"I guess we need to find a way to shut you and your blog down".
Those were the last words I heard from Hartford Schools spokesperson Pedro Zayas yesterday before I promptly told him our conversation was done , and I then hung up.
Zayas had called, complaining that I was attacking him on the blog. I told him it was not an attack but more accountability and holding him responsible for his incompetence. He didn't like that, I guess no one does when you point out they are incompetent.
He also didn't like my suggestion that he take some lessons from Deputy Chief Foley, the spokesperson for the Hartford Police , if he wanted to learn how to do his job I have never waited more than a few minutes for a reply to an inquiry from Foley, no matter whether positive or negative to HPD. And that is the way he treats everyone, not just people he agrees with.
He was not happy that I pointed out and posted a screen shot where I texted him a request for documents Friday afternoon and now he was getting back to me Tuesday at 12:30PM. And his call wasn't really in response to my request for documents, it was because he wanted to complain that I was attacking him. He continued to do the Public Relations spin thing , even claiming that he had four days to acknowledge my request under the FOI laws.
It was even comical at one point when he tried to point out my inaccuracies. I asked him for an example. He replied that I was calling Eduardo Genao an Assistant Superintendent of Schools .He said that title was incorrect. When I told him that title came exactly from the Hartford Schools website, he replied that "the website must be wrong". That's my fault that your own website is not accurate?
He is new, I guess he really doesn't understand the FOI laws. He said he was fulfilling the "legal" obligations to my request. I asked him where was his "Moral" obligation to do his job and do it well and not be part of a cover up?
I could almost feel the steam coming out of his ears through the phone. Zayas then started on the scripted mantra. " I care so much about the City" "I care so much about the Hartford Schools" "I care so much about the Children" " I only want to make Hartford better". He must be studying from the Narvaez playbook
I then asked him what I considered a pretty innocent question. "For my own clarification, what neighborhood do you live in?" The response was typical. " Oh ,I don't live in Hartford". Apparently neither does his wife, who he claims has been a teacher in the Hartford Schools for 14 years..
We went back and forth for several minutes, and Zayas had to clearly see I wasn't falling for his nonsense. I was somewhat surprised when he said " I guess we need to find a way to shut you and your blog down". I promptly ended the call
Bring it on Pedro, plenty have tried, including FORMER Mayor's. Police Chief, Fire Chief's, Department heads, and even a former State rep, (I think you work for him now).
15 comments:
"PEDRO ZAYAS: "I GUESS WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO SHUT YOU AND YOUR BLOG DOWN"" This sounds like a threat to me.
Hot Damn. I understand being under pressure. But this sounds to me to be the typical arrogance of an overpaid public servant. I will maintain decorum and not get personal although getting personal is my stock in trade.
Pedro Zayas, instead of acting quickly and with morals and ethics, you instead become defensive. It is time for you to go.
@3:33
You are right it does sound like a threat. If someone said that to me, I would react accordingly. It is a threat. Coming from a person in his position? My Italian side would say " La Cosa Nostra oh... You taka ride with me."
It's a threat, Kevin. Don't take it lightly. Let HPD at least open a report on it.
I have thick skin. I would say more likely it was an ignorant statement made by an incompetent public servant who doesn't understand what Public Service is about. kind of like his boss Kelvin Roldan who has always been a pompous ass. Zayas needs to decide what his integrity is worth, will he remain under Roldan's thumb or will he decide that slavery is over and no one owns him. Time will tell.
Kevin, he is only doing the Mayor's bidding. Ever since you called Bronin out he has been personally speaking with the media people telling them not to deal with you.
I don't think that is true, but if it were, how does that appear to be working out? I don't need a spokesperson to get or confirm my stories
I know Pedro well. I'm pretty sure he never said anything about shutting your blog down. This is the typical misinformation spread by this blog. By the way, Genao is no Dr.
Ask him, see if he tells you the truth.
https://youtu.be/4n8BPv43vhE
It is so refreshing to see the facade of Hartford Schools is beginning to crack. These phonies aren't about the kids, they are cold hearted and all about exploitation... Look at their bloated salaries, benefits, and fancy titles... for doing what? To the chief of staff, actions speak louder than words. You can apologize all you want, But when it comes to failing to act on behalf of a student's safety, sorry don't cut it....resign. To the Superintendent... think you're toast too, at least I hope so. Richard W, time for you to go as well as the rest of your cronies on the board. Lawyers don't miss urgent emails.
Kevin, once again you prove to be a true patriot of Hartford. I don't always agree with you but at the end of the day you are true and you aren't for sale. I hope you are able to expose every last rat in HPS. They have enabled at least 1 sexual predator we know about, taken millions of dollars away from Hartford kids and ruined the careers of many great educators that actually benefited school communities. Hartford can't afford any more swindlers or carpetbaggers. Mayor Luke, it will be interesting to SEE how much you really love Hartford... actions...
Doesn't sound like Zayas understands how the internet works, but then, this was obvious when he would send competing media's stories to other media outlets expecting coverage or who knows what.
shutting your blog down is an absurd idea.. anybody in power within Hartford who would say something like that is really not living within the realms of reality...a shame.. and one gets paid to make a comment like that.. not good.. Hartford personnel should realize your blog is about accountability.. this particular fiasco screams of years of not holding someone accountable.. and now there is another victim.. and blame your blog ??.. doesn't make sense.. but such is Hartford, Connecticut..
I don't know Zayas, nor have I met Zayas- but I can tell you if Kevin said it you can take it to the bank-it was said. Kevin has no reason to make that up, look at all the information we have gotten from Kevin without some petty words from Zayas. I had almost forgotten about ole KELVIN Roldan. Mr. PompASS, glad to see him go, wish him well as long as he is not on the payroll of the City of Hartford. What a narcissistic mass wipe. It is time for Mayor Luke, Superintendent Narvaez, the members of the Hartford BOE to speak up and tell us where they stand on all this. Their lack of actions and words says it all. This type of crap starts at the top - come on Mayor Luke - tell us something.
I guess we need to find a way to shut YOU down. YOU, Pedro Zayas. The best way to shut Pedro is to have the FBI investigate Hartford school system. The entire system.
This is extremely disturbing. It would appear that even the threat to find a way to shut the blog down from a government actor is already a violation of your first amendment rights. With no other action, the threat itself could and should be considered intimidation. That the threat was issued due to his displeasure with stories that were posted here is evidence that the threat was intended to chill your freedom of expression. I would advise the HPS to go out of there way in terms of being responsive to this blog. Anybody in an organization who is tasked with representing the organization to the press should be fired for exposing the BOE to a Civil Rights Lawsuit. Don't they know they're a government actor?
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