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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

HOMEOWNER CONFRONTS BURGLAR AT GUNPOINT



A homeowner interrupted a burglary this afternoon at 398 Franklin Avenue and held the burglar at gunpoint until police arrived. The homeowner was in the home when he heard an alarm go off and when he went to check it out he found the burglar inside the building near the back door.

Hartford Police Officer Teddy Sposito, the CSO for the Area, responded almost immediately and arrested the suspect.

I guess this burglar picked the wrong building to burglarize.

BUILDING CONDEMNED, NUMEROUS RESIDENTS DISPLACED


A multifamily building at 387 Capitol Avenue was condemned today by the City of Hartford as unfit for occupancy.Apparently the property has been the subject of numerous code violations recently.

The property appears to be owned by a Christopher Whilby of Canton. City sources have confirmed that at least 23 city residents, 9 of them children, have been displaced from their homes. The Tax Collectors website shows delinquent tax bills for the last couple of years still unpaid.

The property is being overseen by Hartford Police officers at this time and preventing residents from re-entering the building to retrieve any items.

At the time that I visited the property not a councilperson was in sight, maybe they should focus on situations like this rather than national issues. The photo above shows people, including children, sitting on the porch with no idea where they will be sleeping tonight.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

CITIZEN'S ELECTION FUND FILINGS COMPLETED....EXCEPT FOR MORALES

The mandated filings for the recent primary campaigns for Hartford races have all been submitted on time,the deadline was 9/10/10, except for one. The treasurer for the Morales for State Representative campaign apparently has not filed the reports according to the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

To view the filings that have been submitted, click here SEEC e-CRIS search

Several questions have arisen regarding the spending of funds by the Morales campaign, including the rental car he was still driving and apparently rented by his campaign, well after the August 10th primary when a police complaint was made against him on August 26th.Morales was also apparently driving with a suspended license which is an entirely different issue. Hopefully the reports will be submitted soon for the public's review.

The reports do show some interesting payouts for "consultants", be sure to check out the Southend races and the Lamont Campaign to see who's making out on the election season.

IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A PROBLEM AT HPD?

A large number of the calls that Hartford Police Officers respond to day in and day out are domestic violence related. These calls definitely have to place pressure on the officers that respond to the calls and diffuse the situations.

Since police officers are human also and they don't have a switch to turn off their feelings once they leave work, it seems to be taking its toll on Hartford's officers.

In the past month at least three Hartford Police officers have been arrested on domestic violence charges resulting from incidents in their private lives while off duty. Officer Chris White was arrested last month after an altercation with his ex-wife and another male that White found in their home.

This past week Officer Austin and Officer Elbe were both arrested for domestic violence related incidents. According to police sources, Austin was arrested immediately after a domestic incident and Elbe was arrested by warrant after his incident.

I would think this would indicate the need for a better way to identify officer's who may be under pressure and address these issues before they become problematic.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

AND ANOTHER THING THAT BUGS ME....

I guess today is a good day to vent about our trendsetting Councilman. One of my pet peeves was expressed very well by Dennis House at WFSB on his blog "The Hartfordite". To read Dennis's blog, click here

It speaks for itself, but I totally agree with his comments about the professionalism expressed by the way someone is dressed before the public. I have thought since the beginning of his term that Councilman Cotto has lowered the bar as far as professionalism and the image of the Council with the lack of proper attire.

Read what Dennis has to say and feel free to post your comments here.

ENOUGH OF THE GRANDSTANDING

We have a City Council full of opportunists, and unfortunately for Hartford, a vacuum when it comes to leaders on the Council.

Recently Councilman Cotto referred to Caucasians as "lily white", I guess in his liberal mindset that racism only applies to non-white people. As the "self appointed" equalizer for Islamic people, I find it hypocritical that he is championing an Imam's right to lead the Council in prayer while also using racially decisive rhetoric against others.

After his recent introduction of an ordinance to tie the hands of the Police when it comes to intelligence gathering, his apparent explanation was that he wanted to start a discussion on racism. I might suggest that if he wants to start a discussion, then act like a leader and actually organize a time and place for an honest discussion. Cotto's actions only add to the divide and conquer mentality that has been pervasive in Hartford for years, if not decades.

Hartford is perceived as a racist City by actions like Councilman Cotto's. Has anyone ever seen a press release for previous Council meetings announcing who would be giving the prayer at any specific meeting? Why did Cotto see the need to announce the occasion of an Imam giving a prayer before the September meetings? The explanation is simple, GRANDSTANDING, pure and simple.

Wouldn't it have meant more that in the normal course of business an Imam was placed in the mix to give the invocation? But no, just days after the September 11th memorials, Cotto saw fit to interject an Imam. And I don't believe Imam's have been excluded in the past. I don't recall ever seeing a Rabbi in prayer before a Council meeting or a Mormon but I don't proclaim to have attended every Council meeting.

The way that this has been handled is classic of this Council ,unfortunately. No class, no regard to how it affects the City overall and totally lacking in sincerity.

The one shining star that has come out of this issue is one of the people who you would expect to be the most upset. Imam Muhammad Ansari has shown to be a total class act in this matter by saying he doesn't need to pray before a September meeting and is willing to wait for the proper time. This will do more to further any image of Islam than any "in your face" actions Councilman Cotto could dream up.

For anyone that doesn't know Muhammad Ansari, he is probably one of the most genuine, softspoken persons you'd ever meet. He is currently also the acting Executive Director of the Open Hearth Shelter/Mission. I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Mr. Ansari through the African-American Alliance.

Like it or not, the incidents of 9/11 and the terrorist attacks on our country were spearheaded by Muslim extremists. To brand a whole faith or group of people by these actions is wrong, the same as branding every Catholic priest a pedophile because of the actions of some.

If Councilman Cotto really wants to stem the tide of "Islamaphobia", maybe a frank and honest discussion with the likes of Imam Muhummad Ansari will put a much different face on an image that is being driven by hysteria due to actions like Cotto's. I would argue that Cotto's actions have done more to set back relations with the Islamic community than to move any image or understanding forward.

And Councilman Cotto needs to understand that racism is not a "one-way" street, it cuts in all directions and affects all people, even the "lily" white ones.