Search This Blog

Thursday, June 13, 2013

CITY TO REGISTRARS: NOT A PENNY MORE

It seems that Hartford's Finance Director Julio Molleda has finally figured out why he is being paid his six figure salary. He didn't do it with the p-cards, he didn't do it with the travel policies, but now apparently he is stepping up to take on the Registrars of Voters Office.

 In Molleda's defense, maybe he finally took the time to actually read the Charter of the City of Hartford to understand what his job  requires.

The Registrar of Voters Office has been a problem when it has come to living within their budget. As elected officials the Democratic Registrar doesn't seem to have understood that she really is a Department Head and responsible for maintaining and living within her allotted budget. I single out the Democratic because the long term Republican recently retired so his lifetime paid medical and his pension are secure. The Working Families registrar is very rarely, if ever , allowed in on spending decisions and has been very vocal about this in the past.

Molleda's letter claims that no further expenditures will be allowed to the Registrar's until the new fiscal year begins July 1st. Unless the Registrar's and their staff are going to assume volunteer roles, this would mean that the Office will need to shut down until July 1.

Molleda's letter to Vazquez is below.

This might just be the wake up call for Vazquez to be forced to realize she needs to actually be a manager. In the meantime, the unelected staff in the Office will be forced to live without their regular paychecks until July 1st.

More to come on this I am sure.   Only in Hartford

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

WHEN IS A RESIGNATION NOT A RESIGNATION

That is the question being asked by many people that have been calling me. Apparently the answer is when the resignation is that of Mayor Segarra's Chief of Staff Jared Kupiec.

Kupiec announced his resignation almost two weeks ago after a series of missteps and embarrassments causing much stress for Segarra and seriously drawing Segarra's leadership into question. Even though Kupiec announced he was leaving, there has been no "departure date" set. Leaving the date open has many asking if he will be gone next week, maybe six months from now or longer.

More and more it is starting to look like an attempt by Segarra and his Public relations image crew as an attempt to deflect criticism and draw attention away from "Mayor Caviar" by announcing the problem child was heading out, until that happens I'm not buying it.

You can't really blame Kupiec though. For someone that has never really had a long term job during his adult life (adult being a descriptive term only in this case) giving up a six figure gig might be a tough move. With his track record and in the age of Google, where will he go.

In the meantime we are still gassing up his City SUV for his Happy Hour runs.

Law school was the explanation concocted again by the image crew, but normally that requires planning. taking the  LSAT's, applying to law schools, and of course the getting accepted part. None of those things happen overnight. But you have to admit it sounds a lot better than saying he was forced out.

A request for clarification of Kupiec's departure date from the Mayor's Office has not been received.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

HARTFORD POLICE SEARCHING FOR MISSING GIRL

 
 
Hartford Police are looking for a 16-year-old girl who disappeared from a function at the Elizabeth Park Pond House on Friday night.

Julia Sol Rivera left the event  to use the restroom at about 8:56 p.m. and never returned, police said.
She was last seen wearing a black dress, red sweater, black tights and red shoes. She was also carryi.ng a black and gray Coach purse, police said.Rivera, a resident if Scarborough Street, may have been at Blueback Square later in the evening.


Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ivys Arroyo at 860-757-4232 or Sergeant Matthew Eisele at 860-757-4242.

[                                                                                                                            


Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ivys Arroyo at 860-757-4232 or Sergeant Matthew Eisele at 860-757-4242.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

COURANT: "SEGARRA'S OFFICE SHOCKED", SHOULD BE ASHAMED

According to the Hartford Courant today, Mayor Pedro Segarra and his staff today were "shocked" to learn that a popular basketball program that has worked with Hartford's youth for 16  years would be moving to Waterbury.

Shocked? The proper term should be ashamed. With Segarra's high priced marketing staff, should they not have been on top of this. Did it not dawn on any of the braintrust "Geez, have you noticed the pro-am hasn't booked any school for 6 weeks like they usually do?". No one noticed that there were no planning meetings being held?" Or even that someone probably should reach out to the pro-am organizers and ask " How can we help you get this moving for this year?"

That's what sales people do. They chase the leads and make sure they are closing the deals. Not let them pack up and move to Waterbury without a fight.

Again, they should be shocked, embarrassed and all the other words that apply to incompetent individuals that are more concerned about salaries than moving Hartford forward and serving our youth.

If the pro-am has saved one Hartford child from street violence, it's value is priceless and we can't allow events like this to slip through our fingers.

The leadership vacuum keeps growing every day.

You can read the Courant's article here

Monday, June 3, 2013

ROBIN FLIES THE COOP

 
Mayor Pedro Segarra's embattled Chief of Staff  Jared Kupiec today called it quits, claiming he is moving on to attend Law School. Just what we need, Kupiec as a lawyer.
 
In a letter to City staff, Kupiec stated:
 
"Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is with a mixture of joy and sadness that I announce my resignation today.  I will not be leaving immediately, however, as there is need to allow for a seamless transition and a full recalibration of the Mayor's administration.

It has been an absolute pleasure to serve the City of Hartford. I have learned a tremendous amount working alongside all of you and am grateful for all the work we’ve accomplished together.

I have thought a lot about this decision and know that it is the best one for me at this time. My next step will be to prepare for a new career outside of politics and law school, which has been a life-long ambition that I have put off for far too long.  I will always be loyal to our Capital City and am eager to continue championing its incredible potential. I look forward to seeing some of the projects I pushed forward grow and develop but there are new challenges and opportunities that I feel compelled to pursue.

I have to once again thank Mayor Segarra for giving me this special opportunity. It has been a tremendous journey to work for someone with real vision and passion.

Thank you all for your tireless dedication to the City of Hartford and I look forward to staying in touch.

-J
 
For more on Kupiec, especially his misuse of his City Credit card, enter his name in the search bar above.
 
More on this when I have the time to type more
 
 

Friday, May 24, 2013

HPD SERGEANT REASSIGNED OVER ALLEGED RACIAL COMMENTS

This is one of those postings that needs to go into the "Really? What were you thinking?" file.

A Hartford police department Sergeant, Stephen Kessler, who had recently been assigned to the North District as the Administrative Sergeant supervising Community Service Officers and interacting with Community members and organizations, has been removed from that position and reassigned to the booking area at Headquarters.

The reassignment took place after comments came to light that Kessler had apparently made over a recorded radio channel. Kessler apparently referred to loiterers on Barbour Street as looking like "Gorilla's in the mist" on HPD's Tactical Radio Channel,  according to several police sources. Additional allegations into specific comments allegedly made by Kessler referring to African-Americans are also being investigated by the HPD Internal Affair's Division. Officers that may have been present when the comments were made are being interviewed.

Chief James Rovella immediately initiated an internal investigation when the claims were brought to his attention and Kessler was removed from his position as of Wednesday.

Sources also informed me that the Hartford Guardians, a fraternal police organization inside HPD , were planning a special executive committee meeting to address the issue and possibly call for an investigation by an outside agency into the matter..