Who wants their name on a moldy school?
With the Danbury wastewater plant being renamed after a comedian in exchange for his giving local charities $55,000 (with more on the way — a community fundraiser launched this week to celebrate the newly christened John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant has already netted another $50,000), it made me wonder if some needy causes elsewhere in the state could benefit from a bit of name-brand rebranding
For example ...
Ray Dalio and Westover Magnet Elementary School
The gazillionare hedge fund owner wanted to move his Bridgewater Associates headquarters to Stamford a few years ago in exchange for a literal boatyard of coastal destruction and state tax breaks. The locals put up too big of a fight, and he stayed in Westport. Through his educational philanthropic foundation, Dalio later wanted to pump $100 million into Connecticut’s underperforming schools through a questionable partnership with the state mired in constant controversy. That was scuttled earlier this year. Dalio, however, says he still wants to make the donation.
Let’s offer him Westover Magnet Elementary School in Stamford. The school was closed for two years to undergo $24 million in renovations to combat mold issues. Right before it reopened for this autumn, more moisture problems bubbled up. Dalio’s generosity would let him fulfill both his desires: a major tax write-off that helps Connecticut students and getting a deal on a nice piece of soggy Stamford property.
Joe Ganim and Bridgeport Correctional Center
The seven-term Bridgeport mayor spent a stretch of time between terms five and six in federal prison for public corruption related to a kickback scheme. Now his administration is again being scrutinized by the FBI. His police chief (a longtime Ganim friend and his former driver/bodyguard) and the city’s personal director have been charged by the feds with rigging the search for the city’s top law enforcement officer, possibly to appease the mayor.
Yeah — the local hoosegow a little obvious of a choice but Ganim is too far tarnished at this point to hope to have his name put on a redemption center. Certainly some of the numbskulls who have continued to vote this ex-con into office can pony up the bucks for the naming rights and a good cause such as ethics training for Bridgeport officials.
Tom Brady and Cardinal Stadium
The quarterback of six Super Bowl winning New England Patriots teams fired up locals for months when rumors swirled about him and model wife Gisele Bündchen buying a mansion in a certain tony southern Connecticut town. Alas, it didn’t happen. Now it looks like the couple will instead buy a palace closer to his new job in Florida, running the offense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, Brady still has strong ties — along with some loyalty — to his old club and boss, massage aficionado Robert Kraft, who would love to capture the hearts and dollars of the one corner of the New England region that still roots for the New York football clubs, no matter how lousy they are. With Greenwich High School’s football stadium in need of repairs and funding for them, it sounds like a match made in a NFL marketing executive’s red, white and blue dream.
(Insert pundit name here) and Heroes Tunnel