I have given up getting anything out of the spokesperson at the Board of Education, David Medina,.Any breath used to ask him a question is a waste of oxygen. Bur I have a feeling that after tonight's Board meeting, there might be quite a few people rushing to Kinko's to update their resumes. Once they realize the Kishimoto gravy train is jumping the tracks and about to derail.That's a posting for another day though.
It is clear that the Segarra Administration has fully gone into the bunker mentality now. Segarra's spokesperson Maribel LaLuz has shown that she is very good at cutting and pasting the ribbon cutting notices, but when it comes to managing a crisis or providing real information, forget it.
I have made several requests for information from her recently, both by phone and by e-mail, amd no response. Not even a "drop dead" or go to he**". nothing. And we are paying for this?
Unfortunately, as with many spokespeople, they fail to realize what their real purpose is. Srgarra has run his City Hall Office as a full time campaign operation. He learned well from his predecessor, Eddie Perez. Eddie was even able to establish the 311 System as his own personal polling operation .
La Luz needs to realize she must address the good as well as the bad, if not she needs to catch up with the Shakira tour bus and try to get her old job back.
I have been trying to get her to answer a couple questions. If a departure date for the Mayor's disgraced Chief of Staff Jared Kupiec has been set. Nothing, crickets. No response to the voicemail, no response to the e-mails, nothing.
I have been trying to find out what Al Ilg is costing us. Ilg was brought back as a special assistant to Segarra after the Council refused to appoint Saundra Kee-Borges as Chief Operating Officer. The only response I got was that he was "part time". I don't care if he is part time or fulltime, I asked what is he costing us. No response.
It is not just about propping Segarra up and improving his image. it is about providing information to the public about the operation of their government, both good and bad.
It is clear that LaLuz is out if her league when it comes to this position. If things get any worse for Segarra, it will be interesting to see where the breaking point is.
Ir is also another example of the over inflated salaries for public service employees at City Hall. I was speaking to a resident last week and he was amazed to find out that Laluz makes almost double what most television reporters in the market are being paid. And these are reporters that deal with deadlines everyday and some do 2 or 3 stories a day 5 days a week.
With Laluz, if we see a couple press releases a week out of her, that is a lot. And most of those are feel good ribbon cutting events for Segarra. The Mayor will be cutting the ribbon at an opening Saturday at 11:00am. blah blah, blah.And forget about Medina. most of his releases are "no comment".
I think the only City Agency that has stepped up their game when it comes to providing information is HPD. Under Chief Rovella, they seem to get it. Nothing is off limits, with in the normal boundaries. A spokesperson is available 24/7 and now when you ask for info, you will most likely get more than what you ask for.
HPD seems to have learned a valuable lesson that LaLuz would do well to learn.
The big dog ( the media) is always going to eat, it is your choice whether you decide to feed him or make him go through the garbage to find what he wants, but he is not going away.
Maribel, except for the old caviar, I have no trouble going through your trash, and as you have learned, I will eat.
UPDATE:
Maribel Laluz called me this morning asking why I was lying on my blog. She claims she sent me the information I requested on June 12th. I would think the voice mails I eft asking for the information as recently as Monday might have been a clue that I never received it. But anyway, here is the e-mail she claimed she sent June 12th. Note that even that one has an apology for the delay.
Kevin,
Thought I sent this awhile back. My apologies.
Al Ilg is a part-time temporary employee of the City. He
works approximately 20hrs per week and gets an hourly rate of $79/hr.
Recruitment is his primary charge.
Jared's last day is still to be determined. You'll know
as soon as it's announced.
-Maribel
Maribel La Luz
Director of Communications & New Media
Mayor Pedro E. Segarra
p. 860.757.9731
c. 860.539.5485
t. @maribellita
12 comments:
Kevin,
You are exactly right, but in defense of Maribel, I don't think she had any idea what she was getting into.
The New Years Eve soiree was the beginning of the end for her ( as well as Jared and maybe even Pedro)
She is highly overpaid but who would say no to a job where you can eat caviar and do very little, yes I am hearing she was the eighth disciple at Pedro's "last supper"
Is Al Ilg a city retiree as well? I know he worked previously for the city, just can't remember if he had enough time to retire.
Ernie,
no he is not a retiree he retired as the town manager of Windsor, before he came to Hartford for a short time
Getting upset over the same issue again and again and not doing anything about this is a failure in City’s leadership. Change the situation. Work on a solution. Or be quiet about it. City leadership is worsening. They’re failing to get a proper diagnosis. Just because you see the problem doesn’t mean you understand the problem. Take a look at city’s HR department you see there ha-ha- “the twins- Deborah & Lynn” or John Byrne’s & Lee Erdman’s “preferred girls” who are making more than 95K without proper education and experience, and the real HR professionals were trapped by them many times. They should go; they both are an embarrassment for the city. Take a look at the other couple “the twins- Maribel LaLuz& Kristina Newman -Scott” they are a shame for city, too. We city residents are paying for them so they can go and “visit the beauty spas and botox centers” during work hours?? They are very busy “marketing the city”- LOL- look at them and you will see what image they added to the city. City of Hartford is sinking day by day. What a shame! With their manipulative nature they get away with everything. The best way to avoid this disaster is to ask Hartford residents around you for input. It is shame for us to recognize that some people who really damaged the city, still working for the city.
Getting upset over the same issue again and again and not doing anything about this is a failure in City’s leadership. Change the situation. Work on a solution. Or be quiet about it. City leadership is worsening. They’re failing to get a proper diagnosis. Just because you see the problem doesn’t mean you understand the problem. Take a look at city’s HR department you see there ha-ha- “the twins- Deborah & Lynn” or John Byrne’s & Lee Erdman’s “preferred girls” who are making more than 95K without proper education and experience, and the real HR professionals were trapped by them many times. They should go; they both are an embarrassment for the city. Take a look at the other couple “the twins- Maribel LaLuz& Kristina Newman -Scott” they are a shame for city, too. We city residents are paying for them so they can go and “visit the beauty spas and botox centers” during work hours?? They are very busy “marketing the city”- LOL- look at them and you will see what image they added to the city. City of Hartford is sinking day by day. What a shame! With their manipulative nature they get away with everything. The best way to avoid this disaster is to ask Hartford residents around you for input. It is shame for us to recognize that some people who really damaged the city, still working for the city
BTW. What is the status of Perez's appeal? I believe we are now at 3 years since he was found guilty.
Kevin,
These people have learned they don't have to give answers when they know the response won't be popular. But they do have to give out documents under FOI if they are not exempted.
Ask for copies of Al Ilg's invoices or pay stubs and a copy of his contract. They are public documents and they have to give them to you.
Maribel is only trying to keep her job, as long as she protects the elite group of corrupts, she will remain on board.
It is quite obvious that she is not going to inform the public any more then needed. She is working for Pedro and the untouchables,she doesn't care about keeping the Taxpayers inform.
So by keeping hush, hush, she will not commit to any wrong doing. We have to remember that it is not to her benefit, as she is part of the clique. Her oath is to serve and protect the Mayor and his corrupted crew.
If she was the eighth person, she most certainly was very quiet with her secret. She doesn't seem trustworthy.
David Medina is the biggest waste of money in the history of the Hartford Public School system. Try to find one person who can tell you what he does. You have a better chance of winning the lottery. Hopefully whdn the big K gets the boot he will too.
Re: LaLuzer,
in Spanish this is called Trying to find "La Quinta Pata Del Gato"
"Translation, may not make sense in English"
Trying to find the cat's fifth leg, an impossible task.
Bruta, Carne Puerca, Go Home you don't got it- Vete Par... ADIOS
LaLuz is the daughter of a socialistic labor leader and a politicaly savy mother and is well schooled from politics in the home she grew up in.
Shame to blame subordinates for what the boss do. Those in the middle can't risk their jobs when the job is putting food in the table. The real corrupts are those in charge and those abusing their power , they are are truly getting away with many violations.
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