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It is the first day following the 250 th celebration of our Declaration of Independence grievances as colonial citizens living under King George III. Are you familiar with them as reasons seeking independence? Today the official or personal gatherings enjoyed in 2026 perhaps with fireworks, reside in your memory. We are meeting tonight but are we in a basic way, practicing democracy? Are we meeting for issues of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in an authentic ma

I have been a voter and taxpayer in Bridgeport for 39 years. (I am not party-active politically but comprehend government outcomes from what has been authorized by law and norms that create a structure of governance.) Over 20 years ago the city maintained two Fair Commissions, one that served renters, and the other that served housing. Each had their own purpose, agendas, meetings, minutes, and members. But effective systems of appointments to these groups got sidetracked by

Well, Knicks fans, we were treated to a Jalen Brunson Moment in game six of the NBA Finals in Texas, not Madison Square Garden. On the court he was short but deadly as he attempted and scored 45 of the total 94 Knick points to bring the trophy back to NYC after 50 years. At this same ‘moment’ an OP-ED in the CT Post by Professor Jonathan Wharton questions his own ‘political romanticism’ because of the behavior of a New Britain former official with a selfish financial history

It is spring. Nature greens before us and the variety of blossoms inspires us once again. It is 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, and other current holidays like Memorial Day, upcoming Flag Day, Juneteenth, and Latin parades and celebrations abound at this moment. In each of these remembrances, do we reflect with our neighbors, as humans about the principles, virtues, and values that have created “the common good”? Certainly! We also discuss sports, music, fami

As we celebrate the attention of the State of CT administration, our state legislators, and local Council and Board of Education members and citizen supporters for the dollars available to the school system for the coming year, let us keep the youth in mind. They are shaped by the success or failure of adults today in securing rights and teaching public service responsibilities. When elected leaders fail to address their most basic statutory duties, they must rely on oversigh

Last fall 2025, citizens, registered as voters, elected you to represent them. They also said YES to the proposals referred to you by the Charter Review Committee, of which I was a member. That group of thirteen citizens early understood and agreed that our city’s response to ethics violations was critical. And the consent of the governed showed up in the ballots. Any delay in maintaining the former status quo with no Ethics Director, recruited, selected, and employed as staf

Greetings, defenders of the public treasury, Spring Greetings in all District communities where neighbors as “just plain folk” planned a cleanup in advance of spring and held a “working morning” for volunteers in the 139 th staged from an open space behind Blessed Sacrament Church. I heard about it through Greater Bridgeport NAACP, the Black Rock NRZ, and a direct invite from Alvaro Ramirez, whom I met last year when he spoke on two occasions to the City Council. He did not k

Neighbors, Bridgeport citizens, elected officials, or human persons whom I care about and therefore address with respect. I ask you whether you care about me, or all of us, unnamed or unknown to you, as people and individuals with rights and responsibilities, outlined to us as we dig into Civics as a subject, more deeply. That is why I have worked to develop Casual Civics Conversations within all ten Council Districts. We have scheduled meetings, monthly or more frequent, at

Historians reporting from the documents, letters, and local newspapers of the time lay out the fact that citizens of the colonies, though attached to England as a place of origin if they were immigrants, or by relatives remaining across the Atlantic, felt ignored by the King and Parliament of the time. They wanted the respect they believed was their due. Of course communication was difficult by person or paper as it had to cross the Atlantic, seek an answer, and wait for the

Allow me to call attention to a notice regarding next Monday’s City Council meeting and the preceding Public Speaking forum at 6:30 PM for March 16, 2026. “Due to a lack of quorum, the Bridgeport City Council Meeting to be held on Monday, March 16, 2026, in the City Council Chambers, 45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport, Connecticut at 7:00 p.m. is hereby CANCELLED. The Public Speaking forum for March 16, 2026, is also CANCELLED. ATTEST: LYDIA N. MARTINEZ CITY CLERK” I do not reme

We welcome each thoughtful citizen of Bridgeport to “attend a welcome to” a Casual Civics Conversation of which there are a number currently at a variety of locations. Look for the QR code on the signage at URSA, FRUTA, WOOD’S END DELI, Augustana Homes, 1188 Main Street and others. One hour to address neighbors of your city, listen to them, and ask questions on subjects that disturb you about municipal administration. Remember that CIVICS is the study of citizen rights and re

I address you as members of a new City Council, but each of you put yourself in a position serving all the people of the city especially for those who reside in your district. Therefore, I readdress you as neighbor, Bridgeporter, and leader. We who are not members of this Council depend on your wise decisions, based on principle and lived values of open, accountable, transparent, and honest governance using oversight to reckon whether we are on target with City plans in each

Welcome to each member of the CC tonight. It is the final public speaking session in a short month. Oversight is a responsibility of all. You are expected to oversee on behalf of all the public. Specifically, you created an ordinance several years ago that requires official residency reporting by “Elected Officials, Board and Commission Members in the City of Bridgeport.” The Ordinance requires annual reporting during January or when changes occur subsequently in a year. Are

Thomas Jefferson wrote and spoke more than a few words which are often quoted in contemporary conversations. A sentence worth of wisdom from him was revealed with a quote in David McCullough’s HISTORY MATTERS: “Any nation that expects to be ignorant and free expects what never was and never will be.” Civics is the study of citizen rights and responsibilities, duties, and obligations. When we demand “our rights” and fail to practice the activities of duty personally and regula

Questioning about corruption in Bridgeport? Longtime, baked in the woodwork, structured to focus on interpersonal divisiveness/petty shit, without regular “oversight” or evaluated reporting from Boards and Commissions. Boards/Commissions do not pursue either “unaffiliated” voters or folks looking to serve. WHY? Where is online central hub to carry info on urban activities? Where is an AI service, retained by the City, to assist citizens with ‘hard to find info’ , English ch

Mary Lou, great partner that she is, celebrated this birthday with a carrot cake, which I like. But the creativity of choosing the main project of the past year, CASUAL CIVICS CONVERSATIONS made the frosting more ‘delicious’ for certain. If we are not out to advance the “common good” what are we about at any attained age? And if we are not attempting to bridge whatever challenges, gaps, or barriers exist at a time with respectful, dignified, and intelligent conversations wher

With the Thanksgiving holiday celebrated on the previous Thursday, and the host for “the last Saturday of the month at Fruta Café” off on an out-of-town journey (with Fruta closed) we posted signs of our move to URSA. At 9AM sharp a young woman entered URSA and sat down to learn more about how conversations that can be held by all when you spot a listener with a topic that is of interest to each of you. The guest was an educated woman of color, interested in the types of book

Casual Civics Conversations will have a session at Fruta on the last Saturday of November 29 at 9 AM. Perhaps you can raise questions as you do on OIB and evaluate responses from other Bridgeport citizens who bring a variety of experiences, knowledge, and questions likely from you. That is how learning gets shared. Reading Akhil Reed Amar’s 2021 THE WORDS THAT MADE US: America’s Constitutional Conversation 1760-1840 has led me to understand how newspapers PLUS conversations

It was the first gathering last Saturday at URSA, on Fairfield Avenue, and also the first CCC meeting after the election. Comments focused on the civil service changes that can improve process, making it more efficient and understandable; on the Ethics Commission and staffing for review and enforcement; on the City Council steps towards empowerment; and the fact that all parts of the Charter Revision were approved as presented to the Council and even though split into two que

Four resident taxpayers including a Charter Commission leader, a candidate for City Council currently, a retired City employee and JML. After meeting the others at the table and reviewing the operation of a conversational approach to learning more about CIVICS in a City, we found a common interest and expertise I housing that revealed the Federal threats to HUD subsidy properties in the City, to the people who may depend on Social Security payments, and Medicaid/Medicare assi