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Monday, March 8, 2010

GOOD NEWS... IT'S NOT ONLY HARTFORD THAT IS POLITICALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL


One of my regular readers e-mailed me today with a link to another blog similar to "We the People " that covers issues in another Connecticut city.

I now feel better that we aren't the only messed up Connecticut city, if that should make anyone feel better.

If you check out the link, I could probably cut and paste the entire article and only substitute the name Hartford when the other town is mentioned.

I think the only difference is their Mayor hasn't been arrested.Oh, and they broadcast their Town Committee elections for everyone to watch, that could be fun!

Take a look at the second posting (as of today) "Did the Democratic Town Committee primary really solve anything?"

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST

IS SEAN ARENA RUNNING OR RUNNING SCARED?

According to Hartford Democratic Town Committee bylaws, The Town Chairperson is required to call for a special meeting within two days after Town Committee elections. The meeting is required to be held within 10 days for the purpose of selecting a new Town Chair.

Hartford's Town Chair Sean Arena has not issued notice for that meeting, instead relying on a clause in the State Central bylaws that allows him to postpone that meeting for 30 days.

Confused? Welcome to the club.

Most political observers are telling me that the apparent reason for the delay is due to the fact that neither Sean Arena or his apparent challenger Bruce Rubenstein have the necessary 34 votes to lock up a win. The 30 days will most likely give Arena and his supporters the extra time for lobbying and arm twisting.

On top of that is another arrival on the Town Chairman hopefuls. One name that is being floated is 5th District Town Committee member Jean Holloway. Although Holloway (apparently no relation to the other Holloway's on the 7th District "non-profit" slate) hasn't confirmed her candidacy but others are telling me she is definitely in.

Other names are also being floated and include members from the 1st district.

I think one thing is clear though, if Arena had the votes, the meeting would have already been called. Bruce Rubenstein also claims to have the votes to win, but he has been around long enough to know that funny things can happen to people who give you their word.

In the meantime the city keeps running like a ship without a rudder.

A word of advice; forget the ego's, forget the personalities and for once start doing what is right for Hartford.

HARTFORD CITY COUNCIL BLINKS, CORPORATION COUNSEL COMES OUT SMELLING LIKE A ROSE


Many people thought that the Hartford City Council was actually stepping up to one of the challenges facing them, but in the end they adjourned with their tails between their legs.

With several resolutions on the agenda intended to investigate, curtail or question the Corporation Counsel, John Rose, not one word of discussion was uttered and the items were all postponed.

In the end, Rose, and several of his staff members who were in attendance, left secure in their positions. Although Attorney Rose has a hard time winning any cases outside the building, inside City Hall he still reigns supreme.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

AND NOW... A GOOD LAUGH FOR A SUNDAY AFTERNOON



Pictured above may be the forward momentum Sarah Barr speaks of as Eddie Perez leaves Hartford Superior Court after his second arrest


Here is the Press release sent out by the Mayor's mouthpiece , Sarah Barr regarding tomorrow nights "State of the City Address".

I hope maybe they can explain this "momentum" and "progress" they speak of. And who will maintain this progress when Eddie heads to the gray bar hotel?

For anyone with questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Barr on her cell, 860-550-3174. That number might work also if you have any issue and wish to contact Sarah when 311 fails you.


MILESTONES AND MOMENTUM ARE KEY THEMES AS

MAYOR PEREZ DELIVERS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS




---NEWS AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, MARCH 8---



WHEN: Monday, March 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.



WHERE: City Council Chambers

2nd floor of City Hall

550 Main Street, Downtown Hartford



Mayor Eddie A. Perez will deliver his annual State of the City Address to members of City Council, this year focusing on maintaining the momentum for Hartford's progress despite difficult economic times. He will set forth a vision for the City's future that includes investments in the core issues of education, public safety, and economic development--- including job creation.



The primary emphasis of the Mayor's speech will be building on progress--- including the Arts Stimulus and school construction--- and taking that success to the next level to encompass our parks.





Note: The Mayor's speech will be carried live on Hartford Government Cable Access Channel 96 and will stream live on www.hartford.gov. An embargoed copy of the speech will be made available to credentialed media after 4:00 p.m. on Monday in the Communication's Office, Room 210, at Hartford City Hall. Members of the media can contact Sarah Barr, Director of Communications, at (860) 550-3174 (cell) for more information.

A NO POLITICS, NO CORRUPTION POSTING...JUST SOME IRISH HOSPITALITY


As the high holiday for many, even those that aren't Irish, approaches, I wanted to pass on part of an Irish tradition.

My grandmother used to always make her Irish Soda Bread, and not just at Saint Patrick's Day. The recipe has been passed down, and I have never tasted another version that compares. I know I'm biased, but there were at least two things I always looked forward to around St. Patrick's day and Lent. My grandmother's Irish bread and hot cross buns. My mother always did a good job also with baking the Irish bread and took up the baking duties when my grandmother couldn't.

The key to her recipe was cooking it in a cast-iron skillet I think. I've tried it in glass cookware and it never seems the same. And don't forget the butter to eat it with.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY AND DON'T FORGET THE PARADE NEXT WEEKEND IN DOWNTOWN HARTFORD

Here's her recipe:

THE RATIGAN AND DEVINE'S IRISH SODA BREAD RECIPE

3 Cups sifted flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup shortening
1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking soda
2 tablespoons Caraway seeds
1 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Raisins

Bake for one hour at 350 degrees

Saturday, March 6, 2010

MY RESPONSE TO A COUPLE OF "ANONYMOUS" COMMENTS, RESPONSE #2

And a response to another comment

Anonymous said...
OK Brookman, Here's your chance to be in two places at once. Isn't the coronation of RubInStain scheduled for the same time as the council meeting?


Just by the tone and the wording of this comment I have a good idea that I know who posted it, but I would hope that that person would have the integrity to post it under his real name, the same as I do when I refer to someone as "Rosie".

Ok, so moving on.

My phone has been ringing almost constantly since Tuesday's election, almost every call focuses on the election for the Democratic Town Committee Chairperson. I'll post a few of my thoughts here that I will say to either candidate, many of them I have said already to Bruce Rubenstein, but Sean Arena chooses not to take or return my calls, so maybe he can read it here.

First off, the selection can't be called a coronation. A coronation is usually full of pomp and circumstance and the pageantry shows hope for the future. Neither candidate can be proud of what they are inheriting, or in the case of Arena, what he has the Democratic Town Committee to have become.

A once proud powerhouse that was the Hartford Democratic Town Committee of years past, has over the last several years become a cesspool of corruption and incompetence. Strong words, yes. Untrue words, no.

In years past candidates for political positions clamored to be accepted and endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee. Now I think most candidates view the Hartford Democratic Town Committee as a necessary evil that they have to approach as part of the process. They most definitely approach keeping in mind the recent Grand Jury, the arrest of the Mayor. They keep in mind the frequent hearings at Elections Enforcement for absentee ballot fraud.

They keep in mind the Mayor's fines for misusing taxpayers funds for political purposes, also known as the "Hartford Educator". They now can keep fresh in their mind the recent Superior Court decision detailing the illegal activity by the Democratic Registrar of Voters Olga Vazquez. That ruling should help, just in case they might have forgotten the first time in 2004 when she was fined $500.00 for almost identical illegal activity.

Like I said before, a cesspool of political corruption.

Although many people seem to think we have had enough and it is time for change, what exactly is the change?

The poster of the "anonymous" comment I'm sure misspelled Mr. R-U-B-E-N-S-T-E-I-N's name out of ignorance rather than anything intentional, but some might read into that another meaning.

For anyone familiar with either candidate, ask yourself if you know where they stand and what their direction would be for the Democratic Town Committee.

Since Mr Arena refuses to return phone calls, I honestly can say I have no idea where he stands. I have never heard him make a comment regarding the arrest of the Mayor. I have never heard his thoughts on the corruption and extortion charges against the Mayor and Abe Giles. I have never heard him make a comment about our Republican Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson and her arrest on corruption charges.

That's probably a cheap shot about the Republican though, how could he say anything when the Mayor is as bad, if not worse, than her. Like Airey-Wilson once said "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". That was before her arrest, so maybe she thinks differently now.

Can anyone honestly say they don't know where Mr. Rubenstein stands on political corruption? I sometimes think if he could get onto the roof of City Hall, he would be up their shouting his thoughts out loud about political corruption. He's done it everywhere else, almost to the point of making me nauseous on Cityline on courant.com, on public access programs, and even here on "we the people".

He even voiced his opinion to the entire state on WFSB's "Face the State". Although Rubenstein came out loud and clear, the two councilpeople on with him refused to take a stand against corruption.

Is that a bad thing to let people know where you stand? Absolutely not. Is it a bad thing to remain silent and say nothing, almost giving the perception that you condone corruption? Absolutely.

And while Arena refuses to return phone calls and discuss issues with those who might disagree with him or challenge his actions, Rubenstein seems to thrive on it. Maybe it's the lawyer side coming out, but Rubenstein seems to live for a good argument and having the chance to present his side.

Here's a perfect example I know first hand.

Although I wasn't around during the Carrie Perry years, I recently learned how Rubenstein operates and his potential as a leader. I had heard that some perceived Bruce as "arrogant" and somewhat "heavy handed". I had a couple concerns about Rubenstein's "style and decided to approach him with a couple of my concerns.

The first concern was that people were tired of Eddie Perez's "tyrant" style of management. Cross Perez and you were done. I was someone that really hadn't worked with Bruce before, yet I found him knowledgeable and his concern for Hartford seems sincere.

Well, I approached him and told him I was concerned about his frequent comments about when he "used to run Hartford". No matter how it was meant, I knew I was turned off by it, and others were making comments to me about it also. If he was anything like Eddie Perez, I figured that was the last conversation we would have.

In case anyone has or hasn't noticed, I haven't heard Bruce comment on how he used to run Hartford since that day. He does talk about being inclusive, committees to interview and select candidates, a public relations committee to educate voters and improve the image of politics. He seems to be open to suggestion and creative ideas.

I'm not going to get into a stump speech here, I think it is already clear where I stand. I do have to ask though what is more important in a leader. Would I prefer a Chairperson who is silent and condones the Mayor's behavior no matter what or would I prefer a Chairperson who can be arrogant and confrontational when it is needed?

Would I prefer a Chairperson who may not be liked by everyone but who's commitment to fair and honest government isn't in question? Or, would I prefer a Chairperson who has shown his commitment to Hartford by beating us out of motor vehicle taxes by registering his vehicles in New Canaan?

Bruce Rubenstein may be a lightning rod, but change doesn't come by remaining silent and accepting business as usual. I have already seen more change brought about just by Rubenstein announcing his run than by an movement by the current Democratic Town Committee over the past couple years.

Change doesn't come about by doing nothing. If it did, Sean Arena would be the unanimous choice for another two years.

And for those unsure of which way to go in the Town Committee vote, let me give you another Len Besthoff "southernism",and in the interest of full disclosure, it's a term I've heard him use, not an endorsement of any political activity

"If you stay in the middle of the road, your gonna get run over"

Make a choice, it may not be popular, but you know what you have to do if we are really going to see change in our city. Forget the personalities, forget the gossip, forget the rumors, forget the backstabbing. Do what you know you have to do if we are going to return Hartford to the proud city it once was. If there was ever a time for political enemies from the past to now come together for the public good, that time has come.

It's a matter of leadership, pure and simple.