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From the Democratic National Commitee:

Public Logistics Information for Bridgeport “Moving America Forward” Rally with President Obama

Bridgeport rally is one of four events happening around the country as part of final get-out-the-vote push this weekend

Bridgeport – With a “Moving America Forward” rally with President Obama set for this Saturday in Bridgeport, the following is logistical information for members of the public planning to attend the event at the Arena at Harbor Yard, 600 Main Street in Bridgeport, CT. Doors will open at 1:00 PM and the program will start at 2:00 PM.

ENTRANCE:

Event attendees should use the main entrance for the arena located at 600 Main Street in Bridgeport.

DIRECTIONS:

Please visit http://www.arenaatharboryard.com/?p=directions for directions to the Arena at Harbor Yard.

PARKING:

Parking is available at numerous public and private parking lots in the neighborhood surrounding the Arena at Harbor Yard. Parking is available on a first-come first-served basis. Event attendees are encouraged to take public transportation and car pool.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged. The arena is located 2 blocks from the Bridgeport Metro North Train Station which is on the New Haven Line.

ADA:

ADA entrance is at the arena’s “Premium Seat Entrance” located off Water Street between the Arena and the Baseball Stadium.

RSVP:

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public wishing to RSVP should visit: http://ct.barackobama.com/BridgeportRally

OTHER:

For security reasons, please avoid bringing bags to the rally if at all possible—participants should expect airport-like security. No signs, banners, or laptops are permitted.

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If you’re a Democratic candidate it matters.

Multiple polls show single digit races between Congressman Jim Himes and GOP opponent Dan Debicella in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District that takes in the state’s largest city and Republican-dominated suburbs. The same goes for the governor’s race between Democrat Dan Malloy and Republican Tom Foley.

Dick Blumenthal, according to the polls, has pulled away to a double-digit lead over Republican Linda McMahon to replace the retiring Chris Dodd in the U.S. Senate. Still, with McMahon dumping millions into the race in the final week to cap off her $50 million campaign investment the Blumenthal camp is not taking the polling lead for granted.

The Bridgeport election season was quiet until Jim Himes announced one week ago the president will visit the Arena at Harbor Yard to campaign for Democratic candidates. Doors open 1 p.m. on Saturday, first come first serve. Local Democratic operatives hope Barack’s appeal drives thousands more to vote. Barack will arrive on Saturday leading to two full days of media saturation.

GOP operatives will drive pins into their Barack voodoo dolls to will down the city turnout. It makes perfect sense. Some of the races are so close the candidates and followers are on pins and needles.

(Check out my daily webzine www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

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When developer Robert Scinto entered a guilty plea in federal court in Bridgeport Thursday it changed the entire complexion of the government’s public corruption probe of Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti.

What appeared to be a thin case against Lauretti now provides the government a witness that can seemingly testify about the cash and benefits provided the mayor, according to the plea agreement and information that the government released. What isn’t clear yet is how the government plans to link (quid pro quo) those benefits to a Scinto development deal, and what other witnesses will assist the case.

The next weeks and months will be stressful for both Scinto and Lauretti, Scinto providing details of his relationship with Lauretti to the government and the mayor trying to figure out how he’ll defend this if he’s charged, something that appears more likely given Scinto’s plea. The way the government charged the case I don’t see Scinto doing any prison time if he provides full cooperation to the government. His charge applies to a false statement he gave FBI agents regarding benefits to city officials. This kind of charge is low under federal sentencing guidelines which a judge uses to determine a sentence. Guidelines, once mandatory, are now advisory. Ironically, Scinto was once the landlord to the local field office of the FBI which leases space at 1000 Lafayette Boulevard, a commercial building Scinto developed more than 20 years ago.

Scinto has done many good things for regional arts and social service organizations, including Bridgeport where he made his start. His success came as a result of hard work and development insight.

Still, this is a heavy fall for a successful developer who has spoken openly through the years about his distaste for the landuse regulatory process in Bridgeport. Scinto had a low tolerance for Bridgeport politics and pulled away from the city. Shelton, he claimed, was more business friendly.

It will not be easy, but Scinto can move on from this and regain regional development respect. As for Lauretti, who has been living in denial regarding the federal investigation, he better get himself a damn good lawyer.

(Check out my daily webzine at www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

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Tuesday night at Testo’s Restaurant Congressman Jim Himes announced that President Obama will visit Bridgeport Oct. 30 to campaign for Democratic candidates. The place went wild.

For Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa, Himes’ presidential declaration was gravy on a night Mario served 400 dinners at a party fundraiser and political rally. The restaurant was a jammin’ love fest of enthusiasm, rather real or just to keep up appearances. Even State Rep. Chris Caruso who supported Dan Malloy for governor while Mario supported Ned Lamont in the primary, set foot in Mario’s restaurant, something he hadn’t done in 15 years, as a show of party unity. Mario and The Big Wave haven’t exactly been buds through the decades. Caruso visiting Mario’s restaurant is the stuff of political blackmail photos. Even Mayor Bill Finch and Caruso, never buds either and possible mayoral opponents in 2011, shared the stage to promote Democratic unity.

Ah, yes, everything is all peaches and cream, milk and honey, baby! (Well, at least for one night.) Bridgeport’s voter turnout is key to the reelection of a bunch of Democratic candidates.

Every now and then Mario does something to reiterate his relevance as a Democratic player in Connecticut. Tuesday was one of those nights. In parts of the restaurant a shoehorn was required to make room for everyone. Mario’s restaurant is once again the epicenter of city politics. It’s where money is raised, deals are cut, candidates pay respect, and make no mistake, Mario is one of those throwback pols who loves respect.  Mario likes to keep score too. If you don’t show, he’ll remember.

The turnout at Mario’s restaurant was equal to the actual money raised. At $35 per ticket the night took in close to $15,000.  Just about every key candidate, statewide or regional took turns addressing the gathering of party insiders, contractors and access seekers. It was the place to be seen. And Mario ate up every second of it. To Mario’s way of thinking, what’s the sense of being in politics if you’re not relevant. Mario made sure of that Tuesday night.

(Check out my daily webzine www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

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Congressman Jim Himes announced Tuesday night that President Obama is scheduled to make a campaign stop on his behalf Oct. 30 in Bridgeport. Himes is locked in a tough reelection battle with Republican Dan Debicella.

(Check out my daily webzine www.onlyinbridgeport.com.)

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They’re Baaaaack!

Former Mayor Joe Ganim and former State Senator Ernie Newton spent two years in the joint together in New Jersey. Friday morning Ernie regained his voting status which enables him to seek public office. Joe is engaged in a media tour of Connecticut television stations including one that will air Sunday morning on Dennis House’s Face The State WFSB Channel 3.

There is no question Ernie will run for something. Will it be the mayoral cycle next year or his old state senate seat in 2012 currently occupied by Ed Gomes? Ernie’s going to keep the political community guessing and that’s just the way he wants it. Build a buzz, create speculation.

Joe’s a competitor and appears itching to get back in the political action. Will he? For now he’s saying I’m not really thinking about running. Translation: Joe’s keeping his options open.  He currently resides on the Ganim family compound in Easton with his wife and children. Joe is completing community service while he tries to regain his law license. He’s making the media rounds sticking to his story that he didn’t do anything wrong in an effort to resuscitate his public standing. Joe may not have done so well in the witness box but he’s mighty good before a camera. The only place for a political future for Joe is Bridgeport where there is nostalgia in some city neighborhoods. Ten straight years of balanced budgets and no tax increase will do that.

Would Joe really move back to Bridgeport to run for mayor next year? If so, could he compete? If Joe can raise money he’d be competitive. Mayor Bill Finch doesn’t exactly have Democratic voters in his back pocket. But would Joe run as a Democrat? Might he say screw it, I’ll bypass the party animals and run as an independent?

Will State Rep. Chris Caruso, who lost close mayoral primaries to John Fabrizi in 2003 and Finch in 2007, give it one more crack? Caruso’s been quiet. We’ll see if he steps up his public profile after the November gubernatorial election. And what about Johnny Fabs? He’d like to have his old job back.

Oh, my, who’d have thunk the possibilities?

(Check out my daily webzine www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

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In 11 months Democratic primary voters will decide if Mayor Bill Finch deserves another four-year contract. The mayor does not want to raise taxes in an election year.

One deal in particular may be the difference between a Finch royal flush or being flushed out of office.

City officials from Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe have been meeting in earnest to determine if a regional wastewater treatment authority makes economic sense. Monroe wants to widen commercial development. The way to do that is to tie into Trumbull’s sewer line that’s connected to Bridgeport’s sewage treatment system. Trumbull has sewers but no treatment plant. The cost to build one is enormous.

Finch has told his negotiating team of lawyers to make sure this deal happens. For Finch it could mean a one-shot revenue of $40 million dollars to his next budget. State law allows two or more communities to create a regional water pollution control authority, essentially a mini-municipality, that processes waste. (New Haven and neighbors have such an agreement.) The authority would purchase the wastewater infrastructure from Bridgeport and Trumbull. Presto, instant moolah, especially for Bridgeport with its two treatment systems. Bridgeport has been processing Trumbull waste in a decades-long fee agreement. The current fee agreement comes due in two years. For Monroe, sewers mean more development and more tax revenue. The key player in this deal is Trumbull. Does it make long-term financial sense to do this regional partnership? Does it mean Trumbull will subsidize Bridgeport improvements?

What’s the down side? How will this impact water usage rates? Ratepayers will have to pay for the debt service inherited by the new authority and all the cost improvements that go with it. Bridgeport has an antiquated system. Its storm and sanitary systems are not separated. That’s why you’ll see portions of the city ankle deep in water during heavy rain storms with raw sewage spilling into the harbor from the city’s East End and West End treatment plants. It’s messy. Trumbull, with a separated system, doesn’t have Bridgeport’s problem. The city has begun the process to separate its antiquated lines, necessary to avoid ponding, sewage overflows and accommodate new development.

Also, what impact would this deal have on the city’s stretched treatment systems? Is it an environmental nightmare?

There’s a lot of money processing poop. Lawyers, architects, engineers, construction companies, wastewater consultants and a whole bunch more will be positioned for work. The city has already spent tens of thousands in legal fees, from Finch’s perspective a worthy investment if the deal happens. Water pollution control authorities from the respective towns, legislative bodies and state Department of Environmental Protection will be part of the approval process.

Will Poopville happen? Watch it play out over the next few months.