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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

CAPTION THIS

Take a couple minutes if you have time and go to courant.com and add a caption to the drawing above by clicking here


My thought, "This is Hartford, they all said they had the green light" or maybe "Sandy, don't
forget the Crabshack free drink coupons"

HPD HIRING DRIVE

Please share: The City of Hartford is recruiting for Police Officers. Applicants must be 21 years of age by January 8, 2014, must be a citizen of the U.S. and must have a high school diploma or GED and a driver’s license. Extensive testing is required. Hartford residents will have 10% added to their passing grades. Applications will be accepted until Friday, November 22, 2013. For more information or to apply, visit the Human Resources Department on the ground floor of Hartford City Hall, 550 Main Street.

SAVE THE DATE


NO PARKING AREAS FOR SATURDAY MARATHON

 
 
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING PARKING RESTRICTIONS, AVOID GETTING YOUR VEHICLE TOWED
 
pLEASE ASSIST US IN ADVERTISING THIS PARKING RESTRICTION NOTIFICATION

 

 

2013 ING HARTFORD MARATHON

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

NO PARKING AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

TOWING OPERATIONS WILL BEGIN BY 5:00 AM

STREETs WILL RE-OPEN AT 2:00 PM

 

MAIN STREET: both sides from PEARL STREET to PARK STREET

 

WASHINGTON STREET: both sides between CAPITAL AVENUE AND PARK STREET

 

PARK STREET: both sides ENTIRE LENGTH

 

LAUREL STREET: both sides between PARK STREET AND CAPITOL AVENUE

 

CAPITOL AVENUE: both sides between LAUREL STREET AND WASHINGTON STREET

 

LAFAYETTE STREET: both sides between CAPITOL AVENUE AND RUSS STREET

 

RUSS STREET: both sides between LAFAYETTE STREET AND WASHINGTON STREET

 

HUDSON STREET: both sides between BUCKINGHAM STREET AND PULASKI CIRCLE

 

WELLS STREET: BOTH SIDES ENTIRE LENGTH

 

JEWELL STREET: BOTH SIDES ENTIRE LENGTH

 

FORD STREET: BOTH SIDES ENTIRE LENGTH

 

PEARL STREET: BOTH SIDES ENTIRE LENGTH

 

CHURCH STREET: both sides between MAIN STREET AND TRUMBULL STREET

 

MARKET STREET: BOTH SIDES ENTIRE LENGTH

 

SHELDON STREET: both sides between CHARTER OAK AVENUE AND PROSPECT STREET

 

ANTHENEUM SQUARE:  both sides entire length

 

PROSPECT STREET:  both sides ENTIRE LENGTH

 

CHARTER OAK AVENUE: both sides between PROSPECT AVENUE AND MAIN STREET

 

CHARTER OAK AVENUE: both sides between SHELDON STREET AND VAN DYKE

 

WYLLYS STREET: both sides between MAIN STREET AND WETHERSFIELD AVENUE

 

BUCKINGHAM STREET: both sides entire length

 

WHITNEY STREET: both sides between ASYLUM AVENUE AND FARMINGTON AVENUE

 

FARMINGTON AVENUE: both sides between WHITNEY STREET AND ASYLUM AVENUE

 

BROAD STREET: between ASYLUM AVENUE AND CAPITOL AVENUE

 

ASYLUM AVENUE: from BROAD STREET TO FORD STREET

 

ASYLUM AVENUE: from PROSPECT AVENUE TO WHITNEY STREET

 

CENTRAL ROW: BOTH SIDES ENTIRE LENGTH

 

STATE STREET: BOTH SIDES ENTIRE LENGTH

Thursday, October 3, 2013

MEMO'S FROM INSIDE THE SEGARRA BUNKER

I am getting closer to making the official proclamation  that the Segarra Administration and those that are part of it have lost their minds.

The memo's below were released today through an FOI request. It seems that the full court press is on to remove Bruce Rubenstein from the Internal Audit Commission. Attorney Rubenstein was appointed to the Audit commission in March by Hartford's City Treasurer Adam Cloud.
Read more about that appointment here


Although van Norden claims in his opinion below  that Rubenstein has a conflict of interest by representing clients that are suing the City, I think the answer is much more simple. The audit Commission, was essentially  a lap dog before Rubenstein's appointment. Now in the last six months the Audit Commission has been producing some very substantial reports detailing numerous City Hall problems.

Many of those reports have been critical of Mayor Segarra,  his Department heads, L.John Van Norden himself and his boss, Saundra Kee-Borges. The reports may have indirectly caused  major shakeups in the Segarra Administration as several Department heads have left City Hall after audit reports were released detailing a pattern of incompetence.

It seems interesting though that Van Norden is detailing Rubenstein's potential Conflict of Interests since Van Norden seems unable to recognize his own conflict. How is he issuing opinions that relate directly to him and his bosses and trying to shut down the people that are critical of him?

Van Norden's own legal skills are questionable as he left his previous employer, the City of Schenectady New York under a cloud of suspicion, read more here. He actually was employed by the City of Hartford his first year here, even though he was not licensed to practice law in Connecticut

I don't think Van Norden's opinion has anything to do with concerns over a conflict of interest, it is that the Audit Commission is getting too close to the inner workings of the Segarra Administration.

Several sources have confirmed that numerous red flags have been raised over the handling of CIP funds, (Capital Improvement Project) and this most likely will be the next shoe to drop when it comes to Audit reports. Not to mention those that are already in the pipeline and proving to be less than favorable to Segarra, including the City Car take home use audit.

Audit Commission Member Bruce Rubenstein

Numerous irregularities have already been identified in the CIP process and may eventually result in outside investigations being started. The questionable transactions involve both State and Federal funds according to sources

In the meantime, outside of Segarra's Office there seems to be very little or no support for removing Rubenstein as sources tell me that both the Hartford City Council and Treasurer Cloud are solidly behind Mr. Rubenstein. It is also unclear if there actually a process defined to remove a Commissioner.

One source familiar with the memo, said that they believe that the claim of financial gain has no merit. Any financial gain obtained by Rubenstein would be the result of him successfully representing his clients in their lawsuits against Hartford . The financial gain would be set as an award for damages determined by a Judge, and not as a result of any action Rubenstein could take as an Audit Commission member.

 The simplest resolution of this matter would be for Segarra to do the right thing and not give the Audit Commission an opportunity to scrutinize him. Unfortunately I think that train has already left the station.

Here is some other reading material regarding Mr. Van Norden, here, or here ,or any earlier blog posting here

Rubenstein OfficialOpinionoftheOfficeoftheCorporationCounsel09242013


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

THEY DON'T GO AWAY

After 5 years have lapsed, most criminals might think they got away with their crime. What they might be forgetting though is that Hartford's Shooting Task Force is still working the streets.

From HPD:

Detective Blumes and Officer Shelby have been investigating a cold case serious assault with a firearm that occurred on September 30th, 2008. A victim was walking in the area of 27 Amity Street at 2230 hours, when a suspect fired six shots at the victim. The victim was struck two times in the left hip area. Detective's Blumes, Plourde, and Officer Shelby identified a suspect and corroborating information during the course of their investigation. Detective Blumes and Officer Shelby prepared an arrest warrant which was submitted to GA14. On September 27th, 2013, the arrest warrant was granted with a court set $500,000 bond. The accused is currently incarcerated on manslaughter charges stemming from a 2008 shooting at 30 Sisson Ave
 
Accused: Ivan Ortega, M/H/23 (7/3/1990), formerly of 273 South Street, Hartford CT, currently
MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution, 1153 East Street, Suffield CT.
Charges: Assault 1st Degree and Carrying a Pistol w/o a Permit.

Someone tonight on Facebook said I don't post enough positive things. What could be more positive than another shooter being taken off our streets?