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Friday, June 3, 2016

THE " WE THE PEOPLE PROGRAM"

Sorry for the delay in posting this. This was our last program for May. We will not be doing a program Monday, but we will be back the following week.


HARTFORD CAN NOT CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS LIKE THIS, CHAPTER 3

At many times, Hartford City government appears to be the height of incompetence. City employees who are paid very large salaries to protect the interests of the taxpayer's of Hartford, seem to do just the opposite.

Time and time again we seem to hear about the dirty deals and everyone benefiting off City Hall, except the people that have made the commitment to live here. Whether it is properties being given away for $1.00 to  outsiders under the guise  of "economic development" or a stadium deal that appears to be very flawed from the start.

Here is just one more example of how flawed that deal was. In an  agreement  between  the City of Hartford, Centerplan and DONO Hartford, LLC from February 4, 2015. To protect the City (and its taxpayers) a clause was negotiated in that agreement to require Centerplan and DONO Hartford LLC,  to provide a letter of credit to the City  to protect the City's interests in the event of a default, exactly like we are seeing right now.

The agreement was pretty specific, and the exact wording from the document is below.

 Unfortunately, according to numerous City Hall sources, the letter of credit was never provided, and apparently does not exist , and no one ever followed up to require it. This incompetence now apparently spans at least two administrations, it was begun by the Segarra Administration and it would seem that no one in the Bronin Administration has followed up to make sure all of the required "t's" have been crossed and the "i's" dotted, since taking over.

This is, or should be basic construction management for anyone that understands the construction industry. I think it is clear by now between Dillon Stadium and the Yardgoats stadium, that no one on the City level understands what it means to "manage" a construction project.

Typically on a construction project someone is monitoring, and enforcing all relevant requirements. Is your licensing up to date and current? Do they have copies of you current license? Is your liability insurance up to date and current? Do they have copies of your current insurance certificates? Is any required letter of credit or bond up to date? Do they have current copies?

Normally, unless you are working for the City of Hartford, failure to comply with those requirements is a quick way to the exit door from the project until you are in compliance. That is done to protect the interests of the client and the integrity of the project. I guess no one is interested in protecting our interests as the client.

Does no one in Development Services or even on the Stadium Authority know how to prepare a checklist and put a simple check mark after the required documents when they are received?  Letter of Credit from Centerplan.....check. Or if it is not received a year and a half later... maybe some follow up.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

95%COMPLETE? SOLOMON REPORT SOUNDS DIFFERENT

Will we see baseball in Hartford this year? Who knows.

In a report requested by Josh Solomon of the Yardgoats, it looks like there is probably quite a bit more than only 5% incomplete work left to be done

Here is the report. Pictures as well at the end of the document

WHERE IS THE DILLON GRAND JURY? HARTFORD FILES LAWSUIT


Wednesday, June 1, 2016

WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH? DOES THIS SOUND 95%COMPLETE

Here is Max Reiss from NBC Conneticut's story tonight after his tour of the Yardgoats Stadium with Yardgoats owner Josh Solmon. Does it sound or look like 95%complete?

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Much-Work-Left-at-Dunkin-Donuts-Park-Weeks-After-Due-Date-381591641.html

Sunday, May 29, 2016

ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS


This is a sight I would like to see a lot more often. An illegal dirt bike that was operating off road in Colt's Park was seized today by HPD. The operator had the misfortune of trying to race through the park and stalling his bike in front of a South CSO. HPD closed in, the bike was seized and towed, and hopefully , after legislation that was passed this last session, it will be headed for the crusher.

I attend a lot of community meetings throughout the City. I have never once heard someone say they were considering moving because they were fed up over shootings or even homicides ( both of which are on the decline this year) I have heard plenty of people say they are fed up with the noise and the danger presented on our streets by illegal dirt bikes and ATV''s.

They are a menace pure and simple  and a definitely an adverse quality of life issues. Unfortunately, this one dirt bike is only one of thousands of them on our streets. More efforts like this one though will  gfo a lonbg ways toward sending a message. A well publicized "community crushing" will also help.

These ATV's are a huge thorn in the side of HPD, but a few weekends of  directed patrols to combat this nuisance will definitely help. Unmarked vehicles to track  the offenders , and maybe putting a few hours on a Homeland Security chopper will send a real strong message.

In the mean time,HPD has to make a concerted effort to respond to the community complaints when they are reported. If the community is going to be encouraged to report the where abouts of these ATV's, they deserve a response. Their reports can not just be logged in and cleared by a dispatcher because HPD is busy. They need to be a priority before someone, either an illegal operator or an  innocent driver or pedestrian is killed

In the meantime, good job to all  HPD Officers getting this ATV on the hook  and out of the Park.