Bridgeport council approves revenue bond support for Jewish Home after amending local payment terms

The Bridgeport City Council voted Feb. 17 to approve revenue bond assistance for the Jewish Home for the Elderly, Series 2026, after first amending the municipal payment term.

During a public hearing opened by Mayor (the mayor), resident Maria Pereira said she opposed the measure, citing the nonprofit’s executive pay and arguing the project would not expand the city’s tax base or create substantial living‑wage jobs. “The CEO this year alone is making $925,000,” Pereira said, adding that the top six employees receive about $2,200,000 combined and that the home’s 2023 revenue exceeded $68 million. Pereira said prior local facility failures left hundreds of workers and residents displaced and said she would seek a roll call so constituents could see how members voted.

Councilman Ernest Newton, who said the budget committee had negotiated with the facility and neighborhood representatives, proposed an amendment increasing a contractual payment from $50,000 to $80,000. “We asked them to up that ante to 80,000,” Newton said, adding that many Bridgeport residents work at the facility and that the amended version changed only the dollar amount. Supporters said the Jewish Home provides an important option for seniors and pledged cooperative work on safety improvements near Park Avenue, buffers and solar installations.

Councilwoman Anita Martinez and Councilwoman Michelle Lyons both urged support, noting the city’s limited remaining long‑term care capacity and describing the facility as well‑maintained. Martinez said the council should consider where constituents go for rehabilitation or long‑term care and called the Jewish Home a “wonderful facility.” Lyons said she had spent extensive time consulting with administration and bonding staff and reported commitments from the facility to work with the city on pedestrian safety and landscape buffers.

The council first passed the amendment raising the payment to $80,000 and then approved the main motion as amended by roll call. The clerk recorded votes individually; several members voted yes and Councilwoman Maria Pereira registered a no. The council president stated the motion passed.

The public hearing and the council’s action complete the council’s local approval step for the proposed revenue bonds. The council did not detail additional oversight conditions in the public record on Feb. 17; members encouraged submission of written comments to the city clerk.

What happens next: The council approved the measure as amended; any further procedural or financing steps will depend on bond closing, applicable state approvals and administrative follow‑up by city staff and the bond counsel.