Mother Rell Not Running, Plus: The Library File

Evening Update: What! Jodi Rell’s not running. Mother Rell announced she will not seek another term for governor.

This decision throws it wide open for potential GOP candidates while Dems scramble for a standard bearer. What say you?

Library Vote

It wasn’t even close.

The library referendum passed last Tuesday with 2,683 yes votes and 1,455 opposed, a 65 percent majority. That’s a mighty nice win. Where was the organized political opposition? Turns out there wasn’t any. No one galvanized the threatened political work–some pols claimed passage would blow the budget–against the question. Why? Think about it, what were they fighting for? Pols fight for something when there’s something in it for them. They support a candidate to keep their city job. They support a candidate with the hope (or promise) of getting a job. Where’s the payoff to block extra funding for the library system?

Yes, some pols stood in front of polling places telling voters a yes vote for the library question equals a tax increase. But it appears just as many did the opposite and a greater number did nothing. Let’s look at the 132nd City Council District represented by Bob Troll Walsh, an outspoken critic of a yes vote. The West Side voted 70 percent in favor of the referendum. Troll was against it but he clearly did not campaign against it either. He was not alone.

All across the city voters supported more loot for the library. The question was not defeated in any district. Without an organized effort against the question it provided an opening for library supporters to sway voter opinion. See precinct totals here:

Library Election Results by District

From Mayor Bill Finch:

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will be the featured speaker when city veterans gather next Wednesday to dedicate the new Korean War Memorial. The public is invited to join city officials and local veterans at the annual flag raising at 9 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park adjacent to the Discovery Museum. The annual parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. at the Cardinal Shehan Center and will end at McLevy Green.

A program will follow to dedicate the new monument to the 29 Bridgeport soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean Conflict.

The memorial will sit to the right of the World War II monument on Mucci Memorial Green, named after Bridgeport’s most famous soldier, Col. Henry Mucci, who along with 128 other Rangers, helped rescue the survivors of the Bataan Death March near the end of World War II.

“Veterans Day reminds us all of the tremendous sacrifices made by all our fighting troops to secure our liberty, keep us safe and ensure the rights and privileges we all enjoy as American citizens today,” said Mayor Finch. “This new Korean Memorial is a fitting way to recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by 29 of our own Bridgeport residents.”

Brick pavers can be purchased to honor a loved one or memorialize a family member who served in the armed forces. The bricks come in two sizes: a 4×8 with 3 lines for $50 and an 8X8 with 6 lines for $100. Those interested in purchasing a brick to help defray the cost of the monuments can call Lisa Iodice at 576-3964.