City Council - Regular Meeting

How are you? I'd like to call the meeting of the

public speaking to order. Please council, please go to your seats. How are you?

Okay, we're calling the public speaking to order at 6:35. Can the clerk take the attendance, please? The first speaker listed is Scott Burns. If um everybody can please list your name and address for the record. All right. Uh, good evening, city council. My name is Scott Burns. I

reside at 29 Ames Boulevard, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Uh, first of all, thank you as always for your service. Um, I'm among those who know what you all are working on and go through and God bless you all. Uh I just want to speak to you tonight a little bit and I did hand out a flyer uh that Thursday, March 12th at the downtown cabaret, we will be having a uh public speaker uh and he's a pretty well-known renowned uh planner and urban practitioner. Uh made his fame writing a book called Walkable City. Uh and he will be here in Bridgeport. um he'll actually be spending a couple days here uh doing his research ahead of time but actually spending some time on the ground to see what is all about. We've been in touch with his staff uh spoke to a few of you about the uh the visit and I emphasized to him how we have distinct neighborhoods districts uh and then I think we all could benefit from some of his thoughts and ideas. So, uh it is free and open to the public and I would certainly encourage you all to go and listen. Um hear what he has to say. Uh if you want to look them up, you could see some of the ideas and work that he has uh set the ground plans for uh in other communities across the country. He's uh as I said, very highly regarded um and uh pretty interesting. I I had one occasion to meet him in person. Uh and uh I think he would do well to uh we would all do well to hear from him and and learn some ideas about how to improve our city. So um please spread the word. Uh I know a lot of you have uh email and text lists and things like that. So um as I said, it will be free

and open to the public. It's at the cabaret. Uh tickets online at the cabaret will go live tomorrow and I will email you a copy of this uh tomorrow morning as well. So thank you and um keep up the good work.

Thank you. Uh good evening all. My name is Joseph Kivik. I live at 334 Burnsford Avenue. I am the vice chair of the Bridgeport Board of Education speaking on my own behalf tonight. I'd like to begin by thanking council members Newton Martinez, Nelson, and Medina for their live inerson testimony regarding the budget and also Council President Heron for her written testimony and anybody else I may have missed. Forgive me. Apologies. It's not an intentional slight. However, I must wonder where the rest of our city council members of they're intending to testify this go around. Yes, some of y'all have testified in this past in the past, but this year it's more crucial than ever that we come together as a city and testify as one for our children. Other cities have had their mayors and most of the city councilors and town committees providing either written or verbal testimony by now. Bridgeport with a 90 member DTC and a 70 member RTC and a 20 minutes member city council. Bridgeport's showing thus far leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps we do not understand the magnitude of what at stake. What's at stake? Bridgeport students need this year $44.1 million alone just to maintain services in a district without a single librarian. $44 million does not bring back one single position of the over 300 jobs cut in the last decade. Any dollar we receive above this is one dollar we could add in services. That is what's behind the $106 million request. Restor restoration of what our children lost over the last dec decade. We need all to speak up for our children publicly in Harford. Brings me to the reason I'm here tonight. There is another public hearing on education funding. You should all have the link in your emails. Um, this bill needs modification. As written, Senate Bill 7 leaves Bridge Public School $26 million short. We need to ask that the bill be amended to raise the foundation amount to $16,500 immediately. This would not only prevent any cuts, but will restore many of the cuts over the last decade. I respectfully ask for you who haven't yet

testified for this year to please do so. And for those of you who have done so to do so again, the links are in your email. If anybody on the council or the public wishes assistance, they can see the many testimony guides, ask the superintendent or for assistance or call me at 718-6500718. Our children deserve adults who fight for their future. This is an election year. Let's not squander the largest city's political capital by remaining in silence while our children's future is in jeopardy. Thank you. Thank you,

Sean Nicholson. City Council meeting. Good morning every everyone. My name is Sha Nicholas and I am proud youth member of the great greater Bridgeport Nway NAACP youth council. Today I would like like to rise and speak about something that has been bothering me and other students in our community. There have been situations where students were target at a local B bakery. Kids sh should not should be able to go places and in their own city without feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed or scared. Students should be able to go where they want in their city to a bakery, a store, or anywhere else. And not be taunted by adults or or local leaders. We should not be recorded with without our parents permission. We are children and we deserve to feel safe and respected. At our last youth council meeting, we talked about this issue and we are learning about fighting for things in our community. talk. We talked about how important it

is for young people to use their words when something not when something does not feel right. I decided I wanted to speak up today because I want to make sure these things are not happening in our community. Bridgeport belongs to all of us kids too. If a meeting with youth need to take place, then we shall do that. I may be 9 years old, but but I know what fairness feels like. I I know what respect looks like. And I believe we can do better. Thank you for listening to me and for caring about the youth in our community. Good evening everyone. My name is Anthony and I am a proud youth member of the greater Bridgeport NACP Youth Council. I am standing here today because something has been happening in our community that does not feel right to me or other students. Some students were singled out at a local local bakery. As young people, we should be able to visit places in our own city

without feeling watched, embarrassed, or picked on. Kids deserve to move around their comm community freely. Whether it's a bakery, a park, or a store, we should not be taunted by adults or leaders in our city and we should be should never be recorded without our parents knowing or giving permission. We are still children and our safety and dignity matter. At our youth council meeting, we discuss this situation and what it means to ad advocate for ourselves and others. We are learning that when sometime when some things feels unfair, it is important to speak up in a respectful way. That is why I decided to share my voice today. I want to help make sure this does not continue to happen in Bridgeport. Bridgeport is our city, too. Young people live here, learn here, and grow up here. If there were count concerns about youth, then we should have real conversations together instead of calling us out and have real in public. We are willing to talk. We are willing to listen. I may be 8 years old, but I understand what

fairness means. I understand what respect looks like. I under like and I believe our comm community can choose to treat young people better. Thank you for listening and for supporting the youth in our city. Very well done, children. John Marshall Lee.

Yes. And I'd like you to know that I did not converse with the last speaker about conversations being important. Okay? You heard it from him. It's accurate. Uh, John Marshall Lee, 30 Beacon Street, Bridgeport. I address you as members of a new city council. 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 readress you as neighbor, Bridgeporter, and leader. We who are not members of the council depend on your wise decisions based on principle and live values of open, accountable, transparent and honest governance using oversight to reckon whether we are on target with city plans in each area. I ask questions of you and expect a response as always the future of casual civics conversations. I presented first to you in October 2024 subject to our local education system. Uh civics is the study of citizen rights and responsibilities. It's supposed to be in the curriculum today. It's a knowledge requirement for those who would become US citizens. But where is it locally practiced? Can you think of anyone sitting with constituents at a safe public site to discuss what is getting in the way of citizens life or to merely answer questions? Why do you take time to listen, to hear questions, to know that folks see limits on their ability to participate in government that is not to their liking? Do you see vacant positions on boards and commissions as well as expired positions limiting limiting the ability of those

offices to function well? You have council powers in the revised charter greater than before. You must do oversight of charter changes especially around enhancing the oversight of ethics in the city. If you fail to oversee, how will citizens see your failure to act? If someone has a question regarding rental housing, do they approach the housing authority of Bridgeport with questions? What's the relation between city officials with housing in their department names or the housing authority who shows up on the city website with three positions filled but two vacant? meaning no quorum possible and no listing of budget personnel on the city website for this operating park city communities provides over 5,000 units to Bridgeport citizens. I have two more sentences. Do you expect that oversight over voluntary officials who are required to affirm their personal residence annually at the town clerk's office in January is one of your responsibilities. You voted for the ordinance as a body. That's Bridgeport history for all. Will you step up to spread the spirit of civics personally? Time will tell. Tonight

I'm standing here not as a council person but a community activist and a pastor of the El Shadi Pentecost Church here in the city of Bridgeport. We just came out of our black uh black history month celebration and I want you to know that some of the people on this council I'm very disappointed in. The reason being is is that some of you tried to sabotage the activity that we had on last Friday night now. And uh God is good. Let me tell you. better than anybody else. But what happened is you try to make people stay away, including the the the uh the the the uh uh the the the the uh people that sits up there with the mayor, the attorney's office, so people could be afraid to come because they thought it was going to be some mess going on. Well, let me tell you something. I'm glad that you didn't come because God fixed it so that you would have had to sit on the floor. He packed the place out and those of us that have guts, we was there. And I'm going to tell you something else, too. If I was not afraid of George Wallace, if I was not afraid of Bill Connie Connor, if I were not afraid of the Kuclan, what makes you think that you can shut the black people activity down? And another thing is we can nominate and I was looking at somebody going to be uh tonight. We can nominate people all year. Why would you pick Black History Month to say to the black people that we don't know who to support and who to pick in our community to to be honored? That was very disrespectful. And let me tell you

something. I believe that Bridgeport is one of the most racist city in Connecticut. And I could go tell you and I'm g go to something else too. I my senator Gaston a a fly came out from the CEO office and the mayor's office and I'll be telling him too. Let me tell you something. His name was missed off and everybody said, "Oh, that was a mistake." No, it was not a mistake. A mistake is one time. When it's two and three time, then it's on purpose then. But you see, we don't get that on the council. We don't get that. But you see, I'm going to make it so and I'm going to do. And the same thing with the city's attorney's office. I'm going to see who it is. We We always know on the tolling poll, y'all. And let me tell you something. I'm going to see who Bridgeport support everybody but the black community because we have spent so much money on family and friends and stuff for for for breaking the law in the city attorney's office swept under the rug. I'm going to bring it to Connecticut post. I'll finish when the mayor get here.

Thank you. Darnell Stevenson.

Good afternoon. Good evening. I'm going to write a poem about Miss America. Miss America, can I ask you a question? Why do you wear so many chains? Why do you carry around the pain, Miss America? Why do you wear so many chains? Mr. Africa, the chains came from your continent. The gold, the diamonds, these chains come from your continent. I took it. I stole it. I brought it to America. 300 years of slavery, Jim Crow. You get the picture. I stole your image. I stole your uh uh character. The way you look. I stole. So, Mr. Africa, I wear these chains because it's your your chains that I stole that I'm wearing for 300 and plus years of slavery. Miss America, why are you Why did you steal my chain? Why did you steal my pain? Miss America, why did you steal my pain? I stole your pain because I wanted to be just like you, Mr. Africa. I wanted your music, your schools, your women, and your children. So, Mr. Africa, I wear your pain because we are not the same. I stole your chain because I want your pain. So, Mr. Africa, I stole your pain because I want your change. So we had to incarcerate you for 400 years for free labor. Built the White House for free labor. We built prisons and jails for free labor to incarcerate your mind mentality and call it mental

health. So you ask me why I wear your chain. Why do you carry my pain, Mr. Africa? Why do you carry my pain? You carry my pain because you cho stole my change. You brought me to America for 300 years of free slavery. You call it justice because the law said it was legal. The Constitution says we have the right to bear arms with my hands tied in the chains that you slaughtered. You put me in your prisons and your jails. And then you said, "I had the freedom to speak with my mouth covered." So I wear your chain, but you carry my pain. So we are not the same. Miss America, why are you wearing my pain? I want your clothes. I want to be just like you. America is a third world country slapped with a Gucci belt. So the constitution tells me I have the freedom to speak with my mouth covered and we call it okay because it's covered by the constitution. Thank you. That concludes public speaking. Thank you. Give us a few minutes and the meeting will start.

One, two, one, two, Earth to city council. Earth to city council. The clock would tell us that we need to start focusing on the important business of the city of Bridgeport tonight and gather. Can you hear me, Richie? Can you hear me? Mary, can you hear me? Guess not. But they just don't care. Anthony

work. One, two, one, two. Can you hear it? I think cuz it's just so loud in here, you think? Yeah, cuz it it was working fine during public. All right, I'll do the old hammer. But you guys are ready. Is this the whole agenda? Let's just take a look. Hello. Not much, but you have presentations. Ernesto, how are you? People came in for the presentation. Oh, yeah. Huh?

Yeah. Jesse, did I ever send you the picture? I ever send you the picture? Yeah. see if I can call to order this official meeting of the city council. Ask members to take their seats. Ask the members of the public first to say welcome to the members of the public as well. remind the council members that um we have a an audience here of the public and also a broadcasting audience that's welcome to uh view live our meetings. Councilwoman,

you don't want Who's our guest? Well, whenever you want to be recognized, I would in a normal course. So with that, I would ask us to raise calling the meeting to order and stand for a prayer. Councilwoman, did you want to lead us in a prayer? No. Would you do prayer? Yeah.

We thank you, oh God, for waking us up this morning. We were clothed and yet in our right mind. We thank you, oh God, for the gathering here tonight. And oh God, we are asking you right now to continue to bless this great city of Bridgeport. Bless the leaders of Bridgeport. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Amen. So kind to lead us in the pledge. Would you once again pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America? Republic stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all

future. I might take uh input on uh who would like to uh lead us in the pledge in the future. And with that, we would like to now before people we do the roll call, I think somebody wanted a point of personal privilege at this time. Ernie. Ernie wanted a point of personal privilege. Councilman Newton, your microphone is on.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As you all have have heard, we lost a shining star in this city. Carolyn Vermont was, as I said, called her Miss Bridgeport because she was a very unique young lady. I met her a lot of years ago. Come to find out, we were in fashion shows when we were younger. Craig used to put on fashion shows back in the day, and I found out that she was a part of that. But when I became president of city council, she wrote a lot of things for me. Just before she left mayor, I had opportunity to see her before she went to Jamaica. And she said to me, "Ernie, thank you for always having my back and watching out for me. She has some problems at Habitat for Humanity." And I called them and told them for what they did to her, "Do not look for the city's help if I got anything to do with it." and um she thanked me and then she went to Jamaica and passed away. So if it's possible, can we have a moment of silence for somebody that really touched this city, this state, and this country? Now, I got to say this as a joke. I've never seen nobody have as many pictures. Everywhere she went, you had to take a picture with her. And so,

and that's coming from a man who knows how to get in front of the camera himself.

I Well, I I learned from the late Reverend Jesse Jackson how to do that. Can we have a moment of silence, please? Yes. Amen. Yeah, Carolyn and I, you know, we're closely together, too. So, Ernie, we all share her loss, and I send condolences and sympathies to her family, and I've learned more. She has more family members than I knew. And so, it's big family. Anyone else wanted to a point of personal privilege or anything before we proceed as we normally will with the agenda? Seeing none, let's Oh, Mary, do you

needs to be honored first before I have my um point of perfect person privilege, please? Could Could we do that before I do mine? We have some people that's going to be honored tonight for one reason or another. Sure. You want to do that? Yeah, I would like to do that. Thank you, sir. Let's go. We We're going to do roll call. Mhm. And then we'll go on and it'll go to those two matters specifically, Councilwoman. So with that, Madame Clerk, your microphone is on. Would you please engage in the roll call at this time? Thank you. Call Murray Nicole Nelson Denise. Jorge Cruz. Tasha Spellel.

Hakeim boy. Janet Herren. Loretta Dub. Michelle Lions Marryley here. Ortiz here. Kayla Medina Maria Bara here. Heda Martinez here. Ernest Newton. We have a What? Hold on. I'm going to turn the microphone on. What? Say it again. I said Fred Hajes is out sick. Fred Hajes is what? Out sick. Oh, thank you very much.

Anyone else? Okay, so we have a quorum and we have, as was pointed out, councilwoman, and you may have the floor now. Uh, two citations for recognition. How would you like to proceed, Councilwoman? Mary, do you want to do the citations now? No. No. We ready? Huh? I'm sorry, Janette. Council, we got a microphone coming out, too.

Thank you. This citation was brought to the attention of Anita Martinez and Ernie Newton. And I'll let them read this.

Mr. Andre, come on up. and the council if you want to come on up. As you all know, I met this gentleman. I happened to be coming down Fairfield Avenue and I had to um get my Huh. get my car or some cars registered. They said, "Why don't you go down on Fairfield Avenue?" You don't have to go to motor vehicle. That takes you a long time if you don't have no appointment. What impressed me the most about you, and I've been to a lot of companies, you are truly a trailblazer by the people that you hired. and they're black and brown and white, but I'd never been in a company. I haven't. And that was what made me so proud. I wanted to do it sooner, but I had a lot of death in the family. I miss black history, but I wanted to with the council, Bridgeport City Council official citation. Be it hereby known to all that the city council honors a local leader and businessman for dedicated and deep sense of purpose and making a lasting impact on his community. Andre Wheel Registration Service of Connecticut. And what's so good about it? When you go there, they give you a license plate. I went there to get a license plate, but

it was for antique cars and he didn't have one. We offer our deep appreciation and utmost gratitude to a resident who has constantly leverage his resources to uplift those around him. Embodying the true spirit of citizenship. As avid supporter of local initiatives, he firmly believes that a strong community is built on mutual support and love. We re we commend and praise him for the hard work and enduring dedication given the second day of March 2026. City Hall by city council president Janette Herren and Mayor Joe Ganham, the mayor and the city council. This young man I met a couple years back with uh Nate and um Lily and I have to tell you that um you talk about humble, a high level of integrity, passion, compassion, laidback. That's him. That's him. When you look at him, you wouldn't believe the dedication he has to this city of Bridgeport. But when you walk in that office, when you walk in that office, the morale, the love, the support, the professionalism, there's no definition like it in the dictionary. That is his office. That is

him. It is a pleasure for me to stand here today with my council colleague and honor you. Andre, I thank you for your services to the city of Bridgeport. to everybody for all that you do. There's not one walk of life that cannot go there and get assistance because whether you're Asian, Haitian, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, you're going to get service because he has the language at hand to provide it for all. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We love you and continue doing a great job here in the city of Bridgeport.

Who wants to say one more thing? And just before I gave it to him, his staff's here. They do have a complaint. They brought it to me and I told them I would bring it to the council. All their workers that work hard when they park their cars, they get tickets. This is true. And they wanted me to bring it back to the powers debate. Yeah. That maybe there's something, Mr. mayor, we might be able to do to help the company down there because they do, you know, get tickets a lot. So, I did bring it back. I kept my word and I can't promise you you going to get the help,

but it's been heard and it's on YouTube.

Hello, my name's Councilwoman Maria Pereira and I'm very mad at Andre because he moved out of my district and I met Andre in 2019. I was walking on Wessel's Avenue and he just stopped me and asked me 22 questions. He said, "What are you doing? Who are you? Why is there a big black wire coming down from my telephone pole?" And I said, "I'm going to get that fixed for you." And he was shocked because I got it fixed for him. And I'll tell you something, he's one of the most giving, generous, authentic people you will ever meet. I was opening up a dog park on Success View and he has some babies, his little dogs, okay? And I went to his door and he comes to the window and his boxer is talking to me through the bedroom window telling me he can't come to the dog park, but here's a $100. Buy something for the kids. Didn't even ask. Okay. We I don't know if you guys know about the tra trauma at Success Village. We wanted to do something celebratory after they finally got that board or the majority of the board out and we had a receiver and I said, "Andre, I know you don't live at success. He's a few blocks over. I said, "Andre, would you help us sponsor the DJ?" He didn't even flinch. Doesn't even live there. He got to meet DJ John Let you had never met, which shocked me. And then he ended up raising Christmas toys for DJ John, West Nass I can, you know, he had a he had toys, boxes of toys in his business. Now, how many people do you you employ now, Andre? How many people are you employing right now? When I met him, it was called mobile registration because he would drive around to people and meet them. It was Yeah. And and then he put his office and he had one little desk for him. That was a couple years later. And where are you now? 10 employees. Begged the whole whole office side of that building. So, but more importantly than that, you're

just a wonderful human being. You really are. And you know, if I didn't believe it, I wouldn't say it. Okay. And and who and what am I to you? Say it. Maria the Shirro.

Andre, last been already said, but uh it's important also that with that recognition, we felt that um a proclamation recognizing you this day would also be appropriate. And as you know, we do it as as you can see with the official seal of the city and um starts out I'll read just portions of it um repeating me many of the accolades that have been expressed by these council members but also I'm noting that beyond the professional achievements uh specifically Andre's heart has always been with his community a dedicated philanthropist and leader he's continuous leverages his resources to uplift those around him embodying the true spirit of service. And so for all that's been said tonight and and with the brevity of time uh would would continue on um we now therefore I now therefore Joseph began mayor of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut in recognition of Andre's commitment to local initiatives and firmly believing that a strong community is built by mutual support and love. hereby proclaim Monday, March 2nd, 2026 as Andre S. Whe day here in the city of Bridgeport. Signed and sealed with the official seal of the city of Bridgeport with our thanks and appreciation.

Can we have all the employees come down because when we take a group picture, we'd like to have you in the picture with Andre. Come down. Everyone come down. Everybody, everybody that came here for Andre come down so you can be in the group picture, please. And then you can say something with me. Let me just add, let me just add that Andre just flew back from St. Louis over the weekend. He was in St. Louis because he has now opened his second his second DMV location in St. Louis. Different different I have a real estate investment company. Oh, I'm sorry. A real estate investment company. Either way, he's opened up and he flew back for this property number six. So, congratulations.

Thank you. Say, come on. So, if y'all know me, y'all know I love people and I couldn't do any of this without the support and love from all of the people who I work with. Come on. Especially my mama. Come on up. Step. Come on. My brother. My brother. Y'all come on. Stand with us.

I love people and I promise to always love people and give everyone my best. I know Councilman Newton works a lot with re-entry and not a lot of people know the whole story. People see the glory but they don't know the story and I remember when I was young I moved to Bridge I'm from Stanford originally and I moved to Bridgeport back in 2003 and I was young and dumb and I would buy cars and know what you couldn't tell me if I b if I bought it I'mma drive it. Registration didn't have it. insurance didn't have it and they gave me a a PTA didn't go cuz I had to go to work. But how many of us know that God is a redeemer?

That's right.

And he will take what you struggled with and make it a blessing for many. And when God gave me the opportunity to open bubble registration services, we don't see color, creed, politics, or nothing. We see the individual that comes in who needs the services. the young man that I was who was young and dumb. Let's not say dumb, but it's young and uninformed and we give them information and we promise to love on them. And the last thing I'll say is everyone knows the glory and they don't know the story, right? It's it it's pressure. The people up on this stage, y'all know pressure. Make sure you do for yourselves, too. My favorite scripture and I'll be keep it short is God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all you can ever ask or think but it's according to the power that works inside of you. Activate your power and be the blessing that God has called you to be to the people of who you can reach. And that's all I got to say. God bless you all and thank you so so much for everything.

For everything. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This is amazing. All right, somebody take this mic. Take Come on, mama. This is my husband right here. All right. And my brother. And this is my team. I got to hold the mic doing this, too. All right. I'm holding Thank you. Don't go anywhere.

I'm gonna have you read that. I'm gonna have you. So, let me announce it and then I'm gonna have you do that. Okay. I thought I thought that was a good Yeah. We got another one to do. We have another

one to do.

Thank you so much. This is so special. Madam President, you have the floor. Okay, we have another one coming up.

Council, if you want to come. I'm gonna have a boy do this. He's our veteran on the council and I'm going to have him read this. This is your office.

Official citation. Be it hereby known to all that the city council honors an army veteran recipient of numerous awards and decorations and dedicated advocate for other veterans on induction into Hall of Fame class of 2025 Juliet A. Taylor Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame. We offer our deep appreciation and utmost gratitude to one who answered the call to national service returning home to excel in public service, community leadership, education, and nonprofit work. Her commitment to helping fellow veterans, in particular women, is exemplary. And her valor, integrity, and sacrifice are a testament to a life of patriotism and citizenship. Given the second day of March 2026 at City Hall, Bridgeport, Connecticut by Janette Heron, city council president and the entire city council. When we can recognize women in the military, it's so important because I'm very big in saying that women need to move forward and do big things and you've done some really big things. I I was asked to do this and all I did was hear great things about you. So, we're honored to do this for you. This council is honored and he's the only veteran here. That's why I had him read it because it's it's special. So, and thank you so much. Do you want to say something?

Okay. Come on. Yeah, exactly. Along with members of the city council, I also want to uh proclaim as we do in an official way, ceremonially, but appropriately um for persons and um in this instance, one that is so important to acknowledge. So, if you'll give me a moment, I'm just going to get my glasses on so I can read the appropriate portions. I'm getting older. That's all right. You don't start laughing about it.

But it reads in in the very official sense, whereas Staff Sergeant Juliet Taylor served in the United States Army from 2002 to 2014. She served honorably stateside and overseas in support of Operation Iraq Freedom 2 and Operation Enduring Freedom. And whereas Juliet graduated from the University of Bridgeport mental health counseling program in 2022 and she's currently enrolled in the doctoral counseling education and supervision program at Capella University and will graduate in 2027. She's received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Army Commenation Medals, multiple Army Good Conduct Medals, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, Global War on Terrorism Exped Expedential Expedentially Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, and the Army service ribbon and more than we could fit on this and that I could pronounce appropriately which my apologies but most importantly as a recognition to you from the city of Bridgeport. Now therefore, it states, I, Joseph began a mayor of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, commend Staff's Sergeant Juliet Taylor's exceptional career in the United States military and hereby proclaim this Monday, March 2nd, 2026 as Staff Sergeant Juliet Taylor Day here in the city of Puerto with your seal and sign on that. So, we're going to give you the microphone and somebody's gonna have to hold these. You want to hold these?

Come right in the center. Okay. That's right, Cindy.

Thank you, everyone. This is a great honor. I have to say, um, I was recruited right here in Bridgeport and left for I joined originally the National Guard and went on to active duty. came back here to Bridgeport and um in a couple of years, a couple of years ago, Cindy Anderson became the director of our veteran service center. And I have to tell you that I've been all over the place, all over the country, all over the the state of Connecticut. And we are probably I think second to California, the top veteran service center. And it's only been a couple of years. So we've been on 20 Thorn Street, right? It's only been a couple of years. We've we've did standown at University of Bridgeport. The largest standown. Standown is a one-day event that veterans get to have their service met, whether it's Department of Motor Vehicles. We're going to tap into that resource now. And some different things.

Dental. We have housing, homeless services. And Bridgeport, we host the largest veteran service at the University of Bridgeport. We had 250 veterans three years in a row that we provided services for um to include just wellness checks. So, thank you Cindy for giving me opportunity to serve again. Um and I do appreciate it. Um Home for the Braves, we have the only women veterans transitional home homeless shelter in the state. Matter of fact, in all of New England, we are we are house we have the only women's program here. So, it's great. I I'm I'm very honored to, you know, to receive this citation and to read this honor and uh we're just going to keep mentoring um coaching and providing services for veterans in need and family members as well. Thank you. Thank you.

One. I mean, they're just stand down just like she said. What's the problem? You have a a I know. Go to go to the dentist. They can go DMV. What's the matter with your license, your registration? Let's help out. If there's a legal matter, they can get I judges volunteer to do this. So, it's a wonderful program and so many of have have done looked back with and commented about with appreciation and how it's been life-changing and supportive and it's the least we can do and thank you so for doing so much so much for our veterans. Another round of applause. Thank you. Thank you. All right, on with the show. Let's go.

You guys ready? Yes. Let's go. With that, as council members move towards their seats, I see there is an item called approval of city council minutes of January 2026. I've heard a motion and did I hear a second? All in favor indicate by saying I. Any opposed? Okay.

Is it your abstension will be noted? I could hear it and I think the clerk could unless there's an objection. Motion to consolidate and refer to the appropriates committee has been made. Is there a second? All a heard a second. You with me, madam clerk? Because I'm going to go from here. We're not going to stop. All in favor by saying I. Any opposed? Michelle. Michelle, I'm sorry. You have the floor. Please pause for me. And and

the 3725 the capital plan. Um I'm asking that um as we work on this and for the future to have uh finances in there for open space because open space is really important because we have no place for the animals and the birds and everywhere to go and right now it's it's we don't have that many open spaces left. So what we do we need to preserve them. I support that. If you see stuff from the budget process please let us know. Yeah definitely. Anybody else? All in favor by saying I. Any oppose? Is there a motion to adjurnn? Well, what? Okay. All right. All right. One more page. Oh, and the agenda.

Yeah, but I don't have a full agenda then. I'm sorry. Okay. There's uh now been added a page two apparently called the consent calendar. It has two items on it. Members of the council, if anybody else doesn't have it or doesn't see it, please indicate now. Otherwise, we're going to move forward on these items. Okay. So, this probably give me an extension, but we didn't vote yet. 2325 and 2425 are on the consent calendar as the rules. I reiterate. Does anybody want to remove anything? All right. You have to read them into the record. Motion's been made and seconded, right? Is that right, Madam Clerk? Yes. Okay.

From there, I don't know which one. Uh, okay. Okay. So now we're going to read them into the record and vote without discussion. Madame clerk, you have the floor. 2325 Economic and Community Development and Environment Committee report grant submission Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection DE Climate Resilience Fund Resilent Bridgeport matching funds number 26447. You read them both.

See, see them both. All in favor indicate my No, no, I only read one. That's what I thought. I'm sorry. You looked at me. I thought we were supposed to vote. So, that was 2325 read into the record. Now, we're going to read Madam Clerk's going to read 2425 into the record. Madam clerk, you have the floor. Is that with the same people that put the motion and second or different people? Yes, they did it as as one motion. I didn't realize that. I'm sorry, guys. Yes, madam clerk.

Mayor 2425 Economic and Community Development and Environmental Committee report grand submission Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection DE Recreational Trails Program Them Mill Green Pathways Project number 26899. All right, they both read to the record. Before we vote, Councilwoman Lions, I think, wants to make sure that her abstension is the which one? The 23 25. No, she's talking about matters that were referred from the referral vote. Which one?

And what numbers again for the for the clerk's benefit? a vote. Okay. 3825 was part of that. With that, we're going to vote on the two items on the consent calendar as a consolidated motion which is made and seconded. Madame clerk, I think you're with me. I'm going just do a voice vote. All in favor indicate by saying I. Any opposed? Okay. So, that's clear. I'm told there's one item on an addendum. Do you have the addendum? And I want to make sure if any council member does not have the addendum, they bring it to your attention so that you we can act on it tonight with you seeing it on the front page of the agenda. Madam clerk, do you have it?

But she didn't give me one. Madam clerk is reviewing her paperwork. Well, is that for the environmental committee? No. It's called creation of special committee on community development block. It doesn't have a number. I don't have it. I don't have it. Yes. Oh, thank you. All right. I think the clerk has it in front of her now. So, with that, this one goes with Madam President is your Okay. So, I'm going to call on Are you sure, Councilwoman Janette Herren to uh take this matter up at this time? Councilwoman, you have the floor.

Oh, thank you. Um, this is a special create uh special committee on community block grant program, CDBG. I'm going to assign the members to that. Do we have to vote on this first? We just do the members, right? We just add the members, correct? Okay. All right. It's going to be Gayen Murray, George Cruz, Akeem Boyd, Richard Ortiz, Kayla Medina, Anita Martinez, Ernest Newton. Co-chairs will be Akeem Boyd and Anita Martinez. So, I make a motion to approve.

Motion is made and seconded. Um, will you provide a copy of that to the clerk? I have it right. Thank you so much. Yes. All right. Motion made, seconded. I'm looking I need I need a copy of those name, please. Thank you. Okay. All you can abstain when we vote. Just I'm going to vote. We're going to vote now. All in favor indicate by saying I. Anybody want to oppose? Is Councilwoman Pereira? Anyone else opposed? Abstensions. Okay. Abstensions. Councilwoman Michelle Lions. Okay. We're clear on that vote. Was that uh heard?

Okay. That's what I want to say. So, Councilwoman Lee, I I I promised her at the beginning of the meeting that she could ask for a point of personal privilege at the appropriate time. And I'd ask the council members to indulge on this. Councilwoman Mary Lee McBride, you have the floor. Your microphone is on. Yeah. Uh, as I said before you got him there. Uh, and and I I I don't know who is your spokesperson for your office. I'll wait till you finish. Excuse me. Thank you. Yes.

No, I got this. I got this. Uh, I don't know who the spokesperson is for your office, but I think that you need to have um work session or something, you know, because during our Black History program, they messed up real bad, you know, real, as far as I'm concerned. And I'm not speaking for all African-American people either. I'm I'm only speaking for a few people. Okay. The first thing I would like to address is I'm glad that Jen now is here. I want you to know they put out and some other people on this council, you know that there are going to be some trouble during our Black History uh uh event. Don't you know that when you say no to black folk that make them want to fight more than whatever it is? And I also would like to say that the the African-American people in Bridgeport has been disrespected so much that it just come natural now for us to be disrespected. Now people go where they want to and they do what they want to do. But I thought, you know, not a single council person uh represented at the uh Black History event and not a single uh person from Hartford represented at that event. And for your office too, matter. Now, we didn't have our uh citation to give that night because your office said that you hadn't signed them. Okay. Now, and and and let me tell you, uh uh pastor,

let me just do this. Let me do this. This is a point of personal privilege. I would just say if it's some a conversation you want to have, we should have it. Let's not hold the whole council here for this. If it's if it's about something with the mayor's office or and the event,

it's not just about the mayor's office. It's about it's not just about the mayor's office. It's about your city attorney's office. It's about J. And it's about some of the people on this council. You know what I mean? And I think, mayor, that too many stuff have been swept under the rug. That's why people get away with what they get away with. And and and and I'm sick and tired of that, too. So, I'm going to tell you this, too, and then I'm going to be finished. I'm going home on eat my dinner. Let me tell you something. The the uh uh as far as people do what they want to do, do you know that's fine, but I don't think that a month that is so uh important to us and so sacred to us should have been disrespected the way that we were disrespected. You know what I mean? Uh-huh. And I want to say one other thing. Now, you take Dr. Gaston. Dr. Gaston is two senators in this city, one white and one black. Now, how in the world you going to put up put out a flyer and then leave a black man off? And not just one time, mayor, but two or three times. Now, you going to tell me that's okay? It's not okay. And I would say on behalf of the few black people that I represent, you owe him a personal apology from your office because everything that go on in there, you should know

and that's all I'm going to say. I ain't going to say nothing else. No. Well put. Let's um bring it to a close and unless there's any other points of personal privilege that would be brief. Motion to adjurnn. A second. All in favor of gate by saying I. Thank you so