The City Council’s Ordinance Committee was scheduled to examine tougher standards for adult entertainment establishments Tuesday night such as requiring owners and workers to register with local authorities, provide fingerprints and submit to background checks. The matter, however, was tabled and is expected to be resubmitted after the newly sworn-in council convenes in December, according to Ordinance Committee co-chair Richard Paoletto. The council’s final full session is November 7, the eve of the general election.
Paoletta says committee members still have a number of questions to resolve such as the definition of an adult entertainment establishment and the impact new guidelines could have on some businesses such as variety stores. “We want to make sure than every i is dotted and every t is crossed. It was a productive meeting. We need more time than slapping a band aid on an issue.” Mayor Bill Finch issued a statement before the meeting in support of the proposed amendments. From the mayor:
Mayor Bill Finch issued the following statement in support of a proposed amended ordinance that would help safeguard public health and safety concerns regarding adult entertainment establishments and massage parlors in the City.
“Our Planning and Zoning Commission took the first, and most difficult step, by toughening up the zoning regulations and requirements regarding new adult entertainment establishments, which will preclude such establishments from operating in or near residential zones. The proposed ordinance [which is being heard by the Ordinance Committee this evening], calls for tighter restrictions on adult entertainment establishments and massage parlors, including requiring owners and workers to register with local authorities, providing fingerprints and submitting to a background check. If approved, these restrictions will help safeguard the public health and public safety in and around these establishments, and the people who frequent them.”
For background on this issue read this.
Did Mayor Finch appear before the committee to urge its passage tonight? No.
How about Adam Wood or Tyrone McClain? No.
Was Elaine F. present to provide the council with the mayor’s comments? No.
The mayor’s words of support are nothing more than another campaign press release.
And all of his BS about how zoning took the first step is because the ordinance Andre Baker and I proposed attempts to clamp down on zoning but making these rules and regulations enforceable by ordinance and weaken the ZBA.
Finch is full of it with his release. Crap Dance Anyone?
Lennie, in that picture is that Tom Lombard and Jim Fox at that strip club?
Hey and those 5″ heels can really hurt a girl’s lower Lombard.
And Fox is a write-in for City Council, not with that hat on.
I still think it looks more like Lennie in the baseball cap and Pat Crossin with the mustache back in the old Ganim daze.
I’m not a beer drinker. Now if you see a gin and tonic …
Lennie … I wonder if she was wearing a wire.
No, I think she’s on the pill.
I heard she used to be a real live wire but has now gone wireless.
Joe had a dollar on a string and he didn’t have his debit annuity gas card to take a swipe.
This is retarded. Pass the ordinance already. It’s been on the council’s agenda for at least 10 years. Neighborhood grocery stores ought to see an uptick in business once the fleshpots and whorehouses masquerading as massage parlors and spas are relocated to industrial zones. It disgusts me there are four goddamned massage parlors within a one-mile stretch of Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock.
*** Maybe the council should take an evening tour of some of the strip clubs in Bpt to get a better “feel” of what actually goes on & the money generated in these places. Who knows, the city may be able to come up with some type of ordinance that would generate cash through fines, etc. for needed revenue? *** DON’T FORGET YOUR SINGLES! ***
Not to worry, Mojo. Plenty of revenue enhancers in this bill. Filing fees, application fees, $250 penalties that can be assessed on an hourly basis. So why is the city dragging its feet?
When the city attorney and committee chair were arguing this shouldn’t be rushed and this is the type of ordinance that should be available to the public for a significant period of time for them to digest before having a public hearing, I pointed out the city attorney’s draft was dated July 7th and the committee did not meet in July, August and September.
The city tried desperately to bury this issue waiting for the time when I would be off of the council.
Then all of a sudden there was a grassroots effort to mobilize support and the ordinance finally gets a hearing.
So where was Mayor Flinch for all of this time?
Too busy campaigning to run the city?
Mark Anastasi stood before the committee and told them the City Council could not adopt an ordinance that included restrictions on land use. He told the committee that prohibited them from doing so.
I pointed out the ordinance Andre Baker and I submitted was modeled after an ordinance already on the books in Berlin CT AND that ordinance has already passed two court challenges.
Mark basically says since I am not a lawyer they should not listen to me.
I pointed out Andre and I placed in the proposed ordinance the same language Berlin has in order to clearly state the public safety, health and quality of life issues that GIVES the council the authority to regulate land use.
The committee declares a recess and huddles in the caucus room and comes back to table and effectively kill the bill.
Mayor Flinch can still intercede and urge the committee to meet again and continue work on the ordinance and to get it before the council for its last meeting on the first Monday in November.
Let’s see how serious Mayor Flinch really is.
TOT–Totally Off Topic
SS-DD // Oct 25, 2011 at 7:58 pm
All the rose-colored glasses, MJ people need to get a life.
Fact, she was running due to her hatred of Finch, she has admitted that and said she was angry. Ask her.
Fact, she is making CALLS on Torres’ behalf.
Fact, Joel sucked harder than anyone there and handed over a $500 dollar check, admit it Joel. You saved your job last night.
Recent postings by SS-DD have attempted to cast a pox on Mary-Jane Foster by questioning her Democratic Party roots.
Foster is a died-in-the-wool Dem and continues to be one. I hope this will answer some naysayers to this issue. On December 26th of last year some prominent Bridgeport leaders were trying to coax MJ into running for office. They were fearful Caruso would run again and beat Finch. Be also mindful Bill wanted out of town by supporting Lamont in Goober primary. He, too, was afraid of a Caruso win. Here’s the rub. They wanted her to run as an Independent as part of their own Plan B to protect their self interests. Foster felt Bridgeport was being short-changed by Finch and she could do a better job. She claimed she was a Democrat. Caruso takes the “Big Wage” and does a banana split from town with a cherry on top. Foster runs as a Dem and never took out papers to get the 126 signatures needed to qualify as an Independent petitioning candidate. She always felt it would compromise her lifelong pedigree to her Democratic Party values. During the primary campaign there was an orchestrated strategy by many including Ralph Ford and his East End PAC to say MJ was a Republican. Foster and her Jack McGregor were smeared by the Ford dealership. Funny, Ford and the party regulars never minded all the donations over the years from Foster and yes her evil Republican husband, Jack McGregor. Finch is an EOA (Equal Opportunity Acceptor) in his fundraising efforts. Furthermore, MJF, despite pleas from her supporters, would not entertain a write-in strategy. Foster is a Democrat and is not helping Rick Torres in any way in his campaign. Foster is going to be a continuing force in Bridgeport and state Democratic circles. There will be attempts that will border on tortious interference to stifle her voice and her supporters in Bridgeport.
I will ask Lennie this rhetorical question. If Finch had lost would he have done a write-in campaign?
BTW–SS-DD stands for Same Shit-Different Day!
BOT–Back On Topic
“None of the council members present seemed to know, or understand, city zoning laws regarding the facilities, which were amended in June in response to a federal lawsuit alleging the city’s restrictions violated First Amendment rights to free speech. The previous rules only allowed them in high industrial zones with a permit.”
Read more: www .ctpost.com/news/article/Adult-entertainment-bill-proposal-dies-2236347.php
The above reference quote from the Keila Torres article is pretty scary even during this Halloween season. If they don’t understand this issue then how can they understand city finances?
A. It was Finch who took the photos at the strip bar.
B. I know a lot of DTC members who are surreptitiously supporting Torres with donations and info.
This might be a closer election than expected, esp. if the AB’s aren’t as evident.
Bob, what laws currently exist for entertainment zoning? When businesses are thinking of moving into Bridgeport do they know about any of these regulations?
What is specified in the master plan?
Also in the Keila Torres article mentioned above is the following:
The Planning and Zoning Commission next week is to review two petitions for new adult entertainment establishments at Angelo’s Restaurant, at 920 Madison Ave., and Jack Dempsey’s, at 520 Success Ave., both of which began featuring topless dancers without zoning approval in June.
Could this be why the city was so anxious to table the item and keep it off the books for a couple of months? Time is money!!!
Finch has been pulling the old string the bikini along strategy for months. It’s his Shake and Bake down playdough strategy. Wonder who Adam’s been calling lately questioning why they gave to so and so? Or can you raise us some more money and then we will get you approved after the election?
The PZC passed new regs regarding Adult entertainment earlier in the year. It is a complicated land use regulation issue with lots of court precedence because these owners litigate a lot. The PZC has had those two adult entertainment items on their agenda for a couple of months.
I for one am disappointed the Council didn’t act on the ordinance submitted by Walsh and Baker. That draft was submitted in July. The fact the committee members couldn’t find the time to meet, discuss and recommend is disappointing. Every member of that committee has to be held accountable for this omission.
There is no way a community can prohibit adult entertainment. It is a form of free speech/expression and there are many court rulings to back that up. However, the goal was to have them located only in the heavy industrial areas; not near schools; not near churches; not near residential neighborhoods. The Mayor and Council dropped this ball and the neighborhoods will suffer if the new zoning regs aren’t strong enough. If you live in one of the neighborhoods where the two adult entertainment proposals are located (920 Madison Avenue and 520 Success Avenue), show up at the PZC and voice your opinion. You can go to the Zoning Office and ask to review the plans in advance of the meeting. When the Zoning enforcement officer finds a use that is in non-conformance, he brings it to the PZC. It is important for the neighborhood residents to look at the posted agendas and get to the meetings. The NRZ chairs get copies of the PZC and ZBA agendas sent to them by email. Don’t just rely on the zoning enforcement officer to protect your neighborhood. They can’t do it alone because the owner will bring in his or her lawyers and put up a tough fight. The neighborhood residents and businesses need to get involved with pictures and testimony of what is really happening.
This is not a surprise. The majority of the council members are do-nothings and know-nothings. Look at what the various committees have done in the past, very little. Look at what the B & A committee has done over the years, they keep voting in unbalanced budgets and then lie to the public telling them they passed a balanced budget. The shame of it is most of the the members of the B&A do not understand the budget procedures.
It’s no surprise this strip-club ordinance did not pass, after all wasn’t one of the strip club owners a heavy contributor to the Finch campaign in the past? Hasn’t this same person attended a Finch birthday party at the Finch residence?
Thank you, Nancy.
One of the big things the city can do under the ordinance is place much stricter controls over places that do not have a state-issued liquor license.
Under the ordinance we proposed, massage parlors would be closed on Sundays and closed at 9:00 PM on all other days.
Andre and I were both willing to accept the City Attorney’s recommendations as presented in an effort to get this ordinance on the books.
Hopefully the public would have voiced their concerns about zoning practices and policies not being enough of a restriction to ensure public safety and quality of life.
But even with this major concession by the sponsors of this ordinance the matter was tabled last night.
Multiple Bridgeport governance issues were revealed at the Ordinance Committee last evening. Here are a few things to consider:
* Ethics Committee had to wait through two presentations (abandoned streets and sexually oriented business matters) to discover the material they submitted in March was in the wrong format. Mark Anastasi neglected to inform Ethics, so they have to start their process again. Makes you feel real good about how the City legal beagles value other people’s time and effort.
* The abandoned street ordinance presentation revealed there is a City Board authorized to handle such matters called a Board of Benefits and Assessments. Only problem is no Mayor has been aware of that Charter requirement for more than a decade anyway so alternatives were being developed.
Folks, the City has 21 Boards and Commissions with as many as 141 potential members from the public to be appointed by the Mayor. As of today, not counting the 11 authorized for Assessment Appeals that are not apparrently necessary in between valuations, there are 18 people appointed by the Mayor to these groups and serving an unexpired term. There are 85 people listed as serving (until replaced or re-appointed, what a quaint concept) but their terms have expired (even one from the last century)!
* The City Council has Rules of Order that speak to its processes. And while members of the Council may have too little knowledge or info about City finances or land use issues (or many other subjects they face) to satisfy me, I believe by listening to the facts of interested and competent persons, they may learn enough to make wise decisions. However number VII rule is about “Restrictions on Speaking.” Other than Council persons in attendance, “No other persons may speak at a committee meeting except at a duly scheduled Public Hearing … or as permitted by the Councilperson chairing the meeting when in the exercise of the chairperson’s discretion it is deemed to be in the best interest of the committee to do so.” That discretion was not exercised last evening nor at a Budget & Appropriations Committee meeting recently. So for the most part, the Committees hear from City staff or fellow Council persons only. Is this a situation that needs revision in some manner so outside wisdom, knowledge and experience can assist Council persons in their tasks?
* One positive take-away is you as a resident of Bridgeport have a right to speak at a land use hearing. And while there is very little feedback at that moment, in my experience the attention by P&Z or ZBA members is complete and listening to them discussing the merits of various issues they face is enlightening. Does anyone feel any smarter for listening to the City business discussed and unaccomplished on abandoned streets, sexually oriented businesses and relating to the Ethics Commission last night?
Only time will tell, and it may have to be tax increase time when the uninformed will find it necessary to get out of their easy chairs and confront the facts. Too much City business is not being addressed (many canceled meetings) in timely fashion, in a comprehensive matter (look at the limited reports on fiscal matters provided to B&A and what they do not address even once a year) and the material discussions are neither held in public view (Recess? Caucus? Executive Session? How about wearing a jet suit with a GPS to get out of a meeting where you are lost instead?) nor with the opportunity for the public to contribute.
My hat is doffed to Bob Walsh, to Andre Baker and to those who on occasion challenge the common wisdom by asking questions, having the courage to speak up and provide an alternative, and refuse to be worn down. The hat I remove in respect of this effort has the words UGLY AND ORDINARY on it. By those words it is a real Bridgeport hat!!! It does not pretend to be something it is currently not. More people need to step up to the City’s business. Time will tell.
Bob, time restrictions seem reasonable. Do the establishments in question not close when bars close at night?
I agree with Hadley. Local morality cannot mandate the closure of sexually oriented businesses anywhere. We can and should enact ordinances that will ensure the patrons are assured their visit will be safe and the adjoining neighborhoods shall not be disturbed by any behavior that might emanate from such establishments.
Besides, if sexually oriented businesses were controlled, Fabrizi would be forced to spend more time in his BOE office, provided of course someone there could show him where it actually is.
As a concerned citizen I was at the Council meeting last night. Overall I am most impressed with a few members of the City Council committee members–considering the City Attorney’s Office and the Mayor’s office has tied their hands by lack of timely submission of paperwork on their part, and of incomplete reports with no cross reference documents present to support the City Attorney opinions and corrections–and they spent most of the meeting trying to convince the members to pass an ordinance that would let the Mayor off the hook with regard to citizen oversight committees and limit to a large degree Charter provisions for citizen oversight and input. As for the lack of action on the Adult Entertainment ordinance–there is now a growing citywide movement of mothers and grandmothers who will make sure this does not happen again.
The meeting was interesting. This ordinance brought out many people from various Bridgeport communities to keep an eye on the process. As a group, we felt even though the ordinance was tabled for now, the council as a whole fully supports the spirit of the ordinance … across the board. We were also told the Mayor is for this ordinance.
This being a multi-page (around 19 pages) ordinance, the major bummer was the City Attorney who was present passed out an amended copy of the document (with many, many changes) that seemed to throw off the council as most were prepared to deal with and talk about the original ordinance.
That being said, it was my observation the council was thrown off by all of these last-minute changes and was acting very cautiously in not doing anything with the document because there were waaayyy too many changes to discuss and digest.
I am not sure if I missed something here, perhaps the council was sent the amended copy some time back and did not see it?
All I know is if I were on the Council and I were given a document I had been given months to review, and I had done my homework, and I was given an amended one in the 11th hour? I would not only feel like someone was trying to manipulate me, but I would feel someone above me probably thought my group and myself were not very smart. It’s really quite insulting.
So in that regard I applaud the council for taking a breath and shelving it for the next time around … they did not allow themselves to be manipulated and they did not agree to what was shoved in their faces in the 11th hour. Good for them! This really shows their spirit which really came through, this ordinance is so very important, and they are taking it very seriously.
AllforOne: Where was the council since July 7th when the ordinance was presented to them by Walsh and Baker? Give us a break. They stalled it so they could get past the election. Unless those grandmothers and mothers rise up and protest loudly, that ordinance language will not see the light of day.
I have no problem with strip joints as long as what goes on inside stays inside. As they say, that’s show business.
Now … legalize prostitution and tax it … hmmm. As long as the working ladies are doctor cared for, good tax money could be gained. A few city-owned buildings could go back on the tax rolls again as brothels.
OFF TOPIC:
I just learned briefs have been filed by the following groups:
These non-parties are the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, led by Trumbull’s Paul Timpanelli, the Bridgeport Public Education Fund and an education reform group, Excel Bridgeport.
They filed as friend of the court and were granted that right by the court. Lo and behold their lawyer comes from the same firm Stafstrom works for. Strange? No, just the same Bridgeport BS.
Who the hell does Timpanelli think he is? He has been part of what’s wrong with Bridgeport for several years. Michele Mount is going to have to deal with these assholes. You go, girl!!!
I am so sick and tired of these out-of-towners sticking their noses in our business. They are like the plunderers of years ago. They come to Bridgeport and plunder our money, our jobs and then retreat every night to their bucolic towns. Please do us a favor and stay home, screw up your own town, not ours.
tc,
The Gibson group has been struggling against a very reluctant elected board of Ed to find where efficiencies can be found and improved. This is a legitimate endeavor with a group of top-notch experts who know how to squeeze the dollars out of the non-essential activities so more bucks focus on the teacher and the child in the classroom. In my opinion the six elected board members didn’t want to deal with those recommendations because it would have caused many DTC family members to work differently at the board of Ed or not work at all. Despite the rhetoric the Bridgeport businesses need an educated workforce. They need kids coming out of the Bridgeport schools with the skills ready to work. So the business community has a legitimate position in all this. Bob Trefry ran Bridgeport hospital for over a decade. A $300 million company focused on patient-centered care. It isn’t a huge leap to children-centered care/education. He knows what he is doing. He knows how to deal with all those transportation costs, crossing guards, cafeteria workers and food purchases. I look at this differently. I do not agree on how they came to be because the ends do not justify the means but thus far they are putting their business expertise to work in tackling the cost issues the 6 elected members who were beholden to the DTC didn’t have the guts to tackle. My bet is the Supremes will decide the process used was flawed and send the matter back to the lower courts to deal out a remedy. As I stated in an earlier post that remedy should keep this board working hard while a new special election with a primary to get really good people elected. If the DTC nominates the new board members we will be back to the same old problem: members who are beholden to the DTC and not independent thinkers with the quals and experience to figure out how to run a 20,000-student school system. Millions of dollars and very difficult decisions have to be made in order for our kids to graduate with the skills to work or go on to higher ed. Remember, these businesses hire workers. If we don’t have qualified workers they pick up and leave town. MCAT will do fine tomorrow in whatever portion of the 30 minutes she has been allotted to speak. CT-N will be taping the court proceedings so we can see it on TV later in the day. Good luck MCAT!
Countdown: Mr. Trefry may have some of the expertise for the job but running a hospital is not like running a school system.
Let’s talk about the business community. Where have they been all these years as the dropout rate reached 60% plus? Where has the hue and cry been about these lost souls who leave school? Where are the programs in school that get the non-college-bound students ready for the workforce? They don’t exist and there is no study being done on how to change the system so these kids have a chance.
Timpanelli and his group are all talk and no action. Tell me what they have done for Bridgeport. The last brilliant idea to come from that group’s leader was to change all the toilets and urinals in city buildings to save water and space at the sewage treatment plants so there would be room for Scinto’s Monroe project.
We are still hiring retired principals back on a $500 a day per diem yet my grandson’s school can’t get a substitute and he loses days of education while he helps the kindergarten teacher.
Appointing people is wrong in the long run, for a short period of time okay but you can’t take the people’s vote away from them. You can rightfully blame the DTC for the candidates they put up but there is such a thing as a primary. Didn’t two members of the Working Families Party win BOE seats over DTC-endorsed candidates?