Thursday, October 6, 2011

ARE ETHICS OVERRATED IN HARTFORD POLITICS?

Actually, the better question is "are there any ethics in Hartford politics?". Is any one's word worth anything in Hartford's political arena? Just ask Shawn Wooden his opinion on that, he might have some interesting thoughts, as someone who has experienced that first hand the last couple of months.

You would think that after just coming through a Grand Jury investigation, the arrest and conviction of Eddie Perez, the arrest of Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson and others, that people in Hartford city government and politics would be walking on eggshells and paying attention to ethical and legal behavior.

Apparently that is not the case. One person that seems to be pushing the limit is Hartford City Treasurer Adam Cloud. Jeff Cohen from WNPR had an interesting story today regarding Cloud's shakedown of City of Hartford vendors to raise money for one of Cloud's political operatives, Andrew Wood. You can read Jeff's story here.

This was another story about Cloud written by Cohen in the last week. Although it has been common knowledge since he took office as Treasurer, Cloud's wife works directly under his supervision in the Treasurer's Office. That is something Cloud should have had the common sense to end immediately after taking office.

The fact that Cloud and his wife, from what I have been told, are the only two people in the Treasurer's Office able to transfer money electronically is troubling. His wife is also apparently responsible for cash reconciliations in the office. I have to ask why anyone would put themselves in a position where this would immediately be called into question at any time a potential problem arose.

It is poor judgement and definitely a poor business practice.

The actions of the Treasurer that Cohen reported on today raise even more questions about the Treasurer's judgement, or more appropriately his lack of judgement. It seems that the Treasurer has been putting the squeeze on various Hartford vendors, including financial institutions, to donate money to a buddy of the Treasurer. Depending on the terms and the content of the conversations, that could cross the threshold and rise to the level of extortion.

Andrew Wood, the Treasurer's buddy and a political operative, was on the dole most of the Perez Administration for years, being paid millions of dollars to operate various "non-profits". The track record of those "non-profits" seem to be a well kept secret though.

According to Cohen's article "Cloud said he decided to raise money for the program because he was inspired by its good work -- not because he was in the middle of a political primary and the organization's executive director, Andrew Woods, is a political supporter."

Mr. Cloud, name something Mr. Wood's has accomplished for the City of Hartford, and it better be good , really good, to account for all the taxpayers dollars he has received over the last ten years.

We really need to demand more from our elected officials he seem to gain some sort of "sense of entitlement" once they cross the threshold into City Hall. They seem to forget what is lawful and ethical and are willing to repay political debts at the taxpayers expense.

The last Treasurer we had seemed to stay so far under the political radar and to the best of my knowledge never had the slightest suggestion of scandal related to her job performance during her years in office. Treasurer Cloud seems to have a much different work ethic, opening himself up to questions of impropriety in less than 9 months on the job.

15 comments:

  1. Kevin check the payouts in the Treaurers office and you will see millions given to Cloud's financial donors of his campaign.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mr Dibella...forget talking to the endorsed democrats in order to convince them to elect a President of the Council before the election,we have already organized against that.

    ReplyDelete
  3. City Treasurer or Non Profit Development Officer? Do your job!

    The more things change the more they stay the same!

    Anyone that thinks the need for change is not here does not fully understand the depths of corruption that has a firm grip on the city.

    This is just one more reason all powers are being used to keep me out of city hall. I have given in kind production work to nonprofits in excess of $100,000.00 in the last 4 years. Never did I call upon the banks to do what is incumbent upon me to do myself.

    That is how you Damn sure make sure non-profits get the help they need. You do it by doing it, not through bully tactics and abusing the power of your office.

    J. Stan McCauley 11.8.11

    ReplyDelete
  4. http://articles.courant.com/2005-01-20/news/0501200863_1_youth-violence-woods-program-salary-increase

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey DKR for Mayor, wait, he f upped the Dept. , why not the city. He can't do any worse than what we have in there now, DKR for Mayor. Or maybe he can be one if the Bow Ties new assistants. Yeah, let him retire then bring him back under a different division so he cab get a paycheck plus his pension, like the recent group of "returnees"(aka) retirees.
    Oh wait, does Pedro need the northend votes no because he's basically eliminated his competition with false promises and deals that fall through as soon as he gets what he wants. Hartford politics is a dirty as the dirty under an auto mechanics finger nails and sketcher than a stick figure.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kevin you should FYI the auditors report for that office. It would be shocking to citizens to know the city books have not been balance on a yearly basic. Do we really need a Treasurer? A study should be done to determine if this position is really need. Most of the functions done in that office can be done by the finance department. Employee pensions could be done by the city personnel department.

    ReplyDelete
  7. "Post nubila phoebus". Is it a coincidence? We could certainly use some sun here to shed the light of day on these shady (okay, cloudy) dealings. Ah, yes, Segarra is doing a fine job with transparency.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Explains why my wife is now getting calls to attend candidate events. She was lierally ignored even though she is an endorsed Republican candidate for Treasurer. All of a sudden we're getting calls at the house asking for her contact information. News has spread and, it seems, there may be blood on the water.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Michael,

    Good to see someone on the Republican Town Committee actually has a voice. I guess it is mhard for your Town Chair to speak out when he is cutting his endorsement deals with the Democrats.

    Just wondering though, why would the Republican's endorse the Democrat candidate when they have a Treasurer candidate of their own running? That doesn't seem to foster any real motivation for Republicans to even attempt to run knowing your own Town Chair will sell you out

    ReplyDelete
  10. She was asked to run because she's highly qualified for the position, but was willing to step aside for the good of the party. Now that the Democrats have decided to reject the endorsement she is actively running. The mayor did state a preference that she not stay on the slate, but understands and respects her decision to run. Given what's about to happen with the Cloud news, she just went from afterthought to contender and she's ready to go.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Interesting that Michael Fryar said that Mayor Segarra stated that his wife not stay on the Republican slate, Is Pedro Segarra the chairman of the Republican Party? Why after the three Democratic councilmen Kennedy, Aponte, Andersen and Treasurer Cloud turn down the cross-endorsement is Pedro Segarra still on it? Is there something the public needs to know? Does Pedro Segarra realize without the Democratic Party he would have no rights!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Anonymous 6:12 PM

    Pedro has cut a deal with the Republicans, what do you expect?When Mr Fryar stated " Pedro has stated a preference that she ( his wife) not stay on the slate..." is prrof positive that Pedro is now running both parties.

    If the republicans win the minority you should expect them to push for their typical republican agenda of pro life,against gay marriage,trimming back local civil rights ordinances,and other tea party agenda items.This will be done as Pedro sits on the MetroAlliance Board and will receive his orders from his corporate masters.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Tea Party Pedro:

    I'm voting for the republicans because I'm alot more worried about the prospect of the Working Families party spending our city into the ground (which they have done for the past four years)than the City Council being persuaded by three republicans to somehow pass pro-life and anti-gay marriage city ordinances - what planet do you hail from?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Anonymous 8:43 AM

    The WFP didnt control the spending at city hall. The spending was controlled by the 6 council majority democrats that you and your ilk have now made a pact with.So go blame your partners for the prolificate spending.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Interesting how someone would quote Nicole Plessy-Cloud as an accounting wiz in the Hartford Courant's editorial then why the ten years of bad audit reports. Now that Mrs. Plessy-Cloud was transferred to the Finance dept. who then will assure that the Custody of Funds unit will proceed with positive audit reports moving forward. Isn't it wise to say that someone with an accounting background and major would be the wise choice.

    ReplyDelete