to discredit people like me. I fear nothing. In the event that happens, I will strike back like we were on the streets even if I prevail in the legal system. Know what you are getting into when you try to fuck around with me. I’m the nicest person as a friend, push the wrong button and that could be your end. You’ve just been hit nine times with the 9mm on your chest. Lucky for you, Dr. Moe Grimaldi saves everyone.
Ladies and Gentleman, it appears we have found Joe Ganim’s spokesman. Threatening blog readers with death. This is exactly the type of shit that will keep Bridgeport Gross!!! Thank you Joel, Thank You.
Go Joe, Go!!!
Shoot your enemies!!!
Keep Bridgeport Gross!!!
Ganim Forever!!!
As for you Bridgeport ‘Boner’ Rising, keep looking for Joe Ganim’s spokesman ’til the sun stops rising. I wasn’t speaking, I was typing with my 9. You just shot yourself on the boner. Now that is “Gross.” You’re welcome!
You’re not a winner on OIB until you’ve been threatened by a three-time City Councilman.
If being a pot-smoking, mother-selling, unsuccessful informant makes you a winner, come and get your trophy. Ever since you tried to set me up, I treated you as good as I treat my old good friends. I shook your hand and always kept it cordial. I’m sure you and all OIB readers have heard the saying: keep your friends close and your enemies even closer. I keep them both very close as one never knows whether your friend is really your enemy. Anyone who does what you did for anything of value (a job) is a very low form of a human being. Having said this, what you thought was a friendship or association with me has come to an end. I’ll never shake your hand or even look at you. I highly suggest anyone going to future OIB parties do the same. I wouldn’t dirty my hands on you and risk going to jail. It’s bad enough the simple act of using my 9 fingers or should I say 9mm to address you makes me feel dirty.
Want to talk about threats here? The July DTC Convention is a nice example of not only threats being made, the real threats of physical harm took place. It’s when a Bridgeport mayoral appointee like Ruben Felipe (in a wheelchair) and a State Senator like Ed Gomes (with a pacemaker) get into a fist fight after exchanging insults for a while, the police should be called. I guess the wrong buttons got pushed that day. That’s why I didn’t attend. Perhaps Local Eyes (remember that blogger who reached the end?) should have attended the event to call the police at the first sign of a threat, or to set up some other Ganim supporter.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=pCrJ5sW4P30
That video is great Joel, thanks for posting.
Bridgeport Rising (notice the boner is gone), that Dr. Moe Grimaldi is good at amputations. Moe Grimaldi is the wife of Lennie Grimaldi in case you didn’t know. The 9mm references and/or .45 caliber references used in the past, refers to my nine fingers or four fingers on one hand and five fingers on the other. Did you see this YouTube video used to question the character of MJF? It was more hurtful to the 2011 MJF campaign than cutting off a digit was to me 21 years ago.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=vkRxR5lh52M
Joel, don’t let people get to you, keep stuff like this to yourself and just do what you have to do.
“Get to me,” Ron? I kept this juicy “stuff” to myself long enough. Wasn’t the purpose of this webzine to “Pry Open the Juicy Stuff?” If you attend the next OIB party, careful with giving that guy a ride home. He could plant some weed in your car for the police to find when you get pulled over for running a stop sign on your trip home. I wonder if he ever tried to get weed from Lennie Greenmaldi.
Yeah, Joel. Don’t let that asshole get you down.
Joel, in your expert opinion answer these two questions. If Mr. Ganim didn’t get busted by the feds and continued to be Mayor of Bridgeport, would he and his administration still be running Bridgeport as they have prior to his arrest? Second, what is the recidivism rate of people who committed crimes? This is not about Ganim, it’s about Bridgeport and its residents. Joe has to prove himself to Bridgeport residents. Just saying sorry is not enough to hand over control to the city, it’s hard to know if he has changed or if he will repeat what he did when he was Mayor. If he really cares about Bridgeport and its residents he would prove it by becoming a Town Committee Member, a District Leader, a Councilman, he needs to work his way up like everybody who has made mistakes in their life and are asking for a chance. Don’t you think?
Teixeira, first of all welcome to the OIB webzine. I have to go to work where I’m being monitored. I will answer your question as best I can. Recommend you and all OIB visitors visit the OIB archives where all my permitted postings can be viewed, INCLUDING THE ONE WHERE I POSTED MY CRIMINAL ARREST RECORDS, FILE NUMBERS AND ALL. Stay tuned.
You don’t have to go through the trouble. Arrests are only based on the law. A few years ago it was a crime to smoke weed in Colorado, now it is not, you’re welcome. 🙂 I just find it odd each side defends regardless of the merits. It’s not if Joe committed these acts while he was mayor. It is he going to repeat them. I read posts on how Mayor Finch is corrupt also, if that’s the case I would think the feds would have busted him too. Moreover if Bridgeport is just a criminal enterprise then you would want the criminal who won’t get busted. My personal opinion, he only admitted to his errors a decade after his conviction. If it took him that long to find Jesus that’s great, because hell is a very lonely place. But investors are not looking out for Jesus, they’re looking out for the devil. they want to make sure their investment is secure. I think.
southpark.cc.com/clips/103339/the-devil-dive
RT, I served on the council with Finch when Joe Ganim was mayor.
“I read posts on how Mayor Finch is corrupt also, if that’s the case I would think the feds would have busted him too.”
Keep in mind the feds had been probing for about five years until the probe was leaked around mid 2001. Six months after Finch left the council to serve on the State Senate around January 2001. For five years (1995-2000) or even longer, Bill Finch was picked by Council President John Fabrizi to Chair the Contracts and Appointments Committee. Bill Finch had the power, authority and responsibility over all city contracts. The probe was about contracts. Bill Finch as chair of that committee negotiated, vetted and approved them all, first in committee, sent them to the council where Fabrizi assured their passage. After council passage or approval they went to Mayor Ganim for approval or veto. When the feds came knocking, Bill Finch was hiding in the State Senate acting as if he did nothing. When Ganim left in 2003 there was $53 million cash in the bank. By the time Fabrizi left in 2007, $8 million was left with a $36 million deficit. Fabrizi did contract scams with his brother and the feds knew it. To prove it, they needed his brother’s testimony. Finch came in in 2008 (November 2007) after the party passed him over Fabrizi in 2004.
Food for thought. Since 2000 the feds haven’t stated Bridgeport is clear of corruption. The key reasons I strongly believe Joe Ganim will never repeat is he is the only one who has truly learned a lesson and the fact if Joe Ganim wins, Adams Scott, the FBI Agent who put him in will be guarding the hen house–that’s the most scariest of scenarios for Stafstrom, connected contractors, and Bill Finch.
VOTE LINE B on September 16.
Joel, thanks for your insight. However if John and Finch were doing things illegal the fed still could have made an arrest and Ganim could have vetoed the contracts I think. But you still didn’t answered my question. If Ganim didn’t get busted and were mayor would he have still have been running Bridgeport as mayor prior to his arrest.
Hey Lennie, how about a new OIB poll for Mayor?
Make sure you include other viable candidates like Pat Paulsen and Howard the Duck.
Pat Paulsen ran possibly the best presidential campaign in TV history.
For years, the library board tried to buy the Charles Smith foundation, a week before the Democratic convention, the city buys for $300,000. Scott Hughes, head of library and member of Democratic Town Committee votes to endorse Finch the next week.
Scott Hughes supported Ganim. Hello?
What! Scott Hughes is not supporting Finch. Is something wrong, concerned citizen? Your post sounds as if you’re speaking another language. I’m being facetious of course.
Lisa, I am correct, no?
Yes you are, Steve.
Shaking my head. Not surprised to read this. Isn’t John from Black Rock working for the Library?
This is the most stupid article by the CT Post I have ever read. Black Rock school voters are diverse, many blacks and Hispanics vote at Black Rock and Mexicans have moved in in droves. Will voting be at St. Ann’s or Black Rock school it would be stupid on Finch’s part not to have the voting at Black Rock school. The new facility looks nice and was done under Finch and now goes up to 8th grade which is great for Black Rock residents who had to worry about sending their kids to private school after second grade. I think Finch needs to pound that message more, it’s a big reason why many family members with kids in Black Rock will vote for Finch.
I have heard repeated assertions there is, in fact, a contingent of folks in Black Rock who care only about Black Rock School, and take only that one School, and no other issues that are plaguing the entire city, into consideration when they vote.
The right to one-issue vote accompanies the right to vote. It’s just that one issue voting is a direct and lethal factor in the erosion of the greater good mentality that serves more than just the “few.”
One-issue voting, in my opinion, is a myopic and personal agenda-pushing way to make a decision regarding leadership, but it is, however, just as legal as the right to vote itself.
For the record, I don’t know if I completely believe those assertions, but they are out there, and have been for years.
donj,
People are waking up to the fact Finch is an asshole and a bully. He (or more specifically, his chief of staff) gets his shit through the City Council by threatening aldermen holding city jobs with termination. He also obfuscates the truth. He’s created “thousands of jobs” but virtually none for the people of the city of Bridgeport. The unemployment rate is 8.3%, a 41% increase since he took office. He proposed a 35-year tax abatement for a residential development on the East Side. He claimed that the development would create “thousands of jobs” (for out-of-state construction laborers).
Bill Finch also claimed he would make his administration more transparent when it is actually more opaque: news reporters have to go through a Finch representative for police reports and crime statistics. The information is readily available in other communities; Bridgeport is the only municipality that requires reporters to go through a civilian employee. (Maybe he doesn’t want the public to know what we already know, the city of Bridgeport is not as safe as Billy the Mountain would like us to believe.)
Any mayor can build schools, beautify parks and secure development. The addition to Black Rock School doesn’t have his name on it.