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Saturday, September 5, 2009

WEEKEND TELEVISION VIEWING

Just a reminder for two television programs I recommend for this weekend.

First off is our weekly program, "1Hartford" which can be seen tonight at 10:00PM on Hartford Public Access Television channel 5 and repeated tomorrow at 10:00AM on Channel 5. It can also be seen at any time on www.accesstv.org, just click on the "1Hartford" screen.

Also tomorrow at 11AM watch "Face the State" on WFSB Channel 3 with Susan Raff discussing the arrest of Mayor Perez and his future with Council President Calixto Torres, Councilwoman Rosezina "rJo" Winch and Democratic Activist Bruce Rubenstein

Friday, September 4, 2009

IS "DUE PROCESS" A ONE WAY STREET IN HARTFORD

We keep hearing about the rights of Mayor Perez as he continues to fight criminal charges against himself. After his second arrest this week on felony charges, immediately both he and his attorney insisted on his day in court to plead his case and asked for people to keep an open mind until such time. When Perez was arrested in January of this year he claimed his alleged felonies were nothing more than a "lapse of judgement".

This call for "due process" and another "lapse of judgement" brings me to think about another situation that Perez has overseen that has turned out much different and due process has been totally ignored. This story is difficult because I have mixed feelings, but in the end what's right is right and for Eddie to request his due process rights, I guess it has to apply to all.

In the spring of 2007 a tow truck driver from Whitey's Towing, Slade Secore, was towing a vehicle out of a private parking lot. As he began to leave the lot, a crowd formed and people supportive of the vehicle owner, tore the driver from his truck and severely beat him. The driver eventually identified one of his assailants as Ruben Perez,21, the nephew of Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez. Perez was eventually arrested,(no, not that Perez, the nephew Perez, but yes they were both arrested once or twice)and was detained at the Harford Police Department booking facility.Here is where the decision for me gets difficult. I believe in peoples rights, holding police officers to a higher standard and all that.Slade Secore, the tow truck driver, happened to be the brother of Hartford Police Officer Matthew Secore. After police arrested Ruben Perez for the assault and he was being held at HPD, Officer Secore, while off-duty, made a decision to visit Perez in booking. Apparently Officer Secore had seen his brother's bloody face, eyes swollen shut, and hearing that his brother could potentially lose sight due to a crushed eye socket. It probably wasn't the best time to be making a visit to Ruben Perez in a jail cell, but it involved, what shall I call it...maybe "a lack of judgement". I have to say, after seeing the picture of Slade Secore, if that was a family member of mine, the spineless person conducting the assault might become a victim themselves at the end of a baseball bat. I don't say that lightly, but it is human nature. We're not talking here about someone sucker punched in a bar fight, were talking about someone who was just doing their job and their face was beaten to a pulp.

Anyway, Officer Secore, suffering from that same "lack of judgement", left his severely beaten brother and proceeded to the HPD lockup. The police officers working at the booking desk also suffered their own "lack of judgement" and allowed Officer Secore to enter into the locked facility. Officer Secore apparently had an exchange of words with Ruben Perez and let it be known that the assault victim was his brother. Ruben Perez apparently responded with "f*** your brother" and the culmination of the "lack of judgement" occurred. Officer Secore punched Ruben Perez once. No broken eyesocket, no threat of losing his eyesight, not even any blood, no need for any treatment. Again, I am not trying to minimize Officer Secore's actions, but it is something I think many of us might be driven to under the circumstances. And I have to admit in all honesty that I have met and talked to Officer Secore, and he doesn't seem like the quick tempered type, just my gut feeling. Well , Officer Secore was eventually arrested for his actions and this is where the whole due process thing comes in. After his arrest for one misdemeanor charge of Assault 3rd, (not multiple felonies as are Mayor Perez's charges) Officer Secore was suspended and then terminated from the Hartford Police Department. The case worked its way through the courts and Officer Secore was afforded the same "due process" rights we keep hearing Mayor Perez mention. The end result was the one, single misdemeanor charge was dismissed by the Court and then it was a matter of trying to win Officer Secore's job back through those same "due process" rights we keep hearing the Mayor mention. At a hearing of the State of Connecticut Labor Department Board of Mediation, it was ultimately determined that the punishment of termination for Officer Secore was too severe for his actions, and the State of Connecticut ordered the termination be reduced to a 90 day suspension, and that Officer Secore be reinstated as a Police Officer, and receive all back pay less the 90 day pay loss. The City of Hartford has chosen to ignore the order and is appealing the case in court.

I find it somewhat hypocritical for Perez (the Mayor, not the assaulter) to insist on his due process rights so vigorously when he has no process denying others their rights. If Officer Secore's case isn't enough of an example, why not ask former Public Works Director Clarence Corbin, Deputy Fire Chief Dan Nolan, former Tax Collector Donald Lefevere or many of the others that Perez (the alleged felonious Mayor, not the tough guy assaulter) has had no process trampling on their due process rights.

Oh well, only in Hartford I guess. An FOI request has been submitted to Corporation Counsel John Rose for the full file on this case, but I suggest you not hold your breath waiting to see the documents. This case stainks and the City knows it. But in the meantime the back pay for Officer Secore keeps adding up with interst , and when he prevails it will all be due. In the meantime, a good Police Officer who suffered from a "lack of judgement" is off the job at a time when we need every one of them on the streets.

If Eddie Perez's lack of judgement should be forgiven, shouldn't Officer Secore's? I think they call that "due process" rights.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE--- MUD WRESTLING HARTFORD STYLE


Sorry, but after Helen Ubinas threatened to punch me in the head while we were watching Wednesday's perp walk, I'm in a fighting mood. I offered to mud wrestle Helen on the lawn of Troop "H" with the caveat that el Jefe be the referee. I thought that would be fair because we're probably both pretty close in Eddie's level of affection for us. Helen politely declined as her co-worker walked away cringing at the mental image he was having.

An event that promises to be almost as interesting, is tonight's taping of WFSB's "FACE THE STATE", scheduled to air on Sunday. Although Dennis House is out on "maternity" leave after the birth this week of his and Kara's new son (Congratulations to the House's), Susan Raff will be refereeing this weeks smack-down grudge match. One segment tonight will consist of Council President Calixto Torres and Council Majority Leader Rosezina "rJo" Winch joined by Hartford's latest version of the Lone Ranger, Bruce Rubenstein. Although it is only about a 10 minute segment, it promises to be a very lively one. From sources at Channel 3, apparently last minute renovations were required to the anchor desk to be able to accommodate Eddie Perez fitting underneath to control his two puppets without being seen. The second segment will have WFSB reporter Len Besthoff talking about the corruption investigation and his continuing coverage. Besthoff was one of the first to break the story Monday of Perez's pending arrest, resulting in a hastily called press conference where Perez proudly announced his impending Wednesday morning arrest and afternoon campaign rally in the Function Room of City Hall.

"FACE THE STATE" airs Sunday mornings at 11:00am on Channel 3,(not in high def though, that's Channel 30)

J.STAN McCAULEY CALLS FOR PEREZ RESIGNATION

In a press release issued earlier today, former Republican, now Democrat ,J. Stan McCauley (and Republican Mayoral candidate in 2007), called for the resignation of twice arrested (so far) Eddie A. Perez. The press release is below. In an interview today on WDRC radio with Dan Lovallo, McCauley repeated that he is publicly calling for Perez's resignation. McCauley is holding a family day rally next Saturday at the San Juan Center on Main Street from 1pm until 4pm. McCauley stated that he will have an inportant announcement to make that day regarding the future of Hartford. I can only guess what that might be.

McCAULEY PRESS RELEASE:

COO and Founder of The Access TV
Organization, Inc.

In a statement released today J. Stan McCauley stated "The City of Hartford is in a grave state of emergency and confusion. The latest developments regarding the Mayor's alleged improprieties which have resulted in multiple criminal indictments has wounded this city and its people. The people of the City of Hartford are without elected and trusted leadership from the very office that is responsible of these grave discrepancies and alleged illegal activities. Hartford deserves better at a time when great restraint and political maturity should be exacted by the Office of the Mayor."

This statement is not meant to infer anything as to the guilt or innocence of the presently sitting Mayor but it is made to bring responsible and immediate remedy to an atmosphere of confusion and distrust as to how the people and the affairs of this city are being administered by its highest elected official.

It is neither my desire nor that of those that care about this community, that the people in this confused and administratively impaired community start to vote with their feet by leaving. And for these reasons and the resulting damage, Mayor Eddie Perez needs to step down. The Mayor is not a King, he was elected by the people to do a job. He is subject to the same standards of public responsibility and scrutiny that any of our public servants, be they police, fire or otherwise are governed by. If any one of these trusted employees of this city were charged, indicted, arrested and or were facing trial, they most certainly would be placed on administrative leave or at worst, fired. The Mayor should be held to a higher standard because of his position and therefore he needs to, for the good of the city, step down immediately.

The Mayor himself has said that hundreds of people have been affected by these developments surrounding his arrest and the charges stemming there from. So step down Mr. Mayor. You are not a King. You are a servant. Do what a true public servant would do step down at this time and demonstrate how true service is exacted by a true servant. Public service is a job that needs to be carried out without the weight of criminal prosecution concerning allegations of impropriety in carrying out the functions for which he, the Mayor was elected to do.

My calling for the Mayor to step down has nothing to do with guilt or innocence, that is a concern for the trier of fact, whether judge or jury. Allegations have been made, a grand jury has investigated and an arrest warrant has been signed by a sitting judge. By its very legal nature, the warrant had to contain enough probable cause for a judge to have signed and issued it. The Mayor needs to step down, not only because there are many critical issues facing the people of Hartford but also because Hartford needs to become the great city it can be.

I invite the community to join me on September 12, 2009 between the hours of 1pm and 4pm at the Family First Cookout and Rally at the San Juan Center Sports Arena Parking Lot, rain or shine at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets in Downtown Hartford. It is there among the people Hartford that I will make a public statement about what needs to happen for our city. Family day is the day where we can begin anew for the good of the city and more importantly for the children of the City which is the future of our Hartford.

THE HARTFORD COURANT GETS SLAPPED

Before I begin this post, let me just preface this by saying that I have the utmost respect for the two people that I know personally at the Hartford Courant, Jeff Cohen and Helen Ubinas. If anyone needs to be reminded, it was Jeff Cohen that originally broke the story regarding corruption in the Perez Administration. Cohen's story resulted in the States Attorney's Office beginning a full scale investigation that has resulted in the arrest of Perez and others. Helen Ubinas through her columns continues to identify all that is good with Hartford as well as the things that are wrong with Hartford (even though she threatened to punch me in the head Wednesday and then twittered how good it felt, it was a joke for those who have called wondering why she would do that). OK, so on with the story.

Recently, accusations of plagiarism have been made against the Hartford Courant. Apparently the Journal Inquirer of Manchester has been the most vocal in their criticism of the Courant. The claims seem to be that the Courant has been "ripping" stories from other media outlets and then publishing them in the Courant without crediting the original authors. In a strong release issued yesterday, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) stated that the Courant's actions violated fundamental standards and amounted to "theft". The release from SPJ is below, the Journal Inquirer's story on the issue can be found at www.journalinquirer.com


*****UPDATE- at 5:31 PM today the Courant's Publisher posted an apology on their website, it can be viewed at this address- http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-courant-apology-plagiarism-090309,0,1524843.story

SPJ Ethics Committee: Hartford Courant Violated Ethical Standards


9/2/2009

For immediate release:
9/2/2009

Contacts:
Kevin Z. Smith, SPJ President, (304) 367-4864, spjpresident@yahoo.com
Andy Schotz, Ethics Committee Chairman, lawngyland@aol.com



SPJ ETHICS COMMITTEE: HARTFORD COURANT
VIOLATED ETHICAL STANDARDS


INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee released the following statement regarding the Hartford Courant’s recent admission of and apology for using other newspapers' stories without duly attributing credit. The statement issued by the committee is as follows:

The Hartford Courant has acknowledged using stories from other Connecticut newspapers recently without giving them credit. The director of content has apologized and vowed the mistake won't be repeated.

The Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists plainly exhorts newspapers and journalists, "Never plagiarize." When a newspaper invests reporting and editing time to produce a story, that story should not be used by another outlet without permission and without informing readers who actually did the work.

Many media outlets aggregate information online, summarizing a story and then linking to the original. The Courant failed to carry the credit from its online version to its print version.

"However it happened, the Courant violated fundamental standards," said Andy Schotz, the chairman of SPJ's Ethics Committee. "This was theft."

Integrity and credibility, two of the most important values in journalism, demand that all media outlets be clear about the source of stories they did not produce. Failure to follow that guideline results in plagiarism, taking credit for someone else’s work, as it did in this case.

SPJ admonishes all media outlets to take special care so that proper attribution is given at all times – especially when working with multiple news delivery platforms. For help in making strong ethical decisions, please consult the Society’s Code of Ethics (www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp) or call SPJ’s Ethics Hotline at (317) 927-8000, ext. 208.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well- informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.


-END-

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

ESI BONUS RECIPIENTS AND OTHER CITY BENIFICIARIES TURN OUT TO SUPPORT PEREZ AFTER LATEST ARREST

For those of you who are wondering who the people chanting "Eddie,Eddie" while standing on the chairs in the function room were today, the attached raw video below should answer a lot of questions. I would challenge anyone that takes the time to watch the video to try to identify 10 people out of the group that aren't either City employees, employees of non-profits or agencies that are funded by the City, political hacks loyal to Perez or poverty pimps. (sorry for that last term, but those of you who are,you know what I mean). The first question I have is whether this is an appropriate use of a City building to applaud elected officials for alleged criminal acts. Second question is whether we really need the size of city staff we have if we can afford this many employees chanting in the middle of the business day. Acting Chief of Staff Susan McMullen must have known that I would pose the question. As if it was a scene out of the movie "Rainman", (picture Dustin Hoffman shuffling around saying "10 minutes to Wapner, 10 minutes to Wapner") Mc Mullen passed me several times saying "lunchbreaks almost over, lunchbreaks almost over". The cast of characters chanting included Kelvin Roldan, Susan McMullen, Dave Medina, Cornell Lewis, Lew Brown, Luis Caban, Naomi McCoy, Carrie Saxon-Perry, Rosezina (rjo) Winch, Evelyn Mantilla, Sarah Barr, Noel McGregor, Sean Arena, Ted Carroll, Yasha Escalera, Anna Natal, Hernan LaFontaine (who has his own special segment below) and the list goes on, just watch the video below.

Don't forget my challenge, actually identify ten people in the video not beholding to the Mayor. Maybe we should organize our own rally supporting honest government outside the Courthouse at their arraignments on Tuesday. Anyone want to help organize it?

VIDEO CLIP PART 1




VIDEO CLIP PART 2