In the world of Hartford politics, I guess nothing really ever makes sense. It would seem that a long term State Representative would be able to exert some clout to keep their district from being dismantled from under them. Even more so if that Rep also served as Deputy Speaker.
In the case of 5th District State Representative Marie Kirkley-Bey, nothing could be further from the truth. The proposed redistricting of Legislative Districts has drastically cut the size of the 5th District and in fact has even moved Kirkley-Bey's residence (save the Old Saybrook comments) out of the 5th District all together and she will be in the 1st District if the changes go through. The 1st is currently represented by State Representative Matt Ritter.
I am not sure if a challenge to Ritter by Kirkley-Bey is in the future. I would say Kirkley-Bey would have a tough battle challenging one of the potential rising stars in the Legislature. Ritter was the driving force that capped tax increases on residential property and taxes as a result of re-val. The results would have been disastrous for single family homeowners in Hartford without Ritter's bill. Kirkley-Bey might be wise to consider "retirement" and bow out gracefully
A lot of potential changes may be on the political horizon for Hartford as the redistricting may also throw numerous Town Committee seats into play now as the lines are being redrawn. Several HDTC members from the 7th District will now be living in the 1st District. The 5th District HDTC members will be cut drastically also from 11 members to possibly only 4.
At least 3 members of the current 5th District HDTC have now been "redistricted" so their residences have become part of the 4th District. This could prove to be a very interesting battle for control of the 4th District as the current 4ht District HDTC includes former Town Chair Sean Arena. One of the 5th District current HDTC members that will be shifted to the 4th District is the current "shadow Chair" Marc Dibella. This could prove to be a very interesting match up come HDTC election time.
The 7th District also has seen some interesting borders cut for the area represented by Doug McCrory, Several longtime HDTC members have seen their district moved out from under them. Prenzina and Shawn Holloway, Shirley Surgeon, Paul Basch and others now reside outside the proposed boundaried for their current district.
The current 4th District State Representative, Kelvin Roldan survived a close election last go-round and just barely retained his seat from a challenge from a less than stellar candidate. Follow the dots here, Roldan's fiancee is the daughter of Bart Halloran. Halloran is the Attorney for the MDC (Metropolitan District Commission). Marc Dibella's father , William diBella is Chairman of the MDC.
Bart Halloran is also currently representing our convicted felon former Mayor Eddie A. Perez against action by the State Attorney to revoke Perez's pension, as well as 6th District State Representative and former Hartford Police Officer Hector Robles who was arrested on Larceny charges and fired from his job as a police officer.
I think it is probably pretty safe to assume that power in the 4th will not just be handed to Sean Arena without a fight.
Town Committee seats, both Republican and Democrat, are determined by the number or registered voters in a district. With the 5th District being carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey, it includes numerous unpopulated areas including most of Keney Park and a large part of the North Meadows which is primarily commercial area as well as the former landfill.
The 1st District HDTC will also most likely see some change as much of the District had encompassed the West End of Hartford prior to redistricting. The 1st now also has shifted to include much of the Northend/Albany Avenue area and has shifted the demographics to a larger minority representation. This could prove interesting to see if the HDTC from the 1st District shifts to include more minority members to actually represent the makeup of the District.
The 3rd District hasn't changed much except that it now looks to encompass the old Charter Oak Housing project area, where HDTC Secretary, the honorable Angel Morales lives with his mother on Margarita Drive. Since Morales does not have to be an actual member of the HDTC to serve on the Executive Committee, his position seems to be safe. Besides, with all the time he spends at the Hartford Public Library downtown, he has plenty of time to research the legalities.
The 6th District also remains pretty much intact.
It could all play out very interesting come HDTC election time in 2012. Most of the HDTC districts are not cohesive and are potentially ripe for change. In the mean time, maybe Marie Kirkley-Bey can land a job with the MDC and she and Bill can commute together.
Um..."Ritter was the driving force that capped tax increases on residential property and taxes as a result of re-val."
ReplyDeleteRitter did the bidding of the Metro Chamber so all the big downtown companies could get massive tax cuts. In fact homeowner taxes are going up and the Chamber wants Ritter to do more to lower their taxes next year so homeowners pay even more. I'm sure he will do all he can.
P.S. Ask Kelly if he actually swears to the truth of the property disclosure form he sends into the City Assesor.
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-hartford-business-revaluation-20111203,0,2123797.story?page=1
I could be mistaken, but I don't think Ritter's bill had any impact on commercial properties, they are still assessed at 70% of market value, unlike the 29% for residential properties .
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the town committee is at least twofold...outdated local party rules..and its members,many of whom do no work or are so flawed personally..ie felons...that nothing gets done.Because of the incompetance and corrupt nature or depravity of the members many of the statewide officials just avoid Hartford's DTC like the plague.
ReplyDeleteA good start would be to flush away many of the current DTC members and bring in new young people not bound by the errors of the past.
let me suggest the following for hartford party officers;
ReplyDeleteChair-Angel Morales
Vice Chair-Mamie Bell
Secretary-Ivan Maldonado
Treasurer-Hector Robles
http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/content/wnpr/redistricting-means-change-hartford
ReplyDeleteBut Ritter says the message for Hartford is clear.
"What you want to say to Hartford is we want to find a way to make sure we stop losing population.
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The chances of Hartford's gaining population approximately zero. It's taken decades since WWII to get to the present deteriorated, depleted, position. Theoretically, it could be restored. But it would take a reversal of decades of State education and land use policies. In practice, these policies have left Hartford populated with criminals and illiterates unattractive to potential residents. And, then you have the anti-gentrification notions of folks like Mayor Perez. On the bright side for Connecticut, fewer folks in Hartford and other large towns, means less representation in the State legislature
"And, then you have the anti-gentrification notions of folks like Mayor Perez."
ReplyDeleteFor a newbie, please clarify the anti-gentrification efforts of the former Mayor.
Eddie perez is a loser. Plain and simple. His criminal acts are a thing of the past. .... Sooooo long ...
ReplyDeleteI may have wronged Mayor Eddie. I don't know from whence I derived the notion that he was hot and bothered about gentrification. Does appear, though, that he was ambivalent; bringing in rich ok only if we don't drive out the poor. In any case, the point remains; it would be good for the town if it were to have more civilized guys.
ReplyDelete---------------------------------
``Gentrification'' was once a dirty word in American urban politics, but leaders such as Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez and civil rights lawyer John C. Brittain now say they are in favor of having more rich people in Hartford.
Perez said that an influx of wealthier residents would not be gentrification unless they displaced poorer residents. The city is building a range of housing for working-class and middle-class residents, and could use more housing in the $350,000 to $750,000 range, Perez said. Even the new luxury housing planned for downtown would still make up only a small portion of the housing stock, he said.
``Diversity is a good thing,'' Perez said, even if it means more Republican voters in Hartford. ``It's OK. We'll finally have an election in town.''
http://articles.courant.com/2005-05-29/news/0505290148_1_greater-hartford-cities-four-homes/2