Speak Out
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Scotty B June 11, 2013 at 07:15 pm
You facts are correct Kathleen,
Since Chief Ackley was promoted in June 2009 - Close to 40…Read More Officers have left the department!
13 retired
22 went to other police departments
3 resigned or were terminated
Survey says...!
Instead asking about the nice artwork, lets ask why they are leaving...?!
Rick Lushay June 12, 2013 at 08:07 am
Scotty B. If you know or even speak to any police officers or any NLPD employees you would know the…Read More reason why the officers are leaving. The police administration is terrible, no leadership at the top and a city administration and four city councilors driven to gut and destroy the police department. These well educated and ambitious young officers know that there is no career opportunity here in the Whaling City so they are doing what is best for themselves. You would do the same.
Kathleen Mitchell June 12, 2013 at 06:02 pm
If anyone bothered to read the mayor's response above, the part that I could figure out and really…Read More concerned me was "The administration has also begun the process of using State LOCIP funds (at no cost to New London taxpayers) to install better lighting and security cameras throughout our City this year."
I do check out things before I write about them and I checked out his claim regarding the use of LoCIP (Local Capital Improvement Program)
No request has been made to the city council, as yet, for LoCIP funds for use as stated by the mayor.
I did think a headline in The Day today was interesting "UPDATED: NL cops use video surveillance, GPS coordinates to capture shooting suspect" and couldn't help but wonder if the information provided to the reporters was to support the mayor's claim that our city is safe regardless of the number of police on duty.
Jennifer Mitchell June 11, 2013 at 01:25 pm
Marco has been harassing my Mom for so long that I begin to wonder when it can be classified as…Read More cyber-stalking. You always have something to say, perhaps you are mad that no one cares who you are and are looking for your 5 minutes of fame. If you have something important to say (which is doubtful)then do your own blog.
Kenneth R. Lewis June 11, 2013 at 02:06 pm
Kathleen you do a good job here and you are not afraid to state it like it is. Keep up the effort.…Read More It is never easy.
Marco Frucht June 12, 2013 at 06:59 am
In fair and full disclosure, the "outside help" that Kathleen Mitchell is half-truthing…Read More here (by exclusion) is that she tried to have her son Adam Mitchell stalk me at Bean and Leaf and demand that I leave Kathleen alone.
I think what she didn't realize was that although we hadn't talked with each other in almost 20 years, Adam and I were friends back in junior high school and even Little League baseball. He played for Pfizer and I played for Elks. We caught up on old times, and Adam said I have every right to debate against Kathleen in forums. And if that's all I'd done that angers Kathleen so much, oh well. "You know how she is when she gets on that computer for 20 hours straight," Adam said, "before she was fixated on the Mayor it was that Priest guy." He mentioned a couple other people she attacked the way she attacks the Mayor and fixates on me, etc., but there's no need to go in great detail. You see my point.
So I only asked Adam to suggest that Kathleen take down the post on HER fake Whaletail page where she mentions my previous posts, but she's deleted them, unfriended me, and blocked me. I didn't ask that the whole thread be removed because it annoys me greatly, as much as that it makes her look really ignorant to say "We have chosen to leave his comments up as a reminder of the type of support this mayor has," and then there are no comments to see.
She hasn't taken it down and I would urge people to look that over in the context of everyone else she's unfriended and deleted messages to, as well as cherry-picked messages left up where she hopes the entire thread will look like it went her way. She hasn't done that here, I don't want her to get all up in a tizzy over that. Check out all of her fights in Facebook where she does that, you'll see what I mean.
Anyhow, I'll ignore her other comments here -- mild in comparison -- but I will not sit back and let her say "outside help" like that without giving you facts and perspective. Because if you're left uninformed, you'll start sounding too much like Kathleen Mitchell.
Jack Everett June 6, 2013 at 12:22 pm
The voters are the main problem with the leadership we have in New London but I also think with the…Read More police it's a problem with the police Dept as well as the leadership in choosing the police captain, the way she only seems to take an interest in her own personal business and whatever perks she can get. It's very easy to hear how discouraged the New London police are when talking to them on the phone and how uninterested they are in working for this person.
Marco Frucht June 8, 2013 at 11:34 am
Next time I find a couple bucks in my sock drawer I think I'll call the council.
Helen Sandalls June 7, 2013 at 11:32 am
Dear Mr. Felt, you need to integrate a few facts into your screed. Many if not all of the city…Read More council members work tirelessly and carefully to protect the city's resources and to keep our taxes as low as possible without relinquishing essential services for those in need and for all who depend on them. Perhaps you have a few detailed and thoughtful suggestions on which decisions could have been made differently that New Londoners could evaluate?
Citizen Nate June 11, 2013 at 02:44 pm
This is all about unions holding the city hostage for pensions and overtime......you are all greedy,…Read More same with the troopers. I am sure the PD would love to take our right to bear arms away so we cannot protect ourselves. Keep giving tickets for seat belts you guys are real protectors of democracy all right.
RED DOG June 12, 2013 at 12:02 am
Citizen Nate, it is not any union or pension that is causing the problem. It is the lack of…Read More responsible leadership, placing policing and the citizens at the forefront to being of utmost importance.
The Chief operates through intimidation and fear against the Officers tying their hands and controlling their every activity. We need the department to go back to a progressive enforcement approach with a supportive administration. Most of the high ranking officers fear for their jobs and are followers to the Chief. She has her own agenda and it is personally directed at individual officers. The Mayor made a mistake the day he was elected by going to her and asking her to remain as Chief. I do believe he realizes he has made a very detrimental mistake but has no way to back out. the City as usual fears Ackley, she has committed enough egregious acts and there is plenty of just cause to terminate her employment. The Mayor just has to do it and not fear her. Les Smith Jr is entirely correct due to a failure to act the mayor has exacerbated the situation and ruined the police Dept and City. Citizen Nate most the rank and file officers are believers in your 2nd amendment rights, however Chief Ackley and Mayor Finizio are anti gun and would just as soon see their own officers not have guns. This is well known information within the Dept. and publicly. Chief Ackley is derelict in her duties.
Spencer June 4, 2013 at 03:28 pm
In regards to the fire department, I am not sure I am understanding why the budget indicates that…Read More it is more expensive to operate the FD this year over last. The Mayor himself was enthusiasticly proclaiming that the contract they signed last year was one that offered 'significant savings across the board!" Add to that the fact that the FD don't even send out the trucks with paramedic anymore, unless the situation was 'warranted'. So combine those two factors--how the heck is the FD costing us over a million
dollars more this year over last year---if these two factors alone, (Not even mentioning one less FFer each shift), was suppose to dramatically reduced the cost of operations????
Carol D. Fox June 4, 2013 at 07:37 pm
@Spencer: I don't understand it either, but at this point, I don't believe a word that comes from…Read More the Mayor's mouth. He's nuts if he thinks this budget will go into affect without a fight. I don't normally get actively involved in anything political, if I can help it. But this budget business has me totally pissed off. and I will do whatever I can to help the cause.
Jack Everett June 6, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Most of this increased budget is going for increases in retirement to politicians and overtime for…Read More workers that is not necessary. I see firetrucks going back and forth by my home like they are just joy riding, I don't think this is the case but I do know the bug ladder truck that takes two drivers is riding around for no good Reason. I feel that putting on public events for residents is not a waste of money Their is very little done for New London citizens and the town does belong to the people regardless of how politicians want to play wannabe dictator. New London also has a worthless maintenance department because the work that is done is always done by private contractors.
Kathleen Mitchell June 2, 2013 at 08:00 am
Mark, I'm not sure. I only know that Himself suggested that I stop picking on his administration and…Read More try picking on the Republicans.
Clark, Does that mean you plan to attend or that you've been to a previous one?
Marco Frucht June 8, 2013 at 11:46 am
Kathleen, you ARE one of those tabloids they sell at grocery stores. Metaphorically,…Read More one-big-unsubstantiated-smear-campaign-bordering-on-libel-and-slander-holding-up-little-more-than-rhetoric with legs.
You give yourself several bully pulpits but then say little or nothing because any of it that might make sense completely contradicts something else you've claimed a week or a month ago.
Are you for or against the Mayor? Are you for or against Mike Buscetto? Are you for or against Father Russ? I scratch my head and wait patiently, and it usually becomes evident you are for AND against them.
Oh well, don't let the facts get in the way of your midnight cyber rants.
Kathleen Mitchell June 8, 2013 at 06:05 pm
Marco, Good to see you using your own name for a change instead of blaming some pretty nasty and…Read More questionable comments on others when confronted.
You are certainly entitled to your own opinion and, as expected, you don't let anything like facts or new information cause you to consider changing it.
Marco Frucht June 11, 2013 at 08:44 am
Ignoring these comments except to say that I have ALWAYS used my real name. One must point three…Read More fingers at themselves in order to point one finger at someone else.
Randy Drummond May 30, 2013 at 11:19 am
MAYBE THE MAYOR AND HIS PEOPLE FORGOT, SO IT WOULD NOT ACTUALLY BE HIS FAULT OR THE FAULT OF HIS…Read More STAFF, THEY ARE HUMAN AND MAKE MISTAKES, ALBEIT A LOT OF MISTAKES BUT NONE OF THEM ARE THEIR FAULT.
Carol D. Fox May 27, 2013 at 11:21 am
If these guys can't cover 6 square miles, maybe they need to hire a few more and get another truck.…Read More The garbage doesn't affect me because I have private pickup, but I really hate to see overflowing garbage on the streets. And yes, Sue, your right. In the past, when it was garbage pick up day, it was done.
Spencer May 27, 2013 at 04:30 pm
I was visiting Fort Trumbull with my dog today. My dog pooped twice, and so I had a bag that I very…Read More much needed to get rid of. Lo and behold if I could not find an outdoor garbage can. Now I know that they always had 3 trashcans in the area by the benches outside of the welcome center of that park--They did not have one at all today. I asked one of the D.E.E.P. guys working there what happened to the trashcans? He didn't know. He said I was the 4th person with a dog, and maybe the 8th all together, who asked him the same question. He went to find a maintenance guy to ask the question. The maintenance guy gave me 2 options--either take go home and put it in the outside trash there, or there were garbage cans over at Waterfront Park. I was like "Really? The State can't afford garbage cans in this park?" I thought it was kind of strange, especially in regards to this conversation about the garbage pick ups--but then I remember Finizio and Malloy are friends---so then it wasn't strange anymore.
Sue P. May 28, 2013 at 10:37 am
I have to add something else. In the budget on page 71, I want to make clear that the Fire Dept. did…Read More not ask for the million in overtime it was put there by the Mayor and his staff. Everything in the budget is what the Mayor wants not what the city employees actually asked for. Just wanted to make that clear.
Jason Morris May 28, 2013 at 03:39 pm
It means you haven't been to a meeting in over a year, so that's why you haven't seen me. Simple.…Read More And neither has anyone else seen Mr. DiMauro at a board meeting.And the public comments section of the minutes of the past year should clear up the question in anyones mind...if it matters. The rest of my comment apparently stands. You're dipping your toes (back?) into education with this post, and it's seriously flawed. I'm not necessarily doing this in defense of the person, but in defense of the harm to the district you intend to do that is very misguided. Give me a call and we can clear this up.
Kathleen Mitchell May 30, 2013 at 12:02 pm
I hate to be the one to tell you this, Jason, but there are some of us who can't attend meetings of…Read More every board, agency and/or commission but still have, and have had for many years, grave concerns regarding the way this city runs.
I hope you realize that your post is simply your opinion and has nothing to do with facts which usually tend to impress me.
I am not going to call you for a number of reasons but, even if I did, it is very unlikely that I would change my opinion based on your opinion which is really what you want.
Read my latest post.
Marco Frucht June 8, 2013 at 11:55 am
Jason, you have nothing of substance to say simply because Kathleen Mitchell claims you have nothing…Read More to say. And we all agree she is credible.
Joshua Pendleton May 24, 2013 at 06:31 pm
@The Truth Hurts, one of the most valuble leasons ive ever learned was from my last comanding…Read More officer, and i quote "we wear our last names on our uniforms not just to identfy ourselves but to let people know when we speak, we attach those word to who we are as credible men. our names are our credibility". Ill let you figure that one out The truth hurts.
donny May 25, 2013 at 11:41 am
Ryan you ask "Zak resigns, and goes on to another town for a lateral position, and he’s…Read More asked “Why did you resign?” Do you think the interviewer could keep a straight face while Zak tried to explain some wacky story about a t-shirt.?" More importantly do you think they would hire him to go to the State Capitol and ask other legislators from other towns to help support New London????
Rick Lushay May 27, 2013 at 09:19 am
Mr. Zak could simply say I made a huge error in judgement and I did the right thing by resigning. I…Read More was no longer effective for New London and I have learned from that and I will do the best job possible for__________. That is how Mr. Zak answers the question. He comes off as a young man of integrity rather than a spoiled brat. Staying in New London hurts his future after this judgement error. Sadly enough he is too young and inexperienced to see that. Plus he is blinded by the Finizio charm that most others have seen through already.
William Desmond May 27, 2013 at 07:12 am
They are criminals, they are here in violation of the laws. Our laws are not subjective and you…Read More cannot pick and choose which laws to enforce. Remember when the mayor wanted to ignore the narcotics laws and leave the pot smokers alone? Give the illegals drivers licenses and then round them up and deport them all at the same time in the box trucks that they came here in.
Kathleen Mitchell May 26, 2013 at 01:56 pm
Dennis, I'm among the first to jump on (figuratively speaking) any member of this administration…Read More given the slightest opportunity.
However, as one of the people closely associated with the Fort Trumbull mess from Day One, if there is anyone who should be admitting she made a mistake it would be Peg Curtin who, although Tony Basilica and John Markowicz already had a good workable plan in place through the LRA, took it upon herself to join forces with Claire Gaudiani and members of the Rowland administration which has brought nothing but trouble to this city to this day.
Clark van der Lyke May 26, 2013 at 04:59 pm
Yes Kathleen, one is reminded of that old saying "When the good road closes, the bad road…Read More opens." Wearing a T shirt that proclaims "Yin Yan" as being associated with Claire Gaudiani might open the bad road, so I would avoid recommending that, even though you too have the b---- to do it. In spite of Mr. Downing's assertion that "You have official in Washington D.C. that are making mistake up the yin yan" At least, Kathleen, you are not one to let anybody "off the hook" if indeed you are the you being referenced by the aforesaid writer.
Rick Lushay May 27, 2013 at 09:15 am
Mr. Zak should absolutely resign. It is the right and noble thing to do. When you make a judgement…Read More error that reflects badly on yourself, your community and the job you were hired to do you step down gracefully. It is called manning up or putting on your big boy pants. The problem is that we have no one of strong character in the administration so we will have no actions that require strong character taking place while the current administration is in office.
Barbara Crocker May 23, 2013 at 07:39 pm
My observance that NL people are not the haters, but the hated, amuses you??? Don't quite get that,…Read More but it seems by the post written by the shirt's creator, that you don't get it either...
Felicia Hendersen May 24, 2013 at 09:13 am
Barbara, the shirt creator, Zak and the band of mayoral supporters all share the same mind. That is…Read More why it is difficult for them to make any good decisions.
Marco Frucht June 8, 2013 at 11:32 am
What I get, Barbara, is that you and lots of New Londoners hate on a lot of people. Especially in…Read More places like the Patch and the Day. Wow. That just mostly makes me feel a little sorry for you all.
J. Scagnetti May 20, 2013 at 10:07 am
I'd say more like G.I. Joe vs cobra, oh no wait, He man vs skeletor or maybe even the thundercats vs…Read More mumra! Lol
Sue P. May 20, 2013 at 11:03 am
Very good comparison. I also wanted to add that the Ct. College students that believe what Finizio…Read More has to say remind me of The Children of the Corn. After speaking with a friend we realized that Mayor Finizio is like a college student. I just wish he knew that real life does not work this way. New London has already played this game with the Giordano lady years ago. Remember her she was from Ct. College and also was going to make New London a hip city. We got homeless people and brownfields. So much for that idea. Been their done that. How about a new idea for once. Please don't think about shutting down State St. that too was a bad idea. Just ask Mr. Hyslop and Ms. Glover how their ideas worked out. It doesn't matter anyways it's all about the votes and getting your Children of the Corn on the Council. I mean come on drivers licenses for illigals who ever thought that one up.
Carol D. Fox May 19, 2013 at 05:26 pm
I read that Malloy is hoping Monday but there are problems with the tracks and that has to be…Read More repaired. Taking a guestimate, if it isn't Monday, maybe the end of the week.
Carol D. Fox May 19, 2013 at 07:14 pm
Here's the latest Spencer from the AP, if we can believe them:
Traffic in southwest Connecticut…Read More could be a mess for as much as a week until service is restored to the commuter rail line affected by a derailment that injured scores of passengers, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy warned Sunday.
Richard Waselik May 22, 2013 at 10:37 am
I have not seen any details other than word of mouth at this time in reference to more being added…Read More to the pension plan after two years. I would not be surprised. This would be another instance in which the charter was violated and would have to be mentioned to the Admin. Committee. I would be willing to gamble that they were put into the employee pension plan as well.
Kathleen Mitchell May 22, 2013 at 03:17 pm
The following is from NL's Charter, Sec 46. Does it mean that Bill Hathaway would be entitled to a…Read More public hearing?
"...Any officer or employee so removed, suspended, laid off or reduced in grade shall, if he so request, be furnished with a written statement of the reason therefor, be allowed a reasonable time for answering such reasons in writing and be given a public hearing by the officer making such removal, suspension, lay-off or reduction in grade, before the order therefor shall be made final..."
Richard Waselik May 22, 2013 at 03:40 pm
I would say that the Collective Bargaining Agreement would have to be looked at for his Union.…Read More Mr. Hathaway is not in Local 1378. He is MEU. I would say, that this is an interesting question for our members. Local 1378's CBA does not go into this language, however it does state that prior to reorganization, the union must be notified to bargain the impacts (not exact language). This is not to say that the union has final say, or say at all as to how the administration shall operate, but the impact to the employees is what matters as well as the position in general. I will look into this language in reference to the Charter and forward it to the MEU as well. Thank you.
Alphonse DeLachance May 21, 2013 at 08:30 am
I cannot believe that they lied! Who could have seen this coming.
Citizen Nate May 24, 2013 at 12:36 pm
I got another e-mail from CTRIDES...they said the CT DEEP still needs to review and approve the…Read More additional bridge openings and closings.......I do not think anything will happen this year. How can they not see that it is a direct link to the ferries and that New London has prospects for economic growth.
Carol D. Fox May 17, 2013 at 07:44 am
Pretty funny Spencer. But you don't want a museum there. You need something that generates taxes.…Read More Museums are mostly non-profit thereby not generating any taxes. I know you were being funny. I was disgusted to read the developer couldn't show financial backing.
Kathleen Mitchell May 17, 2013 at 05:47 pm
Who would haveever thought of Wasp Spray?
When you get the case of spray, be sure and drop a can off…Read More at my house;>)
Carol D. Fox May 17, 2013 at 06:51 am
The way things have been going in the eastern part of the United States, as long as the illegals are…Read More not breaking the law criminally (motor vehicle is different), they are not arrested for being illegal. Its the illegal immigrants who break the law, such as the large drug bust recently in the papers. As long as they are minding their own business, they get a pass. The only problem I have with illegals is their rush to get on state aid, food stamps, etc. I don't think we should have to support those that choose to live in this country illegally. Becoming a US citizen is not cheap. It is expensive, but it is something that they must work for.
Barbara Crocker May 17, 2013 at 07:52 am
But for state aid they would have to have a Social Security number. Bending and breaking laws is…Read More how they got here in the first place. The fact that elected officials condone and encourage these laws to be broken is the biggest problem that I have with this whole debacle. "Undocumented residents" place a burden on all of us, and take jobs that could be worked by legal residents. Employers hire illegals (yes I prefer calling them what they are, to hell with being politically correct) because it saves them money, not because "no one else would work these jobs". This is a slap in the face to all of our ancestors who came to this country and followed the rules to become citizens.
Carol D. Fox May 17, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Barbara, I agree with you. But it is probably a lot easier to get an illegal social security number…Read More than we would know. There are two ways of looking at this issue, but my resentment is that I have to pay for them.
Where'd you say Jeff lives?
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