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Friday, October 9, 2015

JILL KONOPKA LEAVING 3, HEADED TO NBC CONNECTICUT TROUBLESHOOTERS


THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE ALL AROUND US




Everyday I realize that there are good compassionate people around us. The video above is one that Tony Terzi from Fox 61 had posted on his Facebook page.  The video shows a man recovering from pretty severe burns that he received in a fire. He still found the time to stop and help a stranded motorist..

I had an incident yesterday with a Hartford Police Officer that is worthy of recognition. In these times when police bashing has become so popular with some, we also need to recognize the great officers out there.

Yesterday was my first day (or night) back in my own apartment after my July 5th stroke. I arrived home mid afternoon and a Hartford Police officer ( who I am not going to name, but it is indicative of most of our police officers) pulled into my driveway. The officer knew I had been gone for awhile and he was asking how I was doing .We had a short conversation. I then got out of my car and had a few things to carry up my stairs to get into my apartment.

He immediately went to get out of his car to help me carry things in. I  thanked him but explained I needed to do it myself to continue trying to get back into a normal routine. It was a struggle, but I got everything in on my own.

A short time later the same officer came back into my driveway. I was sitting outside on my back porch with my dog when the Officer pulled in.  He got out and told me that he was just stopping by to make sure I made it in safely.

It was a small gesture but it means a lot to know that people care. We do have many great officers in this city and we need to acknowledge and recognize their efforts.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

HOW BAD IS THE DILLON STADIUM DEAL?

I guess we are about to find out just how bad the deal is. According to several law enforcement sources, at least one and most likely two criminal investigations will be launched as early as tomorrow into the  deal.

One investigation is expected to be launched by HPD into various issues with the the deal,  the other investigation is allegedly a Federal investigation requested by Mayor Pedro Segarra during a request he made to US  Attorney Deirdre Daly earlier today.

The investigations are believed to the result of red flags raised by numerous questions  in regard to the development deal. One question is the amount of work that has been claimed to have been done already on the  site and payments made by the City using Capitol Improvement funds approaching $700.000. Much of that work and the scope of the work is apparently now in question.

According to City Hall sources, a stop payment order was placed on a check today that had been issued for additional work in question amounting to $305,000 .  Numerous other questions have been raised regarding the authenticity of a letter of credit apparently given to the City by the developer showing credit of $404 million dollars from Barclay Bank as of June 2015. That letter appears to be signed by an individual, according to sources, that has not worked for Barclay's since 2004.

It is unclear the involvement or how this information was passed by numerous City Hall individuals, including Councilman Ken Kennedy, a major proponent of the project or  Development Director Thomas Deller.

This deals needs to have the breaks put on and much more scrutiny needs to be shined on this project before moving forward.

Much more coming on this one.

HARTFORD OFFICER'S WEAPON STOLEN

With all the good work HPD and the Shooting Task Force do to take guns off our streets, it doesn't help when carelessness by their own officers are putting deadly weapons back on the street.

A hatford officer left his fully loaded HPD issued firearm, and two fully loaded magazine on the seat of his personal vehicle when he was off duty and went into a home in Hartford's southend. The officer parked his vehicle after midnight Wednesday morning. After returning to his vehicle around 7:30 am Wednesday morning he noticed the window smashed out and his gun, holster and gunbelt was gone. The incident report is below. The case is currently under investigation. I is unclear if the officer will face criminal charges for failing to secure the firearm as required by law.


Tuesday, October 6, 2015

ONLY IN HARTFORD: CONVICTED EMBEZZLER TO BE HANDED DILLON STADIUM PROJECT

Another one from the "Only in Hartford File". As if the baseball stadium isn't enough, now this Courant article posted on line tonight.http://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2015/10/only-in-hartford-convicted-embezzler-to.html

Does anyone at City Hall understand the meaning of "due diligence"? Why are we just hearing about this now? Who  knew about the developers history, especially the embezzlement convictions?

A LAME DUCKS ATTEMPT TO STACK THE DECK

If someone truly loves Hartford as much as he tried to make us believe during the recent campaign, Pedro Segarra needs to forget the ego and start showing us that love, if it really exists.

Now I understand politics a little bit. I also understand that a "lame duck", especially one soundly defeated, will try to leave is mark as he leaves.

The problem simply is that the direction of Pedro Segarra's administration ,as well  as that of his predecessor, has left a terrible void in Hartford's leadership. The next Mayor deserves to shift and replace whatever is needed to begin making real change. Last minute replacements throughout City Hall as well on Boards and Commissions are simply an attempt at establishing roadblocks to impede the forward movement of the next administration.

Segarra's last minute moves to appoint an Assistant Fire Chief and now filling slots on the Pension Commission are sleazy attempts to stymie the next administration.  The slots on the pension Commission are actually not vacant and although the terms of the 2 Commissioners expired as far back as two years ago, both were were still serving, so there was no rush to fill their positions. Except when you look at the fact that the two current Commissioners are believed to be supportive of the Bronin Campaign and the 2 Segarra appointees are apparently Segarra loyalists and donors to the Segarra campaign.

Does a campaign donation really warrant an appointment to the Pension Commission? The pension Commission is too important of an appointment to gamble and rush with. Currently the Hartford Pension Commission manages in excess of nearly $1billion dollars in retirees pension investment dollars .The future of Hartford's retirees demands that these appointments not be taken lightly or relegated to political payback or retaliation.

If the two individuals brought forth by Segarra are qualified to serve, then so be it. But that is a decision that should be left up to the next Mayor and the next Hartford City Council  as they build their own team for the future. The same rings true for Assistant Fire Chiefs also.

Mator Segarra, if you are a man of your word and truly support your successor for a transparent shift, as you publicly stated in Burr Mall, then show us you still have integrity and do it.