Category — Posts

“In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.”

And they did.

Bolton First Selectman Sandra Pierog hopes critics and their families are struck by the deadly coronavirus. The Bolton Democrat was in a rage this weekend after she observed two local residents watching the recording of a Memorial Day commemoration on on the town green.

Pierog, according to one of the two residents who incurred her wrath, approached the observers and threatened to call police if they did not leave. The dispute, as often happens, moved to Facebook. An enraged Pierog wrote, “May the virus strike in your homes so you know where I am coming from.” The vicious post received an endorsement from state Representative Geoffrey Luxenberg (D-Manchester), who commented beneath it, “Great job. Don’t be discouraged.”

Pierog is serving her fourth term as first selectman. She was elected to two terms in the 1980s and returned to the office in 2017. She was re-elected in 2019.

Pierog has posted another comment signaling her harsh view of differences in our diverse state on the way forward. She wrote, “…those who think the virus and the protection of at risk individuals is a violation of their freedoms won’t learn until they or their loved ones experience it.”

UPDATE: Sandra Pierog writes about her Facebook post, “Commenting has been turned off. Seems that many folks (who I don’t know) don’t know how to be civil when an honest mistake is owned up to. You may notice I have taken down my recent personal post that was copied by others onto open groups, Once it was pointed out by my friends that there was a word left out I felt that was the best action and did so on Saturday. I would never wish the virus on anyone. The virus has hit my family hard, 2 of my daughter-in-laws contracted the virus as front line health care workers and one of my grandsons got the virus from his mother. Thankfully all are currently recovering. We understand the pain that this causes and are doing everything possible to keep our community safe. “

Pierog has posted other comments signaling her grim view of differences in our diverse society on the way forward. She wrote, “…those who think the virus and the protection of at risk individuals is a violation of their freedoms won’t learn until they or their loved ones experience it.”

Nonfarm employment in Connecticut fell by a staggering 266,000 jobs in April, according to numbers released Thursday by the state’s labor department. That left 1,4 million jobs in the state, the lowest number in decades.

Before the ravages of the pandemic began in March, Connecticut had yet to recover all the jobs it lost in the recession of 2008-2009. The peak jobs number remains 1.716 million in April 2008.

Restoring the conditions for jobs and opportunity to thrive will continue to be the long-range challenge of the state’s leaders.

Governor Ned Lamont has begun his search for a new commissioner to lead the troubled Department of Public Health (DPH). He’s looking for a “dynamic and collaborative” commissioner who meets the statutory qualifications of the position. The position includes “a host of benefits.”

Read more here.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on June 30th. The administration is using the services of Connecticut-based recruiting firm Bohan & Bradstreet in its nationwide search. The Kimble Group of Houston, Texas has been circulating the posting. Please note that these far-reaching searches often conclude with the revelation that the best candidate was nearby and had helpful political ties to someone in the administration.

Speaker of the House Joseph Aresimowicz unhappy with the handful of demonstrators who gathered at the Capitol to protest the pace of Connecticut’s reopening. The departing Democrat took to Facebook to mock the protestors and urged them to make themselves and others sick.

It was a cruel wish, but Aresimowicz eventually recanted it by deleting the post and apologizing.

If the Plainville legislator is that incensed by a few dozen people meeting outside on the Capitol lawn, he must be in a fury over the state’s malls opening today.

COVID-19 has inflicted many burdens on us all. It has not, however, eliminated our right to disagree. Was it only 15 years ago that dissent was held up as the highest form of patriotism?

A glimpse of the future. The logistical demands of justice continue to be thwarted by COVID-19. Civil and criminal trials have been suspended in the District of Connecticut until further order:

GENERAL ORDER

IN RE:
COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY COVID-19 

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has declared a national emergency, and the Governor of the State of Connecticut has declared a public health emergency throughout the State; 
WHEREAS, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised people to take precautions in light of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) outbreak, and has noted that the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus, through, among other means, social distancing; 
AND
WHEREAS, the District Court continues to review its operations to identify measures that will help slow the spread of the virus by minimizing contact between persons, while at the same time preserving its core mission of serving the public through the fair and impartial administration of justice; 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, effective immediately, that:

(1)All civil and criminal jury trials (and re lated jury selections) scheduled to commence on or before September 1, 2020, before any district or magistrate judge in any courthouse in the District of Connecticut shall be continued pending further order of the Court; and

(2)With regard to criminal trials, due to: the public health risks associated with summoning groups of prospective jurors who would be required to sit in close proximity to each other during jury selection and, if selected, during trial and deliberations; the Court’s reduced ability to obtain an adequate spectrum of prospective jurors due to the publics perceptions of the risks associated with jury service; and the effect of the above public health recommendations on the availability of counsel and Court staff to be present in the courtroom; the time period of the continuances implemented by paragraph 1 of this General Order will be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act. The Court specifically finds that the ends of justice served by ordering the continuances outweigh the best interests of the public and each defendant in a speedy trial, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 3161(h)(7)(A).

SO ORDERED:

Dated: May 19, 2020
Bridgeport, CT

Stefan R. Underhill
Chief United States District Judge

It usually starts by asking for a driver’s license and registration. Not today on I-95 as Connecticut State Trooper Matthew Spina goes on a frightening rant after pulling over a driver who appears to have made an obscene gesture at Spina, who responded with an extended stream of abuse.

Spina, who announces between obscenities that he has 14 months before retirement, appears not to have noticed the camera in the driver’s car. Nor is the trooper wearing gloves and a mask.

Supervisors may ask the voluble Spina to cite the regulation that allows dumping marijuana by the side of the road during a traffic stop.

The global pandemic roiled the upper ranks of the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH) was more extensive than previously known as the toll the crisis took at state-regulated nursing homes grew at a staggering pace.

On March 6th, Susan Roman, the department’s deputy commissioner in charge of the state’s response to the approaching disaster, quit while alleging she had been the target of racial discrimination. Roman left the day she resigned.

Five weeks later, on April 13th, DPH Director of Communications and Government Relations Av Harris submitted his resignation. Harris notified Commissioner Renee D. Coleman-Mitchell, who was canned by Governor Ned Lamont last week, that effective May 7th he was resigning his position. “I will be starting a a new professional opportunity in my home state of Massachusetts,” Harris wrote.

By April 13th, state officials estimated there had been 602 COVID-19-associated deaths, while 1760 patients were hospitalized with the unique coronavirus. State officials were expecting the pandemic to peak in Connecticut two weeks later. Coleman-Mitchell and her staff had been sidelined in the Lamont administration’s public response to the virus, a bewildering development as public health officials stepped into the spotlight to inform and reassure cities, states, and the nation.

On April 17th, Harris “upon further reflection” rescinded his resignation, pledging that he was “fully committed to continuing to serve as part of the team….” Harris said Monday that the new job “did not end up working out. So I rescinded my notice and I am happy to stay in my role at DPH.”

Harris added in a subsequent message, “We are doing important work and I want to continue being part of the response to the worst pandemic any of us have seen in our lifetime.” Harris has done stints with secretaries of state Susan Bysiewicz and Denise Merrill, a short gig with former state treasurer Denise Nappier, and a tour of duty with Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, who challenged Lamont in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor.

The Hartford Courant’s Dave Altimari reported in a chilling Sunday story that a survey of 350 DPH employees conducted in January and February found widespread discontent and alarm at DPH’s leadership. Lamont’s actions during the last two months have confirmed the rank-and-file’s frustrating experience at DPH.

The department will require more than a new commissioner when Lamont steadies his own erratic response to reopening Connecticut’s economy.

Governor Ned Lamont has agreed to an extraordinary restriction in the state’s ability to communicate with the public during the public health crisis. Secrecy in conducting the people’s business at this critical hour is becoming a dangerous practice in the Lamont administration.

The administration’s growing aversion to openness is written into the state’s contract with Boston Consultant Group (BCG), the company Connecticut and neighboring states will be paying millions for suggestions on reopening the state’s economy. The contract states, in part, “No Party will make any public announcement or press release regarding the Engagement or Services performed without the prior written consent of the other Party, provided, however, BCG has the right to refer to State as a client of BCG for promotional purposes with with the written consent of the State.” This is an extraordinary voluntary restriction on Lamont’s ability to communicate with the public during a time when he is wielding unprecedented powers under a declaration of a state emergency.

The state will pay BCG as much as $140,000 a week “for a ‘medium team’ of four consultants,” according to CTnewsjunkie.com.

BCG will also assist the secretive Reopen Advisory Committee. Lamont Yale classmate and the committee’s co-chair, Indra Nooyi, was the subject of an obsequious profile for Forbes by BCG senior partner and managing director Grant Freeland. Prepare to cringe as you decide which is more sugary, the profile or the sugar-laden drinks Nooyi made a fortune peddling as the head of PepsiCo.