Mi gente…I’m back and have quite a bunch of emails / housekeeping issues to deal with but thanks to all for the comments on the previous posting. Needless to say that this upcoming election will be an interesting one.
I didn’t want another day to go by without putting something up. So here goes:
1) Kelvin, my boy!!! – Damn!! Talk about playing it right. Here’s a perfect example of how someone who has good academic credentials, is as nice as pie and very personable (no kidding…Kelvin is a good kid), AND is more connected than one of those baby pods in the Matrix can make things happen for himself. I’m talking about local boy doy done good Kelvin Roldan (and state Rep.) getting a job ala Halliberton style with the Hartford Board of Education. He was hired by the same guy whom he helped to hire as a special aide for El Alcalde.
I remember when I was young and some big guy would talk about my momma…I would go up to him and say…hey!! You talkin’ about my momma?! and the big guy would look down at me and say Yeah….and??? Well…Señor Adamowski, El Alcalde, and Kelvin are all looking us in the face with that beautiful little smirk saying “Yeah…and????” That’s what I love about this wonderful practice of “patronage” or cronyism…what can anyone do even when someone is caught redhanded.
Let’s not fool ourselves, Kelvin got hooked up big time. If we looked at the jobs he’s gotten because of his education/experience we can look at his job as an administrator at The Hartford Conservatory. Since then, everything has been handed to him due to his connections with Eddie Perez. The only issue that gives me pausewith this is the possible conflict of interest with his part time job as a State Rep. Other than that, his situation is not unlike countless deals struck behind close doors by this Mayor and all the others before him. People have always been getting cushy jobs left and right. This one just happens to be juicier media material. I’m sure Kelvin will work his @$$ off to justify everything that’s been put on his silver spoon, and I wish him the best of luck…by the way, Kelvin…can you hook a brotha up??!!
For more extensive coverage and less hokey opinions goto my girl Helen Ubiñas’ columns or Ken Krayeske at the 40 Year Plan.
2) ICE in Hartford!! The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency have struck again with a raid in Dorothy Street in HARTFORD! As far as I know, ICE agents go into places with the cooperation of city police departments and the local mayors offices. Does this mean that Hartford is collaborating with this?
I’m not a big fan of Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, but at least you know where he stands. The man’s a racist and doesn’t want undocumented workers in his city. El Alcalde has always toted the Pro-Immigration banner but today’s actions put this in question. I’ve put a call into the the person incharge of constituent concerns and he promised a reply…so we’ll see on this.
The thing thus far in the Kelvin argument that troubles me is that no one is arguing about whether he has or has not done good things. If he’s well qualified and wants to do good things in Hartford, why begrudge him that? I thought the trend in the Hartford area is that if you’re smart and talented, you leave. He’s sticking around and bucking the trend. Most other instances of cronyism around these parts seem to involve people who’ve been around forever and can only promise things politically. Kelvin hasn’t been around long enough to be a party boss. Are the complaints coming out of jealously?
Then again, maybe this much cronyism is totally unfair and is indicative of the endemic corruption that’s derailing any improvement and reform.
Is it really cronyism or is it that connections really do matter in life? I think it is the later. People always say that it’s not what you know, but who you know- and here is a guy with both.
As Ken said, while most smart young people are abandoning this area here is a guy who is sticking around.
S: (n) cronyism (favoritism shown to friends and associates (as by appointing them to positions without regard for their qualifications))
This was cronyism.
To the Mayor’s credit, he has hired some outstanding young folk to serve as aides (of which Kelvin was one.) Special Aides are appointed positions who serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. Last I checked, even the Superintendent of Schools goes through a competitive search process.
That being said, Kelvin is as bright as they come and we at IonHartford hope that he uses his powers for good and not evil