If someone truly loves Hartford as much as he tried to make us believe during the recent campaign, Pedro Segarra needs to forget the ego and start showing us that love, if it really exists.
Now I understand politics a little bit. I also understand that a "lame duck", especially one soundly defeated, will try to leave is mark as he leaves.
The problem simply is that the direction of Pedro Segarra's administration ,as well as that of his predecessor, has left a terrible void in Hartford's leadership. The next Mayor deserves to shift and replace whatever is needed to begin making real change. Last minute replacements throughout City Hall as well on Boards and Commissions are simply an attempt at establishing roadblocks to impede the forward movement of the next administration.
Segarra's last minute moves to appoint an Assistant Fire Chief and now filling slots on the Pension Commission are sleazy attempts to stymie the next administration. The slots on the pension Commission are actually not vacant and although the terms of the 2 Commissioners expired as far back as two years ago, both were were still serving, so there was no rush to fill their positions. Except when you look at the fact that the two current Commissioners are believed to be supportive of the Bronin Campaign and the 2 Segarra appointees are apparently Segarra loyalists and donors to the Segarra campaign.
Does a campaign donation really warrant an appointment to the Pension Commission? The pension Commission is too important of an appointment to gamble and rush with. Currently the Hartford Pension Commission manages in excess of nearly $1billion dollars in retirees pension investment dollars .The future of Hartford's retirees demands that these appointments not be taken lightly or relegated to political payback or retaliation.
If the two individuals brought forth by Segarra are qualified to serve, then so be it. But that is a decision that should be left up to the next Mayor and the next Hartford City Council as they build their own team for the future. The same rings true for Assistant Fire Chiefs also.
Mator Segarra, if you are a man of your word and truly support your successor for a transparent shift, as you publicly stated in Burr Mall, then show us you still have integrity and do it.
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