Lee: Where’s The Trend Line On Job Creation?

Citizen fiscal scrutineer John Marshall Lee raises a series of questions about job creation in the city. Lee commentary:

What’s worrying City residents at this time? Taxes? Education? Jobs?

Mayor Bill Finch was quoted this week telling us “how important development is to residents in need” and that his “discussions with a couple members who were opposed to this job creating project may have been construed as something other than me showing my passion as a champion of our city and its future.” I did not understand the Mayor’s statement about the East Side proposal that was defeated by Council vote 10-8 after reading it once so I read it again. I am still not quite sure of the Mayor’s purpose.

Genuine economic development that adds taxpayers who pay 100% of taxes due with properties that increase the Taxable Grand List by the full amount of their assessment is critically important. But the project specifics of the East Side deal that was turned down by the Council added a 33% taxpayer for many years into the future that would be subsidized by the taxpaying “residents in need” of a break from the tax spiral, those who pay at the 100% rate.

This is the first time in the discussions of the project that the term “job creating project” was used I believe. What is meant by “job creating?” Most projects here in CT using Federal or State funding are subject to certain laws or “project labor agreements” that direct attention to the makeup of the workforce on the project. If jobs are needed in the neighborhood, and they are, how much attention has been spent on getting jobs from neighbors of the new projects? If the contractors who get the jobs from the developers have the good paying jobs, what efforts are put into assuring apprenticeships or alternative training and/or jobs with fair market pay for those from the neighborhoods? Doesn’t the City through OPED negotiations have some leverage in selecting developers? What is the record of the Finch administration in this regard? Who monitors the process? Where are the records maintained?

We know that politicians love photo ops at school commencements, at police and fire training program graduations, and at worksites with shovels in the ground and union members gathered in the second row. But where are the pictures of the work force training program graduations with Mayor Finch and Council President McCarthy congratulating “residents in need” for completion of meaningful training for jobs paid with public funds in this community? Where is the photo of the Mayor and his Minority Business Enterprise director showing the trend line of those employed because of the efforts of the City of Bridgeport during his 7.5 years in office? Can we see the record of year-to-year accomplishment because of taxpayer funding? Just who is a “job creating project” for? Is it for Bridgeport citizens, voters and “residents in need,” or corporations from outside the City with workers who reside even outside Connecticut. Time will tell.