Being a Bridgeport resident, I got to experience the browbeating firsthand as an individual and as a city. Firstly, to many in surrounding areas, Bridgeport is known as “the armpit of New England”. To further make this point, the newspaper for Connecticut used to be called The Bridgeport Post. Well, over time many people were complaining about having this fine newspaper associated with such a place – so, the newspaper is now called The Connecticut Post. (http://www.connpost.com/)

It’s funny, as an individual I would take heat for the city as well. As a teenager, I would meet a nice girl, then go to the door and be introduced to her parents. Her father would extend his hand, and with a firm fatherly handshake ask, “So, where ya from son?” I would look up at him and respectfully reply, “Bridgeport, Sir.” With that he would toss a quick glare to his daughter and wife, and within 24 hours the girl wasn’t allowed to see me any more. This happened on several occasions.

Another repeating example was, I would go to a party with some friends, at a house where I was unfamiliar with the person throwing the shindig. We would show up, and some of us would meet the host/hostess for the first time. Introduction, followed by friendly handshake, followed by small talk – great. Hostess: “Nice to meet you, where are you from?” - Friend #1: “Trumbull”, Hostess: “It’s so beautiful there, my Aunt lives there and her neighborhood is so quiet and pretty”. The hostess turns to me and extends her hand, “Nice to meet you, where are you from?” - my reply: “Nice to meet you, thank you for having us, I’m from Bridgeport”. The phony hostess smile leaves her face and her reply: “oh”. She turns and greets the others, and I once again have the big neon sign above my head that reads, “scum”.