Okay weekend warriors, we have some names in the news. City Public Works employee Tony DePrimo goes back to work on Monday following a Labor Relations Department investigation into allegations about abuse of overtime. Tony, who’s taken his licks on the blog without return fire, posted about his return on my previous commentary. There are some personality issues at play here that’ve fostered some heated exchanges.
Have you guys had enough of Joe Lieberman’s whining? He’s been in constant petulant mode since he lost the Democratic primary two years ago, and his every move seems determined to stick up a middle finger to those who dared to vote him out of office. Instead of being grateful for his reelection as an independent, it seems like he’s laying the groundwork for an outright switch to the Republican Party. Yes, Shoeless Joe needs new socks. How about a pair of dyed-in-the-wool Republican?
Jim Himes, challenging incumbent Republican Chris Shays, has a new campaign manager. Say hello to Dana Houle. The new head of Team Himes is a contributing editor at Daily Kos, the preeminent lefty blog on the planet. He will try to find traction with two months left in the campaign. Shays has a double-digit lead in the polls, but there’s plenty of time to make up ground.
Speaking of Himes versus Shays I have those 2004 presidential-year numbers that have been requested, when Democrat Diane Farrell took the city 23,760 to Shays’ 9946. That’s a nice plurality, but Himes will need something closer to a 20k plurality if he’s going to defeat the last remaining New England Republican in the House of Representatives. The good news for Himes is the substantial increase in city voter registration this cycle.
Team Shays is trying to improve upon the 30 percent of the vote he received in the city in 2004. To compare, the Dem team of Kerry/Edwards defeated Bush/Cheney in the city 26,280 to 10,326.
Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District covers Greenwich to Bridgeport along the shore and includes inland Republican towns such as Redding, Ridgefield, Easton, Trumbull and Monroe. It also includes Naugatuck Valley towns such as Oxford and Shelton. The one precinct in 2004 where Shays ran close was Black Rock, his home school. See city precinct numbers from 2004 below. Note the multiple listings of some voting places is because precincts are divided by state assembly district.
Good gravy, Sarah Palin, I take back everything I said about you. All of it. Every word. Now I realize why John McCain put you on the ticket. The red meat you dished out Wednesday night has its advantages, in more ways than one.
Any one catch McCain’s speech Thursday night?
Don’cha just love these two pictures of “Sarah?”
Lennie, get a grip. Okay, okay, just when I thought we’d have a little fun with some Sarah photo exclusives, my cousin, who happens to be an expert in identifying phony photos, let the air out of my sails. “They’re fakes, Lennie.” But why should that stop us from showing you the phony versus the real thing? I’ll let you decide. Wanna pull the trigger?
The following three pictures are real. A little Photoshop magic, and you too can try to embarass your favorite candidate.
Cops, Finch cool off
These aren’t happy times for Mayor Bill Finch and members of the police union seeking a pay increase. A few weeks ago, picketing the mayor’s golf charity event, members hurled unspeakable insults in front of children at the mayor which did nothing to help their bargaining position. They’ve decided to take a break. See Finch news release below:
City, Police Union Call for “Cooling Off” Period
Negotiations to Resume
Mayor Finch and the city’s Police Union today announce they have entered into a “cooling off” period. A specific date had not been set, but good-faith negotiations could resume as early as next week.
The city and the department’s union have been at odds for the past few months in light of the city’s financial difficulties and the recent call for a reduction in police overtime.
“The city is eager to move these negotiations forward while being respectful of the officers’ needs. Resuming discussions is in the best interests of the citizens of the city, and for all parties involved, in order to reach a resolution as soon as possible,” said Mayor Finch.
The city’s police union president Frank Cuccaro said, “The police union is looking forward to sitting down at the table with the city and moving in the right direction.”
What’s up at Himes HQ?
Is there a staff shakeup in Jim Himes’ congressional campaign? Word is, with all the money being pumped into the race from Washington, the outsiders aren’t thrilled with how the insiders are running the show. In addition, on a local level, a number of Bridgeport Democratic political operatives are concerned the Himes’ campaign isn’t doing more to bring them in. A bunch of them have complained to Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa that there’s not enough effort to juice a huge turnout for Barack Obama that could carry in Himes. Local operatives always whine, no matter what the situation. You aren’t doing this. You aren’t doing that. Translation: pay me.
I don’t miss those times when every gypsy, tramp and freeloader came to me for a payday. I’ve placed calls to the Himes’ campaign to ask, but no official word. Hopefully, if there’s a change, Himes’ campaign manager Maura Keaney will stay on board in some capacity. She’s worked hard trying to get to know all the players. Staff shakeups, on this level, are not unusual, especially when a race is winnable. Dems believe if they’re ever going to take out 21-year incumbent Chris Shays, this is the year.
School Progress
The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition conducted a press conference Thursday to announce major improvements in several city schools. BCAC does a nice job as a watchdog for education issues. Staff generally doesn’t sugar coat stuff. See results of a BCAC study in a press release below:
Five Bridgeport Schools Rise to the Challenge
Schools make substantial academic gains despite budget constraints
Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) has released its latest report that identifies the five Bridgeport schools that overcame tremendous hurdles to record substantial achievement gains over the last five years. The report also looks at their strategies for success.
Marilyn Ondrasik, Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition Executive Director, released the report, “Five Bridgeport Schools Rise to the Challenge,” today. “Despite the challenges of huge budget cuts, large class sizes, lack of textbooks and instructional supplies, five schools excelled,” Ondrasik said. “They are BCAC’s Honor Roll of schools.”
The five schools are Columbus, Beardsley, Hall, Hallen, and Winthrop. Two other schools, Read and Roosevelt, received honorable mention for notable improvement. This report represents the first of its kind for Bridgeport Public Schools.
“We have high expectations for every student,” said School Superintendent John J. Ramos, Sr., at the press conference held jointly by the Board of Education and Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition. “Like most urban districts we have our share of challenges, but we are pleased that BCAC’s report shines a light on what is possible with a committed effort by our administrators, teachers, parents/guardians and supporting community, who are truly committed to educating our children.”
BCAC used a rigorous methodology to measure academic gains. It analyzed CMT and CAPT test scores over five years from the 2002 03 to the 2006 07 school year.
“We focused on schools with the greatest improvement rather than the highest performing schools,” said Marge Hiller, Co Chair of the Task Force and Director of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund. “We thought the examples of schools with substantial improvement would have more meaning and show that all schools can make such significant improvements. In any one year, test scores can go up or down, but BCAC wanted to highlight those schools that showed substantial and sustained improvement.”
The schools on BCAC’s Honor Roll ranked first, second, or third of all schools in the study in improvement on CMT scores in both reading and math for all students or a racial subgroup of students.
“Teamwork proved to be a critical and common element in the five schools,” said Hernan Illingworth, District PAC President and BCAC Task Force Co Chair. “Raising student proficiency takes the coordinated effort of principals, teachers, and students working with parents and the community. No school can make these kinds of gains without teamwork.”
Besides teamwork and data teams, BCAC found that class size, school readiness, math and literacy coaches, and availability of tutors were among factors that made a difference in these schools’ success.
“Each of these five schools has strong data teams that analyze student assessments and test scores to monitor student performance and shape teaching strategies,” Illingworth said.
What other factors created success? At the Honor Roll schools, students and parents shared responsibility with teachers and administrators, and learning was fun. Community partnerships helped improve student achievement. All five schools have community partnerships with businesses, churches, civic organizations, hospitals or universities.
Key elements of the astounding improvement in the Honor Roll schools include:
o Two schools showed an increase of 40% MORE of their students reaching Proficiency and above over the five years.
o Two schools showed a decrease of more than 30% of their students in the lowest performing category, Below Basic.
o One school improved its test scores for African American students so much that no African American student scored at the lowest performing level, Below Basic, in 4th grade math.
o Two schools showed improvements for their African American students that exceeded the state requirements for 2006 07.
o And while national data shows 8th grade a particularly challenging time for students, one school showed significant improvement for its 8th grade Latino students.
Funding for this report came from the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund and The Perrin Family Foundation.
This report follows another education report, “Denied, Delayed, Diverted: Problems with Funding School Repair Projects in Bridgeport,” from one year ago. That report found serious problems with the city approval and funding process for school repair projects that resulted in deteriorating Bridgeport schools. The Mayor and the Board of Education made changes this year to address concerns identified in BCAC’s report.
The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition is a coalition of organizations, parents, and concerned individuals committed to improving the well-being of Bridgeport’s children through research, advocacy, community education and mobilization. The Task Force has worked for many years to publicize and address inequities in state funding for education distributed to Connecticut’s cities and towns.
John McCain didn’t enlist a running mate, he hired himself an attack dog from Alaska leading a sled over a cliff. Tacky, surly, mean, nasty and strident and spewing cheap one-liners off a teleprompter, Sarah Palin pandered to the votes Republicans already have and did nothing to address concerns that she can ably serve as commander-in-chief in place of the oldest nominee in presidential history.
Republicans loved the speech. I’ll give her this, she looked confident in the most important speech of her life. Time will tell, as Palin hits the campaign trail for unrehearsed interviews with reporters, how she’ll do. I spoke to Congressman Christopher Shays this morning and he “loved” the speech. Shays is attending the Republican National Convention.
“She’s not a Washington insider,” Shays said. ”Frankly, I love that part of her. She said I’m not trying to please you the media. That’s not my job…She is a change agent. No one can deny that. She took on the most powerful senator in Congress…She’s tough and she brings change…John McCain loves people like that. So do I.”
Musto’s Family Support
Democratic State Senate candidate Anthony Musto has received good news from the Working Families party. Marilyn Moore, whom Musto defeated in the August primary, has decided not to accept the line in November. The line will now be occupied by Musto. Any time a candidate’s name appears more than once is a plus, and in Musto’s case it could mean hundreds of additional votes, depending on the turnout. Working Families, a coalition of unions and progressives, has also endorsed Bridgeport state representatives Chris Caruso, Jack Hennessy, Andres Ayala and Bob Keeley, defeated by Auden Grogins in August. No word yet on whether Keeley will go for it. Third-party candidate lines generally receive a protest vote against the major parties. Musto is challenging Republican incumbent Rob Russo in the multi-community district.
The Fund Balance
Sometimes, City Council meetings feature the blind leading the blind. Tuesday night was no different. First: background.
When Joe Ganim was elected mayor in 1991, he inherited a city that was literally in bankruptcy court and a fund balance — the test of fiscal stability — in the crapper. In about 10 years, he built it up to more than $40 million. It is now below $10 million. Wall Street looks closely at fund balance as a measure of fiscal soundness and assigning bond rating to allow borrowing for city improvements.
When revaluation hit in the last years of the Ganim administration, the fund balance was raided to keep taxes down and it has only gotten worse. Mayor Bill Finch Tuesday night asked the City Council to ratify a policy — not an ordinance — that sets aside eight percent of the budget for fund balance. It’s impossible to achieve in the short term. What gives? Once or twice a year, city officials meet with Wall Street bond rating agencies to make their case to receive the best possible bond rating. An improved rate can save the city millions. The mayor can say to Wall Street, see, the City Council is totally behind me to rebuild the fund balance. Yes, until the next budget cycle when the city cannot deliver the promise without a major tax increase, and loses credibility with Wall Street. Keep in mind that all members of the City Council are up for reelection next year. The last thing they want is a tax increase.
The City Council voted to approve the policy the other night. Understand that the council voted on policy and not ordinance. It’s not binding. See Finch press release below:
Mayor Lauds Council Approval of Undesignated Fund Balance Policy
City’s fund balance will be built up to maintain fiscal stability
BRIDGEPORT, CT (Sept. 3, 2008) - Mayor Bill Finch today lauded the City Council’s action in approving the Undesignated Fund Balance Policy plan for the city at Tuesday night’s City Council Meeting. The new policy was proposed in June and is meant to build up and maintain sufficient funds in the City’s fund balance at all times.
“As Mayor, I recognize the vital importance of maintaining the City’s Undesignated Fund Balance at an appropriate minimum level (8% of total operating budget) in order to ensure the City’s fiscal integrity and to guarantee the City’s access to the bond market at favorable rates,” said Mayor Finch.
A healthy fund balance is vital to a city’s economic wellbeing. The fund balance exists in case of a financial emergency and it increases the city’s bond rating. Without a healthy bond rating, Bridgeport will be unable to bond for significant funds for many important projects such as new schools and park revitalization.
“The adoption by the City Council last evening of our newly drafted Undesignated Fund Balance Policy is a major milestone in my Administration’s efforts to preserve and enhance the City’s financial condition. This policy will provide the structure necessary to compel City government to annually appropriate monies to replenish the fund balance to levels necessary to satisfy the 8% minimum level established by the policy. I commend Chief Financial Officer Michael Feeney and the City Council for their support in implementing this pro-active measure, which will be instrumental in securing for Bridgeport a truly sound and stable fiscal future,” he added.
Pelosi Please
In case you have a few bucks floating around you can schmooze with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who’s coming to the area to support Jim Himes. I’ve decided to beg Himes’ Campaign Manager Maura Keaney for a press invite to the event. I want to do a Pol Pod with Pelosi if only to say Pelosi’s in the Pol Pod. I love the ring of that. C’Mon, Maura, please invite me. I promise to be nice to Jim and the rest of the campaign. I promise. I promise. And no more wisecracks about Greenwich. I like Greenwich. I’ll bring my own food. (I love to hear myself beg.) Himes press release below:
Special Event for Jim Himes with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi | August 13th, 2008
The Honorable William Finch - CT Democratic Party Chair Nancy DiNardo - The Honorable Dannel Malloy
John McClutchy - The Honorable Andrew McDonald - (Host committee in formation)
cordially invite you to a special event with
Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi
To benefit
Jim Himes
Saturday, September 13th, 2008
Brunch with Speaker Nancy Pelosi - 11:00am*
Reception - following brunch
(* approximate time)
Home of Rajat and Anita Gupta
Westport, Connecticut
Contribution Levels:
Benefactor: Raise $10,000 (Brunch and Reception)
Sponsor: Raise $5,000 (Brunch and Reception)
Brunch Guest: Write or Raise $2300 (Brunch and Reception)
Guest: $250 per person (Reception only)
To RSVP by phone or email, or for additional information: please contact Patrick Pavone at (203) 286-8916 or Patrick@himesforcongress.com
This is just too good to pass up. Uncle Joe Lieberman serenading Barack Obama two years ago with Yiddish superlatives becoming of one Dem to another. Oh, I forgot, someone stick a needle in my eye, Jumpin’ Joe is no longer a Dem, thus his convention fondling of John “I-vote-with-George-Bush-90-percent-of-the-time” McCain.
“He is a blessing to the United States Senate, to America, and to our shared hopes for better, safer tomorrows for all our families.” Joe wasn’t talking about McCain. Gee, all of a sudden in Joe’s eyes Barack is a schmuck, judging from Joe’s GOP prattle Tuesday night. Yahooy, serve this man a Philly steak. Check this out:
Machiavelli’s Protocol
Okay, so I’m getting phone calls and emails from folks asking why I’m being soft on Mayor Bill Finch as his budget implodes. “He’s responsible for this, Lennie, what’s wrong with you.” Yup, he’s the man in charge and things don’t look so good so it had me wondering what would Machiavelli say about all this. What’s the right way and wrong way to inflict layoffs?
This quote is from The Prince, a letter Niccolò Machiavelli wrote to Lorenzo De’ Medici in 1513.
“So it should be noted that when he seizes a state the new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once for all, and not have to renew them every day, and in that way he will be able to set men’s minds at rest and win them over to him when he confers benefits. Whoever acts otherwise, either through timidity or bad advice, is always forced to have the knife ready in his hand and he can never depend on his subjects because they, suffering fresh and continuous violence, can never feel secure with regard to him. Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better. Above all, a prince must live with his subjects in such a way that no development, either favourable or adverse, makes him vary his conduct. For, when adversity brings the need for it, there is no time to inflict harm; and the favours he may confer are profitless, because they are seen as being forced, and so they earn no thanks.” (Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince. 1513. Trans. George Bull, Penguin, 1981. p. 66.)
There, now, aren’t you reassured?
Rockin’ With Russo
Want to chat with State Senator Rob Russo? See Russo news release below:
Senator Russo to Hold Office Hours Saturday in Bridgeport
Encourages Constituents to Inquire about Charter Oak Health and State Energy Assistance Programs
HARTFORD - State Senator Robert D. Russo (R-Bridgeport) will hold office hours this Saturday September 6th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the 1st floor lounge of the Burroughs Community Center located at 2470 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport. Constituents will have an opportunity to meet with Senator Russo to discuss any issues pertaining to state government.
Senator Russo said he has fielded a number of questions in recent weeks about Governor Rell’s Charter Oak Health Plan and the new thresholds the state has established for providing energy assistance this winter. He said he will provide application forms and assistance to anyone seeking information about these programs.
“In this economy, I hope people are taking advantage of all the help that is available to them. If you are a recent graduate, an employee of a small business, an early retiree, or someone between jobs, then the Charter Oak Health Plan may be an affordable health insurance option. I encourage anyone who fits one of those descriptions to stop in on Saturday and learn more,” said Senator Russo. “We will also provide information and assistance to people who want to apply for statewide fuel assistance programs and conservation tax breaks that can help reduce energy costs this winter.”
Senator Russo encouraged people to visit www.senaterepublicans.ct.gov/energy to learn more about state and federal home heating assistance programs and tax breaks they may qualify for.
A feather-flying game of chicken is playing out between Mayor Bill Finch and city unions, particularly the police union, and the question is which one will be the first to lay an egg.
Cops, in general, don’t like anyone getting in their face, and this mayor — at least when it comes to the cops, so far — is living up to his words from several months ago that there’s a new sheriff in town.
The city budget is on the verge of blowing several pistons and if something isn’t done soon a whole lot of oil will be spewing from city departments. City finances haven’t been this shaky since 1991 when Mayor Joe Ganim managed to keep the levee from breaking on the heels of his predecessor Mary Moran’s federal bankruptcy filing, at the height of a catastrophic New England recession that resulted in institutional banks such as Citytrust folding. No mayor in the city’s history, other than Ganim, has secured the kind of union concessions that Finch must achieve to keep the city from financial meltdown.
The economy sucks, police overtime has gone bonkers and the mayor is looking at a major deficit just two months into the budget year following last year’s budget that was roughly $20 million in the tank, according to city officials. Every month that passes — without a definitive resolution — makes closing the budget gap that much more unreachable.
We have a bunch of accountants that read OIB. I hope they weigh in.
Finch is telling the unions, in general, I’ll give you job security in exchange for major concessions including a zero percent pay raise and one week unpaid furloughs. The police union, in particular, has said take a walk off the Pleasure Beach Bridge.
Which side will blink? Hard to say. It comes down to this: does the mayor have the stomach to actually lay off cops? It may take a wave of layoffs in some form for union leadership to appreciate the bomb ticking in the budget.
The mayor needs to set an example in his own shop, you say. Yes, but the mayor is down to maybe 50 discretionary appointments in government, hardly enough to make a dent under the circumstances. And he has offered to give up a week of his own pay to set that example.
Two Months Away
Two months before the general election, what’s hot, what’s not? Certainly Republican Congressman Chris Shays trying to fend off Jim Himes and Republican State Senator Rob Russo’s face-off with Anthony Musto are two of the highest profile local races. What else you hearing? Any potential upsets out there?
What A Hoot
Mo and I spent more than two hours at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on Monday and the place was jammed with thousands of visitors. Shit, we stood in line for 15 minutes to pay admission and that’s okay by me. I love seeing a mix of suburbanites and city residents fill the zoo and Beardsley Park. We saw the last showing of the bird exhibit and it was a hoot. Damn owl almost plucked my eye out. And, then, there was the parrot singing Old McDonald’s Farm. EEEEEEEEE! Zoo Director Gregg Dancho and company have built a nice tourist attraction. Pack up the kids, take them to the zoo.
Hey, what’s up for the next couple of days? Can you believe September’s here?
I’m still fighting woodpeckers, bats, wasps and rodents, although my cat Stinky’s pretty good at mauling mice. Speaking of shrews (okay, I know that’s a bit much) but John McCain’s selection of the ice lady from Alaska reminds me of the golfer trying to drive the green on a short, tantalizing par four surrounded by water and sand traps. It’s one of those risk-reward shots. We’ll see how ice baby does on the stump and in her debate against Joe Biden. So far easy-on-the eyes Sarah Palin looks pretty good on her feet. I’m wondering how she responds when asked who’s the leader of Pakistan. Something tells me she’s digesting white papers on international leaders while breastfeeding her baby.
If you haven’t, put CT Post Managing Editor Michael Daly’s feature on Bridgeport-born John Mayer on your long weekend reading list. It’s a keeper. Poor John stepped into Father Daly’s confessional to puke up life after Jennifer Aniston. I love Mayer’s music, but as I told Mikey, the deeply sensitive guitar wizard needs to spend time with a mustachioed Sicilian mountain woman or be interrogated by six stone-faced federal agents to gain some perspective. Yes, my wife Mo just reminded me that I’m being mean to one of my favorite performers because he refuses my interview requests. Gravity…
Don’t forget, mark your calendars, September 25, 5:30 p.m., Captain’s Cove Seaport, for our next OIB blog party. Several candidates have already committed their attendance. First cocktail on OIB, plus we’ll have munchies. We’re setting up a special mud-wrestling tub in case Cougie and Yahooy show up.
I’m a few days late on the following press releases but they’re worthy reads. The first is from Mayor Finch, second from Senate Republicans.
Mayor Bill Finch today announced that the city’s School Building Committee has unanimously approved the site design plans for Bridgeport’s fourth high school, an inter-district magnet school with a science focus. The site of the new high school will be in Fairchild Wheeler Park on the Bridgeport-Trumbull town lines, adjacent to Route 25. “While I would prefer not to disturb any of our public park lands, there is no better way to decrease our carbon footprint and improve the earth’s ecology than to educate young people in a green environment with a curriculum focused on science,” said Mayor Finch.
The high school, to be designed by JCJ Architecture, would be a LEEDS building, meaning it will be built with the most environmentally sensitive materials and techniques, something Mayor Finch demanded from the architects. It will be three-stories high and will be designed to have minimal impact on the park; in fact this project will enable the city to open this currently inaccessible parkland for public use.
As an inter-district magnet school, up to 80 percent of the 1,500 students at the school will come from Bridgeport, while the remainder will come from Stratford, Easton, Monroe, Trumbull, and Fairfield.
New release from Senate Republicans
Senate Republicans Roll-Out Energy Awareness Campaign
Constituent Services to Include Local Energy Forums and New Web-Site
Hartford, CT - State Senate Republican Leaders John McKinney (R-Fairfield) and Len Fasano (R-North Haven) today announced the details of a new public awareness campaign to educate constituents about energy assistance programs and tax breaks that can help reduce the rising cost of home heating bills this winter.
The centerpiece of the awareness campaign is a new easy-to-use website, www.senaterepublicans.ct.gov/energy, that provides “one stop shopping” for information and application materials for the multitude of state and federal energy assistance programs and tax incentives available to Connecticut residents and businesses. In addition, members of the Senate Republican Caucus are hosting a series of Energy Forums at community centers throughout the state to discuss fuel assistance and conservation programs that can help consumers save money on their energy bills.
“The General Assembly recently expanded assistance programs and tax incentives to help people struggling with skyrocketing energy costs. But, that’s just the first half of the battle. Creating awareness for these programs and ensuring that qualified applicants get the assistance they need is even more important. What we have tried to create with this website, is a user-friendly resource that people can access to identify fuel assistance programs and tax breaks that may be available to them,” said Senator McKinney.
The Senate Republican Caucus has trained its staff to use the web-site to help constituents without Internet access get the answers they need.
The General Assembly passed a $44 million energy relief package that expands home heating assistance programs and energy conservation tax breaks for low and middle-income families and small businesses. Highlights of the new law include:
$8.5 million to Operation Fuel to help low income residents;
$5 million to Operation Fuel for expanded eligibility for heating assistance;
$7 million to conduct energy audits of homes;
$6.5 million to help cover heating bills for public schools;
$4 million to help income eligible elderly residents make payments on their utilities;
$3.5 million to help human service and public health non-profits (daycares, homeless centers, etc.) cover heating expenses;
$3 million to provide $500 rebates to families purchasing fuel efficient furnaces;
$2 million to weatherize low income families households; and
$2 million to increase eligibility and provide additional loans to families who make energy efficient improvements to their homes.
Under the new law, a family of four whose bank accounts and annual incomes total less than $94,000 may qualify to receive a one time benefit of up to $400 for heating their homes this winter. Families of four with incomes and bank accounts totaling less than $31,800 could receive a basic benefit of $635 under the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and may qualify for additional help in an emergency.
In addition to the new laws, the Senators highlighted several existing benefits constituents may not be aware of, including:
Low interest loans for homeowners and businesses to use renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind or fuel cells;
Loans for Connecticut residents of up to $25,000 to install energy efficient windows, roofs, siding, heating systems, insulation and more.
The Senate Republican Caucus has scheduled the following energy forum:
Sept. 12 11am Bridgeport-North End Senior Ctr. 20 Thorne Street
We have double Pol Pod action today featuring the two warriors in one of the most-watched congressional races in the country: 21-year incumbent Christopher Shays of Bridgeport, the last standing New England Republican in the House of Representatives, and Democratic opponent Jim Himes of Greenwich with his central campaign office in Bridgeport.
Bridgeport is the key to Shays’ survival and Himes’ arrival. The latest registration numbers coming from local election officials (thank you Linda and Pat for your help) show the city’s total registration nearing 64,000 voters and climbing, the majority on the Democratic side as a result of disgust with George Bush and inspiration from Barack Obama. That’s the highest registration figures for the city since the 1980s.
The city has roughly 41,300 Dems, 4,600 Republicans and 17,600 unaffiliated.
In 2004, the last presidential year, Bridgeport’s turnout was about 63 percent while most of the other communities in the congressional district that runs from Greenwich to Bridgeport and inland to towns such as Oxford, Trumbull, Monroe, Redding and Ridgefield, hit 85 to 90 percent.
Himes clearly will have Barack’s breeze at his back. His larger challenge is making sure that those new voters inspired by Obama don’t fill in his oval and his oval only. That is a historical tendency with thousands of voters in a presidential election. There’s always a drop-off from the president to the next in line. The Himes campaign must educate Barack voters not to forget him.
Shays, on the other hand, has a different task in the city. He knows he cannot win Bridgeport, but he also knows voters are coming out. The goal: stay as close as possible. That means there’s a premium on hammering home a message that resonates with city voters. Translation: I live here, own property here, pay taxes here. I understand your pain.
My sense is if Shays secures above 35 percent of the vote in Bridgeport he survives because his standing is still strong in the suburban Republican strongholds.
Either way, the dynamics suggest this will be a close race. I conducted interviews with both Shays (in the morning) and Himes (in the afternoon) on Thursday. Click here to listen.
Chris Shays: {running time: 11:14}
Jim Himes: {running time: 7:19}
Mac’s Rocky Mountain Report
City Council President Tom McCarthy had one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences this week taking in the Democratic National Convention. To paraphrase Joe Walsh: bases are loaded and Bush is at bat…time to change the batter. Mac filed this report shortly before Barack Obama delivered his historic acceptance speech.
I am writing from the field of Invesco Field aka Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The stadium is full of 80,000 plus energetic Democrats. The first three days of the Democratic National Convention were held at the Pepsi Center. The Pepsi Center is a little bigger than the Arena at Harbor Yard. It was packed all week and it was impossible to get in without credentials. Invesco Field is different because the Democratic Party gave out more than 50,000 tickets to anyone who wanted to come.
This is truly an open convention.
The energy in the stadium is tremendous. It is like a rock concert with everyone stomping their feet for the main event. Tonight’s main event is the political rockstar: Barack Obama. Al Gore spoke earlier. When he spoke it makes you remember how the 2000 election was stolen and how much better off we would be if Gore had been allowed to take office.
Getting back to the rock concert, so far the Black Eyed Peas, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder have performed. This is truly a one in a lifetime event and I am thrilled to be here. Vote Democrat!!!!!
Communications Director
Elaine Ficarra, a colleague of mine when we both worked for the predecessor paper of the Connecticut Post, has been hired to serve as spokesperson for Mayor Bill Finch. Elaine has lots of experience in corporate and cultural communications, and she knows much about the city. There was a vacancy in the position for a few months with the departure of Kaitlin Lesnick. Deputy Chief of Staff Ruben Felipe handled the responsibilities temporarily. Hey, Ruby, are you glad I won’t be annoying you as much? Elaine will earn $82K a year in the job. Keep your sense of humor, Elaine! See Finch news release below:
Mayor Bill Finch today announced that Elaine K. Ficarra will join his staff as communications director effective Sept. 2. She will oversee communications and serve as spokesperson for the mayor and other city departments.
Ficarra, who will replace Kaitlin Lesnick, who left in July to pursue other opportunities in Washington, D.C, has more than 25 years of experience in journalism, communications and marketing. She comes to the city from her position as director of marketing & public relations for the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven. While overseeing all facets of the festival’s marketing and public relations efforts she was instrumental in an extensive re-branding effort that aided in broadening the festival’s visibility and impact as one of the premier arts festivals in the Northeast.
“Elaine brings extensive experience in Bridgeport, which will be valuable to the city. She has worked for the city’s largest newspaper and one of the largest businesses in the city. That combination should aid our communications efforts and allow her to hit the ground running,” said Mayor Finch.
Ficarra is the former features editor of the Connecticut Post, where she worked from 1980 to 2001. Prior to her post in New Haven, she was manager of employee communications at Bridgeport-based People’s Bank.
She graduated from Northeastern University with a BA in Journalism. Ficarra lives in Milford with her husband, Wayne Ratzenberger.
