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Saturday, May 30, 2015

I THINK IT IS TIME FOR A CHARTER CHANGE AGAIN

I think we need to change the Charter again in Hartford. Not a lot of changes, really just one. We need annual elections for Mayor and City Council. It just seems like so much more gets done and our elected officials are much more attentive in election years. Isn't it amazing how Mayor Segarra has suddenly come to life acting like a leader when he knows his job is on the line and his record of performance isn't too great

As I write this now Segarra is arriving at the latest shooting scene on Barbour Street. Now that almost sounds Mayoral, but is this the first shooting in almost six years for him to attend? Where has he been previously. I don't even recall him showing up at a scene when a police officer has been shot.

 But it goes back to my reason for Charter Change. Politicians become different people when they know their jobs are on the line.

For years now I have heard Hartford's plead with the Council at budget time for more Officers. I have heard him plead for more money and to try to stop the Council from cutting  spending for the Cadet program and the PAL program. Unfortunately that has fallen o n deaf Council ears year after year . PAL and the Cadet program are the first stage of HPD's minority recruitment plan. But, since it wasn't done in an election year, it doesn't matter, cut the budget.

It was almost funny if it wasn't so serious to the City. Yesterday, Segarra held a press conference in the atrium of City Hall after he emerged from his secret meeting. It was interesting to watch. I almost thought that someone had found the money to make life size bobble head dolls of Ken Kennedy, Kyle Anderson and Shawn Wooden. Every that was made by Segarra about hiring more cops, funding for overtime, Funding Community Policing programs, all those statement were met by the bobblehead bounce of support.

I am going to save that that video. When Chief Rovella goes before the Mayor and Council for the funding to accomplish those goals I may have to drag that video out to remind them of that day. But if an election day isn't in the immediate future they may quickly forget ,as if often the case it seems

Friday, Police Chief Rovella said he was down 70 to 90 police officers... Rovella has cautioned city leaders in recent years that the department is losing staff faster than it can replace them." Where were the boobleheads then, or do they only listen to the Police Chief in an election year? Are the bobbleheads finally realizing that proper police funding is important to the people of Hartford and maybe they should listen because it might just become a big election issue?

 Maybe annual elections would remind the next Mayor and the next group of potential bobbleheads that they have to come through on their promises. Leadership requires that you step up and be a leader everyday, not just every 3 and a half years, 6 months before the next election cycle begins. Leadership requires that you show compassion and care for your constituents the entire term, not just when an election is looming.

And finally, since Hartford's voters for some reason seem to have short memories, annual will keep the failings of our elected officials fresh in our minds as we decide who to support. They will no longer be able to rejuvenate their images as fresh for the next election. They will no longer to be able to write off the history of their lackluster terms. They will no longer be able to tout "but look what I have done lately".

We won't have to worry about our long term memory, it will be fresh in our minds with yearly elections

5th DISTRICT REP. MCGEE COMMENTS ON RECENT VIOLENCE

 
Dear Friends,

This has been a very trying time for this community in the wake of the extreme and unnecessary violence. I write to you still in shock over the events.

My heart weighs heavy with deep concern for the victims, their families and loved ones, and for all the young people growing up in fear in this atmosphere of hate and disregard for human life.

In the past two weeks, four people have died in shootings in Hartford and another was stabbed to death. As of yesterday, 12 homicides have occurred in the city, and random shootings have skyrocketed compared to last year. Earlier this week 2 drive-by shootings occurred around 6am Sunday morning. A pastor placing memorial flags in front of his church on Capitol Avenue and another man on Garden Street were both shot minutes apart.

It pains me to think of what these acts are teaching our young people. Children growing up in homes plagued by domestic violence and abuse often become abusers themselves. I hate to imagine anyone carrying forward and replaying these atrocities in the future.

I still believe the most violent neighborhoods have the potential to achieve peace with the proper support and programs for struggling youth that reduce their numbers entering the juvenile justice system. Making positive changes in neighborhoods prone to violence and supporting families remains a priority.

I have been working with many groups committed to transforming violent neighborhoods back into safe and thriving communities in spite of those individuals who spread terror and hate again and again.

All of us are committed to the common goal of stopping the cycle of violence and revitalizing urban neighborhoods for the future--but we are still losing young people to violence and families continue to flee those neighborhoods.

I will work with anyone committed to safer and healthier neighborhoods for all children and families. By joining together, we can increase our collective impact and have a bigger opportunity to achieve meaningful, positive social change. City and community leaders and neighborhood groups will be meeting to affirm our solidarity, discuss, and plan for action.

I ask you to join me in these efforts, to work together, and share your thoughts and ideas. I promise to keep you informed and communicate more about these meetings as they are scheduled in the hopes you can attend. Your participation is most necessary and appreciated.
 
Sincerely,

Brandon McGee

BOB KILLIAN'S THOUGHTS ON HARTFORD'S RECENT VIOLENCE

 The following was received from Mayoral Candidate Robert Killian:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/267085975/Killian

Friday, May 29, 2015

SECRET MEETINGS DON'T BUILD COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE

According to the Hartford Courant Editorial today, Mayor Segarra will today meet privately with "selected community members".

Bad idea Mayor .I know you are trying to look like a leader since you squandered five years of possible involvement, but not this  way. People, especially Hartford residents, need to have confidence in their leaders and secret meetings do not instill confidence. Yes, maybe you are doing something, but who will know?

I think you already know there is not a lot of trust and confidence in your administration and do you really think they are going to take your word for it?

And just for clarification , who are these "selected Community members" I notice the term "community leaders" wasn't used Are they your campaign supporters. I would imagine they aren't campaign donors, because if they were Hartford people, that seems like a very small group.

This is a conversation that needs to be held in the open , publicly. The public is who is being impacted most by this violence and they are the ones that need to be reassured. A room full of Segarra  supporters, patting the Mayor on the back, serves no one.  Pedro needs to hear the harsh reality of his failures, not the hand clapping of supporters waiting for the next grant check from the City

 People are dying. 

As one person familiar with the meeting today said "too little too late"

WHAT IS THE CORRECT NUMBER OF OFFICERS FOR HPD?

Here is a  report commissioned by the Hartford Police Department. Hopefully the report will answer some of the staffing questions for HPD such as what are the proper number of Officers that should be at HPD. It is very dry reading, but it is informative
Hartford Police Department Staffing and Deployment Analysis 3-02-201 (2)

THE FOLEY COMMENTS, THE OTHER SIDE "WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE COPS"

A mentor of mine has always tried to pound into my head that I owe it to the people I write about to contact them first before I post a story about them. I did that this afternoon, with some interesting results.

I read this mornings newspaper with an interesting story about Hartford's Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley and his apparent comments that "we don't need more cops in Hartford". I think I read that like most people asking ' You know we aren't talking about Hartford Vermont. Are you aware of what has gone on in Hartford, Connecticut the last few weeks?" I drove around all day stewing about how anyone in their right mind could make such a comment and what I was going to write as my next blog post

 Would the heading be " HPD DEPUTY CHIEF LOSES HIS MIND?"  To make the situation worse , a couple of HPD Officers I encountered during the day all asked me "What's up with your buddy Foley and the Courant article?"

Yes , it is no big secret Brian Foley is a friend of mine, it has been mentioned numerous times here in the comments. I knew I was headed to a showdown when I put my thoughts on the blog, so late this afternoon I called Brian with the "heads up" that he probably wasn't going to like my blog posting tonight. The immediate response was "You're not going to beat me up also are you" I guess it was a bad day for Brian

I offered to make our conversation off the record, but I had questions about his comments. He said no, let's talk on the record and clarify any questions I had. I know that sounds odd for friends going on and off the re3cord, but I like to be upfront about that . Former Chief Daryl Roberts and I always had an understanding like that. I knew what it meant if he talked to me as Daryl to Kevin and what it meant when he talked to me as Chief Roberts to Kevin. Luckily a few times I asked that before the conversation got rolling , just to be sure.

 The first point Brian made was to the headline attributed to him. Foley "Could we use more cops , absolutely" Foley also clarified that "We need more long term solutions, We do need to hire more cops" " Flooding the streets with cops is not a long term solution"  Foley seemed to make, or try to make the point in the article that we will soon be hearing the call from the community urging the State Police to come in to solve the crime problems. Chief Foley walked very gingerly on that thin ice. Both Brian's father and his sister are or were Connecticut State Troopers so he wanted to avoid anything that looked like a slam to the State Police.

 But I don't need to defend Brian on this one, we are in total agreement here. For some reason CSP has always been seen as the savior riding in on the white horse to solve Hartford's problems. It is a feel good thing and not a solution at all. For the State Police to come into Hartford, for some screwy reason , the Hartford Police Union has a clause in the contract that any Trooper coming into Hartford needs to be paired up with a Hartford Officer on overtime,. If the Governor is even asked to send in Troopers, I would hope that he says NO. Give the dollars that would be spent on Troopers directly to Hartford in the form of a grant  to only be used for a summer initiative  to put HPD Officers on the streets.

Another solution to involve the State Police as a resource is also simple By CT Statute, the State Police can patrol or go anywhere in the State of Connecticut  outside of their regular areas as long as they don't establish regular patrols. If the state Police should come into Hartford, let them do what we already know they are good with. Set up a traffic check point on a Friday or Saturday and do traffic inspections. Hartford is a small city and most things move by car.

At a traffic checkpoint I would almost guarantee that it would serve several purposes. It would calm Hartford's reckless driving mentality and force some adherence to Motor vehicle law and most likely it would find guns and drugs being transported around the City and many outstanding warrants.

The HPD Union may not like the idea, but we are talking lives here

If State money doesn't come with those strings attached, Segarra and company will find a way to suck it into the General Fund to plug another budget hole.

Chief Foley also seemed to make the comment that by putting more officers into poor and minority areas it disrupted those area with additional, or maybe excessive police action and arrest to disrupt the neighborhood. Although again Foley said that flooding an area with cops is not a long term solution. I asked Brian if he would agree that the execution of a 17  year old , shot through the head at the curb disrupts a neighborhood more than any Police presence ever could. He replied :"I would absolutely agree with you". (He was using absolutely quite a bit today).

I was glad that I took the advice of my mentor and contacted Brian. I was prepared for a much different conversation initially, but in the end I was much happier with the outcome and felt much more comfortable with Brian's comments.

 Just remember , there are always two sides to every story.