Comments (4)

By Kerri Provost, August 31, 2010 10:33 am

By now, you’ve probably heard that Hartford was placed on a controversial list. It’s funny how some have latched right on to the notion, but when Hartford makes other lists, its presence on them is instantly dismissed.   For example, CNNMoney.com named Hartford as one of the best places to start a small business. The posting of this link to a friend’s Facebook page was followed by immediate reactionary comments, dismissing the ranking. But between CNN and a source I had never heard of, I am going to typically find CNN to be more reliable. The opposite seems to be true for many; they believe whichever source reaffirms their own beliefs. Yet, how is it that multiple pieces of evidence are routinely ignored? Forbes.com placed Hartford on a list of Best Cities to Find a Job. On another list, Hartford moved from #149 (out of 200) in 2008 to #49 in 2009 Best Performing Cities. Those are just three lists that refute the claim that Hartford belongs on a “worst” list based on its economy. Hartford is known for its insurance industry, but insurance is not the only game in town. The economy is also not the only way to take a city’s pulse. A neighborhood in Hartford was named on “Best Places for First-Time Buyers to Get an Old House” published on This Old House. But that’s a positive story, so there’s nothing to see there. Right?

Live in Hartford, a local blog, has published a number of articles which implicitly, and at times explicitly, make the case that Hartford is very much alive. Heck, the name of the blog itself, no matter which version of “live” one reads it as, makes this exact point. While some are using economics as the way to take a city’s temperature, Emily and Julie measure life in another way. In an article published yesterday, Emily directly addresses the recent controversial list. In March, she took a similar approach by listing the plethora of arts and entertainment activities happening within city limits. In January, Julie wrote about the standpoint theory, and described how someone from not here referred to Hartford as a cosmopolitan city. Going back to June 2009, Julie shows what a party for the brand new science center looks like. A piece from March 2009 talks about what it is like to live here as young(ish) professionals. This is just a sampling of what a single blog has done to describe, in words and pictures, Hartford, at length. There are no bait-and-switch tactics, no sensationalism, and no appeals to emotions used here (well, except for when the bloggers try to find homes for dogs). It’s honest. But as Emily writes, “what do I know, I just live and work and shop and play here.”

Every so often a major media outlet declares something dead. Or, they will mask a statement by turning it into a question. They will ask if  God is dead, or feminism is dead. Egregious claims and controversial debates sell copies, more than nuanced argument will. Take for example the claims made by a District Attorney candidate in that state just to our north. Continue reading 'It’s Called the Heartbeat for a Reason'»

Comments (1)

By Kerri Provost, July 29, 2010 6:57 am

There is a reason for “putting it in writing.” A phone call does not provide the permanent type of record that a letter or an email does; moreover, it does not provide the same argument that something in writing provides. But sometimes, even this type of correspondence does not put enough pressure on the parties involved.

The best development to happen to Hartford’s 311 service has been the dynamic map that has been made available to the public. This map shows recent open and closed complaints.

It enables one to look at cases throughout the city, zoom in on areas of interest, and determine what problems exist where (and which ones are never dealt with). For instance, I made a graffiti complaint using SeeClickFix on July 7. The 311 service did not respond to that until July 16, though the GIS Services map marked the complaint on July 13. Though this is not what I would consider prompt response time, it is a great improvement over my interactions with the 311 service via email — some of which received no response. The graffiti, at least of three days ago, remains; however, the complaint itself has been publicly acknowledged on this map. When an issue has been resolved, the complaint is removed from the 311 map.

Some common complaints/queries: burned out streetlights, tax, “non-urgent housing condition” (blight?), waste not picked up, and condition of parks/city property.

Comments (1)

By Kerri Provost, July 20, 2010 10:33 pm

When I arrived at the West Hartford Town Hall for the MDC public hearing regarding the potential closing of the Reservoir, all doors to the auditorium were locked except for those at the side of the building facing the main street. Even the balcony was blocked. (They must have a fetish for locking stuff up there because even the trash bin indoors had a lock on it.)

Despite the auditorium being filled to capacity early, a crowd still gathered at the front of the building; those who waited eventually made it inside as people trickled out.

By the time I was in, the MDC had already spoken but I was able to catch most of the public comment. Here is a summary of different points and arguments that people presented:

• the Reservoir is a safe place for people to exercise
• those who require exercise as part of a rehab requirement find the convenience and environment helpful to them; alternatives like gyms or locations farther away might discourage their exercise
• high school students use area for athletic training
• closing the Reservoir would have a negative economic impact
• the lawsuit was an anomaly; most users of the site are not filing lawsuits. MDC should not allow a legal anomaly to shape its policies.
• having users sign waivers is an alternative to closing the facilities
• the Reservoir — not Blue Back Square — is the “jewel” of West Hartford
• the alternative presented for joggers (jogging in the street) is far more dangerous than doing so at the Reservoir
• the Reservoir presents a safe and quiet “urban oasis” for people to be away from motorized traffic
• Blonski should have had to pay the MDC for damages to its gate when she hit it
• a number of politicians support the legislation to close the loophole that allowed for this lawsuit to be possible; contrary to what one speaker said, not all of these politicians are up for reelection this year.
• many speakers have grown up using the Reservoir, continue to, and are now bringing their children to the site
• the benefits of the Reservoir outweigh the risks
• paying for guards to monitor the MDC entrances (if the site closes) will be more expensive than keeping the property open to the public.

Support for keeping the MDC open came from beyond West Hartford and beyond just the mountain bikers. Several speakers came from more distant places, including Fairfield County, to show their support. People supporting the continued use of this land currently use it for jogging, walking, running, cross-country skiing, biking, snowshoeing, and more.

Continue reading 'More Support Than Can Fit in a Room'»

Comments (4)

By Kerri Provost, July 19, 2010 7:51 am

A public hearing will be held tomorrow, July 20th, at 5:30 pm in the West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium. This is a chance for members of the community to speak out regarding the possible closure of the MDC properties (West Hartford reservoirs) to recreational use.

The West Hartford Reservoir on Route 4 is a way for Hartford residents to conveniently get our fix of nature. From Downtown, it takes about 15 minutes to drive there and maybe half an hour to bike. You can even take the bus there without much fuss at all. The MDC website describes the five reservoirs in West Hartford and Bloomfield as offering:

3,000 acres of beautiful forestland; there are more than 30 miles of paved and gravel roads for joggers and bicyclists, hiking trails [...], wheelchair-accessible picnic groves, cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.

There are also areas offering scenic views. Having a well-maintained recreational area is important for Hartford residents, most of whom have no (or small) yards because they rent rather than own. This site is a convenient, free, and fun mini-vacation spot for people who can not afford to (or choose not to) live in the surrounding expensive suburbs where green space is more plentiful.

Recently, a frivolous lawsuit filed against the MDC ended in a poor legal decision, which not only makes a mockery of the legal system, it has pressured the MDC to consider making poor decisions of their own. There is talk of them threatening to close the reservoirs to public recreational use.

For complete background, check out the numerous articles by Rick Green or the Save the MDC website. In a nutshell, what happened was that a cyclist was riding in the wrong direction on the paved trails and had been riding with her head down; as a result of this, she did not see a gigantic yellow gate, rode right into it, and wrecked herself. She damaged her vertebrae, but has since recovered and from several accounts, is still riding. A recent letter sent to the Courant by John Craggs says it best:

Maribeth Blonski’s lawyer stated that all the Metropolitan District Commission had to do was post a sign on the trail showing that there was a gate ahead. Yet, if Ms. Blonski did not see the gate, how would she have seen a smaller sign?

It’s difficult to see how the MDC could possibly be at fault on this one. Anyone who has been to the reservoir and has the ability to see has no doubt taken notice of the many signs (too many in my opinion) dotting the area. If someone abides by the site policies and walks or bikes in the correct direction, then she is given more than enough fair warning. Besides, one knows that there is a certain degree of risk involved in athletic activities. In this case, the gate used to keep motorized vehicles off the trails (making the area infinitely safer) only posed a risk to someone who was not riding right; by painting it yellow, rather than camouflage, the MDC had acted responsibly.

Now, since the MDC had to pay an outrageous lawsuit ($2.9 million) once, the concern is that future asinine lawsuits will continue to hurt them financially. While this concern is understandable, closing the reservoirs is not the answer!

A press release on the MDC website says:

The Water Bureau of the Metropolitan District (MDC) will conduct an informational
meeting relating to the recreational use of its reservoir land on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. in the
West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, Connecticut. The purpose of this
meeting is to receive public input on the issue. The Water Bureau will not take any formal action on this issue
at the meeting.

Under the MDC Charter, the Water Bureau is charged with making periodic recommendations to the District
Board regarding the uses permitted on and within MDC reservoir property. For example, in 1998, the District
Board, upon recommendation of the Water Bureau, adopted ordinances requiring bicyclists, skateboarders and
roller skaters using MDC property to wear certain protective equipment.

In response to a recent Superior Court decision in the case of Blonski v. Metropolitan District, the Water
Bureau, through its chairman, Commissioner Timothy Curtis of Windsor, has decided to reevaluate the MDC’s
policy in this area. “As a public entity funded by rate payer money, we have an obligation to assess our risks,
particularly in light of recent events. We intend to proceed in an open and deliberate manner as we review our
policies. In the meantime, the public should not assume that the Water Bureau has made, or will recommend,
any changes to the District’s recreational use policy,” said Commissioner Curtis.

On behalf of the District Board, and in response to a good deal of misinformation on the issue, Chairman
William DiBella stated, “Let me be perfectly clear. No decisions to change our current policies have been
made, specifically in regard to closing the reservoir property to the public. Any statements to the contrary
should be disregarded. The District Board has yet to take any formal action, and individual statements or
conclusions do not reflect Board policy. I commend Chairman Curtis for his leadership on this issue in
conducting an open and constructive dialogue.”

The meeting will include a brief presentation by MDC staff on its recreational facilities with public comments to
follow. Those attending the meeting who wish to speak will be asked to sign in for the record, and all speakers
will be limited to 3 minutes in duration. Organizations are welcome to choose a representative to speak on their
behalf.

They say that no formal decision has been made yet, but even an informal discussion of closing this area is cause for concern. If you share this concern but can not attend the meeting, you can email your thoughts on the matter to kshaw@themdc.com.

Continue reading 'Because Some of Us Do Not Like to Exercise in Gyms'»

Comments (3)

By Kerri Provost, July 10, 2010 6:49 am

The demolition of the structure at 1161 Main Street will only be a success if what happens afterward is meaningful, expedient, and future-thinking. While the promised attempt for the City to acquire and destroy this property has many gleeful, the absence of a strong and specific plan for the vacant plot is, at the least, eyebrow-raising. Mayor Segarra, in a press release said:

This is a critically important project. This is an economic development priority for a number of reasons. This is prime real estate that connects our Downtown with our neighborhoods. It is important to beautify all aspects of our city, our visitors deserve to look out of a hotel window and have a wonderful view of our glorious city, our arts community— like the neighboring Hartford Stage which is in the process of a multi million dollar renovation— deserves a neighboring entity that will contribute to the quality of life of Hartford. The reasons to act now are plenty. I can’t think of a single reason to wait any longer.

The 1161 property has been considered an eyesore, which it surely is, but the blight extends beyond this building. This section of Main Street is an example of some of the worst design decisions of the 20th century, which a poorly conceived and maintained roadway. It’s the spot where motorists clog the streets to exit from or enter I-84. Pedestrians wishing to travel along this section of Main are forced to play Frogger with impatient drivers, as the crosswalks are seemingly nonexistent. Malfunctioning WALK signals are a common complaint. Continue reading '1161 Main: Only One Part of the Downtown Blight Problem'»

Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, July 6, 2010 10:34 am

Think Hartford is a mess? Hate the trash and weeds? Stop complaining and do something.

On Saturday July 17th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a beautification and clean-up at the intersection of Homestead and Garden. There will be live music and free lunch provided by Whole Foods. Call 860-951-7694 to reserve your lunch.

Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, June 25, 2010 5:58 pm

Community gardens are a valuable resource for those of us who have postage stamp (or smaller) yards. They provide a place for gardeners to relieve stress by pulling weeds; having beautiful flowers and growing our own food is another bonus.

Garden space is relatively inexpensive and allows one to know exactly where her food is coming from that season, depending on how able of a gardener she is and how much she chooses to plant. I have seen people successfully grow tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, beans, peas, chard, cabbage, fennel, collard greens, corn, brussels sprouts, strawberries, raspberries, squash, zucchini, carrots, thyme, rosemary, basil, mint, beets, radishes, onions, garlic, spinach, broccoli, ginger, cauliflower, and pumpkins in Hartford. Continue reading 'Community and Food'»

Comments (3)

By Kerri Provost, May 31, 2010 9:56 am

Daily
Hartford Regional Market on 101 Reserve Road
5 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Monday
Park Street Farmers’ Market at corner of Park and Washington
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July 5-October 25

Old State House Farmers’ Market
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Capitol Avenue Farmers’ Market at 156 Capitol Avenue
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July 5 - October 25th

Tuesday
West End Farmers’ Market at corner of Farmington Avenue and South Whitney
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
June 8th through September (hours change in October)

Wednesday
North End Farmers’ Market at 80 Coventry Street
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July 7 - November 3rd

Old State House Farmers’ Market
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
July through October

Thursday
Billings Forge Farmers’ Market at 539 Broad Street
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Friday
Old State House Farmers’ Market
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

West End Farmers’ Market at corner of Farmington Avenue and South Whitney
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If there are others that I have neglected to mention, please let me know.

Comments (14)

By Kerri Provost, May 27, 2010 8:03 am

This has been the question posed, but the definition of caring is one that I reject. The Courant has framed the issue as follows: Hartford residents do or do not care about the city based on political corruption and/or low voter turnout.

As if those were the only indicators of caring!

Don’t Blame Me for Perez
I have voted in every election. Because I am not able to see the world through rose-colored glasses, I know that people can be corrupt, evil, or just plain stupid, regardless of party affiliation; thus, I do not vote along any party line. Although I do not despise him as many do, I have never voted for Perez. And guess what? Many others in Hartford did not vote for him either. Citing as proof that Hartford residents do not care because Mayor Perez was reelected is like saying Americans did not care because GWB was elected twice. I do not understand why some would cast their votes in favor of certain candidates, but they do.

Low voter turnout is a problem, but it is not a problem unique to Hartford. Even in presidential elections, Americans do not take part as they could. Do we blame voters for not participating in a system that they view as broken or unable to be affected by the people? I don’t. I’ll admit to not always believing that my vote matters, but I do it anyway…in the same way that I wear a seatbelt or a bike helmet. It might be futile, but then, it might not, and it does not hurt me to do so.

Instead of framing the outcome of an election as a sign that Hartford residents do not care, why do we not ask instead why better candidates are not running for political office?

I do not care about Perez
Sure, I care about him as a human being. He’s never been unpleasant in my very few interactions with him. But I do not care about his trial. There. I said it.

The media cares about the Perez trial because it is scandalous (low grade scandal is what I would call it) and scandal sells papers, gets viewers, and allows “reporters” to sit in a court room tweeting inane, irrelevant observations, passing that off as news.

It’s not that I am a supporter of corruption. If the Mayor did in fact do something illegal, he should be punished appropriately for it. But — here’s a shocker — his fancy counter tops do not affect my everyday life. They are not the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing before I go to sleep. No, the last thing I think about when going to bed is how the “noise ordinance with teeth” is more like one with dentures, in that when residents call for enforcement, the teeth have been removed. I care about the need for stronger enforcement of leash laws. There are people who let their pit bulls roam, which causes problems when they tangle with other dogs; there are some in my neighborhood who are afraid they will be bitten. Another thing I care about is how lackadaisical traffic law enforcement is. The police only need to park themselves at the corner of Broad and Capitol to meet any ticket quotas they might have. Every single time I am at this intersection I see people running red lights, speeding through the intersection, and doing other amazingly idiotic things, like texting while turning. Sit by the highway on and off ramps. I would feel safer standing in the middle of a driving school parking lot. I care about low literacy, bullying in schools, and the lack of employment for residents. I care that in certain neighborhoods where there are high rates of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, I see prominent billboards advertising alcohol and fast food. I care about the way downtown landlords price out low income residents or new small businesses, how the city demolishes buildings they own rather than maintain them so that they can be used, how the parks are not maintained as they should be, and how a minority of violent thugs make life unbearable in small sections of the city.

When I do not have so many other things to care about, then maybe I will have room in my brain for caring about a rather minor accusation made of a politician, who, by the way, has not gotten us into a war (or two), permitted torture, or wrecked the economy. Let’s prioritize our outrage. If Perez acted illegally, then he should be punished, but there is no need to sensationalize the trial, as this is not worthy of sensationalism.

Comments (2)

By Kerri Provost, May 1, 2010 7:47 pm

Today, supporters of immigrants’ rights marched through Hartford.

Continue reading 'Pro-Immigration March'»