Bridgeport Defends Itself Against Being Among 'Dirtiest Cities'

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) - The mayor of Bridgeport is striking back at Forbes, which has listed the city as the fourth dirtiest city in the nation.

WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau On The Story

"Despite being in one of the nation's richest states, much of Bridgeport remains blighted. For decades the Raymark Industries site manufactured car parts and asbestos and filled in wetlands by dumping toxic waste on them," the magazine said. "The EPA has been removing lead, asbestos, arsenic and dioxins for 20 years. Sperling Air Quality Index: 8 Sperling Water Quality Index: 32."

Mayor Bill Finch bristles when he hears derogatory remarks about his city.

Bridgeport he says proudly, is the parks city - one that, just this year, planted more than 2,000 trees to enhance its seaside parks and communities.

"We're very, very fortunate. We have great partners in the federal government. Our EPA region 1 office in Boston has held meetings with Bridgeport to see just other cities can make this kind of green progress that we're making," Finch told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.

The mayor said he's not taking the fourth dirtiest city designation seriously, adding that he doubts the Forbes people have ever visited the thriving city of Bridgeport.

Here are the 20 dirtiest cities, according to Forbes:

1. Fresno, California
2. Bakersfield, California
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. Bridgeport, Connecticut
5. Modesto, California
6. Riverside, California
7. New Haven, Connecticut
8. San Jose, California
9. Stockton, California
10. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
11. New York City
12. Sacramento, California
13. Houston, Texas
14. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
15. Akron, Ohio
16. Louisville, Kentucky
17. Los Angeles, California
18. Baltimore, Maryland
19. Cleveland, Ohio
20. St. Louis, Missouri

What do you think is the dirtiest city you've ever visited? Share your story below.