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Monday, July 12, 2010

TONIGHT'S COUNCIL INTERVIEWS...TRANSPARENCY OR TRAVESTY

Tonight Hartford's Democratic Town Committee will be holding interviews to potentially find a replacement for Mayor Pedro Segarra's open seat. Segarra's seat on the Council was opened after he moved up to the Mayor's position to fill the vacancy left after former Mayor Eddie Perez became a convicted felon after his corruption trial.

The effort to conduct public interviews could be a good start to restore the public's confidence in a "corruption free" city government. Or it can show that nothing is going to change at City Hall.

Word around this weekend has been that the interviews are just for show, and that the replacement has essentially already been chosen by Hartford's power broker "wanna-be's". Only the decision after tonight's interviews will show if change is imminent or if the whole process was a sham.

Hopefully it will be the first scenario and some people with integrity will be involved to make the right choice. Not a choice determined by who is the most politically connected or who can play the game the best.

A couple of the names I have heard floated are not without baggage and some tough questions need to be asked of the candidates to avoid any more potential "black eyes" for our image as a city.

In the few short weeks, actually two weeks and three days,since Mayor Segarra has taken office, I see the tide turning in favor of Hartford's image. It could be the "honeymoon" period, but I doubt it.

Tonight's interviews could assist the Mayor in our image rebuilding or they can reinforce the mindset that Hartford's politicos don't want to change. Only time will tell.

Depending on the choice, maybe the tough questions will have to be asked here.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

YOU MIGHT BE ASKING WHY EDDIE A. PEREZ IS GONE....FROM THE BLOG

To my regular readers, you are well aware that when this blog started it was to focus on the actions of Eddie Perez and his corrupt organization at Hartford City Hall.

Whether it was alleged criminal activity, attempts at covering up his actions through refusing FOI requests or just improper conduct, much of it was first reported here. I am proud of the accomplishments that "We the People" has attained and the people who have stood along side me to take our City back.

The work is far from done as we dig out of the mess that our former Mayor,and now convicted felon, Eddie A. Perez has put us in. But I have decided, at least for me, that the Perez era of corruption as it relates to Perez as an individual is done.

We do have another elected official, Republican Council Person Veronica Airey-Wilson headed to trial on felony charges and I will focus on her trail also.In the over all scheme of Hartford's resurrection though, her performance is insignificant, as has been most of her tenure on the Council.

But in getting back to Perez, I have decided to remove the reminders of his arrest, trial and conviction. The revolving cube with his first mugshot, the TIME magazine "mug shot's of the year" picture and his second mugshot.

The reason, for me, is simple. Job number one is done, Perez is gone and most likely headed to prison. It's time to focus on the more important job now. That is the job of rallying behind our Mayor, Pedro E. Segarra. In order to regain our position as the once proud and prosperous Capital city of our great state, we all need to pull together.

That can take many different aspects for most people. Number one is being involved in our government and not letting another "Perez Era" happen again...ever. First and foremost get out and vote and encourage everyone you come in contact with to vote. It is time for us to begin placing the best possible candidates in elected positions. Not the best politically connected people, but the best qualified people who love our city and are willing to unselfishly put their hearts and souls into true public service.

Not everyone has the same strengths, but we all have something to offer. Not everyone can get up at Council meetings and speak their minds, but you may be able to take a neighborhood child under your wing and mentor them as Mayor Segarra urged our new police officers at Friday's graduation. Not everyone has the time to be involved in a public office or to volunteer to be on a Board or Commission, but if you do, I would urge you to contact the Mayor's Office and put your strengths to work for bringing our City back.

Even something that seems minor, like sweeping in front of your home or business and picking up litter makes a difference. And you might even start a trend in your neighborhood.

If your streets aren't being swept because people ignore the "No parking on trash day" signs, organize your neighbors as a group of residents recently did in the Congress Street/Morris Street area. After they held a neighborhood meeting with police supervisors and their Community Service Officer a simple solution was arrived at. Residents would let their neighbors know what was coming, tagging and towing of improperly parked vehicles. Flyer's were put out and the following week the Police department and Public Works worked as a team and the illegally parked cars were towed and the streets were swept for the first time in a long time.

A simple solution when we all work together.

Even something as simple as taking the time to pick up the phone and call the Police when you see something unusual in your neighborhood can make a big difference. Many burglary sprees or pattern crimes are ended by just one phone call.

The days of the "Divide and conquer" style of the Perez Administration have been brought to an end. There is great promise and hope that a new day is dawning in Hartford. Only time will tell, but I have confidence in the leadership style of Mayor Segarra ,even though we are only one week and a day into his administration.

Great cities aren't made by one individual, they are built by a diverse group of people all bringing their strengths to the table and working together. We have that potential, now let's get it done.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES


Last year I attended the graduation of a recruit class from the Hartford Police Academy that was held in the auditorium of the Aetna on Farmington Avenue. At last years graduation the keynote speaker was Hartford's Mayor Eddie A. Perez. I had a hard time not getting up and walking out listening to Perez as he spoke to Hartford's newest police officers about honesty, integrity and them being held to a higher standard. And yes, it was the same Eddie Perez that was under arrest on corruption and extortion allegations at the time and now has the label of convicted felon.

Yesterday I entered that same auditorium for the graduation ceremony of the latest officers to gain the title of "Hartford's finest". I have to keep reminding myself that I am biased against Perez, but an air of hope and promise seemed to permeate the room. The Perez cloud had been lifted and the Segarra sunshine was filling the room.

The usual speeches took place, the prayers were said and then Mayor Segarra took the podium for his address. Mayor Segarra has a distinct advantage over Perez when it comes to public speaking. For one thing, Segarra, as an attorney, knows how to speak without notes and seem believable. Perez never seemed comfortable and was obviously always reading from a prepared script.

With that being said, Mayor Segarra gave a great speech and I have to admit I got "goosebumps" at a couple times during his remarks. It was hard to listen to Perez a year earlier talk about Police Officer's being held to a higher standard when he clearly felt that the higher standard didn't apply to him.

Mayor Segarra spoke about his life experience of his own father being shot and killed by senseless violence. It was tough not to draw the comparison of our former Mayor whose claim to fame was his gang membership and our current Mayor who fled from his home in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 15 and came to Hartford to avoid being drawn into the gang life. A Mayor that even under those circumstances and being on his own at 15 was able to rise above the gangs and eventually get his law degree and go on to serve the City of Hartford as Mayor.

Which Mayor do you think is the better role model for youth and even for our newest Police Officer's?

Back to the speech. Mayor Segarra spoke about his earliest interaction with a police officer in Brooklyn and how he and his buddies were enthralled with the firearm holstered on the officer's hip. He related how the officer spoke to him and his friends and game them their first lesson in what guns are for, and in what they weren't for.

He urged the new officers to take a Hartford boy or girl and mentor them and begin moving Hartford's young people in the right direction, the same way the Brooklyn officer did to him. He also urged the officers to take an interest in Hartford and develop the love for our city that so many of us have.

He encouraged the officers to discover the beauty of Hartford and its gems like our golf courses and Elizabeth Park. He told them when they might be feeling stressed after their shift, take a walk and unwind in Elizabeth Park. Bring their families and children to discover one of Hartford's museums. Take the time to come back into Hartford and eat at one of our many restaurants.

It was a speech that focused on the key to Hartford's immediate future, restoring trust and confidence in the public and that Hartford is going to move in the right direction, despite the Perez years.

If the comments I overheard in the room afterwards were any indication, Mayor Segarra hit a grand slam home run with his comments. I think there were a few hundred more believers in Hartford's hope after the speech than there were initially entering the room.

McGARRY BREAKS HIS SILENCE.....FINALLY......WELL, KIND OF

According to the Hartford Courant this morning, Hartford's Republican Town Chairperson Micheal T. McGarry has finally decided to weigh in on the Perez scandal. Not surprisingly though, he doesn't mention a word about scandal, corruption or even the fact that his only Republican on the City Council is also about to head to trial.Although in fairness to McGarry, the Democrats also seem to have political laryngitis when it comes to speaking out against corruption.

No, instead McGarry is calling for a special election to replace the spot opened by convicted felon Eddie Perez's resignation. This seems rather odd for someone that can't get candidates elected to be calling for a special election. According to the Courant, McGarry was unavailable for comment so we have no way of knowing what is running through that mind of his.

It is odd though that McGarry,and apparently the Republican Town Committee , have decided now to say anything. Throughout the entire investigation, including search warrants, a Grand Jury and even several arrests, not a word has been uttered by McGarry or the rest of his Jurassic Park followers. Although McGarry has made it a point to provide cover for Veronica Airey-Wilson, the Republican Council person arrested along side Perez, he has reamined silent throughout the entire ordeal.

Maybe McGarry feels a share of the blame for allowing his party to be driven into oblivion and irrelevance, empowering Perez to conduct his corrupt activities. Or maybe there were business decisions involved. We know how Perez would retaliate against those that spoke out and advertising revenues could be cut off.

But I would love to hear McGarry's rationale for a special election. A special election that does not appear to be allowed by City Charter. Any other year it might have a chance, the Charter states that a special election for replacement of the Mayor could be called in a year with a "regularly scheduled municipal election". This is the one year in the four year election cycle with no municipal officers up for election. No Board of Education, no Council, no Constables, no Registrars of Voters, not one municipal official.

But even further is the question why? Is he afraid that Pedro Segarra won't play his game? Maybe that Mayor Segarra seems to be a no nonsense leader? Maybe that Mayor Segarra will actually get something done and move Hartford in a new direction without any Republican help?

I might suggest that Mr. McGarry schedule an immediate meeting with Mayor Segarra and get on board with his plans for change. Rather than run to the City Clerks office with useless paperwork, do something productive for Hartford. Provide Mayor Segarra with a list of names of people that can actually make a change in Hartford by being useful assets on Boards and Commissions. Many of these positions have been vacant for years.

Mr. McGarry, agree to work with Mayor Segarra for the good of Hartford and its residents. Use the voice of the Republican party to keep Hartford on a steady and even course, something that hasn't been done for several years and allowed City Hall to veer off course and into potential prison sentences.

Mayor Segarra shows promise of being a solid force for change and stability in our City and the 17 months he will serve for the remainder of his term will be a daily challenge for him. Upending that by calling for a special election and changing leaders once again is lunacy.

And it's not like any Republican even has a chance of winning. What is the real reason for the petition?

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

HOW DO THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO EVEN TRY?


And now another one from the "only in Hartford" file.

Susan McMullen, Chief of Staff to former Mayor and convicted felon Eddie A. Perez today resigned her position. Most considered her exit from City Hall as inevitable. But before her exit, according to a City Hall source, she has written to the City Pension administrators requesting to boost her pension.

McMullen is somehow asking that her time of service as an employee of the City of New Britain be allowed to calculate her pension. I for one might be convinced to support such a move. We as residents of Hartford do owe her a debt of gratitude. Before you fall out of your chair , consider the facts.

If McMullen hadn't dreamed up the "Dyslexia Defense" for Perez, he might still be a free man today without any felony convictions hanging over him. Susan McMullen and her testimony almost certainly ensured a conviction for Eddie in conjunction with the testimony of Matthew Hennessy. The jurors must have realized the Perez Administration was a fraud after they spent almost a month watching Perez read e-mails on his Blackberry to then be told he was Dyslexic.

Good job Susan, in the end we both were working for the same goal I guess.

McMullen also now seems to hold the record for being terminated as a Mayoral Chief of Staff from the most municipalities in the state. Prior to coming to Hartford she was also terminated from New Britain. Might I suggest Waterbury next?

NO COUNCIL PRESIDENT YET......BUT AT LEAST WE CAN SKATEBOARD

The lunacy continues.

There is still no Council President as the body as a whole can't come to a common decision. For anyone following the debate, it clearly shows, once again, what a dysfunctional body the Hartford Court of Common Council is.

In what should be the most pressing issue before the Council, no resolution to the matter was obtained at Monday's Council meeting. The Council was able to come together to resolve the second most pressing issue in Hartford though. Skateboarders nationwide can now come to Hartford and skate without fear of jail time.

I'm not sure when the last arrest was made for illegal skateboarding, but it is a huge relief to me to know that I can now skateboard without ending up in prison along side our former Mayor and newly convicted felon Eddie A. Perez.

Now for the serious side, you really can't make this stuff up. Forget the leadership of the City, no rush to fill the Council President's position, just continue on like a ship without a rudder.

First off, do the Council members understand the succession outlined in the City Charter? If there is not an actual "Council President" the Council majority leader is technically the "acting Council President". If Mayor Segarra were to become incapacitated, the current Majority Leader would become Mayor.

I have to say that scares the heck out of me. Mayor Winch? I urge everyone, whether you are religious or not, go to your nearest church and light a candle and say a prayer that Mayor Segarra be watched over and kept safe and in good health. And in all honesty, it is not just "Mayor Winch" that scares me but also "Mayor Boucher", "Mayor Torres", insert the name of any Council member and you can see what we are up against.

In the meantime, I think most actions conducted by this Council will be irrelevant. The direction of the City for the next 17 months will clearly be set by Mayor Segarra as he does the heavy lifting while the Council continues to bicker in their sandbox like children.

But at least on the bright side, we can all forget the problems of Hartford as we go out and legally skateboard around the City.