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Republican Town Chairman John Slater is extremely unhappy about what he calls “illegally granted” raises given to some of Mayor Bill Finch’s top staff and two City Council members last year. The raises, some as high as $12,000, were given during the last fiscal year but not budgeted until this year.

Partly because of this, the Council raised the amount budgeted for union concessions from $1.6 million to $2 million. In part, they said, to make up for more than $95,0000 in raises to non-union workers.

Here is the release sent by the city’s Republican Town Committee:

“This is another example of this administration’s contempt for the Bridgeport taxpayers and the City Charter,” Slater said. “These raises were not included in last year’s city budget, but they were approved anyway. That clearly violated the charter and probably state law. IT also increased the city budget shortfall in the coming year by almost $100,000.”

Faced with the need to cover that shortfall the all Democratic City Council has added insult to injury by using potential concessions from unionized workers in order to pay for these raises. It is the height of hypocrisy for this administration and the City Council to ask hard-working, lower paid, civil service, employees to accept reduced pay and benefits, in order to pay for illegal raises, some of them in the tens of thousands of dollars, for the politically well-connected.

Slater said that instead of ratifying the Mayor’s illegal action the Council should roll back the raises and take action to prevent similar un-budgeted raises from being granted in the future.

The City can and should seek appropriate concessions from employee unions as part of a plan for addressing the city’s financial problems. But, any savings resulting from those concessions should be used to reduce the tax increase approved by the Council, not to reward friends and supporters of the Mayor.

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This morning, Mayor Bill Finch attended the Police Department’s Compstat meeting, where they share the week’s crime data, and brought a special guest along; none other than actor John Ratzenberger, a Bridgeport native.

“I’m here in Bridgeport to let the world know Bridgeport, Connecticut beat Kittyhawk by two years on first controlled air flight,” he said, when he introduced himself at the meeting.

Apparently, Ratzenberger is working with the mayor on a way to celebrate and let the world know Gustav Whitehead, German native, was the first in flight — in Bridgeport. A movie maybe? Stay tuned…

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After learning that Colorblends, on the corner of Barnum Avenue and Helen Street, had planted 10,000 tulips, I just had to stop by and check it out. The company, a wholesale flower bulb business, bought this lot at the corner of Maple and Hallett streets and planted these gorgeous flowers. As someone who grew up on the East Side, I love seeing color here!

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BRIDGEPORT — When the City Council started its regular meeting Monday, it was announced that Mayor Bill Finch would be late. It took all of two minutes to figure out why.

The University of Bridgeport Women’s Gymnastics Team was being honored by the council for earning its 5th consecutive National Championship. The mayor’s disdain for his city’s four-year university is a matter of public knowledge.

State senators Andres Ayala, D-Bridgeport, and Anthony Musto, D-Trumbull, meanwhile took the time to send out a statement congratulating the group for its fifth win and announcing that they too presented the students with a citation.

“I could not be more proud of the young women on the University of Bridgeport’s gymnastics team,” Ayala said. “These student athletes have continued the dynasty of victory, and I offer my most sincere congratulations to them for giving their all year after year.”

The University of Bridgeport Purple Knights overcame Texas Women’s University at the championship in Louisiana, setting a school record along the way.

“The Purple Knights gymnastics team should be very proud of what they have accomplished,” said Senator Musto. “Winning the team championship is remarkable enough, but to set a school record and continue this five-year tradition of excellence is an accomplishment that the entire state of Connecticut should applaud.”

Everyone except Finch, apparently, who was eating at an Asian restaurant in the city’s Hollow neighborhood during the council’s presentation in honor of the gymnasts. The mayor was just late enough to emerge from the Democratic Caucus Room at the back of the Council chambers just as the women gymnasts were exciting out the front.

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Minister Velma Lovelace signed up in advance to speak at Mayor Bill Finch’s weekly brown bag lunch Wednesday. Unlike other residents, though, she didn’t want to share any problems, concerns or issues with the city’s chief elected official. She just wanted him to meet her niece.

“We always see you on TV,” said Lovelace, who has met the mayor before, “and I wanted her to get a close look at you.”

“And I look just as funny-looking in person,” Finch joked.

“No, you look much nicer than on TV,” Lovelace said. “A lot of people really don’t know you and they don’t know what you do for Bridgeport.”

When Finch looked on expectantly, waiting for her to share any concerns, Lovelace said, “No. That was it. I just wanted her to meet you.”

Her niece, Natalie DeCosta, meanwhile, sat by quietly, laughing along with the half dozen residents waiting to share their city issues with Finch. DeCosta said she didn’t know the mayor made himself available to taxpayers every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

“I didn’t know this was available. That you were this accessible,” she said. “I think it needs to be promoted more so people can know…and that you are so cool too.”

That comment made Finch laugh. That’s not what his kids think, he said, noting that his young children think he’s “corny.” He then proceeded to explain why — by singing the riff Rihanna belts out on a commercial about how “Obama’s on fire.”

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BRIDGEPORT — Nemo has made Mayor Bill Finch a very unpopular man.

Photo from Facebook group "Tell Mayor Finch to resign"

Nearly a week after Blizzard Nemo dumped 30 inches of snow in the city — and more in nearby towns — Bridgeport is still digging its way out. In response to the city’s delay in clearing streets, someone has started a Facebook group asking Finch to resign.

In the group’s description someone wrote, “Mayor Finch’s incompetence during Blizzard NEMO has not only hurt the city financially but endangered the health and safety of our city’s residents. HE MUST RESIGN!”

On Thursday evening, the city announced that almost 100 percent of streets were passable, but the snow emergency parking ban remains in place.

That means there is No Parking on marked Snow Emergency streets. No parking on Snow Emergency streets allows our crews to clear the streets of snow so emergency vehicles have safe passage.

Alternate side of the street parking continues in effect on all other streets – odd side on odd-numbered days and even-side on even-numbered days.

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From the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County, Inc.:

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Even an upcoming blizzard doesn’t deter fires. In the course of one hour, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Bridgeport firefighters have been called to two fires, according to dispatch.

The first fire was at 1255 Madison Ave. It is a small, one-story commercial building holding a convenience store. Then, firefighters were called to the scene of a Black Rock laundromat at 2615 Fairfield Ave. The department was also called out to several car fires.

Fire officials said all were minor fires with no injuries.