On Tuesday, without any commentary, the Hartford Cityline blog posted a press release issued by Kelvin Roldán, who is currently serving as the State Representative for the 4th Assembly District of Hartford. What was not mentioned in that publication is that Roldán may be considering running for mayor. Within this context, his call for municipal accountability seems tainted by personal ambition.
Here is a copy of the press release in question:
February 8, 2011
REP. ROLDÁN ASKS RESIDENTS TO SEND IN PICTURES OF
DANGEROUS SNOW CONDITIONS IN HARTFORDRep. Kelvin Roldán (D-Hartford) is asking Hartford residents to send pictures or locations of dangerous road conditions caused by the snow on city streets and intersections to his office.
“In community meeting after community meeting Hartford residents have expressed concern about hazardous road conditions in their neighborhoods resulting from poor snow removal. This situation has made it dangerous for children on their way to school and blocked fire trucks and other emergency vehicles from getting through to help those in need,” Rep. Roldán said.
Roldán’s staff will forward the pictures and locations to both Hartford City Hall and the State Department of Transportation (DOT) which is also responsible for removing snow from some roads in the city.
“What is particularly disturbing is that these conditions have persisted for weeks. My hope is that residents will send in specific locations that are particularly dangerous and this will inspire City Hall and the DOT to take action on those posing the biggest threat to the community,” Roldán said.
Residents should send locations and pictures with their contact information to his legislative aide at tanya.pantoja@cga.ct.gov.
Kelvin represents Hartford’s 4th Assembly District in Hartford. In addition to serving as Deputy Majority Leader, he serves on the Appropriations, Insurance and Real Estate and Judiciary Committees.
While a number of streets in Hartford remain in an unacceptable condition — my own street has a veritable glacier running down most of it due to incompetent plowing — one wonders if this move is about enforcing responsibility or beginning the negative campaigning early.
The Director of Communications for the City of Hartford has been issuing daily (and at times, several times daily) press releases detailing Mayor Segarra and the Department of Public Works’ snow removal plan. Today’s, for instance, provides the following pieces of information:
Crews with Hartford’s Department of Public Works continue their on-going street-cleaning efforts to remove snow and ice from City streets to ensure public safety.
On Thursday, the snow blower will once again be in the Blue Hills neighborhood. Work done with the “snow dragon” is now complete and that piece of machinery will now be utilized by the City of New Haven.
DPW crews will also continue to concentrate on streets in the Parkville and Asylum Hill neighborhoods— particularly near Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center to Garden Street. Restricted parking will be posted and enforced.
Mayor Pedro E. Segarra urges property owners to shovel snow from walkways, driveways, and sidewalks. Please clear away snow from fire hydrants and do not shovel snow back into the streets.
Residents with questions are asked to call 311, the City’s non-emergency information line or call the Mayor’s Constituent Services Office.
Out of fairness, Mayor Segarra has also spoken about attempting to run for the office he currently holds; however, the press releases providing updates about snow removal have been sent consistently throughout this season.
Richard
Will believe it when I see it. Folks in wheel chairs are still out in the road because they can’t get up to the sidewalk around here and on and on and on. Those folks in city hall are full of hot air as I said before they should put it to real use and melt some of the snow. At this point (how long after the storm?) I don’t care who moves the snow and ice, just move it.
The mayor if he wants our vote and our big mouths not campaigning against him, he will really think about public saftey and get our old folks, people in wheel chairs, mothers with kids, and folks with groceries out of the streets and up on the sidewalks away from the fast cars. Everything is car this and car that, let’s begin to think about those who don’t drive and whose saftey is really at stake.
If the city can come by and plow the sidewalk(finally after mucho calls and threats) then they can at the same time clean the curb cut and make a way for people to get on the sidewalk. For idiots a ?, what good is a half way clean sidewalk if no one can get to it?
Oh wouldn’t it be a dream if our city council folk who love to pass hot air ordinances and the progressives who are their side kicks really cared about the people and wrote ordinances with teeth about snow removal and then make sure they follow all rules themselves and enforce the rules. Big help to all of us who live here. But of course the limelight is not in helping Grannie or Moe saftly wait for the bus.
Kerri Provost
Richard, I dare you to mention how the snow has hampered at least two efforts to fight fires in the city. The response I received when I brought this up with a councilperson was basically along the lines of “how is this City Hall’s problem”?
It would be proactive of the Mayor to issue a press release asking people to send photos or the coordinates of locations that are still not dealt with. I’d like these to go directly to the Mayor, and not to 311, as 311 seems to ignore many concerns.
Most sidewalks are not the City’s problem. Property owners have to clear these. I’d like to see aggressive ticketing of those who can not be bothered to clear their properties. Now, I know we have a tale of two cities here. I walked downtown yesterday and saw bare sidewalks and bare streets. Yet, my street was never properly plowed and it’s frustrating at best (dangerous at worst) to make my way down sidewalks in residential areas. There are too many absentee landlords who are allowed to get away with neglecting their duties. I’ve started posting photos with specific addresses here: http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/81216-absentee-landlord-does-not-shovel
Maybe after there’s a strong list, I’ll send this to more sympathetic council members and the mayor. I would encourage others to do the same. If people are taking on leadership roles in the city, then they should be expected to act like leaders. If something does not fall within their jurisdiction, so to speak, then the appropriate thing to do would be to help constituents figure out the most appropriate department to discuss such matters with.
Richard
I hope that council person gets thrown out on their behind. Doesn’t deserve to be there. You should post their pic along with the addresses of absentee landlords as this council person is absentee on this issue.
Now I wonder who is suppose to clean out the bus stops? One time we were told it is the city up to the curb of the street, and then it was the homeowner or building owner’s responsibilitiy up to the curb. So we have a no man’s land on the curb where the big offenders are. Ct. Transit sends us to the city when we call there.
Now I have photo’s of curb cuts and the bus stop at the corner of Laurel and Park which is along Pope Park. (city property) Someone in city hall has to sit down and put some teeth into the snow removal rules and regs. But first I hope they are sure to bite their own selves. No one will follow or want to do right when so called leaders are not doing it themselves.
Mary Ann
Yesterday I was actually thinking that a City representative needs to work with the a representative from the CT Transit authority to sort out the snow removal at the bus stops. This process seems to take too long and residents mostly parents with strollers and physically challenged people suffer. I’ve also seen some adults, children and one physically challenged senior fall at a corner downtown.
I checked the City’s Boards and Commissions book on their web site. Would it be the combined efforts of the following that would work on a resolution to the problem: Commission on Disability Issues; the Quality of Life and Public Safety; or Public Works, Parks and Environment Committees?
I too would like to know the name of the council person that displayed an attitude that’s described. I can’t believe an elected official would make that statement. Unfortunately, the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee is followed by the words Council in parenthesis, in the table of contents, so I might be wrong.