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Tuesday, April 22, 2014
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: AUDIT COMMISSION REVIEWS ALLEGED MAYORAL MISUSE OF CREDIT CARD
The Audit Reports are sometimes confusing to some readers, but here is the video of the recent Audit Commission meeting where they discuss the investigation of the Segarra Administrations efforts to allegedly mislead or obstruct their investigation.
Monday, April 21, 2014
MORE MAYORAL P-CARD MISUSE
Mayor Segarra just doesn't get it. The City Purchasing Card, (p-card) is not his own personal Visa Card. The Hartford Internal Audit Commission has finished their report on another abuse by Segarra at the expense of Hartford's taxpayers.
Unlike the Caviar and New Years Eve soiree of a couple years ago, this one might make sense to a few more Hartford residents, but in the end , it is still wrong.
According to the report and other sources, Segarra allowed a $3000.00 charge for funeral expenses to be billed to a City workers Credit Card. The charge resulted after the daughter of a City employee was the victim of a tragic triple homicide.
The Mayor was apparently instrumental in moving the payment through and reimbursing the Carmon Funeral Home of Windsor for at least $3,000.00 at the City's expense.
However well intentioned, it was still an inappropriate use of City funds , and the method in which the purchase was made is very questionable as to the Mayor's intent.
The report below and the following video , where the matter was explained at the April Audit Commission meeting, lay out more of the "behind the scenes" activity by Segarra.
Unlike the Caviar and New Years Eve soiree of a couple years ago, this one might make sense to a few more Hartford residents, but in the end , it is still wrong.
According to the report and other sources, Segarra allowed a $3000.00 charge for funeral expenses to be billed to a City workers Credit Card. The charge resulted after the daughter of a City employee was the victim of a tragic triple homicide.
The Mayor was apparently instrumental in moving the payment through and reimbursing the Carmon Funeral Home of Windsor for at least $3,000.00 at the City's expense.
However well intentioned, it was still an inappropriate use of City funds , and the method in which the purchase was made is very questionable as to the Mayor's intent.
The report below and the following video , where the matter was explained at the April Audit Commission meeting, lay out more of the "behind the scenes" activity by Segarra.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
THE CONCESSIONS THAT WERE NEVER CONCEDED
It seems that it should be criminal to submit a municipal budget based on phony numbers, but apparently Mayor Pedro Segarra has no problem doing that. Last year Segarra's budget included $3 million dollars in revenue apparently obtained from concessions from Hartford's Municipal employee Unions.
The fact of the matter is that at the time that the numbers were built into Hartford's budget, not one penny was given back by any of the Union's to achieve the cost savings. The Segarra Administration didn't even seriously talk to the Unions until late last fall to even discuss concessions.
The result was pretty much predictable. A solid "NO" from the Union's. I can't say I blame them. For years, the reckless spending that goes on at Hartford City Hall has been initiated by Segarra and his predecessors and allowed by the Hartford City Council.
Going back to the Union's every year at budget time to balance the budget on the backs of City employees is wrong. It is especially a tough sell asking some of Hartford's lowest paid employees to give back when the reckless spending by Segarra is so publicly obvious. You knew it would never fly after the caviar incident and then the abuses of credit cards and City vehicles. This administration is just bleeding tax payers dollars without any regard to where those dollars come from.
If the Union's did give back the $3 million dollars, our reckless Mayor would just find a way to spend it all.
Employees in City Hall witness the reckless spending everyday. I still get phone calls about the few hundred thousand spent to move the Office of the Corporation Counsel from the third floor to the second floor. For what? So Pedro could be closer to Sandy to be able to get her excellent advice quicker?
And don't forget the Mayor's "scheduler". Almost $60,00.00 a year to follow Segarra around tracking his e-mails and appointments. If only the Unions had given back the Scheduler could get a larger I-pad and maybe a nice City car also.
Reckless, reckless, reckless, there is no other way to describe Segarra's spending. Any Union President that would take any request for concessions back to their membership ought to be impeached immediately.
I was amazed yesterday when I read in the Hartford Courant that the Mayor has decided to give $1 million dollars to the Bushnell Park Carousel. Here is Steve Goode's story from the Courant.
Now I do believe in the things that draw excitement to Hartford, but I also believe in taking care of first things first. And the first responsibility of the government of the City of Hartford is to provide the basic Municipal services required to run the City.
The article starts off by stating that the Carousel is getting a $1 million dollar gift. Too bad the Union's didn't give back, we could have at least given some of Hartford's hard working Municipal employees credit for the million dollar gift.
Why not call on the Bushnell Park Foundation to kick in to sponsor the Carousel (they might already, but then again isn't that why the foundation is there?). Why not start the Bushnell Park Carousel Restoration fund and get others to kick in. If the year round opening and restoration of the Carousel is going to generate that much business, it shouldn't be a tough sell to get the City businesses that will benefit, to help out.
What about using the park and getting the Public to help raise the funds? We have a beautiful bandshell that could be used for a series of Concerts for the Carousel to raise funds. And I tend to think that riders from the suburbs probably spend a lot more time on the gilded horses than Hartford children do, yet we are expected to foot the full bill?
A quote in the article highlights one of the benefits of the restoration says that it will "enable students to learn about its ( the Carousel's) rich history" how about taking the students another block up the Hill to the Capitol and let them start learning about the rich history of our state and what Civic involvement means.
And the fact that the money comes from the Capital Improvement Budget should not put any one's mind at ease. That is money we will pay the interest on for the next 20 years. And take a look at Hartford's streets. I think that $1 million dollars could be used to repair our City's infrastructure. What good is a renovated Carousel if you ruin your car hitting potholes to get to it.
And I know budget time is coming so if Segarra is in the "gift giving" mood, maybe rather than giving a $1 million gift to the Carousel, he could show some leadership and start a fund raising effort for the Carousel. I think the people of Hartford might also appreciate a "gift" . My suggestion would be a class of police officers to give us a gift we could really use, safer streets and neighborhoods. That might actually draw more people downtown. Probably more than freshly painted horses bouncing in a circle
The fact of the matter is that at the time that the numbers were built into Hartford's budget, not one penny was given back by any of the Union's to achieve the cost savings. The Segarra Administration didn't even seriously talk to the Unions until late last fall to even discuss concessions.
The result was pretty much predictable. A solid "NO" from the Union's. I can't say I blame them. For years, the reckless spending that goes on at Hartford City Hall has been initiated by Segarra and his predecessors and allowed by the Hartford City Council.
Going back to the Union's every year at budget time to balance the budget on the backs of City employees is wrong. It is especially a tough sell asking some of Hartford's lowest paid employees to give back when the reckless spending by Segarra is so publicly obvious. You knew it would never fly after the caviar incident and then the abuses of credit cards and City vehicles. This administration is just bleeding tax payers dollars without any regard to where those dollars come from.
If the Union's did give back the $3 million dollars, our reckless Mayor would just find a way to spend it all.
Employees in City Hall witness the reckless spending everyday. I still get phone calls about the few hundred thousand spent to move the Office of the Corporation Counsel from the third floor to the second floor. For what? So Pedro could be closer to Sandy to be able to get her excellent advice quicker?
And don't forget the Mayor's "scheduler". Almost $60,00.00 a year to follow Segarra around tracking his e-mails and appointments. If only the Unions had given back the Scheduler could get a larger I-pad and maybe a nice City car also.
Reckless, reckless, reckless, there is no other way to describe Segarra's spending. Any Union President that would take any request for concessions back to their membership ought to be impeached immediately.
I was amazed yesterday when I read in the Hartford Courant that the Mayor has decided to give $1 million dollars to the Bushnell Park Carousel. Here is Steve Goode's story from the Courant.
Now I do believe in the things that draw excitement to Hartford, but I also believe in taking care of first things first. And the first responsibility of the government of the City of Hartford is to provide the basic Municipal services required to run the City.
The article starts off by stating that the Carousel is getting a $1 million dollar gift. Too bad the Union's didn't give back, we could have at least given some of Hartford's hard working Municipal employees credit for the million dollar gift.
Why not call on the Bushnell Park Foundation to kick in to sponsor the Carousel (they might already, but then again isn't that why the foundation is there?). Why not start the Bushnell Park Carousel Restoration fund and get others to kick in. If the year round opening and restoration of the Carousel is going to generate that much business, it shouldn't be a tough sell to get the City businesses that will benefit, to help out.
What about using the park and getting the Public to help raise the funds? We have a beautiful bandshell that could be used for a series of Concerts for the Carousel to raise funds. And I tend to think that riders from the suburbs probably spend a lot more time on the gilded horses than Hartford children do, yet we are expected to foot the full bill?
A quote in the article highlights one of the benefits of the restoration says that it will "enable students to learn about its ( the Carousel's) rich history" how about taking the students another block up the Hill to the Capitol and let them start learning about the rich history of our state and what Civic involvement means.
And the fact that the money comes from the Capital Improvement Budget should not put any one's mind at ease. That is money we will pay the interest on for the next 20 years. And take a look at Hartford's streets. I think that $1 million dollars could be used to repair our City's infrastructure. What good is a renovated Carousel if you ruin your car hitting potholes to get to it.
And I know budget time is coming so if Segarra is in the "gift giving" mood, maybe rather than giving a $1 million gift to the Carousel, he could show some leadership and start a fund raising effort for the Carousel. I think the people of Hartford might also appreciate a "gift" . My suggestion would be a class of police officers to give us a gift we could really use, safer streets and neighborhoods. That might actually draw more people downtown. Probably more than freshly painted horses bouncing in a circle
Sunday, March 30, 2014
AN UPDATE ON MY NEPHEW ANDREW
Park City , Utah
Some of you may remember me writing about my nephew Andrew. Andrew turned 18 last December and has been training for several years to compete in the Winter Paralympics. Rather than re-type all the details, Andrew was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) at an early age and he has a very difficult time walking. Surprisingly, or maybe more appropriate Not surprisingly, if you know Andrew, he didn't let that slow him down, and a few years ago he realized he was very capable of skiing.
Through the support of many , including Mount Snow and other sponsors, Andrew has received some of the best ski training available and has become recognized as a Paralympic contender. He has travelled extensively throughout the US and Canada this past winter competing and training. Colorado, British Columbia, this past week Park City Utah, upstate New York and the US Olympic Training Facility have all been regular stops for him this past year. At the same time he is able to keep his grades up as a High School Senior and has been offered a four year $100,000.00 scholarship to Westminster College in Utah ( close to the best ski areas).
His hard work is paying off and this past week he won his first Bronze medal in a National Race. Below is my sister's take on the past week that she just spent with Andrew as a proud mother watching him in Park City Utah. Here is her take below as well as more pictures.
To read Andrews full story as well as more info on fundraisers , go to andrewraces.com. Information on supporting Andrew's efforts are also available on the website
After we landed in Salt Lake City, we went straight to Westminster College for their incoming freshman open house. Andrew is the recipient of their Exemplary Achievement Award totaling $100,000 over the course of four years. He is very excited about going to school there.
We spent the first two days skiing together which was a rare treat. Usually
he is off training and I don't get to see him ski very often. It is truly a
thing of beauty.
The first three days of racing, he came in fifth and sixth. The last day he
hit the jackpot. Yesterday was a fun race to raise money for the National
Ability Center. We met Picabo Street and she was impressed with Andrew's skiing
and wanted to try his outriggers. It was another great day.
We
would like to thank Ability
PLUS at Mount Snow for
supporting Andrew this season and also to the Mount Snow Race Center. Their
coaches worked hard to get Andrew ready for these races. A quote from the
program director when we were trying to figure out training with them was, "we
will work with Andrew and help him be the best athlete he can be." Very
heartwarming!
Special thanks
also go out to Mau and Eric at Team Summit, CO. They have been training with
Andrew for the last few years and have guided him through this crazy world of
adaptive ski racing.
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So the big news is, after two and a
half years of competing on a National Level, Andrew has earned his first bronze
medal in slalom, and I was there to see it. I can't begin to tell you how happy
I am for him. It has been a long slow process and he has worked very hard for
this. Hard to believe my child, who I watched struggle to walk for all those
years in on a podium with athletes who had just competing in the Paralympics in
Sochi, Russia.
The other amazing thing about
this week was I got to meet some of Andrew's friends and their families. These
athletes have to compete against each other and then they cheer each other on
and hang out together after the races are over. You never hear them complain
and the experienced athletes go out of their way to encourage the younger
racers. It is something to witness and this week has been an experience I will
never forget. They say a picture is worth a thousand words...
For more pictures of this wonderful week, click on the link.
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This has been a life changing experience for
our family and this is just the beginning. We are thankful for all the support
on this amazing journey!
We are back to fundraising mode. We
have a new fundraiser at Red Robin coming up in a few weeks. Hope to see you
there.
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AndrewRaces | 16 Shady Oak Dr. |
Enfield | CT |
06082
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Thursday, March 27, 2014
MORE NONSENSE FROM A FOOL
I have tightened up on the comments I let go through, but here is one I thought I should highlight just because of the stupidity.
This was posted Monday under the name Malcolm X Lives:
Kevin Brookman your nothing but a racist and a coward and your day is coming its funny how your headline only speaks of officers of color no mention of Sergeant Kessler an his racist antics an no mention of the lawsuits that your Boy Chief Foley is involved in in which I may add all involve people of color you are not a part of the solution but a part of the problem and when the smoke clears you and the police chief are going to be swimming in lawsuits for defamation of character and finally you will never be nominated for anything in the city of Hartford because the word is out you are nothing but a bigot!!!!! PS you know damn well who typed this but im sure you wont post it
It is interesting they start off by calling me a coward and then have to post under the name Malcolm X. The next part is that he(or she) says that my headline only speaks of "Officers of Color". Can anyone point out to me anywhere in that headline where race or color is ever mentioned? Is "Low T" a racial term I haven't been made aware of?
The poster really shows their ignorance when they make the posting about race. I guess that is what you do though when the truth doesn't matter and you have no facts to stand on...make it about race. If they had any idea what they were talking about, they would know that the Patrol Sergeant and the Major Crimes Sergeant I mentioned are both white. I purposely didn't name all of those involved because I didn't want to make it about race or personality.
The comment that I didn't name Sergeant Kessler is also amazing and shows the writers profound ignorance. Look back and ask yourself how anyone found out about Kessler's antics. I'll help remind you. it is because I was the first one to expose it here. Yes here, and then the media jumped on it and it became very public, but it would have probably never been exposed if I didn't do the digging first.
And if we are going to talk about being a racist and covering for racial incidents, ask yourself how the other big incident involving race came about last year. The Dispatcher using the "N" word over the radio. It was here on "We the People". Sure sounds like a cover up to me, Malcolm.
The comments about Chief Foley are laughable. Clearly you know nothing about him or his personal life. And that is enough said, I don't need to help clarify your ignorance. The only lawsuit I am aware of is one against the City and former Chief Daryl Roberts for homophobic comments he directed at Foley. Stupid comments made by a Supervisor which are ignorant regardless of the commenters race... black white or other.
And the "defamation of character " claim...more nonsense.The truth is not defamatory. You might not like the truth or may have a tough time dealing with it, but it is what it is. Stop hiding behind claims of racism and start dealing with the truth. If you don't like the truth being exposed, maybe you should start dealing with whoever you are trying to support and tell them to clean up their act so I have nothing to write about
This was posted Monday under the name Malcolm X Lives:
Kevin Brookman your nothing but a racist and a coward and your day is coming its funny how your headline only speaks of officers of color no mention of Sergeant Kessler an his racist antics an no mention of the lawsuits that your Boy Chief Foley is involved in in which I may add all involve people of color you are not a part of the solution but a part of the problem and when the smoke clears you and the police chief are going to be swimming in lawsuits for defamation of character and finally you will never be nominated for anything in the city of Hartford because the word is out you are nothing but a bigot!!!!! PS you know damn well who typed this but im sure you wont post it
It is interesting they start off by calling me a coward and then have to post under the name Malcolm X. The next part is that he(or she) says that my headline only speaks of "Officers of Color". Can anyone point out to me anywhere in that headline where race or color is ever mentioned? Is "Low T" a racial term I haven't been made aware of?
The poster really shows their ignorance when they make the posting about race. I guess that is what you do though when the truth doesn't matter and you have no facts to stand on...make it about race. If they had any idea what they were talking about, they would know that the Patrol Sergeant and the Major Crimes Sergeant I mentioned are both white. I purposely didn't name all of those involved because I didn't want to make it about race or personality.
The comment that I didn't name Sergeant Kessler is also amazing and shows the writers profound ignorance. Look back and ask yourself how anyone found out about Kessler's antics. I'll help remind you. it is because I was the first one to expose it here. Yes here, and then the media jumped on it and it became very public, but it would have probably never been exposed if I didn't do the digging first.
And if we are going to talk about being a racist and covering for racial incidents, ask yourself how the other big incident involving race came about last year. The Dispatcher using the "N" word over the radio. It was here on "We the People". Sure sounds like a cover up to me, Malcolm.
The comments about Chief Foley are laughable. Clearly you know nothing about him or his personal life. And that is enough said, I don't need to help clarify your ignorance. The only lawsuit I am aware of is one against the City and former Chief Daryl Roberts for homophobic comments he directed at Foley. Stupid comments made by a Supervisor which are ignorant regardless of the commenters race... black white or other.
And the "defamation of character " claim...more nonsense.The truth is not defamatory. You might not like the truth or may have a tough time dealing with it, but it is what it is. Stop hiding behind claims of racism and start dealing with the truth. If you don't like the truth being exposed, maybe you should start dealing with whoever you are trying to support and tell them to clean up their act so I have nothing to write about
Friday, March 21, 2014
LOW "T" AT HPD
Anyone that reads this blog on a regular basis knows that I take ownership of what I say here, the good the bad and the ugly. In most cases , I attempt to contact most of the subjects of my postings to give them an opportunity to present their side. They don't always return my calls, but I try. If I can't say something to your face, I am not going to gossip behind your back.
Apparently that isn't the way several at the Hartford Police Department conduct themselves. A campaign is underway by a select few to discredit me and the blog, I am not sure why , since I doubt that most Hartford Police officers enjoy being compared to Eric Smith, Latoya Guthrie or Tishay Johnson. At least I hope they don't.
Almost every day now I get a new call about the latest volley being lobbed in the "kill the messenger campaign" being waged by a Deputy Chief, a couple of Sergeants and a Police Union Vice President. The other interesting part is the witch hunt to try to find out who is reporting their comments back to me. The answer is simple, people of integrity who don't appreciate their cowardly acts,
Yes, cowardly. My phone number is posted here on the blog and not one of these cowards has had the integrity to call me and say they have a problem with the blog or anything I post. The interesting part is that they knew how to get a hold of me when they wanted to have something posted and supplying me with documents. I guess it served their needs back then.
The Deputy Chief sent a letter to the Hartford Courant complaining about the blog and that I post "confidential" Police Information . To set the record straight, I have never posted "confidential information" I will admit to posting "PUBLIC Information" Just about every HPD document I post is obtained pursuant to a legitimate FOI request and can be gathered by anyone asking for them. They might not be flattering to HPD but they are public documents. Don't commit the acts if you are embarrassed by them becoming public knowledge.
On several occasions, I have been asked to hold off on posting things so as not to jeopardize open cases. I don't have a problem with that. As an example, the IAD into the shell casings being kicked into the sewer was one I held off on so as not to jeopardize a criminal investigation. There have been numerous times I have been asked to hold off for a few days posting a story , I readily agreed, without even knowing why, but I have the discretion to do that.
The Union Vice-President apparently told his members at the Union Meeting last night that they (the Union) were working to shut the blog down. Good luck with that, you have about as much of a shot of doing that as I do in shutting down the Union or bringing back flagmen at Construction sites.
And back to the Deputy Chief's letter to the Editor, good luck with that one. I think the Courant most likely appreciates the US Constitution and the First Amendment. In case you forgot, that is the one that addresses Freedom of Speech, the one that gives me the privilege to write this blog and post the truthful information I post. As well as the same right that commenter's have to post their comments here.
I understand part of the D/C's anger I think. The actions of a City Councilman put a cloud over the D/C's promotion when the Councilman made it a point to tell everyone that would listen that he "cut a deal" with Chief Rovella to make the promotion happen. I doubt that is true since I don't see Chief Rovella as cutting deals with anyone. The real truth probably is that the new D/C was at the top of the list because of his qualifications and training well before the Councilman ever got involved.
I think the D/C's gripe is with the Councilman and his bragging for putting the cloud over him, not me.
The Major Crimes Sergeant who has been vowing to everyone that he is "taking me down apparently is not happy because of a couple postings that pointed out his incompetence on a couple of crime scenes, one being a kidnapping and homicide in the Southend where he never even left his office or assigned detectives to Investigate until the media started questioning why no one had interviewed witnesses or secured the crime scene.. The witchhunt to find out my source was more important than finding the victims killer. ok, i can understand why he is upset, no one wants their incompetence highlighted
I couldn't figure out the tirade by the Patrol Sergeant until someone reminded me about a conversation I had with him one night down by the riverfront when I brought up a fight he had at a Comacast Concert where he was beaten up and scratched by a girl from Fairfield County. Let me take the opportunity to apologize for that one now. I didn't think your wife was listening and I didn't know. she was going to get upset.
I also post many positive things about our Police Department. I took a lot of heat last year for posting the successes of the Shooting Task Force. apparently Patrol Officers and others felt ignored by that. But , people that know what integrity and how to act like men (and women) had the guts to call me or stop me at Stop and Shop or Walmart to let me know how they felt. That is what adults do.
No one benefits from back stabbing and gossip and I would hope that a Deputy Chief and others would learn how to conduct themselves in a way that fosters better community relations and moves Chief Rovella's philosophy of transparency along, not undermine it
I think to anyone who looks at this realistically, I have done more than my share to support HPD and yes, bring about change. If that change means exposing bad cops, I don't apologize for that. And I have thick skin so bring it on, the good and honest members of HPD know what is up.
In the meantime, if any of you decide to act like adults , my number is 860-883-2297. We may not agree, but at least you can make your point
In the meantime, if any of you decide to act like adults , my number is 860-883-2297. We may not agree, but at least you can make your point
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