For Hayes’ legislative director, how sweet it is
Alex Ginis, Trumbull High School Class of ’06, definitely has found the sweet spot in life. After graduating from University of Connecticut in 2010, Ginis joined the great southward migration of politically minded youth to Washington. He interned for Rep. Jim Himes and then held a succession of jobs on Capitol Hill and with a trade association until February of this year. That’s when he became legislative director for Rep. Jahana Hayes.
So he has never looked back ... except for one thing: cheesecake. Along with his sister, Katie, and (mostly) his father, Tom, he founded Poppy’s Cheesecake in 2014. The waytoorich delectables flow out of an industrial space in Bridgeport, and can be found at the Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, the Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Ralph ’n Rich’s Restaurant in Bridgeport, Spic and Span Market in Southport and a bunch of other locations.
The recipe is the same one that Tom’s father, Harry, the original “Poppy,” perfected in the family home in Queens, N.Y., where Tom grew up. Poppy learned the craft as maître d’ at the Barbizon Plaza Hotel on Central Park South in New York — now the Trump Parc (yes, that Trump).
Although we normally associate cheesecake with the Jewish baking tradition, the proud GreekAmerican Ginis family begs to differ.
“Since cheesecake was originally served to athletes at the Olympics in ancient Greece, we guess you could say that it’s in our blood,” the Poppy’s website says.
Alex is less involved in the business than dad Tom and sister Katie. But don’t be surprised if cheesecake becomes a staple at Hayes events and political rallies. Suggested slogan: Rep. Jahana Hayes ... come for the inspiration! Stay for the cheesecake!
You’d think that if anyone in the Connecticut polity understood the predicament nowdeparted Labor Secretary Alex Acosta faced in prosecuting accused child rapist Jeffrey Epstein as U.S. attorney in Southern Florida, it would be Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Blumenthal served as both U.S. attorney and state attorney general — the latter post for 20 years.
Surely he has seen his share of close calls, tough decisions where cutting a deal was marginally preferable to going to trial — “a roll of the dice,” as Acosta himself described it in his legalistic selfdefense press conference.
But if Blumenthal has even a shred of sympathy, he wasn’t showing it as Acosta stepped down from President Donald Trump’s cabinet Friday amid the continuing brouhaha over his handling of the Epstein case in 2008.
“Acosta has taken responsibility by stepping down, but failures & breakdowns in the system that allowed for Epstein’s sweetheart deal still require full investigation & accountability,” he tweeted Friday after news broke of Acosta quitting.
“Full accountability for Epstein is still vital even after Acosta’s resignation,” Blumenthal said in another tweet. “Epstein’s heinous criminality should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law & he should be compelled to reveal the responsibility of all who gave him his first sweetheart deal.”
The reality is that although prosecutors face “toss of dice” decisions frequently, the Epstein deal had a number of unusual features. Yes, the Acosta deal got him jail time but he was able to spend six of seven days outside of jail at his office, for 12hour stretches.
And, as detailed in a good Washington Post piece on Friday, prosecutors failed to notify most of Epstein’s female victims that a deal was in the works. In fact, when FBI agents notified some of the victims, Epstein’s lawyers complained and the alerts ceased.
Trump, a onetime pal of Epstein, stood by Acosta’s side as the two faced reporters before Trump boarded Marine One on Friday. “I hate to see this happen,” he said.