Comments(2)

|

E-mail

|

Print

Bridgeport Police Chief Joe Gaudett told City Council members Monday night that police cannot enforce an 11 p.m. youth curfew unless the entire community — from residents to educators to social service agencies — is involved.

The city’s legislative body is considering a proposal to enforce a curfew following the shooting death of 14-year-old Justin Thompson in the East End. A public hearing will take place on Monday at 6 p.m. in City Hall to field community input. Actually, a curfew ordinance is already on the books, passed in 1994 after years of violent crime devastated neighborhoods. But, the chief noted, additional resources would be required to do the job.

He recommended in the short term a pilot program that would enable police to gather information for several weeks and report back to the council. Translation: don’t ask us for results unless you give us the tools to do the job.

For more on this check out the story by Keila Torres Ocasio here.

Is this curfew business proposed by council members legit or just for show?

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

Comments(5)

|

E-mail

|

Print

Mayor Bill Finch says pay increases to roughly 80 non-classified city positions are necessary to attract quality job applicants. Opponents claim the city ordinance pushing salary hikes is being rushed through the City Council. A public hearing on this issue will take place Tuesday, 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers before the full council meets at 7  to potentially vote on the matter.

The ordinance states … “the Mayor may authorize salary increases within the salary ranges established by ordinance or not more than fifteen percent (15%) outside of such salary ranges as the Mayor deems warranted …” The positions include discretionary appointments of the mayor such as office staff.

Critics, including the Connecticut Post Editorial Board, claim the increases are out of line, particularly in light of the city’s fiscal condition in a difficult economy that required extensive givebacks by unionized personnel. The mayor says many of his discretionary appointments sacrificed more than bargaining units.

What say you?

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