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Monday, April 16, 2018

NO TRACTION FOR SLIPPERY LUKE

Slippery Luke gives up

In a move today that was not a surprise for many, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin abandoned his "exploratory" bid for Governor.

Bronin's sense of arrogance and political entitlement apparently collided today with reality, forcing Bronin to give up his run. Many observers, myself included, often wondered what Bronin's track record as Mayor was that made him feel he was competent enough to run for Governor. Bronin's two years in office as Hartford's  Mayor have not yielded much as far as vision for the City of Hartford's future.

A State engineered bailout of Hartford's crippled finances was largely orchestrated by Bronin's previous employer ,Governor Malloy, and the Connecticut Legislature. Although the bailout provides a short term fix for Hartford's finances, there has been very little, lasting structural change for City government.. Bronin was successful though in painting Hartford's Labor Unions as the major part of the problem in what many saw as a "union busting" effort as soon as he took office. Probably not the brightest move for someone considering a run for Statewide office, where Union support is critical for success.

 Bronin also showed that his word was less than honorable to the people of Hartford. Bronin had promised during the Mayoral campaign that he would complete his full four year term if he was elected, a promise that he quickly opted to break when he announced his  intent to run for Governor. Nopw that he decided to drop out of the Governor's race, his guilty conscience has apparently forced him to reconsider his Mayoral campaign promises.  According to a statement issued by the Bronin campaign,   "as I’ve considered the road ahead, I’ve kept my commitment to Hartford at the forefront of my mind.  After thinking hard and wrestling with this decision, I have decided to end my exploratory committee and stay focused on my work as Mayor.".

At least until another political opportunity for advancement comes along.
  
And for anyone keeping track, Bronin's Administration has had more turnover in staff than a Trump Whitehouse.

The Bronin campaign for Governor never seemed to gain much traction  statewide, and more importantly even less in Hartford. A major upset came a couple weeks ago when one of Bronin's contenders , Ned Lamont, received the endorsement of Connecticut's current Attorney General George Jepsen.

According to a source familiar with the Bronin campaign, a large amount of the campaign funds raised by Bronin were paid to the firm of another former Malloy insider, Global Strategies and Roy Occhiogrosso. A payment of $66,000 was listed on Bronin's recent campaign filings for "polling". According to the source, those polls showed Bronin running a fourth place finish to other Democratic candidates vying for the Governor's seat, behind Susan Bysiewicz, Ned Lamont, Joe Ganim and Jonathan Harris.

Although Bronin's "exit strategy" claimed that he made the decision to be able to focus on the needs of Hartford and devoting his time to be Mayor of Hartford, it seems like a convenient excuse for his sudden exit. The needs of the City of Hartford seemed to take a back seat recently as Bronin bounced across the State  attempting to garner support for his ultimately failed bid.

Here are the most recent financial  filings for Bronin's campaign.https://seec.ct.gov/eCrisReporting/Data/Attachment/Unassigned/SEEC30_April_10_Filing_55261.PDF

Here is the Bronin campaign's statement on his demise:

BRONIN DECIDES TO STAY FOCUSED ON WORK AS HARTFORD MAYOR


Says, "We’re making progress in our City every single day, and I’m excited to keep working to make a better future for Hartford a reality."


(HARTFORD, CT) – Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin today announced that he will continue serving as Hartford Mayor and will not enter the 2018 Governor’s race.  


“After four months spending evenings and weekends on the road all across our state, I’m confident that there is a path ahead in this primary and in this general election for our campaign.  We’ve gained strong support from delegates heading into the convention.  And thanks to thousands of supporters, we’ve raised enough money to be confident of reaching the threshold for public financing under the Citizens Election Program.  


“But as I’ve considered the road ahead, I’ve kept my commitment to Hartford at the forefront of my mind.  After thinking hard and wrestling with this decision, I have decided to end my exploratory committee and stay focused on my work as Mayor.  


“While our State may be at a critical moment, our city is, too.  Last fall, we were able to build new partnership with the State of Connecticut — marrying new financial assistance with long-term accountability.  I believe deeply that agreement was the right and responsible path, not just for Hartford but for Connecticut.  As legislators and others threaten to undo that work, I want to be able to make the case for maintaining that new partnership without regard for politics.  I want to fight as hard for Hartford in the coming months as I have over the past two years.  


“I also don’t want my status in this race to be a reason for people to condemn or politicize the agreement we reached with the State.  I don’t want anyone to undermine our City as a way of getting at me, and I cannot let Hartford’s future become the casualty of a political fight.  


“I want to thank the many people who supported my campaign, and the many Hartford residents who asked me to stay and continue the good and tough work we’re doing in our City.  We’re making progress in our City every single day, and I’m excited to keep working to make a better future for Hartford a reality.”


Wednesday, April 4, 2018

DPW EMPLOYEE ARRESTED ON THEFT CHARGES

Hartford City Employee Tyler Walker

During the month of March 2018, City of Hartford Department of Public Works Supervisors requested assistance from the Hartford Police Department Intelligence Division/C4 with a possible theft of city fuel by a Public Works employee. The employee, identified as Tyler Walker, had filled up a city owned portable refueling truck with close to 100 gallons of city gas on several occasions. The purpose of this vehicle is to refuel city vehicles in the field, but the amount drawn from the city pumps was inconsistent with current refueling needs. DPW supervisors who track fuel amounts noticed this issue, suspected possible theft, and brought it to HPD.
The city refueling truck (Truck #115) is equipped an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and a retroactive search of the AVL data throughout March showed that it made several out of town trips and several trips to the secluded city owned rail lot behind the Xfinity Amphitheater on New Rd. The HPD Intelligence Division deployed a covert portable security camera in the area of the rail lot. On the night of March 31st the refueling truck was seen meeting up with a tractor trailer and appeared to refuel the privately owned (non-city) vehicle.

An operation was planned for the night of Tuesday April 3, 2018. HPD Detectives observed Walker towards the start of his shift (3pm-11pm) filling the refueling truck to capacity at the city gas pumps. Several hours later Walker was observed, through surveillance, traveling to East Hartford where he pulled into a garage bay at 91 Charles Street. Detectives then saw the refueling truck pull out of the garage and begin to refuel a privately owned flatbed (Gardner Transportation). A take down ensued and Walker, along with two co-conspirators, were safely taken into custody. DPW Supervisor were notified and responded. During a debrief of the accused suspects at 50 Jennings Road, Walker admitted to selling the gas at a price of $150.00 for 100 Gallons and stated he had done it "several" times since February at  several locations (East Hartford, and the Rail lot), all for personal profit. Walker and his co-conspirators were all arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the Second Degree (Defrauding a Public Community), a Class C Felony.

The refueling truck was returned to 40 Jennings Road and the Gardner Transportation flatbed truck was towed incidental to the arrest.
Future arrest warrants pending for previous thefts and transactions.

“This morning we fired a of City of Hartford, Department of Public Works employee for theft of city property. While this is unfortunate, I am proud of our DPW supervision for using established protocols and quickly noticing the fuel deficit. Our DPW supervisors contacted HPD immediately and assisted as needed in the investigation. Thankfully we’ve established asset protection on many levels through the use of technology. With our strong partnership with HPD, we were able to seamlessly share that technology to assist HPD C4 detectives. “ Chief Reginald Freeman (Acting Director of DPW)

Monday, March 26, 2018

SHAME ON UCONN

 Wheelchair basketball is offered as an adaptive sport on many college campuses, but not UCONN


In the same week that UCONN Athletics announced the hiring of a new Men's Basketball coach at a salary expected to be worth over $2.75 million in the first year, Connecticut's State University also announced it was scrapping plans for a wheelchair basketball league.

Dan Hurley, the new UCONN Men's coach,  will have a base salary of $400,000 but will make at least $2.75 million in his first season, with supplemental income from media fees, speaking appearances and other perks. He could make up to $3.5 million in the contract's final year.

This decision by UCONN is wrong and also disgusting on so many levels. It sends a clear message that potential students are only wanted if they are "able bodied" and there is no place at UCONN for students with disabilities wanting adaptive spots programs.

I guess athletic departments are measured by their potential to win titles and not by the lives and character they actually build in the students and community.

As the proud Uncle of a Paralympian who is just returning from the Winter Paralympics in South Korea, I will admit, I am somewhat blinded by Andrew's success story. I have also been able to see first hand the development of a young man facing the challenge of living with Cerebral Palsy and how much it has built his character by being involved in adaptive sports and succeeding and excelling.

I have also seen the effect Andrew has had on others just through his attitude and facing his challenges head on. No one that has met Andrew and sees how he pushes himself to meet his goals can ever sit back and feel sorry for themselves when they are having a "bad" day.

And it is not just Andrew. I am sure anyone willing to play in the wheelchair basketball team would be an inspiration to the UCONN community as well as being perfect Ambassadors for the disabled community and showing that barriers can be broken down, especially when it comes to the perception of people living everyday with disabilities.

My sister, Andrew's mother, is a UCONN graduate. Her other son is also currently a Junior at UCONN. Both of them, as well as Andrew have spent countless hours working with and mentoring other adaptive athletes to encourage them and help them develop as full members of society.

UCONN should be focused on breaking down barriers for persons with disabilities, not helping to reinforce them.

This decision is wrong and needs to be reconsidered.
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Anyone one of us could be facing a potential disability tomorrow through no fault of our own , Whether by medical  condition or through an accident or trauma, I am pretty sure we would all hope we would be treated equally and have the same opportunities if we choose to go after them, not to be shut out by a narrow minded decision such as UCONN's.

The  video below is just one more example of the wide reaching influence of my nephew Andrew Haraghey and changing the minds of people towards those with disabilities or in Andrew's case exceptional ABILITIES. You can learn more about Andrew and his adaptive sports quest at andrewraces.com

Friday, March 23, 2018

LEADERSHIP CHANGES UNDERWAY AT HPD

Hartford's new Police Chief, David Rosado is beginning to make key appointments and changes to his management team.

According to sources familiar with the moves, an Assistant Police Chief will be coming into the HPD as of April 6th from the outside. Sources say the incoming  Assistant Chief is currently a Connecticut State Police Lieutenant, known for his "no nonsense" style of leadership.  He is currently a State Police Troop commander and has dealt with some of the worst cases Connecticut has ever seen, , including the Petit home invasion and murder arrests as well tracking down and arresting the driver responsible for hitting and  killing a Connecticut State Trooper several years ago on I-91 in Enfield.

The position  of Assistant Chief remained vacant for several years under former Chief Rovella.

Others inside of the Hartford Police organization were also considered and offered the Assistant Chief position, but residency requirements requiring them to move into the City proved to be a deal breaker. Maybe it is time we look at that residency requirement and decide whether it helps or hurts the City and its residents.

At least one HPD Lieutenant is on the rise to the rank of Deputy Chief. Lieutenant Sonia Watson is reportedly being promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief as of next Sunday. Lt. Watson is currently in charge of HPD' s Special Investigations Division(SID) . Lt Watson's role in SID will be taken over by current headquarters Lieutenant Rebecca O'Shea. Deputy Chief Watson will oversee HPD Support Services.

Current Deputy Chief Joseph Buyak will be moving into the perfect role for him, Chief of Patrol. Buyak currently oversees the South half of the City, and his move should be a huge morale booster for the Patrol Division. Patrol is often overlooked as other specialized units take the spotlight, but Patrol is the backbone of any Police Organization and even as a Deputy Chief, Even though Chief Buyak has served in many positions throughout his career at HPD I think Chief Buyak's heart has always been in patrol and with the men and women in uniform on our streets .

Deputy Chief Brian Foley will continue to be Foley and serve as the  public voice of HPD and social media specialist. Foley will continue to oversee the Departments investigative divisions also , as he has been doing since his promotion to D/C several years ago. Foley's openness and transparency, under the guidance of former Chief Rovella, has  drawn huge benefits to acceptance by the public in the current climate by many looking at the Police.

Deputy Chief William Long will assume the position of Chief of Operations. There is probably no one currently at HPD more familiar with the departments operational status than Long. Long has been a "behind the scenes " type guy and is probably not known to most people in the public, but not much goes on at HPD without Long's imprint being left on it, from vehicle purchases to operational plans for the Traffic Division events.

Deputy Chief Robert Ford will no longer be in charge of the North Operations. I am told his focus will be on the three member Accreditation Unit.

And finally, Deputy Chief Rendock will remain in  his position as to who knows what , managing I have no idea.

Lieutenant Brandon O'Brien will be transferred to the position of Internal Affairs commander, and the current commander of IAD. LT. Michael Coates will flip-flop into O'Brien's current position  as commander of Vice,Intelligence and Narcotics (VIN).

Chief Rosado will also be implementing a "Coffee with the Chief " program soon. Chief Rosado will be inviting small focus groups to sit down and discuss HPD with members of the community. Rosado promises to buy the coffee,but no word on the availability of donuts. If you are interested, be sure to give the Chief your contact information to be included.

And speaking of promotions, or more appropriately new jobs, which former HPD Chief has been tapped to be the new Director of Security for Hartford's Schools? Just a hint, your first guess will most likely be wrong.


Tuesday, March 13, 2018

TIME FLEW

The Sage Allen clock in better days

Empty sidewalk where the "Sage Allen" clock used to stand

We have all heard how "time flies". In this case "time flew". The historic Sage Allen clock was knocked off its base this past week by a City DPW bucket loader clearing snow off of the Main Street sidewalks in preparation for the Saint Patrick's Day parade crowds.

According to Hartford's Fire Chief and Acting DPW Director Reggie Freeman, the base of the cast iron clock was rotted and was not actually hit by the loader but the pile of snow being pushed snapped the clock from its base.

Chief Freeman says the City will cover the expense of repairing and replacing the clock on the sidewalk, where it has stood since 1889.

From Wikipedia: The store was known for the free-standing 'Sage-Allen' sidewalk clock, a local landmark built in 1899, that was located on the Main Street sidewalk in front of the store until the clock was damaged in a windstorm in 1992. The clock was later repaired and erected on another sidewalk in the city. Its importance as a Main Street landmark was known to the re-developers of the Sage-Allen building, and a deal was struck to return the clock to its traditional place. A clock specialist was called upon to restart the clock after its return to Main Street in the summer of 2007.

Monday, March 5, 2018

SADLY, ONLY ONE ELECTION CHALLENGE TOMORROW

Tomorrow will be election day in Hartford for only one  House district. Town Committee elections for the Fourth District, (downtown Hartford and portions of the Southend)will be the only areas where a legitimate challenge has been launched. A challenge in the Sixth District was derailed after illegal activity and forged signatures were uncovered , eventually the so called "Peterson Slate" was ruled invalid after an unsuccessful Court challenge.

The fourth district has the incumbent slate and the "challenger" slate competing for votes tomorrow. The choice is politics as usual or maybe some new blood and new ideas from the challengers.

All too often we just hear about Town Committee candidates every two years when they are campaigning for votes . One of the unique factors about at least three of the challengers is that they have made names for themselves by being out in the community regularly  and assuming a "watchdog" type role over Hartford Government.

Challenger Anne Goshdigian has shown that she is willing to put her neck on the line and stand for what she believes in. Anne initially challenged the Dillon Stadium Project and was extremely vocal against the project and uncovered much of the Fraud  that  eventually led to a Federal Grand Jury and arrests and Federal Prison time for the developer . Anne eventually also assumed the role as a vocal opponent of the Stadium Deal. trying to protect Hartford taxpayers from years  of  unnecessary bonding and debt.

Challenger Leslie Hammond has assumed a similar role to Anne, becoming a regular attendee at City Hall meetings for the Hartford City Council, the Hartford Stadium Authority as well as many other meetings and being an active  "cheerleader" for the City.

A third challenger worth a good look is a well known face to most Hartford residents. J Stan McCauley over the years has found his niche as the communicator for Hartford's political establishment, Stan can be found at many events with his video camera over his shoulder to document what is going on in Hartford to eventually be posted on his Public Access network  and other social media. Stan plays a critical role in educating people on what  is normally unseen but what goes on behind the scenes

Hartford Democratic Town Committee politics often highlight the bad and the ugly as opposed to the good. This years cycle has run true to form , especially the bad and the ugly with fraud, deception and disgusting dirty tactics. The three people I mentioned above may actually start making a difference if only given a chance tomorrow