REPRESENTATIVE ANGEL ARCE, ONE OF A KIND

 

 

Some people plan and plot just to get into politics. Others are thrust into the political scene.
Hartford's Fourth District State Representative Angel Arce is one of our rare politicians who has found his calling as a true public  servant.

Angel is someone I consider a good friend and I have gotten to know him after he was thrust into the limelight of Hartford's politics. Angel showed that he was a tireless fighter after a tragic hit and run accident that eventually claimed the life of his father. Angel fought hard to see the evading driver brought to justice. Arce eventually answered the call to represent his neighbors in the legislature and was elected as a State Representative.

Angel is one of those rare political figures that actually remembers why he was elected and seems to thrive on helping his constituents. Angel is much more comfortable walking through his district and talking to the residents than he is attending a political cocktail party. A walk with Arce through his District should be required education for every other State Rep. entering the legislature.

Angel's popularity stems from his genuineness, not from any political game playing. The people that approach Angel when walking routinely voice their thanks for everything from help in obtaining a job interview to keeping their lights on when threatened with a shutoff notice. Arce is a product of Hartford and its neighborhoods and clearly understands the  trials and tribulations his constituents face for every day survival. Crime, poverty, health care issues are all problems that Arce comes forward to help his thankful neighbors with.

The attached posting on Angel's Facebook page recently shows just how far Arce will go to assist his constituents. This was copied from Angel's Facebook page. Angel had no idea I was going to post this, but it shows the true quality of the man I am honored to call my friend.

  "One of my constituents called me today and said, "I have not seen my sister in 25 years and she is in New Jersey visiting for a few days . I'm looking for someone to take me to see my sister" I told him don't worry I take you. . so here we are on our way to see his sister . love to make people happy. New Jersey here we come."

If only more of our politicians had the same understanding that Angel has of what Public Service actually means we would be much better off.

HPD STATEMENT ON PROPERTY ROOM CLERKS ARREST

FROM HPD
Subject: City of Hartford employee fired and arrested

On August 18, 2015 a supervisor in the Hartford Police Department Property Room learned that during a regular audit of property, at least one bag of marijuana submitted as “Found Property” was missing. The supervisor reported this discovery to the Hartford Police Department Internal Affairs Division. The supervisor was able to determine through his initial audit that a civilian City of Hartford clerk assigned to the HPD Property Room, Liza Aponte (40yo of Hartford) was the source of the missing property. An immediate internal investigation was initiated, to include an expansive audit of property room evidence to include all drugs, money, jewelry and weapons. Aponte was transferred pending the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation expansive audit revealed a total of three bags of property missing. Internal Affairs investigators, based on video surveillance and closely maintained property room logging records were able to confirm the missing evidence was taken by Liza Aponte.

On September 3rd, 2015 after the appropriate administrative process, Aponte was terminated.
Internal Affairs investigators interviewed Aponte. Based on evidence and her own statements, on September 15, 2015 investigators applied for an arrest warrant for Aponte. On September 21, 2015 it was approved. On Wednesday September 23, 2015 Aponte turned herself into the Hartford Police Department. She was arrested and booked for 2 counts of Larceny 2nd Degree and 2 counts of Unlawful Removal of Records. The charges came with a $10,000 judge set bond.

Of Note:
Liza Aponte was hired by the City of Hartford in an effort to civilianize certain positions within the police department. She was hired in January of 2015.

Three bags were removed from the property room by Aponte. All contained small amounts of marijuana. One bag contained an unknown type pills. All bags were submitted to the HPD property room as “Found Property”. This means they are not attached to any criminal proceedings or criminal investigations.

The expansive audit did not reveal any other missing property.

Further safeguards have been put in place to prevent civilians from misappropriating evidence.

Complete details of the warrant will be made available through the GA14 Clerks Office.

ARREST WARRANT SIGNED FOR HPD CLERK

Here is the original posting, first reported here on We the People.http://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2015/08/civilianization-best-route-for-some-hpd.html Now after the Internal Affairs Investigation, an arrest warrant has been signed for the civilian clerk, Liza Aponte. According to sources within HPD, Aponte was terminated several weeks ago.

It is still unclear if this is a normal policy for civilians to transport drugs unsupervised, as was the case with Aponte

Liza Aponte

SOME FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE A COMMUTER TAX

The same Hartford City Council person that wanted to give herself over a $100,000 per year expense account a short time ago, now wants to apparently impose a commuter tax on the employees of some of  Hartford's largest corporations. Here is more on the proposal http://www.wfsb.com/story/30028075/hartford-councilwoman-wants-businesses-state-to-contribute-to-cost-of-services

This idea is about as crazy as a six figure expense account for Council people in  a cash strapped City.

I'm really not sure where Councilwoman Cynthia Jennings gets her ideas from, but maybe she might want to look into some actual financial restraint before floating these ideas.

Taxing commuters to Hartford's largest employers could quite possibly be the incentive for those employers to start looking outside of Hartford for their corporate homes. Corporate loyalty is not what it used to be a couple decades ago, and we have seen many large corporations willing to relocate when the taxation leash gets too tight.

The City of Hartford has an opportunity to show that it understands what "fiscal responsibility" actually means, and that  responsibility is not  shown tapping into the pockets of the working class to solve their own monetary excesses.

With a new administration on the horizon, including an entirely new Council Majority, change even symbolic change, can begin to set the tone that Hartford is once again open for business and ready to set the tone of responsibility.

A good start would be to end the old policy of political patronage where each Council person brings in their own Council Assistant at a salary exceeding $45,000 a year plus benefits. These are usually people connected to the Councilperson by friendship or a loyal campaign worker that helped get an individual elected. The work load for a Councilperson is not that great that they each need a fulltime assistant.

Here is a little more on how these "aides" are selectedhttp://articles.courant.com/2012-12-12/community/hc-hartford-council-assistant-1213-20121212_1_weinsteins-federal-lawsuit-eric-patton

In the State Legislature 3 State Reps share one assistant. That is a system that seems to have worked out well at the Capitol, and the time has come to move to that in Hartford. We don't  need, and we can't afford,  9 separate Council assistants. It might be good for the Councilperson's ego, but it is terrible for the budget funded by the taxpayers.

It is also the time for a greater level of accountability at Hartford City Hall, both out of responsibility for the taxpayers of Hartford as well as to increase the productivity of City Hall. The effectiveness of City Government has been widely criticized by constituents that feel that Hartford Government has been less than responsive to their needs. Greater accountability should also set the tone that taxpayers should feel comfortable that they are getting their money's worth.

Hartford does not have a revenue problem as much as it has a spending problem. This puts us in a very difficult position when we look to the State for additional financial help. We need to show ,first and foremost that we are responsible stewards of those dollars.

A commuter tax will not send the right message. Showing financial restraint and responsibility will be a much better start. Hartford needs a smarter ,leaner operation in line with its financial resources.

There  isn't a better time to get started than now.

FROM HPD

On Monday, September 21st, 2015, Hartford/US Fugitive Task Force working with the Hartford Shooting Task Force developed credible information regarding a vehicle in which an occupant may be illegally in possession of a firearm. Hartford STF Officers  observed a vehicle matching the description, traveling north on Garden Street in the area of Greenfield Street, traveling fast and disregarding multiple stop signs. STF and Fugitive Detectives stopped the vehicle on Barbour Street at Westland Street. Further investigation revealed the passenger, Accused/Daniel, had a stolen S&W 9mm firearm concealed in his waistband. Accused/Daniel was also in possession the listed narcotics. The operator of the vehicle Accused/Castro, was in possession of the listed narcotics  Both accused parties were transported to Hartford Police Headquarters for booking and processing.

Arrest #1; Castro, Khadafi, 37 of Hartford, CT. Charges; Stop Sign Violation x 2, Operating Under Suspension and Possession Narcotics.

Arrest #2; Daniel, Keenan, 19 of Benton Harbor, MI. Charges; Weapon in M/V, Carrying Pistol w/o a Permit, Theft of a Firearm and Possession Narcotics.

Vehicle; 2013 Mazda 2, four door hatchback color gray, GA temporary

Firearm Seized;

Daniel- Smith & Wesson Model 59, 9mm handgun,  with one magazine containing (10) live 9mm rounds of ammunition. Firearm listed in NCIC as stolen out of Bloomfield, CT.

Narcotics Seized;

Daniel- (1) plastic bag containing (20) small zip lock bags each containing a white rock like substance (suspected crack cocaine).

Castro- (7) wax paper sleeves each containing an off white powder substance (suspected heroin).

CAN WE ASK FOR A LITTLE COURTESY...PLEASE

Typically, an outgoing administration will hold off on critical appointments and allow the incoming administration to choose their own people that they will work with the next few years. Typically, but the Segarra Administration is not typical of what is considered right and proper.

 

Apparently Fire Chief Carlos Huertas is smarter than we have been giving him credit for . He seems to be able to read the handwriting on the wall and probably realizes his days as Chief are most likely numbered. His rush to fill two Assistant Fire Chief positions is now also raising questions. Huertas today posted the two job openings below for Assistant Chief. These are both positions that have been vacant for at least two years, being filled on  an interim basis by "acting" Chief's. So is it really critical to rush to fill them. Can't Huertas convince the current "acting" Assistant Chief to remain during  transition?

 

This raises the question why now? If they were critical appointments , shouldn't they have been filled a couple years ago? Is this Chief Huertas's last ditch effort to leave his mark on a Fire Department that he has already left in questionable condition?

 

If Huertas is actually on the way out as most observers agree he is, shouldn't his successor be allowed the courtesy to bring along his own command staff?

 

I would hope that we can see a little more courteous transition from the Segarra Administration as we move forward toward a new beginning.  Segarra, Hartford's Human Resources Director Burgos  as well as Councilmembers need to step up to ensure the transition process is an orderly one. The Huertas nonsense, if allowed, will be a roadblock to rebuilding the Hartford Fire Department  and removing the cloud it has been under recently

 

Note the two different exam numbers on the postings below for the two positions

 

 

Assistant Fire Chief (O) 9-18-15

Assistant Fire Chief (AP) 9-18-15 (1)