2026-10-05 - City Council

00:00Let's

00:16>> call the meeting to order.

00:22>> Ask the clerk to um call the role,

00:26please.

00:28Hold

00:40on.

00:41>> Hold on.

00:46>> There you go.

00:47>> I'm going to raise it up.

00:49>> I'm fine. Thank you. You look beautiful

00:52with your hair. got a list of

00:57>> I'm doing well for a poor man.

01:00[snorts]

01:18[laughter]

01:21Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

01:24>> Okay.

01:42Rich.

01:45>> Huh?

02:04All right, the clerk will call the role,

02:06please.

02:16>> He has to turn. Okay. Now,

02:18>> Nicole Nelson,

02:22>> Elmoy,

02:25>> Cruz,

02:27>> Spell

02:29Randa Smith,

02:31>> Hakeim Boy

02:32>> here,

02:32>> Janet Herren,

02:34Loretta Dubet

02:36>> here,

02:37>> Michelle Lions,

02:40Marian McGra,

02:43Richard Ortiz

02:44>> here,

02:45>> Alfredo Castillo,

02:49Frederick Hodes,

02:54Maria,

02:56>> Kayla Medina,

02:58>> Maria Pareda,

03:00>> Enda Martinez,

03:02Ernes Newton.

03:04>> We have a quarum.

03:05>> Thank you, Madam Cler.

03:07>> You're welcome.

03:29You know, my name is John Marshall Lee.

03:32I live at 30 Beacon Street. And for

03:35those of you who are on the council,

03:37I've distributed a copy of an article

03:41from this week's October 3rd, The

03:44Economist, and it's about it's a writer

03:47for The Economist magazine wrote, "But

03:51there's one remaining island of

03:53political functionality where Americans

03:56can and should have grounds for

03:58optimism. City Hall.

04:01That's part of what you're connected to.

04:04Alexander Hefner goes on to say, "Even

04:07more Americans appear to see mayors as

04:10the last public servants who still solve

04:13tangible problems." Now, I know that

04:16you're part of the problem-solving

04:18apparatus for this city. And I place

04:21copies of the October 3rd articles on

04:24your desk. You get criticized. You get

04:29uh you you get praised infrequently.

04:32But you can you may remember that more

04:35than 30 years of indifference,

04:37ignorance, disregard or [clears throat]

04:39disapproval

04:41was the pattern in this city since a

04:44previous success for of a charter

04:46review. That was last October.

04:50We followed process with hearings,

04:53discussions, research, and more

04:55discussions to improve the directions of

04:57the charter in line with the statutes

05:01from Connecticut and concepts from the

05:04citizens of the community. The charter

05:07document to the council where further

05:10hearings were held at your request to

05:13make certain that many governance voices

05:15were heard. The council then voted to

05:18approve the charter revision but in two

05:21parts.

05:23a governance section relating to ethics,

05:27civil service, boards and commissions,

05:29and other changes. And a second section

05:33dealing with political, okay, political

05:37matters such as the part-time positions

05:40funded for city clerk and town clerk as

05:43well as so-called city sheriffs. The

05:48question became more complicated for

05:50voters to become informed. Where did the

05:53separate request come from originate?

05:57Only the city clerk appeared at one

05:59hearing and one sheriff also appeared to

06:03share their thoughts. Who lobbied for

06:05the question to become divided.

06:08Perhaps you remember the result.

06:10Question one on the charter change

06:13received yes approval from 75%

06:17of those voting.

06:19>> Mr. Lee, could you um please wrap up?

06:21Your time is up.

06:23>> Have you done three minutes?

06:26>> That's what I was

06:27>> 200 words. That's ridiculous. I'm sorry.

06:32You're going to get the complete results

06:35>> because I just got them from the charter

06:37commission after 11 months from the re

06:40uh registar voters office. So, you will

06:44hear those next time and we'll pick out

06:46the people and where they came from.

06:50Thank you, Mr. Lee. Next speaker is John

06:53Frell.

06:54>> Who's your timekeeper, please? Mr.

06:57Ortiz. Thank you.

07:00>> Is John Pharaoh here?

07:03>> All right. The next speaker, Elise

07:06Carpenter Cummings.

07:10Please state your name, your address.

07:12You have three minutes.

07:15>> Good evening, members of the city

07:16council. My name is Alicia Carpenter,

07:19the homeowner of 534 Amsterdam Avenue in

07:22the 134th district. I came prepared to

07:25speak on September 21st, but was unable

07:27to do so. Unfortunately, in the two

07:29weeks since, our situation has not

07:31improved. Tonight, I am speaking not

07:34only out of concern, but out of

07:35exhaustion and frustration. We are tired

07:38of flooding. We are tired of cleaning.

07:40We are tired of piling up saturated

07:42belongings to throw away. and we are

07:44increasingly concerned about what

07:46repeatedly having water in our basements

07:48means for the health and safety of the

07:50people living in these homes.

07:52Additionally, the water issues are

07:54resulting in our newly paved street less

07:56than a month old to develop sink holes

07:59and have exposed sewer drains. This is

08:02not simply about property values

08:03anymore. It is about our quality of

08:05life, our physical environment, our

08:07finances, and our health. And then

08:10residents received a certified letter

08:12from the Department of Public Facilities

08:15regarding covert flooding and seemingly

08:17making it our responsibility. I have

08:20lived here for 16 years and this is a

08:22first. The letter tells property owners

08:26that obstructions are affecting

08:27properties along along the covert,

08:29directs homeowners to clean up debris

08:32and maintain these areas going forward,

08:34and warns that if cor corrective action

08:37is not timely taken, a complaint may be

08:40filed with deep. That response is deeply

08:43troubling. I personally am not going

08:47into the brook to clean it.

08:50We are dealing with a flooding problem

08:51that the state's own documentation says

08:53has existed along the Oxbrook corridor

08:56for decades by way of the Bridgeport

08:58Oxbrook Flood Control Project dated

09:01September 30th, 2021.

09:03Yet, homeowners who are already cleaning

09:05up water and throwing away damaged

09:07belongings receive a certified letter

09:09that appears to place responsibility for

09:11this problem at our doorsteps.

09:14No, one of my neighbors has written

09:16directly to Marcus Brown and Sugata

09:18Gagar Wilcox asking why this is the

09:20city's chosen response and we are

09:22awaiting an update, but residents should

09:24not have to keep chasing answers. The

09:26city has a $5.14

09:29million urban act grant connected to

09:32phase one of the Oxbrook project and I

09:36have been informed that only $235,000

09:39has been paid out to date and it's set

09:42to expire at the end of 2026.

09:45What is the plan? What is the timeline?

09:48What happens to the money? Where is the

09:50update? Yes, I do plan to attend the

09:53October 22nd flooding concerns meeting

09:55in our district and expect for the city

09:57and or the council to properly inform

10:00all residents of the district by more

10:02ways than just social media. Possibly a

10:05letter, a call or yard signs and make it

10:08accessible virtually for the homebound

10:10and schedule conflicted residents like

10:12myself. But the point still remains, we

10:14need more than another meeting. Tonight,

10:17I'm asking for action. I am requesting

10:19that the city provide affected residents

10:21in writing with a clear explanation of

10:24the certified letter. Identify what the

10:26city considers the homeowner's

10:27responsibility versus the city's

10:29responsibility. Provide the current

10:31status and timeline of the Oxbook

10:33project. And most importantly, tell us

10:35what immediate mitigation measures will

10:37be taken before the next flooding event.

10:39We cannot keep cleaning up the same

10:41problem while waiting for someone to

10:43take responsibility for solving it.

10:45These are our homes, our health, our

10:47money, our neighborhood. We are asking

10:50the city to work with us, not simply

10:52send us a certified letter. Thank you.

10:56>> Thank you.

10:57>> Who do I submit this to?

11:00>> Take it.

11:01>> And there are pictures of the street in

11:03here as well.

11:04>> Thank you, M. Cummings. Um, for the

11:06record, our council president is running

11:08late, so she's on her way. Our next

11:11speaker will be Mr. Nicholson.

11:15>> [clears throat]

11:29[clears throat]

11:30>> Good evening everyone.

11:33I Clyde Nicholson, 396 Madison Avenue,

11:36Bridgeport.

11:38I come here tonight to ask a question.

11:42I've been doing a little bit of research

11:43here lately on cars versus

11:48commercial vehicles. Two cars parked on

11:52the city street. One 14 ft, another one

11:57it should be a pickup is 16 ft

12:01from bumper to bumper. That is 30 ft.

12:05The space between the two is 7 feet. So

12:09you got 37

12:11>> [clears throat]

12:11>> feet.

12:13Now, my commercial vehicle is 32 feet

12:18long.

12:20How do those two cars, let's not

12:22discriminate, how do those two cars get

12:25a pass? And I don't

12:28city the school buses doesn't take up no

12:31more space than two cars in the space

12:35that it takes a renewal to get out.

12:38Now, if

12:41I'm paying taxes on these vehicles and

12:44the commercial vehicles are being taxed

12:47on weight. So if I'm working all day

12:50long, come home back to Bridgeport by

12:558:00, park my vehicle in the morning, I

12:57got a ticket.

13:00The question is why is I'm paying taxes?

13:03And if I'm going to be ticketed for

13:04parking and I'm paying taxes on these

13:08vehicles, I want all my money back. I

13:10don't want to pay taxes because you

13:13cannot charge me taxes and then ticket

13:17me for parking. And that's a form of

13:19discrimination. In households throughout

13:22Bridgeport, you got some households with

13:26four or five members of that house of

13:29the family. Five members, five cars

13:33taking up way more space than the

13:35tractor trailers or the school buses or

13:37my vehicles. I've gotten over $1,000

13:41worth of tickets. And I am not paying a

13:44ticket,

13:45not a one. So, I'm looking for the city

13:49to take me to court so then I can

13:51counter sue the city for taxation

13:54without representation. It's a shame and

13:57it's a scam for anybody to come in here

14:00and say that we don't have a right to

14:02park and where do we park at? Where? Go

14:06to Fairfield, Westport, Greenwich, we

14:08can't park there. So until

14:11these city members uh council members

14:14that says that

14:17citizens that a citizen of Bridgeport,

14:20citizen of the United State is ticketed

14:24and that's okay to be ticketed. Let's

14:26not discriminate. Thank you.

14:28>> Thank you, Mr. Mason.

14:31Our next speaker

14:33is Miss Gloria Bass.

14:39>> [clears throat]

14:58>> Good evening everybody. My name is

15:00Gloria Bass 140 Trumbull Avenue and I am

15:04here in support for the school bus

15:06drivers.

15:08Um throughout the years when you see

15:10advertisements asking for look people

15:13looking for an employment they target

15:15after women and they normally say you

15:18could bring your own children.

15:21I brought that up because um just to say

15:25when you look at the statistics of who's

15:28driving the buses is more majority is

15:32women and then you have skilled drivers

15:35who's been there for years. They've been

15:37there for decades and throughout the

15:41years

15:43we all have things that go through life.

15:45Life life happens and your body goes

15:48through changes.

15:49As the school bus driver, we're only

15:51asking that you listen.

15:55Take in consideration of what the

15:57drivers go through. If they're wrong, if

16:00they're doing something wrong, call it

16:02in. But if my 50s something years old

16:05self get out there and drive a bus with

16:08the vibration making me have to go to

16:10the bathroom, I shouldn't have to worry

16:13about walking out having a $250 ticket

16:16for five minutes of my time. Yes,

16:20drivers take the buses home. We've

16:22talked about last time where we were at

16:24in 911. I know where I was at. We talked

16:28about emergency snowstorms, emergency

16:31dismissals. I remember at a time leaving

16:34out the busy yard 10:00 in the morning,

16:37not getting back to 7:00 because we had

16:39snow so bad and we could only drive 5

16:42miles an hour.

16:44Perspective is very, very important. We

16:47all have a task to do. Um, we're just

16:51asking that you take that into

16:52consideration.

16:54Um,

17:01I think that's about it that right

17:02there. Thank you.

17:08>> Leah Gazny,

17:14please state your name and your address

17:16for me.

17:17>> Leah Gasme, um, 202 Well Street,

17:20Bridgeport, Connecticut.

17:22So, good evening members of the

17:24Bridgeport City Council. My name is Leah

17:26Gas. As I say, I'm in a a Bridgeport

17:28resident. I am here tonight to speak

17:30about affordable housing and

17:32homelessness prevention for lowincome

17:34and disa um disabled residents. I want

17:37to begin with one simple question. When

17:40we say affordable housing is affordable

17:42to who? I have been searching for

17:45apartments or even small studio for more

17:47than a year. I am getting close to two

17:48years. I received disability income

17:51because I am currently unable to work.

17:53Yet again, I um I am hearing you don't

17:56qualify. Landlords may require three

17:58times or two the monthly rent, good

18:01credit, and a clean rental history. But

18:03when rent is already so high, how is

18:05someone on fixed income supposed to

18:08qualify? I also have uh an eviction on

18:11my record, but that word does not tell

18:13my whole story.

18:15Um, I was hospitalized for 4 months. Um,

18:18almost going to die. Thank God I'm

18:20alive. And during that time, I lost my

18:22housing. Now, while trying to rebel my

18:25life, that eviction continues to follow

18:27me. Where is the second chances? I had

18:30spent winter slipping in a car. I have

18:32called 211. So, search for shelter. I

18:35asked for help and I file applications.

18:39And I am still trying to find a stable

18:41place to call home. I want Bridgeport to

18:43grow. I want investment and development.

18:46But progress cannot meant that the

18:48people who already call Bridgeport home

18:50can no longer afford to live here. We

18:53need more truly affordable housing, help

18:55with security deposit and move in cost,

18:58and better opportunity for people on

18:59disability and fixed income. We also

19:02need housing programs willing to

19:04consider the circumstance behind in

19:07eviction.

19:12I'm not asking anyone to give me a home.

19:14I am asking for a fair opportunity to

19:17obtain a safe, stable home and I can

19:19continue um continually afford. And I

19:22leave um this council with this one

19:25question. Are we going to wait until

19:27someone is sleeping on the street in a

19:29shelter or in a car before we ask how to

19:31help? Or will we help people while they

19:34are still fighting for a place to live?

19:37Homelessness can begin long before the

19:39first nine on the street with every

19:41application rejected, every rent out out

19:44of reach, and every door that closes.

19:47>> As Bridgeport grows, please do not

19:49forget the people who already call

19:51Bridgeport home. God bless you all.

19:53>> Thank you.

19:53>> Thank you.

19:57>> Our next speaker is Faith Sweeney.

20:14Um, good evening, Faith Sweeney,

20:17Huntington Turnpike 138th District. As

20:20we continue discussing the commercial

20:22vehicle ordinance and limited

20:24flexibility for school bus drivers, I

20:27want to bring another important document

20:28into the conversation. The Bridgeport

20:31signed contract with Wii Transport.

20:34There have been statements suggesting

20:36that drivers should simply return their

20:39buses to the depot between routes or

20:41that their working arrangements require

20:44them to do so. I have reviewed the

20:47actual contract

20:49and

20:51this is what it expressly says that it

20:54recognizes the split shift workday with

20:58approximately 2 and 1/2 hours in the

21:00morning and 2 and 1/2 hours in the

21:02afternoon. It also recognizes that

21:04schedules vary because of early

21:07closings, weather, scheduling changes,

21:10late trips, field trips, and other

21:12transportation needs. The contract

21:14requires we we transport to have a bus

21:17depot, but I found no provision in the

21:22signed agreement requiring every driver

21:25to return to the bus depot between the

21:27morning and afternoon portions of the

21:30workday. I also found no provision

21:33requiring every route to begin at the

21:36bus depot or drivers to spend their

21:39entire midday at uh midday gap there.

21:43What the contract does require is

21:45compliance with local, state, and

21:48federal law and safety operations of bus

21:51of buses. That is consistent with what

21:54the bus drivers are asking for. They are

21:57not asking for an exemption of parking

21:59regulations. I also recognize that this

22:02discussion has highlighted a need for

22:05education about updated state and local

22:08parking laws. Drivers need clear

22:11information about where their vehicles

22:13can and cannot legally park and

22:16residents need accurate information what

22:19about what the laws require. Education

22:22and consistent enforcement should be

22:25part of the solution. That is why the

22:27proposal that was submitted is

22:29intentionally narrow. It maintains the

22:32restrictions where buses may park and

22:35and legally park safely park and legally

22:38park. It prohibits overnight storage and

22:41personal use. It provides limited

22:44flexibility only when connected to

22:46legitimate school transportation and

22:48duty and the duties during the workday.

22:52Norwalk provides an example of limited

22:54flexibility. Its ordinance permits

22:57certain commercial vehicles to remain on

23:00public streets for up to 4 hours while

23:04maintaining other parking restrictions.

23:06We are asking Bridgeport to consider the

23:09same principle of limited flexibility.

23:11Can you wrap it up? Times up.

23:13>> Um, I'll just say I'm I would ask that

23:15you review that. Um, and also Oh,

23:20goodness.

23:22>> Um, and I also have a chart that was

23:26created. Um, it's claims versus what's

23:29actually in the contract. So, I'd like

23:31to make sure that all of you receive

23:33this. Thank you.

23:34>> Thank you. Our next speaker while he's

23:37um

23:38walking up to get the paper is

23:40Councilman Cruz. You're next.

23:46>> I will

23:49chair. I will yield my time to anybody

23:52to speak. [clears throat]

23:54>> I rather take one of personal privilege

23:56because I need more than three minutes.

23:59>> Thank you, sir.

24:00>> I want to yield

24:02>> um

24:03>> my time.

24:05So, someone in the club

24:08>> I don't know if we can do that. Can we?

24:11>> Uh, can

24:12>> Yeah, we can't.

24:23>> Go ahead. Go ahead.

24:25>> Huh?

24:26>> Constitutional right.

24:28>> Yes, he can yield his time.

24:31>> Yield his time.

24:32>> They did it in the past.

24:35Can y'all can y'all just get let us do

24:37this please? We're going to let him

24:40speak, but he can't jump in front of

24:41people that was already here.

25:08Okay,

25:11>> Mr. Young, please um approach the um

25:14podium and remember you got three

25:16minutes, please.

25:17>> Yeah, I I thank I thank you for those

25:19three minutes that I got. And and again

25:22and again, like I said, I'm an American

25:24citizen, American taxpayer, and I if you

25:27notice, I left information on your desk

25:28a little earlier today indicating that I

25:30got a letter from the city attorney's

25:32office from the tax collector's office

25:34indicating that they sent my matter to a

25:35collection agency pertaining to my taxes

25:38pertaining to my vehicle, which troubles

25:40me as to why come to city of Bridgeport

25:42who who have been paying taxes for my

25:44home for the last 35 years as well as my

25:46three vehicles for the last 30 something

25:48years and have them send me a letter

25:50telling me, "Okay, that I have x amount

25:52of days to comply when in essence they

25:54need to be sending out the bills that

25:55they had in the past. They did not do

25:57that. I've never been behind in paying

25:59taxes whether that be my car tax or my

26:01home taxes. But again, that's the reason

26:03why I came here and I left a notice on

26:04your desk indicating that you called

26:06that number that they told me to call

26:08pertaining to my taxes that I wanted to

26:09pay when I went to city hall to get my

26:11car registered. But the lady at the tax

26:13collector told me I didn't need that

26:14because I had never had a problem with

26:16me paying taxes in the past. So, I was

26:18able to get my vehicle reregistered

26:19again. But again, I didn't want to waste

26:21my time because I said before I wouldn't

26:22be coming down here anymore because I

26:24was sick and tired of being insulted by

26:26being disrespected. As you see here,

26:28I've been out of work for about 20 years

26:30now because of me being uh fired from my

26:33job because I was out on the medical

26:34leave request indicating that I needed

26:36to be out from out of work. You have a

26:38doctor's note indicating from my doctor,

26:40Albert Walters, indicating that I needed

26:42to see a clinical psychiatrist, Dr. uh

26:46um Wayne who is the clinical

26:48psychiatrist who I've been seeing now

26:49for the last 20 years and it troubles me

26:51that here it is a federal judge in

26:53federal court confirmed the fact that in

26:55March 6, 2006 when Mr. Young was

26:57terminated for not coming to work when

26:59he did come to work a federal judge

27:00approved my disability for 20 years I

27:03have not worked and what they did was

27:05they honored that disability after March

27:076, 2006 federal judge in in New Haven

27:10federal court declared me totally

27:12disabled. Why? because my doctor showed

27:15them that I was out under doctor's care.

27:17Dr. Alvin Walters, they said that it

27:19wasn't good enough. Well, I do a TV show

27:21and I'll be giving you all a breakdown

27:22on that in more detail as I go on down

27:24the road. But I wanted to highlight a

27:26few points, which is that here again,

27:28okay, my termination was was covered up

27:31by city and state officials, which I'm

27:32going to deal with. It's beyond the

27:34statute of limitation in terms of the

27:36human rights commission doing too much,

27:37but I'm sure the feds going to do

27:38something when I get finished with it.

27:40Okay? But my point is this. They deny me

27:42my medical benefits. Okay. For 20 years,

27:44you see here, I won the award. I won the

27:47award. Why? Because the general federal

27:49judge said Cecil Young was totally

27:51disabled and he had a right to be out of

27:53work. You see, on March 16, 2006, I told

27:56him I was getting married. You see here,

27:57the young lady that I got married with,

27:59her name's Patricia Nichols. She became

28:00Patricia Young. Why? Because I told her

28:02that if I didn't get married on that

28:03date, they were going to terminate me,

28:05which they did do. They terminated me.

28:06Why? Because of these terminated dirt

28:08piles that you see here. State Rep.

28:10Newton at the time took a picture with

28:11me at the city health department

28:13indicating that that was a sick

28:14building. The piles were contaminated

28:16and kids were playing on that

28:17contaminated dirt pile. Yet and still

28:19the city of Bridgeport and the city

28:21council asked Mayor Ganham to

28:22investigate the allegations but yet to

28:24this day no one has done anything about

28:26it. I have audio tapes of Dr. Evans,

28:28Jodie Paul confirming the fact that yes,

28:31Cecil Young, you came to work but you

28:32left an hour and a half later. You got

28:34it on Dr. Evans three different times.

28:36You got it on Jodie Paul three different

28:38times. I will be playing audio tapes of

28:40all the above. I gave some of y'all

28:42who've been here in the past audio tapes

28:44indicating all the above. But for those

28:45of you who knew that have not been

28:47familiarized with that, you download the

28:49Cecil Young Show on YouTube seven days a

28:51week. I'll be going back on my TV show

28:53on the 27th and I'll be highlighting all

28:55of the above in specific detail. I'll be

28:57playing audio tapes of Dr. Evans voice

29:00saying, "Yes, Mr. Young, you can come to

29:01work, but I'm not going to pay you if

29:03you leave." This is the reason why I say

29:04as an American, why come I can't get

29:06treated with the same respect that you

29:08want to give others? Okay. Why come I

29:09can't get that? And again, because Jodie

29:12Paul uh and and and and and and Dr.

29:16Evans indicated, okay, all right, that

29:18that that extreme anxiety was not

29:19justifiable enough for me to be out of

29:21work. I have a doctor note indicating

29:23that extreme anxiety is justifiable

29:25enough for me to be out of work. And

29:26according to the Hippo law in the state

29:27of Connecticut, the law says that under

29:29the Hippo law, I didn't have to tell you

29:31what I was being treated for. My doctor

29:32did not have to tell you what I was

29:34being treated for, but because I told

29:35you that, you still fired me anyhow. And

29:37I'm saying, "Yes, it's been 20 years,

29:39and thank God for Councilman Newton and

29:41Councilman Martinez, okay, for them

29:43indicating to the mayor that they wanted

29:44them to investigate these allegations

29:46pertaining to my unjust termination." To

29:48this day, a year and a half, all right,

29:50almost now. To this day, they have not

29:52done that. Ernson, I say as council

29:54president acting for the moment in a

29:55need of my council president from the

29:57139th district, I plead with you to

29:59demand that the mayor sit down and

30:01discuss these issues with you and with

30:02someone else that would be fair and

30:04impartial. You took an oath. You're

30:06going to swear under oath to be fair and

30:07impartial in a few minutes from now. And

30:09I say to you, practice what you preach

30:11and not what you teach. And if you do

30:12that, the Lord will bless you. And if

30:14you don't, I'm sure he will remind you

30:15that you should have because judgment

30:17day is coming sooner than you think.

30:19Thank you much for hearing my cry.

30:24All right. Our rules say that we can

30:26only have 10 speakers since Mr. Cruz

30:31yield his position to the young man

30:34there and Maria Pereira will be the last

30:38speaker.

30:44>> Y didn't you yield?

30:46>> You yield the seat to who?

30:50Right.

30:52>> No, but we don't go by J. We go by who's

30:54next

30:56>> on the list.

30:59>> Ceil.

30:59>> No, I didn't give it to

31:02>> I need said that he was on the list.

31:05>> But you got to understand.

31:12>> All right.

31:18>> Hello.

31:28Give us a few minutes, please.

31:30>> We got the right here.

31:32>> Yeah.

32:14All right.

32:17Maria Pereira will probably be the last

32:19speaker because you got to go down the

32:22line

32:24for people who were here.

32:27So even if you even though the council

32:30member had good intention,

32:34he loses his spot

32:36and then you got to go to the next

32:38person

32:40because you're here. [clears throat]

32:41>> That's a constitutional right.

32:43>> So hold up. Listen to me, young man.

32:46>> Constitution.

32:47>> Listen to me, young man. Listen to me.

32:52We got council rules that we have to

32:54follow. has nothing to do with the

32:56Constitution.

32:58>> Freedom of speech.

33:00>> Not here.

33:02>> We could We got two.

33:03>> Not here. You can do freedom of speech,

33:05but you got we got order here.

33:06>> Okay. I I go to court next week. So, I

33:09got I see you in court.

33:10>> All right. Fine. Um Maria Pereira

33:15>> Maria was number nine and then I was 10.

33:23>> [clears throat]

33:26>> Everybody's

33:29here.

33:29>> Mr. Chair,

33:32>> Mr. Chair,

33:34>> why don't [clears throat] you sit down

33:35and move?

33:36>> Mr. Chair,

33:37>> just a minute.

33:39>> I will seed my speaking spot to the next

33:41if I could. I'm just going to read my

33:42statement from the floor during the

33:44regular meeting on the agenda item.

33:51I'll just I'll just withdraw and read my

33:54statement during the agenda item on the

33:56record.

33:57>> Okay, that'll free up.

34:03>> This meeting's adjourned.

34:09>> Ernest, follow the rules.

34:11>> Nobody else.

34:12>> Follow the rules.

34:13>> Who else are you?

34:14>> There's nobody else.

34:15>> There's nobody else.

34:16>> It's Jesse.

34:18You got to take this 10.

34:20>> Jesse, tell Jesse to come here.

34:25>> Jess rest. All right, everybody. Excuse

34:27me. Excuse me.

34:30>> You never had a chance to be heard.

34:33>> Thank you.

34:35>> Jesse, come on up, please, and speak.

34:41Three minutes.

34:43My name is Jess Resto. I live on 110

34:45Jennings and I'm here because I'm sc

34:47concerned about the residents at the

34:48138th. I'm not here because I because

34:51people disagree with my council person.

34:53I'm here because I'm hearing multiple

34:55residents who are afraid of what might

34:56happen if they disagree with their own

34:58elected representative. And when I say

35:00afraid, I don't sorry I don't mean

35:02physically afraid. I mean people feeling

35:05intimidated, bullied, targeted,

35:06embarrassed, or afraid they'll become

35:08the next target simply because they

35:10spoke up. I understand this personally.

35:12I worked closely with the c my council

35:14person as her CDBG appointee because I

35:16thought I was doing something good for

35:17my city. But there were times when I was

35:19expected to publicly go after a chair of

35:21the committee and I didn't do it because

35:23it's not who I am. Afterwards, I still

35:25drove her home and during that ride, she

35:28compared my silence to the people who

35:29stood by Hitler while killing the Jews.

35:32She said that directly to me and I never

35:34forgot that. And that's why when other

35:37residents tell me that they're afraid to

35:38speak, I listen because I know what it

35:41feels like when a disagreement suddenly

35:43becomes personal. I've heard from people

35:45who've been help who she's helped,

35:47supported, and appreciated what she's

35:49done for them. But when they disagree,

35:51or when the issue isn't about her,

35:52something changes. People get attacked

35:54over how they speak, how they look, or

35:57who they are. And when they push back on

35:58or defend themselves, somehow they

36:00become the problem. that creates an

36:02environment where people feel like they

36:03have to watch what they say because they

36:05don't know what will happen next. I'm

36:07also concerned when I hear about elderly

36:08or disabled residents being pulled into

36:10these situations. Helping residents is

36:13part of the job, but people should never

36:14feel that accepting help means they owe

36:16someone their loyalty, their agreement,

36:18or their silence. This isn't about

36:20whether people have been helped. It's

36:21about what happens when they no longer

36:23agree. I'm asking this council to listen

36:25to the residents who are telling you

36:26they feel intimidated, targeted, or

36:28afraid to speak. because the 138th

36:30belongs to its residents and not to one

36:33person. So I'm asking this council at

36:35what point does this become something

36:36you are willing to address because

36:38residents should not feel unsafe

36:39speaking to their own elected

36:41representative. Thank you.

36:43>> Thank you. This concludes the speaking

36:46section.

38:14Let me just say good evening to everyone

38:17as we call this

38:19regularly scheduled meeting October 5th

38:21meeting of the city council to order. I

38:25would direct your attention of course as

38:27we begin to proceed to the printed

38:28agenda which will follow

38:31and which um after this calling it to me

38:34usually starts appropriately with a

38:37prayer

38:39and if we could stand

38:42you want to do that first

38:44>> I'm going to give uh Councilwoman

38:45Martinez

38:48>> the microphone

38:50um and if we could give her your

38:51attention and silence please for a

38:53moment of silence. of personal privilege

38:56and if we could extend that certainly to

39:01>> members of your family Anita

39:03>> who are going through a very difficult

39:05time. I would like a point of personal

39:08privilege um a moment of silence to

39:11honor um Mitch Robles, longtime um

39:16pillar, a DTC leader here in the city of

39:19Bridgeport, sheriff, notary

39:23JP. He wore many hats. Um we lost Mitch

39:26last week. Um Mitch was suffering from a

39:30lot of illnesses. um had surgery and um

39:34ended up sick and um went on home to our

39:37heavenly father. Um I would like to also

39:41ask for a moment of silence for our DOT

39:43driver who stationed out of Straford was

39:46a Bridgeport resident

39:48who was laid to rest um last week. Um,

39:55I will also ask that you all

39:58keep my grandson in prayer. Um, both him

40:01and his father were in a very critical

40:04car accident on um, Route 8. Um, by the

40:08grace of God, my grandson just suffered

40:10a femur

40:12compound fracture

40:15um, to his left hip, had surgery, has to

40:18have another surgery two weeks. um

40:25is very difficult. He's eight years old,

40:27so it's it's a very difficult time for

40:30us and for my daughter. Um but if prayer

40:35works for us all, if you all can keep

40:37him in prayer, I would appreciate it

40:39very very much. Thank you. Thank you,

40:41mayor.

40:42>> Thank you. Let's just pause for a moment

40:44of silence on those intentions. And

40:46anyone like to add anything? Let's give

40:48a moment of silence.

40:59Thank you. Does anyone else have a a

41:01point similar point of personal

41:03privilege before we do the prayer?

41:04Council Councilman, you have the

41:07>> I I'll have a request a point of

41:09personal privilege before we start the

41:11regular council.

41:12>> All right. With that, uh we've always

41:14been have the pleasure. Councilwoman

41:17Reverend Lee uh has always blessed us

41:19with a prayer. And if you would,

41:22Councilwoman, it would be our pleasure

41:24to have you lead us in a prayer to start

41:26off our meeting tonight. Council woman.

41:27>> Praise Lord. How many know that prayer

41:30changes things?

41:33>> Hallelujah. We thank the Lord tonight

41:35for his goodness and his mercy. Thank

41:38him for his grace. We thank God for what

41:40you're doing, what you're going to do,

41:42and what you've already done for us. We

41:45thank you oh God for our assembly here

41:47tonight and ask you oh God that those

41:50are berieved tonight. Ask you oh God to

41:53heal their broken heart and do their

41:56contract spirit in the name of Jesus.

41:59Now God we are asking you to take us

42:01into this meeting on tonight and ask you

42:04oh God to bless everyone that's

42:05assembled here tonight. Everyone that

42:08has a prayer request before you oh God

42:10that didn't tell anyone. We ask you oh

42:12God to answer in the name of Jesus. And

42:15oh God we ask you to bless the mayor of

42:17this great city. Bless the leaders

42:19everywhere God. In the name of Jesus.

42:23Lord you promise us that if the people

42:25is called by my name shall humble

42:28themselves in pray seek their face then

42:31you'll hear from heaven and heal the

42:33land. Ask oh God to heal tonight in the

42:36name of Jesus. Now God we ask you to

42:39bless us one by one. bless us

42:41collectively in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

42:46>> Amen.

42:47>> Um why don't we do the pledge and if you

42:49want to point a personal privilege

42:50councilman I'll give it to you. Okay.

42:54>> Oh council woman go ahead. Uh,

43:04I just general

43:31I like

44:06just

44:11>> Amen.

44:29Thank you. Councilman Cruz, did you want

44:31something or was that?

44:33>> Yeah.

44:35>> Okay. Councilman Newton, always pleasure

44:38to have you lead us in the pledge.

44:40>> To the flag of the United States of

44:43America and to the republic for it

44:46stands, one nation,

44:49indivisible, liberty and justice for

44:52all.

45:01Madame clerk, you have the floor for

45:02roll call to ensure that we have a

45:04quorum so we can commence this the

45:05city's business tonight. I remind all

45:08the members of the council, not only are

45:09we a public agenda with members of the

45:11public here, but we're also hopefully

45:13broadcast for the greater Bridgeport

45:15residents or anyone who would like to

45:16participate by uh I guess it's by

45:19television uh and they have that

45:21opportunity to be a part of it from

45:22there. So, uh, just a reminder, madame

45:25clerk, you have the floor.

45:26>> Thank you. Gamurray

45:29>> here.

45:29>> Nicole Nelson,

45:32>> Denise Moy,

45:34>> Cruz,

45:35>> here. Dasha spella

45:41>> Rolanda Smith

45:43>> Akim Boyd

45:45>> Janet Herren

45:47>> Loretta Dubach

45:50>> Marcley

45:52>> Richa Cruz

45:53>> here

45:54>> Alfredo Castillo

46:01>> Maria

46:02Ha Medina Maria Para

46:06Anita Martinez, Ernest Newton. We have a

46:10>> call to

46:12medical.

46:14>> Uh the clerk will note uh and the

46:16minutes reflect that the uh Michelle

46:18Lions is on Say it again, please.

46:21>> On medical leave

46:23and Fred Hajj is what? Also on medical

46:27leave as a matter of his absence here

46:29tonight. Those being noted, we have a

46:31quorum. Councilman, if you want the

46:33floor, I'll give you a point of personal

46:34privilege. Councilman Cruz.

46:41>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um,

46:45my point of personal privilege is

46:47basically uh just to clear some air. Uh

46:51few weeks ago, I

46:54I made a derogatory comment on my

46:56Facebook page and um because I allow

46:59myself to uh

47:02allow my passion to overwhelm my

47:04reasoning

47:06and I said something that I should never

47:08have said that I label a young lady by

47:11the name of Lauren Kley as a racist.

47:15I was wrong. I called Miss Kley and I

47:19apologized to her and I wanted to take

47:22it a step further right here in public

47:24in the council chambers to say to Miss

47:27Kley I am very very sorry. And with that

47:31being said, the reason that I was caught

47:33up in my passion is because

47:39you know as elected official

47:41we are the caretakers of our district.

47:44That's how I think

47:47the council people are the caretakers of

47:50their district. It is their

47:52responsibility to know who is coming to

47:55their district, what developers are

47:57coming to their district and not wait to

48:00get the message to hear it that they

48:02showed up in zoning. Now, in this

48:04particular case about the gentleman with

48:07the um coffee shop right around the

48:10corner,

48:11somehow I didn't see that. I didn't

48:15catch it. And some folks took it a

48:17little step further without knowing me.

48:20And I call it the pack of wolves, which

48:22is fine. You know, being a council

48:24person, you got to have thick skin. And

48:26I got some thick skin. Believe me, I do.

48:29Now, I'm not a reg a regular kind of

48:31councilman. I talk when I got to talk.

48:34And if I make a mistake, I will

48:37recognize my mistake. And when I speak,

48:40sometimes people get offended by the way

48:42that I speak. But that's me and I ain't

48:46changing it. The only thing that I would

48:47do is accept my mistake. But I'm not

48:50here to be defined how I speak by

48:52anybody else. My point is again,

48:56the reason about that coffee shop here

48:58on Main Street, the reason I was so

48:59upset that I didn't know about it is

49:02because it didn't give me time and my

49:05colleague time to meet with the folks to

49:09see what kind of a business, not to stop

49:11them because we don't stop, but we like

49:13to be informed because the Straford

49:15Apartments senior citizens experience a

49:19lot of anxiety, a lot of um fear.

49:23when the Hollywood Lounge was there and

49:24a lot of shootings, a loud music and a

49:28lot even with a with a uh offduty police

49:30up. So, they were scared and I tried to

49:32work with the owner of the Hollywood

49:34Lounge. I brought him I invited him to

49:36the meeting so he could meet the

49:37residents, but then I was told here I am

49:41that I'm trying to stop a black man from

49:43getting the damn business in downtown. I

49:45never did that. They didn't even know

49:47who the business owner was. And I always

49:49said, I don't care if the person is

49:52white, Puerto Rican, yellow, black, or

49:54whatever business. I want to know who's

49:56coming, who's doing development in my

49:58district for the simple reason to be

50:01informed.

50:03What am I The question is then, what am

50:06I a council person for?

50:09To allow these kind of things, whoever

50:11want to come into the district, do what

50:12the hell they want to do without our be

50:14informed so we can inform our

50:16constituents. People don't know what I

50:18have done in my I for seven years I have

50:21been doing a damn good job.

50:23>> Okay.

50:24>> And I take that I have got rid of drug

50:26dealers. I have helped homeless people.

50:29I have helped people with pardon letters

50:31and reference letters so they could get

50:33parrolled or pardoned. Don't tell me

50:35what I have not done. So my point is

50:38this. All this is to be clear. As

50:41council representatives we are

50:43responsible. We are the caretaker of our

50:46district here to work with all council

50:48members and work with the mayor. That's

50:50it.

50:51>> Thank you, Councilman.

50:52>> Thank you.

50:52>> Appreciate it. All right. With that, we

50:54have a number of matters that are before

50:56us that will involve members of the

50:58public and it's kind of a good part of

51:00the meeting and it's Maryland City

51:02Council citation given for dedicated

51:05leadership and the positive example set

51:08as representing Puerto Rican culture and

51:12spirit. And I see the council president

51:14is wellarmed and will be joined by

51:16members of the council. If you'd like to

51:18proceed, madame president and other

51:20members of the council and I will join

51:22you with appropriate proclamations.

51:25And if we could provide her a microphone

51:27and any members of the council would

51:29like to join, please do so. We have uh

51:32individuals here that I know are going

51:34to come up. I see the smiles. I see the

51:36crowns. I see the sashes. And we'd like

51:39you to come on up with a round of

51:41applause. to welcome you as our

51:43representatives here today.

51:48>> Come on.

51:49>> Hello, girls.

51:52So, tonight I have the honor of

51:54recognizing three incredible young

51:56ladies, three young queens who represent

51:59three different stages of our younger

52:01generation. What makes tonight so

52:03special is that at such a young age,

52:06they already understand the importance

52:08of leadership, service, and giving back.

52:10These young ladies are gaining

52:12experience at a state level through

52:14their involvement with the Connecticut

52:15and Puerto Rico Trade Commission,

52:18serving as notetakers and having the

52:20opportunity to see leadership and public

52:22service firsthand. But they're not

52:24stopping there. They're bringing their

52:25spirit service directly back to our

52:27community. They are now organizing a

52:29trunk or treat while also collecting

52:31gently used winter accessories. and

52:33their plan is to create a winter care

52:35package and personally distribute them

52:37to individuals experiencing homelessness

52:40throughout Bridgeport. We often talk

52:42about preparing the next generation to

52:44lead. Well, something Well, sometimes we

52:47need to recognize that they are already

52:49leading. So, tonight I want these three

52:50young queens to know that we see you,

52:53that we're proud of you, and your

52:54community appreciates what you're doing.

52:57Continue to dream big, continue to

52:59serve, and never believe that you're too

53:00young to make a difference. It's my

53:02honor to recognize you today.

53:06And the city is giving you some official

53:08citations. I'm only going to read one

53:10and then I'll hand them over to you.

53:11Okay. Official citation. Be it hereby

53:14known to all the city council during

53:16Hispanic Heritage Month. Recognizes the

53:19rich tapestry of Puerto Rican culture

53:21and ambassador who inspires others with

53:24her service, leadership, and community

53:26involvement. given in deep appreciation

53:28of working to bring the community

53:30together to celebrate the beauty and

53:32strength of his Puerto Rican heritage

53:34and spirit, including volunteering at

53:36community events to help those in need

53:38along with assisting the Connecticut

53:40Puerto Rico Trade Commission and

53:41inspiring future generations to embrace

53:43their heritage, give back, and maintain

53:45a strong sense of biqua pride as they go

53:48through life. given this fifth day of

53:50October 2026 at city hall, Bridgeport,

53:53Connecticut by Janette Heron, city

53:54council president and the entire city

53:56council.

53:58Noanis

54:00[applause]

54:03Taylor

54:06Nu,

54:09any family want to come with the church

54:11with the girls to take pictures? Come on

54:12up. We're going to do now. both to

54:14speak.

54:17>> Anyone else want to say a couple words?

54:21>> So, if I could likewise, you're going to

54:24you're each going to get two um awards

54:27tonight. One's a citation and the other

54:30one is equally as well a citation.

54:32Sometimes it's a a proclamation, but

54:34they're both are formal rep recognition

54:37of you uh for all that you've done and

54:40for being such great representatives uh

54:42here today and into the future. And they

54:45read as follows. And I will do as the

54:47council woman did. I'll read one and

54:49present to three. The city council

54:52joined by the Puerto Rican parade of

54:54Fairfield County is honored to recognize

54:57each of you as little Miss Puerto Rico

55:00for your exemplary leadership and

55:02dedication, embracing the Hispanic

55:05culture, representing your community and

55:08being a positive example for young

55:11people. Congratulations,

55:13pioneers of change, shaping the future

55:16together. Nolanas, if I pronounce it

55:19right, you can present that to her, to

55:22Taylor,

55:26and to Narushka and to you. And I'd ask

55:29us all to uh appreciate you with a round

55:32of applause and thanks.

55:40>> Want to say a couple words?

55:44>> Good afternoon. My name is Nolanis

55:46Garcia. I'm 8 years old and I'm your

55:49little Miss Puerto Rico for K 2026 and I

55:53want to thank the city of Bridgeport.

55:55Thank you. [applause]

56:02>> Good evening. My name is Taylor Gonzalez

56:04and I'm have the honor to serve as your

56:062026 Junior Miss Ptoica of Fairfair

56:08County. It's an honor to receive this

56:10citation and thank truly thankful for

56:13this recognition and thank I just want

56:14to say thank you to the city council.

56:19[applause]

56:22>> Good evening everyone. My name is

56:23Narusha Lopez and I'm Miss Puerto Rico

56:25Fairfield County of 2026. I'm very

56:28grateful to be here tonight and to

56:29receive the citation. Thank you to the

56:31council woman Kayla Mandina and the city

56:34of Bridgeport for recognizing the work

56:35that we are trying to do within our

56:37community. It really means a lot to us

56:39to be able to represent Puerto Rican

56:40culture and give back to our community.

56:43With that being said, I'd like to inform

56:45you all of two upcoming events that we

56:47are currently working on. On October

56:4924th, we're going to be hosting a trunk

56:51or treat for a ch for children at the

56:54Bass Pro Shops parking lot starting at

56:565:00 p.m. This event will also serve as

56:58a winter essentials donation drive.

57:01Shortly after, on November 14th, myself,

57:04my sister Queens, and all the

57:06participants of the pageant will be

57:08going out into the community with our

57:10volunteers to help feed the homeless and

57:12provide them with winter essentials to

57:14to help keep them warm. We're currently

57:17accepting donations, so if anyone is

57:19interested in getting involved or making

57:21a donation, feel free to talk to me

57:23after the meeting tonight. Thank you.

57:26[applause]

57:29Okay, another round of applause. Thank

57:31you. We look forward to it. Thanks for

57:33being a part of Bridgeport now and into

57:36the future. Thank you so much.

57:40>> One picture.

57:41>> One more.

58:06One more.

58:29I love this.

58:48Thank you to members of the council and

58:50to members of the public. As people take

58:52their seats, I draw your attention to

58:54the first page of the agenda in the

58:57first item which would be an action item

58:59and that would be to approve the minutes

59:03from the August 3rd, 2026 meeting, if

59:07there's such a motion.

59:10You with me? Motion and second. All in

59:12favor indicate by saying I.

59:14>> Any opposed give an indication. That

59:15passes unanimously. Now I'll turn your

59:17attention to the bottom of page one. And

59:22is there a second?

59:24>> Motion made to consolidate and to refer

59:27uh I think Gayen. Did you make that

59:30>> or George made it? Councilman C. Who

59:31made the mo second?

59:33>> Councilman Cruz. All in favor to keep

59:42Yeah, those are the only matters set for

59:43referral. So that would be correct. I'm

59:45so sorry we didn't clarify it. Thank

59:46you. With that clarification, all in

59:48favor indicate by saying I.

59:50>> Any opposed? Okay, that leads us to the

59:52consent calendar. And before we read it,

59:54I would just remind council members so

59:56that they know any me any member of the

59:58council without reason can remove any

59:59matter from the consent calendar. The

1:00:01remaining items will be read into the

1:00:02record and will be voted on without

1:00:04comment, argument, or debate. Does

1:00:05anybody want to at this time I'll look

1:00:07to my left first. Remove any item from

1:00:09the consent calendar that's listed on

1:00:11the printed agenda. I see no indication

1:00:14on the left hand side. I will look on

1:00:16the right hand side. I see at least one

1:00:19two council women, two Maras. Maria Vag,

1:00:21you have the floor first. I'll put your

1:00:23microphone on at this time.

1:00:28>> I'm so sorry. Let me get your microphone

1:00:30on. Council, what's wrong with me?

1:00:33Councilwoman, you have the floor. What?

1:00:35What item?

1:00:36>> 106-25.

1:00:41>> 106-25 has been requested to be removed

1:00:43from the consent calendar. It is

1:00:46removed. Thank you so much,

1:00:47Councilwoman. Councilwoman, would you

1:00:48like to remove an item?

1:00:49>> Yes, I'd like to

1:00:51>> 42.

1:00:52>> I heard 60

1:00:55>> 425.

1:00:56>> 64

1:00:59>> 25 is removed. Does anybody else want to

1:01:01remove any items from the consent

1:01:02calendar? hearing none. The remaining

1:01:04items uh would be read into the record

1:01:06by the city clerk in the order they

1:01:08appear on the agenda and would be voted

1:01:10on uh as a consolidated consent calendar

1:01:13and then we will we return to the other

1:01:15two remaining matters and then the final

1:01:17matter on the agenda. Madame clerk, when

1:01:19you're ready,

1:01:21>> I'm so sorry.

1:01:23>> I just wanted to councilwoman, thank you

1:01:25for getting my attention. You have the

1:01:26floor.

1:01:26>> Thank you, mayor. I just wanted to ask

1:01:29um on item number 98-25

1:01:33and item number 110-25

1:01:36upon voting approval from the council.

1:01:40Can you please make that an immediate

1:01:42consideration and sign it for next day

1:01:45effectiveness?

1:01:46>> I think we might have to amend them, but

1:01:48I leave it up to uh the city attorney.

1:01:51And if you want to make a change, my

1:01:53suggestion is we take them off the

1:01:55consent calendar. But um let me get some

1:01:58clarification if that's needed.

1:02:00>> Um a city attorney is not there. So I'll

1:02:03make a motion.

1:02:04>> I'll make a motion to remove item number

1:02:0698-25

1:02:08and item number 110-

1:02:10>> 110. So, let's remove those and we'll

1:02:12start with if there's no objection then

1:02:13we'll start with 6825 and then we'll go

1:02:15down to 107 109 and then we'll go back

1:02:18to those items and we

1:02:20>> 110-25 mayor.

1:02:22>> Yes, she took these two. So, go through

1:02:24this one.

1:02:27>> Thank you.

1:02:28>> Okay, madam clerk, you have the floor.

1:02:33>> You're with me?

1:02:34>> The second one that you removed.

1:02:36>> She removed this one. Yeah.

1:02:38>> Where's the other one? Okay. Thank you.

1:02:40>> See if you can find the city clerk, the

1:02:42city attorney.

1:02:45>> Ready.

1:02:46>> Uh, please proceed. She's going to read

1:02:47them into the uh record and we'll vote

1:02:49on them and then we'll we'll take up the

1:02:50balance of the remaining matters. Madam

1:02:52clerk, you have the floor. 8825

1:02:54ordinance committee report update ranges

1:02:56for officers and affiliated employee

1:02:59salaries for pursuant to and

1:03:02[clears throat] as required by municipal

1:03:04code section 236

1:03:07010 denied

1:03:1110725

1:03:12economic and community development and

1:03:14environmental committee report regrant

1:03:17submission Connecticut department of

1:03:19economic and community development urban

1:03:21ad grant

1:03:23Remington shot tower remediation and

1:03:26estabilization 27215

1:03:3010925

1:03:32economic and community development and

1:03:34econ and environmental committee report

1:03:37regrant submission United States

1:03:39Conference of Mayors USCM

1:03:42the healthy and sustainability

1:03:44communities grant awards fitness and

1:03:47wellness zone at seaside park 27508

1:03:518.

1:03:53>> So those matters have been read into the

1:03:54consent calendar. Is there a motion to

1:03:56approve?

1:03:57>> Is there a second?

1:03:59>> Are you with me, Madam Clerk?

1:04:00>> Who second on me?

1:04:02>> Thank you.

1:04:03>> All in favor indicate by saying I.

1:04:05>> Any oppose? Okay. So the consent

1:04:07calendar uh that have been voted on is

1:04:10unanimous. We are now on 98-25

1:04:14and then 11025. And if uh if the council

1:04:18woman would want more time, uh you want

1:04:20more

1:04:21All right, you have the floor. If you

1:04:23want to move those items under in terms

1:04:25of conditions, please proceed.

1:04:27>> Yes. For item number 98-25,

1:04:30I just would like to ask for immediate

1:04:32consideration um

1:04:35for this item to move forwardation and

1:04:38for item number 110-25

1:04:41as well for immediate consideration to

1:04:42move forward on this item.

1:04:46>> To to go into effect,

1:04:47>> let's move. Let's move Let's move it.

1:04:50But you want it to be um you want it to

1:04:52be voted on in favor, but you want to

1:04:55amend it to say that it's effective upon

1:04:57passage.

1:04:57>> Yes.

1:04:58>> All right. So, why don't we

1:04:59>> Thank you.

1:04:59>> Why don't we uh mend it first?

1:05:02>> We

1:05:04probably do it. So I think um

1:05:07>> you want to just clarify

1:05:15why don't we make a motion to approve

1:05:17with the understanding that if it's

1:05:19passed is effective upon uh upon passage

1:05:23is effective upon passage. Is that okay?

1:05:26>> Yeah. Motion to approve effective

1:05:29>> upon publica. Well, this is the

1:05:32>> empty.

1:05:33>> Do you understand? It's got to be. Okay.

1:05:35>> I'm still looking for the information.

1:05:37>> Yes. Because this doesn't speak to that.

1:05:38So,

1:05:40>> so how should we frame it, Madam City

1:05:42attorney?

1:05:43>> Okay. Motion to approve and then be

1:05:45second. Motion to approve and understand

1:05:47it'll be effective upon publication. You

1:05:49want to state that? Motion to approve.

1:05:52>> Yes. Yes, Mayor. I would like to make a

1:05:54motion for approval upon immediate

1:05:57approval upon publication. Is there a

1:06:00second?

1:06:00>> Second.

1:06:01>> With that understanding, all in favor

1:06:02indicate by saying I.

1:06:03>> Yes.

1:06:04>> Any opposed? So that was that was 9825.

1:06:06Do you want to move 11025?

1:06:09>> We did it together.

1:06:10>> Show me a hand on who seconded that.

1:06:12>> I guess you got to do it separate.

1:06:13>> Oh, I think the intent for motion was

1:06:16>> she did both.

1:06:16>> Well, let's do it. Let's just do it the

1:06:18second one. Is there a motion similar

1:06:19motion?

1:06:20>> Yes, mayor. I would like to make a

1:06:21motion for item number 110-25

1:06:24for immediate approval upon publication.

1:06:26>> Is there a second? Second, Miss

1:06:30>> immediate consideration goes into effect

1:06:33>> upon publication.

1:06:34>> Yes.

1:06:34>> The record will so reflect the motion in

1:06:36the second carry with it. All in favor

1:06:38by saying I.

1:06:39>> Any oppose? Passes unanimously. Thank

1:06:42you so much. Okay. Now we're on 105. I'm

1:06:44sorry, 106-25. Does somebody want to

1:06:47move that matter?

1:06:50>> Councilwoman, you have the floor. Let me

1:06:51give you the microphone.

1:06:52>> Which one are you? Well, that item, uh,

1:06:55mayor, we need to, um, again, not send

1:06:59it back, but we're expecting a letter to

1:07:02be sent to the clerk's off clerk's

1:07:05office and, um, to remove that item

1:07:08completely. uh measures will be and have

1:07:12been taken to remove item from the

1:07:14agenda for the next uh meeting

1:07:18>> table

1:07:19>> because because it's probably going to

1:07:21be withdrawn or have to be drawn if you

1:07:22just want to kill it.

1:07:24>> Yes, we want to kill it.

1:07:25>> Deny

1:07:26>> deny or table?

1:07:27>> Deny.

1:07:28>> Is there a motion and deny?

1:07:29>> Deny.

1:07:30>> Is there a second?

1:07:31>> All in favor by saying I.

1:07:33>> I.

1:07:34>> The motion carries. It's denied. You

1:07:36with me, Madam Clerk?

1:07:38about five people. Alfredo.

1:07:43>> All right. 6425 is a joint committee. Is

1:07:46there someone would like to move that

1:07:47matter?

1:07:49>> 64

1:07:5125

1:07:53moved by Councilman Newton. Is there a

1:07:55second?

1:07:56>> Any discussion?

1:07:59>> Maria's got discussion.

1:08:00>> All right. Let your lights if you want

1:08:01to be heard. Who want? Show me one.

1:08:04>> All right.

1:08:05So, I got Councilwoman McBride, then

1:08:07I'll get Councilwoman Pereira. Council

1:08:09McBride, you have the floor. Did you

1:08:11want to be heard?

1:08:12>> Who me? No.

1:08:15>> No.

1:08:17>> No.

1:08:17>> I just wanted to second, but you've been

1:08:20second.

1:08:20>> I have uh Councilwoman Pereira, then I

1:08:22have Councilman Newton. Councilwoman

1:08:24Pereira.

1:08:25>> Yes. I was I was scheduled for public

1:08:27comment and I seated my spa my slot in

1:08:30order to read this into the record

1:08:31during the agenda item. So, I'm going to

1:08:34read this into the record and I'll give

1:08:35the clerk a copy. Item 6425, resolution

1:08:39authorizing execution of a land

1:08:41development agreement for 157 and 172

1:08:43Golden Street, is a disservice to the

1:08:46taxpayers of Bridgeport. Taxpayers

1:08:48purchased 157 Golden Hill Street for

1:08:5082,000 in 1999, and our own appraiser,

1:08:54who conducted our statutoily mandated

1:08:57reval in 2025, valued the parcel at

1:09:00120,000. Yet, eight months later, a

1:09:04separate appraiser from Windham County

1:09:06appraised the exact same parcel at

1:09:0755,000. Based on standard inflation over

1:09:10the last 27 years, this parcel would be

1:09:13valued at 165,000.

1:09:15What we should all know is that not a

1:09:18single one of your homes or your

1:09:19parents' homes or your grandparents'

1:09:21homes has depreciated 32% over the last

1:09:2527 years. Taxpayers are not even

1:09:28recouping what they paid for it 27 years

1:09:31ago. Taxpayers purchased 171 Golden Hill

1:09:35Street for $450,000

1:09:37in 2000. And our own appraiser during

1:09:40the reval valued it at $216,930.

1:09:46Yet eight months later, an appraiser

1:09:48from Windham County appraised the exact

1:09:50same parcel at $145,000.

1:09:52based on standard inflation over the

1:09:54last 26 years. This parcel will be

1:09:57valued at $875,000.

1:10:00So, this parcel lost 52% of its value

1:10:03over the last 26 years. Taxpayers are

1:10:06not even recouping what they paid for it

1:10:0926 years ago. In total, losing $35,000

1:10:13on that one parcel. Taxers in total paid

1:10:16532,000 for both parcels 26 27 years

1:10:20ago, respectfully. Basic inflation

1:10:22brings the value to slightly over a

1:10:24million dollar. Yet, we're selling it to

1:10:27this developer for $250,000, which is a

1:10:30loss of some $790,000.

1:10:33The appraiser from the statutory reval

1:10:36even appraised it at 337. And this

1:10:39appraiser from Windham County um has

1:10:41come up with numbers. It's just not

1:10:43possible that anybody's parcel

1:10:45depreciated by 53%

1:10:48over the last 26 years. I'm very

1:10:51concerned about the agreement because

1:10:52the developer attended the joint

1:10:54committee meeting and testified that

1:10:57much of what is in this agreement he is

1:10:59not doing. He's no longer building eight

1:11:02floors, a maximum of four floors. He's

1:11:05no more no longer building 74 units. The

1:11:08maximum is 40. Uh amenities are being

1:11:12removed. There's a laundry mat, a

1:11:14rooftop uh seating area. All of this was

1:11:18testified into committee and no

1:11:20amendment was made to rectify the actual

1:11:23agreement.

1:11:25Um I do want to also say that it's 80%

1:11:29it's considered affordable at 80% of our

1:11:33average median income which in Fairfield

1:11:35County is 104,000.

1:11:38So affordable is that you don't spend

1:11:39more than 30% of your income on rent and

1:11:42utilities. That means the affordable

1:11:44units, if they're at making the $80,000

1:11:47[cough]

1:11:48[clears throat] a year, can be rented

1:11:50for 2400 a month for a onebedroom

1:11:53when HUD has defined affordable at 30%

1:11:57of rent and utilities. And Bridgeport's

1:11:59AMI is 56,000. So really, those units

1:12:02should not be more than $1,400 a month,

1:12:05and the developer is going to take them

1:12:07back to market rate after 10 years.

1:12:10Um, the LDA repeatedly references

1:12:13exhibit 2, which is the developer list

1:12:16of how many studios, one unit, two

1:12:19bedroom, all the amenities. And he has

1:12:22testified that he is not doing that.

1:12:25He's not investing 6 million anymore.

1:12:27All of this is written into the LDA. For

1:12:30all the reasons I've referenced here, I

1:12:32think Bridgeport taxpayers should

1:12:34minimally obtain what they paid for

1:12:35these properties 26 and 27 years ago.

1:12:38These are not affordable units and the

1:12:40fact that the agreement in no way

1:12:43conforms to what the developer stated on

1:12:45the record when he came before the

1:12:47committee. For all those reasons, I'm

1:12:49opposed.

1:12:50>> Thank you. There's a motion made and

1:12:52second. There's been discussion. Did you

1:12:53want to be heard, councilwoman?

1:12:58>> I'm sorry. Denise Taylor wants to be

1:12:59heard, too. So, I'm going to let any

1:13:01counciloman, any council person that

1:13:02wants to be heard. Mary Lee, go ahead

1:13:04and then I'll go to this side.

1:13:06Councilwoman, you have the floor. I got

1:13:08Denise next. Hold on one second, Denise.

1:13:12And Janette wants to be heard, too, I

1:13:13think. Right. Councilwoman Lee, you have

1:13:15the floor. And Ern, if you want

1:13:16anybody's lights on will be heard. And

1:13:18let me just say before I go and and and

1:13:21I know the counciloman submitted in

1:13:22writing what she just said. I would ask

1:13:24you to refer your documents because the

1:13:26city attorneys indicated that some of

1:13:28what was just stated may not be

1:13:29accurate, but I'll leave it up to your

1:13:31own judgment. Councilwoman Mary McBride,

1:13:33you have the floor.

1:13:37sound well and good, but that property

1:13:40been st sitting there for 20 years and

1:13:43nobody did anything, you know, with that

1:13:45property. And who's going to pay for

1:13:50that property

1:13:52what our council person is talking

1:13:53about? Ain't nobody going to pay that

1:13:55kind of money for it. And and the other

1:13:57thing that I would like to say is uh

1:14:02the man is paying more for that property

1:14:06that was appraised for. It was appraised

1:14:08for one thing, he paying more than what

1:14:10it was appraised for. And the other

1:14:13thing is is that you know we have

1:14:16property in Bridgeport been sitting here

1:14:17for eons and nobody touched it yet. So

1:14:22why is it that somebody that want to

1:14:24take this property that been sitting

1:14:26there and and they're paying for what

1:14:29the city appraised it for? I I don't see

1:14:32I am a taxpayer, a big taxpayer, but the

1:14:35fact of the matter is and I don't see

1:14:37anything wrong with it myself. I think

1:14:39that it's a good thing. He's not

1:14:41actually sitting for anything by the

1:14:43way. And since I've been on this

1:14:45council, you know, we've been giving

1:14:47people like all these breaks and tax

1:14:50breaks and stuff. He's not acting for

1:14:52anything. And you mean to tell me that

1:14:54it's not a deal for the city? Yes, it

1:14:57is. And the last thing that I want to

1:15:00say is is that um who who who who is

1:15:04going to buy the property? I mean, no

1:15:07one here, nobody else if they would. And

1:15:09then and if if anybody else, look at

1:15:12those apartment over there by Bass Pro.

1:15:15Nobody. I make pretty good money and I

1:15:18cannot afford those places over there.

1:15:21But I don't see anybody complaining

1:15:23about that. I think that we that I think

1:15:26that it's a good thing that he taking

1:15:28that property off our hand because at

1:15:30least we'll get some tax for it. Now we

1:15:33not getting any tax for it for anything.

1:15:35So I'm I I'm for I voted for it and I'll

1:15:39vote for it again if I have to.

1:15:41>> Thank you. Councilwoman uh Taylor Moy,

1:15:45you have the floor.

1:15:50>> Um I I just want to say thank you,

1:15:52Reverend Lee. You know, I want to thank

1:15:54you for everything that you just stated

1:15:56and what you just said, especially about

1:15:58that property sitting there and no one's

1:16:01doing nothing with it for all them

1:16:02years. you know, this is something that

1:16:05um this developer came to George and

1:16:08myself in regards to and we spoke about

1:16:11this and we looked at everything. We

1:16:14turned it upside down, you know, um how

1:16:18great it would be for our community,

1:16:20what it would do um as well as for the

1:16:23city of Bridgeport having some more

1:16:25affordable housing, some housing here in

1:16:28the city. We just heard tonight a young

1:16:30lady um talk about how hard it is for

1:16:33her to find something someplace to live

1:16:35in this here. This is in the south end,

1:16:38but it's not going to just be for people

1:16:40that live in the south end, you know.

1:16:42And I am really getting um sick and

1:16:46tired of people that just jump into

1:16:50districts and try to stop some of the

1:16:53work that's trying to be done there. you

1:16:55know, it's a whole lot I really wanted

1:16:58to say, but I'm just like

1:17:00Reverend Lee just took all my words, you

1:17:02know, and again, I want to thank her for

1:17:04that, you know, but I also want to say

1:17:08that we here in the city of Bridgeport,

1:17:11we have to start looking at how we can

1:17:13build our city. And we can't build our

1:17:16city unless we have places for people to

1:17:19live. That's all I want to say. Thank

1:17:21you.

1:17:21>> Thank you, Councilwoman. You have the

1:17:23floor. Thank you, mayor. Um, Denise,

1:17:26thank you for saying that. You know, we

1:17:27have districts, and yes, we represent

1:17:29the whole city. I've been here almost 30

1:17:32years. I've seen lots empty for that

1:17:35amount amount of time. We have

1:17:38developers that are willing to spend

1:17:39100% of their money, not asking us for a

1:17:42thing to build downtown to make it what

1:17:46it needs to be, progressive. We are our

1:17:49own worst enemy. we stop things that are

1:17:51good, but then we want to give our money

1:17:53away when it's not and do all the tax

1:17:56abatements. He's asked for nothing. Yes,

1:17:59he's making it smaller, but the economy

1:18:02and whatever the reason is, that's fine.

1:18:04He can come back to OPED and do what he

1:18:06needs to do. But I don't understand why

1:18:08we constantly are getting into other

1:18:11people's districts.

1:18:13If it was something that was tragic, I

1:18:16could understand getting involved. This

1:18:18is not This is a given. Let's build

1:18:20downtown. That'll make the whole city

1:18:22thrive.

1:18:24>> I mean, I'd love to see my taxes go

1:18:26down. If we don't develop, our taxes

1:18:28will not go down. So, everybody's got to

1:18:30be aware of that. Thank you.

1:18:32>> Thank you, Councilman. You have the

1:18:34floor.

1:18:35>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. and members of the

1:18:37council. I attended the contracts

1:18:40meeting

1:18:42and to have a young man come before us

1:18:47[clears throat] bright

1:18:49had a plan

1:18:51to build what we all talk about. We need

1:18:55affordable housing.

1:18:58And if my hearing was correct and those

1:19:02that was at the meeting

1:19:05when the question came up, would you be

1:19:07willing to adjust the rates? He said he

1:19:11would be willing to adjust some of the

1:19:13rates

1:19:14so people

1:19:16could afford to live there. So if we're

1:19:19going to tell the story, let's tell it

1:19:21right.

1:19:22He's probably

1:19:25been the first developer mayor

1:19:28that's never come before us saying I

1:19:31need a tax abatement

1:19:34for 5 years, for 10 years.

1:19:37When he builds this, we get the taxes

1:19:41[snorts]

1:19:42on what is owed.

1:19:45It won't be phased [singing] in. He'll

1:19:47pay whatever the taxes are.

1:19:50And that's been the first developer, and

1:19:52I've been here a long time.

1:19:54I can't think of five developers

1:19:58who's ever come to this city without

1:20:00wanting a tax abatement.

1:20:03>> Okay. So, we need to be in the business

1:20:07of encouraging development,

1:20:12not disenouraging people

1:20:15because we think you should pay more or

1:20:18pay less. He's paying more

1:20:21for that property than it was appraised

1:20:23at. And I don't see no expert appraiser

1:20:27sitting around this table.

1:20:31Okay? He got an appraisal by the city.

1:20:36>> He's paying more than what that piece of

1:20:39property was appraised at. So those that

1:20:42weren't at the meeting and didn't tune

1:20:44in,

1:20:45I'm giving you what God loved. That's

1:20:47the truth. have a good day.

1:20:49>> Thank you, Councilwoman Madin. You have

1:20:51the floor.

1:20:52>> Thank you. Um I was also at the meeting

1:20:54and I did read everything that was in

1:20:57our packet. Um and yes, I'm going to

1:21:00repeat a little bit of what everybody

1:21:01was saying, but the city did acquire

1:21:04everything in 1999 and 2000. Um but one

1:21:07thing that we're missing is that there

1:21:08were buildings on there. So when there's

1:21:10buildings on a property, it's worth

1:21:12more. They're empty right now. They've

1:21:14been sitting empty. My daughter's 27.

1:21:16That's how long that's been empty,

1:21:19right? So, for it to be sitting there,

1:21:21how much money have we not already spent

1:21:23on t on on on not having any taxes? How

1:21:25much money have we spent taking care of

1:21:28that property? How much money have we

1:21:29lost? So, if we're going to continue to

1:21:32say we're not going to take something

1:21:34because it's not the right amount, he's

1:21:36not asking for anything. He's not asking

1:21:38for us to build anything. He's not

1:21:40asking us for any money. He's not asking

1:21:42for a tax break. we're going to be

1:21:44getting taxes as soon as he purchases

1:21:46the property. So that that's a win for

1:21:48us. Um it may not be exactly the amount

1:21:51that we spent, but again there were

1:21:52buildings on that property which make

1:21:54the property value cost more. So that's

1:21:57the reason why I will be voting yes for

1:21:59this item.

1:21:59>> Thank you. I see no other lights, no

1:22:01other hands. With that, all in favor

1:22:03indicate by saying I.

1:22:05>> Any opposed?

1:22:06>> Opposed.

1:22:06>> Thank you. So now we have 108-25. Does

1:22:09somebody want to move that matter?

1:22:12Economic and community development

1:22:15and economic community report. Does

1:22:17anybody want to move that matter?

1:22:20>> I made a motion.

1:22:21>> There's a motion. Is there a second?

1:22:23Motion and second. All in favor indicate

1:22:25by saying I.

1:22:27>> Any oppose? Did I hear a motion to

1:22:29adjurnn?

1:22:30>> All in favor indicate by saying I. Thank

1:22:31you so much.