As the City Council moves closer to voting on Mayor Bill Finch’s $520 million budget proposal, you have one last chance to speak for or against the city’s spending plan. The neighborhood action group Citizens 4 A Better Bridgeport is urging attendance at the Budget and Appropriations Committee’s public hearing Tuesday 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 45 Lyon Terrace.
In an eblast Wednesday C4ABB issued this statement:
ATTENTION BRIDGEPORT TAX PAYERS: In case you haven’t heard, the Mayor wants to RAISE our taxes again this year. We need YOU to support the message–NO TAX INCREASE! We’re already way over-taxed as it is–and for what? Failing schools? Mismanagement and outright lack of city services?
This will be our LAST chance to speak against a Tax Increase at the Budget Committee Public Hearing, City Council Chambers, 45 Lyon Terrace, before Council needs to present a budget. WE NEED A BIG TURNOUT. City Council members have requested that we attend en masse to support a NO INCREASE.
Bring your friends, neighbors and even the kids, if you have to. The idea that the City is planning to raise our taxes when we are already so highly taxed is ludicrous. But we need YOU to come. Numbers of attendees really do matter. SEE YOU THERE! Citizens 4 A Better Bridgeport
The budget committee is expected to issue a vote next week, the budget then goes to the full council for action. The budget goes back to the mayor for possible veto action before the full council sets the mil rate in June.
My wife and I will be there and I hope many other people are too. This is the final opportunity to show your concern about the proposed tax increase and to be heard if you want to speak. Speaking is optional but showing up is important. Be there to help make a difference.
A strong presence is vital to sending a strong message. Interestingly enough, at the public meeting in Brooklawn last Saturday, Councilman John Olson acknowledged the fact Bridgeport is at a turning point, and he has never seen the communities making this much noise. The pressure is on and it’s being felt. Let’s make sure something breaks. Show up people. We are on a roll.
*** UNFORTUNATELY IT’S A “DONE SHERWOOD FOREST DEAL” WITH ALL CITY EMPLOYEES VOTING “YES!” AND MAYBE FIVE OUT OF 20 VOTING “NO” ‘CAUSE IT’S AN ELECTIONS YEAR! ***
Mojo, you hit the nail on the head. The vote is a sure thing for this to pass with Yes votes.
I am frustrated with the council and the way they disregard any of the public’s concerns.
I am old and tired, how many times can you go and speak to a brick wall?
At least twice …
City employees had better be careful. There are serious ethical and legal issues involved. City employees have clear conflicts on a number of the proposed spending cuts. They need to recuse themselves on any issue where there is such a conflict.
The bleeding must stop someday. There is only so much money you can bleed from citizens before we are in the same position as the City of Bridgeport. Broke, desperate and out of options.
We can’t sell our homes, no one wants to buy them because of the taxes here and the equity is in the toilet. A lot of us are held hostage by this city and forced to endure the bad decisions made daily. It really feels quite like tyranny.
We need anarchy, and we need it now.