Civics Statements from Casual Conversations - City Council Address Apr. 6, 2026 (John Marshall Lee)

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 five locations in

April representing three Districts. I will announce five other locations in five additional

Districts for May. There is QR code welcoming you to our website, for more info. We are

developing podcasts including folks who feel the need for more municipal information,

commentary, and participation. It is not too late to join us at CCC!

We delve into subjects that affect each of us at one time or another: housing, education,

youth activities, economic development, energy affordability, and opportunity for all to

grow the city. We are working on a series of podcasts to raise awareness, questions,

and answers for all. Our goal is the ‘common good.’

We were disappointed to learn about the last scheduled City Council session

cancellation, rather than postponement. For those members who attended the DC

meeting, what is the news you return to your constituents? How did they secure any

value from your spending taxpayer funds when they do not hear from you?

I checked with the Town Clerk today. There are NINE Council members who have not

signed the Town Clerk Registry from January 2026. And there are more than one

hundred members of Boards and Commissions who receive no notice to register

annually. Who reminds the mayor to register? Who reminds the mayor that there are no

members of a Fair Housing Commission, which we had 20 years ago, to deal with a

broad range of ‘housing and energy’ issues?

See this pin I am wearing? It calls all citizens to perform oversight, and question

everything that seems outrageous or plain curious. Become informed. Vote when you

are able. When you fail to vote, those in power who fail to include you in governance are

happy because you have acquiesced to their conditions of cutting you from official

information, knowing that keeping the constituents ignorant leads to frustration, and not

voting. What will you do about becoming informed about State candidates this fall

2026? Will you cast your ballot then proving you will not be voiceless?

Time will tell.