Now a lot of you were interested in knowing how a city like Bridgeport or any other municipality for that fact can function when their entire City or Town Council is ONE PARTY, in Bridgeport’s case ALL DEMOCRAT.

Well it really does work in a sense because Bridgeport really is and just about has been a Democratic town for as long as I can remember (and that is a long time)!!

You know, I lost track of Bridgeport. I don’t go there that much. When I do, and go to my old neighborhoods-it is really weird-like something is missing-like I belong there but I don’t.

But I know this: even though the City Council may be all one party, they don’t ACT like they are from the same party. Different council people have their own ideas, some back the mayor, some back people they would like to see as mayor. There is a power struggle going on ALL THE TIME. They argue amongst themselves. In fact, you would be HARD PRESSED to believe these people are all with the same party!!!

This is why I have a link to “Only in Bridgeport” by Len Grimaldi. He really knows the inner workings of Bridgeport. I hope you visit his blog once in a while. It is interesting reading.

Now I am wondering what is going to happen to the Bloc Republicois. Will we now have half hour Town Council meetings? Will the recording secretary have to look for another job? I don’t know. All I do know is that discussion even if it is heated at times, is healthy.

I am sorry, but I don’t agree with Mr. Schrumm. I  don’t think issues should be vetted in a Committee. Why? Because the entire  Town Council is not on every Committee that is why. I see it as a rehearsal. I don’t believe that is right. People should hear discussion and even (God forbid in this town) a DISAGREEMENT once in while. We would all like to hear some passionate voices. I hope we do. But we probably won’t. Cheshire will NEVER let its hair down. They think it is uncivil.

I DON’T!!

Well anyway. There was an interesting vote out of Bridgeport this past election day. The voters (in a referendum) decided overwhelmingly to add another mill to their taxes (this totals approximately $6 million) to help fund the Bridgeport Public Library.

The Bridgeport Public Library system is one of the best in the state-I have heard people say it many times, and I know it first hand. If you have not been to the Burroughs Library on Middle Street, you should take a trip and visit it. Don’t worry Cheshirites, you won’t get killed!! You will live!! What a beautiful library. Worth a visit. The people of Bridgeport should be commended on MONEY SPENT WISELY!!!

Believe me, you would not see (DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN) even daring to come up with a Community Pool that is the fiasco we have in Cheshire. There would probably be riots down on Lyon Terrace (where Bridgeport City Hall is located).  And as far as the artificial turf goes, nice idea, but too costly-and unsafe-OR IS IT??

Click here for AN INTERESTING POINT OF VIEW ON ARTIFICIAL TURF.

Here is more information on this vote.

Now to end: I did come across an old article I wrote when I was editor of the Amity Observer over a decade ago. Its title is appropriate now more than ever. I don’t have the original article, just a copy and some it got cut. But you will get the gist. It sort of ties in to this mediation situation that is taking place with the Cheshire Police Department. But in this case, it was a mediation between neighbors over a situation that I had brought to light.

HELP SHOULD NOT BE A FOUR-LETTER WORD

August 1996

A funny thing happened in Woodbridge the other day. Someone or I should say, the town actually took time out to care. I am referring to the Bradley Street right-of-way issue which has been ongoing for the past five years.

It seems the 10 people who have deeded rights to this paper street, which was never accepted by the town and is not really a street at all, just a grassy strip, have been trying to resolve whether or not the town should abandon the land and allow one of the residents to put up a fence on their part of the right-of-way.

Without getting into the details (just read the story on page one),  I didn’t know what to think at first when the Board of Selectmen voted to pay up to $500 to allow a private mediator in New Haven to step in and take charge of the matter.

The more I thought about it, the more I considered this gesture to be unique. I’m hoping this doesn’t open up a proverbial Pandora’s box, where the town becomes a sounding board for every resident dispute. But it is refreshing to see a step like this being taken.

Speaking of help, I sincerely believe there is a lack of it in our society today. I am talking about real, sincere assistance.

Grant you, the people who man our police departments, ambulances and hospitals deserve all the recognition they can get.

It’s hard enough for many people to have to get up and go to work, without worrying about making a decision that could literally affect someone else’s life.

That deserves respect in itself.

I am talking about the lack of sincerity and caring a lot of people seem to exhibit these days.

It seems when I was younger, people cared more. My mother and I had a talk on this subject recently and she said that I was just looking at life from a different perspective.

She told me that when a person gets older, they lose a lot of wonder and intrigue. She may be right. I know 10 or 15 years ago, many problems seemed to “roll off my back.”

EDITORS NOTE: OK, SOME OF THE ARTICLE GOT CUT OFF SO I WILL PICK UP WHERE IT BEGINS AGAIN. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

One day last week, I was stranded in a central Connecticut town. I will not mention any names.

I found myself due to a communication error with my significant other, without my purse which meant no license and no money. Unfortunately, the situation worsened when I happened to look down at the gas guage to see it bouncing off the “E” or as in the case of my car the “R” (for reserve).

I have a 1972 Mercedes Benz. It has a reserve tank but I don’t know how much gasoline is reserved for that occassion and I was not about to find out.

I went to a local filling station (EDITORS NOTE: THIS WAS BEFORE CELL PHONES WERE POPULAR) where I knew the attendant and asked to call the local automobile service agency of which I am a member.

By the time I got through trying to explain my situation to the communications people who could not understand why I could not pay for the call and kept asking why I didn’t have my calling card and on and on, over 45 minutes had elapsed.

Now if one thinks hard enough, one can figure out  why I could not produce money, calling cards, credit cards or any of those items a woman NORMALLY KEEPS IN HER PURSE.

Well, I finally contacted the service agency and yes, I got the recording!!

To make a long story short, after being tod I had at least a two hour wait, I had a brainstorm. I ravaged through the back of my trunk and managed to come up with a few dollars in quarters, enough to fill my tank and get me to my destination where I met up with my significant other who was standing there with MY PURSE IN HAND.