Monday, December 29, 2008

Unsafe at D'Amato and Szczesny Garages


In October The New Britain Herald Rick Guinness, A Herald Staff Reporter, Reported that the New Britain Mayor has called for security cameras for the senior parking lot further quoting the Mayor requesting the costing of equipping the D’Amato Garage and having this report by the end of August.

No such report has been made to the Mayor and I personally asked the property manager, Mr. Pellegrino as to when the installation could be expected and his reply was that there are too many priorities before we can consider this issue.

Not to be a naysayer but two more cars were vandalized last night with broken windshields and I can only remember the Mayor’s comment relating to this problem was that the seniors get better insurance coverage’s rather than promoting a solution.

He did make the duck feel safe with cameras at the Stanley quarter Park and the City Council did approve for the installation of safety cameras for their city garage at city hall in order to provide safety for themselves but the seniors be “dammed.”

At the east Side Neighborhood Community Action meeting the mayor announced during the Q&A period of the meeting that the police have the ability to install surveillance cameras in order to capture criminal activities being placed on poles and onto the internet.

WELL MR. MAYOR HOW ABOUT PLACING THESE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AT THE TWO LEVERLS OF THE D’AMTO AND THE SZCZESNY GARAGES IN ORDER TO NOT ONLY PROTECT THE SENIORS BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT USE THE FACILITY .
Thank you,

Frank Smith Says

31 comments:

  1. This demonstrates how little the Democratic cowards on the council care about the citizenry. There is a long documented threat to the senior citizens who park in the Szczesny Garage, so what do they do, they spend the taxpayer's money to protect their own cars at city hall!
    I have never seen such arrogant cowardice in my life!

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  2. I like how this is clearly an issue with the mayor, that you some how turn around and blame someone else.

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  3. Mr. Anonymous:

    You asked how this is clearly an issue with the Mayor?

    My answer is simple as follows:

    He was quoted in the New Britain Herald stating that he wanted to have all cost or quotes in to him before the end of August 2008 which was directed to Mr. Dennis Pellegrino the City’s Property Manager.

    Additionally, I quoted his remarks he made at the East Side Neighborhood Community Action meeting about the Surveillance Cameras to catch criminal activities.

    In my simply attempting to answer your adverse question would be for you to recognize the fact that the Mayor is this city’s chief executive officer and that his underling Mr. Pellegrino has not complied with his August request or mandate.

    I did attempt to get a date of completion from Mr. Pellegrino only to be told by him that there are too many other priorities before we can consider this issue.

    So the safety of the elderly as well as the general public that use this facility may do so at their own risk without accruing liability to the city when it is a public fact that the mayor did make his public acknowledgement of this public need and the so call underlings continued to ignore his directive.

    The Chief executive officer of the city must act since the city council has ignored the need for providing the necessary public safety.

    Sincerely,


    Frank Smith Says

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  4. It is the council who appropriated, or should we say misappropriated the money that was supposed to go towards providing security cameras in the garage at the D'Amato and took the money to provide cameras for their own personal cars at city hall, how is this turning anything around? If the city council members cared about the elderly, why are they protecting their own cars, and the elderly citizens be damned?

    With any luck, the residents of the elderly apartments all over the city will remember at election time what these Democrats on the council thought of their safety. In my book, the council members are like the crew of a ship, and they should be the ones sacrificing at the benefit of the passengers, here in New Britain, it is Bass Ackwards with the tail wagging the dog.

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  5. Since the city ordinances assign responsibility to the Parking Commission to provide for the security of the garages (sec 15-89 "to operate and secure all parking facilities...") what, if anything, is the Parking Commission doing to provide for the safety of the poor elderly residents who are customers of their facility?

    I read something months ago about their property manager having bigger priorities than the safety of the Commission's patrons, but what is the commission doing to solve this ongoing problem??????

    Isn't it about time we saw some action from the commission that is responsible for securing this facility?

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  6. Frank,

    I was agreeing with you, this is an issue with the Mayors office.

    Also does the garage next to city hall have cameras? I know they have break-ins all the time.

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  7. Now that we know that security of the facility is the responsibility of the Parking Commission, why are they not providing their security officers to patrol the facility until this problem can be resolved?

    Sounds like another group that doesn't care about the public they are supposed to be serving, doesn't it?

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  8. When did the Parking Commission approve the installation of the city hall cameras, or is the Council overstepping their authority again since the Parking Commission is delineated with the authority for "securing the parking facilities?"

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  9. Wouldn't something like installing cameras in the City Hall garage require a public hearing before the Parking Commission before it was approved, or do the rules not apply when it is the council that wants to spend the money on themselves?????????????????

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  10. As far as I know there are no city hall cameras.

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  11. AS far as you know, look again, they are being installed right now at a cost of $50,000.00!!!!!!!!!

    And it is not City Hall, but the City Hall Garage which falls under the jurisdiction of the Parking Commission!!!

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  12. I'm sure the first ones to be installed will be right where the Aldermen park and to hell with anyone else!

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  13. of course they take care of themselves and forget everyone else.

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  14. umm...the mayor and staff park in the same place. Also when did that come in front of the council?

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  15. shows what these people know, the mayor has his own reserved space right next to the door.

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  16. Yes, right next to where everyone else parks, next to the door. I don't remember this coming in front of the council. City hall does have guards that walk both city hall and the parking area, maybe that's the reason for the cameras as there are guards already being paid to be there, so they can watch them. I believe the issue with putting in cameras in the other garages was no one could watch them.

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  17. At the D’Amato parking garage cameras could be installed and watchful eyes of the police department dispatchers could watch all the adverse actions as it occurs.

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  18. Two more automobiles were vandalized last night in the D’Amato Garage belonging to the tenants of the D’Amato building.

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  19. Frank,

    I don't know if the police department dispatchers could do that job and the job they currently do. Did you ask the Chief about that?

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  20. To Anonymous:

    The Police Chief is aware and is somewhat remote on the subject.

    However, some of the Aldermen that I approached about this method of operation were in approval of the method.

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  21. There is always someone to watch the cameras. The Housing Authority faced the same problem with the emergency phones in the elevators, lobbies and the emergency medical alarms in the individual apartments, so they routed them to Sonitol to monitor them for the Housing Authority. Coincidentally, Sonitrol already monitors cameras for other customers, and since the D'Amato Apartments is on the same property, they already have a presence at this location, so if the city is saying that they can't monitor them, why not let the contractor that is already servicing this property for another city agency handle it for the Parking Authority?

    In the meantime, shouldn't the Parking Authority extend the hours for their security officers to patrol the garage during the overnight hours when all the incidents are occurring to prevent further incidents until something permanent can be put in place, or do those in authority really just not care about these elderly residents???

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  22. The responsible thing to do would be to staff the security position in the garage until something more permanent can be done to fix the problem, but they probably won't do anything until one of the elderly residents happens to interrupt these criminals in the process of doing their destruction and ends up getting assaulted as a result. After some tragedy like that, then they will close the barn door after the horse is out.

    It all seems to be a big joke with those in power in city government that the residents of the D'Amato Apartments are risking their lives just going to and from their cars, they can spend tax money to protect the cars of the aldermen, but to hell with the citizenry.

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  23. I'll bet if Sherwack's or Trulyworthless' car were damaged there would be a major investigation, but because it is just a bunch of old farts, the mayor and the rest of the authorities couldn't care less.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Since the Badolato Garage was connected to City Hall, all Mayors have used the same parking spaces next to the Skywalk entrance. It is ridiculous for anybody to suggest that this is a perk adopted by the Stewart administration. Grow up! Must be Sherwack that is promoting yet another LIE!

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  25. If Sherwack were Pinochio, his nose would live in another time zone.

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  26. It is inspiring to see that others recognize all the problems Sherwood causes with his tall tales!

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  27. A few days before Christmas, pictures and an article were printed in the Herald, and I saw on Channel 3 news that a camera was installed on a tree at the end of Osgood Ave. where Pinnacle Heights ends. The camera was installed to catch people who were dumping trash, garbage, old furniture, etc. Lo and behold, 2 men in a motor vehicle were filmed dumping furniture; the license plate number was caught on the tape. The 2 men were promptly arrested.
    If the city could install a camera for this purpose, why can't they pay for the cameras at the parking garage? Is it possible the camera on Osgood Avenue was paid by Ekris Cable located beside the dumpig area???? Hmmm...

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  28. Concerned citizen asks a good question, but do you thing anyone at City Hall is listening?

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  29. Thorn, thanks for your comment about the camera on Osgood Ave..Good point about is anyone listening.
    Perhaps the question should be raised at a common council meeting: If a camera is installed to photograph those dumping trash on a public street, why not at the Szczesny Garage? Our Senior Citizens have spent many years working in New Britain, most who, in all likelihood have paid taxes for years. They deserve to have the utmost security, instead of having to pay for car repairs, and higher auto insurance premiums. Let's get on with the program!!!

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  30. Lets not forget Mayor Stewart's brilliant sollution to the problem: "Tell the senior citizens to buy better car insurance."

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  31. What is the mayor doing about the safety of the public?

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