Month: February 2014

Survey says!

Below is a press release I received from Congressman Himes’ office.  I normally don’t post political things but I’m interested on your opinion on this:

#WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) is one of the more moderate Members of Congress, according to a new report released by the National Journal recently. The publication’s 2013 Vote Ratings show that Himes voted with the other party on fiscal and economic issues more than any other member of the Connecticut delegation but more often leaned to the left on social issues and matters of foreign policy. In the House of Representatives – currently made up of 200 Democrats and 232 Republicans – Himes is the 130th most liberal or the 302nd most conservative member overall, placing him among more moderate Democrats and slightly left of center among his colleagues in Congress as a whole. Click here to view the full list of rankings.

“I represent a moderate district that appreciates a balanced approach to legislating, and I think my voting record reflects that. I am proud of my record of promoting fiscal responsibility and economic growth, advocating for social progress, and supporting level-headed, pragmatic foreign policy,” said Himes. “Good ideas aren’t liberal or conservative—they are the right choice. I have always been willing to reach across the aisle, and National Journal’s ratings are a testament to my less partisan approach.”

On economic issues, Himes is the most moderate in the Connecticut delegation, rated “more conservative” than 39% of the House when it comes to economic issues. But, on social issues, the study ranked Himes as more liberal than 69% of Congress.  National Journal’s assessment on foreign policy issues – which covered topics ranging closing the Guantanamo Bay Prison to reducing defense spending and ending the war in Afghanistan – found Himes’ record to be more liberal than 83% of Congress, the most liberal in the Connecticut delegation.

National Journal’s 2013 Vote Ratings assign House Members separate scores for their roll-call votes on key economic, social, and foreign policy issues during 2013 on both liberal and conservative scales. The scales are presented as percentiles indicating above what percentage of other Members that particular Member ranks on the scale.

Mayor Finch Declares Snow Emergency for 8 p.m. Tonight

Vehicles must be moved to ‘even-numbered’ side of the street
by 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, Feb. 12)

 BRIDGEPORT, CT (February 12, 2014) – Mayor Bill Finch has declared a Snow Emergency beginning at 8 p.m. tonight (Feb. 12) in anticipation of the snowstorm which is expected to begin in the early morning hours on Thursday and may drop five to eight inches of snow across the area.

During a Snow Emergency, residents must move their cars off posted Snow Emergency streets or be subject to fines and towing. Alternate-side-of-the-street parking rules are in effect for all other streets throughout the City in order to allow snow plow drivers’ clear passage. To comply with the Snow Emergency Alternate-Side-of-the-Street Parking Rules, residents must move their cars to the ‘even-numbered’ side of the street by 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, February 12), and remain on the even-numbered side of the street until the odd-numbered side of the street has been cleared. (House numbers ending in 0,2,4,6, and 8 constitute the even-numbered side of the street.)

 

For the latest updates, resources and information about the snowstorm, residents are asked to check www.bridgeportct.gov/snow, local television and radio news outlets and follow the City of Bridgeport on Twitter and Facebook and Mayor Bill Finch on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Residents can also stay informed by signing up for the City’s Reverse 911 system online at www.bridgeportct.gov/rev911.  “If you haven’t done so already, now is a good time to sign up for Reverse 911 to receive immediate updates on snow emergencies directly to your home phone, cell phone and/or email address,” said Scott Appleby, Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for the City of Bridgeport.

 

During the storm, residents may use the following school parking lots to move their cars off the street: Cesar Batalla School, 606 Howard Ave.; Central High School, 1 Lincoln Blvd. (Madison Avenue entrance); Geraldine Johnson School, 475 Lexington Ave.; Hall School, 290 Clermont Ave.; Luis Munoz Marin School, 479 Helen St., and Jettie Tisdale School, 250 Hollister Ave. A full list of Snow Emergency parking areas can be found at the following link: www.bridgeportct.gov/snow-emergency-parking-lots
Snow Emergency streets are marked with white signs with red lettering. A list of Snow Emergency streets can be found on the City’s website — http://www.bridgeportct.gov/snowemergencystreets . No parking is allowed on Snow Emergency streets. Vehicles left on Snow Emergency streets after the ban goes into effect will be subject to fines and towing.

 

“Our crews are ready for yet another snowstorm. To help clear our roads as quickly as possible, we’re asking residents to comply with the Snow Emergency parking rules – keep cars off snow emergency streets and move cars to the even side of the street on all other streets,” said Mayor Finch. “I urge residents to watch local television, listen to the radio, and stay connected to social media and the City’s website, www.bridgeportct.gov for updates.”

 

Updated Sanitation and Recycling Schedule from the Department of Public Works: Sanitation and recycling pickups scheduled for Thursday, February 13 have been postponed to Friday, February 14. Friday’s sanitation and recycling pickups will be pushed back to Saturday, February 15. The City’s Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday, February 13.

 

During the storm, residents with non-emergency, weather-related questions or concerns should call the City’s BConnected Call Center at 203.576.1311 or the Emergency Operations Center at 203.579.3829. Residents can use the City’s BConnected request system online at www.bridgeportct.gov/bconnected  or on the BConnected mobile application available on iPhone or Android smartphones to report any snow-related concerns.

 

Note from Bridgeport Police Dept.: Vehicles left parked on Snow Emergency streets will be subject to tagging and towing. Violating the alternate-side of the street parking rules also will result in fines. A list of Snow Emergency streets can be found on the City’s website by following this link: http://www.bridgeportct.gov/snowemergencystreets.

 

Note from Department of Public Works:

  • During the Snow Emergency all City residents should heed alternate side of the street parking rules until the Snow Emergency has been lifted.
  • Residents must move their cars to the ‘even-numbered’ side of the street by 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, February 12) to facilitate efficient snow removal. Once the ‘even-numbered’ side of the street is clear (house numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8), residents can move their cars to the odd-numbered side of the street (house numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9), so crews can clear the ‘even-numbered’ side of the street. Residents can then heed the alternate side of the street parking rules until the Snow Emergency has been lifted (park on the ‘even-numbered’ side of the street on even-numbered calendar days and the ‘odd-numbered’ side of the street on odd-numbered calendar days.)
  • The Department of Public Works reminds all residents and business owners to shovel the sidewalk and walkways, including curb cuts, for pedestrian safety. If sidewalks are not cleared, the City may clean the sidewalk and charge the owner a fee for doing so, as well as impose a $100 per day fine for violating a City ordinance.
  • Please do not shovel, or use a snow blower or snowplow to throw snow back into the street from your driveway or sidewalk. Anyone found throwing snow back into the street will be subject to a fine.
  • Residents and business owners are also asked to clear fire hydrants and the immediate area around it of snow to improve neighborhood safety.
  • Snow Shoveling Tip: Snow should be shoveled to the right side of your driveway as you are facing the roadway. Shoveling snow away from the direction of the snowplow will prevent the bulk of the snow from being pushed back into the driveway.

Pauline Mize Appointed Airport Manager

BRIDGEPORT, CT (February 11, 2014) – Mayor Bill Finch today announced that Pauline A. Mize is the top-ranked finalist in the City’s national search for a new Airport Manager. Her appointment was approved by the Civil Service Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

 

“Ms. Mize’s wealth of experience in various facets of airport management, grants and economic development projects will be invaluable as we implement the $40 million, FAA-approved safety zone improvements at Sikorsky Airport,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “She will be the point person to ensure the project is completed on time and on budget.”

 

The Runway Safety Area (RSA) project, scheduled for completion by December 2015, is the culmination of more than 20 years of effort on the part of federal, state, the City of Bridgeport and the Town of Stratford to improve and restore an important transportation asset within the region.  Relocation of a flooding state roadway, cleaning up an environmental hazard, improving wetland areas and restoring marsh habitat are also part of the project which will benefit other parts of the community.

 

“The dedicated and professional efforts of all the partners in this project including FAA, EPA, DEEP, DOT, City of Bridgeport and Town of Stratford, have demonstrated extraordinary efforts to advance this and I am excited to be part of this team, “ said Mize.

 

Mize has been Acting Airport Manager at Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport, the city-owned airport located in Stratford, since September 2013. From 1998 to 2005, she worked for Suffolk County as the Airport Manager at Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach. As airport manager, she obtained $10 million in federal funding to revitalize airfield lighting systems. In addition, she also restructured the airport administrative procedures, formed the Gabreski Industrial Park, obtained funding for and supervised creation of the Airport Business Plan, and obtained designation as a Rebuild NYNow site for a brownfield located on the facility among other projects.

 

Ms. Mize has worked for more than 20 years identifying and procuring federal, state and local grants for varied projects including aviation, parks, wastewater treatment and marine and economic development projects while working in various capacities for Suffolk County government and the City of Glen Cove, Long Island. Most recently, she worked with the City of Glen Cove to secure $21 million in ARRA funding to build a new ferry terminal and waterside improvements. She also served as the Senior Grants Administrator for the City of Glen Cove, and has worked for FEMA as a project specialist and economic development targeted recovery team member.

 

“I look forward to the challenge, and am pleased to have been selected as the City’s new Airport Manager,” said Mize. “My goal will be to make the airport a safer facility for the flying public, our tenants and the surrounding neighbors, and expand the airport’s contribution to the City’s economic development efforts.”

 

She will be paid [$94,161]

Ansonia News: House filled with natural gas

1:35pm–#Ansonia CT–Yankee gas at 128 Jewett Street with a gas leak requesting firefighters to the scene.  UPDATE–Firefighters urgently requesting UI to the scene to secure power, reports say the house if filled with natural gas and wants the power secured from the pole.  Firefighters staged at hydrants.  2:37pm–UPDATE–All residents evacuated are clear to return to their homes.

Is the cold killing your battery?

Winter is the toughest time on a car battery.  It also seems to be the worst time for that added expense. Interstate Battery at 125 Holland Ave in Bridgeport has batteries for cars starting at just $40.  See Larry Judge Saturday morning, he’s always up early.  The warehouse is open Saturday’s from 8am to 1pm.  The entire team is great!

Bridgeport News :Suspect Arrested in Robbery, Assault

#Bridgeport, CT – Feb. 10, 2014 – A 40-year-old man has been arrested for an assault and robbery that was filmed and posted on Facebook.

The incident happened on Jan. 27 outside a market on Stratford Avenue.

The victim said he was brought to the location and, when he exited the car, a hostile crowd began taunting him. He said he went into the store and was confronted by a male when he tried to exit.

The man robbed him of his cash and a bottle of liquor and then punched the victim in the head. Other people filmed the incident on their phones and someone posted it on Facebook.

Detective Heitor Teixeira and other investigators obtained that video and also video from other cameras in the area. Still shots of the suspect were distributed to police officers who work on the East Side and East End. On Friday, Officer Ilidio Pereira contacted detectives and reported he had located a person fitting that description.

The man, Alonzo Jamal Sloan, of Bridgeport, was charged with third-degree robbery, unlawful restraint and third-degree assault. He admitted to police that he was the man in the video seen robbing the victim.

Exit mobile version