Civics Statements from Casual Conversations - City Council Address June 15, 2026 (John Marshall Lee)

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 that requires

further investigation, and university investigations in the State university

system leading to lessened trust of public officials and public institutions.

Oversight can lead to action.

At the same time I am reading LIAR”S KINGDOM by Andrew Weissmann

that discusses how the failure to have a law specific to dealing with lies

about factually verifiable election events, certified voting activities, and suit

results pursued in the judicial system that likely provide sufficient data to

the “rigged 2020 Presidential results lie” oft repeated but nevertheless

untrue, leaves us with the “free speech” rules unlimited for the President’s

conspiracy narrative.

Television viewers of January 6, 2021, will not forget the action covered by

cameras that day, the threats to Vice President Pence, and the physical

force used against uniformed officials attempting to maintain peace. Where

is the multitude of viewers who knew that the outgoing president was also

viewing the death and destruction of democratic history? What story do

they hold dear in the time since where autocratic practices of lessened

regulations, executive financial decisions, ignoring War Power Act

Presidential responsibilities, and rampant family self-interested corruption

rules the day? Consider ETHICS as a subject!

Create your own Brunson Moment for Bridgeport by having a casual

conversation with some city residents! I welcome you to that action. It is a

pathway to knowing and acting citizen rights and responsibilities. Why don’t

you try it in honor of the 250 th celebration?