To my regular readers, you are well aware that when this blog started it was to focus on the actions of Eddie Perez and his corrupt organization at Hartford City Hall.
Whether it was alleged criminal activity, attempts at covering up his actions through refusing FOI requests or just improper conduct, much of it was first reported here. I am proud of the accomplishments that "We the People" has attained and the people who have stood along side me to take our City back.
The work is far from done as we dig out of the mess that our former Mayor,and now convicted felon, Eddie A. Perez has put us in. But I have decided, at least for me, that the Perez era of corruption as it relates to Perez as an individual is done.
We do have another elected official, Republican Council Person Veronica Airey-Wilson headed to trial on felony charges and I will focus on her trail also.In the over all scheme of Hartford's resurrection though, her performance is insignificant, as has been most of her tenure on the Council.
But in getting back to Perez, I have decided to remove the reminders of his arrest, trial and conviction. The revolving cube with his first mugshot, the TIME magazine "mug shot's of the year" picture and his second mugshot.
The reason, for me, is simple. Job number one is done, Perez is gone and most likely headed to prison. It's time to focus on the more important job now. That is the job of rallying behind our Mayor, Pedro E. Segarra. In order to regain our position as the once proud and prosperous Capital city of our great state, we all need to pull together.
That can take many different aspects for most people. Number one is being involved in our government and not letting another "Perez Era" happen again...ever. First and foremost get out and vote and encourage everyone you come in contact with to vote. It is time for us to begin placing the best possible candidates in elected positions. Not the best politically connected people, but the best qualified people who love our city and are willing to unselfishly put their hearts and souls into true public service.
Not everyone has the same strengths, but we all have something to offer. Not everyone can get up at Council meetings and speak their minds, but you may be able to take a neighborhood child under your wing and mentor them as Mayor Segarra urged our new police officers at Friday's graduation. Not everyone has the time to be involved in a public office or to volunteer to be on a Board or Commission, but if you do, I would urge you to contact the Mayor's Office and put your strengths to work for bringing our City back.
Even something that seems minor, like sweeping in front of your home or business and picking up litter makes a difference. And you might even start a trend in your neighborhood.
If your streets aren't being swept because people ignore the "No parking on trash day" signs, organize your neighbors as a group of residents recently did in the Congress Street/Morris Street area. After they held a neighborhood meeting with police supervisors and their Community Service Officer a simple solution was arrived at. Residents would let their neighbors know what was coming, tagging and towing of improperly parked vehicles. Flyer's were put out and the following week the Police department and Public Works worked as a team and the illegally parked cars were towed and the streets were swept for the first time in a long time.
A simple solution when we all work together.
Even something as simple as taking the time to pick up the phone and call the Police when you see something unusual in your neighborhood can make a big difference. Many burglary sprees or pattern crimes are ended by just one phone call.
The days of the "Divide and conquer" style of the Perez Administration have been brought to an end. There is great promise and hope that a new day is dawning in Hartford. Only time will tell, but I have confidence in the leadership style of Mayor Segarra ,even though we are only one week and a day into his administration.
Great cities aren't made by one individual, they are built by a diverse group of people all bringing their strengths to the table and working together. We have that potential, now let's get it done.
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22 comments:
This has to be the most naive column you have written!!
To say that the divide and conquer days are over is simply not true. Just look at the Democratic town committee, The other part is Ken Kennedy trying behind the scenes (ala John Kennelly) to become council president , Ken Kennedy has held NO Leadership positions for years!! Now he wants it to launch his Mayoral campaign,by becoming Council president. I think Mayor Segarra will need a food taster if this happens. Look out to all who get in the way.They have been on the outs for so long they will do anything to get back in!! So much for turning the page to a new day in Hartford.
There will be no peace within the democratic party until one side or another departs from the scene.Both halves have no regard for eachother and cannot work together.And both sides have their share of corrupt,criminal and psycho elements.John Kennelly himself is a heavy drinker..is middle-aged and lives with him mommy.He has had the Hartford Club and the Ct Student Loan Foundation sue him recently. And then there is that pesky grievance of just a few years ago....
The Town committee hasnt done very much and the jury is still out with regard to the chairmanship of Ms Holloway.She hasnt impressed in the 4 months that she has held the job.Jean...i know you read this blog...tell us of any future fund raising by the town committee...and please tell us what plans the party has to maintain an office and visibility for the sugust 10th primary?
The answer to the above is...NONE...no plans as a party for the primary.
So maybe the answer is to ignore the town committee. They are party hacks. They don't, or shouldn't, make the decisions on the direction of the city -- Segarra does that, and the next mayor that you vote in. Instead of griping and whining, stand up and do something. Run for City Council yourself, or back someone you think is honest. Call or write the Mayor's Office and join the call to make sure offices get filled by people who don't owe favors to the powers that be in Hartford. Or you can sit around and be cynical and do nothing ... your choice.
Why give Segarra the benefit of the doubt? Rally around him? No, continue to do hard reporting and keep him on his toes.
Where does it say Kevin won't be keeping an eye on Segarra? Remember, he is backing another candidate for Mayor in 2011. The fact that he likes what he sees so far does not mean Kevin has turned into a wide-eyed innocent. But face it, anyone looks good after Eddie. As someone said, as long as Pedro keeps his hands in his own pockets, he will look like a great Mayor.
Unless you are planning to become irrelevant, continue do the hard reporting. Mayor can take care of his own public relations.
Dear Anonymous...If there is one thing that I know about Kevin, it is that the "hard reporting" will continue no matter where it leads.
Kevin: I agree with the over all spirit of what you are saying in this piece. However, Eddie is far from gone. He lives on in all of the people he put in city employment (from low level to high level) and on city commissions. As a good gang leader, he will continue to call the shots via these individuals who will run end runs around Segarra. Segarra is an intelligent guy. I'm sure he realizes this. Hopefully he will be able to get rid of a bunch of them AND the people that they in turn brought in. You've heard of the friends AND family plan, right??? At one point due to the city's fiscal crisis there was a hiring freeze on new employees and a freeze on promoting existing employees. If I were Segarra I would insist on signing off on ALL Human Resources forms A and B to ensure that Eddie's legacy does NOT continue to perpetuate itself AND to ensure that the city's spending on personnel costs do NOT continue to escalate.
This is a very naive column that doesn't seem to have a clue as to the larger issues facing Hartford. Namely the lack of funding cities like Hartford face -- because of a long history of racial oppression. The absurd double unemployment rate Blacks/Latinos have vs. whites. The vast difference in schooling. The income gap and the fact that one in six kids in Hartford has a parent in jail. Not because of Perez, but because of a system a million times more corrupt then he could ever be. A racist criminal justice system. It will change when whites finally decide not to go along with the racist system and to speak out and work against it.
David- Let me strum my violin. The city is on it's second hispanic mayor and the city council is well represented by both blacks and hispanics. Where does the racism come in? Please enlighten me?
In reply to David, have you looked @ the city's budget book???? The last one I looked @ showed that state, federal + grant funds account for almost 1/2 of the city's funding. Are you suggesting it should be 100% funded by non-local tax dollars??? In addition, the $7 million in funding that comes from the US Dept of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)is based on a formula that includes the age of the housing stock as well as the population's income as per the most recent census. So, if that's "racial oppression", I guess I don't understand.
David,
I would like to say that the practice of racism is not limited to Caucasians. There has been plenty of reverse discrimination in Hartford. Instead of placing blame where it doesn't belong, why don't you try to come up with some viable solutions?
I will be most interested to see how Kevin responds to these questions. Does he believe institutional racism is alive and well or not? I could give a billion examples. But for one -- drug free zones. In the areas where people of color live -- cities -- almost every square inch is a "drug free zone" that brings a mandatory minimum sentence. Areas like Glastonbury and Madison have very few drug free zones. So the exact crime that is done in Hartford (where more Blacks and Latinos live) gives a much higher jail sentence then those (mainly white folks) who live in the suburbs. Clearly one part of the reason that one in six kids in Hartford has a parent in jail. Again, I wonder if Kevin, who spoke to me in private about this (at Jessies) will speak about this publically.
I will be most interested to see how Kevin responds to these questions about racism in Hartford. Does he believe institutional racism is alive and well or not? I could give a billion examples. It would take months to go through it. But for one -- drug free zones. In the areas where people of color live -- cities -- almost every square inch is a "drug free zone" that brings a mandatory minimum sentence. Areas like Glastonbury and Madison have very few drug free zones. So the exact crime that is done in Hartford (where more Blacks and Latinos live) gives a much higher jail sentence then those (mainly white folks) who live in the suburbs 19,000 convicted under drug free zones 2008-2009). Clearly one part of the reason that one in six kids in Hartford has a parent in jail. Again, I wonder if Kevin, who spoke to me in private about this (at Jessies) will speak about this publically.
sorry for the double comment. I don't quite yet know how to do the comments.
I believe that There is institutional racism, though less then there was 50 years ago.But it is still with us to a degree and will always be with us to a degree.However, we all should work toward a true nation of equality as best we can,knowing that we live in an imperfect world and that we all are imperfect vessals.
We as a nation will be a majority non-white nation in about 30-40 years or so,if the birth rates stay the same.The new non white majority will be spainish with Mexicans comprising the largest share of the new spainish majority.Our grandkids will be around to see this and hopefully some of us will also.Needless to say the new non-white majority will be just as insitutionally racist as the old order was.
There's another aspect, though, to racial majority and minorities. Who has the money? If you have a majority Latino population in the country, but the majority of the rich people are still white, then the Latinos being a majority doesn't help them a whole lot. The only way it can help them is if they vote as a bloc.
Mr Anon...as the nations population majority shifts to a largely non-white spainish majority in 30-40 years, the money will shift toward them...it is inevitable that it happen.Just as it is inevitable that in the near future there will be a female president and/or a spainish president..probably either of mexican or puerto rican ancestry.
Mr Anonymous answered the other Mr Anymous well for me....As the population "shifts" into a non-white, largely spainish majority, the economic system will also shift towards them as well as the political system..it is inevitable.
It's boring with "His Honor" to kick around. I also hear "Crash Jackson" is on his way out the door.
So, Kevin, what is the scoop??? Which Dept Heads and Directors were NOT invited to stay by Mayor Segarra???
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