Acknowledging city employees serving on the City Council “doesn’t look good,” Mayor Bill Finch appeared on the Chaz & AJ radio show Wednesday morning urging former Mayor Joe Ganim to find something else to do than seek his old job. CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart listened to the interview that also included a surprise call-in, Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst who challenged Finch to support the proposed government reform bill to ban city employee councilors. Lockhart writes:
“After suggesting some other jobs for felonious public servants like librarian and astronaut, Finch’s hosts chimed in, “Are you saying you’d like to see Joe Ganim out in space?”
Minutes later Trumbull Republican First Selectman Timothy Herbst phoned in to steer the topic to proposed legislation banning Bridgeport municipal employees from serving on the City Council.
Finch admitted the practice “doesn’t look good,” which, considering what little the mayor has said on the matter thus far, was significant.
Finch has come under fire for backing a proposal before the General Assembly that would keep felonious politicians like Ganim from running again, but failing to side with a majority of Bridgeport’s legislators on another bill blocking municipal employees from being elected to the City Council.
Full Lockhart story here.
Mayor Finch, the only one in outer space is you. Definitely not as an astronaut, but as drifting debris.
Your repeated mantra is convicted sex offenders shouldn’t be allowed to work in a daycare, therefore those convicted of corruption shouldn’t be able to serve in public office.
Yet you hired the former director of Families for Excellent Schools that was directly responsible for Dunbar School at a taxpayer-funded salary of $90,000 per year, plus benefits. You made this decision although you were well aware as the former director he knew he had a convicted sex offender working with elementary students and did absolutely nothing about it.
Instead of chasing him out of town, you offer him a cushy taxpayer-funded job.
You look absolutely ridiculous.
Mayor Moonbeam is a real Space Cadet!
I heard Bill took a space-shot at Lennie. Finch is really Lost in Space!
Ganim couldn’t get a job as a school bus driver or a cab driver, however he can be Mayor of the largest city in the State. Doesn’t that speak volumes as to politicians’ qualifications in this state?
Charlie–when is the BIA going to rule?
They have until it is reconsidered, however I have heard by the end of March. At which point they send it to OMB who has legally 45 days. After which it is published in the Federal Register, thus becoming law.
Bill is suffering from a bad case of Assteroids!
Is he LIKE hemorrhoids, A PAIN IN THE ASS?
I think he is suffering from a bad case of the Moody Blues. Ground Control to Major Bill!
Wow, Joe Ganim is consuming Finch’s life, it’s obvious Finch knows he’s in trouble if Ganim runs against him. What isn’t surprising though is Finch turning on McCarthy when backed into a corner by Tim Herbst. Finch did the same thing to Mr. Riccio when the heat was on about the $500,000 driveway he gave to his longtime supporter Manny Moutinho. Finch’s motto, “when backed into a corner, say/do anything to save yourself.”
You have to feel bad for McCarthy now, after all these years of doing what Finch told him to do, after being a loyal servant, Finch turns his back on him to save himself. What a good friend. lol.
Poor Tom McCarthy–he, like so many, thought he was an exception to the rule. There isn’t anyone Bill Finch wouldn’t throw under the bus if it meant he was left standing. Nope, not anyone.
Talk about a clueless wonder. This was Finch’s response to the murder of a young man on Reservoir Avenue.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “Violence is at the lowest level in 40 years in Bridgeport. That doesn’t make today any easier for the community or for me. A man senselessly lost his life, and detectives are working nonstop to find the person responsible.”
“Violence is at the lowest level in 40 years in Bridgeport.” What a pompous ass! He has to use the murder of a young man to continue to promote his reelection campaign.
Getting better every day, Bill?
Does Finch think the victim’s family cares that the murder rate and violent crime are at their lowest in years?
Bob Walsh and Andy,
I too was struck by Finch’s callous calculated “Broesder”-issued response.
Could you imagine the head of Lufthansa, owner of Germanwings, issuing a first response to news of the horrible crash of a Germanwings airliner that took 150 people’s lives that began by enumerating the company’s safety record and/or noting its current safety record vs competitors and/or historical trends?
What a jerk. Really. A young man is dead and we get a campaign plug? Repulsive.
“Finch admitted the practice “doesn’t look good,” which, considering what little the mayor has said on the matter thus far, was significant.”
So what will Bill do? Nothing.
Did he say he would ask to DTC not to nominate city employees? NO.
Did he say he would ask current city employees not to run again? NO.
Did he say he would stop lobbying against the bill and instead begin lobbying in favor of it? NO.
Did he say he would stop inviting council members who are city employees to press conferences during the workday? NO.
Did he say he would not campaign with individuals who are city employees? NO.
Did he say he would not allow pictures of these individuals on any of his campaign literature? NO.
Is it getting better every day, Bill? NO.
Bob, what do you mean he’s done nothing, he increased our taxes for the last seven years! On average by 30%!
The best thing Joe Ganim has going for himself to become mayor is Bill Finch running his mouth. Now Finch throws McCarthy under the bus along with his key mouthpiece, City Attorney Hamilton Burger. Finch is so scared of Ganim he doesn’t know what to do.
Harvey, “You have to feel bad for McCarthy now”? McCarthy is not a victim. He is a willing and active participant in questionable arrangements to control the city council.
Tom White, what I mean is McCarthy was extremely loyal to Finch. McCarthy probably thought Finch would have his back, thought their relationship was different, and somehow Finch would get this bill squashed and they could continue with this nice little arrangement they have. Finch wanted the same, but when he saw/read what the reaction to his position was becoming, of course Finch being Finch, threw his most loyal servant right under the bus. This should be a lesson to all the Finch backers/friends, once you may be a problem to him, he’ll turn his back on you. What a great friend.
I don’t understand Mayor Finch’s reluctance to support the proposed legislation banning Bridgeport municipal employees from serving on the City Council. Earlier this morning he finally admitted this practice “doesn’t look good” and I suggest that is scaring potential investors away from Bridgeport, not who might run for Mayor of Bridgeport. These potential investors see the conflict of interest in this practice and the Finch administration has done nothing about it. I guess some things never change.
Ed Adams, you make a very god point about potential investors but Finch believes in control and by having McCarthy in place it puts the fear of God in union workers. It’s all about control but the tide is changing.
It would be wise for Mayor Finch to follow his gut and support this measure. I think if he is going to it should be now. Tom McCarthy has to decide if he wants to be an albatross around the Mayor’s neck or not. This one issue could bring forth another candidate and I am certainly not suggesting Ganim. He is a non-issue. This issue could be the icing on the cake for Finch if he chooses wisely and knock the wind out of the sails of the negative haters on this blog. Finch’s credibility could fall on this one issue. I am glad the Ganim supporters are not asking Ganim his opinion. I respect Herbst getting involved in this issue, but my gut tells me he wrote this as a favor to Ganim. You know, the Lebanese-Syrian connection. The families were members of the same church on Park Avenue. Herbst’s parents used to live behind me in Candelight Terrace. I am friends with Tim’s uncles David and George the Zamarys, my brother is best friends with his aunt Patrice. Small world when you know the connections. I am surprised Ganim’s balls didn’t ask Moran for her support, they are also members of the same church. She declared bankruptcy and he saved the City from bankruptcy. Could you imagine … Lolololololol/
Not sure who is a bigger Finch suck-up, McCarthy or Auerbach.
BPT REBEL, is it because you just needed to make a comment (so bold behind an anonymous handle)? For the sake of argument, since I am tired of wasting my breath arguing with anonymous Ganim sycophants, I will say since McCarthy doesn’t comment on this blog you can say I would take the title of suck-up if I were the beneficiary of something. I am not, but I do acknowledge when the Mayor does a good job and acknowledge when he needs to address issues.
BPT REBEL, I will accept you are just not too bright and leave it at that.
McCarthy for sure. Every once in a while Auerbach will say something close to being anti-Finch, where McCarthy sent his mother and father to the forum because he didn’t want to be seen there.
But Stevie you said Tommy Mac doesn’t blog here but how do you know? Maybe he’s BOE SPY.
Bob Walsh, hey, you got something, BOE SPY, being Tom McCarthy, sure because BOE SPY is scared to use his/her own name and who else could have the info SPY writes about?
Stevie, when Mayor Joe wins the DTC seat for Mayor, then would you support him?
Jim Fox, thank you for asking an honest question. The answer would be no under any circumstance and would probably not be shocked at those supporting him. I would not spend four years trashing him like those on this blog. It would be a dark day in Bridgeport.
Outer Space Employment Agency:
www .youtube.com/watch?v=iDwn0lsxDGg
Does the location look familiar?
I think outer space has plenty of opportunities for all. No need to push the line.