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Tuesday, October 6, 2015

ONLY IN HARTFORD: CONVICTED EMBEZZLER TO BE HANDED DILLON STADIUM PROJECT

Another one from the "Only in Hartford File". As if the baseball stadium isn't enough, now this Courant article posted on line tonight.http://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2015/10/only-in-hartford-convicted-embezzler-to.html

Does anyone at City Hall understand the meaning of "due diligence"? Why are we just hearing about this now? Who  knew about the developers history, especially the embezzlement convictions?

A LAME DUCKS ATTEMPT TO STACK THE DECK

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.



REPRESENTATIVE ANGEL ARCE, ONE OF A KIND

 
 
Some people plan and plot just to get into politics. Others are thrust into the political scene.
Hartford's Fourth District State Representative Angel Arce is one of our rare politicians who has found his calling as a true public  servant.

Angel is someone I consider a good friend and I have gotten to know him after he was thrust into the limelight of Hartford's politics. Angel showed that he was a tireless fighter after a tragic hit and run accident that eventually claimed the life of his father. Angel fought hard to see the evading driver brought to justice. Arce eventually answered the call to represent his neighbors in the legislature and was elected as a State Representative.

Angel is one of those rare political figures that actually remembers why he was elected and seems to thrive on helping his constituents. Angel is much more comfortable walking through his district and talking to the residents than he is attending a political cocktail party. A walk with Arce through his District should be required education for every other State Rep. entering the legislature.

Angel's popularity stems from his genuineness, not from any political game playing. The people that approach Angel when walking routinely voice their thanks for everything from help in obtaining a job interview to keeping their lights on when threatened with a shutoff notice. Arce is a product of Hartford and its neighborhoods and clearly understands the  trials and tribulations his constituents face for every day survival. Crime, poverty, health care issues are all problems that Arce comes forward to help his thankful neighbors with.

The attached posting on Angel's Facebook page recently shows just how far Arce will go to assist his constituents. This was copied from Angel's Facebook page. Angel had no idea I was going to post this, but it shows the true quality of the man I am honored to call my friend.

  "One of my constituents called me today and said, "I have not seen my sister in 25 years and she is in New Jersey visiting for a few days . I'm looking for someone to take me to see my sister" I told him don't worry I take you. . so here we are on our way to see his sister . love to make people happy. New Jersey here we come."

If only more of our politicians had the same understanding that Angel has of what Public Service actually means we would be much better off.

Friday, September 25, 2015

HPD STATEMENT ON PROPERTY ROOM CLERKS ARREST

FROM HPD
Subject: City of Hartford employee fired and arrested

On August 18, 2015 a supervisor in the Hartford Police Department Property Room learned that during a regular audit of property, at least one bag of marijuana submitted as “Found Property” was missing. The supervisor reported this discovery to the Hartford Police Department Internal Affairs Division. The supervisor was able to determine through his initial audit that a civilian City of Hartford clerk assigned to the HPD Property Room, Liza Aponte (40yo of Hartford) was the source of the missing property. An immediate internal investigation was initiated, to include an expansive audit of property room evidence to include all drugs, money, jewelry and weapons. Aponte was transferred pending the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation expansive audit revealed a total of three bags of property missing. Internal Affairs investigators, based on video surveillance and closely maintained property room logging records were able to confirm the missing evidence was taken by Liza Aponte.

On September 3rd, 2015 after the appropriate administrative process, Aponte was terminated.
Internal Affairs investigators interviewed Aponte. Based on evidence and her own statements, on September 15, 2015 investigators applied for an arrest warrant for Aponte. On September 21, 2015 it was approved. On Wednesday September 23, 2015 Aponte turned herself into the Hartford Police Department. She was arrested and booked for 2 counts of Larceny 2nd Degree and 2 counts of Unlawful Removal of Records. The charges came with a $10,000 judge set bond.

Of Note:
Liza Aponte was hired by the City of Hartford in an effort to civilianize certain positions within the police department. She was hired in January of 2015.

Three bags were removed from the property room by Aponte. All contained small amounts of marijuana. One bag contained an unknown type pills. All bags were submitted to the HPD property room as “Found Property”. This means they are not attached to any criminal proceedings or criminal investigations.

The expansive audit did not reveal any other missing property.

Further safeguards have been put in place to prevent civilians from misappropriating evidence.

Complete details of the warrant will be made available through the GA14 Clerks Office.

ARREST WARRANT SIGNED FOR HPD CLERK

Here is the original posting, first reported here on We the People.http://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2015/08/civilianization-best-route-for-some-hpd.html Now after the Internal Affairs Investigation, an arrest warrant has been signed for the civilian clerk, Liza Aponte. According to sources within HPD, Aponte was terminated several weeks ago.

It is still unclear if this is a normal policy for civilians to transport drugs unsupervised, as was the case with Aponte

SOME FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE A COMMUTER TAX

The same Hartford City Council person that wanted to give herself over a $100,000 per year expense account a short time ago, now wants to apparently impose a commuter tax on the employees of some of  Hartford's largest corporations. Here is more on the proposal http://www.wfsb.com/story/30028075/hartford-councilwoman-wants-businesses-state-to-contribute-to-cost-of-services

This idea is about as crazy as a six figure expense account for Council people in  a cash strapped City.

I'm really not sure where Councilwoman Cynthia Jennings gets her ideas from, but maybe she might want to look into some actual financial restraint before floating these ideas.

Taxing commuters to Hartford's largest employers could quite possibly be the incentive for those employers to start looking outside of Hartford for their corporate homes. Corporate loyalty is not what it used to be a couple decades ago, and we have seen many large corporations willing to relocate when the taxation leash gets too tight.

The City of Hartford has an opportunity to show that it understands what "fiscal responsibility" actually means, and that  responsibility is not  shown tapping into the pockets of the working class to solve their own monetary excesses.

With a new administration on the horizon, including an entirely new Council Majority, change even symbolic change, can begin to set the tone that Hartford is once again open for business and ready to set the tone of responsibility.

A good start would be to end the old policy of political patronage where each Council person brings in their own Council Assistant at a salary exceeding $45,000 a year plus benefits. These are usually people connected to the Councilperson by friendship or a loyal campaign worker that helped get an individual elected. The work load for a Councilperson is not that great that they each need a fulltime assistant.

Here is a little more on how these "aides" are selectedhttp://articles.courant.com/2012-12-12/community/hc-hartford-council-assistant-1213-20121212_1_weinsteins-federal-lawsuit-eric-patton

In the State Legislature 3 State Reps share one assistant. That is a system that seems to have worked out well at the Capitol, and the time has come to move to that in Hartford. We don't  need, and we can't afford,  9 separate Council assistants. It might be good for the Councilperson's ego, but it is terrible for the budget funded by the taxpayers.

It is also the time for a greater level of accountability at Hartford City Hall, both out of responsibility for the taxpayers of Hartford as well as to increase the productivity of City Hall. The effectiveness of City Government has been widely criticized by constituents that feel that Hartford Government has been less than responsive to their needs. Greater accountability should also set the tone that taxpayers should feel comfortable that they are getting their money's worth.

Hartford does not have a revenue problem as much as it has a spending problem. This puts us in a very difficult position when we look to the State for additional financial help. We need to show ,first and foremost that we are responsible stewards of those dollars.

A commuter tax will not send the right message. Showing financial restraint and responsibility will be a much better start. Hartford needs a smarter ,leaner operation in line with its financial resources.

There  isn't a better time to get started than now.