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Sunday, March 13, 2016

WE NEED TO CHOOSE OUR BATTLES MUCH BETTER, THE TRUMP CONTROVERSY

A Hartford Police Officer is potentially in hot water tonight after what many would consider him exercising his free speech rights. But then others would differ and there really is two sides to this story, maybe I should call it the sane version versus the insane version.

A Hartford Police Officer, someone I will admittedly know and consider a friend, made what some might call a poor decision, but the fire storm that is now erupting is ridiculous. The officer, who happens to be assigned to the neighborhood I call home, had stuck a "Trump" bumper sticker on the cover of the laptop in  his cruiser. When the laptop was open, the "Trump" bumper sticker  was visible through the windshield.

I saw the sticker first hand last Thursday when I was walking my dog in Asylum Hill. The officer, who was aware that I have had some health issues, pulled over to ask how I was doing and offer me some encouragement in my recovery. I saw the bumper sticker and laughed it off and told him he should remove that before it became a problem.

I guess I was a little too late because some one had already taken a picture of it. The officer did in fact remove the sticker. I wasn't offended by the bumper sticker , and saw it as more  of a joke than anything else. I was a little amazed when I started getting text messages that the picture of the "TRUMP" bumper sticker was creating a Public relations storm on social media. My response was
"why even respond , it has been dealt with"

I also questioned, if it wasn't "TRUMP" would anyone care? I wish we could have conducted a social experiment and see if it created as much of an uproar if they were Hillary or Bernie stickers? I think not, but we will never know.

Any way, I explained to the officer that the issue was the sticker was on City property (the laptop cover). He got that and the sticker was removed. I told him feel free to plaster his personal vehicle with TRUMP stickers or load his front lawn  with TRUMP signs. If that is who he believes in, that is his right to do so, but on City property is not appropriate.

That would seem like a logical ending at that point, but then a press release was put out by HPD this morning throwing more fuel on the fire.

Media, please see our statement below regarding picture circulating on social media:

We, the HPD command staff, were made aware of the irresponsible application of a political sticker in an HPD patrol car yesterday morning. We immediately addressed it.  Now the matter will be referred to an internal investigation. 

Specifically:

"This political sticker situation has been addressed. The sticker, which was conspicuously affixed to the top of a HPD laptop computer within the marked patrol vehicle, has been removed. The officer was counseled on the critical importance of remaining neutral and impartial. We also reminded all HPD officers to remain politically neutral. Specific daily roll call training is being given at all shifts. The matter will now be referred for an internal investigation. 

I am, and we are, embarrassed and sorry for this lack of professionalism and judgement.”

I guess I just don't get it. Are we now prepared to ban all political buttons being worn by Public employees? Are we going to ban cars with bumper stickers from parking on City property? To what extreme will we go to disavow political candidates we may not agree with?The officer already admitted he used poor judgement placing the sticker there, why the need for an "Internal Investigation"? For what ? To decide if he was telling the truth when he said he was wrong?

And aren't there far worse things we could "Investigate" besides a police officer supporting a legitimate presidential candidate. Folks, that is what a Democracy is all about, choose a candidate, and let the masses decide on election day. The bumper sticker might have been the wrong way to do it, but I seriously doubt that one sticker inside a cruiser on a laptop in Hartford Connecticut is going to damage another candidate or propel Donald Trump into the White House.

And just a little bit of background. I don't support every one that wears an HPD badge and has a  City of Hartford patch on their shoulder. But this officer is one of the good guys in my neighborhood. He "gets" the concept of community policing. Not just for me the loud mouth blogger that many fear and sometimes treat differently. But this officer has called me on many occasions when he has needed a little help or someone to call to help the people less fortunate in  our neighborhood.

One such call was asking if I could push anyone on the state level to find shelter for a homeless veteran  who was being passed around  and having a hard time to get any assistance. This is an officer who regularly works with community court and Capitol Region Mental Health to  assist so many of those "dumped' in Asylum Hill without any safety net. Ask the prosecutor at Community Court and he will most likely tell you this officer has a hotline to the court because they work so closely together.

I guess it just amazes me that we can focus on a good caring  Officer who happens to support Donald Trump over a bumper sticker on a laptop, but there was hardly a peep when I posted about a drunken Hartford Officer running around Foxwoods Casino yelling the "N" word. How can we launch an "internal Investigation " ,if there really is one, when we can't complete an IAD Investigation into hundreds of thousands of dollars in missing ammunition, quite possibly at the hands of a dirty cop?

 And finally, no one has to apologize to me or be embarrassed for me over this officers actions. I am proud to say I know him , consider him a friend and feel very comfortable he is keeping my quality of life in Asylum Hill through his efforts.

Friday, March 11, 2016

LOVE FOR HARTFORD

There are many people  out there that love and care for our City and its future.

That love is expressed in many different ways. Here is just one more example, and it shows the creativity of Hartford's people


HMEA SAYS NO "OVERWHELMINGLY" TO BRONIN REQUEST

At a meeting today of the Hartford Municipal Employees Association (HMEA). Members apparently voted unanimously to turn down a request by Mayor Bronin to withdraw their contract negotiations from the arbitration process.

Apparently Bronin had requested the withdrawal from Arbitration as part of the process to start getting Hartford's budget mess in order. This step would have been part of the process to re-open Union contract issues, what many say is a necessary first step.

On the other side, there might be an issue of the trust factor between the Union's and the   City Administration. Previously Hartford's Unions were requested to agree to give backs, furlough days and various concessions. They did their part at that time, only to see Mayor Segarra then hand out raises to his staff, including a $20,000 raise to his Chief of Staff Jared Kupiec,

Unfortunately, Hartford's "Massive" budget deficit continues to grow daily.

The unfortunate pat of these actions is that many of HMEA'S members are actually Hartford residents and any layoffs of HMEA  members would hit them and the City very hard both in unemployment stats and difficulty paying taxes on their homes and vehicles.

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY WEEKEND IN HARTFORD

The annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration begins tonight with the pre-parade Mass at Saint Patrick-Saint Anthony Church at the corner of Church Street and Ann Ucello Street, directly behind the XL Center. The mass will be celebrated at 7:00PM

The parade steps off tomorrow morning fro the South side of the Connecticut Capitol at 11:00am. The parade route is below, arrive early and stake out your seat along the parade route. The weather is supposed to be great, and the parade always draws large crowds to downtown Hartford and its businesses.

Enjoy what Hartford has to offer, but please act responsibly. According to the Hartford Police
"We know people are going to be drinking.   We want to encourage everyone to do is to be responsible with any drinking that they do as well as how they travel; designate a driver, take a cab, use Uber, whatever.  We want people to be safe and enjoy the parade."



STATE OF THE CITY MONDAY NIGHT


Wednesday, March 9, 2016

BRONIN: "WE HAVE A MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICIT"

Before tonight's meeting with Hartford's Legislative delegation, Mayor Bronin made a few comments to the media. Here is the raw video of those remarks.