Even with nearly 100 vehicles towed and 500 parking tickets issued during last weekend’s snow event, some streets appeared to have not gotten the memo that there was a street parking ban in effect.
Lt. Chris Mefferd, the Police Department’s Traffic Division Commander, said “vehicles parked on the street were issued tickets, announcements were made over the loudspeaker instructing residents to move their vehicles, and vehicles that were not removed were towed. Through this process, we made our best effort to gain voluntary compliance before initiating tow operations to ensure efficient plowing and clearing of city streets.”
This was not the case for every city street. On Tuesday, some were still not plowed to the curb; in Hartford, Saturday’s “storm” left only a few inches of snow, making removal of it far less daunting of a task than what the City dealt with last January. The October 2011 storm, which left about a foot of snow in the city, did not inspire officials to treat on-street parking with the degree of seriousness that a few inches of powder over the weekend apparently warranted. Continue reading 'Snow is Green: Tickets Mean Revenue'»
The installment of letter grades on restaurant windows and doors recently has created confusion, even though the ordinance responsible for this was adopted and in effect in June 2011, with an 8-0 vote from City Council.
Restaurants, already requiring inspection, now must display the outcome of these routine checks. The grades are large, on letter-sized paper. Those who attempt to camouflage, deface, or remove the letter grade could have their license suspended or revoked.
Restaurants that receive a grade lower than a ‘B’ (80%) have nothing to display within five feet of the front door or on the drive-thru menu at establishments to which that applies. They would be reinspected after a set amount of time, and the letter grade for the subsequent visit would be assigned, if they pass. If not, they must deal with a failed health inspection as before this ordinance passed, with the only difference being that the public knows something is amiss by the lack of grade affixed to the front entrance.
Not all food vendors must display letter grades. The ordinance explains:
Besides these exemptions, there are some exceptions for the requirement that the grade be displayed within five feet of the front door. For food courts, like the one in State House Square or in El Mercado, each vendor still needs to display its grade, but it can be in any number of places: menu, counter, in the “initial patron contact area,” or in another location deemed acceptable by the Director of Health and Human Services. Continue reading 'Restaurant Ratings'»
It was standing room only — and that room to stand was hard to find — for the audience of Tuesday evening’s inauguration. A true Hartford event, those in fur, suits, and velvet mingled with those in rhinestones, denim, t-shirts and cowboy hats.
The ceremony included an invocation and benediction split between four readers (Christian, Jewish, and Muslim), three songs performed live by students at Kinsella School, Martin Luther King School, Bulkeley High School, and High School, Inc., the Pledge of Allegiance led by Girl Scouts, presentation of a staff and gold key to Segarra, and some speeches.
From the first floor, one could embrace the fanfare, but from an aerial view, cynicism could come as easily as spotting comb-overs and which officials appeared to be playing with their phones during the ceremony.
The first resolution that the Court of Common Council voted on was who to appoint as Council President. Continue reading 'Pomp, Divisiveness, and New City Council President'»
If your New Year’s resolutions included increasing your level of civic engagement, then you can take a step toward fulfilling that goal tonight. The swearing in ceremony will take place in the atrium of City Hall. This is free and open to the public, but about forty seats will already be reserved for the families and friends of Mayor Segarra and the incoming City Council.
Mayor Segarra, who was appointed and sworn in during the Perez scandal in June 2010, has been elected by the people and will begin his first full term as Hartford’s 66th mayor.
City Councilpersons being sworn in include eight men and one woman: Alex Aponte (Democrat), Kyle Anderson (D), Luis Cotto (Working Families), Raul DeJesus (D), Larry Deutsch (WF), Cynthia Jennings (WF), Ken Kennedy (D), David MacDonald (D), and Shawn Wooden (D).
Adam Cloud, who was appointed to the position of Treasurer in February 2011, will be sworn in as well. Continue reading 'Swearing at Seven'»
How bad has the bed bug situation gotten? Enough, apparently, to call for an amendment to the Pest Extermination Ordinance. On Monday, there will be a public hearing to allow residents to chime in on the matter.
In a letter to the Council, Mayor Segarra calls for an amendment which would fine tenants who either create or refuse to deal with bed bug situations:
Continue reading 'Things That Go Itch in the Night'»
On Constitution Plaza, some of the decorative lights have already been turned on, and in less than a week, more will be added in downtown, including at the carousel.
“Winterfest” — formerly called “Festival of Lights” 2011-2012 — begins on Friday, November 25th. The carousel will be operating from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on weekends through December 31st. Children will be able to visit with Santa from 12-3 p.m. on weekends in December at the carousel.
The major draw to Bushnell Park, however, will be the skating rink.
Last year there were at least two marriage proposals on the rink, which had been set up temporarily in the middle of the lawn.
This year, it seems more thought was put into aesthetics. So far, no generators — creating noise and air pollution — have been brought into the park. The rink will be nestled between the swing sets and the Pump House Gallery, which is also where there is a power supply in the park, creating less need to run lines in every direction.
Workers have been especially busy this past week, stringing lights and putting together the rink. All lights appear to be of the small, traditional, and non-garish variety. Continue reading 'Winterfest'»
Early, unofficial results show the six endorsed Democrats (Anderson, Aponte, DeJesus, Kennedy, MacDonald, and Wooden) and three of the four running on the Working Families slate (Cotto, Deutsch, and Jennings) winning seats on Hartford’s City Council.
At the Red Rock Tavern, the Working Families Party celebrated their win. Followed by booming applause, Jennings said that the only Republican elected was Segarra. The Mayor ran as a Democrat, but had accepted the endorsement by the Republicans and was on the ballot for both parties.
The march that Occupy Hartford has planned for Saturday has provoked Mayor Segarra to issue a press release for the occasion:
It has come to my attention that Occupy Hartford is coordinating a large march and rally on Saturday and is inviting fellow Occupy movements from around the region to join them. I fully appreciate and respect the right to assemble, protest and petition one’s government and I have consistently instructed City departments and employees to treat all “Occupiers” with the utmost respect. That order continues to stand. Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: And Now a Word from Our Mayor'»
It is not the job of the media to promote candidates.
Reporting on a candidate’s actions and quoting him verbatim should tell voters all that they really need to know about a politician’s qualifications and character.
On November 8th — between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. – Hartford’s registered voters will have the opportunity to provide their own opinions about who they believe should hold office. Here is an image of a sample ballot, provided by Hartford Votes:
Image courtesy of Hartford VOTES
On this sample ballot, you can see where the instructions state to “vote for any six.” Sometimes this presents confusion. You do not need to vote for six City Council candidates. You can vote for zero, one, two, three, four, five, or six, but, you can not vote for more than six. The same holds true for Constables; you can vote any number up to, but not exceeding, four. If you want to just vote for Mayor, but for nothing else, you can do that as well.
We trust that Hartford voters will be making smart, informed decisions at the polls, and that they do not need a media outlet suggesting to them where their votes should go.
“These make us look like the Village People,” Mayor Segarra commented while he and other officials donned construction helmets before digging with their ceremonial shovels at Friday afternoon’s groundbreaking for the “Capewell Townhomes.”
Future site of the Capewell Townhomes
Although plans had been announced months ago for the development of townhouses on the vacant parcel of land between Wyllys Street and Popieluszco Court, some details have changed. Continue reading 'Groundbreaking Ceremony for Capewell Townhouses'»
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