City attorney forgot about Freedom of Speech

City attorney Mark Anastasi chastises City Councilwoman Karen Jackson for publicly criticizing Bridgeport police for their treatment of her son, Gabriyel Fraser ( July 24 news story, “Bridgeport stun- gun complaint draws City Hall’s ire”).

He patronizingly permits her the motherly right to be concerned.

He critically warns that her behavior will cause her constituents to lose faith in the police

He implies she expects favored treatment because of her council position. In effect, he acts like judge and jury. Has the city attorney forgotten the content of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which reads:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof; or abridging the FREEDOM OF SPEECH, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Attorney Anastasi enjoys the rights of the First Amendment. So also does City Councilwoman Karen Jackson and her 15- year old son Gabriyel Fraser.

The Rev. John W. Olson Former City Councilman

Bridgeport

Impoverished schools

Is anyone surprised that SAT scores are down across the state ( July 25 news story, “State SAT scores stumble)? Could this decline be the result of the thousands of hours and millions of dollars spent over the years on test prep, test taking and test score tracking instead of spending that money and time on real education?

And School Board Chairman Board John Weldon’s patronizing comment about the several point gains made by our Bridgeport high school students? Pathetic! Those averages aren’t sufficient to get them in to any colleges in this state.

Huge funding cuts to Bridgeport that start in kindergarten and don’t quit ever have resulted in the loss of guidance counselors, paraprofessionals, literacy and math coaches, bus stops and even school volunteers. These cuts have hurt poor kids disproportionately, kids who are just as smart as any other kids in this state but have no value placed on their education by the mayor, the governor, the school board or anyone else. It is tragic for them and for all the rest of the kids coming behind them who are trying to become educated in Bridgeport’s impoverished system.

I wonder whether the people responsible for the underfunding would want their own children to get SAT scores with combined averages under 700.

Ann Evans de Bernard, Ph. D

Bridgeport