General Electric Ignores Connecticut Contractors & Selects New York & Pennsylvania Companies To Work On The Deconstruction Of Bridgeport Project

4/25/2011 2:53 PM EST

(Hartford, Connecticut) – The Connecticut First Coalition, the state’s primary construction industry economic watchdog group, held a morning press conference today requesting that city of Bridgeport and state of Connecticut officials meet immediately with General Electric officials to review the company’s recent decisions to hire out-of-state companies for the deconstruction of the Boston Avenue project in Bridgeport, CT.

“Given Connecticut’s spiraling economy, we need to grow and increase the market share for businesses within our state borders. We have Connecticut workers who are Connecticut taxpayers that are looking for jobs each day. It was discovered most recently, that General Electric hired Royal Environmental from Rochester, NY for the asbestos abatement work and is now in discussions with Brandenburg Industrial Service Company from Bethlehem, PA for the general demolition work,” said Charles LeConche, director, Connecticut First Coalition. “There are numerous Connecticut based contractors that can provide similar and probable superior services for General Electric on its Boston Avenue project in Bridgeport. In fact, working with officials, I am almost sure we can find a way to give relief on this private project that would almost ensure that our instate contractors would be the low bidders.”

According to online news reports, General Electric is presently dismantling the 13 interconnected structures built on a 76.6-acre East Side property nearly a century ago on Boston Avenue, Bridgeport, CT. The deconstruction of the five-story structures is will end in 2012. Besides the main 1.5 million-square-foot structure, the company also plans to take down the two-story powerhouse bordering 7-acre Stillman Pond, which is also part of the East Side property. In June 2007, GE formally closed the plant. The company has not decided whether to retain ownership of the property. General Electric began intensive remediation of asbestos and hazardous waste at the site in preparation for the total deconstruction project and has been working with state Department of Environment Protection.

“Today, we need to ask how good or bad is General Electric as a concerned Connecticut corporate citizen? The answer that General Electric as of today has failed to be a good corporate citizen of Connecticut by hiring out-of-state companies that bring out of state workers. Let’s just hope this changes in the near future as our state and local officials review this matter,” said LeConche.

The Connecticut First Coalition, along with many other state organizations, businesses and worker groups, will be holding a massive statewide jobs rally on Sunday, May 1, 2011, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Bushnell Park’s Pavilion, Hartford, CT. For more information, visit www.ctlpl.com/mayfirstunionrally.html.

The Connecticut First Coalition supports laws that promote responsible Connecticut contractors and the people who work for them. The group also supports training and apprenticeship programs for Connecticut residents and the use of project labor agreements, which cities and towns have employed to put their residents back to work. The Connecticut First Coalition consists of hundreds of individuals, organizations, political and civic leaders and businesses that are promoting "Connecticut First". The efforts of the group since its inception several years ago have helped to create new jobs, led to keeping more taxpayer money being spent within Connecticut and helped to uncover taxpayer waste in the development of poorly constructed buildings. For more information about the Connecticut First Coalition, visit www.ctfirst.com.

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