WOULD YOU SUPPORT RE-HIRING A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS TERMINATED FOR STEALING?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.Please respond with a comment of yes or no .

Would you support rehiring a Police Officer who was terminated for stealing?

Simple enough, let me know what you think.

AMENDED CAMPAIGN DONOR LIST RELEASED

Actually, it is the accounting list  for "outside" legal services paid by the City of Hartford for outside legal services  for 2017/2018. The list was obtained through an FOI request to the City.

Job creation and economic development seem to be the key buzzwords every time an election is coming in Hartford, but it seems they are just that. Buzz words that not much seems to be done with.

 But one thing is for sure, we have no trouble keeping the legal industry in the Hartford area employed and very well funded as the list below indicates

The accounting report for outside legal services used by the City of Hartford for the past 2 years is rather extensive It actually makes me wonder what Hartford's Corporation Counsels Office actually does, even basic legal functions like real estate closings are contracted out.

Maybe the legal term "quid pro quo" defined as  "a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something" should be used somewhere along the line here. You can be sure a percentage of these dollars are eventually paid back as rewards for loyalty in the form of campaign donations to many politicians..

CITY OF HARTFORD ACCOUNTING-OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES 2017-2018  on Scribd

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK

With the number of pending complaints and lawsuits against the City, I regularly get asked how much the City of Hartford pays out in settlements. I don't believe this list includes claims actually covered by or paid by insurance policies.

Here is a list provided by the City of Hartford Corporation Counsel's Office for the period of 2014 to 2019.

Many of these settlements appear to be for labor related issues or harassment complaints

Thank you to Attorney Cynthia Lauture in the Corporation Counsel's Office for promptly processing this information when requested..

FOI FY2014-FY2019 AcctInqRept for Settlements - FOI (1)  on Scribd

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE COMMENTS

Many times, even I would wish there wasn't a comment section just because of the nature of the comments, many of them "Anonymous". Other times I am impressed with the time and thought that goes into the comments by the authors. Hopefully the very  good comments don't get lost  on the back pages somewhere.

I am highlighting a couple of the comments that  are coming in hot and heavy regarding the Hartford Schools. I am also highlighting the comments in the hope that someone on the Board of Education or someone at City Hall pays attention and  proves themselves as more than just a bobblehead talking puppet. Maybe that will show that it is actually and truly about the kids and not just lip service.

From a reader's comment:

From another HPHS Teacher. Where is HFT 1018? Teachers pay a lot in dues and the officers are unwilling to come, walk the halls and fight for their members. One official visit at HPHS this year. No one knew they were coming to allow the teachers to create questions they'd like answered by our "voice".

HFT 1018 doesn't even respond to teachers emails with complaints cc'd to building reps. The paying union members are begging for representation based on harrassment by administration. Over and over. From HFT there is silence.

It is time for change. Current HFT-you aren't a voice in the media representing what HPS teachers face. The media doesn't care, you should.
How many code yellows this year? Shame on you for not doing your duty for the teachers contributing to your paycheck every 2 weeks. You are too cozy with Leslie. You said she offered nothing going in to negotiations? Why aren't you going in with ludicrous demands also? We can't strike but we can passively resist. We didn't resist. My family and many of my colleagues families are struggling due to the multi year pay freeze while the cost of living and contributions went up. We have less income to pay our bills even though district "leadership" is bloated. They don't serve our community, families or students in any way comparable to classroom teachers. In no way shape or form. Where's the community and political outrage from the union?

Why is HPHS being reconstituted where every teacher needs to reapply for jobs? Many have held these jobs for decades and have amazing reputations. Only the teachers are at fault(?) for the failure of the HPHS community? Not district leadership, 1 year or less on average school level leadership and the socio-economic issues our HPHS community faces for which we provide no resources or supports? None of our administrators has served here for longer than 2 full quarters.

Yes! This must make sense. Blame the only stakeholders who have their souls attached to everyday education each day. The teachers go to work to help the children of Hartford. They expect no recognition or acknowledgement and they are often sleepless at night thinking about and trying to help the students they serve. Look at the time and where my heart and mind are on a Friday after a long week. As many readers know we had parent/teach conferences on Thursday. I teach 174 students and had 3 parents show up over the 2 days. 

Or this one:

Anonymous said...

@1:34am, while teachers are prohibited from strikes in CT, work action is permissible especially given the significant public safety matter for both teachers and students being ignored by the BOE, Mayor, Superintendent and leadership. walk out of teachers along with students being robbed of their education by those unwilling to take action to stop the assaults and safety issues occurring daily should get some needed attention on these important matters. They have not listened for years and until we have the courage to fight back, doubt anything will change. Dr Leslie takes action when she’s forced or shamed. I say enough is enough and it’s time we stand up to the injustice now!

I think I may start highlighting certain comments regularly in the future

HARTFORD PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, IN AN EDUCATOR'S OWN WORDS

I don't do this often , but here is an essay I was given written by a Hartford educator detailing conditions at Hartford Public High School. Many people, some Police Officers included, have described Hartford High as a powder keg ready to explode. Hopefully the Superintendent of the Board of Education will pay attention before that.

"Roving packs of students wandering the halls" that should get the attention of every parent of a Hartford High student who entrusts their kids to that school everyday.

Thank you to everyone showing the courage to protect the children in their schools

IN AN EDUCATOR'S OWN WORDS  on Scribd

MORE DECEPTION BY THE HARTFORD SCHOOLS

Hartford Schools Supreme Ruler Leslie Torres-Rodriguez

I am not really sure why the Hartford Schools Superintendents Office continue to play games with Connecticut State Law.

I think we all know that Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez does  not have the best track record in graduating students who are literate and can fully comprehend and read English. I would think though that people making over $100,000 a year in salary in the Superintendent's Office could comprehend written words and their meaning.

On February 28, 2019 I submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Superintendent's Office requesting specific documents regarding the assault of Hartford Schools teacher Susan Frazer , who was physically assaulted in her classroom by an irate parent, Cassandra DeCosta. Criminal charges are currently pending in Court against DeCosta after her arrest for the assault.

I was specific in my request for the documents in my request..."Any document, e-mails or reports regarding the assault on a Hartford School  teacher on or about December 23, 2018 by a Cassandra DeCosta, a parent."
Today I was presented with documents, which I have confirmed as authentic , which were not turned over to me as part of the documents provided 2 months after my initial request. Surprise, surprise, they just happen to be the documents clearing the teacher Susan Frazer of any wrongdoing after investigations by the Hartford Schools and the Connecticut DCF. Isn't that a coincidence how they just happened to leave out the investigation report clearing the teacher of any wrongdoing and clearly put the blame on the actions of the parent. You can read the reports below and make the decision yourself. Is there any question as to whether my request would or should have covered the investigation report? This information will all be presented at a future Freedom of Information Commission hearing and we will see how the Superintendent defends her actions before the Commission, they aren't puppets like the Board of Education and she can't control them.

FRAZER EXONERATION LETTERS by kevinhfd on Scribd

DECEPTION AT THE HARTFORD SCHOOLS AND YOU ARE PAYING THE BILL

In the screenshot above, copied directly from the Hartford Schools website, you can see that they represent  Joanne Tremblay- Jackson as the "Director of Support Services- Psychological & Social Services".

Joanne Tremblay-Jackson is also one of the High priced Administrators in the Office of Superintendent of Schools Leslie Torres-Rodriguez.. Tremblay -Jacksons salary , provided in information received through documents received pursuant to a Freedom of Information request is listed as $142,072.00 annually.

The problem is that Tremblay-Jackson is not a licensed Psychologist and representing herself as a Medical Professional or providing Psychological services is a violation of Connecticut State law.

A check of the State of Connecticut Licensing Verification portal confirms there is no Psychologist license listed for Joanne Tremblay-Jackson.It appears that Tremblay-Jackson is neither a licensed Psychologist or a certified School Psychologist

Does anyone at the BOE know how to do background checks? Who is making and permitting these HR decisions?

According to Connecticut State Law, it is a Class D Felony for anyone to represent himself(or herself) as a psychologist or carrying on the practice of a psychologist. Each instance of patient contact or consultation which is in violation of this section shall be deemed a separate offense

Is it time for a criminal investigation into the tactics in the Superintendents Office and potential fraud for collecting a large salary in violation of Connecticut Law?

HARTFORD EDUCATORS ASSAULTED IN CLASSROOMS, ONE TEACHERS STORY

CLUELESS IN HARTFORD?

It happens much more often than you would think. Hartford School teachers assaulted in their classrooms and schools.

Here is one teachers story of the day she was assaulted by a parent in her classroom in front of students. This is the teachers Victim Statement submitted to the Court after the parents arrest. The parent, Cassandra  DeCosta, is now asking the Court for leniency in the form of Accelerated Rehabilitation, which could eventually erase all charges against her.

The sad part is that even though the teacher was the victim, she was victimized even further by her employer, the Hartford Schools. Clearly, the Hartford Police found probable cause that the assault occurred and DeCosta was arrested for the assault and Risk of Injury to a minor for the incident happening in front of a classroom full of students.

But that wasn't good enough for the Hartford Schools. They added insult to  injury when on February 21, 2019, months after the incident, they notified the teacher, Susan Frazer that she was being investigated for her "inappropriate and unprofessional conduct". Did they read the statements?

Is this the way the Hartford Schools build morale within the staff?

Victim Statement Decosta (1) by kevinhfd on Scribd

Hartford Schools discipline letter to teacher assaulted by kevinhfd on Scribd

STATE'S ATTORNEY'S ERODING COMMUNITY/ POLICE RELATIONS

There needs to be a better way of handling Officer Involved Police Shootings.

We have seen it nationwide, Baltimore, St. Louis and now New haven.

In Connecticut, we have seen first hand the reluctance of State's Attorneys to be transparent. It is not the Chief State's Attorney, it is the States Attorney's for the individual Counties. The County State's Attorneys do not actually answer to the Chief State's Attorney, it is a peculiar system , but that is the way it works.

A couple years ago when Hartford Police Officers were involved in a chase that ended on Flatbush Avenue in West Hartford, allegations of excessive force were made against Hartford Police Officers. The ensuing investigation was turned over to the Connecticut State Police and the Litchfield County States Attorney.

At the time, I was able to see first hand the messed up nature of the system. Chief James Rovella was HPD's Chief at the time and he understood the importance of being transparent and sharing details with his community partners. It was a matter of trust built on relationships with the community.

Despite numerous requests by Rovella to the investigators and the Litchfield States Attorney to release all video of the incident, they refused for almost a year.This did not help to build trust or confidence by the community in their Police Department.

Now let's look at the OIS by the Hamden Police on the streets of New Haven this past week It should be a training lesson by the Hamden Police Department and the State's Attorney in how NOT to handle a Police Shooting.

Recently when HPD had an Officer Involved Shooting, within hours the radio recordings were released. Hamden could insist on doing the same thing

Although there is substantial video and radio recordings of the incident, none of that has been released, even a tensions continue to build in the Community. There are more questions than answers coming out of this shooting and every day that goes by without answers it erodes the needed trust more. There is no reason not to release video  or radio recordings, other than to show it was a mess.

Anyone that watched the video that was widely circulated from the business in front of the shooting scene should realize it was a terrible situation. The tactics used by the Hamden Officer should require a trip back to the Academy for retraining at the very least. Now none of us were there and it is easy to second guess the actions not knowing what was going on. The first thing is the way the Hamden Officer parked and ran up to the suspects car without any cover. Now his backup may have been coming in from the opposite direction, out of camera view. He didn't take cover and order the occupants out of the car along with backup officers, he appears to charge at the car firing.

Now if there were backup officers arriving to the right, out of the camera view, the Hamden Officer would have put them in the crossfire of an rounds he fired. Which apparently he did, and from what sources familiar with the investigation are telling me, the Yale Officer who was injured was grazed by a bullet from the Hamden Officer. We are very fortunate that LEO's are not planning a funeral this weekend and we are also fortunate that CSP are not preparing a homicide arrest warrant against a Hamden Police Officer and the passenger in the car is recovering.

Apparently no weapon has been found in the vehicle as of this time.

Hamden and the New Haven States Attorney need to come out and release their initial findings  immediately. When did Hamden advise New Haven they were coming into their town? How did Yale PD find out what was going on to arrive before New Haven PD? All of that will probably be revealed in radio recordings and the video will be the same today tomorrow as well as a year from now and it will not change the facts one bit if it is released now. It will not change the facts one bit or taint a potential jury pool, but it will show the community, many of who already mistrust the Police, that they are being transparent. It also appears that the way that the call was dispatched was very flawed and indicated an armed robbery with a gun , but that appears to not be the case

The fact that Hamden has an "interim" Police Chief  probably isn't helpful, especially if he is hoping to obtain the permanent Chief position.

But on the other hand, he should know the importance of being honest with the community he serves. If it was bad or if poor techniques were used or  if training for his officers is less than adequate, he needs to be willing to say that and commit to making changes to fix it and work to begin rebuilding any community trust and good will that has been lost by this incident.

The New Haven States Attorney also need to see that tensions flaring serves no purpose and  steps should be taken immediately to diffuse that. As for the involvement of the Connecticut State Police, former Hartford Police Chief , now the Commissioner of Public Safety, oversees CSP. Anyone concerned about handling this matter properly should call him and ask for some advice. Rovella has been through it before and I am pretty confident he understands the value of maintaining the public's trust and transparency and could provide some excellent guidance

CAUTION; OBSCENE CONTENT, HARTFORD SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATIVE SALARIES UNVEILED

I am almost tempted to put a "XXX" warning on this post for its obscene content.

I can see why Hartford's Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez stonewalled me for 2 months and only released this information after I filed a complaint with the State FOI Commission. That and embarrassing Leslie Torres-Rodriguez  previously  in a blog post yesterday  and by some miracle, the documents were e-mailed to me at 10:27PM last night. I had been told by a source in the Superintendent's that the documents I requested were readily available in an electronic format, but the BOE Empress did not want them out in the public

This list is not about educating children, it is about building a Kingdom of servants loyal to Leslie Torres-Rodriguez. With salaries like this. the Hartford Schools Should be graduating a huge number of Rhodes Scholars, not the children they shove through unable to read or write at graduation.

The Hartford Schools are broken and I wonder when parents are going to demand it gets fixed with competent leadership 

Co Admin Salaries on Scribd

ISN'T IT FUNNY HOW THIS WORKS, THE SUPERINTENDEDNT COMES OUT OF HER BUNKER

Yesterday I posted after my frustration for trying almost two months to get documents from the office of Hartford's Superintendent of Schools Leslie Torres-Rodriguez. The request was for very basic documents. Documents which I was told by a source in the Superintendent's Office were readily available.

The document requested, a list of salaries in the Superintendent's Office, was readily available and did not take any research to provide it, other than hitting the print key on a computer.

I am still reviewing the documents now. I am sure once I post them you will quickly see why Leslie Torres- Rodriguez didn't want me to see them. The salaries , as well as the number of high priced salaries is obscene.

They will be posted in their entirety later today

Until then, Leslie Torres - Rodriguez has retreated back into her bunker.

HARTFORD CITY COUNCIL AGENDA PACKAGE FOR 4-22-19

Agenda Package Court of Common Council Meeting April 22, 2019  on Scribd

WHAT IS HARTFORD SUPERINTENDENT LESLIE TORRES-RODRIGUEZ HIDING

On February 28, 2019 I made a Freedom of Information request  for documents from the Office of Hartford's Superintendent of Schools Leslie Torres--Rodriguez.

Specific documents were requested as follows :

 In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, I am requesting the following:

>>1.)Any list, document or report that shows all salaries in the Hartford Schools Central Office as well as School Administrators.

>>Any document, e-mails or reports regarding the assault on a Hartford School  teacher on or about December 23, 2018 by a Cassandra DeCosta, a parent. To this date, the requested documents have not been provided although I have been told that they are readily available. I am sure the release will be an embarrassment to the Superintendent when people see the money being paid out in salaries for here staff and minions around her. It will also be interesting how they cover for an assault on a teacher at a time when access to the school is supposed to be controlled for the safety of the students. I have filed a formal complaint with the State of Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission for an investigation and hearing into the Superintendents violation of the law.

HARTFORD CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS AVAILABLE ON LINE

Hartford City Clerk John Bazzano and his staff have taken a monumental step forward in election transparency.

 The required Municipal Campaign Finance reports can now be viewed on line, In the past , it would have required a trip to the City Clerk's Office and go through the drawers of filing cabinets to actually read the reports and then pay for any copies you wanted.

 A huge thank you to John Bazzano and his staff for setting this up and making it happen.

 You can review the reports on -line herehttp://hartford.gov/townclerk/campaign-finance

IT WILL BE BACK

This is not my typical posting.

I have never given much thought to Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral until I saw it engulfed in fire yesterday. I guess it is true what they say, "We don't realize what we have until it is gone." As I watched the news coverage into the night, I along with most people observing probably thought there was no way any of it would survive. In the end, it was not gone, but severely damaged

As I wondered how they would ever rebuild the Cathedral if some of it did survive, I began to start wondering what type of craftsmen could have built this colossal cathedral hundreds of years ago. I am sure that type of craftsmen do not exist or are even trained in the various arts these days.

How many lives were lost working at such heights with very primitive safety equipment and regulations compared to today. The heights alone must have been a challenge without our modern day scaffolding and harnesses.No hydraulic cranes or loaders or forklifts. Real craftsmen using hand tools and techniques passed down through families, from grandfathers to fathers to sons for centuries to create such a masterpiece.

Just imagine the detail in the stone carving, the  statues, the gargoyles that serve as drain spots, the magnificent stained glass lead windows. Al the stones lifted into place without machinery, just men and ropes and pulleys. Not to mention the architectural designs without any computer assistance

I haven't heard anything specific yet, but it will probably be a modern day craftsman that set the building on fire using a modern day torch or cutting tool on the renovations.

A couple of videos below explain more of the history and majesty of Notre Dame Cathedral that I found interesting.

THE SMOLLETT SYNDROME IS ALIVE AND WELL AT HPD

FACT  OR FICTION AT HPD

Well, I knew it was coming and I told you about it back on March 1st.You can read that posting here.

We all know discrimination exists in many different forms. Unfortunately, people that make up baseless discrimination claims  undermine the valid complaints by people who have actually suffered from discrimination themselves.

We just saw the example of Jussie Smolett in Chicago and his phony hate crime claims and the extent he went to fabricate his claims. Now anyone  coming forward with legitimate claims will be looked at with skepticism.

Now, if you actually read my posting highlighted above, here is another baseless discrimination complaint that a Hartford Police Lieutenant was passed over for promotion because she is female. This at the same time that other females were being promoted to various ranks, including a Deputy Chief and other Lieutenants.

Maybe the Lieutenant filing her discrimination complaint needs to take a look in the mirror and realize that she was not passed over because she is a female. No, she was passed over because she is a terrible supervisor and devoid of any leadership skills. Her track record of sexual harassment against male officers as well as other ridiculous moves she has made over the years should have got her terminated and definitely not promoted..

Hopefully much of her track record will come out as the City and HPD defends themselves against this ridiculous claim. In the meantime, I hope she realizes how she is damaging and hurting people who want to come forward with real claims based on facts.

The complaint was obtained through a Freedom o0f Information request to Hartford's Corporation Council as a public document.

Mertes Complaint by  Scribd

WHY CAN'T WE DO POLITICS WITHOUT THE STUNTS?

Why is it that what we are sold at campaign time is hardly ever what we get after the election?

Politicians seem as though they think theycan tell us whatever sounds good to get elected and then we never follow up to find the truth.

No tolls, remember that promise? How did that work out for you with your blind faith and allegiance. I think we would have more respect and trust in a politician who would say "I'm new to this and until I actually get in there and start looking under the hood, anything is possible" Is that too difficult to do, or maybe it is being too truthful and politicians seem to have a hard time dealing with the truth.

I'm really not opposed to tolls because our roads are a mess, and if the tolls actually go to road repairs and transportation, I'm OK with that. But I think we were told the same thing about Casino revenue going to Education. I wonder how that worked out?

Politicians can't be truthful during a campaign because that might cost them votes. So, instead mislead us on and once you are elected , you are safe to do whatever you want.

Remember the Ned Lamont initial campaign commercial where he is sitting behind the wheel of his personal car, pledging to not use a State vehicle and that his own car was "good enough for him" Does anyone know where that car is now? Definitely not at the Governor's Mansion, his State Police detail troopers drive him everywhere.

Maybe if candidate Lamont had a conversation before that ad was shot with Governor Malloy he would have learned a few things. On the day of Governor Malloy's swearing in, his Troopers told him to put his license away because he would not be driving at all during his elected term. And that actually makes sense .

Here is a little refresher for you:


Maybe our politicians, instead of making it look like they support "the little people" and marching on the picket lines at Stop and Shop while streaming it live on Facebook. A real leader might be more productive working to resolve the situation to get the people back to work with a contract so they start making an income again.

Last night at the Maple Avenue NRZ monthly meeting, there were 5 representatives from Mayor Bronin's Office, all talking about the wonderful things the Mayor is doing. I don't think it is a coincidence that I have never seen any of these people before and they appear as City staffers just in time for the next Mayoral election.

 I guess that is the benefit of incumbency. They probably should have introduced themselves as "Bronin Campaign staffers" paid from the City's payroll.

 Hopefully Chief Thody and HPD can keep it a quiet summer because it will be a messy summer if Bronin and all the other candidates start racing around the City to be the first to be seen by the media consoling the families of shooting victims.

Thar was a regular occurrence by Bronin and Segarra last go round during the campaign, I think that concern and sympathy ended on election night after the final vote was counted.

Does anyone remember the candidate forums for the last Mayoral campaign? Only one candidate seemed to have a grasp on reality and expressed the truth to people attending. Judge Robert Killian spoke very honestly about the financial mess the City of Hartford was in and that bankruptcy was a definite possibility without serious structural change. None of the others in the field of candidates seemed to understand that but instead told us what they thought the  voters wanted to hear instead of the truth

Voters need to open their eyes and then be willing to hold  politicians who lie to us accountable. That is the only way this will change and the truth will begin to matter

THE BAERGA INTERNAL AFFAIRS REPORT CONCLUSION

The Hartford Police Department today released its initial conclusions in the Officer Baerga Internal Affairs report to investigate claims of sexual harassment against her by her supervisors.. The conclusions pretty much lays out the claim and the validity of some of those claims.

 On a larger scale though it exposes a greater power struggle by Lieutenant West and his efforts to sway opinion in his efforts to become the next HPD Chief and the hidden agenda behind those efforts.

 It is also interesting to read the actual timelines and it appears as though Baerga was vocal about the delay in her complaint being investigated, much of that delay may have been her own doing in delaying the investigation and Lieutenant West having to be chased down repeatedly by investigators to obtain his testimony.

It is also interesting that the claims of HPD being "unsafe for women" and a toxic environment , to me, would seem questionable. I would have a hard time encouraging anyone I claimed to care about to go work in such an environment. Yet in the IAD report it states that Baerga's wife , or significant other, is currently in the HPD Academy. Would that be safe if the conditions were "toxic"?

It also seems deceptive that after  report was released, Officer Baerga released a statement regarding the investigation. The deceptive part is that it was e-mailed from Attorney Cynthia Jennings e-mail  account, no where does it state that Jennings is also representing Lieutenant Paul West, so she has a definite motive to discredit the IAD Report.. It might be nice if she was transparent enough to disclose that also.

BAERGA REBUTTAL  on Scribd

At  the very least, both Lt Paul West and Sergeant Andrew Rodney, in my opinion,  do not deserve their positions of rank for the behaviors they admitted to in the interviews. NUMEROUS CHARGES WERE SUBSTABTIATED AGAINST BOTH WEST AND RODNEY BY IAD INVESTIGATORS

BAERGA IAD REPORT PART 1 OF 4  on Scribd

BAERGA IAD REPORT PART 2 OF 4  on Scribd

BAERGA IAD REPORT PART 3 OF 4 on Scribd

BAERGA IAD REPORT PART 4 OF 4 on Scribd

PEREZ FOR MAYOR: HOW LOW CAN WE GO?

Eddie Perez's arrest photo

Nothing would make me happier than to see Hartford's Little Prince dethroned in the upcoming election. In fact, I would have loved to have seen a different outcome four years ago before Luke Bronin's coronation as Emperor of Hartford when he first bought the Mayor's Office and the Hartford Democratic Town Committee endorsement.

Hardly a day goes by when I don't wonder where we would be as a City with Bob Killian in the Mayor's Office and imagine the progress we would be making daily. Unfortunately though, Hartford's politics being what they are, we blew the opportunity to put in our first real "Strong Mayor" since Charter reform.

Again, as much as I would like to see Luke Bronin run out of City Hall, (and Hartford as well) Eddie Perez is not the person to drive him out  Neither of them are 1/100th of the leader Bob Killian is and  neither of them have the understanding and love for our City like Bob.

I won't rehash the whole corruption investigation probe and arrest,  but Eddie Perez did huge damage to the City of Hartford. People want to go after Jussie Smolett for his costs to the City of Chicago, but has anyone ever calculated  the costs of Eddie Perez's corruption investigation and Grand Jury to the taxpayers of Hartford. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on lawyers to represent City Hall employees that were called before the Grand Jury  investigating Perez. And those figures don't include the costs to the State's taxpayers for the investigation to uncover his criminal acts.

And now all of a sudden, Perez sees the opportunity to dethrone a very unpopular Mayor. Isn't  it a little bit disingenuous that we now are hearing Eddie Perez "apologizing" for his indiscretions. I think that is the first time since his arrest, and even since his conviction, that I have heard him apologize. Now isn't that convenient. I guess you only need to apologize to the community you defrauded when it suits your need to fulfill your thirst for political power. Oh ,and just like John Rowland, Perez has apparently found God. Too bad he didn't do that 10 years ago before screwing us over the first time

I am sure we will see constant comparisons to another convicted felon who was reelected to his previous position, Mayor Joe Ganim of Bridgeport. Huge difference between Perez and Ganim
Joe Ganim took responsibility for his actions and paid his dues by spending several years in Prison before returning to his community and starting over.

Eddie Perez never paid a price for his crimes. Not one day in Prison , and until he decided to run again , he never took responsibility. In fact he tried to sue the City of Hartford to recover the costs of his legal defense for raping the taxpayers of Hartford. I am not sure why we would be responsible for the legal fees for his attorneys to defend him against his criminal acts. But most likely about as much thought went in that decision to sue as went into his decision to run for Mayor again. Does he really think we are that ignorant as a Community? We just may be, only time will tell

The worst that happened to Perez is that a Judge recently decided to revoke his ill gotten pension. A pension he received while in Office , his salary being paid by the people of Hartford, supposedly to run the City of Hartford, not to commit criminal acts and shaking down City vendors and businesses.

Eddie Perez didn't even come close to getting what he deserved for his corruption and the last thing he deserves is a shot at fleecing  the residents of Hartford once again .

And just to refresh your memory, here are Perez's felony convictions from the Judicial website

SCN_0009 by  on Scribd