On a day Mayor Bill Finch announced new public safety initiatives including additional patrols at public housing projects, Democratic mayoral candidate Mary-Jane Foster asserts the public was shut out of the news conference and has issued her own policy suggestions such as a mobile substation, community policing and a makeover of the civilian police board. Finch’s Communications Director Brett Broesder says the press conference was never announced as open to the public.
Foster news release:
Mary-Jane Foster, candidate for the Democratic nomination for mayor in this fall’s election, today called for drastic changes in the city’s police department emphasizing “real” community policing and a more strategic allocation of resources.
Today Mayor Finch held a news conference announcing increased police patrols in public housing and a jobs initiative for youth. While Police Chief Gaudett had invited the public the evening before at an event held by the NAACP, clearly the news conference was not meant for the public.
Given that the Trumbull Gardens shootings, killing one and injuring eight, occurred nearly three weeks ago, I was interested to know what the mayor’s response was finally going to be. After waiting at the reception desk, three of us were allowed to go to the mayor’s conference room. It became clear the public was not invited or welcomed and after one Bridgeport resident was thrown out, I also left.
This is just another self-congratulatory stunt by a mayor who has failed to respond over the course of nearly three weeks, to the very real problems of violence we have in Bridgeport. In fact, while he was speaking in front of cameras and to a few of his own staff, at 11:07 a.m. two men were charged with firing automatic weapons at the Greene Homes Complex last Friday. Where is the mayor? Talking to himself in his own conference room.
As an alternative to staged and empty promises, I would propose the following:
Create a Strategically Operated Substation in which a mobile substation can be relocated to address major crime incidents or to establish a presence in criminal hot spots. The S.O.S. vehicle, or substation on wheels, would not necessarily include the sophisticated crime scene investigative equipment associated with a crime scene command vehicle but could serve as a backup for the city if needs require it.
What this horrific incident at Trumbull Gardens has taught us is that we need more mobile, quick-strike response to situations like this. We need to establish a visible police presence in order to help restore the sense of stability and safety. This vehicle, along with associated community police, would go a long way in establishing that goal.
This part of my plan would not eliminate the need for a more traditional neighborhood substation but provides the police department with an immediate, legitimate presence. The former store front POST’s would still have a place in my plan but unless we are going to put one on every street corner there will never be enough. The criminal element does not disappear when a neighborhood substation is opened it just moves on to another location. This crime fighting vehicle allows the police department to move on, too.
Just as importantly, we must reinstitute community policing. Contrary to what the mayor says, it doesn’t exist any longer in Bridgeport. Only by placing the same officers on patrol in the same neighborhood for meaningful periods of time will we end this ‘us versus them’ mindset that often gets in the way of real public safety and security. We must reestablish neighborhood foot patrols and face-to-face engagement in communities throughout the city. Strategic policing should be left to unique divisions within the department be they gang, drug or vice related activities.
It is also time to shake up the Board of Police Commissioners. First and foremost, Mayor Finch cannot be bothered with filling a vacancy on this board or keeping the city’s website up to date with a current list of members. Secondly, one cannot find minutes from board meetings posted on the city’s website further excluding the public from the process. And finally this board does not reflect the city that we live in. Only two members are females, only three members are minorities and not a single member living on the East Side or East End of the city. Not to mention, there is only one member who is not serving an expired term. It is definitely time for new blood and new ideas.
Today’s press conference in the Mayor’s Conference Room is the perfect symbol of this administration. Starts late, is closed to the public, totally lacks transparency and is delivered by someone who behaves like a dictator.
A Bridgeport ‘getting better’ starts with working together within the community and with all of the community, forming a common bond and trust–not standing in a closed room with people you pay to be there.
This is the leadership Bridgeport deserves.
I’m being told the Mayor and the Police Chief had a press conference this morning to tout new and sweeping public safety initiatives. Once again I have to caution you not to drink the kool-aid, putting a substation in Trumbull Gardens is like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped, furthermore the people in inner-city housing should be used to getting that, and also used to it disappearing like a thief in the night weeks or months down the line. And the only people who profit from gun buyback programs are the out-of-towners, older people and ex-cops getting rid of their legally owned guns they turn in. Bridgeport needs a real top-to-bottom COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAM, but the manpower levels work against that. If the city of Bridgeport had a class of 150 new recruits ready to start the Police Academy today, they would not hit the streets until December. It takes six months just to get them out of the academy and then there is some additional training before they are full-fledged officers. I’m gonna get a chance to talk about these things a little more at the event I have slated for July 18th at the Bridgeport Public Library from 10am to 1pm, I hope you will join us in this Community Conversation about Community Policing and Racial Profiling with a workshop on What to do when stopped by the Police at your house, in your car and on the street. This event is sponsored by The Connecticut Stop Violence Movement and the David Daniels III Consulting Group LLC. Check out the events page. If you really care about public safety come on out that day and hear the real truth about the condition of the Bridgeport Police Department and some possible solutions to properly remedy the situation, not the political windbag stuff being cast out there today.
Finch and Chief Barney Fife and Drum are like New Jersey … Perfect Together!!!
It’s time for Bridgeport to put on a new jersey with Foster.
I think Foster is unfortunately running her campaign like Ganim, but always a week behind. This election is not about Trumbull Gardens. While the Mayor must deal with this as a top priority, he has the largest city in the state to run. I repeat the largest city with a diverse constituency. If you imagine the residents of Trumbull Gardens do not think this is political theater you are mistaken. Ganim and Foster need to step up and offer a vision that is not already being seen on the horizon thanks to our current Mayor. I have yet to hear any development proposals from other candidates that will ultimately relieve the burden on the taxpayers. The new parks and roads, schools, downtown and Steelpointe are real and tangible. Downtown Thursdays show pride is returning and we are beginning to feel real good. I suppose the 135th district believes focusing on Trumbull Gardens is a good thing. It just takes advantage of one grieving family’s loss and that is shameful.
Steve, what’s Finch’s tactic to relieve the tax burden? All he knows is tax and spend, tax and spend.
Let me guess, attract business with schools and parks. SMH.
Well Frank, what is your candidate’s vision? Everyone knows ultimately, development and improved schools and charter schools will improve our grand list. What is your candidate’s plan? Plan for development, improving image and attracting young families. We have a mayor supporting development, housing, new train station to open up an area to major developments, improved parks and playgrounds and Pleasure Beach improving the quality of life.
Your turn, Frank the Cabana Boy, I respect your support of Charlie Coviello, but what is his plan or whomever you are supporting? What is the rhetoric you are taking to the streets?
Trumbull Gardens is not the ticket to our future but has in many ways been a sad reminder of 50 years of misery. You can change the name but not the element. It is too bad so many are trapped and held hostage to a few too many bad apples.
Charter Schools are going to improve our grand list???
Put down the Kool-Aid. I repeat, please put down the Kool-Aid.
That comment makes no sense even coming from the Mayor’s biggest suck-up.
Young families want a choice. Not forced to accept failing schools, put on long waiting lists for magnet schools and spending a fortune for private schools. Bob, there are more people supportive of charter schools than you think. People want a choice and if my conversation this morning was any indication at Bagel King, you have a real problem! We need to attract young families, we need new schools, we need development and what we don’t need are individuals standing in the way of everything that can make this a great city and focusing on vigils at Trumbull Gardens. Mary-Jane Foster’s campaign has been poisoned by you guys and this is not the woman I supported four years ago.
Thirty-year tax abatements, tax hikes, assaulting members of City Council, barroom brawls, never holding a private-sector job, failed takeover of the BOE, etc. etc.
Is this the person you want to run Connecticut’s largest city?
And for the record I do not support Charlie, he thinks he’s McLevy reincarnated.
Steve, the state of Connecticut grossly underfunds their city of Bridgeport as far as education goes even when compared to New Haven or Hartford.
In the meantime, the state is providing tax relief in lieu of school funding to some of the wealthiest towns in the United States because they already choose to spend enough.
They want the public to believe charter schools is the answer and if your kids don’t get in then they weren’t lucky enough.
A quality education is guaranteed by the state constitution. Not a school lottery. And as long as you and people of that ilk want to spread the lie that charters are the answer, the longer it will be before the state lives up to its obligations.
That is how you will begin to get a quality education in this city. Not gimmicks. Not lotteries. Guarantees.
If the true public schools were properly funded and maintained there would not be a need for charter schools. One of the main priorities of charter schools is to provide a return to their private investors.
Steve–Many of us look forward to Bpt really starting to get better every day, on and after Dec. 1 of this year. Holding a press conference and excluding every taxpayer except those who receive taxpayer salaries is truly unconscionable.
Come Back Bridgeport, I am so looking to that lobster dinner at Dolphin’s Cove. I will explain why Foster should have listened to me. As for Taxpayers being closed out of the meeting? Really? Only political theater would be there. Was Ganim there? No, why? Because this was his issue last week. The Mayor was there and the police chief. They are all who needed to be there. The rest of us can get the news from the paper. Do I need to count on one hand how many people show up to meetings when open to the public? I maintain, if candidates want to focus on police as the Mayor gets his new recruits in class, you are wasting valuable time before the election. I am glad Foster has not gone after Ganim. I suppose she will kick herself in the ass when she is a distant third in this election. I will be remembered for being the only honest individual who asked her to wait four more years. There you have it. Now we will see how this plays out.
Steve, you are nasty and an arrogant SOB. If MJF listened to you, what would happen? Is that why you’re kissing Finch’s ass because MJF would not listen to your bullshit? We all know the city needs development and jobs but you are not going to get them when people don’t feel safe and companies looking at Bridgeport know that. Your boy Finch and his police chief let the manpower of the PD drop by 80 members. I thought it was incompetence but now I wonder if it was planned and those salaries and benefits are being used to project a false financial picture of Bridgeport. This could be the new ghost positions JML and I found many years ago.
I am nasty and arrogant? First, I maintain Mary-Jane Foster will be a distant third. Number two, she had not asked me to support her. Number three, Mayor Finch had never asked me to support him. What now, Andy??? Arrogant? Just did not want MJF to end her political career in 2015. Nasty? Huh? Are you just having a senior moment? I am neither nasty nor arrogant. I care deeply for this city and everything I say comes from the heart. So when I go door to door, people know where I am coming from. You do not hear me insulting you for attacking Finch.
Carolanne Curry, btw: that was me who stopped to wave to you leaving Ganim headquarters this afternoon.
YES STEVE, ALL OF THE ABOVE.
Andy, you just make me want to give you a big bear hug.
Steve, you bet Howard and I $100 that MJF would finish second and Ganim would finish third?
Maria, let me be clear, my bet with both you and Howard is Bill Finch would win. Nobody ever cares who comes in second or third. But on that note, Foster should have been the candidate coming in second but she didn’t see a need to go after Ganim and now he is steamrolling her. This election will not be close.
Steve, three weeks.
Three weeks of nothing.
No news.
No arrests.
No real change.
And then he has a press conference to say nothing new.
Yea, Bill Finch is too busy running the rest of the city to be bothered with the residents of Trumbull Gardens.
Wait a minute. This just in. Bridgeport just recycled another mattress. Getting better every day.
Correction, Adam Wood is running the city.
In order to stress the urgency of the matter, someone must have said to Finch and Gaudett they had better call in the cavalry, so the two of them sent up the mounted police.
See Bob, your comments undermine the seriousness of the situation. You do not help your candidate and Ganim goes after the anti-Finch vote while you sit on your ass. Finch is looking very solid.
I beg to differ about Finch looking solid. I have been talking to people (a group of 15-20 people) who normally only vote in presidential elections. They are champing at the bit to vote in September, and none are supporting Finch. There are a number of people in my age group (late 30s/early 40s) who don’t see a future with Bill.
If these people only vote in Presidential elections all 15 – 20 Eric, I hardly think they are worth the effor, the irony is you did not say who they would be supporting. Will those 15 – 20 people be voting for Coviello? Gardner?
Steve,
I wish Gardner were able to take advantage of the organization Ganim or even MJF has. I truly believe he would be the best candidate for the job. I am basing that on my personal opinion of him, his business acumen, and the way he handles himself publicly.
Most of my friends are supporting Ganim. Very few of them know who MJF is.
Most of us grew up in Bridgeport, and are finally waking up to the fact our vote can make a difference in this city. The idea this is a one-horse town for politics makes people ambivalent to the process.
Steve, you just said some voters are not worth the effort. Do you realize that?
Gabby, I absolutely meant that! These people never vote for Mayor so clearly they do not care about the city. I wouldn’t go after their vote but you can. They most likely will not get off their sorry asses to vote like most Bridgeporters.
I am just not a big fan of insulting people. All votes matter. All voters matter.
Okay Gabrielle, all votes matter, here are 15-20 Votes for Joe Ganim. If I were working the Foster campaign, I’d contact Eric Alicea and ask if I could introduce them to Mary-Jane since they do not know her.
Maria P, most likely already contacted Eric Alicea, has their name and address and most likely will drive them to the polls.
I would tell Eric Alicea to drive around and check out the developments and ask if he is willing to put the city on hold.
Finch is looking very weak. They knew they had a problem with safety in the BHA residences and did nothing about it until this shooting.
Finch knew he had a problem with manpower in the BPD and did nothing about it until this shooting.
Finch knew he had a problem with credibility and has done nothing about it.
Finch looks lost in the headlights.
Hey Stevie! Ask Lennie to do his OIB shithouse poll for Mayor again!
The only thing that’s solid is that thing between your ears!
Jim Fox, your biggest mistake is taking an OIB poll as a barometer of reality. Finch supporters take the message to the people. This blog is for political junkies who enjoy an outlet to spar with the opposition.
Andy, you and Bob, do you guys say that to potential voters who do not agree with you?
To voters like you, yes.
Mary-Jane Foster outlined a far more comprehensive plan, gleaning some things from the past that worked and adding innovative ideas moving forward. She demonstrated a far better understanding of the issue and therefore the solutions than either Finch or Ganim has.
And she has challenged the political status quo with her comments concerning the police board. She is saying more, doing more and promising more than Finch and Ganim combined.
*** The same old temporary foot patrols for show ’til after elections, then back to the usual B/S. Wake up Bpt. Voters, Wake up! ***
Steve–With your support, Mary-Jane took 42% of the Democrat vote away from Finch in 2011, when she was a political unknown. Without your support in 2015, she should do much better. Fewer Democrats are drinking the Finch Kool-Aid this time. Regrettably, Finch is making Ganim look marginally better every day. The good news is he’s doing the same for Mary-Jane.
Come Back Bridgeport, I certainly hope Mary-Jane does well. Without my support I think she will be much, much lower and just so I do not come across as nasty and arrogant, they will be lower not because of me. Four years ago Steelpointe was nothing, parks and schools were nowhere, downtown was just beginning to take off, etc. etc. etc. The city looks very different today. I could not take her 42 percent to the finish line. I am not that arrogant. Her campaign was hijacked by the very people who are total obstructionists. My song remains the same. This is not the candidate I supported four years ago.
So Come Back Bridgeport,
Ganim and Foster can share the anti-Finch vote. If you think you are on track, G-d bless you. Thank you for reminding me MJF 42 percent. I can all but assure you she was an easier sell for me. Four years later she is not known any better, which is extremely sad.
Steve–I agree. She’s much better.
🙂
Steve–In 2007, Bill Finch stated publicly lowering property taxes would be one of his top priorities. Since then, Bridgeport certainly has been getting better every day–if you define better as increased property taxes almost every year of his seven years in office. How can you support someone who is so loose with the facts?
Steve supports a liar and a bully. It’s the Kool-Aid, not him.
Steve–BTW, do you in your recently acquired, out-of-control fascination with the soon-to-be-unemployed Bill Finch, agree with him that the University of Bridgeport is a “criminal enterprise?” He is one sick puppy.
Come Back Bridgeport, you knew I would agree on this one. I am consistent. The University of Bridgeport should be considered an economic engine in the South End. I cannot explain that away nor is that an issue that changes my position. I, however, do promote UB.
If taxpayers’ money were going in the Mayor’s pockets that would be one thing, but this is not Ganim. The city will be forever in the hole with pensions and until there is business development taxes will continue to go up. The public gets it, they don’t like it but they get it. Those who don’t get it most likely will unfortunately vote for Ganim, after all he didn’t raise taxes so until you go after Ganim, you are a distant third.
A modern day snake-oil man is what Finch is. Gaudett isn’t far behind. If you are foolish enough to believe crime is down then you get what you get. Crime is up in the city and the folks who put the stats together for the PD are told to change various crimes to lesser ones to hide the truth. Rumor has it the PD and Mayor are about to get news of an ongoing investigation in the PD that will show how the bosses continue steering the ship into an iceberg. The Mayor is trying to delay the process. Clean house, taxpayers! You deserve better than a bum Mayor and clueless Chiefs.
As usual, this posting topic has become a battle between Steve and all of us cynics.
I don’t agree with all the proposals in Mary-Jane’s release, but her approach is that of a leader.
I would add one additional proposal. The various reverends who have much to say from the pulpit or in staged media events should make an effort to address the moral values that perpetuate the gun violence in urban centers, mostly, it appears, involving people of color. It’s a national disgrace.
Tom White, tell us. What did whites do when whites were committing crime and white mobs were committing crimes at such a high level that some of them were treated like a hero in America and motion pictures were made of their crimes and lifestyle? From Al Capone to John Gotti what did the white moral leaders do from their pulpits?
Tom White, white boys shooting up schools killing little kids isn’t a national disgrace? Handguns killing 30,000 people a year in America isn’t a national disgrace? I submit to you any knucklehead with the money can buy a handgun legally and shoot anyone they see fit, isn’t that a national disgrace?
The proliferation of guns in America is a national disgrace. To buy a car I need to first get a driver’s license, then I have to get it registered every year, then I have to buy insurance. To buy a gun I just need the money and no felony conviction, that’s it. How can buying a car be more intensive than buying a handgun?
Owing a gun isn’t a right in America and two times the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Constitution didn’t say it is. Write your congressional leaders and tell them enough people have been killed by handguns and to take them out of the hands of the general public. I’m going to give you two references to substantiate your letters. Now quit blaming blacks for the State of American crime and do something about it.
In United States v. Cruikshank (1876), the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that, “The right to bear arms is not granted by the Constitution; neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence” and limited the applicability of the Second Amendment to the federal government.
In United States v. Miller (1939), the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government and the states could limit any weapon types not having a “reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia”.
Mr. Auerbach: You are so sure Bill Finch is right for Bridgeport and he does nothing wrong, like the other candidates. I would like to ask why you don’t refer to his involvement with a political action committee about a year and a half ago that might have put some money in HIS back pocket.
A PAC gave money to Mayor Finch to put in his back pocket. Wow, I find that hard to believe. Yes he’s a liar and he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer but to take money I think we need much more if there’s anything to this, we don’t need lies out there about any of the candidates.
Okay so maybe PAC is not the right word, but he had leftover campaign money and he used it and wasn’t supposed to. It was reported right on this blog.