From the Connecticut Post Editorial Board:
As we said in endorsing him in September prior to the Bridgeport Democratic Party primary, Mayor Bill Finch’s tenure has been far from perfect, but he’s brought the city to a better place than it was four years ago.
His focus has been in the right places: the city’s financial security, development, safety, education and sustainability.
Even in a feeble economy, privately financed development has moved forward, particularly downtown.
Finch also has been true to his pledge to work on the city’s blight problem, picking away at the abandoned hulks that kill neighborhoods and, in many cases, giving the property to second-chance organizations like Habitat for Humanity. The result is new homes and tax revenue.
In his next term, the mayor needs to keep his focus on the areas mentioned above.
The Connecticut Supreme Court will ultimately decide if the mayor’s role–and the governor’s–in dissolving the elected Bridgeport Board of Education last July was proper. The secrecy central to the coup remains distasteful.
One item the mayor needs to put on his agenda is an embrace of the University of Bridgeport, an institution he needs to recognize and cultivate for the asset it is. He should look for more ways to work with the suburbs, showing local leaders that Bridgeport itself is an asset.
Finally, there’s no question that reform is needed in the underlying Bridgeport Democratic power structure, the interlocking directorate of town committee and City Council members and job holders.
Finch, though a beneficiary of it, didn’t create it. It would be a delicate task for sure, but the mayor, mindful of Bridgeport’s reputation abroad, should start to untangle the connections–specifically city employees sitting on the City Council–that lead to well-founded complaints of conflicted interests.
Bill Finch could kick his stature up a notch by taking that on.
The CT Post continues in its tradition of letting Bridgeport down. No surprise, they did endorse a cokehead mayor over an honest man in the past.
Google search “Bill Finch Election Fraud.” How can they endorse this type of corruption and support holding our city down for another four years? Anyone who knows Rick Torres would be proud to endorse him because he will without question Stand Up for the good people of Bridgeport.
The CT Post almost sounds apologetic in their endorsement, very strange and weak-kneed move.
Have you ever noticed how the CT Post always puts dateline Bridgeport when the crimes appear in other towns just to make the city look bad? Why not dateline Fairfield or Trumbull, is it that most of the Editors live those towns? CT Post is just a suburban terrorist rag.
*** BIG DEAL! ***
With the CT Post income from the City of Bridgeport at $200,000 per year for at least the last two years under Finch, is there any wonder they endorse him? Pay to play continues.
The post endorsement means crap to me. Glad to see MJF supporters like Steven Auerbach are agreeing with me and will vote for Bill Finch. Primaries are different than general elections, people vote for a candidate in primaries for different reasons than in a general. I along with another MJF supporter Steven Auerbach will not vote for Torres and I know plenty of friends who voted for MJF and will not vote for Torres either. What did it for me with this guy is when he made the comment we are at war with a certain religion. He claims he want to be for all people but making those comments turned me off. I have met a lot of peaceful people of the Islamic faith.
Islam, donj, is NOT an inclusive religion. If you aren’t one of them you ARE an infidel and deserve to die. The peaceful facade you see is a sham. Women are treated as lessers, and illiterate “Imams” teach their interpretation of the Koran. Men rule and all else is heathen. Wake up and smell the coffee, donj!!!
Holy crap, Bob. Are you serious? omg.
As an MJF supporter, learning what I learned about ‘Democratic’ politics in B’port and Testa, Finch, Beccaro, etc., it would dishonor my conscience to cast a vote for Finch.
I have met and even lived with some of the most devout, loving and giving people I ever met, of the Islamic faith. Before the whole Muslim/Christian war games broke out anew during the Gulf war, and since, I have felt I had a slight inside view into the good nature of some or perhaps most Muslims … That said, I am voting for Torres and there is no Muslim in Bridgeport who has anything to fear from Torres as mayor in my opinion.
Steven Auerbach, I think you should take a look at this before you vote for Finch. I am an undecided voter at this minute between Finch and Kohut.
kohutformayorofbridgeport.com/jeff-kohut-for-mayor-biography.htm
donj–At 10:21 you were voting for Finch and now at 10:29 you are undecided between Finch and Kohut. Hopefully in another few hours you will change your mind again and by Tuesday you will vote for the correct candidate and you know who it is.
Not voting for a person who disrespects another person’s religion.
But you will vote for a person who disrespects people’s right to vote?
donj–Thank you. I read the article and have always known Jeff Kohut is a great guy with an impressive resume. I worked with him on some City issues. I believe he is a qualified man and could do the job. But I do not think he has the demeanor to be an effective leader in a city like Bridgeport. Finch is familiar with how government works and has already set the stage. He deserves to see the fruits of his labor or he will be arrested and thrown in jail. Either way, he has paid his dues and needs to stay the course. Jeff is a great asset to this city and I appreciate all of his very thoughtful articles on Bridgeport jobs he has written in the Post over the past few years. He is a smart and talented individual. Finch has what we need right now. Mary-Jane Foster could have been the icing on the cake. But alas, someone left the cake out in the rain … Thank you donj, for thinking of all the bloggers I should read this article. Do I know you?
MJF was mainly railing against insider politics. To vote Finch as her supporter is questionable … though I support your right to your free vote. If you can’t vote Torres, then look at Kohut. Send a message to the machine stranglehold on Bridgeport! In my view, this election has been played down by Finch’s people after the primary, because they are much more interested in the win than in a free and open forum or democratic ideals … That last sentence sounds like a bunch of bullshit … proving the point. Go get em’ …
Park City too. To your post. Let’s be honest. If Mary-Jane Foster became the Mayor and hired all of her supporters she would become the machine. Then let’s say her campaign manager had all of her supporters have a primary to get on the town committee–well there you go, enough of this machine bullshit. I have friends and acquaintances who are part of this “Machine.” Every town in every county and city and state have what is called the machine. It is either Democratic or Republican. Either way it is a machine. If you have the misfortune of becoming a mayor in a town without the machine behind you–I would guess it would suck! It is what it is, either you get it or you do not. I was supporting Mary-Jane Foster for mayor. I did not agree with some of her questionable associates. It was only Mary-Jane Foster. Questionable. Let me be clear, I was not and will not be voting for her ideals–I am voting for mine. As a candidate I was a staunch loyal supporter. She is not a candidate and I am not an extra in her life. I am a star of my own and vote accordingly. I would support her again in a heartbeat. But now it is Finch and I will not give a vote to any candidate who I do not want to be mayor of Bridgeport to humor anyone. Bill Finch was the candidate I supported four years ago–HELLO!!! And I am back as they say in the field as a Democrat. I will vote accordingly.
MJF supporters who now claim Finch is terrific make me sick.
I hear you, yahooy! Methinks MJF supporters who are now pontificating about the virtues of another Finch administration should be extra diligent in reading some of the posts on this blog. I get the feeling some of the faces behind the handles would surprise them.
I was (for a nanosecond) almost embarrassed for Bill Finch during the debate that was telecast yesterday on channel 12. The man was obnoxiously rude, and showed ZERO respect with the amount of times he interrupted Jeff and Rick. Where were the new ideas. Bill? I saw minimal substance, and a wealth of time spent patting himself on the back and defending decisions from the past. Whadya gonna do tomorrow, Bill? Tell me how you plan on avoiding a mil rate increase when the re-assessment comes to pass in two years? How are you going to find money for the pension payment? That’s what we wanted to see. PLANNING. NEW IDEAS. Instead we got debatus interruptus.
I missed that debate. Are they repeating it???
Great post 🙂
The Post wants to have it both ways. They want to endorse the machine by endorsing Finch and yet, in the editorial, say how the machine is bad.
The Post would be shut off and their reporters would have to work harder if they were denied their access to the Mayor’s staff. That is another motivation for their endorsement of Finch. That is their path of least resistance. It’s a sorry state because it can’t be denied a lot of voters in Bridgeport will follow the Post cue.
I think Torres has a much better chance to make the changes required to get the City finances in order.
No surprise the CT Post endorsed Finch in order to maintain the business relationship between the City and the Post. I don’t disagree that Finch is better than the last 3 democratic mayors (one who so mismanaged the city a State Board had to step in to try to straighten it out, a convicted felon who sold the office to the highest bidder and a drug addict) but the bar sure was set low.
There is no way Finch deserves a second term. The Post somehow concluded Finch has improved the city finances. This seems to contradict their own report that was included in the story about the current status of city finances. I was also surprised by the letter from Finch to the Post in which he claims he has not raised taxes in two years. Of course in an election year what candidate would raise taxes so I agree my taxes did not go up this year (July 2011) but Finch should go back and check his own property tax bill for July 2010 and he will see he actually raised our (and I assume his) property taxes by 2.3% in July 2010. This followed the 8% increase (July 08) 6 months after he took office plus the 24% increase I got the next year when the reduction in the tax rate was more than offset by an increase in assessment. During the four years Finch was in office my taxes paid were 29% higher than what I would have paid based on the last year under Fabrizi.
We only have one chance to get the City back on the right track during the next four years and that is by voting Torres into office. I am confident Torres will get a team together to help him put the City on the road to long-term financial stability and he will have the interest of the people of Bridgeport ahead of any personal gain.
Bob, give me a break and I will stand by my statement of most people of Islamic faith are peaceful. Wow, very shocked at what you really think about the Islamic faith, no wonder you’re supporting Torres. This is a diverse city with hundreds of people in the Islamic religion. Your comments are disgusting and it shows the kind of people who are supporting Torres and makes me glad I am not supporting him when I see comments such as yours. Then again you do not live or vote in Bridgeport.
donj–GO TO THE library!!! Read about Islam. KNOW what you speak about.
Forget it, Flicka, he is very young. He still knows everything.
donj, While I don’t believe the majority of Torres’ supporters are religious bigots some most certainly are. So overall, I agree with you.
Well said donj–JFBR.
Oh so you and donj are going to brand people who vote for Torres as religious bigots? What and who the hell gives you two assholes that right? You two make a perfect pai, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb. I am bigoted against people like you two who start making unsubstantiated charges.
tc–If you took the time to read my post carefully you will see I said “I don’t believe the majority of Torres’ supporters are religious bigots …”
And please, Andy, lose the asshole remarks. Your posts and arguments are usually of a much higher caliber.
Ditto.
I was agreeing with tc–LOLOLOL when I said ditto lol.
Nothing like being consistent, eh donj?
Islam is NOT an inclusive religion. Not one Islamic-based country recognizes Israel’s right to exist. Upon that notion I hope someday you travel to one of them and see for yourself. Take your wife/girlfriend and see how she is treated and how women of that faith have second-class status. Or, if you cannot go, take a trip to Dearborn Michigan and see what the Muslims have done to that city. While you and I disagree, I think your naivete pervades your perspective.
I lived and worked in Bridgeport from 1974 to 2011. I’ve watched the morass of this once vibrant city go down the toilet. The only thing I can no longer do in Bridgeport is vote, but I can bring a wealth of experience and perspective to this blog. Finch is a weak, empty and corrupt mayor. Fabrizi was a weak and self-important mayor who couldn’t control his behavior. Ganim had the potential, but was seduced by the power and money and thus ruined himself and his family.
I stood in the rain at the Hooker School for Chris Caruso because I knew corruption was the chief issue in Bridgeport politics. And the Finch minions stole the election. I know Rick Torres and I believe he is incorruptible and honest.
The CT Post is the Pravda of the Testacrats.
On Tuesday, Good People of Bridgeport, as you enter the voting booth remember to vote for ANYONE BUT FINCH.
ANYONE BUT FINCH, most agreeable billboard since LINDA: BECAUSE SHE BOUGHT EVERYTHING ELSE!
Rick Torres is incapable of controlling his ill temperament which renders him incapable of running for political office in any capacity.
Please post an accurate and honest example to support this claim.
So in lieu of the guy with an “ill temper” you’ll take the puppet with no spine. You’ll take the Pinocchio to Testa’s Gepetto. Great. I’m laying the sarcasm on pretty thick here so I’ll try to pull it back a little. Godiva2011–when things are as bad as they are in BPT–when good people are pinned down by the boot of a corrupt and unjust ruling class, when a municipal government has strayed so far from it’s intended function–when it begins to serve itself in lieu of the people–You do not need a lamb. You need a lion. Though I have NEVER seen any evidence to support your vague, ad hominem attack, I wouldn’t mind if Rick Torres had a bit of a temper with those who would do my city harm. What I HAVE witnessed is Rick give impassioned and inspiring speeches on behalf of the citizens of Bridgeport and furthermore, seen him be amiable as a lamb with those who seek to build Bridgeport up. If you can’t find it in your capacity to reason to see Bridgeport is led by thieves (chief among them Mario Testa and his puppet Finch) then you have been drinking the kool-aid a bit too long or else stand to benefit with another four years of Bill Finch. All I know is Bridgeport needs Rick Torres badly. I hope he wins.
Godiva,
Let’s see, if this were true, then Bill Finch would not have been elected in the first place, would he? Wasn’t there a story about a father-son altercation at a pub at Storrs, or is my memory playing tricks on me?
And your evidence for Rick Torres’ temperament? Is it merely your opinion, tempered by illness and goose bumps from riding around Bridgeport au naturel in the chill fall air of 2011? Or do you have something “typically nice” to say about people running for office who are not named Bill Finch? Time will tell.
Let me ask you BEACON2 (hypothetical of course), if you went to a pub with your son and a bouncer twice his size started pushing him around, would you not have stepped up to his defense? That’s what a parent would do, at least I would. Rick’s temper and volatility is well known by throngs of people so it’s certainly a well-known fact. Indeed if that were his son in a situation such as the one Finch & son encountered, he would have defended him with no holds barred (no pun intended). As for my not typically saying “something nice” about Finch’s opponents, when was it anything was said “nice” about him at any point during the primary and thereafter? Is my memory playing tricks on me?
I’ll take a guy with a temper in City Hall any day. At LEAST people would have to address the issues, of which there are many, he would bring up. He’s not a politician and that is his greatest asset. It’s just what Bridgeport needs, not another four years of begreen2020, government grants and a “stabilized” tax base twice that of any other municipality.
When you are the Mayor, all bets are off. It’s a choice you make when leading life in the public eye, father or not. The fact our Mayor can’t be counted on to peaceably opt out of a barroom brawl is disturbing, but really not a career-ender in my opinion. Neither is Rick’s “temper issue” or Finch’s penchant for getting visibly perturbed during debates and interrupting incessantly. Politics is a nasty little business that corrupts almost absolutely over time. ALMOST. That is the sole reason I believe a changing of the guard is not only healthy, it is necessitated after a period of time.
Godiva,
If a bouncer twice my son’s size, or my size, etc., etc. started “pushing anyone around” I would decide, quickly, this pub is not a good place to be. We are not welcome. Let’s get out of here. They can do without my business. I would grab the younger man’s belt, shirt, arm or whatever and prevail upon him to absent the premises. My manhood or masculinity is not challenged by an over-the-top or aggressive bouncer (assuming that is the real story) who preys on sober blameless customers.
However, if my son had one or more too many under his belt and was rapidly becoming persona non grata, let’s use our judgement and split, right? Unless maybe I also had too many, etc., etc. (You get the picture, and it is not pretty, but it happens, doesn’t it?)
So the moral of the story is a masculine response in one situation may be appropriate and in another be inappropriate, and Bill or Rick are people where emotions can be observed, but definitely do not paralyze their performance in the roles they occupy.
Thanks for the discussion …
Can I return Godiva without a receipt?