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Sunday, January 6, 2013

EVEN AFTER DEATH, THE MESSAGE LIVES ON

Today marks the 9 year anniversary of my father's death after a long battle with Cancer. I don't think it is ever easy dealing with death, but it seems to be more difficult at the holiday times. This is the time when families should be together enjoying a strong bond as a family, celebrating the people who have held the family together throughout the year and providing the important messages and guidance on growing up through the years to be decent human beings.

I clearly remember my fathers last Christmas. he was close to death at that point from a long battle with colon cancer that eventually spread to his liver and was inoperable. So many thoughts come back thinking about the daily challenges and the strength both he and my mother showed throughout the years long battle. Trips to different hospitals and clinics looking for that miraculous silver bullet or experimental treatment that would save his life and keep him with us for a few more years.

Toward the end the reality finally set in and we realized that most means had been exhausted. It was suggested that he spend what was going to be his last Christmas at home in a more personal setting. It was set to release him two days before Christmas and my mother , who was always into the Christmas season, decorating, baking making sure everyone felt special with a personally chosen gift for them under the tree. was far from celebrating mood.

I am not sure how I did it, but I was able to leave the hospital before he was released, go buy a Christmas Tree, get to their house and set it up and decorated it before they got home. They were both surprised and I still remember my father sitting in his leather lounge chair Christmas morning before the tree, assuming his role as the head or our family one last time.

You need to understand a little background here. My parents were like newlyweds, even after 56 years of marriage. As kids, we never saw our parents argue. My father never complained about my mother, and his behavior showed that in his eyes, his wife could do no wrong. I never once heard him criticize her cooking or cleaning or anything, everything she did was perfect. I grew up with the Cleavers as my parents. And I mean that in an appreciative way.

I remember my mother up every morning having a hot breakfast ready for my father before he would leave for work and he worked for Connecticut Natural Gas, so during winter months his arrivals back home were usually pretty late  as he handled "no heat calls".No matter what time he got home though my mother would have a hot meal being kept warm for Dad. This was long before microwaves so it took some effort on her part.

After he made it through Christmas that year, it was necessary to get him back to Hartford Hospital for his final days. His Birthday was January 4th, he died on January 6th. The day we knew it was ending was a constant flow of friends and family through his hospital,It seemed odd that the man lying in the bed in front of  us was close to his last breath, but it seemed more like a celebration of his life. Almost everyone that came in brought food or something and the stories flowed freely all day.

One of the most comical points occurred later in the afternoon, if there can be a comical point at a time like that. My sister, who was always "daddy little girl" was leaning over my father sobbing as she realized the end was near. My father, who appeared out of it most of the afternoon, in a near comatose state.opened an eye and looked at her as she was sobbing and said loud enough for everyone to hear" don't get any of that snot on me ". The comedian right until the end, that was my dad

Many of our friends that came in had more stories to tell about the times they spent with my mother and father than they did with their own families. It is a tribute to my parents that most of our friends still call my parents "mom and dad" to this day.

Even my parents local priest was surprised when he came in to give my father the last rites. It wasn't real reassuring at the time, but he pointed out that this was exactly what death was supposed to be about. Remembering and celebrating the joy of my father's life and how many people he touched.

My mother knew she was about to lose her best friend, someone that had been by her side almost constantly for 56 years, but she has dealt very well and shows her strength everyday she faces her own challenges now.

As a Marine, his love for his country and the Marine Corp were always obvious, and probably one of the proudest moments of my life was when the Marine handed my mother the flag from his casket. It was about five degrees outside at the time of his burial.It was from the cold, but a tear had formed in the Marines eye, and I remember the tear running down his cheek as he handed my mother the folded flag

The ongoing years don't seem to make the loss any easier, but the life lessons my mother and father taught us seem to become more valuable every day and I see more and more of my fathers actions in me as I get older.

I feel sorry for people growing up that don't have the luck of a strong set of parents to teach right from wrong, and I am thankful everyday for mine

HARTFORD ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF RESIGNS ABRUPTLY

Hartford Assistant Fire Chief Reginald Freeman resigned from his position abruptly this morning in what several sources have confirmed was  a contentious relationship between Fire Chief Edward Casares and his remaining Command Staff.In a short e-mail, Freeman announced his resignation this morning, stating

 "Good morning Gentlemen,

This morning I submitted my resignation to the City of Hartford. I would have liked to had seen you guys and the team before leaving but the timing didn't necessarily mesh with when I have to report to Texas.

I want to personally thank each and everyone of you for your contributions to the city and department during my tenure as your Asst Chief. All of you (and the personnel under your command) made my job very easy. Continue to do great things and keep ethics and morality first and foremost before all things else. Please tell everyone that I said "Thank You" an I appreciated everything that they have done, and everything that they do. God bless you all."

Sources have confirmed that the relationship had become extremely volatile recently with Freeman being ordered by Casares not to contact him directly but interact with Casares through Assistant Chief Huertas instead. Sources also confirmed that that Freeman had fled a discrimination claim against Casares with the City.

Freeman also apparently provided a personal loan to Casares of $5000.00 to assist Casares in having his son defended and released from jail on narcotics charges after Edward Casares III was arrested recently. Casares apparently approached Freeman to borrow the money and Freeman made the loan voluntarily, but the relationship became more strained over eventual repayment of the loan according to sources familiar with the matter at the Hartford Fire Department.

Casares had personally recruited Freeman and encouraged him to take the position while attending a Conference in Atlanta.

WILL ROBLES GET A/R?

Several sources familiar with the Robles case have confirmed that the former Hartford Police Officer and 6th District State representatives case will probably come to an end tomorrow after he makes an appearance in Hartford Superior Court. It is believed that Robles will be granted a special form of probation available to first time offenders known as "Accelerated Rehabilitation"..

Under the program, Robles would not have to admit his guilt, but would avoid a trial on his criminal charges and receive a period of probation imposed by the court. After the period of probation is completed, the charges would be erased from Robles's record.

According to sources, several conditions will be imposed on Robles by the court, including that he agree not to try to re-gain his position as a Hartford Police Officer and not to seek employment as a police officer in the future, not to run for public office for a period said to be five years and finally make full restitution to the City of Hartford for the amount that he is charged with stealing from the City of Hartford through his time card fraud scheme.

This court action will end Robles's arrest that has wound its way through the courts over the last couple years and resulted in Robles's political loss to incoming State Representative Edwin Vargas who will be sworn in this week as Hartford's new 6th District Representative.

In an ironic twist, the same investigator who had applied for Robles's arrest on charges of time card fraud and abuse has now this past week become the subject of a Hartford Police Internal Affairs investigation into similar charges of his own.

To read more on the Robles case, click here

Friday, January 4, 2013

HITTING THE STREETS ALONE

Hartford's latest class of police officers are beginning to work Hartford's streets on their own after completing their period of State mandated field training with experienced officers. The FTO period which stands for the designation of Field Training Officer is required for certification as a police officer and required daily paperwork on the part of the supervising officers to detail the performance of the new officers. After successfully completing the period, the new officers are given their assignments in the field.

As you encounter our new officers in Hartford's neighborhood's please try to remember to welcome them and keep in mind that respect is a two way street. Treat our newest officers, and all officers for that matter, with the same level of respect you expect in return.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

MAYOR SEGARRA'S MESSAGE: TRANSPARENT OR ILLEGAL?

The text below is a complaint I file today with the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission , regarding the Media Policy of Mayor Pedro Segarra. According to Connecticut state law, any policy that impedes the publics right to obtain documents promptly is illegal, no matter how bad you want to control the message.

December 28, 2012
On or about August 25, 2010 The State of Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission issued and adopted a final ruling in FIC# 2009-528, Kevin Brookman against the City of Hartford, City Council President Calixto Torres and City of Hartford Corporation Counsel John Rose.
In that matter, I had filed a complaint with the Commission that at the time all requests for public documents were required to go through the City’s Corporation Counsel for “screening” before documents were released. In the hearing officers report it is stated that in  P10.  Section 1-200(5), G.S., provides public records or files” means any recorded data or information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, received or retained by a public agency, or to which a public agency is entitled to receive a copy by law or contract under section 1-218, whether such data or information be handwritten, typed, tape-recorded, printed, photostated, photographed or recorded by any other method.
 The report further states in paragraph 11.  Section 1-210(a), G.S., provides in relevant part except as otherwise provided by any federal law or state statute, all records maintained or kept on file by any public agency, whether or not such records are required by any law or by any rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person shall have the right to (1) inspect such records promptly during regular office or business hours, (2) copy such records in accordance with subsection (g) of section 1-212, or (3) receive a copy of such records in accordance with section 1-212. 
Section 13 of the report states  It is concluded that the requested records, which could have been provided on the very day they were requested, were not provided promptly.
Section 15 of the hearing officers report further stated  “With regard to the practice or policy of requiring all FOI requests to be forwarded to the Corporation Counsel’s Office for review, regardless of the nature of the request or the content of the requested records, § 1-210(a), G.S., provides in relevant part: “Any agency rule or regulation, or part thereof, that conflicts with the provisions of this subsection or diminishes or curtails in any way the rights granted by this subsection shall be void.”
17.  It is therefore concluded that the practice described in paragraph 15, above, is void pursuant to §1-210(a), G.S
In adopting the hearing officer’s report , the Commission ordered:   1.  Henceforth the respondents shall strictly comply with the requirements of §1-210(a), G.S.            2. The policy and practice of automatically forwarding all requests for public records to Corporation Counsel for review and action is declared null and void.  3.  Nothing in this decision shall be construed to prohibit or discourage any public agency from seeking the advice of counsel with regard to FOI requests in appropriate circumstances, where legal advice is required.
On or about November 30, 2012 Ms. Maribel laLuz, Communications Director for the City of Hartford and specifically Hartford’s Mayor Pedro Segarra issued the following order to all Hartford city employees via the attached e-mail:
Media Request Protocol
All,
Please be advised that the Office of Communications needs to be notified of all media requests. If any journalist emails or leaves a voicemail, please let me know before responding. If a journalist gets you on the phone, tell them to contact me directly with their request. We need to be aware of developing stories. 
Thank you for your cooperation. Let me know if you have questions. 
-Maribel
Any screening or delay provided by a review of requests for information or documents by Ms. Laluz would appear to be a violation of the Commissions previous order to the City as outlined in the Final Decision in FIC2009-528.
Any delay or screening process for documents or information when requested by a media person or a member of the public and covered under the Freedom of information Act that conflicts with the provisions of this subsection, 1-210, or diminishes or curtails in any way the rights granted by this subsection shall be void.” as detailed in the Commissions ruling of August 25, 2010.
The intent of Connecticut’s FOI laws and the publics right to prompt access to public documents and information, whether by  media persons or private individuals,  supercedes The Mayors “ need to be aware of developing stories.”, whatever the intent or reasoning.
I would respectfully request that the La Luz order be rescinded and the City of Hartford be ordered to comply with the Final decision  in FIC 2009-528. An order that they agreed to abide by at the time it was rendered.
Furthermore, Ms. LaLuz is not an attorney and has no connection to Hartford’s Corporation Counsel’s Office and there is no mention of seeking the advice of counsel with regard to FOI requests in appropriate circumstances, where legal advice is required as allowed in the Final Decision as approved by the Commission.
The Commissions Order in FIC 2009-528 is below:
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
In the Matter of a Complaint by  FINAL DECISION 

Kevin Brookman,   

   Complainant   

   against    Docket #FIC 2009-528

Calixto Torres, President,

City Council, City of Hartford;

John Rose, Jr., Corporation Counsel,

City of Hartford; and City of Hartford,   

   Respondents August 25, 2010                

 

The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on January 29, 2010, at which time the complainant and the respondents appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.            

 

After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found and conclusions of law are reached:

1.  The respondents are public agencies within the meaning of §1-200(1), G.S.

2.  By letter of complaint filed September 14, 2009, the complainant appealed to the Commission, alleging that the respondents violated the Freedom of Information (“FOI”) Act by failing to comply promptly with his request for copies of public records, and by having a policy of forwarding all FOI requests to the respondent Rose, regardless of whether there was any question of whether possible exemptions apply.  The complainant requested the imposition of the maximum civil penalties against the named respondents. 

3.  It is found that the complainant, by email dated September 8, 2009 to the respondent Councilman Torres, requested “for review” the following:

Any and all monthly reports as defined under Section 5(a)(iii) of the Harford City Charter that have been provided to the Council as required by the Charter.  Please provide these documents for the period from July 1, 2008 to the present.

4.  It is found that the respondent Councilman Torres almost immediately caused the request to be forwarded to the respondent Corporation Counsel Rose “[f]or your review and action ….”

5.  It is additionally found that Councilman Torres’ administrative assistant, who received the request, was directed by Torres to forward the request to the respondent Rose. 

6.  It is additionally found that Torres’ administrative assistant understood that the requested records had been printed, were available online, and were public.

7.  It is found that Councilman Torres directed the complainant’s request to be forwarded to Rose because he understood that all FOI requests were to be forwarded to Corporation Counsel, because he believed that he needed Corporation Counsel to determine which records would satisfy the needs of the requester, and because he was unsure of the extent of his personal responsibilities to respond to the request.  It is additionally found that Councilman Torres had no reason to believe that the requested records were exempt from disclosure.

8.  It is found that Corporation Counsel Rose in turn forwarded the complainant’s request to the City Finance Department, from which the records had originated.

9.  It is found that the requested records were ultimately provided to the complainant on November 24, 2009.

10.  Section 1-200(5), G.S., provides:

“Public records or files” means any recorded data or information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, received or retained by a public agency, or to which a public agency is entitled to receive a copy by law or contract under section 1-218, whether such data or information be handwritten, typed, tape-recorded, printed, photostated, photographed or recorded by any other method.

1.  Section 1-210(a), G.S., provides in relevant part:

Except as otherwise provided by any federal law or state statute, all records maintained or kept on file by any public agency, whether or not such records are required by any law or by any rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person shall have the right to (1) inspect such records promptly during regular office or business hours, (2) copy such records in accordance with subsection (g) of section 1-212, or (3) receive a copy of such records in accordance with section 1-212. 

12.  It is concluded that the requested records are public records within the meaning of §§1-200(5) and 1-210(a), G.S.

13.  It is concluded that the requested records, which could have been provided on the very day they were requested, were not provided promptly.

14.  It is therefore concluded that the respondents violated §1-210(a), G.S.

15.  With regard to the practice or policy of requiring all FOI requests to be forwarded to the Corporation Counsel’s Office for review, regardless of the nature of the request or the content of the requested records, § 1-210(a), G.S., provides in relevant part: “Any agency rule or regulation, or part thereof, that conflicts with the provisions of this subsection or diminishes or curtails in any way the rights granted by this subsection shall be void.”

16. It is found that the practice described in paragraph 15, above, diminishes or curtails the right of prompt access to public records granted by §1-210(a), G.S.

17.  It is therefore concluded that the practice described in paragraph 15, above, is void pursuant to §1-210(a), G.S.

18.  Because Councilman Torres honestly believed that he was required to forward all FOI requests to Corporation Counsel, and because that policy predated the respondent Rose’s tenure in office, the Commission in its discretion declines to consider the imposition of civil penalties.

The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned complaint:

            1.  Henceforth the respondents shall strictly comply with the requirements of §1-210(a), G.S.

            2. The policy and practice of automatically forwarding all requests for public records to Corporation Counsel for review and action is declared null and void.

            3.  Nothing in this decision shall be construed to prohibit or discourage any public agency from seeking the advice of counsel with regard to FOI requests in appropriate circumstances, where legal advice is required.

Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of August 25, 2010.

 ____________________________

 

S. Wilson

 

Acting Clerk of the Commission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

JUST A THOUGHT

 
 
 
I am sure that the debate over the second amendment will become heated over the next few months.

The 2nd amendment to our Constitution reads as follows: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

What did our founding fathers have in mind? Did they ever envision Bushmaster rifles with 30 round clips and ammunition that is so devastating to human tissue, it would cause almost certain death when used, especially when used against a 6 year old child?

Is it time to return to what our founding fathers had in mind for self protection and allow Americans to own single shot muskets and black powder pistols? There is no place in any American home for a Bushmaster Assault rifle and as with most laws it is about the "intent" of the legislation and typically not the convoluted extreme result that many times occurs when extremists push the wording to the limit.

It also comes down to personal responsibility. It is extremely troubling to hear about a mentally disturbed individual  who was able to essentially shoplift assault rifles from an East Windsor gun store this past weekend. Were these weapons left around with the same level of security as DVD's at Walmart?

Shouldn't a responsible gun shop have these weapons properly secured in locked cases or at least some sort of cable run through them so that a crazed individual can't walk out with ammunition and an assault rifle in hand to wreak havoc on another town?Severe penalties should be invoked for any person that carelessly allows weapons to get into the wrong hands.

Something needs to change, this wasn't what or forefathers intended.The weapon pictured above has no place in any home