Search This Blog

Friday, September 19, 2014

THE FRAUD CONTINUES

I have always been suspect of the validity of Mayor Pedro Segarra's "storytelling" abilities. Much of them would be much more believable if only he would stick to the truth, or at least acknowledge when he isn't

At Wednesday nights public hearing on the Rock Cats deal, Segarra once again found it necessary to embellish the truth during his comments . He was telling the story about how he is constantly hearing from Hartford residents about what a great job he is doing and how they all welcome the Rock Cats deal.

I immediately knew that couldn't be  true because the sentiment in the community seems to be more opposed than favorable to the deal. I do know that Segarra has a tendency to only hear what he wants to hear, and probably is tuning out the negative comments. It is all about the ego and convincing himself what a terrific job he is doing. That is what has gotten him into trouble repeatedly.

But then as he continued his remarks, he stated that a resident came up to him and said "If not us, who? If not now, when?". This just sounded too lucid for a Segarra comment .So  I had to make my first stop Google to see if we might have a little plagiarism going on here.

Sure enough we do, the fraud continues.Michigan Governor George Romney appears to have been the first modern person to popularize the saying (September 1963). Romney was pushing for “tax reform” — a 2% Michigan state personal income tax. (Michigan now has this tax and it’s over 4%.) In a speech to the Michigan legislature , Romney asked "If not us , who?. If not now , when?"

In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan used the saying to talk about federal budget cuts–the opposite of Romney’s philosophy. From the 1981 Reagan speech:
All of us came here because we knew the country couldn’t go on the way it was going. So it falls to all of us to take action. We have to ask ourselves if we do nothing, where does all of this end. Can anyone here say that if we can’t do it, someone down the road can do it, and if no one does it, what happens to the country? All of us know the economy would face an eventual collapse. I know it’s a hell of a challenge, but ask yourselves if not us, who, if not now, when?

Pedro, please try dealing with the truth, it will make life a lot easier

Monday, September 8, 2014

R=E=S=P=E=C=T

 
I am not even sure what I can say about this picture. What can I say about the level of respect displayed by dancing on the roof off a police car? And yes, the car was damaged when the roof and hood were dented.

If you recognize the individuals in the picture you can pass that on to HPD at 860-757-4000

UPDATE- 9:30PM-According to HPD sources, all 3 cruiser dancers have been apprehended as the result of some great citizen involvement

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Apparently HPD has been receiving complaints from residents and politicians regarding speeding in the area of Asylum and Woodside Circle in the West end.

As the result of their increased enforcement one of the first ticketed for speeding was none other than Hartford's own Councilman Ken Kennedy, reportedly 46 in a 30 MPH zone. No details yet on just how that conversation went. Maybe Kennedy has one of those corvette engines he feared were going to go in HPD cruisers.

Friday, August 22, 2014

THE MEANING OF INSANITY -SEGARRA STYLE

The Rock Cats Crew
 
I am paraphrasing here, but I think many have said the definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing while expecting a different result.

Maybe there might just be a touch of insanity in the Segarra Administration.

After being widely criticized for 18 months of secret negotiations to lure the Rock Cat's away from New Britain. apparently the secrecy continues. Yesterday a "secret group" met out of the public eye to look at the proposals submitted for the develo0pment. According to the Hartford Courant, the public was not permitted to sit in on the meeting Thursday.

I have to ask why?  If you as Mayor were widely criticized for the secrecy that was a major part of sinking the deal in the first place, wouldn't you want to go in a different direction if you wanted the public acceptance. The deadline for submissions has already passed, so nothing can change now. Reviewing the proposals in a public discussion will not cause any issues as far as confidentiality . The public does not need to speak or even be heard, but they do have the right to know that everything is being done aboveboard and be given the option to observe the process.

When it comes to trust in Segarra and his administration, that seems to be eroding every day. A little common sense might start turning that around and he needs to throw the windows open to every aspect of business at Hartford City Hall. The good , the bad and the ugly.

This is the public business and tax money and they have every right to know what's going on before it is too late. A group of bureaucrats making decisions behind closed doors will not move this project forward one inch and will not win any support from residents. And yes, with the exception of one business person on the panel, they are all bureaucrats .

The secret meetings may also be a violation of the FOI Laws as they apply to Executive Session or "meetings from which the public is not permitted"

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

ROCK CATS PAY UP, HARTFORD DOES NOT

News this afternoon is that the Rock Cat's delivered their past due property tax check to the City of New Britain. They may still be going to court to try to get a Judge to reopen negotiations  for their tax deal, but they might want to try repairing the bridges to New Britain that they destroyed based on false assurances of a "Done Deal" with Mayor Segarra.

This deal apparently may be causing more problems for Segarra , according to City Hall sources. There have apparently been questions circulating as to where the  money has been coming from to fund the attorneys fees and consultant's fees associated with the 18 month secret deal and planning sessions. Since the Hartford City Council never voted on or appropriated  the estimated half a million dolllars  and no where does it show in the current budget.

So the question arises, how is Segarra doing this legally? The answer now may be that he wasn't and instead may have tapped into School Construction Building money, essentially creating his own "Rock Cats " slush fund and attempting to maintain the secrecy without anyone noticing where the money was being spent.

According to a source familiar with finance and payment processes at City Hall said that this week City Treasurer Adam Cloud has refused to sign a check for over $76,000 cut for payment to the law firm of Updike , Kelly and  Spellacy. According to the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Cloud questioned the expenditure when presented with the check to sign and where the money was coming from and which account.

 It was apparently found to be drawn from an account for Architectural and Engineering Design work on School Building projects. According to the source, both Federal law and State Statutes are clear on using grant or bond money for purposes other than which they are authorized. Criminal charges could potentially apply to any misuse. A proper investigation by appropriate authorities would be needed to determine if that line has been crossed.

The source stated that the City Council would need to pass a new bond resolution for a substantial re-use of any bond dollars. No record of that being done can be found at this time. Re-purposing school dollars for use on a baseball stadium would be considered a substantial change requiring Council approval.

A clause in state statute also holds anyone releasing funds improperly can be held personally liable, which means Cloud could be on the hook for the $76,000 or possibly any other checks he signs and releases if the funds aren't being drawn down properly.

This deal stinks with every corner turned, and now it might be time for outside authorities to begin taking a closer look, especially if money intended for Hartford children and schools is being used to fund the Segarra Field of Dreams.

City Treasurer Adam Cloud was unavailable for comment at the time of posting.

IT STILL STINKS, THE COURANT WEIGHS IN ON THE WALLER SCANDAL

The Courant has just posted an editorial on the Assistant Chief posting at HFD and what has become the latest scandal for the Segarra  Adminstration to address

Here is the Courant's editorial .http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-fix-was-in-for-top-spot-in-fire-department-20140820,0,4519900.story

I have to ask the same question that many people calling me are asking. What does Saundra Kee-Borges have that she can hold over Segarra's head. It must be good to be be able to embarrass Segarra time  and time again and still survive.

Pedro, aren't you tired of looking like a fool at the hands of SKB yet? Clearly you can do it on your own without her help.

And as a sidenote, here we are over 24 hours later and Mayor Segarra's Lack of Communication Director Maribel LaLuz has not responded to requests for comment   I am not sure we really need it or that anyone would trust them with an explanation at this point