HERE ARE THE GOP NUMBERS

Below are the actual numbers by district for votes cast in last weeks Republican primary. There has to be a better, and more cost effective way, to do this.

At least 3 District polling places had no one show up and 5 polling locations each had one person show up.

District 1   Liberty Christian Center        0 votes cast
District 2   Liberty Christian Center      34 votes cast
District 3   Grace Lutheran Church       17 votes cast
District 4   Hartford Seminary               28 votes cast
District 5   United Methodist Church    13 votes cast
District 6   Northend Senior Center        0 votes cast
District 7   Rawson School                     0 votes cast
District 8   Annie Fischer School            1  vote cast
District 9   YWCA                                  5 votes cast
District 10 House of Restoration            1  vote cast
District 11 United Way                           7 votes cast
District 12  Burns School                        5 votes cast
District 13  Parkville School                   5 votes cast
District 14  Mary Hooker School            6 votes cast
District 15  Batchelder School               13 votes cast
District 16  Kennelly School                  10 votes cast
District 17  Southend Wellness Center   9  votes cast
District 18  Metzner Center                   12 votes cast
District 19  Bulkeley High                      3  votes cast
District 20  Learning Corridor                3  votes cast
District 21  Dutch Point Comm. Room  4  votes cast
District 22  Hartford Public Library      10 votes cast
District 23  Mary Shepard Place             1  vote cast
District 24   Parker Memorial                 1  vote cast

All of these polling locations were staffed by paid workers from before 6:00am to after 8:00pm.

THIS IS GETTING AGGRAVATING

I'll be the first to admit that Hartford has its problems.

But I am getting tired of everyone that feels they can make claims using Hartford's problems to cover their own poor decisions or personal problems. You are probably asking yourself what the heck I am talking about. Bottom line is not everything is as it appears when people portray Hartford as a violent fearful place. That all goes to giving Hartford a public black eye, when in several high profile cases recently the stories are the furthest thing from the truth.

Whether they are claims of vicious attacks or broad daylight sexual assaults, people are quick to jump on the claims to make Hartford look like a city full of predators waiting to jump their next victim. The other problem is that the City doesn't come out swinging on these things to combat these false portrayals.

Today is a perfect example. On April 12, 2012 a woman made a claim that she  was "taken" off the street, apparently dragged behind  the Mark Twain House and was the victim of a sexual assault. The alleged incident immediately made the news, a sexual assault occurring in broad daylight behind one of Hartford's most notable landmarks and tourist spots.

Now it turns out that there were several inconsistencies. Surveillance cameras covering the grounds of the area showed no evidence of anyone being dragged anywhere. The alleged victim, a 19 year old student at the Lincoln Culinary Institute apparently showed no outward signs signs consistent with her claims. A victim being dragged across the lawn and into a secluded area should at least show some grass stains, dirt or other evidence on a white chef's uniform, none of that was apparently the case.

Today the "alleged" victim, a 19 year old female was arrested by the Hartford Police Department for Falsely Reporting an Incident 2nd degree. Unfortunately, in cases like this, the damage has already been done and the public corrections will probably not be forthcoming anytime soon.

MORE SMOKE AND MIRRORS FROM CITY HALL

Why the residents and business people of Hartford are not up in arms over Hartford's fictitious budget is beyond me. At least one local reporter though is doing more of the digging to expose this work of fiction. The claims of the $45 million the State of Connecticut owes us, the $1 million dollars in union concessions were both being used to prop up the claim to balance Hartford's budget gap, but it seems those dollars may potentially be nonexistent.

Jeff Cohen at WNPR now is looking into the claims that mayor Segarra made that he has cut $1 million dollars from the Mayor's Office budget. "Cut" might have been the wrong term, shuffling and hiding is probably a more accurate description.

Read Jeff's story here to see how creative budgeting and accounting actually works at Hartford City Hall.

I think I need to put a disclaimer here though..."DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME, THESE ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. USING THE SAME TECHNIQUES  IMPLEMENTED BY THE SEGARRA ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL FINANCES MAY RESULT IN FORCED BANKRUPTCY, LOSS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE  AND MAY ACTUALLY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING"

Click here to read Jeff Cohen's report

TAKE THE POLL

In the top of the right column is a blogpoll related to Hartford's search for a permanent Police Chief. It is far from scientific, but I would like to know what you think. You can not post a comment on the poll, but feel free to post your thoughts here

THINGS THAT CONFUSE ME

I was searching the City of Hartford's website this afternoon , hartford.gov , looking for the job posting for the position of Police Chief. No, I am not applying, I just wanted to see what we paid $50,000 for, but that is for another posting .

On the same page that the job posting for the Chief was listed  a posting for summer lifeguards for Hartford's public pools was also listed. And no, I am not applying for that position either. What interested me though was the "City of Hartford Residency Affidavit". It seems like the requirements we place for residency are more restrictive for the position of a part-time lifeguard than they are for some of our more important positions.

The affidavit is below, but wouldn't it be nice if we applied those same requirements to MDC Chairpersons, State Representatives and even Emergency Telecommunications Directors and not just part-time lifeguards?
Residency Affadavit0001

NOW THIS IS TRANSPARENCY

Myself and my fellow members of the 7th District Hartford Democratic Town Committee campaigned recently promising transparency, openness and a desire to help educate voters to encourage greater voter involvement.

As they say, actions speak louder than words, so here goes.

On Friday evening, May 4, 2012 the members of "Team 7" will be hosting public interviews for the positions of Registrar of Voters and United States Senator as we decide our endorsements as delegates to both conventions. As I said, the interviews are open to the public, we encourage the public to attend and even submit questions you would like the candidates to answer.

This will not be a debate format but individual "job" style interviews to see where the candidates stand on issues facing our community.

The timetable for the event is outlined below:

Please note that the timetable may change slightly if any additional candidates register before Friday. Time slots were assigned alphabetically. Spread the word to anyone interested, we hope to see you there.

15 minutes per candidate in alphabetical order
5 minutes - Candidate Opening Remarks
5 minutes - Questions From Moderators
5 minutes - Questions From Audience


SCHEDULE: REGISTRAR OF VOTERS - Candidates will be interviewed in alphabetical order


6:00 to 6:15 p.m. Arroyo, Ramon
6:15 to 6:30 p.m. Kirkley-Bey, Kellie
6:30 to 6:45 p.m. Vazquez, Olga
6:45 to 7:00 p.m. Waul, Charmaine

15 MINUTE BREAK


SCHEDULE: U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE


7:15 to 7:30 p.m. Bysiewicz, Susan
7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Murphy, Chris
7:45 to 8:00 p.m. Oakes, Matthew
8:00 to 8:15 p.m. Whitnum, Lee


The event will be held at the Annie Fisher School at 280 Plainfield Street in Hartford. Please feel free to attend and hear what the candidates have to say.

Candidate+Interviews+Flyer+5.4.2012

HARTFORD'S NEWEST DRIVE THRU

An elderly driver was instrumental in trying to add a new drive-thru window to Damon;s Tavern on Prospect Avenue Saturday evening.