New Haven Independent

Posted by: sandstorm | September 19, 2006 3:07 PM

Members of the Board of Aldermen get
employment at the Housing Authority and at
the Board of Education. Funding is
allocated to workforce development by
agencies like Empower New Haven to operations run
by BOA members ; CDBG funds are distributed to
agencies where BOA members are employed.
The list goes on ad nauseum!

Why would one ask whether there are issues of
ethical or moral improprieties?

Posted by: Is He Kidding? | September 19, 2006 8:23 PM

"There was nothing going on in the city to give this a special impetus. We haven't seen a lot of unethical behavior" that required "immediate action." - Carl Goldfield, Pres. Of the Bd of Alders

Is he kidding? Didn't an alderman just get convicted for theft? What else is going on down there?

Throw all the bums out.

Posted by: Daniel Sumrall | September 20, 2006 12:19 PM

Anytime you have one party dictating you're going to have rampant corruption. Unfortunately, here in New Haven power and authority is doled out by the Democratic Party machine. Corruption has become the norm, citizens and officials expect it and so only go after individuals who make their corruption too obvious.

It's no way to run a city.

Maybe it's time everyone stopped bellyaching and actually elected members of an opposition party that has made ethics a cornerstone of their political philosophy and community practice...like the Green Party.

Until you vote out the status quo you deserve what you get.

Posted by: Is He Kidding? | September 20, 2006 12:55 PM

The alderperson was convicted (confessed) to the crime, and they couldn't even force the Alder to quit unless she was in jail. And the Bd. Pres. says that there aren't any pressing issues. Is his head stuck in the ground?

Posted by: Rep. Pat Dillon | September 20, 2006 1:20 PM

"There was nothing going on in the city to give this a special impetus."

The press has reported recently that a local New Haven elected official pleaded guilty to stealing about $50,000 in public funds. But elements of this case that the press did not highlight point to a systemic problem that deserves the attention of the Board of Aldermen.
The Alliance for Strong Communities was responsible for providing food to the hungry in public housing. So beyond the theft of money, the hungry and disabled were denied food. What happened? Was the Housing Authority lax, or did it look the other way because a member of the BOA was involved?
That comment of the President of the Board of Aldermen is at best baffling. There is definitely something going on.

Posted by: Lovebabz | September 21, 2006 9:10 AM

The Alliance for Strong Communities was not an agency designed to feed the hundgry per se. It was designed to coordinate social services for the residents of public housing. It was designed to bring community social service agencies into public housing. Yes, I pled guilty to misapropriation of funds for a program for personal use, but I wasn't elected to the BOA until a year or so after I left the Alliance for Strong Communities. If you are going to nail someone to the cross you better be damned sure you are using the right nails. If you are going to throw stones, make sure the stones your going to throw will do the job. There's nothing worse than stringing someone up under misinformation. The issues of ethics has nothing to do with my case. And what Jorge Perez has raised isn't about this case. I would suggest that you spend time looking at what was submitted and then have an intelligent discussion about the merits of this potential legislation. Although I know how juicy it is to link my case with anything unethical as it relates to local government politics. It is too easy not to weigh in---I mean its a scandal and we love scandals and we love talking about scandals, and it makes us look better than the person who is involved in the scandal. It makes us feel superior and we talk about it with our friends--"how could she have done it"--"I would have never done that" I know you think your life is so much better than mine and you would never betray anyone, or steal or lie, or cheat or drink too much, or anything that would call into question your moral character. I am glad to know that there are so many fine and upstanding folks as role models. I really mean that.

Posted by: Daniel Sumrall | September 21, 2006 11:09 AM

Babz, I'm 30 and make less than 16,000 a year. Is my life better than yours? Probably not, but then again they're probably not comparable. But let me tell you this--I don't justify stealing. Get over yourself with your "nails and stones" martyr bit. You ripped people off. The reason that people are outraged is because something like this devalues every good thing you've ever done and the same is true for anyone who is revealed to be a thief.

Posted by: Lovebabz | September 21, 2006 12:47 PM

Daniel,

You are wrong and you are wrong because, this moment in my life is not the sum total of my life. And I do not beleive that this devalues everything I have done. Your opinions and your judgements don't define me. Whatever my fate, whatever my punishment has no real bearing on your life. I pleaded guilty and I will be punished. So your outrage does what for me and others. Your outrage does what for the political process. Unless you are willing to run for office, work in your community, raise children, do something other than sit in judgement of me, then you are just talking to hear yourself. You want to make me feel less than, because you think I deserve to be less than. But let me tell you , if you need to feel outraged go ahead. Feel outraged. But you can never feel as remorseful as I do. So you get over yourself. I am glad that you don't justify stealing. Good for you. I wish I had your virtues. But I have fallen short in that regards. I don't need you or anybody else to remind me of this error in judgement. I will live with this for the rest of my life. But make no mistake, life goes on. It goes on and on and on. So go ahead, throw your stones, say what you need, purge yourself. I am still standing. Punishment won't last forever. I will stand strong, grow and be a better person. I know who I am, and I know what I have done and I make no excuses. My life is mine to do with as I like and I like to make a difference in the world. You have no idea what I have done with my life so far. You have no idea what I will do tomorrow. All you can do is take care of you. Take care of you.

Posted by: SAYWHAT? | September 21, 2006 8:09 PM

Pat Dillon,here's another systemic problem to ponder. Useless politicians who do nothing in the State legislature for the city, yet try to attach themselves to anything positive that happens here.

Isn't it enough that the woman was caught doing wrong and will pay for it? Now you must take it upon yourself to smear the Housing Authority. Act responsibly. The incinuation is unbecoming for someone in your position. As a public official how would you like it if I started throwing little unsubstantiated tid bits out there about you? Right, you would not appreciate it and neither do the hard working board members and the workers of the Housing department. Regards

Posted by: Daniel Sumrall | September 21, 2006 10:46 PM

Babz--I am an active member of the New Haven Peace Commission, I am running for US Congress, I teach children everyday, and all my judgments are conclusions made based on your actions.

Everytime this type of corruption is glossed over the next time is that much more outrageous.

You're not a bad person, that's my opinion. you are a thief, that's a fact. You'll be punished and accept that punishment and, hopefully as you say, be a better person.

But this 'scandal' as it were is larger than yourself. And it does effect me because it devalues the community of which you & I & everyone else live in and contribute to. I don't believe in the you-only-take-care-of-you philosophy. I believe that your guilt is partly my own failure to stand against such corruption in the past. We're all apart of this and we all have an obligation to stand against it.

Posted by: Bruce | September 22, 2006 8:39 AM

Babz,

Were your ward comittee chairs aware that you were under investigation for this when they nominated you for office? Did Susie Voigt know? Surely someone must have known.

Perez' proposal may directly address stealing of public funds (which is already a crime), but doesn't your case demonstrate that party insiders and maybe city officials were willing to overlook a serious lapse in ethics in order to maintain control of the board? What is to say that they will not overlook these lapses when someone is doling out contracts or city jobs to friends, family or campaign donors?

To me, this means that we need to have clear and strict guidelines when it comes to handling public funds. If the opportunity exists for corruption, someone will eventually take advantage of that opportunity for personal gain.

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | September 22, 2006 2:29 PM

Hey Babz--

Have you no shame? You're being prosecuted for stealing nearly 50K, yet you run for public office? What about the trust other people put in you?

You severely abused that as well, and you deserve to be shunned for it.

Your crime may prove forgivable. Your selfishness won't.

Posted by: Are You Kidding | September 22, 2006 9:44 PM

Babz,

Get over yourself. As someone said, you aren't a bad person, but you are an admitted thief. And you stole from all of us, our tax dollars, which many of us work hard to earn. So yes, we are upset, as upset as you would be if someone broke into your house and stole your hard earned goods. Yes, you may have done some good things in the past, but so did the chiefs of Enron.

Have a little remorse, perhaps folks may start to begin if they see taht you are remorsefull for stealing from them, as opposed to being remorseful for getting caught.