Search This Blog

Monday, April 8, 2013

WHY DON'T HARTFORD PARENT'S MATTER?

Newtown, Newtown, Newtown. No one can deny that was a terrible tragedy, but is it any worse than the hundreds of shootings and deaths that take place every year in our urban areas? Do Hartford parents feel any less pain when their children are murdered at the barrel of a gun than parent's in Newtown?

Today as the President of the United States visits Hartford, media accounts have stated that his visit is not open to the public. Only University of Hartford Students and faculty, Newtown parents and invited guests will be in attendance. What about the parents or family members of Hartford homicide victims. Are their deaths any less tragic than the children of Newtown?

Or is it because , as I am sure most people outside of Hartford assume, our victims are drug dealers and gang members who just happen to fall as victims of their lifestyles so the violence is just expected in our urban areas. Children in Newtown apparently don't deserve their fate to be determined by a firearm as so often happens to loved ones in Hartford.

Hartford;s mothers and fathers shed the same tears as Newtown parents. Hartford;s parents also have to face the same realization that their loved ones will never be coming through the front door again. Hartford;s pain is no less than Newtown's and our victims deserve the same recognition until real change in gun laws happens

To overlook Hartford;s families is just plain wrong. They should be in the audience today also

Sunday, April 7, 2013

MAYOR SEGARRA: TIME TO JOIN AAA

A Hartford resident and regular reader of WTP sent me an e-mail tonight detailing discounts at the Hotel Palomar for Triple A members. Why is it that our residents get it when City Hall doesn't? Oh right, because they have to live within their means. Too bad though,  Jose Colon Rivas maybe could have used one of the animal print bathrobes , grrr, available in the rooms with the triple A discount. Although the 42" flat screen television is smaller than the one the Mayor's Chief of Staff purchased for his office on the p-card.


Toggle available room typesBest Available Rate: starting at USD 249.00
Our best most flexible rate. 10% commisionable

Toggle available room typesAAA and CAA: starting at USD 224.00
Valid for card carrying AAA or CAA members. Must show membership card at the time of check-in.

  • Deluxe Guest Room with Two Double Beds

    • 2 Double Beds
    • 350 sq. ft.
    • Legendary Italian Frette Linens
    • Animal Print Bathrobes…grrrr!
    • Etro Bath amenities, ooh la la!
    • 42" LCD flat-screen TV
    • Oversized Desk (postcards anyone?)
    • iHome docking station
    • In-room recycling program
    • Organic Honor Bar
    • Free Wi-Fi for Kimpton InTouch Guest Loyalty Program
    • Hosted Evening Wine Reception
    • All rooms are non-smoking
Daily Rate:
USD 224.00
Nightly Taxes:
USD 34.87
Total Stay:
USD 258.87

DOES THE LAW MATTER IN HARTFORD?

 It appears as though we will soon find out.

According to section 2-370 of the Hartford Municipal code, this ordinance labeled "Retired  employees", states "retired classified or unclassified  employees of the city shall be eligible to return  to city employment  in a temporary classified or unclassified position for a maximum of 6 months in a fiscal year".

It would seem that several current City hall employees are in violation of this ordinance, among them Hartford's Corporation Counsel and acting City Manager Saundra Kee-Borges. The matter is coming to a head after a quasi -anonymous complaint was made to City Auditor Patrick Campbell. Campbell stated at a recent internal Audit Commission meeting that he was aware who was making the complaint, but they wished to remain anonymous.

Hartford Ordinance 2-370D
 
 
The Internal Audit commission (IAC) authorized Campbell to conduct an investigation and determine if any Ordinances were being violated. According to sources, that report has apparently been completed   and the results will be apparently be  given to Mayor Pedro Segarra tomorrow.

This would seem to potentially put Segarra in a tough spot. If the ordinance is found to be violated, Segarra is bound by Hartford's Charter to act.. Chapter V, section 2.b of the Charter, clearly states   that " in addition to the powers and duties specified elsewhere  in the Charter or in the Constitution and General Statutes, the Mayor shall take care that laws and Ordinances be faithfully executed within Boundaries of the City, in so far as it is the obligation  of the City and its employees to do so."

From Hartford's City Charter , Chapter 5, section 2b
 
 
If Kee-Borges and others  are in fact in violation of the ordinance, it doesn't seem to give the Mayor much "wiggle room" other than to enforce   the ordinance.

Section 2-370C of the code also states that any 6 month appointments of retirees under the ordinance "will expire automatically at the end of 6 months and shall not to be subject to renewal"

It will be very interesting as to how this plays out, but the code seems to make it pretty clear as to the violation.

It would seem that our Corporation Counsel  would be, or should be, aware of ordinances on the books in Hartford, especially when it applies to her.

The ordinance was updated by the Hartford City Council in August of 2005

CITY CREDIT CARDS, THE FULL REPORT BY USER

Below is the City's report for all credit card users. Feel free to comment on any purchases. Much more to come on this I am sure.
 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

HPD PROMOTIONS FRIDAY

PromotionsCeremonyPR[1]

MAYOR SEGARRA, GET OUT THE SCISSORS

 
 
Plain and simple, Hartford City Government is out of control.

I had requested City Credit card reports through a Freedom of Information request to Chief Operating Officer Saundra Kee-Borges. That report has not been provided by the City, but today I received some of the information through "alternative means". After reviewing the reports below, I can see now why the City did not want me to see them. So much for that transparency they keep talking about.

Take a few minutes to look at how your tax dollars are being spent anyd you might be a little upset that a City on the brink of financial disaster can still spend huge amounts of money on the credit card, much of it for food and alcohol. Fortunately for Hartford, the City Council is finally stepping up and doing what should have been done years. They need to get out the scissors and cut these cards in half. That is what many Hartford residents have been forced to do as the economy has soured, but not City Hall.

One of the highest paid City employees, Jose Colon Rivas  seems to enjoy the finer things in life, running up a hotel Bill at a luxury hotel in California. Over $7400 in the course of 6 days at the Hotel Palomar in West wood LA. He must not have liked the thread count on the sheets at the Holiday Inn Express. Relax, you have a City credit card, money is no object when you have a $100,000 credit limit on the taxpayers card.

 
And as many people in Hartford are wondering where their next meal is coming from or worrying how to feed their families, those with a City credit card have no such difficulties. After a source had called me shortly after New Years and said they saw Mayor Segarra, his Chief of Staff, the Mayor's partner, Charlie Ortiz, an unidentified female and two Hartford police Officers, members of the Mayor's Security detail, dining at Max Downtown on New Years Eve..
 
The source believed that the entire dinner, a rather large amount, was paid for on a City Cre4it Card.Sure enough, the source was right. Segarra's Chief of Staff  , Jared Kupiec apparently paid for the dinner, totalling $707.21 on his city credit card.
 
 
How can Segarra look city resident's in the face and account for this reckless behavior, especially when he knows that Hartford is headed for a potential $70 million dollar deficit next year. And how can we cry poverty to the state and ask for help when they see this going on. Are the taxpayers really responsible for feeding the Mayor and buying his wine for his meal as well as for his partner. Do they not make enough to pay for their own entertainment.
 
I hope the Council really digs into this and demands answers. Look at the printouts below and i am pretty sure you can identify other reckless spending, feel free to comment here  or e-mail me info if you are aware of other instances of bleeding the taxpayers of Hartford.
nbsp;