Joe Ganim has made a historic comeback as mayor. Are you happy with the result?
- Yes. (46%, 150 Votes)
- No. (32%, 105 Votes)
- Wait and see. (21%, 69 Votes)
Total Voters: 324
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OIB Poll: You Happy Joe Won?
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Regular readers of Only in Bridgeport are able to identify my sign-off at the end of most entries. It is not COURAGE, as Dan Rather was heard to say for many years. It continues to be TIME WILL TELL as it is an accurate warning to all readers to pay attention to the present and future words spoken as well as those in print and compare them to the actions of any party in the spotlight.
During the Finch years many PR dollars were spent to tell us things were getting “better and better,” but enough people found one or more reasons to disengage from those oracular statements, set aside their rose-colored lenses and become anti-Finch to some degree. Thus the political field was prepared for the ‘comeback’ of Mayor-rlect Ganim or any other party who desired the position badly enough.
We know some of the problems facing us at the moment, and I have pointed to a handful of those that are long-term and serious in recent columns. They were not discussed during the campaign. Why not? Whoever won will have to face the results of past leadership kicking problems into the future. How will that future look when confronted? Will all of these results be laid at the doorstep of Bill Finch, and/or John Fabrizi, and/or Joe Ganim’s own excesses from years back? Will we see the eroded check and balance role of an ever-weakened City Council, nominated and supported by Bridgeport’s shadow government, the Democratic Town Committee? (Perhaps you have to get hit by that speeding train and survive to appreciate how reliving high school popularity contests is alive and well in City governance.) Where are the qualifications for representation or governance said Town Committee uses to identify and support nominees and those elected and in office? When do we hear the ‘policy position’ of the Town Committee on any serious subject coming at those who govern? If these 90 people, poorly representative of the diversity or aspirations of the body politic, and only concerned with maintaining the status quo, what interests successfully raise their funds and what goals inspire their activity? If you cannot answer these questions in public, perhaps it is time to ask those questions seriously and publicly, and listen for the answers in both words and in behavior. Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee, I understand your point especially where you said, “shadow government,” being the 90-member Democratic Town Committee, well I’ve suggested to you and Jennifer and others who don’t like what’s going on they needed to join the DTC if you want want to make real change. Everything starts with the election of the 90-person DTC in March 2016.
Ron,
Generally before I join a group I attempt to find out more about the group. Since you are pushing Jennifer B and me to join in order to make real change, perhaps you are also knowledgeable about the mission of the group, their qualifications for membership, for continuing to be supported by group members, how they are funded, when and where they meet (specifically in the 130 District), whether they have a web site or communications mode, etc.? Just the basic stuff that I am asked when I sponsor someone to Rotary International or Greater Bridgeport NAACP. It would be helpful to me. They are a political party. Do they publish their rules? Are there informal rules that I should know about? Time will tell.
The qualification for membership is people get elected to the DTC.
When do they run? What are the rules? See, I’m getting you to share what you know, and what you are telling me is the only meaning of membership is to run on a slate for election to a Town Committee that has no MISSION, no public rules, does not advertise for new membership, has or has not responsibilities to the public, and has a role in identifying candidates for public office and supporting them, but no criteria or evaluation mechanisms that are public. Does that seem like giving a high school Prom Committee a great deal of responsibility for being an essential player in how we find and display credible, caring and competent citizens to run for public office? (And Ron, do the voters in Town Committees have a special aversion to people who ask too many questions in public? Thought you might have an opinion on that one.) Time will tell.
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? What comeback are we talking about? I don’t know much, but I know it didn’t end well for Joe or Bridgeport. Who would want a comeback to that? I always laughed at the second-chance concept. Are we saying we’re giving them a second chance to fail or a first chance to succeed? JML, why wait for time? Ask Joe, he knows the answer. Joe, are you going to f%&k up again?
Another stupid poll! Are you happy with the results? Why! Can we have a do-over?
When more than 50 % of the voters elected Joe Ganim, did you think that would change?
Hey Lennie! Get back on your flucking MEDS now!
Jimfox,
I thought after the election we would be getting back to humor once again. Are we not still in the absurd, a great breeding ground for laughter? Who can be made to seem ludicrous now? If you think Lennie’s polls are stupid, do you have a better indicator of the mood of those who read, but do not wish to write, than a poll? The comeback referenced by Lennie is Joe Ganim’s re-election by a majority of voters on Election Day 2015.
For it to be a genuine and sustaining “comeback,” the current State of the City must be accurately delved, framed to the public, with remedies offered. Are those who will take office in December, and those hired to exercise executive powers, up to the mission? Will the public be interested in the alternative and necessary actions or attempt to deflect solutions by conversing about scapegoats?
My goodness Jimfox, perhaps my expectations are absurd, but if so, perhaps you can hold them up to ridicule, if you are short of targets at the moment. Time will tell.
JML, I want to commend you and your running mate for getting into the race for the City Council. If more people had the desire to see Bridgeport grow and succeed, they would get off their lazy butts and put the work into making the changes that will really get this City started. First, intelligent, motivated individuals who are willing to do the work, and put in the time it takes to become relevant, and exercise independence when making decisions that affect the citizens of Bridgeport. Second, as Ron pointed out, in March, ten slates of TC members will be elected and charged with the responsibility of endorsing candidates for Local, State, and National levels. To all those who criticize, complain and judge, get involved. It requires a little work, but if the right people sit in those seats, Bridgeport will improve, and quality candidates, properly vetted by TC members will represent the people. I dare those of you who live in Bridgeport to step up to the plate. It’s only two months away, all it takes are nine people to constitute a district slate. As JML says, “we’ll see.”
Lisa, how do you get on a TC slate?
If I were interested, who would I talk to?
Robert, I don’t know where in Bridgeport you live. That’s relevant because it would determine the TC district you could be a part of. Bubba (Walsh) has given the basic requirements, but if you’re really interested in possibly participating in the process, I would be happy be discuss it with you. You can email me if you choose. Redelisa@aol.com.
Thanks, I’m very interested. I tried to run once before when I was in the Carpenters Union. Glenn Marshall helped me out. A judge threw out our slate though. I’ll get in touch with you.
JML, there is no budget for the district. The only requirement for the DTC as a whole is to meet three times a year. When I got involved I talked with Chris Caruso he told me to get a copy of the party’s rules from the Registrar of Voters office and to get a list of the 90 DTC members. JML, you do that you will be way ahead of most of those who are already DTC members now.
Better yet Lennie, put your ass to work and get a copy of the DTC Rules, membership and district leaders. Also Lennie, post the results of the last 2 DTC elections. This will give anyone thinking of putting together a challenge slate an idea as to how many votes they will need to get in order to win.
If memory serves me correctly a slate must have at least three and no more than nine names on it. My advice is to get nine people who are active in their community, would represent different constituencies and are willing to do a lot of work in the cold of winter.
Yeah Lennie,
Snap to it.
So far Mayor-elect Ganim has not earned anyone’s trust. He won (or bought) the election. He appears to be working overtime to make the city a better place. With so many pairs of eyes watching, waiting for him to engage in old behavior, with so many people waiting for the opportunity to jump up to shout “I told you so!”, it’s more than a little doubtful he’ll fuck up as badly as he did fifteen years ago. Only time will tell.
I hope and wish for the best.
People, time already told. No one does the same thing in their 30s when they’re pushing 60. It’s going to come down to support. But most of all, what those supporters want Bridgeport to be and those in charge want Bridgeport to be. Jeff’s concept of “The Gold Coast” wanting to keep Bridgeport residents in a lower-wage job pool for Stamford is off. I’m not saying they’re not an element that wants that lower-wage job pool. It’s just not done by developments. It’s done by the BOE. The only thing that will change is the commute. Instead of Bridgeporters commuting to other towns for those lower-paying jobs. other town residents will commute to Bridgeport for those high-paying jobs. At the end of the day, if Bridgeporters don’t have the education to compete for those higher-paying jobs, it doesn’t matter where they are. Now for Bridgeport itself. It’s what we build and how we develop the city. It’s an ego thing. Like Trump wanting the most grand building. I read something about a housing project near the Arena and Ball Park. Now that’s stupid. Why would you do development that will diminish the potential for bring people to Bridgeport and enhancing Bridgeport’s tourism potential? Whoever supported that, if true, should be fired and ostracized by the city. Because obviously they want Bridgeport to be a minor city. As far as Joe is concerned, we will have to see what development he’s going to support and stop. But more important are those who will support and stop those from keeping Bridgeport down. In the words of Donald Trump, it’s going to BE HUGE!
www .youtube.com/watch?v=NECaEVuHw18