City Councilman Ernie Newton is backing an extra $4.5 million in city money to cover unforeseen structural problems at the former city-owned ballpark that is being refitted into a 7,000-seat concert facility scheduled for opening spring 2021.
Newton, in a statement to OIB, declares “The Ordinance Committee worked hard on changing the minority set aside and hiring Bridgeport residents and ex-felons. We have to create jobs in our city, this was done with the $7.5 million. He is committed to doing the same with the 4.5 million.”
As evidence, Newton provided a copy of a letter from amphitheater developer Howard Saffan to Fred Gee, director of the Minority Business Office.
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Ernie, you never you Cease to amaze me how you’re complicit with Mayor Ganim in his schemes to defraud the public and to hookup his campaign donors. You present this letter as proof that Saffan is looking out for people of color yet he profess to hiring only one Black owned company and one Hispanic owned company. What the hell is wrong with you and when are you going to love the city as much as you love the Mayor? You’re not fighting for a measly 6% of those jobs you’re fighting for the right to continue to kiss the ass of Mayor Ganim and Mario! Cut this shit out and do what’s right, do what’s moral and do what’s just!
You know I love you like a play cousin, but you’re starting to get on my damn nerves with shit like this. You can take that letter and wipe your ass with it because it’s not worth anything else!
Don, Ernie is incapable from kiss the ass of Mayor Ganim and Mario. Saffan’s letter states “good faith effort,”
“Good faith effort” is an implied contractual term and it is defined as “what a reasonable person would determine is a diligent and honest effort under the same set of facts or circumstances.” Troutt v. City of Lawrence, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61641 (S.D. Ind. Aug. 8, 2008) thereby there’s no guarantees, “good faith effort,” is just a legal way to explain why he couldn’t meet his stated numbers.
He’s Mario’s Boy!
Don
Let me first say I don’t give a damn about what you all think or say. To my friend a former council President Lise with all do respect how much money did minority Contracts get under your leadership. Everyone including Don and Ron are always talking about minority never being able to play with the big boys. The project on Stratford ave is being don by a Black company Anthony Stewart who’s also doing the Libraries in the Eastend and EastSide. This is why shit doesn’t get done in this city. To my friend who’s always talking about the Bd of Education it’s money in the capital package to fix the cooling systems for two schools. This gentleman that I really don’t know. He’s the first to st lease show he’s hiring people of color. The City is a partner in this project and he has put his own money into this project.
Ernie, if you and the other Council members don’t get an increase in revenue to offset the extra cost the city is incurring you and the others are doing a disservice to the city and everybody who lives in it, who are mostly minorities. Moses stops using and selling your people out for your jackets goodies. At this rate, it’s going 20 years before the city sees any financial gains. Do you think the city’s partner in this project, Saffan will not make a profit until 20 years? It simple if they want the extra money the city needs extra revenue for the concession profit to cover the extra cost to the city to make it whole. The council and ask for an increase in revenue to cover the extra cost to the taxpayers. Again, “Moses stops using and selling your people out for your jackets goodies. This is why your people are lost in the desert for so God Damn lone. JS
https://www.facebook.com/ernest.newton.39/videos/2071364272912413
Junket,
Ernie welcome back to the goodie room. 🙂 At the cost of your people. JS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw-GrGfd-RU
Does this suprise anyone that Ernie supports what Mario&Joe telll him?? ..Ernie’s excuse is he’s trying to create minority jobs??? PLLEEAASE,Ernie you should be ashamed of yourself.Man up and just admit you are just following orders,have some pride,no one believes what you say…I can still feel the embarassment I had for you,seeing you “hoot&holler” behind Joe during his acceptance speech in November,it was cringeworthy….I would have more respect for you if you just came out and admitted that you have to listen to Mario &Joe if you expect to get out of Bpt and back up to Hartford like you want to do…Man up Ernie,have some pride..
Here’s Ernie “celebrating “Joe’s victory..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyHv0kacP7I
Harvey, Ernie in the back round, what about Christ? Ganim fired him and he’s Mario’s boy.
Neither of them was at the primary.
http://connecticut.news12.com/story/41025559/mayor-joe-ganim-declared-winner-in-democratic-primary-for-bridgeport-mayor
I can’t speak for how far the city has come under Joe, but his hair has come a long way. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOS5lYQK8TA
Ernie, I’m not quite sure what you do or where you are employed. But, as a concerned former elected servant, plus a lifelong resident of Bridgeport, I don’t feel I’m putting you on the spot by asking these question(s). In addition to what has been accomplised by you in whatever your title and responsibilities are, what have you done while you have worked that office? Back to the $4.5 million you agree to straddle the poor Bridgeport tax papers with paying for another project that will never happen in your lifetime, exactly what do you expect will be given to minority businesses in their lifetimes? I sincerely expect that you will respect me with a serious, civil answer. Take your time when compiling your answer, if you give one. As you know, their are intelliengent followers of this blog, they will read and understand what your reasons are, and what you’ve been doing for the past four years. Remember, I ask this question not knowing what your title is, who pays your salary, as well as your role in carrying out whatever it is you should be accomplishing. I never paid much attention to what you do outside your role as a council member, but when you start to advocate that all of us taxpayers, already financially strapped, dig deeper into our pockets. then it’s my business. I’ve been told, that you and the Council President have been working the members of the Council to support this. As I said, I’ve been told, but since I didn’t hear it from your mouth, I take it for what it’s worth. I don’t know, nor is it my business to know the financial struggles you have or have not been experiencing but, as a woman who has always maintained my financial responsibilities, while dedicated four decades to public service in Bridgeport, and who never benefitted in any way from the tax payers of Bridgeport I intend to join the ranks of those closely watching who on the Council go along with this. I know the members that won’t, I hope my observations and sources are correct, but you and the newbie Council President, from what I’ve heard, are working this hard. You may survive this unspeakable move, but she’s in for a surprise.
Lisa
I’m a-shame of you How could you fix your mouth to ask me something like that. I work for Careerresources as a Returning Citizen Navigator helping Ex-felons and returning citizens prepare to Re-enter the job market.
Couple of typos, please forgive, I’m in a hurry to get to the grocery store, remember I’m one of the “poor taxpayers.”
The only proof I see here is that there is ab acknowledgement under the current an already existing obligation. I see no added value in exchange for the $4,500,000 In taxpayer funds. This $4.5 million in tax dollars would be better served going to Bridgeport Public Schools.
This $4.5 million is especially a slap in the face , because like last years $2.5 million dollar taxpayer gift to Tigers it is more than twice the proposed $2 million increase to Bridgeport public schools (of which $1.5 million of last years bus savings has not been yet considered, so really only 500 k increase).
And before we get started on it’s “capital funds” no it’s taxpayer funds that cost us more in the long run in interest payments. This extra costs at 3% (conservative est) will cost $25000 a month or $300,000 a year for a total of $6 million dollars more for absolutely no additional return on investment.
Speaking of investment, education is the foundation of any great and growing city. Bridgeport’s foundation is crumbling due to local fiscal neglect. (Bridgeport still contributes less per pupil than any municipality in the entire state.) We could build all the fancy amphitheaters, skating rinks and other venues to try and attract out of towners to visit and invest but they are doomed to fail. What is the first thing families and employers look to when deciding to relocate? Is it the quality of entertainment? No it’s the quality of education. If we want to grow a better city, we must start with the foundation, otherwise anything else built will crumble.
An acknowledgment that Under the current contract
Please, it’s always about funding, never about policies, or the quality of teaching. This epidemic crisis has shown how so willfully the BBOE has undercut our kids’ education. The other school boards give their kids computers, BPT are still giving paper books, and during this crisis, distance learning, other kids have online classes with their teachers. Bridgeport has to give them packets, and we know how effective packets are. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3h5jcI-MFI
Joe
This is capital money bonding dollars so even if we want to give the 4.5 million we couldn’t. You show know that. I’m waiting to see how much money was save since schools have been closed down. In stead of you worrying about the council you should be handling your dysfunction board of Education.
Here I copy pasted to highlight the part you haven’t read.
And before we get started on it’s “capital funds” no it’s taxpayer funds that cost us more in the long run in interest payments. This extra costs at 3% (conservative est) will cost $25000 a month or $300,000 a year for a total of $6 million dollars more for absolutely no additional return on investment.
You talk about looking out for minorities but you continue to vote to underfund a school system that is mostly black and brown children. Thereby condemning them to continued poverty while throwing money away.
We’ve got a contract in place. If three violate it we should sue. But no what does our city want to do? Send a message that our city is a piggy bank and it’s weak elected officials will not fight to enforce a signed contract.
It’s time to put aside your anger at the school system that did not want to employ you upon your return. It’s time to do the right thing for “minorities” and provide them with the funding they deserve.
Every $10 million of magical free capital funds must be repaid at $55,500 per month FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET for a total $666,000 per year for 20 years or a total of $13 million dollars. Try and understand capital dollars are taxpayer dollars, not free money.
Ernie
This is typical BS. Capital fund versus Operating Funds is a moot argument when the BOE is severally underfunded.
You and the city of Bridgeport have decided to fund the BOE well below the necessary levels for years. To claim now it is Capital vs Operating would be comical if it wasn’t such a serious problem. Quit hiding. Admit that you and the council just don’t give a damn about the children in the city.
Bob
When you served on the City Council how much monies did you and Lisa give to Fund Education
Ernie, Bob asked, ” While you are at it could you tell us why there is no date on this letter??? Is it just a CYA letter that Saffran wrote a day or two ago???
Well my Brother why doesn’t this letter have a date on it and is it just CYA letter written by Saffan to appease the people of color on the CC like yourself? Holla at ya boy.
Don, it’s one those pieces of paper that people like Saffan have in their pocket that they pull out whenever they are questioned about minority hiring, that’s why there’s no date.
Doesn’t matter when it was written. It boils down to, yes we have a contract and yes I’ll abide by it. In my book we should sue any business that does not abide by it’s obligations. Our city has a reputation as being a piggy bank for the well connected. It is high time we stopped this nonsense in it’s tracks.
What the heck are we paying ever escalating costs to our legal dept for if we cannot get them to do simple contract enforcement?
Donald, Willy McBride’s name was in the letter to Ernie Newton as a minority electrical contractor for the project. Not true, McBride was never given an opportunity to submit a bid. According to a source that just spoke to McBride, he is not working on the project.
Joe
I previously posted that the council should INSIST that $4.5 be added to the education budget. Not as in-kind. Not just once. Not for Ganim to decide how to use it.
Does that satisfy you Joe???
It would satisfy me immensely if our children were to get that 4.5 million in perpetuity. It’s just so hard to get the peanut gallery to understand that we need $15 million dollars just to pay for raises and other inflationary costs. All I hear out of the council is “where is that money going to go” it’s almost like some of them don’t know how budgets work.
We’ve lost jobs every year since 2016 on the board of education, while the city payroll has added jobs each year. Now that’s dysfunctional.
Joe by the rules of city funding under the cost sharing formula it would be forever. Does that now satisfy you?
Yessir, but we’d have to get a governance that understood and followed the rules on the city side and a board willing to enforce the rules on my side. Still fuming over the $1.2 million dollar illegal bus funding not being added to the ECS last year.
Also would need a city that did not charge the kids for police protection, and other city services their parents pay through their taxes.
I am not trying to be antagonistic especially as you’re advocating my position and singing my song, but I will only truly be satisfied when the very last child has at least had every last chance to succeed through an adequate budget to fund needed services.
And Ganim can add it to the budget or take it from somewhere else. His choice. But no strings attached.
And also not for the Superintendent to decide.
Does that satisfy you Joe???
Not quite. The superintendent needs some leeway to decide WITH aboard oversight.
Is that howling from the admin and council I can hear in the background?
So Ernie,
I thought you were going to read this contract real good and you would have tons of question
Never mind.
Ernie, just how do you know that the minority contractors mentioned in this letter are indeed MINORITY CONTRACTORS? I didn’t see McBride Electric nor did I see the aforementioned Anthony Stewart who is a Black Contractor mentioned in the Saffan letter. That leaves me wondering if they are included Black contractors then I’m absolutely sure they would have been mentioned in the I’ll be Good to Black folks Saffan letter!
May I suggest that you do your due diligence and find out if those MINORITY CONTRACTORS listed are indeed MINORITY CONTRACTORS and from the Bridgeport area because if they aren’t from Bridgeport when did you become the Moses of other States and Cities people? Holla at ya boy.
If the City had a Affirmative Action Office and Contract Compliance Office they would be able to check these contracts plus they would have a list of contractors.
Ron
FRED Gee is the person who handles minority contracts for the City. Like I said before I am not concerned with your comment everyone in title to them. Don’t ever tell me how to vote you may not agree that’s your issue
Ernie, please tell us why you are not asking for an increase in revenue to set the 60% increase 4.5 million dollars you want to city to pay? It seems only fair that the city makes up this money. It will take 20 years for the city to break even at paying $300,000 a year. ( think) You and Staffan will be dead of in a nursing home by the time it whole. I don’t have a problem understand a vote, yes, just why it’s not with an increase in revenue to offset the cost to the city. That $300,000 can be spent on another thing to improve the city. JS BAM OUT
Ernie, as a voters and taxpayer in the City of Bridgeport I have the right and the obligation to tell you and any other elected official in the city, state and on the national level on how I feel and the way that I, Ronald Mackey, feels is the correct way to vote on my believes. You don’t have to listen to anything I say Ernie but you Ernie and anybody else can tell me what I can say unless it’s illegal or unsafe comments. I know that Fred Gee holds that position but he has been totally silent in not performing his duties in reviewing this contract and informing the City Council and the mayor what the position of his office is on this deal.
Ernie (et al.): Surely you realize that we are in extraordinary times — of an apocalyptic nature.
Bridgeport was way behind the eight-ball before the COVID-19 virus kicked the legs out from under the world. Not only was the City existing mainly through debt (debt financed largely through state and federal largess and crushingly-high property taxes); but it had been doing so on a shrinking tax base (wrt our decades-long financial trend, and in real-time terms, per “devaluation” of our real, grand-list property and failure to create new grand list of any off-setting amount)…
So: given the fact that the State of Connecticut and United States government, the former of which is actually in essentially the same financial state as Bridgeport (pre-and peri-Carona), are already overwhelmed with assisting in the basic economic survival of their respective Constitutional purviews, Bridgeport will be lucky to be able to maintain skeletal municipal services and maintenance of its extant streets, sidewalks, and municipal properties. The state and federal government will not want to help us if they see us “slide” $4.5 million to a favored developer in a deal that was rigged for that developer (Sassan) from the get-go — having made no sense, sans real Bridgeport casino, or otherwise, in the first place…
So: for the City to break a deal against its own interests at a cost in $millions that it doesn’t have and will desperately need for municipal basics, even as the whole f-ing world undergoes a health-economic melt-down, is CRIMINAL — at both the moral and legal levels…
So, Ernie, and other CC members without their heads screwed on correctly (I’m trying to polite here…); do the right thing and pull the plug on this STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!, C-R-I-M-I-N-A-L deal before the crushingly-taxed “villagers” storm the “castle” with pitchforks and sickles and demands for the “King” and his “minions” to be thrown in the “dungeon” (by the FBI)…
Realize that Sassan is going to take the $ and run when all is said and done… There won’t be any jobs for any Bridgeporters from this project — except maybe special, patronage jobs for lackeys put in place to “oversee” the legitimized theft of this $ from the people of Bridgeport.
Get a grip on the times in which we live, and our municipal reality, and save your political skins by killing the worst, most ill-timed, most obviously corrupt deal of Ganim I or II — don’t be associated with it, even while you help to reap “punishment” for the innocent PEOPLE of Bridgeport by incentivizing the state and federal government to withhold desperately needed $aid$ from Bridgeport in the coming months by providing them with an excellent excuse to not trust our municipal government with that $aid$…
Jeff, very good assessment of Bridgeport’s current and future financial condition and what the COVID- Pandemic is doing but if we look back to the past 20 years up to this year the City has done nothing to improve the quality of education for the students of Bridgeport.
Donald, if only you realized how right you are. That letter is BS, I wish I could share with you what I have. I ask Ernie to submit the names of all minority contracts including an LLC owned by Howard Saffin, operated out of his home in Weston, Ct. There’s also a potential conflict of interest regarding the bonding area. It appears that if these Council members don’t postpone what’s in front of them, delve a little deeper, and ask the righ questions, there’s the possibility of another FBI investigation. In good conscience my dear friend, I assure you that Mario Testo does not have his hand in this. This is being steered by our fearless leader, some old players, the present Council President, and it hurts me to admit Ernie Newton.
Lisa, that’s why I said this to Ernie, “If the City had a Affirmative Action Office and Contract Compliance Office they would be able to check these contracts plus they would have a list of contractors,” Ernie’s reply was, “FRED Gee is the person who handles minority contracts for the City.” My reply was, “I know that Fred Gee holds that position but he has been totally silent in not performing his duties in reviewing this contract and informing the City Council and the mayor what the position of his office is on this deal.” Of the 20 City Council members there are 12 black and Hispanic members and you would think that they would have knowledge of who these minority contractors are.
Lisa, I’m sure that there have been some verbal promises on both sides for the delivery and passages of this deal. Lisa, maybe it would be good thing for this deal to get approval because then there’s the possibility of another FBI investigation.
Lisa, I don’t doubt what you are saying. It may be our fearless leader Joe and some old players today, but it can be Mario and some of his old friends tomorrow. The city always seems to take it with bare minimal gain, be it development, bonding or anything else, The Port loses allow, a lot of money diverted that could have been used to enhance the city, creating more money and opportunities, Considering Mario’s boy, the bartender seems to be against it, as well a Maria P. I guess the enemy of my enemy is my friend, for now. JS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHQr0HCIN2w
Robert, I would never defend Mario unless I knew what I was saying. He’s not involved in this scam. I just received a call from a very reliable person, according to the letter Ernie posted from Saffrin, he stated that McBride Electric, a minority contractor was working on the project. McBride was not given the opportunity to bid and is not now working on the project. ThisIt’s easy to confirm for anyone who cares. The Council should postpone a vote on this until all discrepancies are cleared up.
Lisa, the plot thickens, bring in the feds.
I don’t think it’s a scam more. It’s more how the Bridgeport government works. You were there during the day of the late 90s. When the ballpark was being built. There was a lot of money flowing around back then that was a burden to the taxpayers. I understand your view on minority contractors being used, but the larger point for the people of the Port is the value it gets on its investment that the Port’s taxpayers are paying for. That’s been going on forever, probably. If the city is going to invest 7.5 million at 3% for 20 years It going to pay $500,000 a year. (I think) That should be a minimal starting point to guarantee rent if the $3 tickets and 250000 expected sales don’t occur. The city shouldn’t lose money on an investment. How much it makes is one thing but it should lose. The council should postpone it until the numbers add up. In reality, The city should want to make money for itself. The more it makes, the more it can spend without burdening the taxpayers. Hopefully, you get some value to for it I like the idea of the amphitheater. I think it’s a great asset to the Port, but the city should be able to pay its debt for the investment. But I don’t need to tell you, not lonely know this game you played it for many years, as well as Ernie. Until you get someone values the Port, the players will continue to cut the baby in half and fighting over the bigger piece, Bam I’m out JS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_az3eNb0fI
Come on Ernie
You know as well as I do. The only lasting jobs for minorities will be part time concession workers as ticket takers and beer hawkers.
Part time minimum wages at that.
I’m not degrading anyone who would take the work but you are degrading your influence over the council.
Bob
I forgot to mention I got a call from our town chairman asking me to Vote against this project. Ron Don Lisa I march to my own beat.
I vote for the project . This is for everyone that try to link to Joe and Mario. No one said anything when Phil kuchma got Tax’s break for all of his projects down town.
Ernie, once again, the issue the LACK of black, Hispanic and women contractors being involved by law with this project that you support all on your own because you are your own man and made the decision that you don’t care anything about black, Hispanic and women being apart of project, the Moses of his people is a failure to his people.