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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

HARTFORD REPUBLICAN'S- WHEN IS A TAKEOVER REQUEST NOT A TAKEOVER REQUEST ?

Over a year ago, I told the Hartford Republican Town Committee that I was hearing the rumblings of a possible takeover of the City of Hartford's finances by the State of Connecticut as they were considering placing Hartford into receivership.

For all realistic purposes, the Hartford GOP has been suffering a slow but steady death march into political oblivion. That death march has been aided by the voting record and conduct of the lone Republican still hanging by a thread on the City Council. In a time when leadership is needed more than ever, our lone Republican, Veronica Airey-Wilson, continues to "abstain" when many key issues are called to a vote. She has abstained on budget votes and other key issues that would seem to evoke a strong Republican response, rather than a spineless abstention. Even more damaging to the Republican Party has been Airey-Wilson's involvement in the ongoing corruption probe, including a search warrant executed on her home and a search of the West Indian Social Club and the West Indian Foundation as a result of a continuing investigation by the Office of the Chief States Attorney. Information from sources indicates that additional arrests in this probe, possibly including Airey-Wilson, may be happening any time now.

In a period when the Republican Town Committee has done virtually little or nothing to build the party in Hartford or hold the Perez Administration accountable, it seems rather unusual that they would now be calling for a state takeover of Hartford's government. It is easy to sling mud, but can the Republicans really claim that this current budget disaster is new to them? For anyone paying attention, think back almost three years to former Republican John O'Connell claiming that the City of Hartford was on the verge of bankruptcy. That was laughed off by the Hartford Republican Town committee leadership as the rantings of a crazy man. It seems to me now that it might have been a good idea for the RTC to pay attention at that time and build their message to call for fiscal responsibility.

Rather than get their lone Councilperson on board and spread the Republican message and try to keep Hartford's spending in check, the RTC instead chose to support a politician that was in bed with Perez and working deals to get her share of the granite countertops, forgetting about the damage that was being done to Hartford's residents and business people with every extra dollar spent.

I was surprised to hear that at the April 2009 RTC monthly meeting, a vote was taken and approved to draft a letter to Governor Rell requesting a state takeover of the City of Hartford. The same style of takeover that no one wanted to discuss when I brought the issue up a year earlier. Jeff Cohen at the Hartford Courant reported on his blog, courant.com/cityline initially about the talk of a state takeover. I spoke with several RTC members who were at the meeting and they confirmed motion and the vote taken to draft a letter requesting a takeover.
Imagine my surprise last Tuesday at the city budget hearing when I saw RTC Chairman Mike McGarry running to the microphone at the close of the hearing requesting to speak. McGarry claimed that he was misquoted by Cohen from the Courant and the RTC was not requesting a state takeover, merely "looking into" options. The entire content and transcript of McGarry's comments are as follows:

McGarry comments at Budget Hearing:

McGarry: “Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman… could I uhh ..just a second to correct a an uhh mistake in the Courant

Torres: I’m sorry?

McGarry: Could I… just one second to correct a public statement, uhhh that affects all of you , just can I have a second, I couldn’t sign up earlier, so I just need a minute uhh you may have seen in yesterday’s Courant it stated that we the Town Committee were trying to push for a state takeover, that’s not correct. What we said to the Courant and we’d like to say to you is Republican Town Committee is studying the effects of state turnovers in other towns . We have sufficient personnel, very well trained lawyers and we are looking at what happened in other towns , what conditions brought that on and whether or not that applies to Hartford. We think it s definitely possible that it could happen to Hartford in the next few years , ahh, if we go on this route we are headed for a hundred mill rate which is impossible, but we did not call for a the takeover, and I would like to ask the Mayor to ask his staff not to respond so quickly, call first please, because the Courant says it (inaudible)and they paraphrase you sometimes and in this case they paraphrased us incorrectly. We are….we are gonna study it closely and we’ll report to you as soon as we can

Torres: Thank you, that was Mr. Mike McGarry



Ok, from those comments it seems pretty clear that McGarry might have been misquoted and the RTC was not calling for a state takeover. But then, the following day I get a draft of a letter addressed to Governor Rell, signed by Michael T. McGarry, Chairman, City of Hartford Republican Town Committee. In the letter, McGarry clearly calls for Rell "to take control of the City and it's soaring spending" and asks Rell to "consider taking any and all actions necessary to restore the financial functionality of our City's government".

"Any and all actions necessary"? What's up Mike, it sure sounds like a request for a takeover to me. It sure sounds like that was the intent of the RTC and its members when they voted. Who was McGarry representing when he went before the Budget Hearing and back pedaled? Certainly not the RTC, or was he representing his business interests with the City. Perez might not be willing to send City business to a vendor that is calling for his takeover. But then on Thursday, it was all back on track as the letter was drafted calling for a takeover. But then again, the letter hasn't hit the mailbox yet, there is still plenty of time for it to get "lost".

A better idea, and definitely more productive, might be to mend the Republican fences and bring John O'Connell back into the fold and champion some real cuts, sensible cuts. Even the Democrats on the Council are using O'Connell's knowledge, it might just show some leadership if the Republican's did the same thing.

But then again, it's easier to abstain, you can't take any blame that way.

To watch McGarry's comments on Youtube, click below

Monday, April 27, 2009

A SIMPLE QUESTION, HOW MANY HOMICIDES DOES IT TAKE TO IMPLEMENT A CURFEW

Last year I was initially critical when a curfew was imposed on city youth. I thought it was going to be a total waste of time, as well as one more burden placed on an already understaffed and over burdened police depoartment. If Hartford Police officers couldn't handle their basic calls for service, how could they now take on the additional task of baby sitting minors walking the streets?

Well, in the end I think most would agree that if nothing else, the curfew was another tool to be used by police officers to identify and move potential problem youth off of the street corners before problems occurred. It also sent a message that HPD was being proactive and addressing the violence problem on a street by street basis,

As of now I have not heard any talk or the curfew beginning this year, Wouldn't it make sense to start a curfew enforcement now, set the ground rules for the game before the bodies of young men killed in another summer of violence start piling up?

SWINE FLU IS NOTHING NEW IN HARTFORD

As Hartford residents and business owners prepare to attend Tuesday nights budget hearing at Bulkeley High, it seems as those lining up to feed at the pig trough we know as Hartford City Hall haven't heard the message that there is a severe economic crisis facing the City of Hartford.

Since the early days of the Perez regime,"spend,spend,spend," seems to be the mantra coming from Perez's office. Much of this spending seems to benefit political cronies and those beholding to the Gospel of Perez, Whether it is Evelyn Mantilla and her $70,000 plus job at the Health Department after her "consultant" contract expired in the Mayor's Office, Kelvin Roldan's $120,000 plus a year job at the Board of Education, our new "energy czar" at a $100,000 plus a year, the "capital improvements" director at $165,000 a year plus his luxury SUV city car, the former "capital improvements" director enjoying his $85.00 an hour "retirement" job in the Mayor's Office, and let's not forget Lew Brown, the Mayor's courthouse shadow. I could go on and on with the list of cronies rewarded for allegiance to Perez as he navigates his troubled waters, also known as an ever growing and expanding corruption investigation. And I can't forget that wonderful 311 system that everyday rewards incompetence on the part of City employees who need another layer of insulation from resident complaints. Do we really need 311 to make sure city employees are doing their jobs? Isn't that why we pay the numerous levels of supervisors, Director's, Deputy Director's, Assistant's to the Directors and Deputy Director's? If a phone is on a desk and a resident calls, is it too much to expect that employee to pick up the phone when it rings, answer it politely and deal with the caller on the other end? I guess that can only work if it is a 311 operator equipped with a special software,(software purchased in a no-bid deal from the neighbor of another political crony) locked away in a special office answering every call to a city hall phone number to justify the number of calls. It seems to me that if thousands of phone calls to 311 monthly only result in a couple of hundred actual "case numbers", the service is not needed or justified by the results. In March 2009, 8690 calls were received, but only 627 required action or a "case number. Does that mean less than 8% of the calls were necessary to be handled by 311?

Since Perez has become Mayor, his budgeted spending has increased over $125 million dollars. Many would argue that any correlation between increased spending and increased services is non-existent. Streets are in the worst shape many people have seen in years, hiring of Police Officers and increases in the number of officers promised in election years by Perez have been put on hold , crime is still a major problem, failing schools are still a major problem, job losses under Perez's tax and spend policies are a major problem, employers moving out of Hartford are a major problem and if Weaver High School is any indication, many of our schools are in deplorable condition, Where is the money going Mayor Perez?

City spending increasing in a period when every suburb around us are freezing and cutting spending, shows that Perez and his band feeding from the pig trough have no clue. Whether it's use of city vehicles, trips to Ireland at the city's expense, fruitless lawsuits and court appeals to reward John Rose's buddies, or the multitude of wasteful items of spending, it all adds up. Senseless appeals of court decisions, FOI decisions, Labor Board decisions have added,and promise to add much more, in lawsuit decisions to the city's budget .

A perfect example was handed to me this morning by a city resident who had received a mailing from Councilwoman Rosezina Winch (aka known as rJo by her followers). A letter which was in a City of Hartford envelope, on City of Hartford stationery, and according to the post office, using a City of Hartford postage meter, was sent out by Rosezina soliciting donations for an upcoming convention to be held in Hartford. The person that gave me the information questioned if this was even legal for an elected official of the City of Hartford to be using city resources to raise money for a political group. I guess that is a very valid point , we'll have to wait for an explanation from the Councilwoman. I don't suggest that anyone hold their breath waiting for that explanation to come. Another interesting point that shows the mindset of wasteful spending at City Hall though is that apparently every letter that was sent had double the postage it needed. Rather than the 42 cent stamp that the USPS said was required for the 3 page mailing, apparently every envelope had 83 cents worth of City of Hartford postage on it. I know it seems small in comparison to next years projected $40 million deficit as a result of Perez's incompetence , but it all adds up. How many mailings were sent with double the postage needed, 100? 1000? 10,000?

It just makes you wonder what shape the budget might be in if someone was actually managing the city finances, rather than trying to figure out how to keep themselves out of prison on corruption charges .

Read Rosezina's fundraising plea and see the money wasted on the postage below.

Winch Fundraiser

Thursday, April 16, 2009

CALL TAC-1, CHIEF TEALE HAS BEEN THROWN UNDER A BUS

As documents continue to surface regarding the hiring of recent Hartford firefighters, the picture seems to becoming clearer for most people viewing the documents and listening to the facts. Dan Nolan's contentions that he was terminated after he refused to force unqualified recruits through the Hartford Fire Academy also seems to gain more credibility each day. The recent revelations that disgraced Hartford firefighter John Thomas used the dishonorable Mayor Eddie A. Perez as a reference on his job application was interesting, but the documents that show Thomas was also a paid consultant on Perez's campaign in 2001 raise even more questions. According to sources close to Perez and his campaign stated that Thomas was very upset after the election when Perez didn't offer Thomas a "city" job.

Most of us at one time or another have been used as a reference by someone seeking a job. I know I can honestly say that I have recommended people for employment, only to realize later that I may have not known the person well enough to do that. maybe a person that you know on a casual friendship level and then realize that you knew very little about their work ethic or reliability when their hiring didn't "work out". If Eddie Perez was a man of integrity, he could have stood up and admitted that he knew John Thomas, pushed for his hiring, but realized now that it was a mistake. Instead he threw Hartford's Fire Chief Charles Teale under the bus and blamed Teale for Thomas's hiring and said the sole responsibility was Teale's. For anyone that thinks that Perez didn't use any pressure or exert any influence to hire Thomas, especially when Thomas's references and background were checked , must also believe that Perez is innocent of his criminal charges. The facts are the facts in both cases and speak for themselves.

The part that bothers me though is that most people would agree that Chief Teale is, or was, an honorable man. To allow Perez to throw the entire blame for Thomas on Teale's back is wrong and Perez had no problem throwing him under the bus. I think most would agree that Teale loves his job, but sooner or later you have to ask yourself, at what price are you willing to sell out your reputation and integrity and continue to be a Perez puppet.

Chief Teale, a simple question after our conversation Monday night, who is the one being used now ? I still believe in the stand I've taken, do you?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

I GUESS IT PAYS TO KNOW THE MAYOR


On Monday night I had a conversation with Chief Teale of the Hartford Fire Department. The Chief was standing in City Hall outside the Council Chambers when I was exiting and Teale said hello to me and extended his hand for a handshake. Whatever your thoughts about the Chief, he always conducts himself as a gentleman. I made an off the cuff remark that I was surprised that he was still talking to me after the postings about Deputy Chief Dan Nolan. Chief Teale said no, he understood , but that I was being used, I assume he meant by Nolan. I will make the same offer again to Chief Teale or anyone else, provide me with documentation of wrongdoing by Nolan, and it will be posted here. So far, no one has been able to do that, but the evidence supporting Nolan's version of the reasons behind his termination continues to surface. One of the basic assertions on Nolan's part is that his suspension and eventual termination were the result of his unwillingness to "push" recruits through the Hartford Fire Academy. Nolan's contention was that some of these recruits were not capable or suitable to be Hartford firefighters but due to connections, political or otherwise, they were being shuttled through the academy. When Nolan refused to allow this, he was placed on paid administrative leave and in February of this year Nolan was terminated. I realize there are two sides to every story, but so far the only side that appears to be credible is Nolan's version. The following documents seem to strengthen Nolan's version.

For those who have been following my blog, the name John Thomas has surfaced several times in the past couple weeks. Thomas was a Hartford Firefighter who was arrested on March 28, 2009 for DUI after he ran a pedestrian down at the intersection of Main and Westland Streets and left her lying in the street. Thomas was a probationary member of the Hartford Fire Department with less than a year on the job. The victim of Thomas's actions was quoted in news reports, and im paraphrasing here, as saying that she always thought firefighters were supposed to help people, not leave them for dead in the street. In support of Chief Teale and his actions in this matter, after the information came to light and was broadcast in the media, on April 6, 2009 Thomas was terminated by Teale for "conducting himself in a manner to bring serious discredit upon the department".

Although Teale's actions were swift by Hartford's standards, many people have questioned how John Thomas ever was hired in the first place. The first clue came to light today when I received John Thomas's original job application, and even more questions were raised by his background investigation completed by the Hartford Police Department before Thomas was hired. Nolan's claim that some recruits were unfit for duty in the Hartford Fire Department, yet politically connected seems to be shown quite clearly in John Thomas's application which is posted below.He lists Eddie A. Perez, Mayor of Hartford as a reference. Apparently Thomas was also a staff member working on Perez's 2001 Mayoral Campaign. Aside from Thomas's criminal background report that is also attached, Thomas admitted to the investigator, Sergeant Winston Brooks, that he was approximately $60,000 to $80,000 behind on child support payments. Most would call individuals in that situation a "deadbeat
dad", yet Chief Teale chose to hire Thomas, questionable background and all, as one of Hartford's bravest. It would be an interesting question to have answered as to what influence Perez's reference played in Thomas's hiring, yet I don't see that response coming anytime soon.

And the offer remains, anyone that has another theory and can prove it, I'm willing to listen, but Nolan's case seems to get stronger and become clearer with every document I receive.

John Thomas Application
John Thomas Background

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

HARTFORD'S WEAVER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FIGHTING THE RIGHT KIND OF FIGHT

This past Saturday on the Hartford Public Access program that myself, J.Stan McCauley, Bishop John Selders and Angel Morales hosted, we interviewed students and parents from Weaver High School. As part of the program, Stan McCauley produced and edited a great piece narrated by Hartford resident June Lyons graphically portraying the deplorable conditions that exist at Weaver, a school that has seen no substantial renovations since it was built in 1974. Graphic pictures portrayed the awful conditions including water damage, missing cinder blocks in walls, shower rooms in total disrepair, hardware on emergency exits missing or broken and students detailed the presence of rats and roaches in classrooms and the cafeteria. Many residents also called in to express their dismay at the condition of the school.

Although there was apparently no mention of major repairs at a PTO meeting held last week, after the program aired Saturday night, on Tuesday the Superintendent of Schools announced that $3 million dollars had been "found" for repairs at Weaver. Makes me wonder how you suddenly "find" $3 million dollars when you are laying teachers and support staff off. Was $3 million in a shoebox on a shelf in Kelvin Roldan's office? Regardless, at least the students at Weaver who brought the issue up should be commended for stepping forward and making a difference.

1 Hartford airs on Hartford Public Access Channel 5 on Saturday's at 10:00PM and can also be viewed on the internet at http://1hartford.com and click on the "1hartford program" box. That's the numeral one "1" in the internet address