*** Love it, “voter wake-up awareness” mailers! There’s still time for the entire challenge slates (Republicans, CW4BB, WFP and independents) to come together on something like this just to wake up voters! Making pass-out flyers that can be put on car windshields, under apt. doors or passed out at supermarkets, etc. to remind taxpayers to “vote” and also bring “awareness” of the ills of our city government, is the change ticket! They don’t have to endorse any “particular individuals” or “party” other than the whole “challenge” slate. *** OUT WITH THE OLD INCUMBENTS AND IN WITH THE NEW CHALLENGE-SLATE CANDIDATES OF CHOICE! ***
Mojo, you know you give out mixed messages, here you say, “There’s still time for the entire challenge slates (Republicans, CW4BB, WFP and independents) to come together on something like this just to wake up voters!” You include WFP but then you on another topic say you don’t want Sauda Baraka to get elected to the BOE. The person who started the change here by running as a candidate for the BOE and got elected and who has been fighting this dictatorship takeover of the BOE by the mayor. So I guess you would consider yourself as new even though you have been a councilman before and that was old.
*** There’s more to the WFP than Ms. Baraka, however she’s part of the challenge slate too. These flyers are not to promote any “individual candidates” but to promote the “entire challenge slates” running and to bring awareness to voters wno have been asleep when it comes to current city government ills. We’ll let the individual voters themselves decide whom they want to vote for, no? Also I’ve been out of politics since 2007, “incumbents” are presently serving on boards and the council. I would be a welcome blast from the past with no ties but to the people of the 131st district! ***
Lennie, you know my business was chased out of Bridgeport in 1988 due to the administration there. In 1994 or so, the city took over the building our family owned by eminent domain. Since then from Fairfield Ave to Golden Hill Street there has been absolutely no development by Bridgeport for that block. Downtown Bridgeport’s “Economic Development” is a sham and the current administration and its city council is responsible. They have no clue how to revive this once-vibrant city. And that’s the mantra of the top mailer shown above (lower right hand corner).
TIME FOR CHANGE!!! TIME FOR TERM LIMITS at all levels of government!!!
Bob, you are 100% correct about Economic Development within the City. Once the City gave Eric Anderson 10-11 parcels in downtown, all development STOPPED!!! Anderson took years to complete the City Trust building with the hope he was to develop the remaining parcels. Cost overruns and very poor management of the project provided enough info to prove he was way over his head. During this time no further development happened downtown. With high taxes, bad mayors and lastly bad Directors of Economic Development, nothing is going to change, period.
Add to all that the FACT the mechanicals under Main Street (electric, water and sewer) are about 100 years old and deteriorating. Nothing has been done there. Any serious development would have to include a complete upgrade and that’s a little expensive. Politicians at all levels need to have serious business experience to actually upgrade a city of Bridgeport’s size.
Rick Torres has the education credentials and the business experience, AND is NOT beholden to the system.
My recommendation is to travel 45 miles down I-95 and see what New Rochelle did to their downtown to revive it with New Roc City after the failed mall which was rife with gangs, theft and lousy city administration. The guy who did the upgrade was the contractor in Waterbury for their successful mall and downtown development.
*** Nothing is written in stone when it comes to politics and voters can change their minds right up to the voter polling station. So awareness about the candidates and the incumbents running is very important to voters! Example, even though I’m against bringing back any incumbents and hope for an “all-new challenge slate win,” there are some issues with that scenario especially on the BOE. Personal opinion; the present BOE members not running in this election other than Bagley are rumored to be pro-admin rubber stampers! So maybe “not bringing back” someone who has past experience and is known to be anti-admin like Ms. Baraka could make the board balance shift towards pro-admin? Now I know I’ve written in prior blogs Ms. Baraka is said to also be an obstructionist on the BOE and I have asked what positive ideas or changes she has brought forth since her time on the board. But if the balance and experience shifts too much in favor of the pro-admin members then we’re right back where we started from before the elections, no? This is a perfect example of how “awareness” concerning the issues, the candidates and city government ills is so important right up ’til it’s time to vote! ***
Why would anyone vote against them???
Very effective piece by Torres and Blagys. A lot going on, but hey, there IS a lot going on. Well played.
*** Love it, “voter wake-up awareness” mailers! There’s still time for the entire challenge slates (Republicans, CW4BB, WFP and independents) to come together on something like this just to wake up voters! Making pass-out flyers that can be put on car windshields, under apt. doors or passed out at supermarkets, etc. to remind taxpayers to “vote” and also bring “awareness” of the ills of our city government, is the change ticket! They don’t have to endorse any “particular individuals” or “party” other than the whole “challenge” slate. *** OUT WITH THE OLD INCUMBENTS AND IN WITH THE NEW CHALLENGE-SLATE CANDIDATES OF CHOICE! ***
Mojo, you know you give out mixed messages, here you say, “There’s still time for the entire challenge slates (Republicans, CW4BB, WFP and independents) to come together on something like this just to wake up voters!” You include WFP but then you on another topic say you don’t want Sauda Baraka to get elected to the BOE. The person who started the change here by running as a candidate for the BOE and got elected and who has been fighting this dictatorship takeover of the BOE by the mayor. So I guess you would consider yourself as new even though you have been a councilman before and that was old.
*** There’s more to the WFP than Ms. Baraka, however she’s part of the challenge slate too. These flyers are not to promote any “individual candidates” but to promote the “entire challenge slates” running and to bring awareness to voters wno have been asleep when it comes to current city government ills. We’ll let the individual voters themselves decide whom they want to vote for, no? Also I’ve been out of politics since 2007, “incumbents” are presently serving on boards and the council. I would be a welcome blast from the past with no ties but to the people of the 131st district! ***
Lennie, you know my business was chased out of Bridgeport in 1988 due to the administration there. In 1994 or so, the city took over the building our family owned by eminent domain. Since then from Fairfield Ave to Golden Hill Street there has been absolutely no development by Bridgeport for that block. Downtown Bridgeport’s “Economic Development” is a sham and the current administration and its city council is responsible. They have no clue how to revive this once-vibrant city. And that’s the mantra of the top mailer shown above (lower right hand corner).
TIME FOR CHANGE!!! TIME FOR TERM LIMITS at all levels of government!!!
Bob, you are 100% correct about Economic Development within the City. Once the City gave Eric Anderson 10-11 parcels in downtown, all development STOPPED!!! Anderson took years to complete the City Trust building with the hope he was to develop the remaining parcels. Cost overruns and very poor management of the project provided enough info to prove he was way over his head. During this time no further development happened downtown. With high taxes, bad mayors and lastly bad Directors of Economic Development, nothing is going to change, period.
Add to all that the FACT the mechanicals under Main Street (electric, water and sewer) are about 100 years old and deteriorating. Nothing has been done there. Any serious development would have to include a complete upgrade and that’s a little expensive. Politicians at all levels need to have serious business experience to actually upgrade a city of Bridgeport’s size.
Rick Torres has the education credentials and the business experience, AND is NOT beholden to the system.
My recommendation is to travel 45 miles down I-95 and see what New Rochelle did to their downtown to revive it with New Roc City after the failed mall which was rife with gangs, theft and lousy city administration. The guy who did the upgrade was the contractor in Waterbury for their successful mall and downtown development.
*** Nothing is written in stone when it comes to politics and voters can change their minds right up to the voter polling station. So awareness about the candidates and the incumbents running is very important to voters! Example, even though I’m against bringing back any incumbents and hope for an “all-new challenge slate win,” there are some issues with that scenario especially on the BOE. Personal opinion; the present BOE members not running in this election other than Bagley are rumored to be pro-admin rubber stampers! So maybe “not bringing back” someone who has past experience and is known to be anti-admin like Ms. Baraka could make the board balance shift towards pro-admin? Now I know I’ve written in prior blogs Ms. Baraka is said to also be an obstructionist on the BOE and I have asked what positive ideas or changes she has brought forth since her time on the board. But if the balance and experience shifts too much in favor of the pro-admin members then we’re right back where we started from before the elections, no? This is a perfect example of how “awareness” concerning the issues, the candidates and city government ills is so important right up ’til it’s time to vote! ***
There is a lot of truth being expressed in this particular blog about Downtown development. Good posts, Bob and MAGOO!
Great mailers. The facts are clear and compelling and the truth hurts. It’s time for real change.