Are New Britain's Ducks on Camera?

The general public most certainly have read the many newspaper articles covering the many incidents of vandalism occurring at the Sgt. H. J. Szczesny garage for the past six months or so.

Mayor Stewart’s response as quoted in a local newspaper “Residents of the D’Amato should beef up their insurance because vandalism is so prevalent.” The tenants and their relatives reacted adversely to the mayor’s comments as the chief executive officer of our great city with the prolong wait for the installation of the requested cameras with microphone sound capabilities for the garage.

With all the ongoing publicity being ignored by the Common City Council when they opted to supply cameras for the Stanley Quarter pond walking trail with water circulars for the pond as a priority over the protection of not only the vehicles but to the drivers of those vehicles including those from adjacent hotel employees and their customers. Additionally, employees of the Connecticut Bar Association, The Hole in the wall, &The Trinity on The Main patrons, and many downtown employees and customers along with the students and professors at the CCSU facility on Main Street are also affected.

Did the mayor’s comment refer to all the aforementioned public that uses the garage facility that they to should beef up their insurances? Did the Mayor’s comment also apply to the city employees parking at the Badolato garage along with all the elected officials and the general public since vandalism did occur at that location?

My contact with New Britain’s Police Chief William Gagliardi with my pointing out to him that when the city Hall Guard, who also patrols the Szczesny garage, goes off duty at 11 PM when the vandalism occurs in the subsequent early morning hours. He immediately recognized this ongoing problem and assigned police patrols for both the second and third shifts. The Police Chief should be commended for his immediate reaction.

I am not attempting to diminish the priority call by the common council for the necessary protection of the public at the Stanley Quarter Park but the Majority Leader, of the Common Council, must be reminded that the city did budget the necessary funds for the garage cameras.

So please, Alderman Trueworthy, redirect the council’s priorities and push for the immediate installation of the needed cameras in order to protect the general public, which uses our garage facilities, from bodily harm and damages to their vehicles.