Sometimes outsiders are so disengaged about local city politics and the viewpoint of urban voters, they may as well be from Pluto. CT Post reporter Ken Dixon examines the outside angst over Joe Ganim’s possible return to City Hall and what it could mean to the investment world.
To say that Democratic leaders from throughout the state are looking at the impending Bridgeport mayoral race with interest would be a huge understatement.
Instead there has been hand-wringing, raised voices and behind-the-scenes anxiety over the fact that the party’s nominee is convicted felon Joe Ganim.
“It would turn Bridgeport into the punchline of a joke and naturally bring Bridgeport into any discussion of corruption in Connecticut,” said Ronald Schurin, an associate professor at UConn’s Department of Political Science.
Re-electing a mayor of the state’s biggest city–a man whose hallmark was pay-to-play corruption–isn’t a strong selling point for a state that is struggling to attract and retain jobs.
Full story here.
Ken Dixon,
Bridgeport as the “butt” of jokes (armpit or other body parts included) has a long history. Living here with diversity of country of origin, religions, cultures, age groups and economic status is a different story and most appealing to many. If the folks in the suburbs don’t get it until they age and decide to downsize, well that is their loss.
Now Bill has told us Bridgeport is 17 miles square and Ken says 19 miles square, and the difference may be shoreline property measured at Lunar low tide relative to a similar high tide. But area supports homes and businesses and if you are small in area but large in population, you need to use approaches that contribute to balancing the budget for services. And you need to watchdog fiscal matters honestly and completely. That has not been done for years, I have suggested and continue to repeat. Were you to compare the relevance, comprehensive nature and factual/fiscal information reported in our latest 2014 bond marketing material with that reported by our external auditor and Finance Officer annually especially from December 27, 2014 audit, you would understand what I mean. But did the CC ever see the bond document? Did they spend any agenda time reviewing the fiscal facts? If not, why not? With five Budget and Appropriations CC members departing this year, where are the WATCHDOGS for the voter taxpayers? Time will tell.
John, nobody knows what you mean, but everyone knows you mean something and are quite honest in your beliefs. Simplify the message, if anyone gets a clean look at the details anytime this century, the afterparty will be the right place for such fine details.
Where are the City debates this year where basic facts and philosophy get shared and the public has a chance to adjust their lenses?
On September 30, 2015 I went to the City Clerk office to see about the latest monthly fiscal report available. Charter guidelines (By fourth Friday of following month) indicated August should have been available by September 25. NOT!
But July was available. When I looked at the revenue numbers posted on August 26, 2015 for the first month of the 2016 FY, July I noted the revised budget including CURRENT TAXES: ALL PROPERTIES showed $285,845,755 for the year. From July 1 through July 31 the City collected $106,474,700 which is only 37% and leaves $179,371,055 to be collected late or on January 1. Is there any problem here? No one is talking about current fiscal matters. Why not? Where is the knowledge, competency, caring of the current candidates on fiscal matters? Do taxpayers care? Knocking on doors, I think they do. How about you? Time will tell.
Have no fear, JML. Foster has been endorsed by a man no one in Bridgeport could identify even if he said his name.
Phantom, get back to bed with your sheets and invisible persona. I have no fear. Just sharing some facts no one else bothers to seek or report. So call it barking by a fiscal watchdog, standing my ground, looking at City values for all my neighbors.
Is your reference to Lowell Weicker? At least in his case there is a record to be searched if one were so inclined. However, with “the Phantom” there is nothing there, to identify, to remember, but perhaps that blogger is fearful and that causes them to deal with ‘phantasy.’ Time will tell.
JML. I wasn’t attacking you. I was speaking about Weicker. Sorry I confused you.
Ken Dixon’s article is reality. All eyes are on Bridgeport, while staunch Ganim supporters are hopeful. The fact remains while Fabrizi and Finch have restored respect on many levels for Bridgeport, our city will become the butt of jokes and again shunned by political officials and new developers and investors. Every article will always begin with convicted felon or disgraced Mayor. Ganim supporters may laugh that off, but the entire state will be laughing at Bridgeport. Ganim may be able to get a job no other felon in Bridgeport can ever hope to achieve but will be able to write a memoir and a lifetime movie. Joe Ganim will be able to continue to live the good life while his supporters are rewarded with jobs.
Take a deep breathe, SA. Now don’t you feel better?
That is true, so yes take a deep breath and repeat. Truth.
Most of the people voting for Ganim wouldn’t know who Lowell Weicker is if he bit them on the ass.
No, but if he bit them on the ass they would want to find out.
*** Weicker was a womanizer who liked to drink and gamble, tell stories and spend other people’s money. He believed without finding other means to add or raise taxes in CT the state would never be able to get out of the red and balance the budget! *** PROMISES, PROMISES ***
Lowell Weicker was a great statesmen who bucked his own party and ran as an independent and won. He is a philanthropist and an advocate for special-needs children. I have never heard him being accused of being a womanizer nor would his personal business be of interest to me.
… And he was right.
No politician in Hartford or Washington has been laughing at Bridgeport since September 16. Now our political “representation” and “leadership” know Bridgeporters are willing to get down and dirty and fight back against their abusers and exploiters.
The politicians in Hartford and Washington know their days of collecting their winning margin of votes from Bridgeport for free on Election Day are over. Now they have to pay, and treat us with respect.
After November 3, all these politicians will be lining up to ask Mayor Ganim what the people of Bridgeport need and want from Hartford and Washington. If they don’t deliver by Primary Day 2016, they’ll need to update their resumes and plan their return to the “private sector.”
That’s how they’ll be “laughing” at us.
That’s a ridiculous turn of storyline. Do you mean if Ganim is elected they will need to pay to play? As if voters in Bridgeport really see Ganim as a guy in a cowboy hat standing guard at the edge of town. Get real. He is winning the game of psychology and screwed posturing, most of the poorer folks he is seen parading around with don’t get the ploy and they won’t get it when the love fest is over and it’s back to steak and wine for the inchworm only. Again.
Funny auto-spell in there, but made me laugh so I’ll leave it.
Park City, are you insulting whom you’re referring to as the “poorer folks?” In your mind, who are they?
Only if you don’t think there are any “poorer folks.”
Let me be flippant and suggest reading some literature. Pick any country in the world, at any point in history. You will find ample references to “poorer folks,” or some highly equivalent term. No, it is not a skin color, as you insinuate, but a condition of living. Usually preyed upon by manipulators in shining “white” armament. Wait, let me not say “white armament.” No, your attempt at picking a diversionary quarrel with me won’t work.
Again great job, Mr. Kohut, the truth hurts the people on here with their IQs equal to a ball of yarn.
Ball of yawn. Too bad your auto-spell wasn’t looking when you wrote that.
Ditto, REBEL!
So many outsiders seem to have a stake in keeping the status quo in Bridgeport. That is something my two years on the Council has taught me. They don’t like self-determination by Bridgeporters. One more push to get us over the goal line–November 4th!
Bob, you have either lost your mind or truly become a politician.
It’s time to debate!
The word about town is Ganim’s people are comparing notes with Torres’s people. A vote for Torres is a vote for Ganim?
I cannot stop laughing! Do you say this because Ganim’s attorney Chris Meyer is in Harborview Market almost every morning and shares a table, coffee and conversation with Torres’s supporter, me? There are also many Foster supporters at that table. We do engage in lively conversations and have a great deal of respect for one another. Our comparing notes this morning was, who is doing the poling? People are staring to get calls–whom do you support for Bridgeport Mayor, press one for … and to Meyer’s credit, every day he asks me if I am ready to join the Joe team. How about we support our candidates strong points, promote and work for them and stop the unfounded and devious whisper campaigns?
No, I say this because someone who was there shared it with me.
Almost every morning for the last six years we have been sitting at the same table, with most of the same people, come join us and hear for yourself the information shared, then post your own observations. We always include, enjoy and respect anyone who wants to join in the friendly fire. And because we are friends and neighbors first, there are many times we support the view sometimes the other candidate is being unfairly treated. If that is comparing notes, those are notes I support being exchanged. Which was another part of the conversation, regarding the state investigation into Joe’s donors.
Jennifer, that’s the problem. It’s the same people talking with no new ideas being brought to that table, there is a whole city outside Black Rock.
In the crony world of silly trolls, that is as fake as it gets.
To be clear, Torres is not a Ganim team-mate, did anyone but Fay Friend think that?
Was it because Meyer constantly says to me, you cannot really be a Republican, you agree with too many Democrat platforms?
Fayerweather Friend, don’t be silly. Here is the game plan. Ganim people want Toms and Marshall to believe they will get Ganim’s support but the game plan is Torres will get his seat on CC along with Katy. They will cut Scott Burns, the way Parziale and Halstead and Maria Pereira were cut. They want Torres to focus on Black Rock, Ganim’s weakest area and take as many voters from Foster as possible. It is not going to work. I think JML and Toms have a shot at knocking the entire Ganim line in Black Rock, so many promises and back-stabbings.
SA, now take another deep breathe, the first one didn’t work.
Scotch?
Bridgeport is already the butt of a joke or two.
Q: How many people from Bridgeport does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Who the fuck wants to know?
Fay Friend was told that. To be clear.
Misinformation.
People will draw their own conclusions based on what they see. Misinformation it may be, but it’s out there nonetheless. Some folks perceived what they saw and heard that way regardless of whether it was meant that way.
Thanks for sharing the rumors. May we all continue to get them in print on here so people can clarify and discuss. Come to Harborview some morning, introduce yourself and join us. Please.
Jennifer, if nothing else these silly rumors will bring people to Harborview Market. It is nice you have coffee regularly with Chris Meyer. He is definitely one of Ganim’s bests assets. He is a gentlemen and I wish I had time for coffee at Harborview in the morning. Btw Jennifer, I ran into a Republican admirer of yours at Fruita downtown. You will have to give me a cookie to share, it was very flattering!
Steven–oh do tell! But not here and now. Set a time for that cookie date and I will be there!
And Chris is all you say he is, for sure.
Anyone who knows the tiniest little bit about Bridgeport politics, knows there is largely one camp that keeps electing themselves and putting their friends in jobs and keeping the City Council at bay by also providing jobs that can be threatened for disobedience. Now a rift has occurred and there are two camps. The fun part is seeing who falls on the swords of which camp. Foster has one foot in and one foot out of camp B, while Ganim is all in camp A. Torres is the only candidate who can give an unattached view of what is going on in Bridgeport. He has been around long enough trying to get a chance at the helm, I say let him have it and let the chips fall where they may. It certainly won’t result in higher taxes for a start.
I will never forget the CT Post article about Mario Testo, attributing about 80% of city employees having jobs because he recommended them, and the reply from him was, so? I tell them if they cannot do their jobs fire them. Add to that he is the head of the DTC, most voters in the city and his endorsement of a candidate usually means victory. To his credit, people who know Mario, and I do not, say he is a man of his word. However, the power he has over our tax dollars and budget via the DTC and city hiring seems a bit excessive. Then the very public struggle for control of the DTC by Stafstrom, our bond counsel, once again a very powerful and lucrative position in Bridgeport budget and tax dollars, a known rainmaker for candidates and friend to Malloy. I look at the diverse makeup of this city and wonder, why are lifelong qualified Bridgeport residents of a more diverse background not elected as mayor? Having co-hosted Bridgeport Now for more than a few election cycles, I have had the pleasure of interviewing and doing background investigation on many diverse leaders of this city. I just do not understand why independent thinking, highly educated, caring, effective community leaders who could truly make a difference as an elected official either do not run, or are not elected. Oh wait, perhaps I do understand. Does anyone else?
Jennifer, it’s called MONEY.
And who controls the money?
Ceasar.