Mayors are in a position to make things happen. And that’s the position Mayor Bill Finch is in nearly two years into his mayoralty. He needs to make things happen … in the right direction.
Finch served nine years on the City Council, another seven in the Connecticut State Senate. He had so many advantages coming into office by virtue of those elected positions that few share in the city’s history. His mayoralty, on the best days however, rises to the level of mediocrity. Nearly two years into the job, tax increases, inaction, no meaningful economic development initiatives to call his own (in his defense an awful economy), a bond downgrading by a key Wall Street firm that will cost the city money, union negotiations that work in the short term but fail miserably in the long term, a questionable temperament for the job that includes a reject accusation against the University of Bridgeport, all poise him for a one-term mayoralty. My friends say gee, Lennie, who’s gonna beat him? Guess what? Chris Caruso beats him. John Fabrizi beats him. Joe Ganim too.
Yes, Finch’s mayoralty is in trouble. But he still has time to turn it around. His next opportunity to turn it around is an attack on the city’s Civil Service system. But how he goes about it is key to a mayor voters perceive as focused versus disengaged from a game plan of reform.
Ralph Jacobs, the city’s personnel director (the man in charge of protecting Civil Service rules and regulations), is in the mayor’s firing range. Jacobs is not a local guy, no connection with the city political establishment. When times are tough it’s hard for a mayor to shoehorn political operatives into city slots when he’s struggling to keep the budget in balance. The person in charge of Civil Service can work with a mayor to squeeze in a person here, or perhaps one there. Jacobs seems to be a guy that plays it by the book. You finish first on a test you get hired. This does not sit well with Finch.
The city’s Civil Service system was a product of a reform movement created by Socialist Mayor Jasper McLevy who came into power in 1933 on the sins of both Democratic and Republican administrations. Both parties had their hand out. Jasper stood on street corners for 20 years until the people finally listened. He promised them Civil Service to end the spoils system of running government. He was true to his word.
But the system has flaws and no mayor has sought comprehensively to reform those flaws through a Charter Revision Commission. Example: both the police chief and fire chief were removed from the rigid Civil Service system 20 years ago through a charter revision approved by the voters. In the old days the respective chiefs that finished first on the test were there for life. They were good on tests but how do they manage people? What’s their temperament for the job? How do they manage a budget? Tests cannot always answer those questions. So voters said okay, we’ll give the chiefs a five-year term with the option for another five-year term, approved by the mayor. And the mayor can pick from the top three finalists.
Well maybe that’s something that should be brought to the voters. Rather than the top test taker getting the job for certain positions why not choose from the top three?
Finch wants to blow out Jacobs–this could be extraordinarily tricky if he’s not careful to follow due process–and replace him with his own person. He’ll need the votes of the Civil Service Commission to make that happen.
Finch pushed hard to secure the endorsements of City Councilwoman Leticia Colon and former member Pat Crossin by the Democratic Town Committee to the Board of Education. He’s hoping he can line up the votes later this year to make Colon president of the BOE to further his influence. His next move is Civil Service. But none of this works in his favor if he doesn’t have a game place, doesn’t know where he’s going. Does the mayor actually know where he wants to take the city beyond settling petty fights?
We saw what happened in his union negotiations. Zero increases in the early years don’t mean shit if the outer years are five and six percent increases. As a result, Wall Street downgraded the city’s bond rating. Another tax hit for the city. Keep your eyes on the mayor’s next move.
News release from community groups
Lake Forest Association and North End Community Council to host community forum on August 20th at the Lake Forest Clubhouse:
The Lake Forest Association (LFA) and North End Community Council (NECC) will jointly-present a community forum from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at the Lake Forest Clubhouse, 424 Frenchtown Road, Bridgeport, CT 06606.
This municipal election-year forum will provide an opportunity for the residents of the North End residing in the 135th Council District and that portion of the 134th Council District including the westernmost portion of Lake Forest and the Elton Roger’s Park neighborhood, to ask questions and present concerns regarding district and citywide issues to the Mayor, their councilpersons, state representatives, district and citywide candidates for municipal office, as well as essential-service department heads and Democratic and Republican district and citywide leadership…
A socialization/meet-and-greet session, featuring light refreshment, will take place following the forum…
The forum is free and open to the public.
Please contact Jeff Kohut (NECC/LFA) at; 203-372-2791 (h)/203-394-7678 (c) or JPKOHUT1@aol.com/NECCBPT@aol.com, for further information.
Events at The Gallery at Black Rock
Thursday August 6th 6:00pm
Artist Discussion
Peter Konsterlie Talks about his work in Directional Prada
There have been many inquiries about Peters process and thoughts behind his work.
He will be talking about these things as well as answering any of your questions.Friday night August 7th
Family Fun
It’s Art Walk on the Avenue,
Peter will be doing a Demonstration of his “Sand Blasters”
Come try a fun technique and see the outcome.
This will be great for kids and families.
Peter’s Sand blasters are unique and decorative and we will have many on display and for sale.—
The Gallery at Black Rock
2861 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06605
203.814.6856
www.thegalleryatblackrock.com
This is the one area where Finch and Company should keep their hands off. This is the last bastion of employee protection. The word is he is looking to put Larry Osborne in this spot. So far each and every Finch appointee has been an abject failure. Finch and Company especially mayor Adam Wood should stop all this bullshit and get down to running this city. We have had 2 years of my Johnson is bigger than your Johnson and nothing has gotten accomplished.
Killing civil service will be the last straw.
T.C.,
Time for a grass-roots campaign to rid the city of these cartoon-like figures. The people of the city of Bridgeport have been subjected to rule by The Great Incompetents for long enough. The only candidates for elected office in Bridgeport are the Harvey Milquetoast types that are beholden to their handlers and NOT the people of the city of Bridgeport, the people that were duped into casting the necessary votes. Mr. Finch has absolutely no inclination toward doing anything for the benefit of the city’s residents.
By the way, a highly placed member of the DTC criticized me for writing some less-than-flattering things about Auden Grogins, specifically that one of her primary objectives is an appointment to the superior court bench. “She was responsible for half your income last year,” he snarled. (A slight exaggeration there.) I asked what Ms. Grogins has accomplished for the city. “No press release bullshit,” I said. “Well, she’s made a lot of contacts … Beardsley Zoo is going to stay open … and so is that museum …” Oh really? WHAT ABOUT THE FUCKING TAX RELIEF WE WERE PROMISED?!
The Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee, to employ a quote I’ve used once before, “is oppression, arrogance, greed, self-enrichment, power and hegemony above and against all others. It is not an abstract concept, or a state of mind, or a literary term … It is a criminal organization regulated by unwritten but iron and inexorable rules … The myth of [an organization that stands for open, honest and accountable government] must be destroyed, because [the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee] is just the opposite.”
Y’know, if the attorneys working for the U.S. Department of Justice and the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are of a collective mind that the DTC is a criminal organization, that’s good enough for me.
Title III of the of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1968 authorizes the Attorney General of the United States to apply to federal judges for warrants to engage in electronic surveillance. Since both President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder are both on the record as to their extremely low regard for corrupt politicians (and the organizations behind them) …
Finch should leave Civil Service alone … And IF Ralph Jacobs were to leave, Larry Osborne is the WRONG person to fill that role … He doesn’t belong in Labor Relations either, but I won’t go there …
As for Colon to be BOE Prez, ha, you have to be kidding … She barely had a clue what it meant to be on the City Council. I say the best possible choice is Bellinger. She has the intellect and ability to lead that board.
As for a One Term Mayoralty, unless Finch sends Adam Wood packing, then there is no hope for positive change in this administration. Adam Wood is one of the biggest problems to date. Nobody likes him, he is obnoxious, condescending and could care less about Bridgeport.
Mr. Wood behaves as though he was the “personal assistant” to a rich person from Westport. Andrew: get to know the insurance and pre-owned automobile businesses–you’re gonna need a job in about two years.
Lennie,
Your memory is failing you. In 1991 a Charter Revision Commission headed by David Carson recommended a comprehensive non-partisan reform of the Civil Service system. City employees, their unions and a fair number of Democratic politicians went wild. They claimed that changing the Rule of One to a Rule of Three (the very change that you are suggesting) would “destroy civil service”. It was nonsense, but it worked. BTW, among the Democratic politicians stoking that fire was the Democratic candidate for Mayor. You may remember him. His name was Joe Ganim.
Here is some free advice for the Mayor. Replacing the Personnel Director is a really bad idea unless he has repeatedly screwed up and you can prove it. If there is a vacancy it is filled by a Rule of One test which probably rules out Larry Osborne.
Should civil service be fixed? Of course it should. The current system is out of date and doesn’t benefit (or protect) anyone. But reform has to be open, above board and non-political. And, as 1991 proves, that may not be enough.
There used to be a good balance when we had civil service and grants personnel. Under the grants payroll, mayors could hire their political friends without going through civil service. Mayor Fabrizi eliminated grants personnel and put everyone in civil service. He boasted that he rid the city of the political patronage system but what he really did was secure the jobs of HIS political appointees. He took care of his best and closest friends like Lisa, Charlie’s girlfriend. Now future mayors are stuck with them no matter how unqualified they are.
I too have heard the rumor about Osborne replacing Ralph Jacobs. That is even worse than him running Labor Relations. He is not qualified and is himself a political appointee. BIG MISTAKE. That will be a nail in Finch’s coffin for sure.
This is yet another example of petty feuds being regarded with greater import than doing the business of the people of the city of Bridgeport. A wise man told me to not carry a grudge for more than twenty seconds. Unfortunately for the people of the city of Bridgeport, we’ve been saddled with a mayor that views the situation differently. Let’s not forget that Mr. Finch was drafted at the eleventh hour to prevent a more civic-minded candidate from prevailing in a party primary. HE DIDN’T WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Lennie, a few questions before I leave for work:
Does Ralph Jacobs have a contract and when does it expire?
What is the process for replacing the director of CS? Does the CS commission have to vote? Who is on the CS commission?
What is the process for filling the vacancy of CS director? Surely there is a test or at least minimal qualifications.
Smoker, FCO has a pretty good take on it. If they remove Jacobs it must be for cause taken by a vote of Civil Service commissioners. The replacement process if they go by the book is a CS test. How to get around this? Perhaps they appoint a provisional (aka acting) and then take their sweet time about filling the spot permanently. Maybe we have a labor attorney out there that can also address this.
Why does Phinch want to fire Jacobs?
“Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.”
Because he does his job by the book.
He may be a little too stringent at times but it is far better than a Civil Service Director who rolls over and plays dead whenever the mayor tells him to.
He even has the balls to tell Mark Anastasi that he is wrong when he is wrong.
Although Joe Ganim is my favorite and also the favorite for 2011 I have to say I don’t think it was a good job changing the mayor’s office to 4 years instead of 2. But at the same time back then it seemed like a good idea because we had a good mayor and the city was doing well. But now we’ve had two horrible mayors after him and Fabrizi had to be the worst out of all of them. Finch still has 2 years and change left so let’s see what he can do because as of now he is on the verge of being the same old Fabrizi. Damn I wish they had 2 year terms. This city is is in horrible hands. Ganim 2011.
To quote the late President Ronald Reagan, “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
Ganim was a corrupt public official who had not been caught and convicted at the time. You want more of the crap, you deserve it.
Why did “Phinch” want to get rid of Riccio over at the Port Authority?
Mario wants the ferry terminal on the East End. It has nothing to do with what is best for Bridgeport, what is best for Downtown, what it best for the East End, what is best for the Port Authority.
It is all about what is best for Mario. Why do you think Ray Rizzio is their attorney?
“It is all about what is best for Mario,” and what is best for Paul “The Pimp” Timpanelli, and John Stafstrom, and the DTC district leaders, etc. etc. etc., ad nauseum. What goes on here is NEVER in the best interests of the people that live here. Well, a few of ’em, but never the majority of us. The only people to benefit from the political corruption in Bridgeport are the members of Don Calamari Mario Testa’s charmed inner circle, and the great incompetents that hold municipal jobs through the magic of political patronage.
It’s amazing what turns up on the ‘Net. Here’s a quote from Plato, the Greek philosopher and author. It is apropos of Bridgeport’s dysfunctional political system:
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
Who the phuck does Pfinch think he is? I wonder how all the primary pollyannas of 2 years ago are now?
*** Ralph Jacobs knows all the problems with civil service & the fact that the entire outdated system needs to be streamlined. So I guess since the man is smart, dedicated to his job & doing it well, he’s a thorn in the administration? ***
The Civil Service System is broken–has been for a long time–and it needs to be fixed, but that can’t be done under a political cloud.
Paging Nancy Hardly, paging Nancy Hardly,
Why don’t you tell all of the bloggers the truth about Greenwood St.?
The city of Bridgeport is prepared to take the property via Eminent Domain as part of the flood control project. However, the city is dragging its feet so that the zoning change can go through, the value of the property increases significantly and then the owners and people with options on the land will receive a windfall profit. Isn’t that right Ms. Hardly?
Not only are some of these people politically connected some are connected otherwise, if you know what I mean.
And if these changes wait until Round Two as you are suggesting, the damage will be done and the undeserving will be rewarded.
So which one of the many sleazeballs involved in this project are you working for?
The Future land use map in the Master Plan has that area as single family residential. The zoning map that was released to the public in July 2008 has the area at the end of Greenwood Street R-A and R-BB, again the lower end of the single family/two family category. If you are saying that the PZC are trying to make that area higher density residential, they can’t. Master Plan Round One has that area at the end of Greenwood Street designated as the low end of the residential category, the least density and that is what it should be. I don’t recommend a Round Two effort to make that area higher density. As for the other conspiracies that I am working for someone on this property, no, I am not. I don’t know if the property switched hands recently and it should not be a factor.
I want the Future Land Use Map that was part of the 2008 master plan approval to be reaffirmed and get the zoning map and regs done that are completely consistent with the Future Land Use Map. That way the neighborhoods are protected from all this crap. New developments will have to focus on the downtown and only the major transit corridors where the buses go up and down. Period.
Finch wants to turn Civil Service into a Civil Cervix!
My apologies if I offended anyone.
Why is the ferry better Downtown over the East End and vice versa?
The Port Jefferson Ferry is better placed downtown, where the rest of the mass transportation is located. The train station, which services Amtrak and Metro North, is in downtown Bridgeport. The bus terminal, which services cross country and interstate in addition to the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority, is located in downtown Bridgeport. All of these transportation options are located on Water Street, within four blocks, as is a parking garage.
Ralph Jacobs, the city’s personnel director in one of his first reports about the Bridgeport Civil Service wrote a historical report concerning both the police chief and fire chief and provisional appointments and the problems of his office. It is a must-read report. It also deals with the budget for civil service and testing, how the mayor and the city council attempt to have a say in the budget for civil service, lawsuits and much more.
“Bridgeport Now”
The city’s only live weekly TV call-in show, providing a outreach the community. Tuesday Aug 4 at 8pm, ch 77.
Among other things, we will be discussing the Master Plan and comments the city council makes tonight.
In particular, I will also be discussing the fate of a section of Main Street from Savoy to Jewett, which I filmed yesterday after discussing issues with some residents.
Fardy aka TC how you doing my friend any updates on your race? 1 month and change left until the 138th district goes to the polls and lets their voice be heard. I am following this race closely because if Barney and Fardy win this will be a good sign in every district that change can happen. Idk what turnout will look like but I say about 170 at Hooker and 250 at JFK and if it is a decent turnout at JFK you might just get 300 if you are lucky. Total turnout is from 420 to 500. 500 is if you are lucky. The lower the turnout the better for the incumbents. Higher turnout will equal a Barney and Fardy win.
What about the 130th? Marty McCarthy on the City Council?! Make mine DiGiorno, please.
Donj; Things are going along well. Ann and I have qualified for the primary with the right amount of signatures. Our signs are in and our week before the election literature is in. We are still walking the district hitting some areas more than once; reception is excellent. We are still a grass-roots operation and have not taken any monies from anyone. Financed our own campaign. In the end we owe no one but the people in our district. Thanks a lot for the interest and the comments.
The Bridgeport Kid
Well there is no action in my district the 130th. Idk who just made him boss but that’s another story. I know him because I support his pizza store from time to time. He is a good guy and makes an honest living. I would like it if we had a primary but I would have voted for him anyway but what about the people who have different beliefs than me? They should have the right to a different candidate in all fairness. The Bridgeport Kid do you have a problem with him?
I don’t have a problem, per se. His candidacy stirs up my cynicism, however. I don’t know that he’s motivated by altruism, to be frank. Is Mr. McCarthy truly civic-minded, or will he prove to be ineffective because of the individuals sponsoring his candidacy?
If I’m not mistaken, it is the rule of 1, but in my experience the exam can be oral. Examiners might be politically influenced. Bridgeport being Bridgeport, that’s enough room for the “the fix” to get in. Going to the rule of 3 just widens this room a bit.
Mr. Reaper, word plays on names may make you look clever, but they also show that you can’t refute what she says. Otherwise you’d do so, right? When I read her posts I learn something.
You can too.
Nowadays a developer can take money from literally anywhere, and apply it to projects literally anywhere. He or she has enough problems already. Why should they invest in a place that:
May have a sub-par legislative delegation; (His staff has read Connecticut magazine.)
Has a working harbor, and wants to use that Harbor as a focus for development, but abolishes it’s port authority just to get rid of the director; (Gee that’s odd. Maybe there are other places where the government agencies I will deal with actually cooperate!);
Has found that it’s vaunted Master Plan was possibly never actually approved / put in place / whatever; So a competing–or even detracting project (let’s say an asphalt plant) might go in next to his development, in 5 years–even if it violates the Master Plan. That is when his project hopes to have a positive cash flow, by the way.
Developer to City “It is an interesting project, but I’m sorry to say we don’t have the wherewithal to pursue it”
A highly placed member of the DTC criticized me for writing some less-than-flattering things about Auden Grogins, specifically that one of her primary objectives is an appointment to the superior court bench (maybe she wants the seat on Lafayette Boulevard recently vacated by the Honorable Alan H. Nevas’s retirement). “She was responsible for half your income last year,” he snarled. (not a little exaggeration.)
I asked what Ms. Grogins has accomplished for the city. “No press release bullshit,” I said.
“Well, she’s made a lot of contacts … Beardsley Zoo is going to stay open … and so is that museum …”
Oh really? WHAT ABOUT THE FUCKING TAX RELIEF WE WERE PROMISED?! AIN’T THAT WHAT SHE CAMPAIGNED FOR???
The Bridgeport Kid
You’re on the money with that statement, will he be ineffective or will he be good. Do you know who is sponsoring his candidacy? Because I don’t have a clue who is. I always voted on facts before I vote for someone or I don’t vote at all in the race. Even though I know him that does not mean I will vote for him but what I know so far about the guy I like.
Couple of quick comments at the end of another long work day at the Meriden Courthouse and here at home … Capt. Charlie Coviello was thoughtful enough to call me over the weekend with a heads up about the city council meeting scheduled for earlier tonight on the Master Plan issue, but family commitments kept me away … my plate has been full lately … so on this issue, if forced to decide on the fly, I would rely on Nancy Hadley’s long standing, well presented, thoughtful, insightful and passionate perspective as the most prudent and beneficial to support Bridgeport’s short and long-term economic viability … and related to that discussion (somewhat) about economic viability for Bridgeport is the matter of the Bpt Public Library … I’m surprised that I haven’t received a phone call nor have I seen a blog, a blurb from GrandmaMoses or Stillstanding here on OIB about the Black Rock branch being closed down today and for the foreseeable future … due to a lack of a certificate of occupancy from the City’s building code people???
This is the long awaited and much vaunted opening to benefit the neighborhood and city residents … a few months ago, I made a quip for the CT Post that Black Rock would open for a ribbon cutting ceremony and then close for lack of funding the next day. Today, it closed for lack of a certificate of occupancy. More to come … but in my recent research and search (since July 8) for answers to the library’s on-going list of public woes, there appears to be a lack of interest in these matters from most city residents … am I out of touch from the East Side? Somebody say something. Say it ain’t so! Tell me the library and library services, like twenty brand new computers at Black Rock, now in lockdown, are important … to you, to your children, to the city …