For the past 21 months, the City of
New Britain has been in a strangle hold of the O’Brien Administration. This has
been made possible by a Common Council composed of 13 Democrats and 2
Republicans. Also, O’Brien hired an enforcer type Deputy Chief of Staff to
intimidate into submission, the entire workforce of City Hall (excluding
elected officials not beholden to the Democrat Party for their positions).
This scenario has developed into a
drama characterized by lies, job selling and the destruction of the department
system of operation of the City. Some of the readers of local media
publications should remember the job selling scandal in New Britain of the late
1970s.. Not very different right now.
Immediately after being elected,
O’Brien issued his first order, “A Hiring Freeze.” Immediately following that
edict, the destruction of New Britain began: Phil Sherwood was hired as
Communications Director soon to become Deputy Chief of Staff with a continually
modified salary; the PR Firm of Roy Occhigrosso for $100 thousand; the hiring
of Brigitte Brown for $46 thousand; the hiring of D. Pudlin for $ tens of
thousands; the hiring of Executive Aide M. Baczewski of Berlin for ? tens of
thousands; hiring of Fernando Marroquin ( Sherwood’s replacement) for $ 60
thousand - both Sherwood and Marroquin have addresses at the same firm in
Hartford. Etc., etc. In other words, Sherwood could be able to run New Britain
from afar. So much for a hiring freeze. Now, O’Brien may be involved in
creating yet another position - Events Coordinator - that may be handed to Matt
Dabrowski, candidate for Alderman on the O’Brien ticket. Sources say the
position was posted by the HRA of New Britain. Readers may recall that HRA was
relieved of a tax burden (over $250,000) by a questionable - possibly illegal -
City fiat. Recall my mention of the job selling scandal in my first paragraph!
I guess O’Brien doesn’t care about history or that New Britain people are
unemployed. Just hire cronies, no one cares..
So how about the Common
Council? They are ecstatic about O’Brien? In a recent Herald profile,
Alderman Centeno stated that his proudest moment was voting for O’Brien’s
budget. Really! It’s like Edgar Bergen having 13 puppets. Stay tuned, more to
come.
Lou Salvio, New Britain
You're correct on all points Mr. Salvio, but you neglected to mention the roll that the The New Britain Herald has played in helping the Mayor get away with all of this corruption, and all the taxpayer money it received for its' help.
ReplyDeleteNowhere can an administration sustain this level of corruption without the existence of a corrupt media to provide it cover and spread its' propaganda.
Between Slimy Palms O'Brien in New Britain, Danny Boy Malloy in Hartford and Obummer in Washington DC, I am beginning to think that the "D" next to their names stands for "Dictator"
ReplyDeleteThe first writer is exactly true. The Herald should be held accountable for its immoral action.
ReplyDeleteI remember the good ole days when the media actually held politicians accountable, now they only do that to Republicans while Democrats get a pass no matter how corrupt they may be.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a really tough decade if things don't straighten out quickly. If O'Brien gets back in, our debt will top $300,000,000.00 for sure,
ReplyDeleteThe only way out will be to selling the reservoir, and we'll end up paying more for our water and sewer for ever afterwards.
Tim O'Brien is sucking the lifeblood out of the city and we all know, he's gone as soon as he can find a lobbyist or state level position to move onto.
Our political system is supposed by the People, for the People. It was never intended to be a pathway to wealth.