"I guess we need to find a way to shut you and your blog down".
Those were the last words I heard from Hartford Schools spokesperson Pedro Zayas yesterday before I promptly told him our conversation was done , and I then hung up.
Zayas had called, complaining that I was attacking him on the blog. I told him it was not an attack but more accountability and holding him responsible for his incompetence. He didn't like that, I guess no one does when you point out they are incompetent.
He also didn't like my suggestion that he take some lessons from Deputy Chief Foley, the spokesperson for the Hartford Police , if he wanted to learn how to do his job I have never waited more than a few minutes for a reply to an inquiry from Foley, no matter whether positive or negative to HPD. And that is the way he treats everyone, not just people he agrees with.
He was not happy that I pointed out and posted a screen shot where I texted him a request for documents Friday afternoon and now he was getting back to me Tuesday at 12:30PM. And his call wasn't really in response to my request for documents, it was because he wanted to complain that I was attacking him. He continued to do the Public Relations spin thing , even claiming that he had four days to acknowledge my request under the FOI laws.
It was even comical at one point when he tried to point out my inaccuracies. I asked him for an example. He replied that I was calling Eduardo Genao an Assistant Superintendent of Schools .He said that title was incorrect. When I told him that title came exactly from the Hartford Schools website, he replied that "the website must be wrong". That's my fault that your own website is not accurate?
He is new, I guess he really doesn't understand the FOI laws. He said he was fulfilling the "legal" obligations to my request. I asked him where was his "Moral" obligation to do his job and do it well and not be part of a cover up?
I could almost feel the steam coming out of his ears through the phone. Zayas then started on the scripted mantra. " I care so much about the City" "I care so much about the Hartford Schools" "I care so much about the Children" " I only want to make Hartford better". He must be studying from the Narvaez playbook
I then asked him what I considered a pretty innocent question. "For my own clarification, what neighborhood do you live in?" The response was typical. " Oh ,I don't live in Hartford". Apparently neither does his wife, who he claims has been a teacher in the Hartford Schools for 14 years..
We went back and forth for several minutes, and Zayas had to clearly see I wasn't falling for his nonsense. I was somewhat surprised when he said " I guess we need to find a way to shut you and your blog down". I promptly ended the call
Bring it on Pedro, plenty have tried, including FORMER Mayor's. Police Chief, Fire Chief's, Department heads, and even a former State rep, (I think you work for him now).