Advocates Rally Before Steel Point Hearing
By Bill Cummings, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport
Oct. 31–BRIDGEPORT — Hundreds of activists and ordinary residents on Tuesday told the City Council the $1.5 billion Steel Point redevelopment must include more affordable housing and offer a “living wage” for those who work there.
About 500 people turned out for the only public hearing on the $1.5 billion plan to transform the Steel Point peninsula along the harbor into 3,500 luxury condominiums and townhouses, stores, restaurants, marina slips, hotel rooms and other features.
Although numerous people spoke in favor the project, and the new taxes and jobs it promises, those voices were drowned out by a louder chorus demanding more working class housing and living wages for those who build the project and work there.
They told the council the thousands of luxury apartments to be built on Steel Point are not for them, and the venture represents a “gentrification” of the city.
“We are being ripped off,” said Clyde Nickerson, summing up the sentiments of the crowd.
Before the hearing, nearly 100 people, mostly associated with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ and other groups, rallied in opposition outside City Hall.
At times protesters chanted, “Hey, hey, ho ho. A bad deal has got to go.”
“Mayor Fabrizi is more interested in a deal than the people who live in this city and have kept it alive,” Kim Vendreys said during the rally.
“I stand by the working people of Bridgeport,” said Kurt Wesby of Local 32BJ. “Who does this benefit — Midtown Equities. Who is not benefiting — The working poor.” A land disposition agreement now before the council calls for Midtown Equities, the Steel Point developer, to build 50 affordable units on Steel Point and 250 more scattered across the city. The developer faces penalties if those are not built, and that money would go into a fund to build more affordable housing.
Midtown has shut the door on additional affordable units, saying it’s not economically feasible. The developer also rejected calls to mandate union or living wages for those who work on Steel Point, and will not agree to reserve 30 percent of the construction jobs for minority-owned businesses.
If the land disposition agreement is approved as now written — the council is scheduled to vote Monday — the city will sell Midtown the 52-acre Steel Point tract for $4.5 million. Midtown will then sell $190 million in public bonds to fund infrastructure improvements. Those bonds are to be repaid by diverting a portion of new taxes generated on the site.
Speakers on Tuesday portrayed Midtown as not interested in helping working Bridgeport families, some of whom were forced off Steel Point when the city used eminent domain to the seize the property a decade ago.
“I was a resident of Steel Point,” Janice Kelly told the council. “They have a good plan, but they can’t forget to take care of the people who lived there.”
Adrienne Houel, who is involved with The United Front, an umbrella organization representing a variety of groups, said Steel Point must be a “mixed income development.”
“This is an injustice to put back just 50 units,” said Elizabeth Morales.
David Hall told the council, “You are hearing the people speak and you must listen. Three hundred and forty- three people lost homes and jobs on Steel Point. People were put out without fair compensation. Economic development is building a better life for people.”
Still, not everyone who spoke Tuesday night opposed the deal before the council.
“We need it desperately,” said Jim Fox. “We have been waiting a long time. With the jobs that would be created everyone is going to benefit. There will be a lot of spin-off.”
Ronald Morales, a city firefighter, said Steel Point will benefit everyone in the city. “This project is not only about changing the face of Bridgeport but about becoming a regional magnet. This project is about lower taxes, new jobs and housing.”
Max Medina, a Board of Education member and a local lawyer who represents Midtown, said the developer is taking responsibility for years of neglect and contamination on Steel Point. “No one project can solve all of the issues confronting a community,” Medina said.
Bill Cummings, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6230.
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