For the better part of a year, be it in the OIB comments section or pitching it during the public speaking portion of City Council meetings, government observer John Marshall Lee has highlighted the urgent need to revive the Fair Rent Commission. It may just happen, albeit now state required for all Connecticut municipalities with populations eclipsing 25,000.
From Brian Lockhart, CT Post:
It has been six months since the City Council pushed Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration to revive the long-dormant fair rent commission to address tenant/landlord disputes and try to prevent court-ordered evictions.
And while that has yet to happen, city officials this week said they have been working behind-the-scenes to get the fair rent group up-and-running again, but it became more complicated than envisioned last fall.
“We’re just getting it right,” said Councilman Jorge Cruz.
Thomas Gaudett, a Ganim aide involved in the revival project, said the legal, health and housing code departments have also been participating. He said the focus has been on updating the process for submitting and reviewing complaints, who should serve on the new board, and establishing support staff.
Full story here.
Great job John Marshall Lee !
I have commented on the desultory efforts by Bridgeport Mayors to support the role of fellow citizens on Boards and Commissions for more than ten years. Perhaps the tides of time and men are coming to a point where ignorance of duty and control politics are not quite as strong as they have been?
The above article points the way to how some folks in the City have been without an active FAIR Rent Commission for more than a decade. (Thanks to the City Council for waking to the issue last fall and to Brian Lockhart for coverage in the press.)
But the FAIR Housing Commission is in the same suspended animation position, located on the website, but with no appointments for a similar more than 10 year run. Mayor Ganim is responsible for nothing happening while he ignores City rules and regulations in his own personal activities. Shameful? Integrity? Unlikely to be accused of the latter while attempting to secure a right to practice law in our community in my opinion.
Both groups died for failures by several chief City execs to appoint enough folks willing and able to serve without conflict. So a ‘real estate resurrection’ is required. Why has Ganim said nothing, relying on Tom Gaudett or communications personnel to share the “backroom story”? Is it because contributions flow from a wealthier class of real estate residents in this community and others, who benefit from a lack of timely and regular attention to illegal, inappropriate, or poor practices in Bridgeport? What do you think? Does the Mayor Care? Time will tell.