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Saturday, February 1, 2014

SOMEONE HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO

It is never a good thing to lose  $160,000 of your bosses money. Especially when that boss may allegedly be a drug dealer.

Hartford Police along with other agencies served a search warrant at a home  at 34 Pembroke Street in Hartford Friday evening. During that search Police recovered a Colt .38 Special firearm, ammunition, approximately 15 grams of crack cocaine, drug packaging materials and $164,700 in U.S. Currency.

The target of the investigation, a convicted felon,  Michael Fairnot DOB 4/17/57 34 Pembroke Street Hartford, CT. He was charged with  Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Possession Narcotics, PWITS Narcotics, PWITS within 1500 feet of a School, Operating a Drug Factory   ( PWITS= Possesssion with intent to sell)

It is difficult to lose $160,000, but I would guess that right about now, jail might be the safest place for Mr. Fairnot to be when his boss comes looking for his money

CAN YOU PUT A PRICE ON POSITIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS ?


A crowd gathers around Daley and Hartford Police Mounted Officer Flynn

A couple weeks ago I wrote about the "luxury" of the Hartford Mounted Police Unit. Today I was at the last day of skating at the Winterfest Ice Rink in Bushnell Park.  I was watching as Mayor Segarra arrived at the rink. There wasn't even much notice by most in attendance, a few people approached him for the obligatory hellos and handshakes.
A child petting the nose of Cody in Bushnell Park

A short time later, two horses and officers from the mounted unit arrived. Immediately many in the crowd migrated to the sidewalk where the horses were standing. Both children and adults began petting the horses and talking to the police officers sitting high above the crowd . The rapid fire questions to the officers were interesting for a few reasons. has the horse ever caught a criminal? Yes we chased down a robbery suspect on Albany Avenue. Where do the horses live? We have a great stable on Albany Ave with a large paddock area for them to exercise. Do you ride them here? No today we trailered them here.

A man and his horse. Hartford Police Chief James Rovella nnd Daley discussing the HPD Budget

It dawned on me as I listened that this may be the first interaction for most of these children and maybe even adults with a Police Officer. How do you put a price on the value of that contact? I have never seen anyone approach an officer in a cruiser as quickly as they did to an officer on horseback. Hopefully that will be an image the people will remember for years and realize that police officers are actually pretty decent people and not something to be feared.

How can any Councilperson or budgetary wonk put a price on that. The mounted police may be a luxury but a luxury we need and a luxury we need to find a way to afford. I didn't see anyone approaching the Mayor's scheduler to pet his nose as he accompanied  Segarra on the ice. Now there is a luxury we can't afford..

Thursday, January 30, 2014

REP. McCRORY ESTABLISHES BEDFORD STREET FIRE VICTIMS RELIEF FUND


7TH District State Representative Douglas McCrory is announcing the organization of the “Bedford Street Fire Victim Relief Fund”. The Bedford Street neighborhood, which is part of Representative McCrory’s district, was struck with a tragic fire that took the lives of a 43 year old mother and her 4 year old daughter as well as displacing several other residents of the building.

An account has been established at the Hartford Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union for donations. Donations can be made out to the “Bedford Street Fire Victims Relief Fund” and sent to HMEFCU at 443 Franklin Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114. Donations will be used to help defray the cost of funeral services and financial needs of the other victims.

The fund will also be collecting winter clothing items and footwear as well as household items as the victims burned out of their apartments begin the process of rebuilding. Items can be dropped off at the office of Trinity Episcopal Church at 120 Sigourney Street Monday through Thursday from 9:00am until 3:00PM or during Sunday services.

Representative McCrory wishes to thank those who helped organize this effort so quickly, including Marco Signorelli, Manager, of the Hartford Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union as well as the Reverend Donald Hamer, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church  for graciously offering his Church as a drop off point.

To arrange for pick-up of items, please contact 7th District spokespeople  Kevin Brookman at 860-883-2297 or Victoria Fennell at 860-810-1160.
Susan Therrien, the mother of 4 year old Chantay Drake, both died as a result of the fire. Earlier today I spoke with Chantay's uncle and he informed me that Susan was going through medical issues and money was very tight for the family. I asked if there were any benefits or life insurance, which apparently there is not.
I called Frank Ahern of the Ahern Funeral Home of Hartford and Farmington. Frank is a family friend and a Funeral Director that my family has done business with in the past, as well as my next door neighbor. I explained the situation and he immediately agreed to do whatever I  and the Drake family needed. As of the last I knew, the Ahern Family was dealing with the  Drake family .
 Thank you to everyone for coming together as a community to bring peace and comfort to the Drake family during these difficult. times.
As part of the healing and remembrance, the Reverend Henry Brown will hold a memorial vigil at the scene of the fire, 62-64 Bedford Street, Saturday at 11:00am

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

HARTFORD POLICE FOCUSING ON RECRUITMENT OF CITY RESIDENTS

I think most people would agree that it is important for the Hartford Police Department to more closely resemble the community they serve. To that end, the Hartford Police have begun a campaign to attempt to recruit more City residents to apply for openings at the Hartford Police Department.

 Lt. Brian Foley and Sgt. Glendaly Garcia were guests Monday on the "We the People" program on Hartford Public access, Channel 5. The video of that program can be seen below
  SEGMENT 1


SEGMENT 2



SEGMENT 3

FROM HPD: DUI CHECKPOINT THURSDAY NIGHT


Sunday, January 26, 2014

WRONG MARIBEL

I think we all know that political spokespeople have an agenda and a message to get out. In most cases facts don't really matter because how many people actually take the time to check the facts?

Mayor Segarra's spokesperson , Maribel LaLuz was on the Sunday morning talk show Capitol Report. Normally I like the program with Tom Dudchik, Tom regularly links to 'We the People" from his website, CT Capitol Report. I was somewhat surprised by LaLuz's comment that 67% of small businesses are owned by immigrants, that just seemed like a large number.

We know that much of the information that comes out of the Segarra Administration is untrue or delusional, so I google "what percentage of small businesses are started by immigrants".

Up popped the report below from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) it clearly states that "Immigrant entrepreneurs  start 17% of all new businesses and represent 13% of all business owners". They also represent 12% of business income generated in the United States.
.
A far cry from the 67% LaLuz claims. She was only off by 60%, but then again the Segarra Administration seems to have a problem with "real numbers".

I hope Shawn Wooden returns soon.

Skip right to page 1 of the report below for the factual numbers