Park City Communities, the management company running Bridgeport’s public housing authority, is accusing mayoral candidate John Gomes of making false statements when he accused it of conspiring with Mayor Joe Ganim “to exclude the defendant’s campaign from its properties while permitting access by the Ganim campaign.”
The complaint seeks to build a defamation case against Gomes who it asserts made the statements on Fox61 following his Democratic primary loss by 251 votes.
“The above statements made by the defendant are deeply harmful to the plaintiff as they insinuate that plaintiff, a public authority, corruptly and anti-democratically used its control of its housing developments to discriminate against the defendant’s campaign,” Park City Communities lawyer David Hoopes wrote in the legal filing.
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See complaint here
Attorney Bill Bloss who represents Gomes in his court challenge of the primary result told the Connecticut Mirror the lawsuit is “just profoundly silly. “It’s a political stunt, which, when the election is over, will go away.”
Excerpt from complaint:
That’s like saying Park City Communities eats shit on toast, and their suing you, because they don’t like toast!
Here’s the latest in political ads. Joe must go BACK TO CITY HALL.
https://fb.watch/nY3Fmo58jc/?mibextid=Nif5oz
The Housing Authority of Bridgeport, with a current name of Park City Communities does act as an intermediary for HUD Federal funds supporting Section 8 vouchers of one type or another that subsidize residential dwellings for thousands in the City of Bridgeport. For over ten years based on multiple issues I have made inquiries of one type or another about the overall management of the residential units, the safety and health of tenants, how their needs are met with respect for their human dignity, and democratic rights of free speech and assembly. I have also sought reporting on financial issues of their operation as well as land ownership and control as properties are razed and new structures take their place, but sometimes leave property available for other development.
The current administrator, Jillian Baldwin, was recruited for Bridgeport for a limited period to discover the “best practices” necessary to raise the annual grading by HUD for the system in Bridgeport, lest a Federal takeover become necessary. Folks, I believe that in the third year of her presence, the score increased to 62, above failing in some systems, but a dire admission of the welfare of so many people being unprofessionally managed for so long.
Ms. Baldwin cannot be everywhere at all times. But she can speak up to share results, issues, and concerns before going to court, especially if funds are tight and under pressure. I have watched a series of City mayors ignore appointments to FAIR RENT and FAIR HOUSING Boards in Bridgeport by failing to appoint candidates as is their Charter responsibility. Park City has an active Board. Why aren’t they speaking about the PCC “policy” assuming they have one, on who can be admitted to buildings and who can be denied? Where is the Tenant Authority in each “high-rise neighborhood” where multiple Section 8 vouchers are used? Why not reveal the facts, rather than distract the public from a truth they can discern from those facts made available regularly? Public trust can be built from ground zero rather than worry about defamation. Time will tell.