New Haven Independent: Kimber Gets Off The (Towing) Hook

Kimber Gets Off The (Towing) Hook

by Melissa Bailey | April 11, 2008 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)

A politically connected marshal let a politically connected minister off the hook when the dreaded Plate Hunter came to snatch his car.

The Rev. Boise Kimber (pictured in photo at bottom), a key mayoral ally and powerbroker in the city’s black community as well as a city fire commissioner, was having a late dinner Wednesday evening at Portofino’s Restaurant and Bar on State Street. Meanwhile, the Lombard Motors towing crew prowled the streets to snatch the parked vehicles of scofflaws with unpaid parking tickets.

Lombard’s radar zeroed in on Kimber’s white GMC Yukon S.U.V., which was parked across the street from the restaurant.

Here’s what happened, according to city transportation chief Mike Piscitelli:

Beep! The Plate Hunter spotted the reverend’s license plate at 8:45 p.m. He had about $350 in unpaid tickets, the machine reported.

State Marshal Peter Criscuolo (pictured at the top of this story), who was supervising the car-seizing operation, made a call to the city traffic and parking headquarters to seek authorization to tow the behemoth away.

“We gave authorization to tow that car,” Piscitelli said. The car was so big, however, that it needed to be removed with a flatbed truck — a much more time-intensive operation than the standard hook-and-drag.

The Lombard crew had begun to position the flatbed for removal when out popped Kimber into the street.

“He engaged the tow truck agent and the marshal,” Piscitelli said. Kimber and Criscuolo exchanged words. Then Criscuolo reversed the towing order and let Kimber go free.

Anthony Monaco, who owns Lombard’s Motors, said Thursday that he’d heard about the incident, but wasn’t on the scene at the time. Criscuolo was overseeing the Lombard tow truck operators, he said. “He’s in charge. He says when to go, and when not to go.”

“A Glitch In the System”

Reached Thursday morning by phone, both Kimber and Criscuolo denied they had allowed any special favors to go through.

“I didn’t stop nobody from towing it,” Kimber said. “They gotta do what they gotta do.”

“I didn’t help anybody out,” Criscuolo claimed. “He [Kimber] didn’t owe any parking tickets” on the vehicle, he said.

When told that the car had over $300 in outstanding parking tickets, Criscuolo gave this response: “As far as I’m concerned, there was a glitch somewhere in the system.” In his time on the job, “I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of glitches in the system.”

Criscuolo said he’s spent the last 26 years as a state marshal. The job, which mainly entails hand-delivering court documents, is a lucrative position by which politically connected people can garner as high as six-figures annual earnings from the city while maintaining second jobs.

“I’ve been on the job longer that you’ve been on this earth,” Criscuolo told this reporter. “Believe me, there’s no story. You’re going on a witch hunt that doesn’t exist!”

Apparently there was story enough to warrant a late-afternoon emergency meeting on the subject. Criscuolo was brought before two city department heads and given a “verbal reprimand” for flouting towing policies, Piscitelli said.

According to city procedure, the Plate Hunter picks up any license plate that has at least $200 in outstanding parking tickets. After the initial ID, the state marshal or parking enforcement officer who’s supervising the towers makes a call into the traffic and parking department for authorization. If authorization’s given, the marshal is expected to go through with the tow, barring physical danger or lack of equipment.

In Criscuolo’s case, “There was a tow truck available to tow the car, and the car was not towed,” said Piscitelli.

“He used extremely poor judgment in the field by not allowing the tow to continue,” Piscitelli (pictured) said. He said he plans to send out a reminder of proper towing procedures to all marshals and parking enforcement officers before Friday night, when tow trucks resume hitting the streets in search of parking-ticket scofflaws.

After his verbal reprimand, Criscuolo hopped on a red Lombard’s Motor truck for a six o’clock shift to tow cars for unpaid taxes.

Meanwhile, Kimber, who serves as president of the state Baptist convention, still hadn’t paid the approximately $350 in unpaid parking tickets on his S.U.V. as of Thursday evening. Records show he also owes $148.20 in parking tickets, as well as $274.50 in property tax, on a 1991 Lincoln Town Car.

Previous coverage of New Haven’s towing industry:

“We’re Not Double-Dipping”

Alvin Goes For The Chevy

Towing Co. Ducks Tax Bill

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Comments

Posted by: jeffreykerekes | April 11, 2008 7:52 AM

Thanks for this story. Please do a follow up to see if the Reverend pays all these back owed taxes and fines. What other "politically connected" people in town owe money? In a budget year with so many shortfalls, we should be getting this money. Does this Marhsall owe any money? The NHI already did a piece covering this tow company? What city contractors owe money? How about BOE and BOA members? City Department heads? City employees?

Thank you for covering this and I hope the above questions will lead to more stories on this important topic.

Posted by: what | April 11, 2008 7:58 AM

Sounds like Kimber may be getting more favors than usual. How did he get the mew tank registered when he owes taxes on the old car? Did someone in the tax office give him a pass for the DVM registration process?

Posted by: Fedupwithliberals | April 11, 2008 8:39 AM

This isn't the first time that the reverend has been in the news for not paying city taxes. I'd love to know what else he's delinquent on!

Posted by: elmcityguy | April 11, 2008 9:06 AM

Another great story on the crooked NH towing business.

Posted by: walt bradley | April 11, 2008 10:08 AM

Melissa, i want to thank both you and paul for getting chest deep into this issue at the start of open towing season, i can't tell you how much i deplore the new haven regime's phillosophy on towing, more please.
By the way, when they make the movie about this incident, Randy Jackson and William Baldwin have to play the leads.
to paraphrase Randy, "Rev. Kimber, Dawg, pay those fines baby!, i'm not feelin it"

Posted by: Webblog 1 | April 11, 2008 10:13 AM

CASE HISTORY:

The employee Criscuolo, asked for permission to tow the vehicle in violation of city law. He was told directly by the supervisor Picitelli, after verifying the tickets and back taxes, to execute the order.

Criscuolo defied a direct order from his supervisor and took it on his own to allow the violator, Kimber, to take possession of the vehicle. In Criscuolo's case, "There was a tow truck available to tow the car, and the car was not towed," said Piscitelli.

Later, both denied the facts surrounding the incident.
Piscitelli, then gives a verbal reprimand to Criscuolo, and every one walks away happy.

Not so fast, apparently, the violation is factual and that car should be towed immediately, today.

Secondly, Piscitelli should be fired for his mishandling of the incident and his failure to properly discipline Criscuolo. Criscuolo, should be reported to the state marshall department for further review and as for Kimber, he should be asked by the Mayor to resign for repeated questionable character flaws by a city official.

What say you Mayor... the buck stops at your door. Enforce the city's laws, collect taxpayer money and discipline your people.

Posted by: king james v | April 11, 2008 11:57 AM

Can we find out if the good rev. was in city hall first thing this a.m. paying up?
the whole parking / towing crew is corrupt, hell, even the retired parking honcho, Brian McGrath, was so entrenched in corruption he had to go kidnap a developmentally disabled man on election day just to get the rush of being back in the game.
throw them all out, everyone, and get a citizen review board to oversee the entire operation.
by the way walt, i think daniel baldwin makes a better Crisculo, just my take.

Posted by: Hartford Johnson | April 11, 2008 12:06 PM

Does this constitute use of the city's public budget for religious purposes?

Posted by: joey | April 11, 2008 1:19 PM

King james has posted many comments in regards to any towing issue. do i detect a hint of bitterness? Was King James a victim of tha citys scoff law?

Posted by: pedro | April 11, 2008 2:27 PM

Weblog1, Mike Piscitelli is one of the best traffic chiefs that we've ever had in this city. Firing him over this would be one of the WORST things we could do. Considering that he's taking the situation very seriously and that he's currently attempting to make a world of change here in new haven, calls for dismissal are short-sighted at best.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | April 11, 2008 6:51 PM

Ditto Pedro! My guess is he started this investigation. He is the best traffic guy yet! He cares about New Haven. Cedar Hill residents are loyal fans as I would guess alot of people in New Haven are. He is key to the future of New Haven. Our streets are one of our biggest down falls on making this city and easier one to travel. And he is spare heading that on many different levels.

I give a BRAVO on this. But..........

I wish the city can see a review like this on a bigger scale. Every department needs to be looked at with a fine tooth comb!! Do we really believe that this and the PD are the only cash wasting, special treatment and or corrupt departments of this city. Please I bet we can save millions if we would just open our eyes and really look at the abuses in each of the departments.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | April 11, 2008 9:16 PM

This smells like the New York City Parking Violations Scandel!!!.

Posted by: Gary Doyens | April 12, 2008 10:18 AM

It's always interesting to see those in power, when busted, nearly always resort to lying. It is doubtful that Marshal Peter Criscuolo would do that for anybody but the connected. He was given a direct order, authorization and confirmation that Kimber owed the money - hadn't paid - and should be towed per the city's big boot mentality. That Crisculuolo lied about it as well as seriously violated the stated policy, and direct endorsement by the mayor - should be fired, not Piscatelli. C.J. Cuticello, the tax man at very least should be reprimanded and a letter stating so, should be put in his file. This is the same man who routinely belittles struggling taxpayers and happily and personally rides along to get press attention as he hooks and tows the cars of working folks, going so far as to stand in the way, so the person cannot drive away without running him over.

Both of these guys conveniently live in low tax suburban communities, I might add.

Posted by: Heights Resident | April 12, 2008 6:27 PM

This " Reverend ", is the same one arrested for stealing money from an elderly perishoner, and then is rewarded with a position as a fire commishioner by the mayor.

This man has no integrity and for the marshall to let him slide because of his position shows what kind of person he is also, and should be fired from any dealings with the city.

As far as Mr. Piscitelli is concerned I don't think he should be fired, that's a bit harsh, I think he did all he could do given the situation.

Posted by: steve beck | April 12, 2008 11:12 PM

Please change the picture of Piscitelli.

Posted by: robn | April 13, 2008 4:16 PM

Whoha.....maybe I'm seeing things but were Boise Kimber and Randy Jackson separated at birth? Maybe BK promised the Plate Hunter a spot on American Idol if he took his car off the tow truck.

Posted by: kris | April 13, 2008 4:20 PM

Hey Rev, is this what you preach to people? Dont pay taxes dont pay tickets...break the law? Its no wonder why people dont ever stop when police try to pull you over...The Rev wants YNHH and all these other nh companys to support poor kids programs in nh...pay your damn taxes to the city and maybe new haven can be self supportive.Im not surprised by any of this illegal nonsense from a rev....it must be practice what you preach. his followers break laws too.The apple doesnt fall far from the tree.How nice the vehicle was registered and insured to the church...poor peole go to his church and this is what he spends their hard earned donations on?

Posted by: cedarhillresident | April 13, 2008 8:09 PM

They better fine the Rev for the two tows that he got out of paying! Maybe he can make a donation to the ethics committee.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | April 13, 2008 8:10 PM

Hey speaking of ethics.....do New Havens new ethics laws apply here??

Posted by: realdeal | April 13, 2008 8:31 PM

The issue is not really Mr.Kimber.

The issue is that the mayors major fundraiser, Mr. Criscuolo decided to wave the law when it came to Mr. Kimber in fear, Mr. Kimber would not secure the voting base as in the past, for the mayor if the law was enforced. In turn since Mr. Criscuolo is a major fundraiser for the mayor, he was merely repremanded verbally rather then being terminated from doing city business for waving the law, possibly because he is such a great fundraiser of the mayor.

I think suspending the program which is very successful is really just a diversion from the issue.

Posted by: doug | April 13, 2008 10:05 PM

Wow what a story ... Melissa & Paul, you two are pretty much everywhere. Superheroes. Lois and Clark. This is crazy. I'm tempted to run some sort of scam in New Haven just so you can catch me! (It would validate my lackluster street cred.)

New Haven Independent

Kimber Gets Off The (Towing) Hook

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