In a video appeal to low-income voters, Republican mayoral candidate Enrique Torres shares why he’s the best candidate for mayor. Torres, fluent in Spanish, makes a bi-lingual appeal in YouTube videos.
From the Torres campaign:
Latino Mayoral Candidate Enrique Torres, in two recent English and Spanish videos, addressed disenfranchised public housing residents and Bridgeport’s lower income citizens to share his plans for their success.
“The poor and struggling citizens of this city haven’t had a fair shake at the American dream,” said Torres. “This is because our people lack job opportunities. Worse, our city is riding on the backs of its citizens in the form of over-taxation. As a result, many have lost their homes due to tax foreclosures by the city’s voracious and inhumane tax collection policies. If elected, I will reform the way our city assesses and collects its taxes.”
Torres says that he will NOT cut state aid to low income residents. Instead, he will tirelessly lobby Hartford and Washington to amend welfare policy. He believes that, once a state aid recipient gains employment and their income increases, there should be a gradual reduction of benefits. Current policy removes all state aid once an individual exceeds a certain income threshold. This policy disincentives upward mobility. “As a society we should reward people’s efforts to improve their station in life, not punish them for making the effort,” said Torres.
Torres reminds viewers, “I grew up in public housing. After Bullard Havens, I worked my way through a fifth year of high school and was fortunate enough to attend college. After graduating, I was able to start my own small business and provide employment opportunities to youths who, like me, needed a chance to experience hard work, responsibility, and the means to provide for themselves. I believe the best thing we can do for our city is to bring jobs back.”
To demonstrate his commitment to job creation, if elected, Torres plans to kick-off his prosperity pledge by forfeiting his first year salary as Mayor. The mayor’s first year salary will instead be redirected to create upwards of fifty $2,500 business grants for new and existing Bridgeport business owners.
My guy Torres is smart and has heart. Imagine taking back the city from self-serving politicians who have had control for so long and putting focus on its residents. What is wrong with that?
We must not listen to the BS from the CHANGE HATERS. Good people of Bridgeport, WE GOT THIS!
Torres is full of it. He can’t help the poor with anything real, Torres states he will tirelessly lobby Hartford for the poor. Big fucking deal. Does Torres mean he will spend time in Hartford rather than doing his job in Bpt? Torres is full of it and will tell his people anything. Hey Rick, when is the ark leaving?
Torres is doing the right thing, Andy. He is taking his message to the people via the media. It is what any intelligent campaign does in the age of social media and YouTube. I give him credit. He is taking advantage of these free resources. Brilliant! Shhhhhhhhh.
Thanks Steve, and really I don’t expect someone who has lived a white, middle class privileged life to understand the life of a person born to immigrant parents, grew up in public housing, didn’t speak English as his first language and managed to raise a family of 5 children and start a business that employees Bridgeport people.
Jen, it’s true. I am living a comfortable middle class life now, but that wasn’t always the case. I won’t get into my story but it’s not pretty but you now what, we didn’t know we were poor back then. Are you saying because Torres is Cuban and he speaks the language, only he and those like him could understand?
I too am living a comfortable life, grew up poor on a farm in Indiana, also did not know we were poor, but still better off than a lot of people. And yes, because Rick grew up in public housing, did not speak English until 3rd grade, and being from Latino descent, we had a lot more doors open to us because of our gender and race. I believe in your career there was a very public legal issue with regard to hiring qualified firefighters who did not fit the description of typical firefighters of the day, way back when.
That is true, there was a court case and a long fight. I will tell you this, most or at least a lot of the kids I went to high school with lived in Father Panik Village, aka Yellow Mill Village, so being poor was not solely for Rick and his countrymen.
Steve, I have no problem with the media he uses. It’s the message that is bullshit.
Rick Torres, c’mon man, you have NO idea of the struggle of a black man, none whatsoever. Plus you have no say with State Aid.
Hey Ron,
Knock it off with that shit. Rick Torres knows the struggles of men. Color is not an issue for him (although it is for you). If you don’t think his policies are “Afrocentric” enough, you are more than welcome to begin fundraising for your mayoral run in 2019.
You people make it like Rick is the only one who had to struggle. Get over it. Many of us in the older generations had to struggle as there was very little government assistance. How long is Rick going to beat that drum? He has lived many prosperous years so I believe his poverty is a faded memory he likes to bring up when needed.
The struggle of men compared to the struggle of blacks, please, I know you need to go play your guitar because you know nothing about the struggle of blacks in Bridgeport or in America and if Rick Torres is comparing his life struggles to black and saying they’re the same then he does need Jesus in his life with that big lie.
Yeah, I play guitar. Have more than a little talent. What do you play, the radio?
Rick Torres is the one who is running to be the mayor of Black Rock.
Hey Kid,
Mackey is right and you are wrong.
If he wants to change the laws concerning public assistance, tell him to run for congress, OK?
Oh, wait a minute. He did try that and got his ass kicked, didn’t he?
Derek, Mackey was right on time when he said Ricky had no idea of the struggles of a black man. When you see Rick you don’t know whether he is Puerto Rican, Cuban, Spanish or a dark Caucasian, but when you look at a black man you know he is a black man, no ambiguities. Based on that he will not be treated like a black man. We have a saying among blacks, every Brother ain’t a Brother.
I wasn’t disagreeing with Ron, merely pointing out the election is about EVERYONE who lives here, not just one community.
DD, actually the term is “undercover Brother.”
I was born in the ‘hood, raised in the ‘hood, bought my house in the ‘hood, still live in the ‘hood and will probably retire in the ‘hood. Does that count for anything?
QD, I don’t know from which you speak, but I do know what black people say and that isn’t it. It further defies credulity to think you would know better than me on this subject. Just saying.
Maybe it’s an East Side thing? 🙂
First, and most important, voters really are not interested in the young Rick Torres. Next we will hear of Ganim’s life of misery and why he is the man who can relate to minorities in Bridgeport. A real plus for Rick is he speaks Spanish. The downside, he is Cuban and Republican. Most Puerto Ricans and Mexicans vote Democrat. 🙂 Look, I believe Foster is the best choice for Mayor. I am not going to knock Rick for trying to engage the minority communities. Give him credit for being a Republican who actually cares enough to court their vote.
I can imagine how tough it was as a child for Joe Ganim, growing up in Easton.
I’m beginning to think Rick is having a breakdown.