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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

GET THE DESIGNATED DRIVER READY

The eve of Thanksgiving is typically one of the busiest bar nights of the year. So it is probably a good idea to find that designated driver before you head out tonight

From the Hartford Police:

The Hartford Police Department Traffic Division will conduct a DUI Enforcement Checkpoint on Wednesday , November 27, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., in the vicinity of 100 Wells Street, Hartford CT.
 
This checkpoint a part of the Hartford Police Department's ongoing expanded 2013-2014 DUI enforcement program supervised by the HPD's Traffic Division and funded through a grant from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation DUI Enforcement Program: For more information click   http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=2094&q=435934
 
 
 

 

WE DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER

MAYOR SEGARRA ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF

--- NEWS AND COMMUNITY STATEMENT---

(November 26, 2013) Today, Mayor Segarra announced two staffing appointments: Henry Burgos as Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations and Kennard Ray as Deputy Chief of Staff. They begin work with the City on December 2.

 

Mr. Burgos, a Hartford native, joins the administration after serving as Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Capital Community College. Burgos also served 10 years as the Principal Human Resources Specialist for the State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services, overseeing labor relations for the agency’s 4,000 employees. Burgos holds a Masters in Science from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated cum laude from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico.

 

“Henry is an extremely qualified professional and public servant,” commented Mayor Segarra. “As we continue to improve our processes and procedures citywide, I look forward to working with Henry and his staff to develop a new approach to human resources management that positions the City to recruit and retain a talented, diverse workforce. Throughout our search, we talked to staff and identified a need to transform and modernize the department. Henry brings the skills and perspective necessary to help us realize that goal. ” 

 

Mr. Ray, also a Hartford native, joins the Mayor’s Office after serving as the Political and Legislative Director for the Connecticut Working Families Party, where he lead regional organizing efforts in support of public education, voter outreach and minimum wage increase. Mr. Ray will work with the Mayor’s Chief of Staff as a liaison to City Council, community organizations and residents. He will lead project management, policy development, and day-to-day community relations through the Office of Constituent Services.
 
A Deputy Chief of Staff? Can anyone point out to me where that position is in the Hartford City Charter as an authorized position in the Office of the Mayor?
 
But wait, it gets worse, much, much worse.
 
Kennard Ray is a convicted felon. And before all the comments start about "second Chances" I'm not saying a convicted felon for a "mistake" one time when he was young. I am talking about an extensive arrest record dating back to at least 1998 for gun charges, drug dealing, interfering with police and at least a few years served behind bars during his adult life.
 
We have enough problems with guns on our streets, never mind bringing those people committing the gun crimes into the Mayor's Office.
 
And how did this selection get through, does no one on the Mayor's Staff know how to use Google or even check his name in the Judicial website. Those in the Mayor's Office can't get out of their own way and this seems as another example of how they go out of their way to embarrass Mayor Segarra almost daily. Note to City Staff, : he does a fine job of embarrassing himself, he doesn't need your help.

 

 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

IT IS CALLED FORGERY AND FRAUD

The State Elections Enforcement Commission today voted in Executive Session to apparently approve a finding of cause against Hartford's Democratic Deputy Registrar of Voters  in a scheme he apparently participated in in 2010  to falsify election petitions for a Hartford Democratic Town Committee primary election.

Coleman's boss, Democratic Registrar Olga Vazquez was recently fined $3000.00 for her role in the scheme

Essentially, according to the finding, Garey Coleman forged the names of solicitors and signed the back of the petition forms where the signatures had been omitted by the solicitors,.then went on to certify the signatures in his role as Deputy Registrar so that the petitions could qualify improperly for ballot positions.

It is unclear if the matter will be referred for criminal investigation and prosecution by the Office of the Chief States Attorney. Matters like this can't just be ignored if we are to protect or even convince the voters of the integrity of the process. Fraud is not something that that can be condoned

Attempts to reach Coleman for comment were unsuccessful. Coleman is the brother of State Senator Eric Coleman

NOW THIS IS FLATTERING

When you start going through documents given up as part of an FOI request, you never know what you will find. A couple of the e-mails that were provided as part of the package sent to comply with a Federal Grand Jury subpoena had to make me laugh.

A couple of the e-mails are below, but apparently someone at the Board of Education is concerned what "We the People" thinks of them. There in the file were copies of "We the People" blog postings that appear to be e-mailed to the Boards upper management team, including Paula Altieri and John Griffin.

As much as people say they don't read the blog, I am finding the opposite is true.


MORE GRIFFIN E-MAILS

More e-mails from John Griffin for your reading pleasure. Concern or a hidden agenda, what do you think?

CONCERN OR HIDDEN AGENDA-YOU DECIDE

In response to my FOI request for e-mails related to Earl O'Garro and Hybrid Insurance, a couple thousand e-mails were provided. to me. I can't post them all here, but a few of the strings are very interesting to me and what motive was behind them. I am  not going to editorialize on them because I don't want to appear as though I am siding with Hartford's Treasurer Adam Cloud .

Did Cloud make mistakes and exercise poor judgment as an elected official, I think even he would answer yes. Was there criminal intent? You (as well as a Federal Grand Jury) can make that call but I don't think so.

Below is a sampling of e-mails from those provided to me in a file labeled "John Griffin Chief States Attorney" If you have the time read the file and see if you think Griffin was at getting to the truth and identifying a problem, or was it more about accusing "an elected official of Insurance fraud".

Keep in mind, there have been no allegations of Insurance fraud, except by Griffin, at any point in this matter, but Griffin mentions  it several times, even before any investigation was even started.

There are many more e-mails I will try to post to paint a clearer picture of the motivation behind this matter. I don't think it began with concerns over  a wire transfer