Suspended mayoral aide Danny Pizarro who owns dozens of city properties including low-income units and served largely as Joe Ganim’s campaign driver, drove to City Hall on Tuesday and apparently paid off more than $55,000 in outstanding property taxes that triggered his leave last week. “Mr. Pizarro does not owe any real estate taxes to the city,” according to Tax Collector Veronica Jones.
“As a landlord, I share a commitment to ensure that our neighborhoods become places where family may thrive,” Pizarro said in a statement. “It is my endeavor to change the iniquities that impact current dwelling conditions and sustain improvement over time. The $55,387.45 has been paid in full, as I am committed to improve my neighborhood.”
It’s unclear if/when Ganim will return Pizarro to his inner office position addressing blight issues in the city. Ganim suspended Pizarro without pay last week after learning of the tax liability. Pizarro also had tens of thousands more in back property taxes sold in tax lien sales by the city. But in that case he must deal with the tax lien company rather than the tax collector’s office.
Ganim announced he would not hire tax deadbeats. Pizarro was hired about seven weeks into Ganim’s mayoralty. Who was responsible for checking with the tax office about vetting tax issues?
Last week, when confronted with the news of Pizarro’s tax liability, Ganim said pay it off right away or face suspension. Now that Pizarro has written the check, will Ganim bring him back?
This isn’t hard, he has tons of rental properties, he could make this back in less than a year and just increase the rents if he wants. Ganim knew this already and this makes him look like he is putting his money where his mouth is. It’s all orchestrated, people. Ganim is clever.
To your point, he did not pay the taxes when they were due because?
‘The Rules of Success’: Buy low–Sell high–Collect early–Pay late.
Joel,
You are a keen observer of the Bridgeport scene. But your Rules of Success run off the road when “Pay Late” turns into “pay off the entire amount due earlier PLUS the 18% annual interest.”
Are you saying Mr. Pizarro intentionally paid late as a part of his success formula?
If you apply your formula Joel, you can see Bridgeport has been operating its own commitments in that fashion for some time:
** Borrow funds and repay over 20 years for items that will not survive in operation for 20 years. police cars, computer systems
** Use Capital funds to pay for services that are more properly accounted for in Operating Budgets. patrols in Housing projects?
** Commitments to fund retirement plans with overly optimistic assumptions and deferrals of good funding paths when reality upsets the assumptions. How long will we ‘enjoy’ Pension A funding retirement benefits before we have to pick them up in the Operating Budget once again PLUS the $31 Million per year Pension Obligation Bond payment?
Tomorrow? Manana? Smart? Way to success? Time will tell.
I was wondering where you were, JML. The Rules of Success doesn’t work quite well when it’s not your money. Government decision makers aren’t that good when it comes to making financial decisions with someone else’s money. It would be wise for anyone to step in and Hedge on Bridgeport’s pension funding ways.
“But your Rules of Success run off the road when “Pay Late” turns into “pay off the entire amount due earlier PLUS the 18% annual interest”.
There is a name for that, JML. It’s Jeopardy Collection and it allows the city to collect the entire amount. But the City of Bridgeport (The former tax collector) was applying Jeopardy collection in violation of the rules set forth by state statute. Before applying Jeopardy Collection, the city must have exhausted all measures to collect the tax debt. This is the city’s way of “Collecting early.”
JML was in Jamaica as a volunteer building a playground in a very poor neighborhood. JML spent a week and paid his own way. John talks the talk and he walks the walk.
Andy, I’m glad you mentioned JML’s volunteer work in Jamaica and he has done volunteer work in other countries at his own expense. John is no spring chicken but he goes out of his way to help others and I want to say, thanks Mr. Lee.
And why now, all of a sudden he’s exposed for non payment of his taxes and suddenly miraculously they are all paid, shouldn’t his dedication have been done before he was exposed??? What’s going to be interesting is if Ganim is going to hire him back after saying he wouldn’t hire tax deadbeats, he’s already proven he’s not a man of his word.
I will never understand how a knowledgeable person knowingly doesn’t pay a property tax bill if they had the money to do so. The city of Bridgeport charges an 18% rate of interest when your property tax bill goes past due. This rate is literally highway robbery. There aren’t many legal endeavors where a person can invest money and make a better return than 18%. Why if you have the money, would you not pay your property taxes rather than having to pay this extremely high rate of interest?
It’s called laziness and being irresponsible.
Say it like it is, Milkman! The city of Bridgeport is Milking us all with 18% penalty. When people are late paying their taxes, the city makes more money. Danny Pizzaro probably doesn’t know this, but what he is doing is applying ‘The Rules of Success’: Buy low–Sell high–Collect early–Pay late. I’m sure the City hasn’t done a good job when it comes to paying their bills on time–ask some city vendors.
I find Danny Pizzaro guilty of tax payment procrastination. The good part of this fiasco is Danny is a man of means who is able to pay his bills unlike others. What Joe Ganim should do is give Danny Pizzaro his job back. Danny shall work one week without pay (docked) to make up for the time lost in the projects he was working on (he caused the delay). Everyone working for Joe Ganim must take this as a lesson. You are all public figures/property; all you do or say can be interpreted a certain way. Brian Lockhart will check up on you especially if he is given tips. No more partying, say goodbye to the mistress, forget about the Jamaican or Colombian connection, no drinking and driving, no hookers or strip joints, and no fighting on the Street on St. Patrick’s Day.
That sounds about right. Hire a tax deadbeat and pay him with our tax dollars, give him a bit of a time out, then business as usual.
A “tax deadbeat” won’t pay their taxes at all or take forever to do so. Have you noticed you don’t get any mail from credit card companies trying to get you to be a customer? That’s because they know you always pay all your bills on time and therefore they can’t make much money from you.
We need more Bridgeport residents like:
BILL# NAME/ADDRESS PROPERTY/VEHICLE PAID OUTSTANDING OPTIONS PAY
[remaining content removed by moderator at Joel’s request]
Joel, as you can see my taxes are paid in full. How many officials can say that?
Andrew, try this link and search for Blunt W and show us what you get. Try the names of Town Committee members if you’re curious.
www .mytaxbill.org/inet/bill/home.do?town=bridgeport
Lennie, thanks for keeping Joel’s idiotic post that contains my personal information. Lennie, this is bullshit and so is Joel.
I didn’t complain to Lennie when you posted any of the “bullshit” insults. Ever heard of Google? It may be personal, but it’s not private. For example, I wanted to know if you had any open space so I can drop my goat off and she can keep your lawn from getting out of control. I did a Google search:
www .arivify.com/property/search/XNJPBNQfY
Joel, you are right. This is public information. I want your dumb ass to remember that. As far as the goat goes, you keep him, just fluff him his pillow. Maybe you can send the goat to Lennie or Joe Ganim.
Andy, I would delete that post, but only if you or Pat (or Joel) requested it.
RayFusci, you guys have some weird rules. You mean to tell me if the owner of Two Boots Bridgeport requests that you remove the posting of their tax bills, OIB would honor or even consider such request?
Don’t bother to reply. Instead, I request, no I insist, in fact you just better remove my posting of Andrew C Fardy’s taxes. I owe no apologies to anyone. This will allow Frank Gyure to return and maintain Angel Figueroa’s admiration toward him. Gyure has implied he would return when the posting is removed. If he fails to return then he wouldn’t be a man of his word in my book.
Our rules are no weirder than anyone else’s. Yes, if the owner made that request, I’d honor it. If you want to make it known how anyone can look up this information for themselves, I have no problem with that. And anyone can ask me to remove a comment they’ve written and I will honor that.
I don’t believe you owe anyone an apology, and whether Frank Gyure or anyone else stays or goes is their choice. Note that I did not honor a request from him to delete that post, but I did honor his request to delete one of his own.
RayFusci. Thank You for deleting my post after the Gaudett fiasco. It was a bit emotional.
Joel–what was your point in posting the tax payments these people made? It’s public information, but did you really have to do this? You are really spiraling out of control.
“According to city tax records Two Boots has shut its doors owing the city tens of thousands of dollars in personal property taxes.” Let’s see who is going to get mad at Lennie for looking up Two Boots’ back taxes.
Bill # Name/Address Property/Vehicle Paid Outstanding Options Pay
2009-02-0044915
P–2116965
W
(PERSONALPROPERTY ) TWO BOOTS OF BRIDGEPORT
277 FAIRFIELD AVE
UNCLE LEO LLC $15,018.23
2010-02-0044915
P–2116965
W
(PERSONALPROPERTY ) TWO BOOTS OF BRIDGEPORT
277 FAIRFIELD AVE
UNCLE LEO LLC $12,142.68
2011-02-0044489
P–2116965
W
(PERSONALPROPERTY ) TWO BOOTS OF BRIDGEPORT
277 FAIRFIELD AVE
UNCLE LEO LLC $9,931.29
2012-02-0003503
P–2116965
W
(PERSONALPROPERTY ) TWO BOOTS OF BRIDGEPORT
277 FAIRFIELD AVE
UNCLE LEO LLC $7,700.91
2013-02-0003503
P–2116965
W
(PERSONALPROPERTY ) TWO BOOTS OF BRIDGEPORT
277 FAIRFIELD AVE
UNCLE LEO LLC $5,693.41
2014-02-0002879
P–2116965
W
(PERSONALPROPERTY ) TWO BOOTS OF BRIDGEPORT
277 FAIRFIELD AVE
UNCLE LEO LLC $3,921.58
So where is the tax collector on this? The city has put at least $1,000,000 into this area and we are still getting screwed. The city can go after a poor citizen who owes a few hundred dollars but leave a business owing approximately $52,000 alone. Well they are opening a new place in Fairfield, let’s see if the city goes after its money.
Apropos of nothing in this post, it’s worth noting in Hartford, the new mayor of that city has discovered budget shortfalls not unlike those in Bridgeport. In fact, worse perhaps: $9 million this year, and a projected $30 million next year.
“Bronin Warns Of Layoffs, Deep Cuts As Hartford Struggles Financially”
www .courant.com/community/hartford/hc-hartford-bronin-state-of-the-city-0315-20160311-story.html
Danny Pizarro, I knew you would pay by Wednesday. Ganim should reinstate you. 🙂
The reason The Office of Integrity was asleep at the wheel is because Danny Pizarro was driving the car!
This guy thinks Mayor Ganim should hoist the anchor, set sail for revenge and fire the tax-dodging bum.
www .twitter.com/door24
Sure, another second chance, why not? Let’s all break the rules and the laws and let’s join Ganim’s team.
Suggested line for Mayor Ganim: You didn’t break the law but you violated my values. I didn’t take an oath to protect my friends, I took an oath to protect Bridgeport. You’re qualified to be my weekend driver but you’re not qualified to be a member of my administration.
Joel, I don’t understand your rationale in posting my tax records or the property and cars I own.
How about not being so personal and post your own records as a good taxpayer who is never late or delinquent???
Pat Fardy, if you loan me $1,500 I’ll never do it again.
www .mytaxbill.org/inet/download/pdf?mode=revenue&byear=2007&btype=3&bnum=8587899
Why did you do it this time?
www .mytaxbill.org/inet/download/pdf?mode=revenue&byear=2007&btype=3&bnum=8587899
Joel has too much time on his hands. Posting other people’s tax payments is one step over the line.
Joel is hurting Lennie’s brand by using it as a canvas to paint pictures of meaningless stats. But he’s a member of Lennie’s Clubhouse so he’s immune to censorship. He’s threatening a blogger in good standing! Let’s charter a boat, take it out to sea and dump the sucker overboard!
Isn’t it illegal to post on an open forum anyone’s personal information?
No, it’s not illegal, you fool. I wonder why you and others are so concerned. Perhaps you are behind on your taxes too. It’s public information. If you or others don’t like it, sell your properties or find other ways to hide your tax bills. Got it? Get it? Don’t sweat it.
Angel, that only applies to people with morals and integrity.
Got it.
*** Everyone sooner or later falls behind on their high property taxes in the city of Bpt. Nothing new or to be ashamed about! Overtaxed on properties that are located in long-time ghetto decaying, past industrial city with a history of on and off crime in the streets and in our city government. A failing public education system, no jobs, drugs and alcohol infestation, lack of morals in the homes, homelessness and mental illness, race issues in general along with failing politics and its government whether local, state or federal! Housing, the economy, and an ever-present feeling by lower than average wage citizens, of an us against them type of police/citizen hateful mentality, instead of getting to know each other and the people in the neighborhoods they patrol. It’s getting worse before it gets any better with time and patience running out for many folks who have stuck it out, or for those who are relatively new here in Bpt and are trying to make it their home. *** KEEP HOPE ALIVE, KEEP HOPE ALIVE! ***
Bravo Mojo, very well put, I honestly feel leaders and political officials who really care should really have the valor to stand alone and represent our City with dignity and diligently, anyone can follow and take the shortcut to success in politics with special offers for special favors, it takes courage to stand against temptation and fight for what you believe in. At the rate we’re going, Bridgeport will evolve into the next Detroit. We need to really stand apart and work together for the best interest of our City and not allow those who are in it for special interest to destroy the future of our kids in this Great City.
Angel Figueroa, you make a statement then you say something different in the same post. You said, “I honestly feel leaders and political officials who really care should really have the valor to stand alone and represent our City with dignity and diligently, anyone can follow and take the shortcut to success in politics.” But then you said, “We need to really stand apart and work together.” You want to be alone but then you said work together, so you want people to follow you and you will be the leader because you and only you know the right way but you’re not going to listen to anybody. You sound and act like Donald Trump.
Mr. Trump 2016
No response. I see he is practicing his Facebook tactics here now. If he doesn’t respond it never happened, right?
The posting of someone’s tax information IS OVER THE LINE. it is public information but it is completely inappropriate and used for intimidation. PLEASE REMOVE or I will leave OIB.
Goodbye, Frank.
Goodbye.
Frank Gyure, remember, you can’t come back. If you do, Angel Figueroa will not like you anymore. You must keep your word or you’re not a man according to the world of Angel F.
Joel Gonzalez. Thank You.
I agree, Joel Gonzalez decided to put out a tax record and a physical address on Mr. Fardy, I know it is illegal to do so and it’s not necessary, it shows character and it’s a dirty tactic. If there’s something that needs to be said, say it but let’s have some sort of integrity, period!
Is paying your Bridgeport taxes a condition of employment for City of Bridgeport employees?
This blog is getting scary.
Wait ’til the Trump supporters start coming to the blog.
Joel, get back to work.
*** Time to check on all the city council members and top city executives to see where they stand on their city taxes, no? ***
*** Oh, almost forgot, most city executives live outside Bpt, no? *** WHOOP ***