East Haven, it's plain and simple. A vote for Joe Maturo is a vote for April.

So is there a deal out there between Joe Maturo and April Capone? One would think so because it seems that these 2007 foes are in agreement on one thing, neither one of these two wants John Finkle to be Mayor of the Town of East Haven.

What would either one gain by giving a nod and a wink to each other? Well they could be mutually beneficial to each other for personal gain. It's obvious that April Capone loves being the Mayor of East Haven and in a one to one battle for the seat against John Finkle she is a loser. However, with Joe Maturo entering the race on the 3rd line April could pull out a victory with Maturo pulling away votes from both and gives enough to April to prevail.

What could be the reason why? Why would Joe Maturo want to do this? What's in it for Joe? Well maybe it's all in the family. Not many people know that Joe's oldest daughter still works for the Town of East Haven and has not faced the wrath of other politically appointed personal. When April came to office the attack was on any supporter of Joe Maturo. Sarah Morill, for example, was forced from her position as Community Development Coordinator. At the time Sarah was the Republican Chairperson from the Town of Hamden. There were others that had no union protection that were forced out, all except Joe's daughter who I believe is now in a secured union position.

Now what I am saying might be a reach, but could be the reason why Joe could make a deal. We also know that Joe Maturo has no love loss for John Finkle. Simply put Joe Maturo could simply not want John Finkle to be Mayor out of spite. Therefore, by running, could jeopardize John Fnkle's chances and be the ultimate payback for the well-known vindictive former Mayor.

One question though should be asked. If Joe Maturo was so confident that he would beat John Finkle in a Republican Primary why would he not want to face him? Could it be that Joe Maturo's knows that head to head against John Finkle he is a loser? Let’s think about this in perspective. In 2007 over 4,000 people said NO to Joe Maturo and fired him. He lost by just 25 votes. In 2009, John Finkle had over 4,000 votes. What makes anyone think that people have changed their minds in either way? To me it seems that the real loser is Joe Maturo because in a three way race, he of anyone has to show that what happened in 2007 was just a mistake. I seriously doubt people think it was a mistake.

Many of the big issues on why Joe was fired as Mayor was because he acted like a playboy, was arrogant and thought he was untouchable. He took advantage of the Office of Mayor by taking 10 weeks of vacation and when in town was out of the office most of the time. Well, a leopard never changes his spots. Just for example, after this past weekend's events on the Town Green Joe Maturo was off again heading to Las Vegas and Colorado for another vacation. Sounds like a real serious candidate!  Leaving for vacation just after announcing his third line run! One would think he'd take every opportunity to knock on doors and be in the public eye and tell everyone why he wants to be Mayor again. Joe is taking this 3rd line run as a sad side show and continues to dishonor the people of East Haven and mostly himself.

Now let’s look at one person that is behind this run third line run of Joe Maturo. As I mentioned in my last article Joe's Administration was also responsible for his termination as Mayor. Joe's number two, Art DeSorbo, was a major reason for Joe's downfall. Known for his abrasive and also vindictive style of management Art was Joe's strong arm and used threats and intimidation to bully his way through political red tape. When a board or commissioner would be against a proposal it was Art DeSorbo that would sit at the head table and stare down the commissioners. Many times when something controversial would come before the Town Council Art DeSorbo would be there counting votes and making sure that everyone would fall within line. I also was witness to many of Art's rants and raves and his statements or "getting" anyone who went against him.

Art DeSorbo is also an elected Republican Town Committee Member and also sits on the Republican State Central Committee. So you can see the political power and influence that he pushes around. Frankly, because Mr. DeSorbo is supporting a non-endorsed candidate he should immediately resign from the East Haven Republican Town Committee and the Republican State Central Committee.

Frankly, many people told me personally the reason why they didn't vote for John Finkle in 2009 was because they thought that Art DeSorbo was going to play a big role in a Finkle Administration. That was never true and today is a certainty to never happen. In reality, could it be that the reason why Art DeSorbo is supporting a Joe Maturo Administration is because he needs a job as does many of Joe supporters? Do you the reader want to see a return of Art DeSorbo to a position in Town Hall?

There are others too that support a Joe Maturo run on a third line that are less visible. They will be discussed in a later article. The bottom line... It's plain and simple that a vote for Joe Maturo is a vote for April Capone. If you the reader are serious about REAL change then you need to support John Finkle because his people don't need jobs, they want honest government and not the same old same old. Joe Maturo's past administration needs to stay that way and we need to fire April Capone so we can get our town back!

Follow up to the July 27th Board of Police Commissioners Meeting

If I didn't mention it in my last article on the Board of Police Commissioners,  I wrote a letter to Acting Chief Nappi requesting that I receive a copy of the statistical data that is used to detemine where and when the East Haven Police Department uses the DUI/DWI checkpoints throughout town. The current meeting is being played on channel 19 if you'd like to see it live.

Acting Chief Nappi decalred that the lcoations are determined were designated and assigned by Sargent Lennon with the assistance of this so called statistical data. I find that rather odd that a lower ranking officer would make that decison and not the top two men of the Department? We were told that we had to hire Deputy Chief Mannion by Mr. Paul Hongo because we had to assemble command back into the rank and file of the Police Department. Well if that is the case why isn't this decision at least being made by Manion? But not to worry I didn't let this one go. I have requested and Freedom of Information Request on the statistical data and received word from Town Attorney Patrticia Cofranceseco last week that I should be receiving "a response under seperate cover."

There is at least one good thing that did come out of that meeting on the 27th of July, the patrol at the Town Beach is back! After being told by Chairmain Brow that the SRO, DARE Program and the Community Patrol Officer were in "negotiations" amazingly <tounge and cheek> they listened because the Administration got caught. They know what is going on down at the beach. Just last week when I took my daughter down to field 4 in the dugouts was the stench of urine, beer bottle and condom wrappers. I suggest the Community Officer patrol that area very closely along with the Grove cause there is some work to do over there! 

The facts are that this East Haven Board of Police Commissioners are playing games with the safety and well being of the people of East Haven and this author will hold them to account by being at every Police Commission meeting I can attend and will continue to ask the pointed questions until our Police Department is back to doing what it's supposed to do, protect the citizens of our Town.

Stay tuned for Town Attorney Cofrancesco's response. I can assure you it will be very interesting.

The past (Joe), the present (April), and the future (John Finkle)

So now it's official. Joe Maturo has announced that he will run for Mayor this November. But before we get all giddy about the prospects of a return of Joe lets look at how and why we got here.

After 1997 when former Mayor Hank Luzzi's policies caused his downfall Joe Maturo swept into office and took East Haven by storm. Back then Joe Maturo was an honest, young and determined indivdual who I believe had the best interests of the people of East Haven. I so much believed in him that I actaully approached him to serve and in 2000 I was appointed to the East Haven Town Council.

TOWN COUNCIL MATTERS

While on the East Haven Town Council (serving 7 years) I became a thorn in the side of Joe Maturo not because I wanted to be a pain but because of what I witnessed and heard. The very first issue that caused a divide between myself and Joe Maturo was his request of a additional retirement pack for holding the seat of Mayor. The terms of that request was an $11,000 pension for every year served matched at 100%. I balked at this because while I had no problem with Joe Maturo putting HIS money away for his retirement I didn't think is was right nor fair for the taxpayers of the Town to give him something that many of them don't get themselves. When I voted against Joe he became angry and vindictive towards me and demanded that his Republican council vote 15-0 for him. The vote came to 13-2 with Councilman Sand voting with me.

Do you see similarities with the current East Haven Town Council under Capone? Yes you do. There are Council members balking and not returning and even some that have switched parties to show their frustration to the political mess that April Capone has brought to East Haven. Is this change you voted for? Is this what the people of East Haven need?

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

After ten years in office you gain a reputation and a record that can not be disputed. Joe Maturo served as Mayor of the Town of East Haven during good economic times when building new homes and renovations on existing homes in East Haven was at the height of the boom. In many cases Joe Maturo and his Administration used his appointed Boards and Commission as weapons to push through his agenda and even strong armed Town Council appointed boards. In one case Joe Maturo and his Administration used his this weapon against one of our own commissioners on the Zoning Board of Appeals. This commissioner who will remain nameless, had an application before the Zoning Board of Appeals to build an addition to his home but was told it would be denied unless he voted yes to every application that came through the Mayor's office.  Eventually, the strong arm prevailed and this ZBA member became compromised and eventually resigned his position.

Under April Capone it didn't take long for her to gain a reputation. Ever the glory hound, you can always find this Mayor in front a micrphone and podium. From the onset of her appointment she repaid the election contributions of several of her now appointed officials and made good on promises to repay with nepotisim. She brought back Officer Robert Nappi from retirement in a controversal decision caused by Mayor Maturo. Nappi was also was a financial contributor to her election campaign. Her Inland Wetlands Board is now causing grief in the Riverside neighborhood by circumventing procedure by allowing expired applications to be approved.

I don't make this up I just put it all together!

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

In Joe Maturo's 10 years in office he went to war with our East Haven Police Department on several occassions. Using his Police Commissioners to do most of the dirty work. First it was promotions which led a Sargent to file a CHRO's complaint and eventually settle for over $200K years later. Then it was the use of the media to drag that Sargent's personal life and his family through the mud in a deplorable public display. It was also votes of no confidence from the police union which eventually led to the Police Union publically endorsing a candidate (April Capone Almon). So in essence Joe war with the Police Department caused the election of April Capone.

Currently, we have a second war ongoing with the East Haven Police Department. April Capone's self appointed board of Police Comissioners have led the way to deny due process, actively participate in the suspension of Chief Gallo, appoint a Deputy Chief while reducing man power in the field. Her Administration has violated the collective bargaining agreement and create unnecessary grievances by suspending police officers without due cause. Instead of working with our Police Department we now have the last two Mayors the past 14 years involved in a long protracted war with the men and women in blue.

The embarrasment Mayor Joe had caused and the current Mayor has done is not what this Town needs. We need a Mayor that will stand by the men and women of the East Haven Police Department. We need a person to calm down the rhetoric and send a clear message to that all the nonsense will stop.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Joe didn't leave the elected officals out either. Frustrated with the Board of Finance he went to war with them over several financial issues. Then Joe Maturo called for the Board of Finance to be dissolved and then pubilcally berated them in the East Haven Courier. In the meanwhile as the Head of the Board of Finance he rarely ever attended a meeting, stating that it was unnecessary for him to be there. Could it be that Joe Maturo didn't want to be there because he left the Town on auto-pilot? Could it be that Joe Maturo prefered to be in Florida or at a game of golf than keeping the eye on the ball?

To her credit April Capone is at every meeting but is completely clueless to the financial situation of this Town! At first denying there was a deficit she then began to blame everyone under the sun except her Administration for the current fiscal deficits we have. Her economic development plan has left East Haven with over 78 vacant store fronts as reported by the East Haven Vine. She has no plan, she has no answers except to raise you taxes over 17% in 2010 and then come back in 2011 and insult you by saying she cut your taxes by .25%.

It's called the shell game and both Joe Maturo and April Capone are experts at playing the game.

THE FUTURE

People of East Haven you have seen the Past and the Present and to me there really is no difference. In the past under Joe Maturo you had to deal with vendictive policy, threats and shakedowns. If you didn't comply with his demands you were yelled at, treated like a fool and cast out. While I have no inner knowledge of the April Capone Administration is doesn't seem very different. Certainly one would have to ask this very simple question, "Why would anyone want to go back to the days of old when they are no different from the present day?"

We need real  and effective change. We need new blood with new vision not some old retread that promises to bring back the days of old and we certainly need to fire April Capone this November. We need honest and transparent government. Just look at the people behind the scenes in both administrations.

The only way East Haven is going to rid itself of all the current drama is to elect John Finkle. Here is what John Finkle is going to do http://www.johnfinkleformayor.com/issues.html

Take a look, a very hard look and realize that we need REAL change.

Stay tuned for more on this November's election!

The Rally, The Mayor and the residents

When I first learned of the Rally by Pam Salvati I was glad to see a ordinary citizen stepping up to the plate and speaking out. It wasn't me or any other Republican saying anything negative about the Mayor it was the general population. Of course I was blamed and even asked by the Chairman of the Police Commission in the July 26th meeting if I was running the rally.

The Mayor, The Police Commissioners and the Democrats in Town know that she is in deep trouble with the electorate. Why else would the Mayor hold a press conference on the day of the Rally? Self absorbed and forever the drama queen The Mayor put on a show of nothing but a window dressing. The funniest was the Mayor telling everyone that she bought all new equipment but the latest technology, the license plate reader, was not operational because the car it's installed on is out of service. What a complete dishonest joke! Want the truth? Ask a cop.

Although not as many residents as I would like to have seen about 100 came out to Town Hall to show their protest. They came out even though the Chair of the Democrat Town Committee Gene Ruocco encouraged them not to come out to support the poilce,.Imagine that the Chairman telling people to stay home. What is Gene Ruocco afraid of? He's afraid of you the voter. He doesn't want this on TV or in the Newspapers. He's afraid of all of the negative publicity. But just because one small group comes out to demonstrate doesn't mean that the Democrats are safe and Gene Ruocco knows it!

From the political spectrum I finally saw some Democrats from the East Haven Town Council come out to support the Police. Paul Thompson,. Vinny Arpino and Paul CoFrancesco all were there to rebuke the Democrats in how their Police are treated. Congrats to these men to finally taking a stand against Gene Ruocco and his Stalinist tactics.

Last but not least. A special thank you to the residents who stood and cheered and for those residents who drove by a honked their horns and there were hundreds of them! I thank you, our Town thanks you and our PD thanks you too. You are all wonderful people!

The East Haven Board of Police Commissioners and more politics

So tonight the evening before the Rally I thought it would be important to let the residents of East Haven know about questions I had for the Board of Police Commissioners. I had eight of them. Here is a summary of the questions.

1) Why was lasts month's meeting cancelled?

Answer: After asking the question in several different ways I was informed there was no quorum.

2)      Your Police Commission meeting in June referred a disciplinary hearing for Chief Gallo to go forward to the Mayor for her resolution and decision. Was that the right decision to make? Hasn’t this board now opened the Town of East Haven to more lawsuits?

Answer: We are not going to answer that question.

3)      What is the Status of the K-9 Unit? At the Town Council meeting a few months ago Paul Hongo stood up and said he would speak to the Police Department Union to resolve the issue? As far as I know there was a meeting when are we getting our K-9 Dog unit back?

Answer: That's in negotiations.

My response: That's an existing position in this contract how can you negotiate something that's already in the contract.

Answer: That's being negotiated.

4)      What is the status of our DARE program, SRO’s and Community Officer ? Last week I went down to field 4 in Momauguin Rec League and the dugouts have graffiti all over them. When we had a Community Officer that rarely happened!

Answer: That's being negotiated.

My Response: They are already existing positions.

5)      During the DUI/DWI check points this summer why have none of them been conducted on Main Street? On Main Street you have most of our drinking establishments.

Acting Chief Nappi: These locations are assigned by statistical data.

My response: Who assigns them

Acting Chief Nappi: Sgt. Lennon

My Response: Can I see the data

Acting Chief Nappi: No we don't release that data.

6)      Why has an Officer been removed, had his gun and badge taken from him and there is no hearing or list of charges made? Where is the due process? 

Answer: That's a personnel matter

7)      Tomorrow there is a rally to support our East Haven Police Officers, are any of you attending?

Answer: None Giving

8)      Lastly, Acting Police Nappi are you or anyone else from the Administration going to try to stop this Rally from happening?

Answer: None Giving

Later the issue of Dennis Spaudling came up in 4 grievances filed by the Union. In the contract it clearly states that any officer is entitled to a list of the charges within 48 hours and a hearing with in 5 days. To this date Officer Spaulding has yet to have any due process. The union argued that Officer Spaulding should be returned to work. All 4 Board Members denied the grievance even if the contract clearly states that the Board is in violation of the existing collective bargaining agreement.

This Board of Police Commissioners along with the Acting Chief will be held to account for their lack of leadership.

Don't forget about tonight at 6pm Town Hall. Take a stand for an East Haven Cop.

A Mayor at war with her own Police Department

In 2007 then councilwoman April Capone Almon was running for Mayor and she had one of the most powerful forces behind her, The East Haven Police Department. I used to sit at the Council Table and laugh at the large presence of cops that she would bring to the meetings. It was there way of showing us that they stood behind their candidate. Mayor April rode that support all the way to victory over Joe Maturo and the face of East Haven has changed forever.

But instead of a bond that would help East Haven steer away from the controversey of the past Mayor April has declared war on the very people who helped her into power, The East Haven Police Department. Tomorrow night the citizens of this Town are taking action by holding a rally outside of Town Hall at 6pm to send a loud and clear message to Mayor April that enough is enough.

Mayor April, after her arrest at the Town Beach, has held the East Haven Police Department in total contempt. But as always her behavior is never the issue it's always the people that have corrected her. She's never been held to account for what she did at the Town Beach that day and like the child she is she is lashing out at the law enforcement community.

Her next move was to take action against Chief Len Gallo. She places the Chief on paid administrative leave because of The Department of Justice and FBI investigations of racial profiling. That was over 18 months ago and no formal charges have ever been brought on the Chief or anyone in the Department. Then this past June in some light of hope for our PD a court had to intervene and tell the Mayor she can't play judge, jury and executioner when she attempted to be the hearing officer of Chief Gallo's recommended disciplinary hearing from the Board of Police Commissioners.

Just recently, Officer Dennis Spaulding is placed on Paid Administrative Leave for reasons that are still not clear. He has not even been afforded the opportunity to a hearing which is contractual. And the latest, conducting an internal affairs investigation on Sgt. John Miller. A hero cop. A man that has saved the lives of many people and fellow officers. Why? Is it because he's the President of the Union?

This Mayor has just gone plain loco in her persuit to get even. This Town, our Police Department are at the brink and if we the citizens of this Town don't put an end to it we are going to end up like New Haven. New Haven, a city were the crimminals roam the streets, carry guns and have daily shootings. People it's coming and if we don't send a strong message to Town Hall tomorrow and in November we have only to blame ourselves to allow this Mayor to wage war on our own Police Department.

Tomorrow, 6pm Town Hall Parking Lot....Please come and tell Mayor April to cut the crap!

Democratic Town Chairman once again is wrong and short sighted on the Mauro Case

Well I certainly expected the wrath of some of Ralph Mauro’s defenders and I definitely expected that Democratic Town Chairman Gene Ruocco to speak his mind, I didn’t expect to read that I pushed to have Assistant Deputy Director Ralph Mauro terminated as  Mr. Ruocco wrote in his PATCH opinion piece. He has  laid out a version of the Ralph Mauro story that is factually incorrect and boarders more lies and deceit.

First and foremost, I have never called for the termination of Ralph Mauro. In several of my articles from both the East Haven PATCH and the East Haven Vine I called for equal treatment and to place Mr. Ralph Mauro on paid administrative leave just as the Capone Administration placed Chief Len Gallo on paid administrative leave. Chief Len Gallo was placed on administrative leave with zero due process yet the Capone Administration refused to entertain the idea that Mr. Mauro should be treated the same.

It is funny because  Mr. Ruocco cites in his opinion piece on 7/22/2011 that both Lou Crisci and I never afforded Mr. Mauro his due process and we called for Ralph Mauro’s termination upon his arrest. That is completely not true. I can only speak for myself but I certainly understand the definition of due process  and it is very clear that the Capone Administration only calls for due process when it’s beneficial to one of their own.

Is this politics? Absolutely! I will tell you and these readers that what happened to Mr. Mauro was a political opportunity to take. I took my swings, dealt a few blows and it’s unfortunate that the courts didn’t see what I saw.  Being a staunch 2^nd amendment supporter and a person that truly believes in the Constitution and Bill of Rights I was disappointed to learn that the Branford Police did not act accordingly and may have violated Mr. Mauro’s rights especially with the protection of search and seizure. However, it does not negate the fact that the weapon Mr. Mauro had was a stolen weapon and he was in possession of a machine gun, which is a banned weapon. Although the court said nothing about the stolen weapon and didn’t find cause to act. The fact remains that this weapon was stolen and questions still linger of how did Mr. Mauro come to possess it? We will never know though.

I would argue that I wasn’t right or wrong. I was calling for equal treatment of two Town Employees. One who was charged with a felony crime, Mr. Mauro who was not punished and the other who has still to this day not been charged with anything and is still out on administrative leave, Chief Len Gallo. It seems that the Mayor, Mr. Ruocco and the Board of Police Commissioners all want to play judge, jury and executioner as was evident when the Board of Police Commissioners made the motion to hand Chief Len Gallo’s case over to the Mayor for disciplinary action up to and including termination last month. If you recall, a State Court said that the Mayor cannot be the Judge, Jury and Executioner.  So really Mr. Ruocco are you for real? Do you see what your very own people are doing around you and do you think the residents of East Haven don’t see it either?

Lastly, I must take exception to Mr. Ruocco's claims that Mr. Mauro is the hardest working town employee. Mr. Mauro is compensated very well earning two salaries one for the Deputy Director and the other for Public Works. In addition, Mr. Ruocco cites his vital experience. Is that how Mr. Mauro is able to land town jobs for family and friends and parcels of properties around town at a song? Mr. Ruocco, your words need credibility and Mr. Mauro's employee status is very questionable when it comes to ethics.

November can’t come fast enough so we can rid ourselves of these people who impose their own rules and their version of justice. Lastly, I'll take a quote from Marcia Clark, the infamous trial lawyer in the OJ case, "Just because a court finds you innocent doesn't necessarily mean that you really are innocent."