Bridgeport guitar-slinger Derek Brown, who can turn a phrase in a Black Rock music joint or right here on OIB as The Bridgeport Kid, shares this blistering narrative on Mayor Bill Finch:
So there were a couple more shootings in Bridgeport, eh? Hizzoner the mayor is a day late and a few bodies short of accuracy on that claim.
According to Mayor Bill Finch:
• Bridgeport is safer than it’s been in 40 years. According to whom, Mr. Mayor? We as a city have experienced a convulsion of violence over the past three weeks. One shooting at Trumbull Gardens left one dead and eight wounded, some seriously. A few days later there was another shooting at the same housing complex. Over the weekend there were two other shootings that resulted in death. “Bridgeport is safer than it has been in 40 years.” Are you kidding? Stop smoking crack. Violent crime is up 152% over the same period last year.Hizzoner also claimed to have:
• “I’ve created thousands of jobs.” For whom, Mr. Finch? How many of those “thousands” of jobs went to the people of the city of Bridgeport? The city’s unemployment rate is 8.7%. It is 5.6% for the state, 5.5% for the nation. Under Bill Finch unemployment in the city of Bridgeport has soared 41%. Effective governance, Bill. Way to look after the people.And let’s not forget Bill Finch promised:
• “I’ll cut your taxes by $600.” Did anyone get the money? “People in Black Rock need to understand why they have to pay more taxes.” They know, Mr. Bill, they know. You are singularly incapable of balancing a budget for the people of the city of Bridgeport. If you weren’t so busy handing out promotions and raises to the army of incompetents who owe their city jobs to you and voted for you during the DTC nominating convention, maybe the city could afford to hire more police officers. (He also said, with a straight face, that taxes have not gone up in Bridgeport during his time in office. Taxes have been raised four times under Finch’s leadership. This man is a pathological liar.)First responders trying to get to work during a blizzard had to abandon their automobiles and walk because the DPW couldn’t keep the roads clear. Bill Finch called these people:
• “A bunch of yahoos.” I guess he doesn’t give a rat’s ass if a house catches fire or the local emergency rooms are understaffed because he couldn’t keep the roads clear. Way to go, Mr. Bill.• “I knew nothing about Manny Moutinho’s driveway.” That speaks for itself.
• Four years ago Bill Finch said “Joe Ganim has every right to rejoin the political process.” In 2015 Mr. Bill said “He should not be allowed to run for office.” He’s in or he’s not, Mr. Mayor. Can’t have it both ways. Joe Ganim was convicted of racketeering. He served his time, completed the probationary requirements. In the eyes of the judicial system he has been corrected. He has served his penitence. All is forgiven.
Joe Ganim is a serious threat to the Finch administration. If he wins the general election, Bill and his cronies will have to get real jobs. Speaking of law, there are laws on the books prohibiting governmental employees from holding office due to conflict of interest. Those laws are conveniently overlooked by the Finch administration. Take all the municipal employees off the City Council and he’d have to deal with a legislative body composed of real people. They would actually represent the interests of the people of the city of Bridgeport. (If the U.S. Attorney empaneled a grand jury to look into Bill Finch’s life I’m sure a few bones would fall out of the closet.)
• “Democracy doesn’t always work,” which is what Hizzoner said to explain why he was trying to dismantle the Board of Education, an elected body, to replace them with his hand-picked cronies. And this control freak wants another four-year term? Spare us, please. The school system in Bridgeport sucks, to put it mildly. 48% dropout rate, and that’s being generous. Padding the BOE with friends of the mayor does not guarantee a solution.
• “Library workers are nonessential.” Really? REALLY?! Without the library system the common folk would not have access to the Internet, literature, films, art, and other high culture. The library provides after-school activities for children. That goes some distance toward keeping them off the street. Or would the mayor and his cabal of know-it-alls taking up space at the Morton Government Center prefer the city’s underprivileged children join street gangs to sell drugs, commit robbery and shoot people?
I am starting a fan club for Bridgeport Kid. Loved every bit of this commentary.
Derek Brown, I was expecting a serious song kicking Finch’s ass.
Instead, a redundant, dull piece of rhetoric. You insist you are not a Ganim ass-kisser, but Little Derek Brown, could you be any more obsequious?
Little Derek Brown, as Ganim’s number-one sycophant, you need to know Mayor Finch is not concerned about Ganim. What is ironic is you do not mention the positive attributes of any other candidate. Nothing nice to say about Mary-Jane Foster? Howard Gardner? David Daniels?
Little Derek Brown, how is it possible an individual like yourself, who is clearly intelligent, can be so cruel in your attacks of Finch and let Joe Ganim have an almost free ride? It does not make sense at all. You said you think I really do not care who wins the election and that I am here to instigate.
This is an extremely important election. You may not like Bill Finch, but the outcome of this election will set the tone for Bridgeport’s future.
Derek Brown, I’d like to introduce you to your biggest fan, Maria Pereira. If you saw how Misery turned out, I’d run and be sorry Little Derek Brown, guitarist extraordinaire, is no longer anonymous. 🙂
Thank you for your presentation. I do not agree with the diatribe. I do not deny some truths. I do not appreciate the mean spirit, but it is politics. Well done, Little Derek Brown.
Steve, I’m sorry but I missed where you said he is wrong about anything he wrote, anything.
His very first bullet is wrong.
Unemployment in Bridgeport is 8.3%.
This is not a 41% increase since Finch took office.
8.3% is still way higher than the state and national unemployment rates. Don’t be a complete fool.
You repeatedly lie about a statistic and then accuse the person who pointed out your lie to be a fool. That is an interesting character trait.
Get a life, dude. So the stats were a little off. The message is the same.
You said 41% increase under Finch. It is 15%.
Your stats were 173% off. While I’m working on getting a life maybe you can work on getting a calculator.
Finch is standing on hot coals:
Ever since he became friends with Moales:
My mom used to say I know who you are by who you chose:
Finch endorsed Vallas, Malloy, and Moales, three people all who have a long nose:
Finch said that Bridgeport is the Arsenal of Democracy–what a Jerk:
Because he then said that “democracy doesn’t work”
Finch is nervous and he is shaking like a Twerk
Next to Ganim, every time he speaks he sounds like a twerp
Everything that Finch does, Ganim does better
Finch failed on his promise to lower taxes, but Ganim keeps a budget together
On crime Finch is soft like feather
And for 12 years Ganim got the streets plowed in bad weather
Oh my God, Finch’s anger is so random
Finch grabbed a Latino Council member by the neck when he threw a tantrum
He was all sweaty and red like Clifford Dick’s grandson
In 2016 the only Finch in city hall will be his phantom
Bridgeport is getting better every day–that’s what he says to everyone
Why don’t you say that to the woman who just lost her son?
And the nine people who got shot by a gun
You see, talk is cheap and he gets nothing done
It took him four years to have my road paved
Eight years for some trees on the sidewalk that could provide shade
He makes sure all his buddies are well paid
And he raves about the 1,000 construction jobs that are minimum wage
He says he is the green Mayor but everyone in city hall wastes paper and kills trees
Forty-four trees killed a year when he mails birthday cards to elderly people who can’t touch their knees
He doesn’t carpool to work, he likes to drive alone and pass breeze
He doesn’t use public transit, because unlike Ganim, around Bridgeport people he does not feel at ease
I wish I could place Finch in a small raft with no oars and just push him off into the ocean:
And no longer listen to broken promises nor commotion:
Soon the people of Bridgeport will have chosen:
No more Liar Liar pants on Fire Pinocchio nose and promises broken
Great job, Bridgeport Kid!
Nice, Bridgeport Kid!
Do you mean Bridgeport kid or BptPorter?
“Under Bill Finch unemployment in the city of Bridgeport has soared 41%.”
Show me the calculation for this number.
Show me your mother.
Kid, you nailed it!
Perhaps you would know why I who own a house and pay these Finch taxes can’t really afford a Starbucks coffee, McDonalds yes for $1.00, and how will it come to be people who live in that section of town will support Starbucks? I think they are smart enough not to.
It’s betting month in Saratoga, anyone want to bet Starbucks lasts two months and Finch is out in November? I feel lucky.
“Democracy doesn’t always work,” which is what Hizzoner said to explain why he was trying to dismantle the Board of Education, an elected body, to replace them with his hand-picked cronies. And this control freak wants another four-year term? Spare us, please. The school system in Bridgeport sucks, to put it mildly. 48% dropout rate, and that’s being generous. Padding the BOE with friends of the mayor does not guarantee a solution.”
You know what will definitely work? Having the same system that led to the current situation.
Special tunings: Look at the list. The “sins” of Finch involve dastardly deeds performed in the name of Bridgeport and its citizens–the ghost of Machiavelli understands that–while the mistakes of Mr. Ganim involve deeds performed on behalf of himself. Even the phony substation on Reservoir Avenue is a campaign ploy.
How charismatic is Joe Ganim? He got the police endorsement, didn’t he?
You have to think about the future.
I am also a fan of the Bridgeport Kid. Wish CT Post/Hearst would hire him. We’d get some fun, honest, well-written pieces.
Nice job, Kid!
Thank you, one and all.
Ballot footsie? That’s a good one.
The electoral process in Bridgeport has devolved into a tragically comical soap opera. None of the past six mayors–including the current mayor and his primary opponent–have been more than halfway successful in reversing the city’s fortunes. Their ability to use the power of the office for the greater good has been hampered by a number of personal failings, greed for one example, myopia for another. The inability to see the bigger picture or the forest for the trees.
Bill Finch has a minor record of achievement to tout, and he does, but most of his appeal is cosmetic. The credits do not outweigh the debits noted above. Clean parks, new playgrounds for children, new schools, a free water taxi to a deserted island and a glorified shopping mall at Steel Point are not enough. Where’s the bacon, Mr. Finch?
His representatives respond to every criticism with a variation on the theme of “Joe Ganim is a convicted felon, it’s his entire fault!” Yes Maryli, that’s true; Joe Ganim was convicted of racketeering and went to prison. His criminal activities threw another stain on the city’s reputation. He went to prison more than a dozen years ago. His successors have had that long to put Bridgeport back on track. There have been improvements but nothing that merits a letter home. A few years saw balanced budgets full of one-time fixes and accountants’ legerdemain. For all his undoing, Joe Ganim does have a portfolio of successes as mayor, something to show. It takes a lot of guts to step up onto the soapbox knowing people are going to be unforgiving, mud will be slung in his direction. To his credit, Mr. Ganim has not stooped to the level of his opponent’s campaign manager.
Tax abatements are a necessary evil in urban planning, an evil that can actually be made to work for the common good. New York City requires developers to make material and financial investments in the affected community. A 35-year tax abatement without any requirement that local contractors and tradesmen be hired will only increase the burden on taxpayers. Where does the money comes from, the money to pay for the increased stress on the infrastructure? How will the city pay for water and sewer usage, the police and fire protection, plowing the streets in the wintertime? (No one wants another bout of yahooing.) What about the additional students enrolled in the public school system?
The more limited seven-year tax benefit to be awarded to local businesses that rehabilitate blighted properties makes better sense. It keeps the money here and will eventually increase the grand list and lower everyone’s tax burden.
Bridgeport is safer than it’s been in 40 years. According to whom, Mr. Mayor?
Well, these people:
www .city-data.com/crime/crime-Bridgeport-Connecticut.html
and these people:
socialecologicalresearch.tumblr.com/image/109449197372
“I’ve created thousands of jobs.” For whom, Mr. Finch?
The mayor created the jobs. It is not under his control who gets the jobs. They may go to BPT residents. Many Bridgeport resident work in the trades. I am sure some of the contractors who built Steel Point were BPT residents.
But it is under his control to a certain extent. If there are any city incentives in a project, it is customary in other municipalities to tie those incentives to jobs for city residents. Apparently he isn’t smart enough to do this.
Not really. Some cities can tie city incentives to jobs for city residents. It would depend on if the city needs the development more than the developer needs the city. In the case of Steel Point (which stood empty for 20+ years) the city needed the development as no one was beating down the doors to get in there. This gave the city a weak negotiating position. Basically, BPT had to take what it could get. The other option was nothing. The dire circumstances of the situation and poor negotiating position of the city fall, totally and completely, in Ganim’s lap. He put BPT in this position. Ganim’s legacy combined with Connecticut’s business-unfriendly tax structure, high BPT taxes and Connecticut’s bad economy make any development in town a miracle, the result of expert negotiating or an act of charity.
“Library workers are nonessential.” Really? Well, yes. They are the first to go home when it starts snowing. The library has its own mil rate. The mayor has no control over the library. Deciding if the library should open or not is totally under the discretion of the City Librarian.