24 Hours Later
You Wont Be Reading This Story In
The Republican Dominated
Greenwch Time
They Are Too Busy Reporting About
Chris Shays' Put Out Last Week.
But Don't Worry
Greenwich Roundup
Will Report The Story
To The Dwidling
Greenwich Time Readership.
Jim Himes?
Greenwich Roundup Gets Email From Hime Campagian A Few Hours After Shays' Bridgeport Ambush
Later, Greenwich Roundup is told that press releases are not the problem, it s the publishing of PRESS ADVISORIES, which layout campian itenaries and media plans.
Connecticut Post, CT
Christopher Shays, R-4, crashed a press conference called by Democratic challenger Jim Himes
BRIDGEPORT — The sniping between candidates in the 4th Congressional District over the broken Congress Street bridge erupted into a face-to-face war of words Monday morning.
The candidates argued over who is to blame for the failure to fix the span — stuck upright for more than a decade — when U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, crashed a press conference called by Democratic challenger Jim Himes at the East Side end of the bridge.
Himes, who planned a second swipe at Shays in as many weeks over the broken bridge, was joined by several City Council members. He reiterated his previous claim that Shays has devoted more attention to issues in Iraq, and cited the bridge as a symbol of the veteran Republican's neglect of the city.
"The bridge is a symbol of a much larger issue. It symbolizes the need for renewal," Himes said of the span, which links downtown to the heart of the East Side.
Shays, who arrived uninvited, said he felt it was important to personally address the "outrageous" claims the Democrat made last week.
During 21 years in office, Shays said, "I've never had someone make this kind of claim. The facts are clear, [the Congress Street bridge] has never been a priority of the city. In the end, it's [the city's] decision."
Greenwich's Himes, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker turned nonprofit housing executive, won the Democratic primary Aug. 12 against Lee Whitnum, and in a general-election campaign attracting national attention, is....
....The congressman said that developing 300 acres along Seaview Avenue and constructing a new train station would be more significant economically to the city than fixing the bridge.
"I believe that the other two should be a priority. And it's not that [the bridge] is not important," he said. "If we don't have a good intermodal system, then Steel Point will be a waste."
However, Adam Wood, the mayor's chief of staff, said the mayor has indeed discussed the Congress Street bridge with Shays.
"He actually has had conversations with Congressman Shays. Bill definitely brought it up to him," Wood said after the press conference. "They clearly discussed the Congress Street bridge."
In fact, Wood said, Shays told the mayor "it would probably be easier to take [the bridge] down."
Several City Council members who attended the Himes press conference said they had also spoken to Shays about the broken bridge several months ago.
"We met with [Shays] personally. He stated that it was a waste of money," said council member Leticia Colon, D-131. Shays told Colon, though, that he looks to the mayor to set the city's priorities.
Maria Valle, D-137, who was at the meeting with Shays last winter, said Shays "should have been up front and honest [then] and said, 'Look, the mayor is the one who needs to speak up.' "
Wood said federal lobbyist and former mayor Nick Panuzio advised the mayor to appeal to the state first for help with the bridge replacement. The mayor plans to submit a formal request for funds to the federal government next year, he said.
If the city chose to make the bridge a priority, Shays said, he would do so, too. "I do what they want," he said.
However, Himes spokesman Michael Sachse said, "It's too bad that it took a camera and a gaggle of reporters to get Chris Shays to focus on issues that matter here in Connecticut."
Please Also See:
How This Greenwich Blogger Reports On The Incident.....
by saramerica
The Himes campaign held a press conference at the Congress Street Bridge in Bridgeport earlier today. The bridge has been stuck upright for over a decade, a symbol, Himes said, of the wrong priorities of our current Congressman. ...
ALSO:
by nolopro
BRIDGEPORT - The sniping between candidates in the 4th Congressional District over the broken Congress Street bridge erupted into a face-to-face war of words this morning. The candidates argued over who is to blame for the failure to ...
You Won't Read About The Chris Shay's Disturbance In The Republican Mouth Piece, Known As The, Greenwich Time, But You Can Read All About It In The Danbury Newspaper.......
NewsTimesLive.com
... During 21 years in office, Shays fumed, "I've never had someone make this kind of claim. The facts are clear, the Congress Street bridge has never been a priority of the city. In the end, it's the city's decision."
Himes of Greenwich, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker turned nonprofit housing executive, won the Democratic primary Aug. 12 against Lee Whitnum and in a general-election campaign attracting national attention, is taking on Shays of Bridgeport, who has held the congressional seat since 1987.
In addition to infrastructure projects shortchanged by money diverted to pay for the Iraq war, Himes said, "There's all sorts of federal programs" that have not received adequate funding. He cited the No Child Left Behind Act and Medicare as two examples.
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Maybe Rep. Christopher Shays Thinks:
"What's Good For The Goose Is Good For The Gander"
It was not too long ago that....
