Saturday Update
: I’m thinking the pol who dodged a bullet this week more than any other–following Jodi’s Jail reversal–is State Senator Anthony Musto.
Anthony was flapping his wings, eager to kick out a press release when Governor Jodi Rell announced a $20 million juvenile detention center for girls in Anthony’s district on the Upper East Side. Anthony praised the governor for her vision to plant another prison in Bridgeport. Anthony’s political skills need a barber’s belt and razor.
I wonder if Anthony would have been as eager–maybe anxious–had Jodi proclaimed hey, let’s put this thing in Nichols, or Tashua or another residential neighborhood in Anthony’s home town Trumbull. See, what counts for residential in the state’s largest city pales in comparison to Trumbull. At least to pols with zero political skills. What makes the Park City’s neighborhoods any less valuable than Trumbull, or Monroe, or Easton or Brookfield where Jodi lives? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
What I like about Rell, in this episode at least, is that she’s not so stubborn to realize that the state’s social problems shouldn’t be dumped in the state’s largest city all the time. If the neighbors don’t scream, if State Rep. Chris Caruso doesn’t crank up his Big Wave opposition, if Mayor Bill Finch doesn’t recognize the residential anger and poise his lawyers, pols like Anthony say the prison is good for Bridgeport. Maybe Anthony learns a lesson that Bridgeport neighbors are no less valuable than his neighbors in Trumbull or constituents in Monroe in this three-community senate district.
Bottom line is Anthony, a freshman legislator, is still learning his district. Anthony did an about face when he realized OMG, my peeps don’t want this. It was Bridgeport, not Trumbull or Monroe that elected him. Of course, many city residents didn’t know they were voting for Anthony in 2008. They only knew Republicans as pariahs and voted largely the Dem line led by Barack. Anthony knocked out Republican Rob Russo.
Anthony, a sweetheart of a guy, good family man, is lucky Russo is running for Congress rather than State Senate. I don’t think Anthony beats Russo this year, in this voter environment wary of Democratic spending.
Anthony will have a competitive general election irrespective of the GOP candidate, but if Marilyn Moore, who lost a close primary to Anthony two years ago, decides to primary him in August, that will be fun. Moore is a pistol, smart, full of fire. Her problem in 2008 was no organization in Trumbull. Will M&M run? We’ll see.
Statement from Donna Fewell, President of P.T. Barnum Residents Association
MARCH 12, 2010
I AM SHOCKED AND APPALLED AT THE INDIFFERENCE DISPLAYED BY ALL OF THE PUBLIC AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE TRAGEDY THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND, TIANA BLACK AND HER THREE YOUNG CHILDREN.
NOT ONE AGENCY IS ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE, BUT RATHER THEY ARE BUSY POINTING FINGERS AT THE STATEMENT IN THE REPORT ASSERTING THAT “THE ELEVATED BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT OF THE DECEASED, LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO HER DEATH.”
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY CLAIMS THE REPORT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF; AND YET NEITHER HE, NOR ANYONE MENTIONS THAT THE REPORT ALSO STATES THAT “THE DELAYED NOTIFICATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT” LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEATHS.
THAT IS WHAT WE, THE RESIDENTS OF PT BARNUM HAVE BEEN SAYING FROM THE VERY START. THAT IS WHY WE CIRCULATED PETITIONS ASKING FOR A 911 CENTRALIZED MONITORING SYSTEM WHICH WOULD BE ACTIVATED BY THE FIRE ALARMS. THESE PETITIONS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO BOTH MAYOR FINCH AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY; BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
INSTEAD OF ATTACKING A VICTIM WHO CANNOT ANSWER BACK, WE WOULD HOPE THAT FIRE AND CITY OFFICIALS WOULD JOIN US IN SEEKING POSITIVE SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF ENGAGING IN ATTACKS ON THE DEAD AND SUGGESTING THAT SOMEHOW, THE VICTIM WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TRAGEDY BECAUSE SHE MAY HAVE BEEN “IMPAIRED”.
IN MY OWN CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE BEEN RECOVERING FROM AN INJURY SUSTAINED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE STRONG MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN; I AM WALKING WITH THE HELP OF CRUTCHES. IF A FIRE STARTED IN MY APARTMENT, WHICH IS THE SAME DESIGN AS THE APARTMENT OCCUPIED BY TIANA AND HER CHILDREN, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT I WOULD BE ACCUSED OF BEING ‘IMPAIRED’ IF A FIRE BROKE OUT.
MANY OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS IN THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX SUFFER FROM ALLERGIES, ASTHMA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY AILMENTS WHICH REQUIRE POTENT MEDICINE. WOULD THEY ALSO BE ACCUSED OF BEING IMPAIRED, IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE?
IT IS TIME FOR THE MAYOR, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO RECOGNIZE AND ADMIT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS: WE NEED A CENTRALIZED ALARM SYSTEM AND WE NEED AN EMERGENCY ESCAPE PLAN. STOP ATTACKING A DEAD WOMAN AND START LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS.
From Dan Tepfer, CT Post
Alcohol consumption by a 22-year-old woman was a likely factor in her inability to escape a smoky fire in her apartment last November at the P.T. Barnum Apartments, where she perished along with her three young children, according to an investigation into the fatal blaze obtained Thursday by the Connecticut Post.
Although the specific blood-alcohol level of Tiana Black was deleted from the lengthy report, the investigation by state and local fire officials states in several places that Black’s blood-alcohol content “would likely have impaired her ability to respond appropriately to the initial alarm and to the fire itself.”
Fire Department sources, however, indicate that Black’s blood-alcohol level was above 0.08, the legal limit for driving in Connecticut.
The cause of the Nov. 13 blaze in Black’s apartment in the West End public housing complex is listed in the report as “the result of carelessness.” The Post had requested release of the months-long report under provisions of the state Freedom of Information Act.
The fire started when a rear burner on the apartment’s gas stove, which the report says had been left burning, ignited the kitchen counter and cabinets.
Although the chief state medical examiner had previously said that smoke inhalation caused the deaths of Black and her three children, Ny-shon Williams, 5, and 4-year-old twins, Nyaisja and Tyaisja Williams, the rest of the autopsy report was withheld from the report released Thursday.
News release from U.S. Attorney:
FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZLEMENT, TAX EVASION CHARGES
Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL IAN SOHN, 34, of Fairfield, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to charges related to his embezzlement of campaign funds from the Christopher Shays for Congress Committee.
According to court documents and statements made in court, SOHN was employed as the campaign manager for the Christopher Shays for Congress Committee from January 2003 through December 2008, and also was employed by the United States House of Representatives from January 2003 through May 2008. In pleading guilty today to one count of conversion of campaign funds, SOHN admitted that, from 2005 to 2008, he embezzled a total of $252,424.10 from the Campaign. SOHN admitted that he stole the money from the Campaign by writing himself checks and using the Campaign’s ATM/debit card to withdraw cash and make debit card purchases. SOHN did not have signature authority on the Campaign’s bank accounts, so he forged the signature of the Campaign Committee Treasurer on the checks that he wrote to himself.
SOHN also pleaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion stemming from his filing of a fraudulent federal tax return for the 2008 tax year. On the tax return, SOHN stated that his taxable income for 2008 was $75,860, and that the amount of tax due was $15,617. However, SOHN’s taxable income for 2008 was approximately $163,949 on which he owed approximately $43,468 in federal income tax.
SOHN has admitted that he failed to report a total of approximately $527,136 in taxable income for the calendar years 2005 through 2008, which resulted in a loss of $95,955 to the Internal Revenue Service.
SOHN is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on May 27, 2010, at which time SOHN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $350,000. SOHN also will be ordered to pay full restitution to the Shays Campaign Committee, and back taxes, penalties and interest to the Internal Revenue Service.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.
From Mayor Finch:
Steel Construction Begins on Discovery Interdistrict Magnet School
K-8 Science & Technology School Will Serve Bridgeport and Adjoining Districts
The first piece of steel was placed on Monday for the Discovery Interdistrict Magnet School located at 4510 Park Ave., next to the Discovery Museum. The new K-8 magnet school will emphasize a science and technology curriculum for around 500 students from Bridgeport and adjoining school districts. The 68,333 square-foot facility, designed by Svigals & Partners of New Haven, is expected to garner a Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design (LEED) Rating, the greenest school building in the district to date.
“The Discovery School is going to create new opportunities in the sciences and technology for Bridgeport students,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “It is also setting the standard for green building design, and for regional cooperation among our school districts.”
The Discovery Magnet School construction is being managed by the minority-owned McCloud Group of New Jersey – the first time a minority-owned firm has managed construction for the City of Bridgeport. Steel construction of the school began on Monday after four months of excavation, foundation building, and underground mechanical work. Construction crews expect to have one complete wing of two stories of steel installed by the end of the week.
“This is a momentous occasion,” said Deborah Caviness, Senior Administrator of the Bridgeport Small & Minority Business Resource Office. “It is the first time a minority-owned business has been awarded a major construction management contract with the City of Bridgeport. We’re very excited to be working with the McCloud Group on this important project.”
“We have been impressed with the caliber and commitment of everyone involved with this project,” added Robert McCloud, President of the McCloud Group. “From the initial support we received from Mayor Finch and Deborah Caviness, to the enthusiasm of the architects and engineers, everyone has committed to meeting our goals and getting this project finished in a timely manner.”
News release from Jim Himes:
Himes’ Earmark Reform Policy Adopted by U.S. House
Private Companies Are Now Banned from Earmarks
Washington, DC –The House Appropriations Committee announced yesterday that it will adopt a policy banning earmarks to for-profit entities that Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) implemented in his own office last year. According to the House Appropriations Committee, if this rule had been in effect last year, it would have resulted in 1,000 fewer earmarks.
“I have always made it my official policy to not seek congressional earmarks for private companies,” said Himes. “While some of these requests may have merit, my office does not have the resources to determine if public spending could crowd out private investment in each individual earmark circumstance. Today’s announcement is long overdue, both in our efforts to increase transparency and reduce government spending.”
To assure compliance, the Appropriations Committee will also require agency Inspectors General to audit a percentage of all earmarks directed to non-profit entities. This new oversight measure will help ensure that earmarks go to their intended purposes and prevent for-profit companies from masquerading as non-profits.
Additionally, the Appropriations Committee will establish an online “one-stop” link to all House Members’ appropriations earmark requests to enable the public to easily view them. In the interests of full disclosure and promoting more open and transparent government, Himes has been posting his earmark requests online since joining Congress in 2009.
Click here to read Himes’ voluntary policy on earmarks. It includes this principle as well as a prohibition against campaign contributions from lobbyists for governmental entities and directors or executives of not-for-profit entities for which he has secured an appropriation.
From BCAC:
Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition will hold its 25th Anniversary Breakfast on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn. The Breakfast is a partnership with Casey Family Services. Lead sponsors are Kuchma Corporation, New Alliance Bank, and United Illuminating Company.
The Honorable Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, is the keynote speaker, with the topic, Change the City with Your Bare Hands.
The cost of the Breakfast is $100. Register online at www.bcacct.org by April 14, 2010. A limited number of scholarships are available. For more information, to register by phone, or to request a scholarship, call Nicole at BCAC, 203-549-0075, ext. 10.
BCAC will honor its six former board chairs at the Breakfast.
Individual Bluefish Tickets On Sale March 27
The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced individual tickets for all 2010 Bluefish regular season home games will go on sale Saturday, March 27 starting at 10 a.m. Tickets may be purchased at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard box office and this will be the only place to get your Bluefish individual game tickets until 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure the best available seats.
A fun and fan-friendly atmosphere will encompass The Ballpark at Harbor Yard during this special event. All fans will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive Bluefish merchandise at the Gear Shop. The younger Bluefish fans are also encouraged to make their way to the ballpark to test their fastball at the speed pitch booth and spend some quality time with BB.
Click here for more information about individual tickets
Tickets go on sale starting at 10 a.m.
As you know I am a strong Democratic supporter but Anthony crossed the line with me and I will never cast a vote for this guy again. Moore is our only hope. Musto must go!!! Happy to see Lennie used OMG for once!!!
Musto is just one of many politicians that represent our neighborhood which is the upper East Side. We are the neighborhood with shadow representation.
Clemons needs a GPS to find this neighborhood. Our 2 councilmen produce squat for this neighborhood as they are busy with the go along to get along crowd. Let me list what we don’t have in this neighborhood.
1. No Library
2. NO NRZ Zone
3. No board or commission members
4. Poorly maintained and paved roadways. We have had 3 roads mine included paved in the last 5 years.
5. No permanent police patrols, the car for our neighborhood spends more time in other neighborhoods than in ours.
6. A little league that is forced to beg for money in order to survive. No grants or state funds.
7. A district that has been divided up by the state politicians. We have 2 senators and 2 state reps. How does that help us? It doesn’t, we get bupkus.
8. Who speaks for us at zoning meetings where we are constantly under assault and zone changes are passed with no help from politicians other than Caruso?
9. A plethora of vacant houses courtesy of the local banks and mortgage companies.
10. A neighborhood school with no permanent principal.
A once vibrant neighborhood is dying a slow and painful death and the politicians just don’t give a shit. They will all be here before the elections blowing smoke up our butts and then they will leave and we will continue to die.
Musto is a nobody. Doesn’t even want to do the Job.
Moore is part of the problem in Bridgeport, been part of the problem for years. Another wannabe who wants a free handout for Bridgeport. Keep the welfare receipts coming and the Democrats will continue to ruin what was once a great city.
Are Musto and Moore all the Democrats have?
MT
Get off the blog and enjoy Trumbull you out-of-towner mt.
The greenest school in the district. That’s great but to the mayor I say there is more you can do to make the city clean and green.
Let’s get Charlie Carroll to open the transfer station for longer periods of time. Closing it in the winter at 2:30 makes sense but come March it should be open until 4 or 4:30 PM.
Saturdays is one of the few days most homeowners can get to the transfer station and what do we do? We close it at Noon. It makes no sense. What is happening now is when people get shut out early on Saturdays they are dumping their trash all over the city and especially on Asylum street.
Please don’t tell me we are saving money because we both know that is not a fact. There is only one employee on the city payroll and the rest are paid by Resco.
If we are going to be clean and green then let’s do it for real.
Lennie, you really misrepresented the situation with Musto. He wasn’t asked if the release could go out and it was sent out without his knowledge. This is really a “rumor” mill.
Baloney. If that’s the case why didn’t Anthony submit an immediate clarification on the release? If that’s the case did he reprimand the aide who sent out the release without his knowledge? Did the release he issued say draft on it? What kind of government operation kicks out a release “without his knowledge.” There’s no rumor here. Anthony has little political sense, doesn’t understand his district and couldn’t wait to kick out that release. Anthony’s intentions were good, no doubt. Anthony thought the development, in this economic climate, was good for the city.
johnb, you wrote the release for Musto, ha ha ha ha.
MT–sounds like Mark Smith.
It’s funny. I was at a seance the other night channeling Democratic district leaders. And who rose up from below but Paul J. Macciocca!!!
“Hey Lite,” says Pauli. “I want youse tell Lennie, yeah that guy, tell him I says Musto is dead. Dead, do you hear me? D–E–D, dead.”
Been meaning to pass that along.
Yes indeed, that was Pauli’s way of saying a pol was in deep trouble, politically speaking. In the summer of 1989, in the thick of a heated mayoral primary, Macciocca after a falling out with Mayor Tom Bucci endorsed Charlie Tisdale for mayor who also had a falling out with Bucci. Pauli died of a heart attack just a few days after endorsing Tizzy. Che sarà, sarà.
“Nobody works 40 hours anymore!” The Divine Mr. M was quoted after being investigated by the paper for his lack of work ethic while running the parks dept.
That was a Bob Fredericks special. Who works a 40-hour week? Pauli asked Bob then a scribe for the Post. Bob kept the heat up on Pauli when he worked at The Bridgeport Light, a fun community weekly paper. Every time Bob needled Pauli about this or that he’d call me screaming into the phone, “I held you in my arms when you were a baby!” Pauli was the family insurance agent 50 years ago (ouch). Well, Pauli never held Bob in his arms.
Lennie; Musto is a good guy but has no political sense. I was the only one up here in my neighborhood that walked with him. He was using the preferred voters list which is a bullshit list. We were walking by several registered Dems homes and I told him so. He did not believe me or decided to just target the voters on the preferred list. I tried to tell him he was missing a lot of opportunities all to no avail.
When I wrote on this blog and was critical of his early remarks on the jail he called me and was pissed. He told me I should have checked with him before I blogged. I told him yeah right.
The problem up here is that ALL of the politicians see how carved up we are and really don’t give a shit figuring we cant hurt them. The same is true of the council seats. If you are endorsed you win no matter what.
If the people up here don’t wake up we will always be treated with disrespect by these politicians.
Think what you want Lennie. Musto doesn’t throw people under the bus. Can you at least admit the possibility? Also perhaps he was getting signals from some in Bridgeport that it wanted the jail. You cannot prove a negative, just because someone did not react the way you expected them to, doesn’t mean it proves your point. Just a little friendly sparring.
He doesn’t throw people under the bus? If a press aide releases a statement with positions you flatly oppose, and you decide to go along with that position so as not to offend the aide in question, you aren’t being polite–you have brain damage.
John, maybe if Musto were more in tune with this area of his district he would have known how we would feel about a jail. What would make him think hard-working people would want the value of their houses lowered by a jail and what it brings?
As I said earlier we have 2 senators and 2 reps and we are on the fringe of all their territories. Musto is not the only one without a clue about this neighborhood and its residents.
tc, thank you for sharing that. Now I know who to blame for Musto’s election. Did yahooy campaign with you?
Anna what did you do to Yahooy?
johnb:
Musto was singing harmony with the governor within minutes after the juvie jail was announced.
I agree the state senator was probably getting signals from “some” in Bridgeport. The logical “some” that come to mind were from the mayor’s office.
The mayor’s original comments throwing up his hands and saying that it was a state decision come off as pretty lame for an elected city official, especially a mayor. The administration can’t claim a lack of understanding. The mayor lives blocks from the Virginia Avenue site.
The mayor obviously wasn’t broadsided by the announcement. At some level, he signed off. He signed off, Musto signed on.
This scenario may not be 100 percent accurate. The gooey details are murky.
In a competitive political environment (this ain’t Baghdad), an electoral adversary to Mayor Finch will be happy to supply details, whether they are true or not.
Why not believe the adversary? The Finch administration has tried to hide details (despite an excellent Post story attempting to outline the history of the proposal).
The best that can be believed is the administration had a brain-lock on the appropriateness of the location of the project, and of the community going bats. The administration did recover.
Any administration can suffer a misreading of the electorate and a misjudgment on a proposal.
The Finch administration makes a habit of it.
Give today’s topic I decided to post the following:
Tuesday March 16th 5:30 – 7:00 PM at
The Black Rock Branch Library
Meet Your State Senator
An Open Forum With State Senator Anthony J. Musto
Please join Senator Anthony Musto at the Black Rock Branch Library for an opportunity to hear Senator Musto’s assessment of the session and give your input about what you want to see done in Hartford.
The Black Rock Branch Library
2705 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT
(203) 337-9676
I can just see the state senator making an assessment of his knowledge of Bridgeport after stabbing himself with a knife: “Et tu, Ant’ny?”
Ain’tney’s father was a dentist. He knows all about health care.
Ain’tney’s wife is a teacher. He knows all about education.
I hope someone asks him what has he done about Education and Health Care since he’s been up in Hartford! Especially as it affects Bridgeport children.
Hey Lennie, shouldn’t you be advocating to give a guy a second chance for one mistake?
Oh, so now you’re saying it’s a mistake instead of a rumor. Will you say the same for Bill Finch? Sometimes political or government events can reverse a mistake. One thing is clear, Anthony is much better off that Jodi’s Jail appears to be headed to another community. And, yes, he had the good sense to reverse himself once he recognized voter anger.
Musto did make a mistake–one. And I think he learned from that mistake and will spend the next 7 months getting better in tune to the Bridgeport community he represents. Finch’s entire administration has been a mistake and he has not learned from it. Big difference.
I think Marilyn Moore has a lot to offer. She is NOT connected to the gang on Madison Ave and she speaks her mind no matter who it offends. I hope she runs for mayor in 2011.
Speaking of 2011; Lennie, what’s the latest? I hear Madison Ave is deathly afraid this may finally be Chris Caruso’s year. Mario doesn’t think Finch can beat him. Fabrizi has put together an exploratory committee but Caruso will beat him too. So what do you hear?
Mistakes, everyone makes mistakes but when you are in office you need to stay in tune with your constituents. You have to know your district and its strengths and weaknesses. Common sense would tell you people in a residential neighborhood do not or would not want a jail in their neighborhood.
You can’t think over the residents’ heads and by that I mean maybe Musto was concentrating on the pilot money the city would get for taking the jail. Ask 95% of the people what Pilot monies are and they will tell you it’s what a pilot gets paid.
More and more politicians are ignoring what their constituents want thinking they know better. Just look at the health care bill, 53% of the American people don’t want it but we are going to get it anyway because the politicians think they know better.
*** Next time anyone in Bpt over 21 years old without an apt back door decides to have a couple drinks they’d better think twice! ‘Cause if an accidental fire should start, it’s going to be your fault entirely according to the State’s fire report @ P.T apts and it does not matter if there’s only “one” entrance/exit anymore either! I guess all old & new developments from now on can have 1 entrance/exit door in “poor” neighborhoods? *** “Saves Money” *** Musto is a wannabe political puppet that’s there just for the ride & title; no more, no less! *** T/C sounds like his neighborhood is the only one in Bpt. with problems, where’ve you been? *** “Vote” the entire Dem. endorsed line this fall for all political seats to keep things as they are or “vote” the entire GOP line to obstruct everything politically pending & basically do the same, “nothing”! *** BCAC’s $100 breakfast will be served without silverware so everyone can start learning to change Bpt with their “bare” hands??? *** (wink)
Mojo I know my neighborhood is not the only one with problems. I can’t comment on your neighborhood I don’t live there.
I think your characterization of the PT Fire is a bit off base. It’s more than someone having a few drinks. It’s the ability to function with a .23 alcohol reading. It’s the ability to respond to an emergency with that kind of reading.
While the PT Barnum apartments were up to code as it relates to exiting and fire protection that does not make it right. Back when the National Fire Protection Association came out with the Life Safety Code NFPA 101 we fought to change and/or strengthen this code as it relates to exiting and many other things in the document. That’s why there is a Connecticut supplement which is stricter than the 101 Code. We lost the argument on exiting.
Let me ask you a question who is responsible for the fire at PT?
No, you were saying it happened and I am saying even if it did (which I don’t believe, but if it did) shouldn’t you be willing about giving a person who made a mistake a second chance? Bill Finch is a walking mistake. However I suppose if someone is constantly mistaken then you’d have to call them perpetually wrong.
Go hear Musto speak, ask him questions then make up your mind. He is smart, articulate and is respected by fellow legislators, which is key. You can’t get anything done without support from your peers in Hartford. Bridgeport doesn’t get much respect, it would be a shame to lose a Senator from Bridgeport who does.
Give it a f’n break.
Now you are blaming the Bridgeport Delegation for Anthony Musto’s inabilities.
The guy is a novice politician.
He is clueless about getting things done and he is quick to jump on anything that will get his name in the press. That is why he praised the governor about the juvie jail. That is why he had a press release about the Congress St. bridge demolition. He has probably never even seen the Congress St. bridge and it isn’t in his district, in case he did know.
Where has he been about the fatal fire at PT besides standing next to the mayor praising him?
Where is he now that a draft of a report has been leaked to the press against state policy?
Where is his proposed legislation regarding changes to the building code to avoid the disaster that occurred at PT from happening again???
He is simply waiting for someone to tell him what to do and what to say.
*** Who’s responsible? Maybe God, fate, the mother, BHA, city fire codes, state fire & building codes, P.T. residents in general due to safety knowledge, economics & waiting to complain about safety problems ’til something negative happens? How about everyone who signs off on the development or plain old luck? Pick one or as many as you like, however it does not change the fact that lives were lost & having “1” exit door is not the way to build developments! *** Also, I would love to see any mother of “3” with kids in the winter climb on that 2nd floor perch sober during a fire! ***
Reaper, you missed the point, he is respected in Hartford, which is more than I can say for most of the other members of the delegation.
You are missing the point. Anthony has done nothing. He votes the way he’s told. He doesn’t do anything to upset the apple cart so that is why he is liked in Hartford not respected!
Maybe Ernie Newton will run for his old seat. Now there’s an elected official who is highly respected! That’s if Finch doesn’t create a job for him. He’ll fit right in.
*** A long time women’s old trick used in politics a lot is, “stroke a man’s ego” enough & you’ll have him eating out of your hands sooner or later; case in point (Musto) & Co. *** In politics, no man is an island, sooner or later you must bend in order to in return have others bend for you when needed to get things done. The problem is whether you’re getting things done for your district or for yourself? ***
I have always said I think the valley has more racist people than most places in CT. I was in Shelton today and saw a sign that said somewhere in a village in Kenya there are people missing a idiot. I was like Wow!!! Last time I checked Obama was born in America and further his mother was a citizen, which would give him automatic citizenship no matter where he was born. I am amazed at the ignorance of hillbillies.
donj: There are ignorant racists everywhere. To label the entire valley as racist is wrong. Look, there are a bunch of fools on a national level that think or would like to think that Obama was born outside the USA. Their movement is call The Birthers. These idiots refuse to believe that Obama was born in Hawaii even though his birth certificate is available.
To label everyone in the valley a hillbilly is also a bit racist. The best thing to do is ignore the ignorant and take people as you meet them.
OIB Rumor Mill:
A certain O’Newsman who bills himself as fair & balanced, considers donj to be a reverse racist.
NOWHERE in that Kenyan village did the sign mention Obama as the missing idiot. Your innuendos are the foundation of my allegations. This hillbilly feels confident knowing your ignorance is available for public display.
Wow.
I know you guys have heard of the Tea Party. Well I am a proud member of the Coffee party. Search it up it is the new movement. We believe in democratic ideas and are standing up to the Conservative Tea Party. In 2 weeks 150,000 have joined the Coffee party and many Bridgeport residents are joining the movement.
*** Problem with “tea or coffee” parties is they both raise your blood pressure & fuels unwanted future political results which can come back to haunt you later! (wink) *** Besides most everyone knows there are 2 types of Americans in the USA, those that have & those that don’t have. It’s just a matter of where your level falls in on those 2 types that affects how you think politically in general. That’s why change is never greeted with open clear minds when it affects one of these 2 types more than the other. *** Smaller state government, stronger 3rd political party, tougher homeland security measures, bigger push on alternative energy studies, better & tougher American borders security, 3 years automatic military service @ 18 years old with benefits, national public trans. increase & improvements, environmental & think green improvements, better education & opportunities, and made in the USA incentives are just “some” of the things lacking in American government today! *** What’s on your mind? ***
I recommend picking up today’s CT Post. There is an in-depth article, side-by-side comparisons of several key questions of lifestyle and pictures of the homes of those running for Governor. It’s called the ‘Running of the Rich.’ It is really eye opening. Who can really lead this state out of the mess it is in? Who can really understand what is facing the cities in Connecticut. This article tells a lot. You can’t get it on-line.
Countdown: I read that article and it’s amazing the amount of wealth these people have amassed. There is not one of them that could possibly understand the problems of the average Connecticut resident.
One has to wonder why someone would pay millions of dollars of their own money to run for a job that pays a little over $100K. I call it ego and I think they are also running because they are bored.
One of these candidates has a 100ft boat that isn’t even registered in Connecticut. He is rich but he is also ethically bankrupt.
How is it that Fedele wouldn’t release his tax information? Isn’t he our Lt Governor?
I am seriously considering Dannel Malloy. One of 8 children. They all live in Stamford. He has overcome serious disabilities as a child. He’s a lawyer who was the first to take his law boards verbally because of his disability. Was a successful Brooklyn prosecutor on some pretty difficult cases. Attracted great people to work for him as Mayor and his team produced consistently over 14 years. Led the charter change to get that city from two-year terms to four-year terms for the Mayor. Their Board of Finance is elected separately and pores over every financial decision. He supports that scrutiny. He has negotiated some of the most difficult financial transactions to lure companies to his city. I think of all of them, he understands what it takes to balance a budget in a city, what will and will not work, and knows the importance of unions and their requirements to be productive. I have met a couple of his siblings. They are a normal hardworking Irish middle-class family. In my opinion, none of the other candidates come close to understanding what Bridgeport is facing and what Hartford has to do to partner with the cities. This race isn’t about a rivalry between Stamford and Bridgeport. This is about who can occupy the State Capital and understand what needs to be done to help this city. I am still listening and reading carefully but right now, Dannel Malloy is the strongest candidate to help Bridgeport.
Kind of like how can a Economic Development Director who lives in Newington really sell the city of Bridgeport to outsiders? Eh.
Which Economic Development Director are you referring to? Former EDD Hadley lives in downtown Bridgeport and the present EDD Eversley lives in New York City.
OIB Rumor Mill:
New Topseller: I’ve Made Bigger Mistakes than Anthony Musto
by Local Eyes
America’s new superhero reveals the strength that comes from humility, the conviction that comes from reversal and the MINDSET that makes it all happen
Once “flogged by a blog,” the story begins with a well-intentioned mistake made GINORMOUS by a bloodthirsty blogosphere and ends with a State Senator acquiring power beyond his local position. Musto’s rise is chronicled to show how anyone can use logic, an idea and a short amount of time to gain global clout and turn former enemies into guys that mow your lawn.
Countdown I have to disagree with you on this one. Malloy screwed Bridgeport big time with his stated opposition to a casino in Bridgeport. His argument centered around traffic congestion on I-95. Malloy could give a damn about traffic on 95 he was afraid of losing the lower-tier workers that would have gone to work at the casino rather than Stamford.
Sure a lot happened in Stamford but it helps when you get a lot of state aide to get the companies there. What did we get from the state? Bupkus and a jail.
I do not like one candidate Democratic or Republican running for the Governor’s job. In a little while they will all be coming to Bridgeport acting like our savior and they are all full of it.
The only savior Bridgeport has is its people. The people here are resilient and eventually things will get done here.
BTW I would not brag about having the mayor’s term changed from 2 to 4 years. We did that here and look what has happened. Now instead of campaigning for 2 years they are campaigning for 4 years. If you get a bad mayor you have to live with it for 4 years.