SOMETHING IS DRASTiCALLY WRONG HERE

This mornings Courant had a story about the CEO of Traveller's, Jay S. Fishman, and his annual compensation package of $30.29 million for 2014.It must have been a bad year because prior to that he took home almost $44million. Aetna's CEO Mark Bertolini was compensated $36.3million for the year ending 2012.I know Traveller's main product line now is not health insurance, but in the same edition of the Courant was a story about a woman that had to stop taking blood pressure medication because she couldn't afford the cost.You can read that article here. Bertolini has also been in the news lately for actually taking care of his employees and raising their minimum wage pay.

People should not have to make a decision between their mortgage or buying medication when CEO's  are taking home millions of dollars in compensation. It is not just Insurance, but many other commodities people are struggling to pay such as electric bills.

Instead of everyone proclaiming "Obabamcare" as a success, maybe they should talk to the woman not taking her blood pressure medication and asking her opinion if it is working. Do it soon though before her stroke happens and she may be unable to respond or answer anyone. What will it cost us to care for her at that point? Probably far more than the preventative or maintenance cost if she was taking her medication.

No one should have to clip coupons like they are buying a six pack of Pepsi to be able to purchase life saving medications. Especially not while the insurance industry thinks nothing of giving multi million dollar compensation packages.

I have a very generic and widely used medication  I take for type 2 Diabetes. I also have a great pharmacist at CVS that looks for coupons and savings whenever I order the medication ( Thanks Marta). She had encouraged me to sign up for a CVS savings plan that essentially covers most  generic refills for $14.99 for a 3 month supply. The savings card is $12.99 per year.

Last year the card had expired when I refilled and when I picked up the prescription , imagine my surprise when the cashier rang up the refill and told me it was $240.00.She asked if I had Insurance coverage and at the time I told her no, but I had the CVS discount plan. That's when she told me it had expired, did I want to renew it. Definitely yes I answered. Several minutes later I was leaving with my $14.99 refill for 3 months, which just minutes earlier was $240.00. That is one hell of a markup.

It just goes to my point that the system is very broken and needs to be fixed and these compensation packages are immoral when people are struggling like this.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Here is a media release that I received this morning from Hartford Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley.

The picture says all that is needed. This is what Hartford Police Officers encounter out on the streets on a regular basis.  It is easy to understand why a Police Officer may not be all warm and fuzzy encountering residents knowing that this is what he or she may encounter. This encounter could have ended much differently, especially with the accused under the influence of Cocaine or PCP

Foley's words:

This is why we are careful and cautious when we approach people. The officer could not know if the person was hiding a weapon just by looking at him. The officer could not tell that the person with the rifle slung around his neck, hidden under his puffy jacket was a convicted felon just by looking at him. The officer could not have know that the person was on probation for armed robbery just by walking up to him. Just a regular HPD Patrol Officer investigating a minor motor vehicle complaint.

On April1 2015, a Hartford Police Department patrol officer was canvassing the area of Martin Street and Judson Street on a report of an erratic driver. The Officer pulled into the rear lot of 131 Martin Street and saw a car matching the description, backed into a parking spot, occupied by a male and a female. The Officer exited his vehicle and approached. The passenger, identified as Kevin Barco 29 of Hartford (Convicted Felon), was found to have an active arrest warrant and placed under arrest. During the pat down the Officer found the that Barco had a .22 caliber rifle slung around his neck. The modified rifle had the stock removed and was concealed by a heavy jacket. The Officer recovered the firearm and secured Barco. A second Officer who arrived on scene asked the female operator, identified as Geneveive Gallo 25, of East Hartford, to exit the vehicle and as she did a small bag containing crack cocaine fell from her clothing. Barco who is currently on probation for Robbery in the First Degree with a Firearm, was arrested on his outstanding warrant and additional firearms charges. Gallo was arrested on a narcotics charge. Both parties were debriefed by Shooting Task Force Detectives who were on scene.

Arrested 1) Kevin Barco DOB 4/7/84 131 Martin Street Hartford, CT.
Charges: Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of Ammunition, and Weapons in a Motor Vehicle. (Outstanding Warrant for Failure to Appear)

Arrested 2) Genevieve Gallo DOB 8/21/89 38 Crosby Street East Hartford, CT.
Charge: Possession of Narcotics

Evidence: (1) ISSC .22 Caliber sporting Rifle, containing 10 live .22 caliber ammunition rounds, and (1) plastic bag containing a
white powder substance (Cocaine).

Deputy Chief Brian J. Foley
Chief of Detectives, Investigative Services Bureau
Hartford Police Department

GOOD LUCK SHELLY

I received several calls today from people asking why a respected reporter would suddenly take on the chore of being the spokesperson for the Segarra campaign. The short answer is that the position of Captain of the Titanic wasn't available, although that might be the easier job. And the other side is that everyone needs a job. Shelly has mortgage payments and the same bills all of us have, and I would imagine that for the impossible task of making Segarra look competent, she will be paid very well.

Apparently  the plan to regroup the Segarra campaign was hatched in Pedro's think tank in a meeting with Segarrra, a couple of his staffers and also reportedly former Councilman John Kennelly. One staffer, Maribel Laluz left for Denver shortly after the meeting. The reason for that trip is unknown, Speculation among many is a possible job interview?

Any way, as I wish Shelly luck in her new position, I really hope she isn't too successful though.  It is almost fun to see what Segarra will do next as he and his campaign continue to implode , if the damage he is doing to our City wasn't so tragic.

SEGARRA BUDGET HOLE JUST GOT BIGGER

With roughly 3 months left in Hartford's fiscal year, a deal that was cut last year by the Segarra Administration to balance Hartford' s budget appears to have fallen through. The plan was to sell several Hartford parking assets to Hartford's pension fund and eventually the State of Connecticut.

According to sources at Hartford City Hall, a scheduled closing on the sale of the Church Street  Parking Garage,  between the City and the State apparently fell through last week The end result is the apparent loss of 13.4 million dollars in revenue that Segarra was counting on to balance his budget . One source speaking on the condition of anonymity, was doubtful that the closing would be rescheduled anytime soon, if at all.

Several discrepancies apparently came up prior to the closing that caused the State of Connecticut to back out of the deal .

It is unknown how the City will balance the budget without the input of the funds from the sale .

Late this afternoon Segarra was seen putting a "For Sale " sign up in front of Hartford City Hall. His scheduler and communications staff were all assisting him

THE TONY TERZI SHOW SATURDAY

The recording below is my hour and a half on Saturday's Tony Terzi show, "Terzi Talk, on WDRC Radio Saturday. It was very interesting and the time went by very quick. I was actually asked to stay beyond the hour I was scheduled and I enjoyed answering the callers questions.

Take a listen, just click play

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SEGRRA CAMPAIGN TRIES TO RIGHT THE SINKING SHIP

Sources close to the Segarra campaign are confirming that Segarra is making some changes to try to stabilize his faltering campaign for reelection. Segarra's current Chief of Staff, Meriden resident and Hartford renter Juan Figueroa will be taking a leave of absence to manage Segarra's campaign. Al Ilg will once again be recycled through Hartford City Hall as Segarra's acting Chief of Staff.

Segarra has apparently also realized that he has to do a much more effective job of managing his campaign message.He has hired  former area reporter Shelly Sindland to apparently be his campaigns' Communication's Director.

 It is yet to be seen if the voters of Hartford will make Figueroa's and Segarra's leave of absence permanent.