Democratic State Senate candidate Scott Hughes, challenging freshman incumbent Andres Ayala in an August 12 primary, proposes a voter-approved budget for the Board of Education as well as support for enforcing the City Charter prohibiting city employees serving on the City Council. Ayala has opposed state legislation to close a loophole in state law to validate the City Charter.
Hughes does not specify in the release the process for voters authorizing the school budget. Currently the Board of Education submits a proposed budget for approval by the City Council. Roughly 80 percent of Bridgeport school funds come from the state. From the Hughes campaign:
Scott Hughes is ushering in a new era of progressive, engaging politics where elected officials are held accountable for their actions and inaction. His grassroots campaign is energized by a diverse group of local veterans and newcomers who want and expect more from their government. Therefore, Scott’s track record of fighting for more makes him the right answer to years of frustration.
Under his leadership, the Bridgeport Public Library became the first and only public library in Connecticut state history with a voter-approved budget. The referendum that placed the library budget on the ballot is a model for the type of community action and involvement that Scott would like to bring to all government policy.
For example:
• Education. Scott wants voters to approve the school budget and require an annual audit to ensure that allocated funds are used in ways the voters intended. He believes that the government should not tell us what is best for our children.• Community Development. Scott also believes that communities should decide the type and extent of development in their neighborhood. As such, he supports requiring elected officials to obtain support from their constituents for new development.
• Transparency & Accountability. Scott supports conflicts of interest legislation that enforces the city charter’s prohibition of municipal workers serving on the City Council.
The above process changes are necessary to transition power back to the people; a power that was taken away by the status quo politicians. This is not a false promise that Scott will agree with the community on all the issues but it is a promise that he will respect you, listen to you, respond to your concerns and understand your needs. If you ask Scott why he is running he will say “It’s not about me, it’s about the people.”
Imagine that? Government that exists for and by the people. Scott envisions a resurgence of fundamental democracy that Puts People First.
Incumbent Andres Ayala must be really concerned about Scott Hughes because I’ve never gotten this many pieces of mail from his campaign with pictures of a black pastor inside a church.
Was it Rev. Moales? As a political synergy tie-in?
Ron, I received the mailer as well. The highlight of the mailer for me was the photo of Andres Ayala shaking hands with Pastor Carl McCluster. McCluster’s quote states “I support Senator Andres Ayala because of his proven and consistent record of integrity, his tenacity in fighting for and bringing resources to Bridgeport and his DEMONSTRATED commitment to serving ALL residents, stakeholders and communities in Bridgeport.”
Andres Ayala has such integrity, he is illegally soliciting hundreds of absentee ballots from voters who do not qualify for absentee ballots. And Pastor Carl McCluster, who is not a resident of Bridgeport and has a felony conviction for embezzling $170,000 of taxpayer funds, served six months of his sentence homebound and was required to wear an ankle bracelet, honestly believes his endorsement of a candidate’s “integrity” should be weighed by Bridgeport voters, taxpayers and residents?
In addition, Johnny Torres is also featured in a photo with Ayala. His quote states “Senator Ayala has been a strong leader for the families and children of Bridgeport. It is important that we send him back to the legislature to continue to fight for our best interest.” Although Mr. Torres is heavily involved with the Caribe Youth League, he is not a resident in Bridgeport. Therefore, utilizing the words “we” and “our” is highly misleading and inappropriate.
I am going to stop down at his headquarters tomorrow afternoon between 1 and 2. I am assuming it is the building on the corner of East Main St. and Alpine in the Beardsley Park section. It is a few blocks from Ayala’s headquarters but it has been closed, just a sign above a steel garage door. It is nice to have presence in a neighborhood but nicer to be open.
I was referring to Ayala’s headquarters being closed.
On a side note: I met a lovely young lady tonight knocking on my door supporting Marilyn Moore. She was a very sweet, articulate college student. I later found out she was the daughter of a very influential man on the Democratic town committee. I really enjoyed our conversation and had to explain why I supported Musto’s vote on the Sandy Hook photos. It is beyond freedom of speech. Showing these photos would make people realize the need for stronger gun control. I explained I was supporting Anthony Musto. We chatted about Ernie Newton whom she also had strong feelings for. We must have chatted for 40 minutes and I thought this young 20-year-old may have a father entrenched in City politics, but he did a fine job raising this young woman who can hold her own on all sides of the argument. I expect this young Ford may one day run for office in Bridgeport and I would vote for her. Kassey, that was her name. Ms. MOORE is very lucky to have such an intelligent, young, articulate woman knocking on doors for her. I did explain this was pretty much Musto territory.
Steve, you really need to think about your position on the release of photos of crime victims, especially innocent children and teachers.
As an openly gay man, how would you feel if I used the photo of a man brutally killed for being gay to warn others of what could happened to them for living such a lifestyle? That would be “freedom of speech.” Surely you would agree there are other ways I could have delivered my warning. What if the man killed was your partner? How would you feel? If you or others want to see blood and gore in relation to gun control, I have a video never seen by the public in 20 years and I’m willing to let you watch it. I’ve been wondering how many visits would OIB get if I let Lennie show the video. I’m sure you and Musto would get a boost out of it.
I want to see the pictures you reference. What, pictures of murdered gay people would look different than murdered heterosexuals? The gay people would be wearing drag? Okay, based on your premise, if we didn’t see the murdered gays in Uganda and Nigeria or the brutally beaten and bashed gays in Russia, I’d suppose nobody would be aware of these horrendous human rights issues. Back to Sandy Hook, I would not want to see those pictures. But there are others who could benefit. Something positive could come out of this horrific episode. What’s the point of families going to Washington asking for stricter gun laws embracing a picture of their child from happier times? What’s the point! Yes Joel, it is painful seeing pictures of Palestinians being brutally assaulted. Those pictures are so sad, we forget Hamas uses children as a human shield and we only see the Israeli assaults and hear the scorecard 1300 Palestinians to 56 Israelis. We no longer pay attention to the 150,000 in Syria or the 1000s brutalized daily in African nations. SO yes Joel, pictures are important. Very very important. The world can be a very brutal place and we need to see the horrors to appreciate there is still some good in the world. They show pictures and footage of murdered victims on television and newscasts every day. CNN gives warnings what you are about to see is disturbing. It is disturbing, but it is reality.
I do agree with your assessment of the Moore canvasser, Cassie Ford. As a matter of fact the Moore canvass has visited my home three times and every one of them has been impressive. I don’t know where she found these young people, but I have never seen a better canvass.
Yeah, we get it. Your house is Musto territory. I have been seeing Musto signs pop up lately. Apparently all 11 of his supporters have them.
You saw 11 signs? Those bastards told me they were not using signs. I want names and addresses … I’m gonna steal me a Musto sign.
So you support releasing photos of murdered children so people will support greater gun control???
You are one sick dude, Steve.
And those same photos would be used by the NRA to promote less gun control.
Sick people want to see pictures of murdered children and it doesn’t matter if they are pro gun control or anti gun control. They are simply sick.
Bob, we have had this redundant conversation months ago. You want to convince a jury, you show pictures. You want to go up to Capitol hill and talk about Sandy Hook and gun control, you show pictures. The horror that happened at that school is equivalent to the 150,000 Syrians who have been killed. We see the visual, we get emotional. We see children being killed in Gaza, we get emotional. If we did not see the visual, it does not get an emotional response and in a few years it will not be remembered because there will be countless horror stories making front-page news. I do not want to see the pictures, but I believe the families going to speak up at the Capitol would make more of an impact if they put that in the face of those who can effect change. Does anyone enjoy watching children and adults, emaciated, half-alive, in mass graves being buried alive? No. But who would believe it if these pictures didn’t exist? That is my take. We have had this conversation and being politically correct is not always the right way to go. The ramifications of these actions we won’t ever know.
Steve, just about every mass shooter had read about and researched other mass shooting incidents.
“Does anyone enjoy watching children and adults, emaciated, half alive, in mass graves being buried alive?” “No.”
Wrong answer. Lanza was someone and he enjoyed every minute. He planned and researched in preparation. He even enjoyed watching mommy asleep before he shot her.
Steve,
You ignored my point. If you honestly believe what you wrote then you must believe what I said about the NRA. The most sickly, despicable bunch of those photos would be everywhere glorifying the NRA and urging people to go out and buy a gun before someone does this to your son.
No value to these pictures whatsoever.
And you believe the hillbillies would buy guns based on these pictures? I don’t even feel safe with police knowing any idiot can have a gun and shoot me in a Walmart or for talking in a movie theater. Bob, there is no answer but I stand by my comment and the more people who own guns, the more casualties you will see.
And Steve, please continue to stand by your man Anthony Musto. I never heard his explanation as to why he was only one of two senators who voted for this so I will assume he thinks the same as you.
Steve, your reasoning is wrong and ignorant. Let me ask you this. Do you have any sympathy for the parents, siblings and relatives of all those killed in Sandy Hook? Do you think they want to spend a good portion of their lives worrying every time they open a magazine or turn on the TV they may see their slaughtered child or parents’ photo full of gore and blood? To what end?
If it were one of your immediate family, would you feel the same way? Shame on you.
Andy, I am extremely sympathetic and you are a drama queen. Musto’s vote was correct and I do not think he had a lack of sympathy. He is a family man. Obviously all of the followers knew it would be politically incorrect but a leader saw the bigger picture. There will be a time when the families wished they released the pictures in black and white, faces blurred. I do not think they were intending to identify the bodies with name and age.
Steve, drama queen this. You did not answer my question. Would you feel any different about the photos if they were of your parents and siblings? BFD he is a family man, what does that mean exactly? Musto is an insensitive do-nothing who is like a flea jumping from one topic to another and changing his mind. BTW you do not know what they were going to do with the photos. Steve, for God’s sake grow a pair and stop kissing political ass all the time.
Andy, kissing political ass all the time? Really? I am a beneficiary? Gee Andy, what do you think they want to do with the pictures? Something diabolical? Front pages of the tabloids? Use as a backdrop for the Colbert Report? Incorporate it into a Beyoncé video for MTV? Maybe a documentary? No pictures, no school, a playground here or there, it will be forgotten after the next Columbine, I do not think family or friends would go out of their way to look at the pictures and focus on it trying to find their child. Stop being morbid. If it were a family member, trying to get personal, well if I saw it once I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it again. If the pictures were used in a documentary and something positive came out of it, why not. We see these images every day on the news. I see a senseless death that way if it were one or 11 million. Whether it is an infant, a 6-year-old or a 98-year-old grandmother. Whether it a Palestinian or an Israeli. A life is a life. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, a picture is worth a thousand words. Get off your soapbox. Maybe we shouldn’t see the atrocities of WWII. Maybe we shouldn’t see the faces of the starving children. Maybe we shouldn’t see the faces of abused animals neglected, starved and beaten. Maybe you should get your head out of your ass and worry about more important issues. Maybe we should never have seen the horrors of the dead and dying during the AIDS crisis. Because nobody wanted to see it, it became the largest killer in the black community and when it was no longer a gay issue the world took notice. You cannot protect everyone from seeing things that are hurtful. The internet has a billion sites and photos of the most horrific abhorrent inhumane acts you could possibly imagine. I do not think family and friends go out of their way to seek these pictures out. I am done with this conversation.
First off Steve, you really are a moron. Don’t you think the tabloids would not use these photos? Don’t you think the NRA will use these photos? Your defense of Musto is sickening and your liberal bent is disgusting.
Mow let me tell you something, I have seen what society has done to each other and I put those results in body bags. I have witnessed the carnage on our highways and picked up body parts from these accidents. I know what this stuff looks like up close and personal. Do you?
Instead of preaching about the first amendment, you should read it and understand it. You may be done on this conversation but I am not. Your defense of Musto is sickening as is your defense of all things liberal. Get your head out of your ass and come into the real world.
Andy, I am voting for Musto. You on the other hand get to vote for Scott Hughes or Andres Ayala. Focus on what affects you. You will most likely vote for Scott Hughes. I can live with that happily. His signs are available. Make yourself useful.
Steve, enough of my friends have made valid points regarding this issue. I just want to say one thing, “I don’t need a visual to internalize the pain experienced by the Sandy Hook parents and other situations that have been discussed.” That’s all.
Lisa, I respect your opinion. If you are going to imagine you are going to get votes for Moore on this issue, think again. The people in Bridgeport witness friends and family daily. My neighbor’s son was shot to death last year. We do not live in Newtown. It is sad no matter how you slice it. A political issue in Bridgeport and Trumbull? Only if you are misguided and working on Moore’s campaign; apparently you have been ill advised. I think voters would be more impressed with concrete pro-Bridgeport issues. I’d get together and brainstorm. Anthony Musto is a respectable intelligent non-corrupt family man. You’d better get something to overshadow that. You are not hurting his credibility by suggesting he is aligned with Mayor Finch. That alone will be the reason most people will support him. I’d venture to say even the Republican first selectman in Trumbull has a lot of respect for Musto.
I think the City of Bridgeport and Mayor Finch will benefit having Musto with Hughes. Musto with Ayala, either way the city wins. Ayala’s current piece of literature aligning him with Rev. McCluster was not at all helpful given his felony background and people are talking about Ayala’s familial ties. People are just getting a little fed up. So Musto/Hughes it is.
I am not sure the Hughes campaign understands the concept of absentee ballots. It is what wins elections.
I do know there is a lot of buzz for Scott Hughes. I do know there are 12 days to the primary and I would like to think people understand the concept “sense of urgency.”
I will say the Beardsley Park-Treeland area has two great candidates. I think Andres Ayala has been a good partner to the City as well as a lot of respect for Hughes.
.
We already have had these two useless individuals in office and exactly what have they done for Bridgeport? Nothing.
No Steve, Tim Herbst does not have a lot of respect for Musto’s voting record. Steve, name one original idea in six years in the State Senate that Musto proposed.
OMG Lennie, you didn’t. Does Herbst have respect for Moore or are you just saying he is a staunch Republican?
Steve, Herbst is supporting Republican Rick Costantini for State Senate, but many folks Democrat, Republican and unaffiliated respect Marilyn Moore. She has done many wonderful things for women in need through her breast cancer education support organization. You won’t even give her credit for that because of some myopic viewpoint.
Lennie, I absolutely give Marilyn Moore credit for that. Was she a volunteer or did she get paid for that? I know volunteering does the heart good. I know what it is like to give your time freely to the homeless shelters and coming home with lice. I am sure she feels good about giving her time so freely. I certainly respect that. If she were getting a paycheck for that, not so noble.
Steve, if it’s so important to you to do it for free, why don’t you do it for free? Did you work for Mary Moran for free? Everything you’ve done in your life is for free?
Lennie, Steve can’t answer the hard questions. No knowledge or no balls, take your pick.
Lennie, Steve has tunnel vision and is stuck supporting a waste of time like Musto. Steve has a short memory and forgets the women’s prison Musto championed for the Treeland area. Musto withdrew his support and now Steve is right up his butt.
Andy, Steve is right up his butt because???
Getting back to Scott Hughes, I stopped down there today. Scott Hughes was interviewed on a Spanish radio station in New Haven. Apparently, Andres Ayala was a no-show. He might believe he has the Spanish vote in his pocket. That may he true only if he can get out the vote. I am voting for Anthony Musto 🙂 , but I have a Scott Hughes sign on my lawn. I had to explain that to my neighbors who said they were voting for Musto. I was just helping with name recognition.
It is 12 days to the election. I forgive everyone attacking me for supporting Musto. Shocking, actually; boo hoo hoo.
Lennie, I am so grateful you brought up Mary Moran and did I work for Mary Moran for free. You’re going to love this. I worked my ass off with a core group. I did not get a penny and worked 7 days a week. 24/7 was the price of being a confidant. I did not work on her campaign to get a job. When she won and I was one of the first four people brought on board, I was shocked and honored. Mary Moran did not pay me. I did however work for the City again 24/7, the price of being a confidant. The salary certainly did not compensate for the time put in. And like the patronage positions doled out by Bucci and Ganim, I was at work every day.
Now bringing us back to Marilyn Moore, does she get a paycheck to work with breast cancer victims? It is not so noble when you are being compensated for your activity.
Now Lennie, I understand with 12 days to go you are getting nervous, if I were working on Moore’s campaign I could understand your attack as well as everyone else on this blog. I am supporting Anthony Musto and I am currently leaving a small Bar B Que in Trumbull. Who is Marilyn Moore? The question that can may be too helpful to your campaign. I suggest you start knocking on doors and talking about Sandy Hook. That should help Anthony Musto. I know if Marilyn Moore would win. I’d congratulate her and join Tim Herbst in supporting the Republican candidate.
Marilyn Moore had many opportunities to address my many concerns on this blog. She did not, she did not ask for my support and I do not see life through her eyes. And if you dig through your archives you will remember my disgust that Mary-Jane Foster supports her. It’s politics, I get it. So I go on, by myself, the lone supporter of ANTHONY MUSTO.
BTW, speaking about My Friend Mary Moran, today August 1st is her birthday.
Happy Birthday to Mary Moran!
Has Anthony Musto replied to you on this blog? You are one vote. Congratulations to Musto for getting it. In my opinion there is no further need to try to sway you. All those jobs Musto brought in to Bridgeport in the last six years and so high up on your list, they are invisible to the rest of us.
Steve, you are full of shit!!! You never did anything without wanting something and you know it. You worked on Moran’s campaign with express purpose of getting a job. Yeah and while at city hall you thought you were a BFD, that did not last long, did it.
Are you fucking kidding me with that question is she getting paid to work with cancer patients? If she is that’s not so noble. You are a cold bastard and a cruel one also. Who in hell do you think you are, you low-life jerk? Anyone who works with cancer patients whether they are paid or not is a special person.
Andy, when I work with Alzheimer’s patients and seniors, I really do not feel special. When I worked with homeless it is just something you do. I did not criticize Marilyn’s work with breast cancer survivors. I simply commented she was in fact getting paid. Most people who deliver food to seniors, collect clothes for the homeless or help feed Alzheimer’s patients wouldn’t put that on their resume.
When I worked for Mary Moran I thought I was a “Big fucking Deal?” Really? Is there just one individual, just one who can say I was mean, cruel, demanding? Demeaning, mean-spirited, condescending etc. etc. etc. when I proudly served the City. Andy, other than being Joe Ganim’s worst nightmare in my support for Moran you will not be able to identify one individual. Why, because unlike yourself I am respectful off this blog. I would never say you and your wife have always tried to be beneficiaries for your input. Me, nobody can ever accuse me of that. There is no need to take your frustration out on me.
It’s not like anyone is paying me to be a thorn in your sorry ass. But Andy, I do get a chuckle. I forgive your abusive assaults. I am not sure what your point is.
Did I mention I am supporting Anthony Musto?
Steve, you said the following. “I would never say you and your wife have always tried to be beneficiaries for your input.”
Now tell me how we tried to be beneficiaries of all the campaign work we did. My job with the city was a tested position and back in 1968 I had just finished six years of military service and did not know politics.
My wife and I never sought a paid city position especially my wife who has fought back from MS and a brain tumor. We both did volunteer work for the city all for free. Btw the city doesn’t have a salary range that covered what I made working for a fortune 500 company. So again your sorry ass is wrong. I know it’s hard for a leech like you to understand but there are people out there who do volunteer for no pay.
Andy, Andy, Andy … You always take the conversation in the direction you want. I know your reason for hating Finch has nothing to do with your wife not being on the zoning board. I think your wife was a great asset to the City. Your negativity is disturbing.
Steve does not worry about jobs, he does not need one.
Marilyn Moore has a proven record of bringing jobs?
Steve, my hatred for Finch extends to Adam Wood also. The way they treated my wife when she sat for an interview with these two was cruel and vicious. My wife left the room in tears and in 48 years I only saw my wife cry when a relative passed away. These two bastards will regret doing that to my wife.
You’re not going to reappoint her even though you said you would is fine. Do it like Mary Moran when she did not reappoint my wife to the ZBA, Mary Moran sent her a very nice letter thanking her for her service. It was a nice letter.