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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

FULL DECISION- OLGA VAZQUEZ'S 2004 ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT FINES




The attached State Elections Enforcement Commission decision pretty much speaks for itself.

I guess some people never learn, even after they admit to wrongdoing and sign the agreement and pay the $500.00 fine.

Olga Vazquez 2004 Full Decision

THE SASHA SHOW, CHAPTER II- "SASHA FIGHTS BACK"


Just to bring you up to speed on the latest at Hartford Public Access Television and the Sasha Hunter saga, if you aren't aware of the controversy, read about it here in a previous posting "BILLIE SCRUSE PUTS THE SCREWS TO THE SASHA HUNTER SHOW"

Ok, now that you read that, here's the latest. Earlier this evening, February 17, 2010, the Hartford Area Cable Television Advisory Council (HACTAC)met for their regular monthly meeting.Myself and other HAPTV producers, including Sasha Hunter, attended the meeting and were allowed to speak to the Board.

Prior to the meeting HACTAC members advised us that they were more than willing to allow anyone to speak, but that they would like a written complaint detailing the issues of concern. After listening to our complaints and the details of the issues, we were urged to submit our issues promptly and that HACTAC would call a special meeting to address the complaints. They committed to calling a special meeting as quickly as legally possible, most likely within a week after the complaint was received.

The HACTAC board seemed concerned regarding the status of the operation and lack of transparency at HPATV. I detailed the issue that HPATV Board meetings are not open to the public, and in fact, myself and other producers had the police called on us to be removed when we tried to attend a Board meeting. Several jaws on the HACTAC board dropped open at that statement, especially from an organization whose middle name is "Public".

I also spoke about the numerous producers who have requested representation on the Board of Directors, only to fall on deaf ears. I don't ever recall a member of the HPATV Board attending a producers meeting.

Sasha then spoke and outlined her suspension from HPATV's lineup and the way her situation has been handled. Then another producer spoke about her many years as a volunteer at HPATV and how she has volunteered as a camera person at Hartford City Council meetings. Apparently because she is a supporter of Sasha Hunter, Trish has been told that her volunteer services are no longer needed at Council meetings.

HACTAC seemed to take these allegations very seriously and outlined the steps that they may potentially take to correct the situation if they agree with the complaint.
Apparently, they have the authority to take several steps, up to ordering Comcast to remove HPATV's authority to broadcast on the 3 channels allocated to them for the public access usages. HACTAC also stated that they have the authority to withhold Comcast funding to HPATV and appoint a different non-profit as the new operator of the franchise.

They stated that every attempt to rectify the situation would be taken first, but if the Board and Executive Director chose not to communicate or address the issues, worst case they could exercise the above scenarios.

More to come on this I'm sure. I guess sometimes it is just not a good idea to poke a hornets nest without giving it some long hard thought first. You may think the hornets aren't going to fight back and protect themselves, but that first sting will let you know you made a mistake.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

MORE ON "HOW TO BEAT HARTFORD'S HIGH TAXES ARENA STYLE"




Apparently Hartford's high taxes aren't the only thing Sean and Ralph Arena have figured out how to beat. As I first posted here, Hartford's Democratic Town Chairperson Sean Arena and his brother, 4th District Town Committee member Ralph Arena have apparently been registering and having their cars taxed in New Canaan. New Canaan has a mil rate of 13, compared to Hartford's much higher mil rate of almost 74 mils. Read the previous posting and view the Arena's New Canaan tax bills here.

Now, after obtaining the Arena's vehicle registrations from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicle's, it appears that the Arena's have found another way to beat the high cost of living in Hartford.

As you can see on the registrations, both brothers share an insurance policy from AIG, using the false New Canaan address. This apparently serves a dual purpose in beating Hartford's high cost of living. Insurance rates in New Canaan are much lower than in Hartford, and by claiming to live together, the brothers are only using one policy rather than the 2 separate policies they should have.

Only in Hartford I guess. Leadership by example.

And as you may or may not recall, our current Mayor Eddie A. Perez pulled the same scam during his first term as Mayor. Perez registered his cars and had them taxed in Bloomfield until the Hartford Courant picked up on it and exposed his activity.

In their registrations below, I redacted out their date of births and operator license number
Arena Registration Redacted

5TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE LAWSUIT FILED

Apparently the ugliness known as Hartford politics continues. The original allegations of tampering with Democratic Town Committee petitions was first detailed here, click here to read the original posting.

Democratic Registrar of Voters Olga Vazquez chose not to take the advice of the Secretary of the State and her legal staff. Attorney Ted Bromley from the Secretary of the State's office outlined the steps that needed to be taken in an e-mail from himself to Hartford City Clerk John Bazzano. That e-mail is below. In the e-mail, Bromley states that if the petitions were not completed and submitted in accordance with Connecticut law "the petition pages would have to be rejected"

DTC Petition SOTS E-mail

Since Vazquez wouldn't take the proper steps, the 5th District Democratic challenge slate, the "Kirkley-Bey" slate, is hoping that a superior court Judge will take the correct steps to rectify the situation. A hearing in Superior Court on Washington Street has been scheduled for Friday morning at 10:00am

5TH DISTRICT PETITION COMPLAINT

IT LOOKS LIKE OLGA VAZQUEZ MAY NOT LEARN FROM THE PAST


Apparently the post from a couple weeks ago regarding Democratic Registrar of Voters Olga Vazquez and her alleged altering of primary petitions wasn't the first time she was accused of such activity.

It seems that Vazquez was the subject of a State Elections Enforcement Complaint filed in 2004 alleging essentially the same behavior in falsifying signatures on petitions. Vazquez admitted her wrongdoing, according to the stipulated agreement, and paid a $500.00 fine.

THE SEEC AGREEMENT IS BELOW

OLGA+VAZQUEZ+2004+SEEC+FINE[1]

Saturday, February 13, 2010

THIS WEEK ON "1 HARTFORD"


On this weeks program, February 13, 2010, we spoke with Hartford Attorney Bruce Rubenstein. We questioned him regarding his challenge for the Hartford Democratic Town Committee Chairpersonship and his vision for Hartford.

The current Democratic Town Committee Chairperson was also invited but did not attend.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROGRAM