In a freedom of information request to City Attorney Mark Anastasi, former City Councilman Bob “Troll” Walsh, a supporter of State Senate candidate Ed Gomes, wants to know if attorney Ed Farrow who last week broke a State Senate nomination tie on behalf of his client Richard DeJesus has a financial relationship with the city. Farrow is also a member of the Police Commission. Gomes is contesting DeJesus’ endorsement with the state Democratic Party claiming Farrow had a duty to reveal the attorney-client relationship.
Walsh letter to Anastasi.
It has recently been brought to my attention that a member of the Bridgeport Police Commission is also listed as a qualified minority contractor on the city of Bridgeport’s website (see below).
And although the disclaimer states that his listing does not indicate that he has performed work for the city, it does in my opinion represent a free advertising service and a tacit endorsement of his work that is granted to a member of a city board and should be prohibited. However, that is a matter for the city’s Ethics Commission that I will address with them at a later date.
Since the listing includes the language “not confirmation that the companies listed … have provided goods and services to the City of Bridgeport” it does beg the question as to whether or not Mr. Farrow has been the recipient of such work.
Therefore, pursuant to Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act, I am requesting copies of any checks, remittance advise or other documentation relative to payments made to Attorney Edwin Farrow, the Farrow Law Office, Edwin Farrow Esq, Edwin Farrow or any other variation of the same individual or entity from the City of Bridgeport, the Bridgeport Board of Education, Water Pollution Control Authority, Bridgeport Port Authority or any other city government entity. This should include payment for services provided, reimbursement of expenses, payments made to clients for whom Mr. Farrow is the trustee, reimbursement of taxes for himself or clients, etc.
I also request copies of any contracts or other legal documents with Mr. Farrow or his law practice for proposed or completed legal work.
Any such documentation or questions or questions concerning this request should be directed to my work address…
The following information was obtained from the City of Bridgeport website. The actual link to the website is noted below:
CITY OF BRIDGEPORT MBE VENDOR/CONTRACTOR LIST
Small & Minority Business Enterprises
Vendor List (Non Construction)
The information in this database was compiled through research of numerous websites and search engines. This database is not confirmation that the companies listed are a legally certified S/MBE and/or have provided goods and services to the City of Bridgeport
Section 16 Legal
#16 – LEGAL SERVICES
MBE/WBE-AA
Farrow Law Office
Farrow Edwin
211 State Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203)362-2126
legal; real estate closing; foreclosure prevention
lol. Yeah, good luck with this request. Anastasi will come up with an “opinion” why this info is not available under the FOI act, guaranteed.
They have four days to respond. Write the letter complaint now, get ready to mail it on the fifth day, tell them the City did not respond. The FOI Commission “Will” call you, or the City, and put pressure on them to respond. I’ve done it this way many times. The City usually ignores and makes excuses, but stay ready with more letters, and soon you’ll all be going up to Hartford, where you will win everything you need!
BARF, thanks. I know you know how to get things from that office because you’ve had great success. They will drag their feet but you have to stay on them.
Good catch, Bob.
I have never seen the posting of vendors of legal services previously. If the City has not used his services, why list a professional on a City site? It gives a sense of endorsement to the reader.
If the City has used his services, have they performed an evaluation that might lead them to endorse? I guess it is possible, but the City is not known for evaluation of employees, board and commission members, so why would they so act in this area? It is a stretch, or so it seems. Time will tell.
Ask why there are expired term members on the police commission and if there are, Why and since they have “expired” can they vote and do we count the votes of the “dead” as in EXPIRED. Why.
Unfortunately, because the current language allows the Mayor this latitude. He has stretched it beyond credibility. We have no idea whether folks serving are trained, evaluated in any manner, whether they have personally received ethical training, ever or at least recently, etc.
Before the expiry of a term, the public would be better served if the Mayor reviewed the behavior and appointed people to a full term. Less opportunity for the Mayor to control all input on a Board or Commission if the appointee is able to record each vote (after the initial term expires) without the thought that I will now be terminated. Does the Mayor need that much control, or does he just enjoy it, because he is not really a good manager of people? Time will tell.
Don’t worry, BR. I’ll be rockin’ on that issue soon enough.
This is an example of the institutional corruption Torres talked about but couldn’t figure out what he could do about it.
Let’s see, maybe he could have tried to pass an ordinance that would bar members of boards and commissions from serving as contractors to the city. Or maybe he could have required full disclosure of any money paid to board members and their immediate family.
Maybe he could have simply submitted an ordinance to begin discussion of this issue. But if Rick wants to do something about institutional corruption, well it will have to start with him doing something.
As a member of the Miscellaneous Matters Committee, I am refusing to vote in favor of any nominees for any commissions who are brought forward at this time. The system is flawed. It is not based on merit. It is based on who can be told what to do. I have witnessed first-hand qualified people are overlooked for important commissions and people who are not qualified who come across as likable are appointed instead who do what they are told, who are installed by Finch and company. It is an unfortunate position to be in because I don’t necessarily hold anything personal against the nominees.
This latest incident with Attorney Farrow would uphold my view.
Bob, just a suggestion. If and when a nominee is recommended for a Board or Commission, spend as much time necessary, vetting, grilling and asking questions whether you feel they’re necessary or not. If other members of the council, either in committee or from the council floor try to dismiss you, hold your own, ignore them because you can’t be stopped for doing your job. You’re an elected official and it’s your right. Don’t remain silent because if you do, the system will continue to perpetuate itself. Ask how and by whom they were recommended. Ask if they, or members of their families are in any way associated with the City, and if so, in what capacity. Just don’t remain silent, that’s what they want you to do.
Good advice. It is difficult given the structure and legalities of Robert’s Rules of Order. That is why this blog is useful in that it lends itself to freedom of speech. All those questions I do ask in the forums provided.
For what it’s worth. What we need are more people who want to participate in government, run for Council in all areas of the City, young people, smart people.
Bob. You can work within the Council Rules of Order. You will be stifled by McCarthy, but you can call attention to points. I will send you an example I shared with Rick Torres. Use your official city e-mail?
Tom, please do.
Boy, here’s a blatant example of the pot calling the kettle black.
Out of curiosity, I did an on-line search of the Secretary of the State business filings. I searched for ‘Premier Construction,’ the name of the business listed for Marshan Coleman, the celebrity spokesperson for the ministry of public enlightenment and propaganda who says “Bridgeport is getting better every day.” No listing.
Good for you. I can’t help but wonder if there is anything at all honest in the Finch administration.
Tom, enlighten me.
Bob,
Thank you for putting up a fight and not going gently into the night. Question for you: I thought the City Council and its committees were governed by their own rule book? What is the truth of the situation? What are the sticking points that cause you problems about the current rules? Time will tell.
JML, you’re correct. Bob, you hold on to your microphone and speak until you have no more to say. No one can cut you off or stop you from speaking. That goes for committee meetings also. Don’t be intimidated by anyone, including the Mayor. You were elected to your position as was the rest of them. Your voice reflects the people living in your district, I’m one of them. Let me know if anyone council-bullies you, I’ll be at that public speaking portion of the meeting in a heartbeat, and I’ll call them by name.
JML, Robert’s Rules state you have to be recognized by the chair to speak. I speak, then someone else gives a sermon when they speak. And the sermons never end. So in the end everyone gets to speak. The problem is we need more people in these seats who don’t rubber stamp the Mayor because if you do the math you see it is a game of numbers and a vote in the end. I do feel good giving the alternative view but without the votes it is not effective. Elections are the way to really change things.
LP: As for researching appointments, we are given a one-page description of the person. The committee rubber stamps it. I do not abide by this and have been public in my statements. Take a hypothetical case where say a school crossing guard who has attended some community meetings and is susceptible to flattery from City staff, is appointed to, say, the Harbor Commission over someone well-educated, experienced, dedicated, whose family has owned a waterfront business for generations. So protesting gets you a lot of commentary about how great this person is. Lisa, doesn’t have to be a sex offender to not be qualified. I look at qualifications.
Bob, I truly know and understand the culture of the City Council as it is now, and I can imagine how difficult and frustrating it is for the very few who try to do the right thing. Take a page from Bob Walsh, Andre Baker and Ed Gomes. I was a part of that minority group before I left. Don’t give up, make sure your votes and opinions are on record. You already know what the rest will do, but do what you have to. On the rare occasion I find myself at a Council meeting, it’s like witnessing something from a bad fiction novel.
Lisa,
The bad fiction novel you reference has parts that would be hilarious except you realize these men and women are my neighbors, they have been elected by the voters of Bridgeport who expected better of them than they are delivering, but where are the voters? Where is the training? Where is the oversight, the ‘loyal opposition’ and the voice of the public when it sees the collective absurdity in evidence too often? Time will tell.
I think someone should show why Anastasi never goes away.
Park City, that answer is simple. He works at the pleasure of Bill Finch, he makes up “opinions” over and over again to support whatever Bill wants. In other words, he’s a puppet, like McCarthy and others.