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Daily Commentary: Councilman accused of allegedly making racist comments

By ROB SULLIVAN

The Bridgeport Banner has learned the Bridgeport City Councilman accused of allegedly leaving racist comments on a colleague's answering machine (See Bridgeport Banner Oct. 30th) is Robert Walsh. Walsh, who is white, allegedly left a message containing racist remarks on the answering machine of E. Yvette Brantley, who is black. Brantley and Walsh are partners on the City Council as both Democrats serve the 132nd district.

Walsh has a history of bullying colleagues on the City Council. He viciously belittled former 132nd City Councilman Elaine Pivirotto, also via telephone, the transcript of which was published by both the Bridgeport Banner and the Fairfield County Weekly. He also nearly came to blows last year with Council President Tom McCarthy (D133) over the vote of Councilman Brian Crowe (D130) concerning economic relief for the Bridgeport Bluefish.

No matter what the circumstances, there are no excuses for this type of behavior. Bridgeport residents need to expect more from their elected officals and need to hold them accountable for their actions, votes and decision making. Bob Walsh is no exception.

Daily Commentary: Political legend Fred Biebel passes away at 83

By ROB SULLIVAN

Stratford Republican Fred Biebel died Tuesday, leaving a political legacy that stretches from Stratford through Hartford to Washington D.C. He also represented the politics of inclusion, a notion that seems almost quaint in these days of political divisiveness.

Biebel began his political career on the Stratford Town Council in the fifties, became state chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, worked for six Presidents of the United States and served as co-chairman of the Republican National Committee during the Reagan administration. And through all of this he reamined extremely active in the Stratford community and his local church.

The Stratford resident was the Barnum Festival Ringmaster in 1990 and could be seen at every Great Street parade, proudly wearing his Ringmasters top coat and tails. He will be sadly missed in Greater Bridgeport and far beyond.

In these days of extremism and diviseiveness, those involved in politics would do well to remember the example set by Fred Biebel.

Daily Commentary: Finch flip-flops on library issue

By ROB SULLIVAN

In truly disingenuous fashion, Mayor Bill Finch has weighed in on the November 3rd referedum vote, which will ask Bridgeport voters if they want one mill of the city's annual budget dedicated specifically for the Bridgeport Public Library. In short, if passed, this simply reallocates the one mill from other budget line items to the Park City Libraries.

Finch's public but certainly not private comments on the referendum question were essentialy, "Let the voters decide." Hmmm...then doesn't that make you wonder why the city sued to keep the question off the ballot. A court battle that the left egg on the administration's collective faces when library advocates won the case keeping the question on the ballot.

While watching News Channel 12 this morning, I smiled as the Norwalk station presented a lenghty segment on the issue. Library advocates including City Librarian and Black Rock resident Scott Hughes explained why the library needs a funding boost and the dire consequences for the system if the referendum fails. We the viewers were then informed that Mayor Bill Finch said if the question passes there are two options: raise taxes or cut services. As Harry Truman once said, that is pure unadulterated bullshit. And what's worse Finch knows it: he's just using false scare tactics to get his way.

To be fair, Finch hasn't really flip-flopped on the issue as he has privately been steaming that this referendum question might pass and he was incensed when the city lost it's court case. This from a guy who emotionally spoke of his love of reading while fawning over First Lady laura Bush at a Big Read kickoff event a few years back. This from a guy who takes credit for the Black Rock Library renovations even though it was Mayor John Fabrizi's administration that secured the funding. The mayor actually showed his true colors when he gutted library funding in his early days in office.

But now Finch tells you to beware the bogeyman: higher taxes and fewer services. In reality, it's Bill Finch who has to beware the bogey man because this referendum can pass. Cheers.