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

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 manner? I believe that we are not. When the

mayor, a man formerly challenged by a history of municipal corruption, and who has

presided during one or more adjudications of Bridgeport officials since regaining office

announces to a recent gathering that he:

• Prioritizes the decrease in municipal mil rate as historic at a time when fewer

than 40% of citizens face municipal taxes other than for automobiles.

• Fails to include the review of Charter reform and acceptance by voters in his

address, despite an attempt to separate the “politics” from the “governance” in

the Charter or the fact that treatment of municipal Ethics was a primary focus of

the Charter Review process. But the informed voter was not fooled last

November.

• Knows that CIVICS, the study of citizen rights and responsibilities, is critically

unavailable in the City from lack of support by official leadership, by the City

Council as a body, although some Council persons are active and engaged

daily,

• Understands that the increase of State and City funding of education does not

contemplate the restoration of a CIVICS curriculum director presently.

How long can this city genuinely serve the people when election processes, among

other administrative features of governance, leave the public with little or no trust or

experience in governance, and therefore wish to stay away from “politics?” This is the

status quo we must face today.

I have called you to lead the charge for a renewal of Civics education broadly in each

Council District since October 2024. Yesterday we held a one-hour session of

community engagement on a porch with five learning citizens present. I offer signs to

announce CASUAL PORCH CONVERSATIONS in your District. Stop ignoring the

power of conversation to increase the number of people, getting CIVICS, and voting for

someone or something of value to them. Is it about your personal “happiness”? Or the

service of, by, and for the human beings who are seen as neighbors and citizens in the

community? Time will tell.