Next Tuesday should be a hoot when the city’s state legislative delegation, led by State Rep. Chris Caruso, is scheduled to meet with Mayor Bill Finch to field hizzoner’s wish list for the General Assembly session that begins in a few weeks. That’s the first day of Winter. Might there be a chill in the air and in the room?
Bridgeport’s eight-member delegation chose Caruso as their chairman for this session. That means it’s his job to take the lead on selling the city’s needs to his legislative peers in the areas of education, economic development, transportation, etc. But first they must decide priorities and what’s doable as Governor-elect Dan Malloy tries to close a projected $3 billion deficit through a combination of cuts and new taxes. Lotsa luck.
Finch defeated Caruso by just 270 votes in a Democratic primary in 2007. Looks like a rematch is shaping up although the Big Wave is not ready to make a formal announcement until after the holidays. Finch needs goodies to keep his budget in line in a 2011 election year full of what-ifs. Will the proposed wastewater treatment authority between Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe reach poop paradise? If so, it could mean $40 million in one-shot revenue for the mayor’s budget. But what if it doesn’t happen? Yikes!
Finch wants as much help as he can get from the legislature. And Caruso wants to be in a position to say, as a mayoral candidate, I delivered this and that for Bridgeport. All of this will play out in the coming months. Cannot wait for the first time Finch and Caruso blow a cork at other over funding for the city. Let the games begin.
Caruso elected the chair of the Bridgeport delegation. That’s interesting. This could be a major test of Caruso’s abilities. Can he put his combative obstructionist ways behind him and exercise give and take negotiations to ensure that Bridgeport receives what is needed or will he use this meeting to mount a soapbox (reinforced) for his own personal benefit?
So if Chris Caruso insists that the administration opens the books before he commits to supporting funding of any project, would that be considered “combative obstructionist ways?”
Shithead. Read the post again.
No “Ya” didn’t! Coming from the likes of you, that’s a compliment.
He’s held the post before and did well. I have no doubt that Chris will take the needs of the city first and foremost. If he does this his other concerns will take care of themselves.
*** Questions with no answers, just how successful is the New Haven Regional Sewer System & what have our 8 city/state legislators done for Bpt since in office on a district level? Seems you only hear from them during political elections time! *** Land of the lost. ***
About New Haven Regional WPCA? If the WPCA is unsuccessful, there would be no reason to suggest it as a model for our region, is there? So, we are going to assume that it is successful. However, having lived in the New Haven area for 1/3 of my life, I have to disclose that there is a greater history of respect and trust among the towns involved than there appears to be locally at this time. Listening to OIB writers and to people from Trumbull attending their meeting, I do not come away with any sense that everyone is looking at what is best for the community as a whole going forward. I understand that some will remind me that each community needs to look at its own needs primarily (and forget about the rest). But isn’t that how hospitals, social agencies, trash-to-energy plants, sewage facilities, etc. end up being located in Bpt and not somewhere else? And if you look at delegations, well it seems we are not happy with them either, for a long time.
*** BEACON2 *** Assuming is not a valid answer, no? Also regardless of how well the surrounding towns get along or not towards community improvements, a well-run successful model regional WPCA review could make a big difference in the overall decision making, no? Last but not least, other than before election time from an overall standard group state flyer, what exactly has Bpt’s State Legislative Senators & Reps done on a district level in the past 4 years? *** Back to Basics ***