Civics Statements from Casual Conversations - City Council Address Feb. 17, 2026 (John Marshall Lee)

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 you aware of this duty? Why have eleven of you failed to sign as of this

morning? Why have only two members of the Board of Education signed,

thus far, when one of them is contesting that his address is private and not

disclosing it? Both Registrars of Voters have signed in as well as Town and

City Clerks and the Library Board supported reporting by seven of their

nine members. No other Board or Commission member appointed per

Charter or Ordinance has yet signed in. Which of your Sub-Committees will

take responsibility for the task to inform all officials, reviewing regularly, and

reporting to the public? Is it likely that you will assign the obligation to

Miscellaneous Matters?

Ask a question about housing in the City. Can you get a helpful answer?

For instance, of the approximately 150,000 folks who lay their head at rest

each night, how many own their residence? Do the majority rent their

location, or have no permanent residence, as in unhoused or homeless; in

a healthcare facility, a half-way house, or student housing; or jail, or Air

BnB? Do you know how many folks in each category and where they go for

service from the City now and in the future? Where are the citizens to serve

on Boards and Commissions and learn about housing choices for the

future? Where do we look for knowledgeable and experienced citizens to

represent the issues and concerns that are regional or Statewide?

The next meeting of Casual Civics Conversations will be held on Saturday

at 8AM at Wood’s End Deli. Perhaps HOUSING as a topic? Time will tell.