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Thursday, July 17, 2014

THE JUMOKE MARINA



It is sometimes ironic how one thing leads to another once you start connecting the dots, especially in Hartford.

A local resident today sent me the above photo of the former Hartford Medical Society property on Scarborough Street. The parking lot apparently has an abandoned boat dumped in the lot. I was somewhat surprised once I started checking on the ownership of the property to find that it was owned by the Jumoke Academy.Although the Hartford assessors website shows it transferred ownership from the Medical Society to Jumoke in 2009.The property is currently assessed at $1.25 million dollars.

It would be interesting to find out where the funds came from for Jumoke to take ownership of the property and if there was a cash purchase , where did the funds come from.

It is unclear if the purchase was affiliated with FUSE, the organization that is wrapped up in scandal and has pretty much lost all of its revenue sources now because of that scandal.

If the building is connected with FUSE, what now? Will it be attached by the State or City to reclaim any of the funds that appear to have been obtained by people using false credentials and misinformation to obtain contracts and funding.

And how much other real estate do they own? Apparently the non-Doctor Michael Sharpe was residing in an apartment that FUSE/Jumoke owned on Asylum Street. The details are shrouded in secrecy by FUSE as they have apparently refused to release any related documents

What else do they own and where will the funds go now?


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

FINALLY

 
 
After several years of decimating Hartford's two municipal golf courses, Keney Park and Goodwin Park, the City has finally filed a lawsuit against the vendor.

The complaint below was filed against MDM Golf in an attempt to hopefully recover some of the lost revenue and the expenses to rehab the courses.

Why did it take so long Sandy?

 MDM has already been removed from the courses and any management responsibilities and it is unclear at this time what assets, if any,  are available for Hartford to recover.


Monday, July 7, 2014

TIME TO GET OUT THE G.P.S.

 
Is it another "Done Deal"? WDRC moving to Hartford?
 
Did City Hall and the Economic Development Masters find more cash sitting on the shelf in a shoebox in the Finance Department?

It seems like the Economic Development craze is growing. Apparently after you give away a $60 million taxpayer funded gift, everyone wants to buy in.

I received the following press release today in my e-mail claiming that Connoisseur Media was moving to Hartford after their purchase of WDRC AM and FM Radio. It sounds encouraging, right?

Wrong!!! WDRC Radio and their facilities are actually located in Bloomfield. Close to Hartford, but a lot cheaper tax wise. What a difference a couple hundred feet makes, a mill rate of 34.85 for their buildings and property in Bloomfield as opposed to 74.29 mills according to the State of Connecticut OPM website.

So apparently WDRC is not moving "into" Hartford ,as the press release might suggest.

Since rules don't seem to matter much to Mayor Segarra ,maybe we can just move the "Welcome to Hartford " signs a few hundred feet north on Blue Hills Avenue.

Sorry Pedro

CONNOISSEUR MEDIA MOVES INTO HARTFORD WITH
THE ACQUISITION OF WDRC FM & AM / WWCO / WMMW / WSNG

 

HARTFORD, CT – July 7th – It was announced today that Westport (Connecticut) based Connoisseur Media has closed on the purchase of WDRC-FM, WDRC-AM, WWCO, WMMW, and WSNG, from Buckley Broadcasting.  Effective immediately, with the expansion into Hartford, a number of Connoisseur’s Southern Connecticut employees will be elevated to new roles in the added market. 

 

Southern Connecticut Connoisseur General Manager Kristin Okesson, who now oversees WPLR, WEZN, WFOX, and WYBC*, will take on the Hartford group under her guidance.  Keith Dakin, current Operations Manager of the Southern Connecticut group, will assume a regional role in handling programming duties of WDRC as well.  Southern Connecticut Assistant Program Director Kevin Begley will move to Program Director of WEZN (Star 99.9) and WFOX (95.9 The Fox).  Southern Connecticut Music Director Allan Lamberti will take over the afternoon drive shift (2pm-7pm) on WDRC-FM, and become Assistant Program Director for WDRC FM and AM, and for New Haven’s 99.1 WPLR.  Lamberti’s previous midday shift on WFOX (95.9 The Fox) will be filled by Ed D’Oliveira.  The new lineup of WDRC-FM air talent will include Mike “Lappy” Lapitino in middays.  Lapitino, who has done afternoons at WPLR for almost 30 years, will remain in that role as well.  

 

On the sales front, Stu Gorlick, current Director of Sales of Buckley’s Hartford stations, will be given an expanded position, adding WPLR and WYBC to his portfolio.  Andy Alcosser, current Southern Connecticut General Sales Manager, will be promoted to Director of Sales for WEZN and WFOX including all new business initiatives for the region.  Rowena White will remain in her role overseeing non-traditional revenue and digital but for the entire Connecticut group.  Stu, Andy, and the rest of the sales management team will work collaboratively to provide the best solutions and results for clients statewide, utilizing all the tools this large group of heritage radio stations has to offer. 

 

The business and traffic departments will be based out of Connoisseur’s Southern Connecticut facility, and work in tandem with the Hartford staff.  Engineering will be led by Southern Connecticut Chief Engineer Dom Bordonaro, in conjunction with Hartford Chief Engineer Scott Baron. 

 

“We are extremely excited about acquiring such a legendary station as WDRC,” said General Manager Kristin Okesson.  She thanked Buckley Broadcasting “for sustaining a great property over the years” and went on to say “we’re anxious to make it even bigger and better now by adding some of our key talented players into the mix.”

 

The format of WDRC FM will be Classic Hits, focusing on core artists such as Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Boston, Queen, Journey, Steve Miller Band, and U2 .  Regional Operations Manager, Keith Dakin explained, “The Hartford market has a hole for a Classic Hits based radio station, and the new sound of 102.9 will fill it.”  The station’s new positioning statement is:  102.9 DRC, Classic Hits of the 70’s, 80’s, and More

 

The staffs of WDRC-AM, WWCO, WMMW, and WSNG will remain at their helms, including legendary Connecticut broadcaster Brad Davis. 

 

CEO Jeff Warshaw added, "Connoisseur is so gratified to add these legendary call letters to our stable of extraordinary Connecticut properties."

 

Connoisseur owns/operates 40 stations in eleven markets including significant clusters in Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey.

 

 

 

*WYBC is owned by Yale Broadcasting; Connoisseur Media operates under a joint sales agreement

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

I BET NO ONE SAW THIS COMING

According to sources within the Hartford Fire Department, Firefighter Douglas Caldwell is no longer an employee of the HFD.

According to the sources and media accounts, Caldwell was given a final chance at success as a firefighter after several alcohol related incidents while acting as a firefighter. After a recent stint in rehab, Caldwell apparently agreed to sign a letter of resignation that could be used anytime over the next two years if any more incidents occurred. That letter was apparently used today.

No official comment or details are available from HFD at this time.

This comes on the heels of the latest firefighter who was deemed unfit for duty  at Engine 9 on New Britian Avenue after he apparently showed up late for work yesterday, drunk.

This is hopefully not a trend at HFD  and it is something the Administration needs to get under control and address quickly. This is something the taxpayers of Hartford can not afford, the training costs and maintaining a firefighter are by no means inexpensive , not to mention what are the root causes  of the drinking problems.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

UPDATES ON UPCOMING POSTS

Is it something in a name? Toronto's Mayor isn't the only one. I am still gathering the documents on the claims of racism by a Hartford Deputy  Police Chief , but apparently the plot is thickening and is widening outside of HPD. Stay tuned for this one.

And what Hartford Labor Unions are under scrutiny for questionable use of funds and missing money. The answer might surprise you. The documents will be forthcoming on that soon also

Keep reading "We The People Hartford" for the interesting answers

SOMETHINJG STINKS IN MAYOR SEGARRA'S OFFICE...AND IT IS NOT BAD CAVIAR

 
McEnroe:  "WOODEN... is now moving backward like a crawfish on crack"
 
Anyone that has been paying attention knows the Rock Cats deal stinks, but as we continue to peel back more layer's of the onion, it is becoming much clearer how bad the deal is and more questions are being raised.

Last week I posted about the "unspecified"  account that a City Hall source found in Munis. Munis is the City of Hartford's proprietary accounting and software system.

The source stated that the account appeared to have about $450,000 in it and showed expenses paid out of the account to Updike Kelly, a law firm and other consultants working on the Rock Cats deal.

Today WNPR's Jeff Cohen reported on the specifics of  those payments.

But how that account was funded and how the payments were approved is now raising more questions. You can read Cohen's story here

Although Segarra or his mouthpiece claim they have the authority to reallocate CIP (Capital Improvement Project) funds, a source in the Hartford Treasurers Office told me tonight he does not. That duty is reserved for the Council. No revised Bond Resolutions have been before the Council to re-allocate the funds Segarra is spending.

Colin McEnroe is right on this one. Council President Shawn Wooden who had no problem standing behind Segarra and the Solomon's (the Rock Cats  owners)I now busy back pedaling, according to McEnroe "like a crawfish on crack"

Maybe it is time for Wooden and the Council's OMB Committee to start bringing some truth and common sense to this deal. Where did the money come from? How was it approved? And most importantly, is it even legal the way it was done.

It might possibly be legal if the money was actually voted on by the Council when they approved this years budget, but we know that didn't happen under the veil of secrecy that shrouded this deal. I think we would have noticed a budget item labeled "Rock Cats".

For Segarra who is always saying he is about "the process" this process needs to be thoroughly investigated. Council President Wooden has every authority to start the ball rolling. Who approved the expenditures for these payments and transfers, was it the Finance Director, the Comptroller, the Mayor's Office, the Budget Director?

To read Colin McEnroe's full article, click here