I love dueling letters–especially the one that starts under the guise of As the president of a non-partisan organization, I have been extremely careful not to take sides in this year’s mayoral campaign (translation: I have an agenda)–like one started by Joshua Grant, who may be a wonderful human being; I do not know him. Look, just say whom you’re supporting and why and cut this phony patina crap, will ya? If you like Bill Finch just say it, scream it from the mountaintops if you want. That’s my kind of guy. Anytime a letter opens As president of a non-partisan organization be suspicious. It’s surely a signal an agenda is coming down via manipulation.
Joshua Grant’s letter
As the president of a non-partisan organization, I have been extremely careful not to take sides in this year’s mayoral campaign. Having worked for Mary-Jane Foster and with Bill Finch, I have developed a great respect for their passion for the city of Bridgeport. Although they have differing opinions, what makes them similar is that they believe in this city. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Since moving to Bridgeport in 1998, I have been known for two things. First, I’m known as a business owner and second as the president and co-founder of the Southern Connecticut Black Chamber of Commerce. I am not wearing any of those hats today. I want to address the readers of this letter as an African-American.
Recently there was a flier distributed throughout the African-American neighborhoods and church parking lots. It depicted Bill Finch as “Finch da Grinch.” It used statements like “Finch doesn’t like African-Americans” and “Finch locks African-Americans out of jobs.”
It’s obvious that the tone was meant to offend African-Americans. It certainly offended me. Not because Finch doesn’t like me or has locked me out of jobs, but because this low-class offense was perpetrated by African-Americans.
Read more: www.ctpost.com/news/article/Bridgeport-voters-Don-t-be-fooled-2171369.php
I don’t know Jimmy Ray Cooper either, but at least he has the guts to place his name on something as author of the Finch The Grinch flyer. See his response here:
In response to Joshua Grant’s letter to the editor titled, “Bridgeport Voters, Don’t be Fooled,” I would like to say, “Bridgeport Voters, Don’t be Manipulated.”
As the author of the flyer, which represented the aspirations and frustrations of many local African-American minority contractors who do business in the city of Bridgeport, I stand by the “Finch the Grinch” parody. In my opinion, the Finch administration has failed our black and local small businesses.
Read more: www.ctpost.com/news/article/Questioning-Finch-s-minority-contracting-2172732.php
The letter by Joshua Grant was very well written. It was also very clear he was a Finch supporter which is also great. Finch needs a few. I am sure all of the individuals you mentioned by name appreciate the fact they have been identified by name and position. Did Finch hire them because they were African American or were they qualified? I would like to think they were qualified and embarrassed anyone would want to be identified in a letter like this. Everyone connected with Finch is coming out with outrageous comments and opinions. Donald Eversley is on the top of my list. Today he stated Bridgeport doesn’t need to worry if Derecktor leaves Bridgeport as it will not be difficult to get another marine facility there. What? Are you serious??? Look, the primary is the 27th and the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashana starts on the 29th. I am expecting to go into this celebration full of joy and new beginnings and that includes a new leader at the helm. I would like to say one more thing regarding Joshua Grant. It took me awhile to remember who you were. Now I do. I was the white Jewish guy who attended the Black Chamber of Commerce meet and greet at Miss Thelma’s. You do know most of your members are supporting Mary-Jane Foster, right? Oh, you didn’t? I also wanted to thank you for all of the wonderful people I met that evening and of course the food at Miss Thelma’s is always the best. We relaxed and ate very well that evening, well after Ms. Foster had gone. I am always at home at Miss Thelma’s. The Black Chamber of Commerce is very impressive and I hope you will follow your members supporting Mary-Jane Foster. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
I do not know Mr. Grant but I can tell this was written by a Finch staffer. Just way too many lies and too much BS. Half the people “hired” by Finch were leftovers from The Fabulous One. Is it a Finch hire because he didn’t fire them?
And Tate George??? It should Taint George cause he tain’t done anything on that Seaview Avenue site.
Now that’s an insult Grin. You obviously don’t know me. If you want to see and hear the real deal, I’m the big black guy at the ballpark and the arena. Believe me, I’m even better in person!
I admire your support of your candidate but strongly disagree with the basis of your contention. The facts are plain and they are simple. Bill Finch has done NOTHING to better the lives of the people of Bridgeport, most of whom are black and Latino. He has failed to educate his constituency, he has failed to protect his constituency and he has burdened his constituency with outrageously high property taxes. Furthermore, Finch has further burdened his constituency with future debt obligations emanating from his failure to pay obligated pension contributions and for his seriously inept contract negotiations with unions (unions stink BTW).
Finch is no friend of the black man. Finch is guided by those who are self-agendized and now are desperate to maintain a way of life that has broken the backs of the good people of this town.
All of the people who live and work in Bridgeport will be better served by Mary-Jane Foster. Since most of the people who live and work in this town are black and Latino, Mary-Jane Foster is their best best for an improved quality of life resulting from a return to prosperity, promise and prominence.
Mary-Jane Foster will serve her constituency with skill and with honor and with courage.
Josh Grant and Jimmy Ray Cooper are both great guys with small businesses that, in my opinion, are struggling to survive. My bet is Josh didn’t know Jimmy Ray authored that flyer. I am glad Jimmy owned up to it so it doesn’t come off as a dirty trick by the Foster campaign. There haven’t been nor will be dirty tricks by the Foster campaign. Foster would not stand for it and is in court again trying to make sure the election goes fair and square for all of us.
Look, what is at stake here is helping all of the local small businesses grow stronger. Why do we have Rainy Faye on the brink of closing? The Finch small/minority owned business program didn’t do more than ride on the coattails Fabrizi with George Estrada set up with doing the Disparity Study, developing and executing the project labor agreements and shepherding the Minority Business Ordinance which, if you will recall, was under Ms. Deb Caviness’ responsibility when she served as Fabrizi’s Mayoral Aide. Yes, Finch put Ms. Caviness in her own office on the first floor of the Annex but that program has not expanded past Fabrizi’s construction program initiatives. Four years have gone by. It should be all-encompassing by now since the disparity study showed all of the gaps. But it isn’t, it hasn’t. Shame on Finch.
Josh Grant benefited from the ‘Buy local’ program Mary-Jane Foster implemented while at the helm of the Bluefish. He knows it. My hope is Josh and Jimmy Ray are put in the same room quickly so they can patch this up and move forward together.
When there are only crumbs on the floor in a famine, even the goodhearted get desperate. Finch is an emperor with no clothing. If his accomplishments for small and minority owned businesses were really substantive, these two great guys wouldn’t be writing dueling letters.
Everyone needs to vote on September 27th. True reform is ours for the making.
You are absolutely right, Lennie. I do have an agenda. My agenda is the advancement of minority owned business in Bridgeport. It’s been my agenda since I co-founded the Southern Connecticut Black Chamber of Commerce. I know this is hard to fathom in Bridgeport, but not everyone has a secret or hidden agenda.
I don’t work for the city of Bridgeport, nor do I do business with the city of Bridgeport. I am not running for office and I don’t sit on any commissions. I am simply fed up with the political football minority businesses have become.
Here is something you don’t know. I started my business at the Bluefish in 1999, and have been there ever since. That’s right, Mary-Jane’s Bluefish. My business now operates in 5 states, and it all began in Bridgeport. Mary-Jane’s role in bringing the Bluefish to Bridgeport had a direct impact on me, and I will not deny that.
I’ve also seen the impact the Finch administration has had on MBEs too. The fact is MBE’s are doing more business with the city now than ever before. Now there are some who would beg to differ so let me rephrase. “There are more MBEs doing business legally with the city now than ever before.”
My objection to the “Finch da Grinch” poster was and still is it lowers the intelligence of all who are involved. If you are really interested in fixing an issue, you should start with the truth. I felt the need to set the record straight as well as shine a light on some of the lies that have been told.
So Lennie, I will make it clear. I like Bill Finch, and I like Mary-Jane Foster. But I love MBEs, because I am an MBE. Believe it or not Lennie, that is my agenda, that is my manipulation. If you find that hard to believe, then maybe you’ve become a part of the machine you blog about.
I’ve known Bill Finch for over 15 years now. I served five years on the City Council with him. Bill only likes the kinds of Hispanics and blacks who help him pay the bills. Black, Hispanic or any merchant for what it matters have been doing as best they could and would have done without Bill Finch. If you can’t make it on your own, change your career, business plan or just becomes another failed entrepreneur for Finch to make fun of.
The method of putting city contracts out for bid reminds me of an old “Star Trek” episode, the one about the computer called Landru. Minority businesses are shut out of the process because they “are not of the body.” In this case it means “Not friends of Bill” (and I don’t mean Bill Wilson).
The answer is simple, Mr. Grant. You really should consider your support for Mary-Jane Foster. She can and will elevate the MBEs. Funny how people do forget who helped them along the way. Foster deserves the support of all people who believe Bridgeport deserves to take its rightful place in the business world and not be treated like the bastard stepchild of Stamford and Norwalk. Our own BRBC believes Bridgeport only deserves to go after the backroom operations of any major corporation. We have the workforce in the city and our surrounding suburbs to support corporate giants. I will not concede to those towns and neither should the Black Chamber of Commerce. IT TAKES A LEADER TO COME FROM BEHIND AND FOSTER WILL PREVAIL. Join the team!
The truth needs to reach the people.
Josh,
Perhaps you and Jimmy Ray should sit down and break bread. This primary is all about breaking the hold the DTC has had over all of the elected and appointed positions. That will result in a government that has one purpose: to serve and protect all of Bridgeport’s citizens, not just a chosen few with perceived and actual conflicts. That is the larger issue for all MBEs; for all of us. Go break bread together. Sept 27th is just around the corner.
MJF needs to do a better job of reaching the Hispanic community. Close to 100 people were turned away Sept 13 at Marin and might not come back on the 27th.
kid, do you think the Marin voters were generally showing up for Foster or Finch?
According to someone who works there, Mary-Jane would have done VERY well. But the people left frustrated and had no clue as to why they couldn’t vote.
“… nor do I do business with the city of Bridgeport.”
“I started my business at the Bluefish in 1999, and have been there ever since …”
“The fact is MBEs are doing more business with the city now than ever before …”
Joshua, let me school you on some “facts:” You are clearly lying like Finch. The Bluefish Stadium is owned by the City of Bridgeport. Finch is going around telling people how poorly managed the team was–this hurts your business. Finch was the Chairmen of the City of Bridgeport’s Contracts and Appointments Committee back in 1998/2000. He played a key role in derailing the Arena contract and helping Kasper Group (managed by Paul Pinto) get control of the Arena project–this hurt your business.
As for the “Grinch” matter, why weren’t you offended or concerned when the Grinch who stole Christmas decoration was place on the door of the City of Bridgeport’s Labor Relations Office? Click and see the OIB link below. Is it because the man in charge of the office is black?
/wordpress/labor-relations-grinch-cinch-to-win-city-hall-door-prize/
Joel, you are so out of your league with this one. I can teach a class on what’s gone on at the Bluefish. I understand you are anti Finch and pro MJF, but that doesn’t make me a liar just because you say so.
I think of a lot of ways your zeal for this city could be put to better use. I wouldn’t cut off another finger on this one, you are way off base!
Here’s another one who can’t see beyond “a finger.”
I did more work to get Finch elected than you could ever do, Joshua. I gave Finch the benefit of the doubt to be mayor, just like I gave Mary-Jane Foster and her team of investors the benefit of the doubt to give the Bluefish and businesses like yours an opportunity to make it. Off base?
It looks more like you just got caught off base and now you’re running back and forth trying to save the game. Surprise! I’m throwing the ball with my right hand–which still has five digits–and catching with the left.
Is the finger issue all you can you can raise? No response to the “Grinch” on Larry Osborne’s door? Can’t tell me how many Hispanics or Whites you or any of the black-owned businesses have hired? I’m sure you wouldn’t cut off a finger on anything–unless it’s a paper cut–Ouch!
You’re in over your head, Joshua.
Joel, I think you were trying to ask how many MBEs have been hired. I’d like to introduce you to a few and review the list. That way you can scream and yell intelligently.
You are right about the finger thing, too. I wouldn’t lose a finger for anyone! You seem to be the only person who thinks that works. I on the other hand prefer to use my brain to make a point. It’s not nearly as painful.
Joshua Grant, you give some names of blacks the mayor appointed to positions, so what does that mean to the black community as a whole? Former President George W. Bush appointed Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice to very high positions, so what did that do to help blacks as a whole?
Joshua Grant, you speak of Mayor Finch like he is a savior for blacks in Bridgeport.
Mr. Grant,
Let me introduce myself. I am the little old white guy who sits in the City Council seat on the right-hand side of the council in the back row closest to the public (both figuratively and literally). I do not know if we formally were introduced but I have heard some positive things about you.
However, before heaping too much praise on Mayor Finch let me provide some of my insight to what I believe are serious shortcomings in some of his minority contracting.
First of all I believe he does not believe there should be any assistance given professional services.
Recently when the matter of the contractor for the Parks Master Plan came before the City Council I questioned why there were no responses from any minority contractors. Speaking with a great deal of conviction the mayor informed the council there was only one Landscape Architect MBE on the entire east coast and the mayor personally contacted the firm and they were not interested in bidding. That sounds quite impressive but when I went onto the internet a few days later I found more than 30 such firms in a half-hour search.
When Bill Finch first became mayor and issued an RFP for bond counsel (a multi-million dollar contract), I fought to have the city reissue the RFP when no minority contracting firm responded and urged the mayor to use his influence to encourage the winning firm to agree to take on a minority firm as co-counsel and the mayor refused. This could not only be a significant revenue stream for a Bridgeport-based minority firm but would open the door and help qualify them to bid on other such contracts; as we say a hand up not a handout.
Previously I had cosponsored a resolution requiring the City Attorney to use on a rotating basis a City Sheriff for service of papers instead of Fairfield County Sheriffs. Since two of the three Bridgeport Sheriffs are minorities it would have directed 66% of the work to them. The City Attorney refused and the same City Attorney now serves as City Attorney to Mayor Finch. And if you look at the work that is handed out by this individual without competitive bidding you will be very hard pressed to find any minority law firms on the list.
At one point I had advocated on behalf of a constituent of mine who is African American and owned a small business that was trying to contract with the city. But he found the city’s rules and regulations either overly restrictive or established timeframes small businesses could not adhere to. At one point he looked me in the eye and said he was giving up on trying to do business with the city. And the irony was that he was a frequent contractor with the City of New Haven. And the list goes on.
I know Jimmy Cooper. I happen to like Jimmy Cooper. When the minority contracting ordinance was being drafted by the city I was fighting for a Buy Local Sheltered Market program, the same type of program Mr. Cooper speaks of. Just imagine how wonderful it would be if more and more of the city taxpayer dollars went to minority-owned businesses located in the city of Bridgeport. And still the city has yet to address this shortcoming.
I am not denying progress has been made in this area, but much, much more can still be done. I believe that was Mr. Cooper’s message and I agree totally.
(Sorry yahooy if you think this is too long.)
Let another MBE speak to the issue. Drop in on Georgia Day at Rainy Fay’s Book Shop, an independent bookstore that has been open for seven years in downtown Bridgeport.
Books may seem to be behind the technology curve to many of you who purchase on the internet or download to a nook, but Georgia holds talk and listen sessions for people of diverse experience and talent on a regular basis. A kind of Bridgeport intelligentsia, young, old, quiet or bold, you’ll hear opinions, well expressed and substantiated, and a supply of facts you may never have imagined previously. No tuition at this school of life. And sometimes invited authors show up to talk about their latest … or poets to read their latest … and music people including writers, singers, professors and dj’s, plus many other unique people … Very cool …
Ask Georgia what she thinks of Bridgeport Minority Business support. She has actual experience, both positive and negative. She would love you to cross her doorstep. Browse, buy a book, and read it. What a concept!!!
Imagine, an actual retail Minority Business Enterprise in Bridgeport as the retirement dream of a career academic. Bridgeport can be a “field of dreams” for more than baseball! Surprise! It’s Bridgeport.
Bob:
We have met on a couple of occasions. You would recognize me if you saw me. It’s funny how stating the facts makes me anti MJF and pro Finch. I’m simply stating MBEs have made progress over the last few years. I have told Bill to his face the city needs to do more. I’m actively working to improve things now. My problem is this issue has been molested by so many people, black and white, nobody believes anything.
Bob you were on the council when I addressed the fact the Vibes wasn’t using local or minority companies. I gave a letter to every council member and testified before the council and parks commission. It was also in the Post.
Do you know how many council members and parks commissioners I heard from? ZERO! There was no Amen from the East End or “you go boy” from the council. My agenda hasn’t changed, the only difference is it’s election time, and now everyone cares.
Minorities haven’t had a seat at the table for decades. Now that it’s election time it’s his fault there has been no progress whatsoever. That’s not true.
Let’s not act like this issue has been burning up the blogs and the Post. It’s only a big deal because I told the truth and gave Finch credit for moving things forward.
The city has a long way to go, but it’s heading in the right direction. I’m not going to sit by while someone denies the progress, especially when they were a part of the problem in the first place.
I like you Bob, because you aren’t afraid to confront the obvious. I’m taking a page from your book. You and I both know the machine hates it when someone doesn’t play along. That’s what you are seeing now.
“… There was no Amen from the East End or “you go boy” from the council.”
Joshua, just because you weren’t contacted by the City Council doesn’t mean your concern fell on death ears. Councilman Andre Baker is from the East End for your information. Andre Baker is a great example of how black leaders should conduct their business on behalf of their constituents and if it wasn’t for their color, it would be difficult to tell the difference between Baker and Walsh.
“… I told the truth and gave Finch credit for moving things forward …”
You’re giving Bill Finch full credit and ignoring the fact it was the City Council who put the minority contractors program together and approving the funding. Bill Finch just signed off on it; used the program to his political advantage and here you are playing right into his hands. Trust me when I tell you when Finch was a City Councilman and chaired the Contracts and Appointments Committee with the power to do what was right as far as minority contracting, he failed miserably. You were ‘safe on base’ when you wrote: “Minorities haven’t had a seat at the table for decades.” It’s been just about “decades” since Bill Finch began his iron-fisted–cash-fisted I should say–ruling of the Contracts and Appointments Committee. Joshua, you could at least “Grant” me some credit for being able to type like I do with just nine fingers.
Mr. Grant, you said Mayor Finch is moving things forward, well let me respectfully disagree with you. The City of Bridgeport is giving an entry-level firefighter exam and what Mayor Finch has done with the help of the fire chief is to change the way the City has successfully over the years given the physical exam. The City is now using a system call CPAT and it costs $150 to take and you have to travel to Windsor Locks CT to take the exam. Well there are over 1000 volunteer firefighters all over Connecticut who have that training and who are almost entirely white males. This new way of testing will greatly reduce the number of Bridgeport residents from being Bridgeport firefighters. White residents of Bridgeport will have less of chance to be a Bridgeport firefighter than those out-of-towners and the same will happen to blacks, Latinos and females of all races, all because of Mayor Finch. And for the record current Bridgeport firefighters have never taken this exam but the mayor wants these new firefighters to pass it. Does that sound like a mayor moving things forward for the good of the residents of Bridgeport?
Ron,
I don’t understand. Is the CPAT test physically more strenuous than the physical agility test the City of Bridgeport used in the past? I know you and town committee have discussed this in the past on the blog but until you wrote it today, I didn’t link it to setting the bar higher than Bridgeport residents could reach or maybe it was a timing issue. If volunteer firefighters take the CPAT test and pass it, why wouldn’t Bridgeport residents be able to do the same? Is it you are suggesting the City give Bridgeport residents time to train and take the CPAT test before the rest of the exam is given so Bridgeport residents have a level playing field? Would you clarify please? As you can tell I am not a firefighter or from a firefighter family but I sure do want Bridgeport residents to have a fair shot at that test and being in the top 25 selected for the new class.
countdown, thank you for your question. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) ICHIEFS themselves have said CPAT should be used for current and prospective firefighters with the emphasis on Current firefighters. The City of Bridgeport has decided to forgo the recommendations of the IAFF and IAFC which Chief Brian Rooney advocates using. ICHIEFS said, ‘It doesn’t make sense for a department to test its candidates or incumbents, the theory goes, before it has an infrastructure in place to prepare them for the test and help maintain their fitness afterward.” “The point is to maintain a fit and healthy fire service from the beginning through the course of a firefighter’s career. The wellness-fitness initiative works.” According to the CPAT guidelines, departments must fully implement the wellness-fitness initiative before implementing CPAT. By that they mean that Departments must put a mechanism in place to get its current firefighters healthy before implementing CPAT.
There is no science or scientific correlation to the task- and tool-specific drills the CPAT requires to be any more indicative of job success predictability than any other basic agility tests such as a single bench press or push up or vertical jump or mile run. The CPAT organizers have no science to back their claim this is the only and best indicator of future job success, however statistics clearly show the same test has a disparate impact on minorities and women for a number of reasons. In fact Hartford got rid of using CPAT.