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Tuesday, April 5, 2016

TIME TO REGROUP AND MOVE FORWARD

The past several days have been interesting. Over the weekend I received several calls from people that had been big supporters of Mayor Luke Bronin. Most of them were questioning what they called my blind support of our new Mayor Bronin.

After taking the weekend to think about it and make some phone calls of my own to people I trust, I agree they were right.

If Pedro Segarra or  even Eddie Perez were pulling the amateur stunts that Luke Bronin is pulling now, I would have been all over them. I think deep down I was probably hoping things would work out and Bronin was actually making bold, well thought out initiatives to get Hartford back on track. As I look back though, I should have seen more of the warning signs.

It is times like this when I really value my friendship and the "political" mentoring I received from John O'Connell. Like it or not, you always knew where you stood with John and he taught me much about Hartford's politics He was invaluable when it came to budget process and questions, but more importantly he was a student of politics. One of the best lessons he ever gave me is to learn how to count your votes.

If you had something that was important and wanted to move forward, you count your votes to gauge support. If you could persuade or lie up the votes, then move forward. If the votes weren't there and never were going to be there, regroup and build another plan. I thought Luke would know that, but apparently he never counted his votes on the City or the State level before pushing forward with what should have been an ill advised power grab.

And "Power Grab" is not my term, it was a term used by speaker after speaker last night to describe the "Financial Sustainability Bill". It was also disheartening to see all of Hartford's Unions made out to be such a big part of the financial problem at meeting after meeting conducted by Mayor Bronin. I would think that before going to the "nuclear" approach to solve Hartford's budget problems, the Unions would have all been called in to sit down and be part of the solution.

Last nights meeting and the Financial Sustainability Commission Bill was a major test for Bronin's Administration. It wasn't a test that Bronin passed, to be honest it was a resounding failure. It was kind of sad to watch Luke Bronin pushing the plunger to set off the blast for his first implosion. I would think it would have gone much further  for Bronin to admit the idea was ill conceived and say that he was requesting to pull the resolution and go back to the drawing board to start over again with a better plan that would work

It was also very troubling to listen to the next speaker to the microphone after Bronin. Melissa McCaw, Bronin's Director of Management and Budget. McCaw's answer to many of the questions asked by the Council were the same " I am sorry, I have only been here a couple of months and I will have to defer on the answer to that". EXCUSE ME! You have a half a billion dollar budget due in less than  two weeks and you are "deferring" on critical questions.

There were speakers from the public that came to the microphone that seemed more knowledgeable on Budget issues than Melissa McCaw, or at the very least much better prepared.

The Back Lives Matter protest seemed to really throw a curve to Bronin's rehearsed remarks and forced him off script. I am not sure why the BLM protest tried to ride the coattails of Hartford's Unions , the majority of whom are very supportive of the BLM movement, but it was the Unions night to air their concerns to the Council, Bot BLM. I doubt they garnered much support or sympathy for their cause through their actions

I and many others thought, or were led to believe that had already happened. According to testimony last night from Hartford's Union leaders, it did not happen and in fact the Unions had already put forward cost cutting suggestions, only to be pushed aside.

And what steps have been taken on the City level to attempt a fix of the budget problems, and whose decision was it to jump past any local solutions and go right to the State for help? I understand there are many moving parts here, including that legislative help from the State would need to take place during the Legislatures "short " session this year. The term "kick the can down the road" was used several times times during the night. Our days of can kicking really do need to end and we really do need to come up with sustainable solutions if we are ever going to see our grand list and Hartford's economy grow .

One of those was incumbent Councilwoman Cynthia Jennings asking why we couldn't continue to "Kick the can down the road". I guess that statement might explain why we are in the mess we are in now.

We are still operating in a Democracy though and those sustainable solutions need to come out of equal partnerships. A partnership with all stakeholders siting at the same table, having an honest and respectful dialogue and not through a "power grab" by a Financial Sustainability Commission, locking out the majority of Hartford's elected Council, its residents and its stakeholders.

The solution is within our reach, but we have to be willing to do the hard work to make it happen. And that includes making the difficult decisions, putting the political impact aside and doing what is best for Hartford.

It is what John O'Connell would have done.

Friday, April 1, 2016

ANOTHER "DUSTED" FELON FIRING A GUN , HPD AND SHOTSPOTTER SAY "NOT TODAY"


On March 31, 2016, at approximately 4:55pm, a ShotSpotter activation alerted HPD Officers to multiple shots fired in the area of 90 Heath Street. As HPD officers responded to the area, dispatch relayed information that a male had been discharging his firearm in the area. Officers entered the rear yards near 90 Heath Street, encountering a male who appeared to be under the influence and disorientated. Officers observed a black semi-automatic handgun on the ground. As both the suspect and handgun were secured, a witness informed the officers that her brother had fired the handgun and was on "PCP." Investigation revealed that the suspect was a convicted felon. The suspect was arrested and charged accordingly.

Heath St. was previously not covered under the ShotSpotter system. However, the ShotSpotter expansion in the city of Hartford went live on Wednesday. Almost immediately this expansion has had an impact,  taking an illegal firearm out of the hands of a convicted felon alleged to be on PCP,  and off our city streets.

Recovered Evidence:
One (1) Glock Model 30 - .45 caliber handgun, Nine(9) .45 caliber shell casings,
One (1) knotted plastic bag containing crack cocaine

Arrested: Neville Clarke 33, or Hartford CT (Convicted Felon, Currently on Parole, 6 Previous Hartford Arrests)
Charges: Unlawful Discharged of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of Firearm, Carrying a Pistol w/o Permit,
Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree, Possession of Narcotics

HPD OFFICER RECOGNIZED FOR LIFESAVING EFFORTS



On December 13th, 2015 at approximately 3:09pm, HPD Officer Jill Kidik responded to a home on Mary Shepard Place regarding the report of a one year old child not breathing and unresponsive.  On arrival, Officer Kidik was immediately approached by a frantic woman who carried the one year old toward her. Officer Kidik quickly determined that the child was not breathing and observed that he was cyanotic and that his eyes “rolled” toward the back of his head.  The child was not moving and by all accounts, was fully unconscious and entirely unresponsive.  The officer managed to ascertain that the child had been eating cereal, proceeded to choke and lapsed into unconsciousness.  Efforts to administer CPR and other lifesaving measures by family members of the young boy proved futile.

Without hesitation and fully realizing that time was of the essence, Officer Kidik, alone and without assistance of any emergency personnel, took hold of the youngster and proceeded to employ emergency first aid measures.  After first attempting to clear the child’s mouth of potential obstructions and then administering CPR, Officer Kidik was met without success.  Shortly thereafter, she sat the child up and proceeded with “Heimlich” type maneuvers in the hope that whatever created the breathing obstruction could be dislodged. Officer Kidik did this for approximately one minute.  Then, suddenly, the child began to scream, cough and slowly start to breathe on his own. 

Ambulance and Hartford Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene and transported the child to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center for evaluation and further treatment.  The child was ultimately admitted to the hospital but is expected to fully recover.

Without a doubt, had Officer Kidik not taken the action that she did, the young child would have certainly not survived.

Officer Kidik’s actions are a to the Hartford Police Department and an example of some of the truly heroic things so many of Hartford’s finest do on a regular basis. Officer Kidik has been presented with the Hartford Police Department’s Lifesaving Award.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

HARTFORD'S BUDGET CRISIS: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Everyone you talk to these days has an idea or a solution for Hartford's budget mess. Where have they been for the last 15 or 20 years?

It just seems sad that we finally have a Mayor ( and maybe a City Council) with the ability to lead , only to see them being sucked into the City Hall quicksand pit. It must seem like an almost impossible task for Mayor Luke Bronin to grab that branch at the edge of the pit to pull himself out.

The unions won't throw him a lifeline, the Connecticut legislature is counting the minutes until he goes under, even Bronin's former boss and mentor Governor Dannel Malloy is grasping for a branch at the edge of a much larger quicksand pit of his own.

So if Mayor Bronin is lucky enough to grab that branch and pull himself out, where do we go? Back to the beginning is probably a good start. The legislative solution should be the last resort. We all know that politicians, especially on the State level , get elected through Union support. They provide donors and money. They provide free labor in the form of volunteers for phone banking, door knocking and getting out the election day vote. No politician in their right mind will take on a bill to chop the Unions off at the knees.

I think that was more hype and propaganda , rather than reality, but the Union's stormed the Capitol I'm force this week and sent a clear message to legislators. "If you like your jobs, then don't mess with ours". Misinformation can do wonders when you have an agenda to move forward..

But on the flip side of that coin, Hartford's Unions can not and should not be made out to be the bad guys. Hartford's Unions , whether it be Police, Fire or City Hall workers through HMEA ,or DPW through 1716 can not set their own collective bargaining agreements. They are negotiated by the both the Unions and the City and ultimately approved by a vote of the City Council.

The benefits and pensions being paid out now were approved  by those same politicians that now seem to have been caught off guard by the liabilities and wonder how this ever happened.

Hartford's Unions definitely need to be part of the potential solution, but can not be the entire solution. Do we need to look at benefits and bring them into line with both the City's sustainable future budget requirements. Absolutely. But there is so much more that we need to look at. Bringing fiscal responsibility back to Hartford Government is a necessity for our survival . I think Luke Bronin has the capacity to make that happen, along with the team he is surrounding himself with, but I think he needs to invite a few more players to the table.

Say what you want about our City Treasurer , but I think he has a vital role to play in getting us back on a sustainable foundation. Some of the suggestions on behalf of Hartford's Pension Commission can really mean the difference between turning this ship around or continuing toward the iceberg, full steam ahead.

As an example, Hartford's Batterson Park, located in Farmington, is a non-producing asset which could be developed into a constant revenue generator with potential money returned to both the Pension fund and the General Fund. Apparently there are no deed restrictions that prohibit a development use for the parcel.

No one solution is going to be the magic bullet for Hartford's problem,  but by keeping an open mind and listening to all ideas, the fiscal fix might just be in reach and not require the Legislatures help or approval.

But all ideas need to be treated with respect and the attention to run them down and find options that just might work. Time is critical, but we shouldn't rush into options that just bog us down in more criticism and unproductive rhetoric.  Sit Hartford's Unions down and close the door and hammer out productive  arrangements. We don't need the legislature to mandate that..Put out an RFP for developers for Batterson Park and start moving on that. The list could go on and on, but we need to start and be willing to trust ourselves to get it done

The voters trusted in Hartford's elected officials  when they filled in the bubbles on their ballots on Election Day and now Hartford's elected officials need to show that they are worthy of that trust by rising to the occasion and making the difficult decisions we know they can make to return Hartford to a solid footing.

Educate the public as to what is going on and what the desired results are that we hope for. Put an end to the misinformation and rumors. Reassure retirees that served the City of Hartford faithfully over the years that their pensions are safe. We must  reassure current employees that the steps that are being taken now are to ensure that their pensions will still be viable after they complete their service to our City.

If  Hartford's Union's are treated with respect and are valued as part of the solution , the thoughts of "Union busting" should be laid to rest. History has shown that level of respect has not always been there. Remember a few short years ago when all of the bargaining units were called in to be part of a budget solution. They gave back with furlough days and concessions, only to see a $20,000 raise given to Mayor Segarra's Chief of Staff at the time. That hardly built any confidence in City Hall and that is still remembered by many at this time.

But first and foremost, we need to appreciate the efforts of our Mayor and his team he has assembled and the impossible task they accepted. If nothing else, they have had the courage to tackle the issues that previous administrations have ignored for years. We may not agree , or even support everything they are doing, but at least they are doing it. This needs to be a total team effort, and we need to have confidence that good will prevail and the egos will be set aside for the betterment of our City.

There is also quite a bit of useful information at Hartford.gov on the Treasurer's page that I just found tonight, scroll down to the bottom of the page to  "Our latest News" there are some interesting documents and information there  http://treasurer.hartford.gov/

To read Treasurer's Cloud testimony before the Legislature's Finance Committee , click here:

STILL BLEEDING CITY MONEY FOR DILLON

Apparently former Council President Shawn Wooden and Councilman Kenneth Kennedy's legacy is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to the Dillon Stadium deal and the related Federal Grand Jury into corrupt practices surrounding the project.

Through an FOI request to the City of Hartford Corporation Counsel's Office filed over a month ago, I am just starting to get documents back now. Those document s detail billing and payment records for legal fees associated with at least two City of Hartford employees called before the Grand Jury to testify as to their involvement in the project.

 Elda Sinani and Stephen Cole have both apparently spent numerous hours before the Grand Jury, racking up tens of thousands of dollars in outside legal fees . Stephen Cole's bill alone adds up to over $17,000. That is $17,000 in expenses for a cash strapped City  that has already wasted millions on a project going no where.

I am not sure why there are no lawyers on the City payroll that could handle representing a City employee before a Federal Grand Jury. Why do we need a staff full of attorney's in the Corporation Counsel's Office if we are going to spend this kind of money? Or is that just the way the "legal game" is played?

For more on the Dillon Stadium debacle, click here


LEADING BY EXAMPLE: SHARED SACRIFICE STARTS WITH SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE

According to sources, Hartford's Superintendent of Schools has stated that she is not willing to ask other employees to do something she is not willing to do herself.

Again, according to sources ,Dr. Beth Schaivino-Narvaez  , Hartford's Superintendent of Schools is cutting several key staff positions in her office in preparation for the upcoming budget crisis. At least four positions are on the chopping block, including Kelvin Roldan, Chief Communications and Public Policy Officer, Jennifer Allen, Chief Talent Officer, Don Slater, Chief Operations Officer, and Jeron Campbell , Chief Data and Accountability Officer. The first three positions are being eliminated. Campbell is leaving his position.

The media spin for the Board is that Roldan is leaving to go back to College, but apparently the position has been eliminated and no replacement is planned for Roldan's position. Roldan was a holdover from the Eddie Perez Administration, Roldan transitioned to the Board Offices prior to Mayor Perez's indictment on corruption charges

Eliminating and consolidating these positions alone is projected to save up to $1Million dollars in salaries and related benefits

Several Executive Director positions are also being eliminated according to those same sources familiar with the Board's operations. Those position vacancies are mainly due to retirement or elimination of departments. Several other  Director's positions are being scrutinized as for their need.

Much more on this as streamlining a top heavy Board of Education continues, but this is a good start to show the real meaning to all employees of "Shared Sacrifice". No one is exempt and cuts can not only be made to the lowest paid employees. The Board does allow "bumping" of positions eliminated which allows higher priced employees to transition into a lower paying position to continue their employment.

According to those sources, upwards of 200 positions may be eliminated or reconfigured to conform with budget  realities.

 Just to recap, more than 200 job cuts are anticipated for the upcoming school year, that includes five of the most senior people in the school district, as detailed above.
·         The more widespread cuts will impact all job classes...teachers, administrators, and other staff, and w may likely mean the consolidation of schools.


·         The anticipated  budget gap the district will be dealing with is an estimated $20 million.