From Mayor Bill Finch:
This evening, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch announced that he’ll be sending four snow trucks and a foreman up to New London, Conn. to help with their snow clearing efforts.
In Bridgeport–the state’s largest city–forecasts projected two feet of snow or more, but the latest forecasts downgraded the amount to 14 inches or less.
New London wasn’t as fortunate, receiving 20 inches of snow as of this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
“We’re happy to help our neighbors in New London. We prepared for the worst, and hoped for the best. We had more equipment than ever before and utilized new technology. The result was a success. Our roads are clear and we’ve weathered the storm. Thankfully, we’re in a place to help assist a neighboring city in need,” Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch.
The four trucks and foreman are planning to depart from Bridgeport to New London at 7:00PM this evening.
BRIDGEPORT SCHOOLS WILL BE DELAYED FOR 90 MINUTES TOMORROW
Bridgeport public schools announced this evening that, as an added safety measures for kids and families, school will be delayed for 90 minutes tomorrow.
“We applaud Superintendent Rabinowitz for her decision to make sure kids and families are safe by delaying school by 90 minutes tomorrow. The roads will be icy and safety is our top priority. We also want to encourage drivers to be safe and smart tomorrow as they bring kids to school and drive to work,” said Mayor Finch.
Bridgeport also has a snow emergency in place so that public facilities crews can continue to keep the streets clean, which will ensure kids and families are safe and secure as they begin normal travel routines tomorrow.
“This storm could have been much worse. There are still roads being plowed, and folks shoveling out their driveways and sidewalks. But our public facilities team did a great job. They had a plan. They prepared. They trained, and it paid off,” said Mayor Finch.
“Bridgeport was prepared for the storm,” said public facilities director Jorge Garcia, with about 70 plows, pay loaders, tri-axles, and other vehicles on the road or on standby as the storm approached.
Additional information:
Ø Garbage and Recycling Pickup: Garbage and recycling pickup that was cancelled for today will occur tomorrow.
Ø Parking: Additional off-street parking remains available at: all school parking lots; surface parking lots across the street from the Ballpark at Harbor Yard; the North End Library (3455 Madison Ave.); Veterans Memorial Park (entrance off Madison Avenue); Municipal Parking Lot located on the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Jetland Street (adjacent to 2895 Fairfield Ave.); Health Department (752 East Main St.); and the lot adjacent to the former Waltersville School (95 Gilmore St.).
New London, Conn. has not asked Gov. Malloy or the National Guard for any assistance with the snow but who’s going to ride in on a white horse to dig them out? Bridgeport’s Mayor Finch. Thanks mayor for spending our tax dollars in New London.
People died as a result of the inept snow removal two years ago I believe it was. The streets were rock solid ice/snow two feet-plus deep for weeks in places.
Is anyone paying attention? New York News ABC commending the City of Bridgeport. Last evening on two different segments of MSNBC they interviewed Mayor Finch and Bret B., his communications man. It looks like Bridgeport, the state’s largest city, is finally making the news for the right reason. I think the Mayor’s response to New London shows leadership and good will and excellent Public Relations. Would anyone imagine any other elected official not stepping up? Kudos. Only because they are well deserved.
I don’t have an issue with helping another city as long as they reimburse Bridgeport 100%. Is this the arrangement?
MSNBC was talking to mayors of big cities in the northeast last night to get reports of what was going on. All one had to do was to listen to them all and it was easy to see how Finch was trying kiss Rev. Al’s ass because the interview was over but Finch kept talking about Rev. Al needs to be in Washington dealing with green issues. He never addressed the question of what he was doing about the elderly in this blizzard, he just said the police were out there, he didn’t say what they were doing and what he was doing for the elderly.
The blizzard spared much of Connecticut, but the same can’t be said of New London County.
Groton got 22 inches of snow and Haddam got 22.5 inches as of 11 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.
Residents in areas of Groton and New London posted on Patch Facebook pages that snow hadn’t been plowed from their streets.
This afternoon Gov. Dannel Malloy said the state travel ban would be lifted at 2 p.m. State crews are wrapping up a second treatment on state roads. Once that is done crews will be on the way to heavily affected areas like New London to assist in the cleanup. The National Guard will also be heading to heavily affected areas as well.
No problem whatsoever helping New London out, we all have to work together with things like this.
The larger your city the more sense it makes to help other municipalities in times of their distress.
So I guess that means those cities and towns that are wealthy should help poorer cities like Bridgeport.