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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

MAYOR MILQUETOAST?

I found a posting on facebook.com today that is a collection of Hartford Courant cartoonist Bob Englehart's  editorial cartoons of Hartfords' current Mayor Pedro Segarra and his predecessor Eddie Perez. The cartoon pictured above I think depicts what many of us are thinking right about now. "Mayor milquetoast" seems to depict a mayor who just has difficulty making the tough decisions.Click here to view the entire collection of Englehart Mayoral cartoons

Although I think that might be somewhat accurate, he is also constantly being put in a position by his staff that ultimately prove to be embarrassing. The next few weeks should prove interesting as the Mayor will have an opportunity to actually make some of the decisions, including staffing changes that will hopefully prove to his constituents that he is capable of making the tough calls and actually stand his ground.

How fast he moves to restructure and shore up his LSNI program after the embarrassing articles this past weekend will tell a lot. The LSNI program was one of Segarra's pet projects that appears to be imploding under the leadership of Hartford's Chief Operating Officer David Panagore.

I think Segarra is good at identifying problems and knowing what the solutions should be, it's the follow through and holding people accountable that will ultimately be his downfall.

Even today's Courant article outlining the issues with the contract for Chief Rovella should be embarrassing to Segarra. If Rovella is his choice, everything should be done to get the deal in place by his Corporation Counsel.  Health care is handed out like candy at City Hall to department heads and even Council people. Any Councilperson completing 5 years on the Council is vested and receives health care for life. Former Councilwoman Veronice Airey Wilson  who "retired" after her arrest in a corruption scandal received those benefits, why shouldn't Chief Rovella?

Saturday, July 28, 2012

READING PROBLEMS EXTEND BEYOND HARTFORD SCHOOLS

Word is that Hartford's Superintendent of School's Christina Kishimoto might have a reading problem of her own. It seems that Kishimoto apparently failed to read the "No Parking " sign in front of her Kenyon Street home warning about towing for street sweeping. Kishimoto's car was towed by an Officer from the Hartford Police Traffic Division, who regularly enforce and tow vehicles to facilitate street sweeping in Hartford's neighborhoods.

Spurces have told me the vehicle was reclaimed by Kishimoto after she paid the appropriate fees

Friday, July 27, 2012

HERE WE GO AGAIN

I have been getting calls all week regarding the LSNI (Livable Sustainable Neighborhood Initiative) program that was created by Mayor Segarra and required the hiring of four special assistants to Chief Operating Officer David Panagore.  That program now appears to be in free fall as two of the special Assistants to Panagore now have resigned and as Jenna Carlesso at the Courant reports, none of the work done on the property has been billed or liens placed on the properties to secure the City's financial interest. Click here to read Jenna's story

The entire story is a classic case of finger pointing, but at the very least it points out the incompetence of this Administration. I have to ask, when is someone going to step up and say enough is enough. One name keeps showing up front and center in every embarrassment for the Segarra Administration.... David Panagore.

Is the Council going to ever show enough backbone to do what Segarra is obviously incapable of, and that is to ask the tough questions and hold Panagore accountable for his actions. The list is endless of the discredit he has brought to Mayor Segarra and unfortunately us as a City.

The $400,000 to the Market at Hartford 21, the $50.000 Police Chief search, the whole Dan Nolan mess, and now the Hartford Police Credit Union debacle that seems to be headed to another lawsuit because of Panagore's actions. Not to mention the adversarial relationship with our friends at the Capitol created by our caped crusader in the waning days of the Legislative session..

I can go on and on, but let me be the first to go on the record and say David Panagore needs to go and take his travelling circus show of incompetence with him.

NEED A FRIEND?

Whenever I go to facebook I find that Sean Arena has posted another picture of an innocent animal that needs help. Sean routinely posts the pictures of pets that are facing death at the Hartford Dog Pound. I'm not sure how anyone could abandon or dump off the dog above, but there are plenty  of terriffic pets available for adoption at the Hartford pound.If you would like to know more or possibly adopt a friend, check out "Hartford Animal Shelter" on Facebook.com

If you have any doubt's about adopting a shelter dog, be sure to read the comments on the facebook page and you will be hooked

JUST A REMINDER

It has been a while since I  ahve posted anything about Dan Nolan. Dan continues to serve our country in Afghanistan .As the Irish Fest begins this weekend at the Irish Home in Glastonbury  this is an event Dan would surely be attending if he was here. Continue to keep Dan in your thoughts and prayers until he returns home later this summer.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

FINALLY...PROGRESS

Hartford City Council President Shawn T. Wooden announced that, today, Mayor Segarra has submitted a resolution to the Council for the appointment of James C. Rovella as Chief of the Hartford Police Department. Accordingly, in an effort to expedite the process, the Council will convene a special meeting on Monday, July 30th at 5:30 P.M. to receive the resolution and have a confirmation hearing immediately thereafter at 6:00 P.M.


“The appointment of a police chief is extraordinarily important to the future of the City of Hartford. Because Chief Rovella was not subject to the process that other candidates faced, a thorough vetting by the Council is crucial. Hartford residents want to feel safer in our city. And, given the length of time that we have been without a permanent police chief, the Council should act with urgency in considering this appointment. I look forward to hearing Chief Rovella’s vision for public safety in our city. I also look forward to giving the community an opportunity to ask questions of Chief Rovella,” said Wooden.


The confirmation hearing will consist of four components: opening remarks from Mayor Segarra, remarks from Chief Rovella, questions from the public, and questions from the Council. Members of the public may also participate in the confirmation process by submitting questions or comments to HartfordChiefQuestions@gmail.com or calling 860-757-9570.


Councilman Kyle K. Anderson, Chairman of the Quality of Life, Public Safety, and Housing Committee, added, “Public engagement is incredibly important in all aspects of public safety and this is no exception. Our city has a crime epidemic, and it is imperative that the next police chief understands the concerns of Hartford residents. That is why it is so important that we give both the public and Chief Rovella the opportunity to have that discussion.”


The City Charter gives the Council 60 days from July 30, 2012 to take action on the appointment of Chief Rovella.