With the bad economy emerging that is hitting the taxpayers with the greatest financial problems they have ever seen in their lifetime. I found it to be a great time for the public to post whatever may be on their minds and you may do so anonymously.
Please feel free to post whatever you feel may be important to the people of New Britain.
Simply click on comments link below to leave your message.
Thank you for checking in to review my postings and please feel free to check back frequently to read comments that may have been posted by residents of the city.
I also have many stories in the works as well.
41 comments:
United States v. Lopreato, 83 F.3d 571 (2d Cir. 1996)...
The thrust of the government's case against Lopreato was that Colonial partner William Candelori contacted Lopreato and proposed that the CLPF invest in the Colonial Metro Zero Coupon Mortgage Trust (Metro Zero), a debt security which Colonial was then offering. In response, Lopreato informed Jonathan Googel, through their mutual friend, Ronald Welch, that the CLPF would invest in Metro Zero, but that Lopreato would have to be paid, in cash delivered by Welch. An agreement was reached that Colonial would pay Lopreato five percent of each such CLPF investment.
United States v. Lopreato, 83 F.3d 571 (2d Cir. 1996)...
The thrust of the government's case against Lopreato was that Colonial partner William Candelori contacted Lopreato and proposed that the CLPF invest in the Colonial Metro Zero Coupon Mortgage Trust (Metro Zero), a debt security which Colonial was then offering. In response, Lopreato informed Jonathan Googel, through their mutual friend, Ronald Welch, that the CLPF would invest in Metro Zero, but that Lopreato would have to be paid, in cash delivered by Welch. An agreement was reached that Colonial would pay Lopreato five percent of each such CLPF investment.
How is somebody like this allowed to be the Chairman of the sewer commission? Isn't he the guy looking to control over $80 million in cash?
The biggest concern I have living in New Britain is being able to continue to afford to stay here. I have never run from this city like many others. I love it here.
I like my modest house (over 5k in taxes per year). I like my neighbors. Why would I want to move? Plain and simple when we look towards are future and retirement in about 10 years what will our property taxes be by then?
We figure we won't be able to absorb anymore of an increase once
retired. And in this economy becoming retired is sometimes not a choice. We know, this just happened to a close freind and New Britain homeowner laid off at 54 with no job prospects to speak of.
We read about the proposed budget for the school system and cringe. We support having a solid school system but for all the money that is spent, performance in New Britain remains very low. Something isn't working. Throwing
more of our money at it won't fix it either that's assured.
This past year our taxes went up $300.00 per year due to the re-assessment. $50.00 per month. Yes,
the mill rate went down accordingly
but we still saw a significant increase in our monthly mortgage escrow. We could not afford a mill
rate increase this year and I know
that we are not the only family that would find it very difficult
or impossible.
With state funding being cut-back and the BOE looking for a sizable increase in funding how will the council and the Mayor balance this
budget without coming to us, the taxpayers again. The council and
the mayor don't see eye to eye on
anything the only thing they seem
to agree on is to dis-agree.
Yea, remember Colonial Realty and
their "Ponzi" scheme they were mavericks in their time!!! and William Candelori chairman of the sewer commission. Well, got give people another chance right?
Right, why not give someone another chance with over $80 million in taxpayer money, what have you got to lose?
In addition to all the publicity about the plate finder it does have the ability to locate unregistered vehicles that are also have no insurance and their removal of them from our roads.
I'm sure there will be some Democrat speaking up soon who will be unhappy that you are going to force poor people to register their cars and spend all that money that they can't afford on insurance. We should be ok with them driving without insurance because they can't afford to pay for it.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Deal to buy paper may be signed Monday
The word around the paper is that the deal to sell The Bristol Press, New Britain Herald and three weeklies to Mike Schroeder and his silent partner should be finalized on Monday.
Let's hope the Journal Register Co., the current owner, doesn't find a way to muck it up.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Posted by Steve Collins at 1/16/2009 11:56:00 AM
Labels: Bristol Press, JRC, New Britain Herald, newspapers
Bill Candelori paid his dues regarding the Colonial Realty fiasco. Let it go!!
New Britain: Will Jim Amann Exit The Gubernatorial Race Quickly...
Former Speaker of the House Democrats Jim Amann is ramping up a run for CT Governor. He's sent no less than five e-messages to Democratic leaders over the last month.
They reflect a hectic schedule and agenda: advocacy for more "Hollywood East" state tax credits (before the Democratic caucus even considers it), an invitation to his portrait unveiling, another invitation to a charity fundraiser and finally news of a January 29th announcement in Bridgeport CT when he will make his gubernatorial intentions known.
Now comes the news that Jim Amann's plate gets fuller with the new that he will be a senior advisor to the new House Democratic leadership- Christopher Donovan with a $150.000 Amann position.
For one thing history is just not on Amann's side. State lawmakers have fared much better moving up the political ladder by seeking a seat in Congress (a young John Rowland, Chris Murphy in 2006) or a constitutional office (Comptroller Nancy Wyman, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General Dick Blumenthal, all of whom came out of the Legislature).
Jim Amann also lost considerable credibility in 2006 when he endorsed the independent run of Joe Lieberman for re-election after Ned Lamont became the Democratic nominee. The progressive faction of the party that lifted up Lamont cannot be easily dismissed in putting together a winning strategy for the nomination for Governor.
And finally Amann comes up against a deep and qualified bench among Democrats who would be Governor and have a measure of statewide exposure already. Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy has all but announced, having gained statewide experience and support in a 2006 bid that ultimately went to New Haven's John DeStefano.
Secretary Bysiewicz, respected for her campaign skills and reaping kudos for the Democratic surge in enrollment last year, may be looking again toward the corner office. There's also Comptroller Wyman whose frequent and depressing pronouncements on the deficit give her creds as a knowledegeable office holder on the budget for very tough fiscal times. And have we mentioned Dick Blumenthal?
All of the above except Amann would step aside for him in the unlikely event that he gets a case of gubernatorial fever. Don't count on it.
To his credit the affable Amann rose to become Speaker of the House among the sometimes discordant factions of a growing Democratic Caucus during an 18-year legislative career. His story of overcoming a serious illness is a compelling and inspiring one.
But the ex-Speaker Amenn is not coming from a position that elevates his prospects based on history and the political realities within the Democratic Party. His new policy role in the employ of House Democrats cannot possibly help his ambitions either. If there is one thing they teach at campaign school: you need to be fully committed to run for the better part of two years.
It's a good bet that he will be the earliest to leave the gubernatorial race even before the aforementioned others enter it.
The late breaking news from Hartford CT: That former Speaker and current governor gubernatorial candidate Jim Amann, the legislative leader who distinguished himself in 2007 by shaking down lobbyists for donations to his employer, has found a new job - working for new Speaker Chris Donovan at the State Capitol.
As a senior advisor to the current Speaker Chris Donovan, the former Speaker Jim Amann will pull down a cool $120,000/year.
The big news today 01/17/09 was the bombshell that ex-Speaker Jim Amann Speaker, has been hired by the current Speaker, Chris Donovan of Meriden CT to be a “senior adviser” for the ridiculous sum of $120,000. Donovan had decided against having a chief of staff, and instead has a team of advisers, of which his former leader is now one.
How tone deaf do you have to be to hire the old Speaker, who is currently running for governor, for such a large sum during an economic downturn.
Bill Candelori paid his dues regarding the Colonial Realty fiasco. Let it go!!------
Tell that to all the people who were bilked out of their life savings!!!
Bill Candelori paid his dues regarding the Colonial Realty fiasco. Let it go!!------
Tell that to all the people who were bilked out of their life savings!!!
The saga of the Jim Amann and Meriden lad Christopher Donovan "conflict of interest":
Yes, our CT Government and our legislature in particular has been so marginalized that the CT liberals have passed "conflict of interest" laws that prevent real people with ability from serving - we are left with full time political types who have no experience in the real world namely Jim Amann and Christopher Donovan.
Further, most of these Democratic politican care nothing more than staying in office long enough to qualify for pension and health insurance for life.
The larger problem is that most of these folks are simply not up to the challenge, intellectually and otherwise, with dealing with the increasingly complex issues facing our state and country.
Just look at how they handing electric deregulation and the like. I am a lawyer who deals with these folks frequently and most of these people are incapable of understanding the subject matter before them.
This is really funny -- Amman does not have a pot to piss in - quits his $45,000 a year job as speaker -- gee - guess he has another fundraising gig to tide him over till he can start cashing his governor's checks ?
Do you think that maybe this was the deal all along ? Donovan and the unions take over and Amman get what he really wants most -$120,000 per year for as long as Donovan stays in power -- the selling of government -- great timing and Donovan can claim Amman's "experience in needed in this time with a 30's depression heading our way?
The arrogance regarding the establishment of the Donovan - Amman position is a direct result of Connecticut, for all intents and purposes, being a one-party state at the state level.
For everyone who believes that Mr. Amman's job is outrageous, get ready for a lot more. With a veto proof majority, Mr. Donovan will be able to inflict a lot more damage to Connecticut taxpayers.
Why is it that Meriden CT is the home for Speaker Donovan and Senator Gaffey?
It is a shame that the CT Constitutional Convention was shot down at the last election.
The audacity is stunning!
A $120,000 secretary to support a $38,000 politician? Only happens in the state of Connecticut Democrat politics.
People like Donovan and Amman never hears of a job search in their lives. For Amman and for Donovan, public sector jobs belong only to those who are part of the Democratic Party clubhouse. They view public sector jobs as a goody bag for them to distribute as they see fit. Neither Donovan or Amman could survive in the private sector. When Pfizer had poor sales results, the company downsized. Amman and Donovan have no understanding of how the private sector works. SO they think nothing of creating a relaxing, easy, no pressure, no performance review job for Amman. They have zero comprehension of how most os live our lives.
Does the administration really want a former Colonial Realty partner to manage $80,000,000 of the taxpayers money even though it is backed by a bond issue, but it has to be paid back with taxpayer's money?
.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-rennie0118.artjan18,0,1780089.column
Courant.com
Playing Fast, Loose With PAC Money
Kevin Rennie
NOW YOU KNOW
January 18, 2009
I know what historic Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff did in his $7 million Manhattan lair late last week. He was kicking himself for not running his $50 billion ruse through a Connecticut campaign committee. He'd still be in business.
Madoff would admire state Sen. Thomas Gaffey, D-Meriden, for getting away for years with milking thousands of dollars out of his political action committee to pay personal expenses. But it's never enough, so Gaffey also billed the state for expenses also paid by his PAC, The Courant reported last week.
Gaffey used the same method employed by felonious former Gov. John Rowland. He got his sticky fingers on political contributions to pay personal credit card expenses whenever he needed some dough — which was often. Gaffey's PAC repeatedly filed fraudulent reports to the State Elections Enforcement Commission that concealed the senator's violations of state statutes.
Campaign finance reports require disclosing all expenses. When a committee pays a credit card bill, its reports are supposed to include a list of each expense that was charged to the card. Gaffey's PAC often left out that critical disclosure.
I first wrote about Gaffey's shenanigans in 2004. His PAC reports contained thousands in credit card payments without explanations of where the money went. The Elections Enforcement Commission, aware of the omissions, refused to act. Gaffey had already gained some notoriety by billing the legislature for mileage accrued using a vehicle provided by his employer, the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, but failing to pay the garbage agency for that personal mileage expense.
Just over a year ago, I wrote about Gaffey's heavy-handed pursuit of $1 billion in bonds for a vague building plan for the Connecticut State University System. Gaffey was carrying on an affair with CSU's lobbyist, Jill Ferraiolo, while slipping the billion into a bill before the legislature's finance committee. When that failed, he went back at it in a special session of the legislature in the fall of 2007.
Eventually, a modified, though still noxious and expensive program was adopted. The quest to squeeze a billion dollars out of taxpayers, and other travails of life as a god, gave birth to some passionate exchanges between Gaffey and Ferraiolo in the state's e-mail system.
Because Gaffey's PAC has long played a starring role in his public and private life, I looked at his finance reports again. The pattern hadn't changed. Heavy on the credit cards, light on the disclosure. This time, someone at the election commission started to investigate.
The probe has lasted for months. Gaffey says he forgot he'd accepted state money for expenses his PAC paid. He's so busy he didn't notice the extra money in his legislative paycheck. He forgot about it for a couple of years until he read this column.
Too bad for Gaffey, there's a clear pattern of abuse. Every two years he'd raise money for his re-election campaign from lobbyists and other PACs. He'd have a surplus after the campaign ended, usually enough to put $20,000 into his PAC, and he'd be set for two more years of furtive personal spending.
The enforcement commission needs to end its cozy relationships with the powerful. No deals, no payments into a public campaign fund. Take a stand and refer this to the Public Integrity Bureau in the chief state's attorney's office.
The Senate cannot remain silent. Last week it became agitated over the nomination of Superior Court Judge Patricia Swords for a second eight-year term on the bench. Judge Swords collected some detractors in her first term. She can be unnervingly fierce when she presides. About two dozen of her decisions were appealed to a higher court. Only one was overturned. That says she makes hard decisions on close calls and gets them right.
The legislature, which nearly defeated her nomination Wednesday, spent so much time discussing Judge Swords's deportment and demeanor it began to sound like a 1962 meeting of the admissions committee at Miss Porter's.
We'll get our own chance to judge the state Senate's deportment and commitment to the rule of law by the way it treats Gaffey's years of conniving and malfeasance.
• Kevin Rennie is a lawyer and a former Republican state legislator. His column appears Sundays in the CTOpinion section. He can be reached at kfrennie @yahoo.com.
What's your opinion? Make it count with a Letter to the Editor: www.courant.com/writeletter
Copyright © 2009, The Hartford Courant
The audacity is stunning!
A $120,000 secretary to support a $38,000 politician? Only happens in the state of Connecticut Democrat politics----------
JUST KEEP VOTING FOR THE DEMOCRATS, THEY SPEND YOUR MONEY AS IF IT WERE THEIR OWN, LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET!
DEMOCRAT=TAX & SPEND, and don't worry if they run out of your money to spend, they will just take more by force!
That's right folks, following a week in CT where House and Senate Democrats were unable to find the courage, ability or smarts to make any significant cuts in a budget that apparently now has a billion dollar deficit for this year, they added a $120,000 new position to their staff, continuing to show that the last people on earth they intend to let suffer in this economy are themselves. Jim Amann continues to be a candidate for governor, and this large salary of $ 120.000 ought to help him toward that end considerably.
Amann has never been shy about being a pig, ever-ready to be slopped at the public trough. It should be remembered that he ran into some difficulties back when he was simultaneously serving as Speaker while strong-arming lobbyists to contribute to the non-profit he worked for, hiding behind the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the sick people it helps to personally enrich himself.
His indifference to the notion of being wise with the public penny is summed up best by the useless $65,000 special session he called a little over a year ago that required scaffolding to be taken down and immediately erected again for one hour of work that achieved absolutely nothing. He also managed as Speaker to use a $2 million contingency fund meant for statewide projects solely in his own legislative district.
We were particularly amused by Amann's remarks where he explained how he came to take his new job. He said he considered private sector employment, but opted for the security of a state job since the private sector was laying off so many people. The money-line? “If I could run for governor and live in a tent I would,” Amann said. “I got a wife to take care of, I got bills to pay.”
Everyone else in Connecticut has family to support and bills to pay Jim. But, as it always was in your legislative career just as it is now... you're not about the people of the state. You're still just about yourself and the $ 120.000.
Not only didn't they find a way to cut the budget, but they gave a large group of state employees an 8% pay increase in this economy. How many taxpayers here in New Britain can count on an 8% raise? Sounds like some real sound management at work in our legislature, doesn't it?
Anonymous says:
Read the Courant's editorial page in the 1/18/09 edition..., is anyone surprised?
Jim Amann, bowing to public pressure and, apparently, the opinion of the entire Democratic caucus, decided not to take the $120.000 job with Chris Donovan.
January 20,2009 :PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement of Speaker Donovan on Jim Amann Decision...
I respect Jim Amann’s decision not to accept the position of Senior Advisor to the Speaker of the House in order to devote his full energies to his pursuit of the Democratic nomination for governor of Connecticut.
I asked Jim to join my office because of his lengthy legislative experience, his extensive network of business, political and community contacts across the state, and his political perspective. I believe those attributes would have been a valuable addition to my team.
I regret that Jim will not be joining our team in the Speaker’s office, but understand his decision. He and I had a chance to discuss these matters at length yesterday and again today, and it became clear that his sense of the demands of his political work differed from mine to an extent that it made employment in my office unrealistic.
I also recognize the public’s concerns about the appointment and reaction to it. I have heard their voices, and understand the reasons behind those concerns.
I wish Jim and his wife, Terry, good health and good luck in their future pursuits.-- 30 --
Former Speaker of the House James Amann visited the Capitol Press Room to tell the media he had officially declined newly elected Speaker of the House Chris Donovan’s six-figure $ 120.000 job offer, which according to Amann had been revised into a part-time position with a $60,000 salary and benefits.
“I am not a rich man. I have to work for a living,” Amann said. He said if he had accepted the job he would have given Donovan 200 percent, however, many even within the Democratic caucus wondered if it was realistic for Amann to work for Donovan, continue fundraising for the MS Society, and run for governor all at the same time.
“I regret that Jim will not be joining our team in the Speaker’s office, but understand his decision. He and I had a chance to discuss these matters at length, and it became clear that his sense of the demands of his political work differed from mine to an extent that it made employment in my office unrealistic,” Donovan said in this written statement.
Setting aside their own personal feelings for Amann, Democratic insiders said virtually the entire Democratic caucus felt it was wrong to offer Amann the job. Many said they were unaware it had even been offered to him until shortly before the statement was released.
Amann said he expected to receive some negative publicity about the job offer, but was surprised by the chilly reception.
“It’s not an uncommon thing in this building to be a former representative or senator or whatever and receive a job,” Amann said. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”
Amann met with Donovan in Meriden, at which time he made the second, reduced offer for a part-time job at $60,000 per year plus benefits. Amann said he seriously considered the offer because, “for me it wasn’t about the $120,000; it was about the insurance.”
Amann is a cancer survivor and his wife has had a kidney transplant. Amann said he learned they will be able to obtain health insurance through his wife’s employer.
When asked if he felt the controversy over the job offer would impact his run for governor, Amann said, “Why would that be?”
Amann said he was uncomfortable with some of the new job restrictions that Donovan proposed, along with the part-time position, because they may have hindered his campaign for governor.
He said that after the meeting with Donovan he visited Waterbury, where he was greeted by a room of about 75 Latinos excited about his gubernatorial campaign.
He said that if he hadn’t gone to Waterbury, he may have accepted the position. But he said he will maintain his position of $60.000 as a fundraiser with the MS Society, but is currently looking for another job in the private sector.
Good to see that the public heat finally got to Amann and Donovan. They both had big brass ones to think they could pull this one off and no one would care. Now keep the pressure on the other clown from Meriden, Mr. Gaffey, and let's watch him squirm.
How can Mr. Donovan's judgment ever be trusted again after this stupid FIASCO of Jim Amann's $120.000 job?
Mr. Donovan needs to be un-elected next time around ! These officials are there to represent us--not screw us !
They still both look like idiots, Christopher Donovan and Jim Amann.
They thought Ct. citizens and taxpayers were stupid enough to find this acceptable.
Amann realized too late that this would certainly not endear him to Ct. voters in 2010.
Maybe in this new age of responsibility (per the President's speech yesterday), these two guys Mr. Donovan and Mr.Amann came to their senses and realized that the public will no longer tolerate fleecing by these two politicians.
Thank you to the Hartford Courant and citizens whoever spilled the story to the Courant reporters. It's about time these two pig legislators Donovan and Amann showed some humility.
Sounds like City of Meriden is trying to give Hartford, Waterbury, and Bridgeport to run for their money for the title of Connecticut's most Corrupt Place. It is for the leadership to start coming from regular Connecticut towns, which most people in the state live in. These cities are soooo far out of touch and corrupt.
WE pleased that this $120.000 situation was resolved without Mr. Amann taking the JOB. To do so would have been mounting arrogance upon previously demonstrated arrogance and lack of concern for the CT Taxpayers.
It is a terrible shame that Jim Amann cites personal financial and health care woes as his pitiful excuse for attempting to both triple his pay and pad his pension.
Let us all remember this $120.000 incident when he crawls out from under his rock and begins to campaign in earnest for the Governer's seat.
Jim Amann is always looking for the angle to vacuum up loose cash, either by abusing his political post to benefit himself as a fundraiser for a charity, or by trying to take a six-figure state job WHILE being a fundraiser WHILE running for governor.
Apparently the pressure was too much, and Amann has announced he will not take the $ 120.000 job. But let's be clear... based on Amann's track record of indifference to public opinion considering his ethics on such questions, it is unlikely that he made the principled call and stood down.
No, it is far more likely that he was told by the new speaker, Chris Donovan, that he couldn't go through with it. Donovan has been getting tremendous heat over the past few days for the foolish decision, and probably balked.
Despite the fact that this distasteful deal was never executed, it demonstrates the grotesque lack of judgment and inability to grasp the fiscal circumstances gripping the state that consumes Chris Donovan. It is frightening that Donovan apparently thought this was a reasonable deal, only to fold when the voices around him got too loud.
Donovan has failed one of his first major tests as Speaker, and has set a poor example of leadership. Now THAT'S Connecticut Democrats, and THAT'S business as usual.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "EDITORIAL":
This has nothing to do with the New Britain Herald. Frank, yesterday we received a new addition of The District Communicator. It is a magazine style, full color, envelope mailed
informational from Doris Kurtz to
keep parents informed about the school district. I am disgusted!
What did this cost? At a time when
layoffs are being felt everywhere
and salary freezes and salary cuts
are being delivered to save jobs, our working class city can still afford "extras" like The District Communicator. If overpriced items
like this can't be cut for cost savings, we should prepare ourselves to have continued increase requests crammed down the
taxpayers throats. Enough!
Read through the Communicator and you will find a section for "Ideas"
Here's the first idea, cancel the magazine to save money. On the back cover is a survey for parents, another place to let the BOE and Doris know to stop wasting
money on this useless BS.
This product probably equals a teacher's salary and we will have
to hear her crying to parents how we are going to have to cut staff this year.
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
So qraz.y.
Eeer
Later
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