Who’s feeding Joe Ganim policy ideas like some sort of coin-operated meter? Former Fairfield First Selectman Ken Flatto? 2011 mayoral candidate Jeff Kohut? Others? Win or lose the September 16 Democratic primary, Joe Ganim has certainly proposed a series of initiatives for a guy not known as a policy wonk: public financing of local races, a clean-government Public Integrity Unit, new sidewalk plan to reduce city liability, police substations. Now the former mayor says he wants to replace the city’s coin-only 600 parking meters with a modern system that accepts debit and credit cards enjoyed by other municipalities.
“If we want to bring back our city’s commerce then we need to make it easy for people to come here and spend their money,” said Ganim in a news release. “The condition of our current meters is atrocious. Smart meters are an easy way to raise revenue while also providing residents and visitors with the kind of convenience they expect these days.”
The Finch administration had publicly touted its plan to begin installing smart meters, says Ganim, but to date, none have appeared on city streets.
New Haven and Hartford have smart meters, some of which are solar powered.
If elected, Ganim promises to resurrect the smart meters installation plan, replacing the old, broken meters with high-tech models.
“Of all the problems facing the city these days,” Ganim asserts, “should it really take two years just to install parking meters? That’s what people have come to expect from City Hall, broken promises and slow execution.”
The city’s current meters have a maximum two-hour time limit during weekdays. The city raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from meter revenue.
Joe Ganim is focusing on quality-of-life issues, for campaign purposes. Regardless of his motivation he is doing it; someone has to. City services have deteriorated over the past ten years, right down to the parking meters. The faults may well lie with various department heads who are overworked or are underqualified or simply don’t give a shit about the job and do not take pride in their work.
Go high enough and the route always leads to one man. Tax Bill Finch is responsible for the city’s deterioration; he’s the CEO, ostensibly in charge of the city’s affairs. If he, as the incumbent, is too focused on appeasing the well-heeled donors to his campaign at the expense of the people he was elected to represent, what does that say about his priorities?
There have been at least six reported shootings since the Trumbull Gardens incident. Mayor Finch would have us believe the streets are much safer because of his gun buyback program. The fact of business is the buyback program has been a boon to suburbanites who found World War II-era rifles in the attic left behind by grandfathers and great uncles. The city of Bridgeport is no safer than it was 20 years ago.
This is a revenue enhancer for certain. We did have a card program for awhile several years ago but the lack of vibrancy of the retail community (among other things) meant refilling your card with $25 of credit became a problem. We have waited patiently for the City to move. Glacial speed does not hack it. Perhaps higher powers can explain why certain streets remain unmetered. Yes, they may have a two-hour limit, but observations indicate certain cars remain there all day unticketed. Want to look at the State Street entrance of Morton Government Center? Time will tell.
Thank you, Mayor Joe!
Now, let’s examine the potential revenue loss by the police no longer being able to ticket cars for $35 for expired parking time. These should have been in place a while ago. Why not? The offset of ticket revenue loss may be greater than the charges for daily parking. That’s why.
There will always be cases of drivers unable to feed the meter, not paying in the first place, etc. Parking tickets add up.
When you begin to look at the expenses associated with manual survey of parking meters including pensions and benefits, maybe another alternative will be more attractive. Do we have any evidence such thought processes are part of current administration considerations? Somehow they communicate a feeling:
1. We made the decision our way. That’s none of your business.
2. So you’re going to comment anyway. Well you’re wrong and here’s the “reason” (a partially thought-out response).
3. Well you’re wrong, wrong and worse. Please be quiet. We don’t want anyone to participate in the governing process.
4. Didn’t you realize we are getting “better every day” even if we are the only folks saying so?
5. If a citizen persists to this point, comments are ignored.
So how much revenue from those tickets needs to actually be paid without further pursuit (like booting) to fully fund the salary, fringes and especially a full contribution to whatever Pension and OPEB benefits due the employee who are being funded at a rate of 50% or less currently? A City Council assistant, skilled in research, could work on multiple subjects like this if City Hall cannot. (Think of the Congressional Budget Office.) But does the sitting Council President support such research? When do we stop kicking the can down the road? Time will tell.
Can he come up with an original idea of his own? Seriously, guys. Just like everyone on this blog is like a hillbilly criticizing Finch for the two hybrid chargers installed. Finch already discussed these. Not implemented soon enough, Joe? How about no economic development for 12 years? That’s quality of life issues also that have retarded the city for over a decade. Thank you, former disgraced Mayor.
Discussing them accomplished nothing because talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. I’m guessing Bill Finch was standing behind the classroom door during that lesson.
When the meter met its match.
Rumor Mill: History has been kind to the ghost of Machiavelli. He’s up-to-date with a new, political tool: the anti-cannoli drone. These drones hover outside the window of Ganim campaign events and zap cannolis with a heat-intense beam that melts the cannoli without harming people or property. How cool is that? Since the world began, cannolis have fed armies, ended weddings, punctuated baby showers and won elections. It’s how you win the game. Nothing is more demoralizing than a melted cannoli. It’s breakthrough technology and only the ghost of Machiavelli has it.
Hartford has parking garages that work on this premise. That is the direction we need to go.
That would require building parking garages.
YES IT WOULD, AND IT WOULD CERTAINLY PREPARE THE CITY FOR 1000 UNITS OF HOUSING AS WELL AS RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS. A STATE OF THE ART PARKING GARAGE IS NEEDED NOW, NOT LATER!
The reason these meters and lots around the arena are not metered is simple. It’s a cash business with little accountability right now. How much of this cash doesn’t make its way to the books or general fund right now?
Steve, what do you have against hillbillies?
Nothing, my brother thinks I am a hillbilly. 🙂
Your brother is incorrect. You are just opinionated.
Bass Pro is Hillbilly Heaven!
Just picture it: Bass Pro opens in Bridgeport just in time for buck season, and the Clampetts decide to head to Bridgeport. Uncle Jed can check out the shotguns (in the Weapons, Knives, Firearms section) while Jethro checks out the hookers at the Motel 6 next door, and Ellie May is trying to hitch a ride to Beardsley Zoo from the truckers coming out of the Motel 6 so she can pet all the cute critters pictured in the Beardsley Zoo brochures being handed out by City Hall staffers in the parking lot, all while Granny cooks up some fresh possum in the back of the truck on their new, Bass Pro Coleman Stove (the possum shot from the truck by Uncle Jed as he’s driving the Clampett truck down Seaview Avenue and sees the animal on one of the massive, construction waste storage sites down the block from Steal Point).
Doggies!!! Life is going to be sweet in Bridgeport!
Jeff Kohut,
I am confused, you mentioned Motel 6 twice. I am expecting a four- or five-star hotel with jobs from janitorial and housekeeping to food services, Loss and Prevention, customer service, management jobs, bartenders, waiters, cooks, etc. etc. Are you hoping for a Motel 6?
Jeff, every day the city gets closer to new announcements as the excitement builds. How great it is to be Mayor Finch at this point in time? All eyes are on Bridgeport. Some see Bridgeport’s future full of hope and prosperity. The eyes across the country looking to see how a city on the verge of greatness could possibly elect a suburban resident, a corrupt, convicted felon.
It is so ironic Come Back Bridgeport is concerned the Mayor is a liar, I’m thinking “are you fucking kidding me?”
A four- or five-star hotel? Adam “Pecker” Wood will be lucky if he can get a Quality Court Motor Inn to sign on.