John Gomes, former director of the city’s government-efficiency CitiStat Program, is the first to officially declare his candidacy for mayor, and his former City Hall associate Carolanne Curry, according to a story by the Connecticut Post’s Keila Torres, is serving as a campaign adviser. Gomes and Curry, former campaign supporters, were let go by Mayor Bill Finch. Gomes owns the Red Rooster deli. I wonder if he’ll name a sandwich for each of the prospective mayoral candidates. The “Tweet Tweet” for Finch. “The Big Wave” for Chris Caruso. “More, More, More” for Marilyn Moore. “The Fab Faux” for Johnny Fabs. Can’t imagine what ingredients would fill the sandwiches. Torres’ story:
www.ctpost.com/news/article/Fired-Bridgeport-official-launches-mayoral-bid-451473.php
Good Luck JG
Miracles do happen.
Not one to say “I told you so.” But I told you so. Good luck John.
I disagree with one thing in the Post article. Carolanne Curry was quoted as saying CitiStat is now just a “shell.” That’s incorrect. There were additional people hired in CitiStat after she left. I think there are 5 of them now. Check out the City’s email list and you’ll see. They went from a staff of 3 (if you count no-show Ezequiel Santiago) to 5. More jobs for more political flunkies. What happened to the initial findings and recommendations? Maybe now we’ll find out.
city hall smoker,
There could be a thousand more people added to CitiStat, but it remains a shell … simply because the Mayor had neither the political willpower to make the changes called for. Mayor Martin O’Malley didn’t have an easy job of it to change the culture of corruption and waste that permeated the City of Baltimore when he started CitiStat in that City a number a years ago. Mayor Finch may have loved what he saw when he learned of this program while he was getting lessons on how to be an effective mayor in the training offered at Harvard during the early days of his administration. However, Mayor Finch was never willing to consider what intensive commitment and work was required on the part of Mayor O’Malley over many years, to make the amazing results happen in Baltimore. When selfish interests collided with public interest, O’Malley made the right choices for the citizens of Baltimore where Mayor Finch chose deliberately not to make the right choices for the citizens of Bridgeport.
As a result it was Baltimore that progressed to a level of municipal government operations that serve as a model of accountability and transparency across the country.
In conclusion, I must tell you all the staff in the world will still make CitiStat in Bridgeport a shell simply because Mayor Finch has neither the will nor the moral compass to direct the effort needed to end all the shell games going on in his administration.
Carolanne, thanks for the explanation. I misunderstand your “shell” reference. There are many more people in CitiStat now, but most (maybe all) are political flunkies, which defeats the whole purpose of the program. When might we hear about some of the inefficiencies you and John uncovered?
Maybe Ms. Curry is referring to an empty shell because the persons who run or are working in that department are not the sharpest tools in the shed. Also what happened with Gomes and why he was let go was because he found many things wrong with the city and with this administration. He then fired him as a way to keep him quiet. Well let the truth come out. May the fights begin. Remember 85% of the population in Bridgeport are minorities. Mr. Gomes has the Cape Verdeans, Portuguese, Hispanic and African Americans. I hope and pray to God that he KICKS SOME ASS.
Don’t forget the copier argument with CC’s girlfriend that led to John’s suspension. CC was out to get him from that day on. Lisa can do no wrong. She can do no work either!
What’s his first order of business??? Attack the cops that arrested him. You ain’t got my vote.
Quote from CT Post: “Gomes, president of the Cape Verdean Association, said he doesn’t believe the administration’s decision to fire him stemmed from news of his arrest, which he still contests was a misunderstanding.
“The Alpine Street resident was appointed by Finch in 2008 to run CitiCtat, which analyzes department, budget and city data in order to find ways for government to save money and become more efficient.”
If only they used one of these that night.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=2NDqtVeYIys
And they aren’t doing a very good job if they’re still looking to lay off workers.
eyedoctor you are missing the point here. Gomes did uncover many inefficient areas and made them known to Finch. For example, the take-home cars. Finch claimed publicly he reduced the number of take-home cars when in reality he only changed the plates so they could not be identified as municipal plates (Charlie Carroll is perfect example). CitiStat exposed this as well as the unusually high mileage like when Feeney took his city car to Maine to visit relatives. Why does Feeney have a take-home car anyway? He’s not an emergency worker and is not on call. Same as Sherwood, Kabel, Nunn, Wood and the list goes on. Gomes ruffled the wrong feathers and that’s why he got canned. Don’t know what happened at the Cape Verde Club but any good mayor would have handled it internally. Unless it was a setup as Mr BPT suggests.
Fellowship dinner for Dr. Evans on Sunday at 3 at Mt. Aery Church. John Gomes please join us. We need to talk.
eyedoctor,
Nobody is interested in attacking the cops who arrested him. Greater interest is in replacing the people ordering the cops in the first place to engage in this kind of abuse.
The actions that led to the arrest of John M. Gomes had nothing to do with public safety. Just as the termination of Dr. Evans had nothing to do with money spent on an event for the Health Department staff.
The word is “set up.”
You’re savvy enough to know this if you’ve watched the Administration in operation since Mayor Finch came on board.
Now we all know the Bridgeport PD is always right, because the city has never been sued. EYEDOCTOR HE HASN’T ASKED YOU FOR YOUR VOTE.
Give it some time, THERE ARE ABOUT 115 PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY AND HE HAS OUR VOTE.
NOBODY IMAGINED MARIA PEREIRA WAS GOING TO WIN, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED, NEVER SAY NEVER …
eyedoctor you better work on your own eyes and see the truth, all the social clubs in Bpt and they picked this one to crack down on the fix was in. Finch this type of bird can’t fly and will go the way of the dodo extinct and perhaps all his little birds (Feeney, Nunn, Wood, oh well too many more to mention) will fall out of his nest.
You think Fabs was a fun mayor, the press will love JG. Do we have press in BPT?
JG may be fun, but he’ll never be mayor.
Stranger things have happened, anna!
anna,
John M. Gomes may never be Mayor if he is called upon to compromise his honesty and integrity as others have had to do to get elected.
But if there are voters in Bridgeport who understand how Gomes saw CitiStat as a City program that could benefit everyone, and produce a culture of accountability and transparency in City government operations and worked towards that goal every day, then my money is on the voters giving Gomes their vote.
You got my vote.
NEVER SAY NEVER.
Good Luck JG. You came up from humble beginnings and continue to prosper. Time for Bpt to get a Mayor not on the take. Make sure you keep your pockets zipped. Finch got help from CV community to win and we are going to take him out.
John Gomes please join us at Mt. Aery tomorrow at 3. If we join together, the Cape Verdeans and the black clergy, others will follow. We can help you expose Finch and we can win our city back.
I wonder what Testa is thinking and brewing up!!!
Mario is thinking how to save his girlfriend’s ass. Yes friends, girlfriend Rosemarie Hoyt is still enjoying her do-nothing job at the Eisenhower Center. Earning close to $70,000. Fabrizi covered it up and so did Finch. Now Gomes will be a different story. So will Caruso. Bye bye Rosie. Time to put in those retirement papers.
You are right anna, and also there will never be an African American president either, right? You never know.
Lord knows there could never be a Jewish president, but if you listen to NY politics there is a Democrat named Anthony Weiner who will be the next mayor of NY and could be president someday.
You never say never.
Okay Mr. BPT, looking forward to what Gomes has to say. Speaking of Weiners maybe Andy Fardy will stop whining about the mayoral candidates and support Gomes. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Anna you are an asshole. Pardon my French.
Anna what whining? So far there have only been 2 candidates, Finch & Caruso. Now there is Gomes. Listened to him speak on 2 different occasions and he presented himself well. I liked what I heard. Time will tell. Anna it’s been a long time since I asked you how it was hanging upside down in a tree?
Maybe you should run, you have Great ideas.
People like Feeney, Nunn, Wood, Sherwood, etc already are the top City hall earners averaging over $115,000 and the proposed budget suggests salary increases next year. On top of that they get take-home cars. Do the math on that: imagine if you had someone else (the taxpayers) paying for unlimited gas, maintenance, car washes, car insurance and taxes on top of a $115k salary? Nice deal. They are all in the mayor’s budget for increases July 1st. Check it out. Is this to compensate for the loss of their cars? This while unions are again being threatened with layoffs. John Gomes is a breath of fresh air to me.
Talk about social clubs. What about the Italian club on Madison Ave at 5 corners? Illegal gambling going on there and they’ve never been raided.
The mayor’s budget, The Fixer, you said “do the math.”
You also said, “People like Feeney, Nunn, Wood, Sherwood, already are the top City hall earners averaging over $115,000 and on top of that they get take-home cars, Do the math on that.” Fixer you got it all wrong, the mayor cannot touch those men because it’s easier to balance the BOE budget on the backs of the part-time school crossing guards who make minimum wage.
IN ORDER TO KNOW ABOUT THEM YOU HAVE TO HAVE PATRONIZED THEM IF NOT THEN ALL YOU ARE TALKING IS GOSSIP.
Hey Bruce Lee is handing out some serious ass whipping to Mario and the Bpt power base and the cats got all you bloggers’ tongues maybe because so many of you feed at Mario’s trough and the city’s payroll you all talk shit try on the truth. I have seen all the DTC folks at Mario’s come begging for alms, saw bubble-butt Warren Blunt waddle in and Martha S kissing Mario’s ring. He’s just like the other pope, keeping secrets at the expense of the masses.
bpt guy
Would that be considered a “Hi Mass?”
The Oracle of Omaha Steaks!
Red Rooster Split Ham Soup. It’s Proud as a Pea Cock.
Curryer and Chives. A Vegan Specialty Garnished with a Neutered Rooster.
Tortoise and The Hare Sopa. A Soup Opera Blend of Caruso and Gomes. Like the Bunny, Gomes came out of the gate too quickly, and we know eventually The Tortoise will win the race.
Cock ‘n Bull Sandwich. The Cape Verdean version of this Cubano specialty sandwich while skipping the pressed ham. Accompanied by a Nestle’s Chocolate Milk. In this case, N-E-S-T-L-E-S, doesn’t spell the very best.
Mayor Kermit “It’s Not Easy Being Green!” Finch Frogs Legs. They say it tastes like chicken. I hear it recycles itself.
The Big Wave Buffet at The Holiday Inn, topped off with a little rice pudding. The prevailing favorite around town.
Carmen Coco Lopez is a sizzling hot tamale washed down with a Piña Colada.
Fab Faux-Pas-Pace! A Cowboy Steak served with al dente pasta and a side of cranberry. He’ll go through the Pace’s.
Shays Sashimi Wasabi Depth Charge. Guaranteed to suffer from a blow-up. No one could disagree with that.
Hey Hector why don’t you speak your mind instead of this cryptic message? Are you defending these places because maybe Bruce Lee went there or he heard about it? DO you believe in GOD, have you ever seen him?
First of all like God bruce lee is probably female. Second if you know me you know I have no problem speaking my mind. Third if you believe in God you should know only SHE/HE can judge any of us.
*** “Good Guys Finish Last” & seems like a bit of “Sour Grapes” also involved in the campaign decision? “Gomes” will never be Mayor, however has a chance if done right to tip the voting scales in his district towards another candidate who does have a chance. It’s just a matter of reaching out to the right people in his community for “$” support & unity, without any individual personal gains involved; but for political change & “community improvements as a whole!” Starting with their local district’s DTC first, then their 2 city council members & state rep. and senator for “their” personal political views & ideas. All “real” change has to start @ the bottom local level first! *** When you look @ the different ethnic community social clubs, baseball social clubs, after hours, etc. in Bpt, they all should be checked out by the local authorities from time to time to make sure they meet the city’s codes & are safe for everyone in that community in general. However, the incident that took place that night @ that Holloween family party was not only suspicious, but handled wrong by the PD and Mr. Gomes & Co. and of course the Mayor’s Admin. and advisers afterward. But you didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to see the Mayor’s failing new political payback, experimental CitiStat Dept. along with Mr. Gomes & staff were very much expendable once things started to draw attention & step on certain political toes! *** In my personal opinion, there are only a “few” candidates that I “maybe” would like to see @ this time run for Bpt Mayor but that could change; Caruso, Fabrizi & Shays. *** “Time will Tell”. ***
Hey Lennie G why did you edit out Bruce Lee about Testa’s super bowl $1000 boxes?
Bpt Guy; the $1000 pool was not run by Testa or anyone working at the restaurant. It was a great pool.
It looks like a Little Grasshopper Hai Karate’d Bruce Lee.
Since when has this crowd had anything bad to say about gambling?
Another Deli owner???
Bring back Mary Moron and let’s file for bankruptcy!
Or is that the Gomes Action Plan for Economic Recovery GAPER.
And his campaign strategist is Carol “look who’s buttering my toast now” Curry.
Only In Bridgeport!!!
And if it’s the Curry Action Plan for Economic Recovery then it surely will be a CAPER!!!
Time to sweep clean all the corruption in The City. It takes giant gonads from someone who doesn’t owe the Machine. Sweep clean all the cronies taking home cars and making big $$$ to cover each others’ asses. The you owe me so hire my bro-in-law bs needs to go. The I am the worst superintendent in school history, so if I hire Rosie’s nephew an unqualified custodian to run the BOE into the grave, I can get brownie points and keep my $250k a year job. The this guy knows you know who so don’t watch him do squatola all day and get wasted to boot has to go. The do you know who I am so don’t mess with my secret girlfriend crapola has to stop. The I can’t balance a budget ’cause it’s top heavy with waste gots to go.
7 bucks an hour crossing guards and 10 buck an hour custodians beware ’cause there are the Scalas and Wallachs who retire and get paid BIG Bucks to consult. How can Sherwood do his job when there are cronies to consider? How could Gomes do the CitiStat thing when there was bs to cover up?
The City sucks, and when I vote this election at least I will do the right thing and VOTE OUT THE MACHINE. I might be one lousy vote at Blackham school, but my vote will count.
I have been edited for criticizing Mario. Shame on you OIB. Whether it was Mario’s pool or not, it was done in his restaurant and many people there knew about it. In fact, there might have been more than 1 pool. A cheaper one for those less fortunate. Regarding Gomes, don’t know if he can win an election but he sure can get a few hundred votes behind him. If he throws those votes to someone, lets say Chris Caruso, then there goes the election. Caruso only lost by 270 votes. Gomes can be certainly garner more than that in the Cape Verdean community alone.
Bruce, I did not edit you for criticizing Mario. You can sting him all you want. I poked him myself the other day. We just need to be careful about accusations of law-breaking without merit.
Hey how led around by the nose is Finch when he let Feeney write up and suspend John Gomes for daring to ask Charlie Carroll’s comare Lisa to make him copies she said she works for Mr. Feeney who we all know doesn’t really work.
bpt guy, Nunn suspended Gomes. Nunn was named CAO under Finch; Gomes was the deputy CAO and Lisa was their admin assistant. The rest of your post is accurate. Feeney was the former CAO but he moved on to become the Director of Finance. Doesn’t matter really. Feeney, Nunn; same animal. Fabrizi brought in all these morons and Finch kept them. Didn’t even have the common sense to bring in his own people. Kept the same people who got us in this mess to begin with. Nothing will change without a thorough house cleaning. That is apparent.
Mr. Feeney is a kiss-ass; well you can’t kiss John Gomes’ ass. He’s going to have to find a job that will give him a car so at lunch he can go home to Stratford and walk his F****** DOG, his days are limited. Larry Osborne is going to have to take public transportation again; WAIT he will be seeking employment. Nunn, Wood, & Sherwood will be going to counseling because their ego will be shot. Charlie & Lisa are going to seek real employment. Well let’s just say the garbage will be taken out …
AMEN TO THAT!
Well let me state John Gomes or Chris Caruso will be cleaning house. It’s time to take Bridgeport back, and remove the political machine that has ruined this city in the past 20+ years …
AMEN to that too!
JG WILL CLEAN HOUSE WHEN HE’S IN THE HOUSE.
In these trying times with the Fed. in the shape it’s in, the State of CT will soon be Billions of $$$ in the red. Bridgeport needs a mayor with a plan. A person with vision for the future. A person to have a team of the same mold! To make the right choices for our FUTURE! Not the Bird Brain we have now. Good for you J.G.!
Caruso lost by 270 votes. JG needs to get Caruso’s people behind him. Caruso can’t and never will win.
The African American and Hispanic communities need to come together; as tough as that has been over the years they need this common goal.
JG will clean house. He has friends in the employ of the city and BOE who can point him in the right direction to cut the waste. He needs to win and gain control and exert his power over the BOE and the waste that is running it into the ground. Retire the mess that runs the city into the ground and makes big $$$ to do it.
JG JG JG
The entry in the mayor’s race by John Gomes is very interesting. I wish him well. Entering this early is a smart thing on his part. I will be very interested in what his platform is and how he sees the problems facing this city.
Good Luck Mr. Gomes.
Good luck JG. A person with real-life experience, who has the financial experience and has created two successful businesses in Bridgeport. We need someone who knows how to implement cost-saving techniques and help grow our economy. I’ll be rallying my friends and family to support your campaign.
Ditto. Amen to that.
Don’t have my vote.
Don’t take it personally, but Bill Finch is the man this city needs.