Harassing Guests, Gomes Supporter, School Board Member Sokolovic, Pinched For Trespassing Ganim Fundraiser

Analysis and Comment, City Council, Law Enforcement31 Comments

Crowd at Ganim fundraiser.

School board member Joe Sokolovic is part of a campaign posse for John Gomes whipping things up in this absentee ballot madness. It’s a posse definitely prone to exorbitant exaggeration, fanning the flames of demagoguery. This has nothing to do with the sanctity of the vote. It’s about winning. That’s it.

Tuesday night, a number of guests attending Mayor Joe Ganim’s fundraiser at Boca Oyster Bar, report Sokolovic and others harassed them in the parking lot, screaming this and that about the dastardly election outcome now under a court challenge by Gomes who lost the Democratic mayoral primary by 251 votes.

What had initially started on East Main and Stratford Avenue pooped into the private parking lot near the restaurant. This is not public property.

The harassment continued. Police were alerted. Cops told Gomes supporters to take their protestations off the property. They did. Sokolovic held his ground. Statement from Scott Appleby, public information officer:

On Tuesday September 26, 2023, the Bridgeport Police received notification regarding protestors gathering on private property located at 10 East Main Street. Reports indicated a large gathering of people harassing patrons at the site. At this time Bridgeport Police units were investigating a bomb threat at the Bridgeport Train Station and multiple units were deployed to the area. On-scene reports indicated that the protestors disbursed once the Police Command indicated they were on Private Property except one individual later identified as Joseph Sokolovic who refused to vacate based upon the Bridgeport Police multiple verbal instructions regarding the site as private property. This individual was arrested for trespass, transported to booking and issued a $1000 bond.

This is a chicken-shit charge, but Sokolovic, further fanning the flames of narcissism, has now started a Go Fund Me page seeking a goal of $10,000. What ya gonna do with the money, Joe?

Dude, it’s not like you need a high-powered criminal defense attorney to negotiate a $25 fine. Maybe that’s the machinations: let’s get arrested all in the name of election fraud, throw up a Fund Me page and start a cottage industry. Groovy student example set by a school board member.

Can’t wait to hear from all the sanctimonious Gomes supporters defending the honor of Crazy Joe.

Meanwhile, a few images from the fundraiser.

Ganim with City Councilwoman Mary McBride-Lee.
Former councilman Joel “Speedy” Gonzalez with Ganim.

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31 comments

  3. ASS BREAKING NEWS:
    I received a graphic video from inside the jail at 300 Congress Street. The video is too graphic for OIB. How ever, I can inform OIB readers that the video is of what transpired after prisoner JoSo or was it Asso, dropped a bar of soap.

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  4. I am temporarily holding a pail of ice-cold water waiting for a target to cool City confrontations down, I suggest to our blog host, Lennie, that future references to the ever so slow development of Steelpoint property, site of the Boca celebration, was public property for years in public memory, and before the final legal dealings were likely small scale individual and valuable properties. Minds change slowly. They expect better, faster, and more than promises of hotels, theaters, and housing. Taxpayers looked for taxes on waterfront property meant to be a shining star in the attraction of broad and valuable economic development, not merely for a bar with extensive parking for the incumbent. How do voters driving by that property every day feel about the “private property” that is not growing in its diva role to WOW visitors to the City with the pace and variety of offerings?

    Maybe I respect Scott Appleby’s descriptioon of Bridgeport Landing Development LLC as PRIVATE PROPERTY better than the OIB call: “This is not public property.” Yes, they indicate the same legal status, but there is a different tone? Yes? However, Appleby is quoted as saying that most of the “protesters disbursed”. Did he mean “dispersed” instead? Or was he suggesting that each protester offered money or other resources to arresting officers to avoid arrest? Now that would be bigger news!!!

    Perhaps the conversion process of public property, expectations, and taxpaying into PRIVATE PROPERTY without Mayoral sessions to outline, explain, discuss, and defend his financial movements as G1 and/or G2 to his public is a reason for pushback going beyond comments to the City Council at public sessions where he rarely shows himself as a willing listener and responder? The War of American Revolution at its base was a widespread action of 13 Colonies of Great Britain to the failure of royal governance to listen. Civility dissolved and gunfire erupted. Today, hatred and violence, are seen in social media, if not more generally in regular newscasts by “leaders”. White supremacy existed simultaneously with abolition sentiments in later years where the expectation is that the freeing of the enslaved people would pave the way for them to return to Africa or the islands.

    For Bridgeport citizens of voting age eligibility, the call must be repeated again and again to study the records of candidates, discuss the talents and abilities of those who impress you with neighbors in good conversations, and be prepared to vote wisely for the best candidates available to you on the ballot for each position this year. If the 70% or more of registered voters avoid their responsibility by avoiding the use of this American civil right, agian, we remain stuck in an ugly status quo. Time will tell.

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    1. Fair enough John. That was then, this is now. Spin it anyway you want. But why did the others have the good sense to retreat at the request of police while Sokolovic dug in his heels? Does that mean he’s right and they’re wrong? Maybe, he wanted to be pinched for the publicity? Let’s pretend it is public property. This was nothing more than a dog and pony show to harass people going to a fundraiser. (Makes me wonder how many Gomes supporters have harassed people this election cycle.) Are you allowed to harass someone on public property? And now he’s trying to benefit financially from it. Sokolovic is on the school board because he’s manipulated minority-party representation so many times to give the average human whiplash. Again, you myopically question the motives of a narrow set of politicians, eschewing any thoughts of providing the same standards to people who seek power. Enjoy your pail of ice-cold water.

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      1. Lennie,
        We have a Police Department that is working to process fair, equal, and just, with understanding efforts in their enforcement, right? And we have courts ready to process the results of enforcement actions, right again? And we have folks in town who find it smart to use social media as a way of raising revenues for personal support? Joe So sets up a FUND ME page. You use an info source that daily provides advertising to one and all, and one happens to be the incumbent who gets coverage with a slant, so you see ‘spin’, or harrassment (3 times) where I see another fellow Bridgeport voter, using his First Amendment right to protest, perhaps?

        Actually Lennie, my eyes are merely focused, not myopically, as you defend your customer Joe Ganim. He is the one I attempt to question as to motives of his narrow group of politicians and as he is the nominee of the Democratic Town Committee, I also question them. Is Ganim2 the best provider of the professional governance, economic progress, and a follower of the Bridgeport Charter, attending to all details of his munjicipal duties that they can offer voters??

        Obviously there are many who disagree. For your sake, you may wish to applaud this attention, as it provides opportunity for me to toss the ice water at genuine targets with the written word.
        Where are the Ganim2 responses to the people on questions raised for years by citizens of Bridgeport? Where is the community included at the tables for decision making? Folks of ability on fully staffed, without expired terms, boards and commissions to learn how good governance functions? Finding ways to answer, rather than ignore, hard questions? Time will tell.

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        1. What, what, WHAT?

          “You use an info source that daily provides advertising to one and all, and one happens to be the incumbent who gets coverage with a slant, so you see ‘spin’, or harrassment (3 times) where I see another fellow Bridgeport voter, using his First Amendment right to protest, perhaps?”

          Dude, it’s only because of those paying for advertising that folks like you have the opportunity to ask a million question and yet say nothing.

          So, if you were the owner of the OIB webzine you’d give preferential coverage to the highest ad paying political candidates?

          OIB is part of Bridgeport’s problem. What does that makes me other than a pain in the ass for some?

          Any information on the John M. Gomes/Red Rooster Disbursements you’d like to share with us? I mean, I don’t want to be accused of being biased.

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    2. Wait, what, John

      “The War of American Revolution at its base was a widespread action of 13 Colonies of Great Britain to the failure of royal governance to listen. Civility dissolved and gunfire erupted.”

      My YouTube history class said it was because a bunch of slave-owning, aristocratic, white males didn’t want to pay their taxes.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv899V4rHk

      I am sure richer white males in the Port can understand, Wouldn’t you say Gen Now 🤣

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emi4p6pq064

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      1. Every story from history has its own context. In this regard to the extent that enslaved persons were 20% or more of the average Colonial population was something unknown to me during my school days and included New England states, too.Therefore you are correct in accusing white males (not females, because women had few rights and certainly not the vote so they are eliminated as our respected “Founders”) and no one was happy with the imposition of taxes on goods by a Royal System to which they were less entitled to respect than equivalent family members living in England. The whole truth may be more complex, however.

        There is a historic flag, an image first presented in 1754 in Ben Franklin’s newspaper with the phrase “Unite or Die” attached to a picture of a snake cut into eight separate sections. The head represented the four colonies in New England, MA, CT, RI, and NH. followed down the design just as the East Coast travels southwards to NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, NC, and SC . Missing from the original 13 colonies are Delaware and Georgia.

        But the “unite or ultimately die” message attributed to Franklin at the time of the French and Indian War, 1754, to Americans on colonial land preceded the Revolution by 20 years. So we know the pot od discontent was simmering as settlers moved west for opportunity into lands still occupied by indigenous peoples. American Indian tribes who had attained peace among five or six tribal communities shared the lands of western NY, contrary to European values of ownership. They were a perfect target for English Colonial power to divide tribal loyalties for assistance as warriors against the French in dominion over Western lands.

        Fast forward to the American Revolution in 1775 and a practical finish in September 1781 with the surrender of Cornwallis and two years later the Treaty of Paris acknowledging the passing of our colonial status. Then forward once again to 1787 and the signatures on the Constitution in Philadelphia affirming that it was a document of unanimity, though ratification would take to 1789 for nine colonies of the 13 to act. On September 17, 1787 records show that Elizabeth Willing Powel asked Franklin: “Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” and Franklin Age 81 at the time answered: “A republic if you can keep it.”

        Our republic, with democratic values can be and has recently been tested for its staying power as a democratic republic. Perhaps each of us needs to return to more conversing, listening, and openness to the truth spoken by one of the Founders, Ben Franklin, about the importance of remaining UNITED? What do you think, those of you with a vote in 2023? Time will tell.

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        1. John, “Every story from history has its own context.” No doubt about that. What do you think, those of you with a vote in 2023? While Gomes succeded for G2, so much for staying united, regarding this election, Wanda was stuffing the ballot for Gomes. #Every story from history has its own context. 🤣

          As for history during my school, Columbus was a heroic figure who crossed the trepid sea and discovered the New World. Fast forward to the era of Trump, well, you know, Most of the New World speaks a form of Hispanic for a reason. Though while African slavery was predominate in the New World it was hardly New to the World. Don’t buy that refer to your Holy Books Bible/Quran or your philosophy Books people JS

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO_wmixXBdE

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  7. John Marshall Lee opens a can of worms for John or Jaoa M. Gomes:

    “Appleby is quoted as saying that most of the “protesters disbursed”. Did he mean “dispersed” instead? Or was he suggesting that each protester offered money or other resources to arresting officers to avoid arrest? Now that would be bigger news!!!”

    By now, you should be in deep regret of forcing Lennie to pour the bucket of ice-cold water over your head. I could pour four more buckets but, instead I think it’s time for OIB readers, posters and Lennie Grimaldi to do some research which results shall unmask and reveal who and what the REAL JOHN M. GOMES is like.

    The key word here is “disbursement/s”.
    I will provide ya’ll with the ecris link. Ecris is the search database for all candidate committee and PACs in Connecticut. John or Jaoa M. Gomes started his political involvement around 2006 and was and still is the owner of the Red Rooster on North Avenue. Her served as the treasurer of Andres Ayala or Ayala for State Representative and briefly for State Senator. My findings during all the years of monitoring Gomes’ activities as treasurer, made it clear that he was nothing less than a FRAUD and THIEF.

    This OIB assignment shall start by bocoming fimiliar with the search page. Pay close attentio to the selection choice of “Disbursement”; name of treaurer; name of committee; Payee ( Red Rooster [Deli, Rest., liquor]) . A Google search for ecris is simple. I spent over a decade doing this and I’m making easier you all. Thanks to all who chose to participate.

    http://www.ecris.gov

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  15. Update on JoSo fundraising:

    John Hennessy
    $50
    11 mins
    Anonymous
    $100
    48 mins
    Nicole Nelson
    $50
    20 hrs
    Robert Traber
    $50
    20 hrs
    Marshall Marcus
    $25
    1 d
    Anonymous
    $20
    1 d

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    1. Speedy, such cheapskates.
      Where’s John Gomes to pony up?
      Where’s John Ricci?
      Where’s Maria Pires?
      Where’s Maria Pereira?
      Where’s Christine Bartlett-Josie?
      Where are all the outcast Ganim administration supporters to support Crazy Joe Soko?
      Crickets…

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        1. Hey Lennie, I smell a rat again. JoSo wouldn’t do all this in order to raise more dough to cover his defense cost in the slander lawsuit brought by John Weldon, would he?

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