“Every one of you is helping us build a better Bridgeport. Who could have imagined what we could have accomplished by working together? We haven’t reached the finish line, but we are on the home stretch. I see the difference every day. And, none of this would have happened without you.”— Mayor Bill Finch
Bridgeport, Conn (March 31, 2015) – Mayor Bill Finch this week celebrated Women’s History Month honoring the inspirational woman who work every day transforming Bridgeport.
“I just want to say thank you,” said Mayor Finch. “Who could have imagined what we could have accomplished by working together? We haven’t reached the finish line, but we are on the home stretch. I see the difference every day. And, none of this would have happened without you.”
In recognition of Women’s History Month, Mayor Finch held a round table discussion with women who have led Bridgeport’s renaissance.
After decades of broken promises, construction is finally happening at Steel Point. Once complete, the 52-acre peninsula and surrounding properties on Long Island Sound will be home to 1,400 apartments, retail, hotels, a grocery store, and more. Our improving downtown neighborhood is home to hundreds of new apartments, several new businesses, and a wealth of companies that are choosing to move back to the heart of our city. Downtown North will soon to be home to hundreds of new apartments, all within walking distance of a train station. The administration is also making progress on the East Bridgeport Development Corridor. The cornerstone of this revitalization project is Barnum Station, which will serve as our city's second Metro-North stop.
“This progress doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s the result of hard work of people who care about Bridgeport,” said Mayor Finch.
Prophetess Gerry Claytor, who runs the Feed The People Food Pantry in the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex, which serves about 500 kids in the West End participated in the discussion.
“I am honored to be in this room with the people who are working together to transform Bridgeport,” said Mayor Finch, noting that 1,000 new units of housing have been built during the last eight years, 2,000 more units are in the pipeline, businesses are moving into Bridgeport and social service organizations are providing quality support for the people who need it most.
“We are turning the corner, and everyone in this room has played a major role in that,” said Mayor Finch. “Without all of your hard work, we would not be where we are today. We have work ahead of us. But look at what we have accomplished.”
Dr. Frances Rabinowitz, Superintendent of Bridgeport public schools, noted Bridgeport’s efforts to become the first municipality in the state to offer universal pre-k available for every child.
“I have to say that I think Bridgeport is a city on the cusp of really great things,” said Rabinowitz. “I really believe that working together with the mayor and his administration, we can really move things forward. I’m seeing our kids moving forward and we will accomplish that but only with us working together.”
Police Lt. Rebeca Garcia is the first female officer in Connecticut to head the Internal Affairs Unit of her department.
“My goal has always been to be able to build bridges between the police department and the people within this city,” said Garcia. “My goal is to continue working forward with the city of Bridgeport.”
Deborah Thomas-Sims, the director of Neighborhood Revitalization for the city, said “who would have ever thought 10 years ago that the city would be announcing Pleasure Beach finally reopening for the kids and families of Bridgeport and new parks and ball fields being built all across the city.”