COALITION AGAINST ORGANIZATIONAL DISCRIMINATION PART 2

COALITION AGAINST ORGANIZATIONAL DISCRIMINATION
                                 
The group of people gathered on July 29, 2014 outside the Post Office at Unity Plaza in Hartford’s Northend. They decided to discuss being employees of state run agencies and facing discrimination / bias. In attendance were employees of color representing the Department of Corrections that filed a class action lawsuit [ 2013] alleging Organizational Discrimination. Eric Hundley author of the book The Dark Side of Child Protection Services (2014) opened up the event by explaining what OD is and the pernicious effect it has in the workplace. Eric announced the formation of Coalition Against Organizational Discrimination in order to bring issues to public attention.

Atiya K.Sample Attorney at Law spoke next on behalf of Dept. of Correction employees in attendance and part of the lawsuit. Her comments described how people of color are affected by OD, making workplace environments toxic and how this needs to be changed. Ebony Murphy-Root and Jonathan Pelto are candidates for political office ( the former for Lieutenant Governor, the latter Governor ) they both said that discrimination in the workplace is problematic in Connecticut and needs to be publicly analyzed in order to properly eliminate it. At the end of the announcement I spoke about how people fight OD individually often losing against agencies with power and money. I then explained how it is necessary for people to unite behind an entity like C.A.O.D. in order to achieve success.

Here is the thesis statement of C.A.O.D. given by Eric Hundley:

Organizational discrimination has a ubiquitous presence within the work climates of virtually all state agencies.  This brand of discrimination has discernible patterns and evident impacts upon afflicted populations.  To date initiatives to address organizational discrimination have been grossly in effective, as they have fallen short of addressing the systemic components which support the incessant presence of organizational discrimination.

As agents for change, we are dedicated to empowering those impacted by organizational discrimination; such victims also tend to belong to populations historically marginalized.  In the spirit of advocacy, through the approach of social responsibility, the prevalence of organizational discrimination will be challenged, no longer requiring vulnerable employees to shoulder this collective burden in silence and solitude.

http://www.caodct.org/
 

COALITION AGAINST ORGANIZATIONAL DISCRIMINATION

For years people have suffered organizational discrimination while working within state agencies in Connecticut. The vast majority of those being disciplined unfairly are males of African and Hispanic descent. On July 29, 2014 the Coalition Against Organizational Discrimination held a press conference in Hartford. More details about C.A.O.D. will be published in a follow up blog article soon, along with pictures of those at the press conference.

This is the thesis statement of C.A.O.D.
Organizational discrimination has a ubiquitous presence within the work climates of virtually all state agencies.  This brand of discrimination has discernible patterns and evident impacts upon afflicted populations.  To date initiatives to address organizational discrimination have been grossly in effective, as they have fallen short of addressing the systemic components which support the incessant presence of organizational discrimination.

As agents for change, we are dedicated to empowering those impacted by organizational discrimination; such victims also tend to belong to populations historically marginalized.  In the spirit of advocacy, through the approach of social responsibility, the prevalence of organizational discrimination will be challenged, no longer requiring vulnerable employees to shoulder this collective burden in silence and solitude.

SIMILAR INCIDENTS BUT DIFFERENT RESULTS ON THE PLANTATION

The case of Youth Service Officer Barray Monterio has been written about and posted by DCF Plantation blog. Barray was accused of being inattentive after working a double shift. This allegation led to him being investigated but not disciplined. Let me juxtapose Barray with another YSO’s incident.

Reliable sources report the following story. During the month of January 24-30, 2014 a male YSO was assigned overtime at Connecticut Juvenile Training School. The YSO in question went to Middlesex Hospital with a male resident during late [ 3rd shift ] hours. While on duty the YSO was caught sleeping while supposedly watching this youth; hospital administrator walked in and caught the YSO. And according to the chatter this employee slept for 3 hours. Now the main point of this story is that someone called CJTS to report this sleeping infraction. However for some mysterious reason no investigation was ever undertaken. How did this non investigation get misplaced or perhaps ignored?

It has long been established that management plays favorites with certain employees. Let me be clear. If management likes a certain YSO then that employee gets overlooked when discipline is handed out. Now back to Barray being inattentive during work. This employee [ Barray ] admitted closing his eyes momentarily after wording overtime. And management launched some type of investigation worthy of the Spanish Inquisition against Barray. Only after public attention was focused on Barray and the investigation did management start to backpedal or Moon Walk like Michael Jackson—in order to get out of the situation. Yet here is another case of someone sleeping for hours and being reported by hospital administrators to CJTS. However in the case of this sleeping YSO [ 3 hours plus ] his friends[?] might have swept the complaint under the rug.
In the final analysis the YSO caught sleeping at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown got away with another infraction because he is liked. Perhaps the three hour sleeping YSO is singing that song by Garth Brooks “I got friends in low places.”

JUSTICE & RALLY FOR JANE DOE

We print this article in solidarity with comrades from the gay-- LGBT community.
 furbirdsqueerly

Jane Doe is a transgender youth, born male, and identifies as female.


Wednesday, July 30 @ 5:30 PM
DCF Headquarters - 505 Hudson St., Hartford, CT

CT DCF's torment of Jane Doe is far from over. On July 13, DCF ordered
that Jane be moved to the CT Juvenile Training School, a locked
facility for delinquent boys. DCF claims this happened as a result of
an altercation with other girls at the Pueblo unit (the girls'
facility Jane was transferred to when released from prison), but all
the girls were involved in the fight to the same degree - yet only
Jane was punished by being transferred to a boys' facility. DCF is
responding to Jane's status as an outspoken survivor of abuse at their
hands and using her gender identity to punish her. The transfer
occurred without her lawyers being notified, in the middle of the
night. It occurred in spite of the original placement ruling by a
judge, who articulated explicitly that Jane is NOT to go to CJTS. Jane
feels unsafe and miserable, and her mental health is deteriorating.

We urge all of Jane's supporters to converge on DCF headquarters and
demand real #JusticeForJane. We are demanding that Jane be released
from CJTS immediately, and that DCF Commissioner Katz - who has proven
time and again to only care about her own reputation and not the basic
dignity and safety of the most vulnerable kids in her care - be FIRED.
We are continuing to demand the repeal of statute 17a-12, which
allowed for Jane's imprisonment and likely her illegal transfer to
CJTS.

Join us! Car pools can be arranged; communicate on this page if you
want to take part in that.

Check out the Justice for Jane Site. https://www.facebook.com/justice4janeCT

Do check out this report from the Child Advocate concerning Jane and
her treatment by DCF.
Yes we have been telling the truth on this for some time now.

http://furbirdsqueerly.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/all-weve-been-saying-justice-for-jane-doe-dcf-guilty-as-charged/

COMMUNITY PARTY REPORT

Please forward widely! Pick up the Hartford News at these locations.  http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/hartford-news-locations/ Check out the archive of Community Party Hartford News columns at our No Sellout blog.   http://hendu39.wordpress.com/

David Samuels
Founder
Community Party
                       



                                                                   DCF Plantation Report      

This column appears in the July 24 - 31 edition of the Hartford News... Community Update: WFSB Face the State host / corporate shill Dennis House aired another infomercial on the Hartford stadium plan. Mayor Pedro Segarra's communications director Maribel La Luz was a guest; she talked about the stadium in terms of the facility being an anchor for high-end stores. La Luz did not mention the proposed North Hartford supermarket once. The focus of the program was how a stadium / retail complex could attract suburban whites into the city. There were no North End residents on the panel. On Monday Cornell Lewis led a protest against the stadium plan. Cornell told Fox CT that signatures were being collected to force a referendum on the stadium. 1400 signatures are needed to place this issue on the ballot...

Kennard Ray was quietly hired as the Deputy Registrar of Voters for the City of Hartford. Last year Segarra hired Ray as his Deputy Chief of Staff. Ray withdrew from the position after sensationalized corporate media reports about his legal history led to Segarra throwing Ray under the bus. Segarra said that Ray messed up because he didn't discuss his legal history during the job interview. The city's Ban the Box ordinance stipulates that an applicant does not have to talk about past legal issues during an interview. Segarra said that Ray had to be held to a "higher standard". A subsequent review by the Hartford Internal Audit Commission found that Segarra had hired several employees in his office who did not undergo a security background check; some had not even filled out a job application.

ICYMI Activist Marcia Morris wrote an essay on Cornell’s victory over the Department of Children and Families. http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/2014/07/victory-for-us-all.html  Cornell was fired by DCF July 17, 2013 in retaliation for his activism against structural racism at that agency. On July 11 an arbitrator ruled that DCF must reinstate Cornell and reimburse him fully for lost wages and benefits. Below is my reaction to Marcia's piece.                                  



                                                                    Reaction to Cornell Lewis’ Victory Against DCF


Cultural Dictionary

He who laughs last, laughs best definition

You may laugh now, thinking you have won, but you may not prevail in the end.
             

Marcia graciously tried to give DCF management the benefit of the doubt in her essay. I cannot be so forgiving. Data and internal management emails that Cornell, Adam Osmond, my Connecticut Valley Hospital co-worker John Hollis and I have obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and the results of CVH’s own workplace bullying survey, which they tried to suppress, say otherwise (see Resources). The racist disparity in terminations and suspensions at DCF and CVH is reprehensible.  When Cornell confronted DCF management with these facts, they lynched him, just like whites lynched Blacks back in the day who didn’t stay in their place. These murderers would bring their children to witness the event. After the lynching was completed, whites would cut off pieces of the Black person’s corpse and keep them as souvenirs. DCF management behaved in a similar fashion.

Unsatisfied with just taking his job, DCF attempted to figuratively dismember Cornell by employing legal tactics to prevent him from working with children. They vigorously fought Cornell’s effort to get his job back. The response of DCF and CVH management to allegations of racism, despite the overwhelming statistical evidence, is to deny, deny, deny. Internal CVH management emails show that they have been constantly monitoring my social media activity and attempting to manufacture excuses to target me for termination and / or legal action. John, who is white, has been subjected to ruthless intimidation tactics. 50 years ago, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, who were both white, were murdered along with Black activist James Chaney near Philadelphia, Mississippi. They were participating in a campaign to register Blacks to vote.

DCF and CVH management are fully conscious of their racist policies; they use Policy and Procedure to target employees, especially Blacks. My position is supported by the data we have obtained from both facilities. The pattern of racial bias is clearly systemic. Since John and I publicized the results of the CVH survey and the racist disciplinary data, the hostile behavior by supervisors and managers has continued; in grievance hearings they continue to give nonsensical excuses when we confront them with irrefutable email evidence of workplace mobbing on their part. This is an obvious indication that their superiors support and encourage their sociopathic behavior. The objective is clear; to maintain total obedience by the workers. Although racism is a key component, classism is also a major factor as employees of all colors are being oppressed. The CVH survey results are proof.

Cornell was buried alive by DCF management. He has clawed his way through the dirt, wiped off his shirt, and emerged victorious. Other victims of workplace bullying have met a different end. A 2008 study found that 15% of total adult suicides are related to workplace bullying. The CVH managers who are stalking me online will read that statistic, go to bed tonight, sleep like babies, and resume their bullying tactics when they return to work tomorrow morning. This is the criminal element that workers around the world, some who are already battling mental illness, must face every day. The Department of Health and Human Services states that workplace bullying is the equivalent of domestic violence.  http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/hhs-workplace-bullying-domestic-violence_764508.html

In 2015 Sen. Gary Holder-Winfield will introduce the Community Party’s Safe Work Environment Act. http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/coming-in-2015-safe-work-environment-act/  The AFSCME Local 318 Safe Workplace Committee (which includes John and I as members) will call for a change to the employee grievance process. We want workplace bullying language added to the contract. Last year SEIU in California was successful in getting a Dignity Clause inserted into their agreement. We also want an independent arbitrator to hear grievances. The current process is a joke, as the employer hears worker complaints. The manager who hears the grievance at Step 1 defends the employer at Step 3. John has submitted an FOI request to obtain the outcome of state worker grievances for the last three years.

Congratulations to Cornell for winning his battle against DCF. The global war against workplace bullying continues. This week we'll share posts from Cornell's DCF Plantation blog.   http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/

                                                                                 *****
                                      VOICE OF DISCONTENT AT HAMILTON STREET PLANTATION


The voice displayed only a mild tremor when discussing working conditions at Department of Children and Families office on Hamilton Street in Hartford, Connecticut. He [wishes to remain anonymous] talked for almost one hour about how a white led management is using various techniques to squeeze every ounce of work from all employees. For example if a clinical worker does not keep at least an 85% case load rating then that person gets a failing grade from DCF. When pressed for more details, the worker replied how management wants a full case load of at least 25 people for DCF workers. This means maintaining 90% or higher rating and working non stop. You do not have a personal life outside of DCF, for time is directed toward not making mistakes that drop your case load rating. The person explained how putting together treatment plans for clients can be dangerous [if not approved]. Such an error automatically drops that case worker to lower status levels. In addition it was reported to this blog how at staff meetings performance ratings are placed on a large screen for all to see [causing added stress for people named as failing].

Then the case worker reported how disproportionate disciplinary actions are aimed toward black men at DCF Hamilton Street plantation (see Resources). It is hard to work with families of color in the community providing services when there is a paucity of black men. This – the case worker states - tends to diminish black men, especially in the impressionable eyes of children. It also reinforces stereotypes of black men not being productive in workplace settings. According to the case worker in this story mostly females visit homes in service delivery, and most of these are white. In addition black men are not in the process for promotion at Hamilton Street plantation. Most of the Program Managers are women and one black man recently had his application for promotion rejected.

This staff writer felt the conversation was winding down and asked if there were any more details needed for the story. The case worker at Hamilton Street decided the conversation needed to end. We promptly ended our dialogue.

In conclusion there are one million stories on the DCF plantation. You have just read one of them.

Every truth passes through three stages before it is recognized.
* it is ridiculed
* It is opposed
* It is regarded as self evident
--attributed to German Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer ( 1788-1860)

                                             WHO ADDRESSES BASIC SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES

Employees at Connecticut Juvenile Training School fall under the old paradigm of representatives advocating for certain things. When a meeting was held at CJTS June 24th with Department of Children & Families Commissioner Joette Katz, a proper protocol of questioning ensued. Employees at CJTS were steered toward asking questions that did not cause controversy or ruffle feathers. The one black female who raised one racial question (“why Commissioner Katz do people of color receive harsher discipline than other ethnic groups?”) had it disregarded. There are few Union Stewards or Youth Service Officers willing to broach basic social issues before management on the DCF Plantation.

Issues concerning social issues need illuminating before CJTS management; employee’s recent existential angst, petition / letter to Katz are derived from earlier incidents around bias and discrimination. Now the hierarchy at DCF will dispute that claim and say “CJTS is in turmoil because certain YSOs love controversy” but the real reasons seem more profound--- complex. Until Key Stone Cops management develops courage to discuss basic social justice issues, problems at that facility will continue. Also it is the time for YSOS to demand social justice issues get pushed to the front of their agenda. Do not think any management people will decide in favor of unveiling race as a topic of discussion: America is still not comfortable talking about slavery or racism in some broader context. The only way race gets air time in America is when the people force it out in the open; after Trayvon Martin’s shooting death race became this hot topic. When basic social justice issues do not have the necessary public forum society suffers. At CJTS all those problems manifesting themselves in various forms have beginning points with suppression of not discussing social justice concerns.

If people peruse history correctly please notice how social upheavals always result when issues are stuffed down then not allowed public forums for dialogue.

                                                                 ANONYMOUS COMMENT FROM READER

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WHO ADDRESSES BASIC SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES":

DCF can't and won't address any prevalent issues;
Race
Political motivation
Poor leadership
Because they're focus is not for the protection or aide of Families or youth. The facility operates under Capitialistic dogma. Each child is a number, that gets an amount of financial backing that DCF benefits from. This is new age slavery. Its operated with no bias. Also If DCF can make it increasingly more of a stressed work environment, or more unsafe, they save more money by making it difficult to retire.

                                                                                            *****


Resources

DCF / CVH disciplinary data, obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests:

http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/2012/11/dcf-disciplinary-2011-harsher-penalties.html?spref=tw

https://twitter.com/CTLotteryWatch/status/412319176674799616/photo/1  

Community Party Hartford News columns on structural racism at CVH. Includes CVH workplace bullying survey results and data / internal CVH management emails obtained through FOI requests:

http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/workplace-bullying-report-structural-racism-at-connecticut-valley-hospital/

http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/connecticut-valley-hospital-plantation/  

Special Report: Racism and Homophobia at Connecticut Valley Hospital:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/david-samuels/special-report-racism-homophobia-at-connecticut-valley-hospital/10151418650215432

Bullying Caused Women’s Suicide, Inquiry Told. The Sidney Morning Herald. Suicide, When Related to Workplace Bullying. by ABC
This column appears on the ABC-Anti-Bullying Crusader’s Weblog:

http://antibullyingcrusador.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/bullying-caused-womens-suicide-inquiry-told-the-sidney-morning-herald-suicide-when-related-to-workplace-bullying-by-abc/

Workplace Bullying Report  - A Survivor’s Story:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/david-samuels/workplace-bullying-report-a-survivors-story/10151447046360432

Cornell Lewis Legal Defense Fund:

http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/2013/07/help-with-legal-fund.html  
Proposed Nevada workplace bullying bill:

http://abusergoestowork.com/nys-proposed-healthy-wkpl-bill/


Follow CP on Twitter for state, national and global headlines and updates on the status of our Trayvon Martin and Safe Work Environment Acts. https://twitter.com/CommunityParty1  Check out CP's No Sellout blog for the archive of our Hartford News columns. http://hendu39.wordpress.com/  Listen to WQTQ 89.9 FM for CP's public service announcements on our racial justice initiatives. https://www.facebook.com/wqtqfm Contact us at 860-206-8879 or info.community.party@gmail.com.  


 


                                                             

HERE IS THE REPORT OF BARRAY MONTEIRO

Click here to read the report.

BARRAY MONTEIRO INVESTIGATION REPORT

The investigation of Youth Service Officer Barray Monteiro is now complete. Barray works at Connecticut Juvenile Training School. This staff writer obtained a copy of the Human Resources investigation through Freedom of Information Act requests. The entire report will be posted soon on DCF Plantation blog.

REACTION TO CORNELL LEWIS' VICTORY AGAINST DCF

Please forward widely! Pick up the Hartford News at these locations.  http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/hartford-news-locations/ Check out the archive of Community Party Hartford News columns at our No Sellout blog.   http://hendu39.wordpress.com/

David Samuels
Founder
Community Party


                                       Reaction to Cornell Lewis’ Victory Against DCF

Activist Marcia Morris wrote an essay on Cornell Lewis’ victory over the Department of Children and Families. Cornell was fired by DCF July 17, 2013 in retaliation for his activism against structural racism at that agency. On Friday an arbitrator ruled that DCF must reinstate Cornell and reimburse him fully for lost wages and benefits. My reaction follows Marcia’s essay.

David Samuels



                                                                               *****
                                                             
                                                                VICTORY FOR US ALL

It is with some great joy that I have heard the news this week of the arbitrator’s ruling in favor of Cornell Lewis’ reinstatement in his job at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, with full compensation for missed time, full pay and benefits. This is a victory of reasoned justice and common sense.

At this juncture, I pause to take note, with admiration and respect, that it is also a victory of one man’s “radical integrity”… his unyielding insistence, in the face of a great deal of pressure and temptation otherwise, on being treated with fairness and respect.  The good news for all those who have stood by him throughout this long ordeal is that what he has demanded for himself, is also won for his fellow colleagues and all others who are struggling to be heard.

We can only hope that this will be an opportunity for DCF to take a time out, to re-evaluate their response to some of the criticisms that have been leveled by Cornell Lewis and others, and to try to more fully understand the basis for some of the accusations of unfairness toward employees of color at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, rather than fight to defend themselves reflexively against  charges of bias and discrimination they do not seem to understand.

I suspect management at CJTS is mystified by Cornell Lewis’ arguments.  I can imagine that it is terribly difficult for people who have devoted their careers to the “helping professions” to begin to see their world through his eyes.  But his perspective is of importance to their work, and if they would cease defending and begin instead to listen and reflect on some of his challenging statements, positive change might be possible.

I have no doubt that DCF officials are appalled by the accusation that there is in any way an instructive analogy between the way the agency operates towards its employees and the “plantation system” of slavery that is the unavoidable legacy of our nation.  I am sure they find this suggestion offensive.  It flies in the face of their self perception as people devoted to bettering the lives of the underprivileged and impoverished.

However, it behooves us all to take a hard look at the ways in which insidious institutionalized racism performs the function of reproducing hierachies of power that have plagued our democracy for generations.  There is merit in acknowledging that we have more hard work to do before we can truly say that people of color have achieved an equal place at the table and that we have empowered them to become fully independent agents of their our destiny – even in their own communities.

As long as management retains a sense of being a privileged elite, and workers perceive themselves as submissive underlings, we cannot say that we have achieved racial or economic equality.  As long as upper level management is disproportionately white, and rank and file employees are people of color, the power disparity within the bureaucracy will create festering wounds amongst even the most talented.

The really hard truth is that well intentioned people in government have unwittingly created a large, profitable industry of the “helping professions” including DCF, with high barriers to entry at the upper levels of management including expensive advanced degrees from elite universities which tend to “self select out” many talented people of color.  These jobs pay high salaries to privileged white people, and some people of color who find it possible to work within the present system – to “go along to get along”.  For better or worse, Cornell Lewis will never be one of these people.

Finally, and most  importantly,  I also happen to believe that this week’s victory for Cornell Lewis is also a victory for the students at the CJTS.   I suspect these young people stand to benefit greatly from his capacity to understand their lives, their struggles and their challenges in a way that other more privileged, educated members of the elite simply could never do.    In addition to his professional training and experience, Cornell Lewis has the lived experience which is an essential component of helping young people overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to turning around their lives.

Marcia Morris Activist
New Hampshire
July 13, 2014

                                                                                 *****


Cultural Dictionary

He who laughs last, laughs best definition

You may laugh now, thinking you have won, but you may not prevail in the end.
               

Marcia graciously tried to give DCF management the benefit of the doubt in her essay. I cannot be so forgiving. Data and internal management emails that Cornell, Adam Osmond, my Connecticut Valley Hospital co-worker John Hollis and I have obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and the results of CVH’s own workplace bullying survey, which they tried to suppress, say otherwise (see Resources). The racist disparity in terminations and suspensions at DCF and CVH is reprehensible.  When Cornell confronted DCF management with these facts, they lynched him, just like whites lynched Blacks back in the day who didn’t stay in their place. These murderers would bring their children to witness the event. After the lynching was completed, whites would cut off pieces of the Black person’s corpse and keep them as souvenirs. DCF management behaved in a similar fashion.

Unsatisfied with just taking his job, DCF attempted to figuratively dismember Cornell by employing legal tactics to prevent him from working with children. They vigorously fought Cornell’s effort to get his job back. The response of DCF and CVH management to allegations of racism, despite the overwhelming statistical evidence, is to deny, deny, deny. Internal CVH management emails show that they have been constantly monitoring my social media activity and attempting to manufacture excuses to target me for termination and / or legal action. John, who is white, has been subjected to ruthless intimidation tactics. 50 years ago, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner , who were both white, were murdered along with Black activist James Chaney near Philadelphia, Mississippi. They were participating in a campaign to register Blacks to vote.  

DCF and CVH management are fully conscious of their racist policies; they use Policy and Procedure to target employees, especially Blacks. My position is supported by the data we have obtained from both facilities. The pattern of racial bias is clearly systemic. Since John and I publicized the results of  the CVH survey and the racist disciplinary  data, the hostile behavior by supervisors and managers has continued; in grievance hearings they continue to give nonsensical excuses when we confront them with irrefutable email evidence of workplace mobbing on their part. This is an obvious indication that their superiors continue to support and encourage their sociopathic behavior. The objective is clear; to maintain total obedience by the workers. Although racism is a key component, classism is also a major factor as employees of all colors are being oppressed. The CVH survey results are proof.

Cornell was buried alive by DCF management. He has clawed his way through the dirt, wiped off his shirt, and emerged victorious. Other victims of workplace bullying have met a different end. A 2008 study found that 15% of total adult suicides are related to workplace bullying. The  CVH managers who are stalking me online will read that statistic, go to bed tonight, sleep like babies, and resume their bullying tactics when they return to work tomorrow morning. This is the criminal element that workers around the world, some who are already battling mental illness, must face every day.

In 2015 Sen. Gary Holder-Winfield will introduce the Community Party’s Safe Work Environment Act. The AFSCME Local 318 Safe Workplace Committee (which includes John and I as members) will call for a change to the employee grievance process. We want workplace bullying language added to the contract. Last year SEIU in California was successful in getting a Dignity Clause added to their contract. We also want an independent arbitrator to hear grievances. The current process is a joke, as the employer hears worker complaints. The manager who hears the grievance at Step 1 defends the employer at Step 3. John has submitted an FOI request to obtain the outcome of state worker grievances for the last three years.

Congratulations to Cornell for winning his battle against DCF. The global war against workplace bullying continues.


Resources

DCF / CVH disciplinary data, obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests:

http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/2012/11/dcf-disciplinary-2011-harsher-penalties.html?spref=tw

https://twitter.com/CTLotteryWatch/status/412319176674799616/photo/1  

Community Party Hartford News columns on structural racism at CVH. Includes CVH workplace bullying survey results and data / internal CVH management emails obtained through FOI requests:

http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/workplace-bullying-report-structural-racism-at-connecticut-valley-hospital/

ANONYMOUS COMMENT FROM READER

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WHO ADDRESSES BASIC SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES":

DCF can't and won't address any prevalent issues;
Race
Political motivation
Poor leadership
Because they're focus is not for the protection or aide of Families or youth. The facility operates under Capitialistic dogma. Each child is a number, that gets an amount of financial backing that DCF benefits from. This is new age slavery. Its operated with no bias. Also If DCF can make it increasingly more of a stressed work environment, or more unsafe, they save more money by making it difficult to retire.

MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY ARE ALLIES IN THIS FIGHT

Victory for Cornell Lewis!!
FURBIRDS QUEERLY

www.furbirdsqueerly.wordpress.com

Posted: July 13, 2014 in *Celebration*, For your information, Victory!!, we dig it.
Great news in today from the Reverend Cornell Lewis. We reprint the letter by Marcia Morris which we received in the mail today from Rev. Lewis.

This article was written by Marcia Morris. She studied political science at MIT and organized anti-violence / drug campaigns in Hartford, CT with Cornell Lewis.

It is with some great joy that I have heard the news this week of the arbitrator’s ruling in favor of Cornell Lewis’ reinstatement in his job at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, with full compensation for missed time, full pay and benefits. This is a victory of reasoned justice and common sense.

At this juncture, I pause to take note, with admiration and respect, that it is also a victory of one man’s “radical integrity”… his unyielding insistence, in the face of a great deal of pressure and temptation otherwise, on being treated with fairness and respect.  The good news for all those who have stood by him throughout this long ordeal is that what he has demanded for himself, is also won for his fellow colleagues and all others who are struggling to be heard.

We can only hope that this will be an opportunity for DCF to take a time out, to re-evaluate their response to some of the criticisms that have been leveled by Cornell Lewis and others, and to try to more fully understand the basis for some of the accusations of unfairness toward employees of color at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, rather than fight to defend themselves reflexively against  charges of bias and discrimination they do not seem to understand.

I suspect management at CJTS is mystified by Cornell Lewis’ arguments.  I can imagine that it is terribly difficult for people who have devoted their careers to the “helping professions” to begin to see their world through his eyes.  But his perspective is of importance to their work, and if they would cease defending and begin instead to listen and reflect on some of his challenging statements, positive change might be possible.

I have no doubt that DCF officials are appalled by the accusation that there is in any way an instructive analogy between the way the agency operates towards its employees and the “plantation system” of slavery that is the unavoidable legacy of our nation.  I am sure they find this suggestion offensive.  It flies in the face of their self perception as people devoted to bettering the lives of the underprivileged and impoverished.

However, it behooves us all to take a hard look at the ways in which insidious institutionalized racism performs the function of reproducing hierachies of power that have plagued our democracy for generations.  There is merit in acknowledging that we have more hard work to do before we can truly say that people of color have achieved an equal place at the table and that we have empowered them to become fully independent agents of their our destiny – even in their own communities.

As long as management retains a sense of being a privileged elite, and workers perceive themselves as submissive underlings, we cannot say that we have achieved racial or economic equality.  As long as upper level management is disproportionately white, and rank and file employees are people of color, the power disparity within the bureaucracy will create festering wounds amongst even the most talented.

The really hard truth is that well intentioned people in government have unwittingly created a large, profitable industry of the “helping professions” including DCF, with high barriers to entry at the upper levels of management including expensive advanced degrees from elite universities which tend to “self select out” many talented people of color.  These jobs pay high salaries to privileged white people, and some people of color who find it possible to work within the present system – to “go along to get along”.  For better or worse, Cornell Lewis will never be one of these people.

Finally, and most  importantly,  I also happen to believe that this week’s victory for Cornell Lewis is also a victory for the students at the CJTS.   I suspect these young people stand to benefit greatly from his capacity to understand their lives, their struggles and their challenges in a way that other more privileged, educated members of the elite simply could never do.    In addition to his professional training and experience, Cornell Lewis has the lived experience which is an essential component of helping young people overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to turning around their lives.

Marcia Morris Activist
New Hampshire

For reference and the history of this case please look over our blog postings that are found under the postings as, Spoke Out, Got Fired, Interview with Cornell Lewis, video with Johnny Mason,  a great piece, News From The DCF Plantation: I Fought Long, I Fought Hard, I Fought Often,  Department of Children and Families, Trouble is Not Knew Here, Written Works By Comrade Rev. Cornell Lewis,  in response to DCF and the handling of Jane Doe, All well worth reading to re-familiarize ourselves about this case or for new readers just coming on board.

A wealth of information can be found on Rev. Lewis’s blog, DCF Plantation. Check it out for many other enlightening articles. This blog has remained in full support of our comrade Rev. Cornell Lewis and the idea of happy can not convey our feelings for him. Our comrade has always stood by our queer community and we by him.

VICTORY FOR US ALL

This article was written by Marcia Morris. She studied political science at MIT and organized anti-violence / drug campaigns in Hartford, CT with Cornell Lewis.


It is with some great joy that I have heard the news this week of the arbitrator's ruling in favor of Cornell Lewis' reinstatement in his job at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, with full compensation for missed time, full pay and benefits. This is a victory of reasoned justice and common sense.

At this juncture, I pause to take note, with admiration and respect, that it is also a victory of one man's “radical integrity”... his unyielding insistence, in the face of a great deal of pressure and temptation otherwise, on being treated with fairness and respect.  The good news for all those who have stood by him throughout this long ordeal is that what he has demanded for himself, is also won for his fellow colleagues and all others who are struggling to be heard.

We can only hope that this will be an opportunity for DCF to take a time out, to re-evaluate their response to some of the criticisms that have been leveled by Cornell Lewis and others, and to try to more fully understand the basis for some of the accusations of unfairness toward employees of color at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, rather than fight to defend themselves reflexively against  charges of bias and discrimination they do not seem to understand.

I suspect management at CJTS is mystified by Cornell Lewis' arguments.  I can imagine that it is terribly difficult for people who have devoted their careers to the “helping professions” to begin to see their world through his eyes.  But his perspective is of importance to their work, and if they would cease defending and begin instead to listen and reflect on some of his challenging statements, positive change might be possible.

I have no doubt that DCF officials are appalled by the accusation that there is in any way an instructive analogy between the way the agency operates towards its employees and the “plantation system” of slavery that is the unavoidable legacy of our nation.  I am sure they find this suggestion offensive.  It flies in the face of their self perception as people devoted to bettering the lives of the underprivileged and impoverished.

However, it behooves us all to take a hard look at the ways in which insidious institutionalized racism performs the function of reproducing hierachies of power that have plagued our democracy for generations.  There is merit in acknowledging that we have more hard work to do before we can truly say that people of color have achieved an equal place at the table and that we have empowered them to become fully independent agents of their our destiny – even in their own communities.

As long as management retains a sense of being a privileged elite, and workers perceive themselves as submissive underlings, we cannot say that we have achieved racial or economic equality.  As long as upper level management is disproportionately white, and rank and file employees are people of color, the power disparity within the bureaucracy will create festering wounds amongst even the most talented.

The really hard truth is that well intentioned people in government have unwittingly created a large, profitable industry of the “helping professions” including DCF, with high barriers to entry at the upper levels of management including expensive advanced degrees from elite universities which tend to “self select out” many talented people of color.  These jobs pay high salaries to privileged white people, and some people of color who find it possible to work within the present system – to “go along to get along”.  For better or worse, Cornell Lewis will never be one of these people.

Finally, and most  importantly,  I also happen to believe that this week's victory for Cornell Lewis is also a victory for the students at the CJTS.   I suspect these young people stand to benefit greatly from his capacity to understand their lives, their struggles and their challenges in a way that other more privileged, educated members of the elite simply could never do.    In addition to his professional training and experience, Cornell Lewis has the lived experience which is an essential component of helping young people overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to turning around their lives.

 Marcia Morris Activist
New Hampshire

CORNELL LEWIS DEFEATS DCF !!!

Please forward widely! Pick up the Hartford News at these locations.  http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/hartford-news-locations/ Check out the archive of Community Party Hartford News columns at our No Sellout blog.   http://hendu39.wordpress.com/

David Samuels
Founder
Community Party


Cornell Lewis, who was fired by the Department of Children and Families in retaliation for his activism against that agency's racist policies, won his arbitration case yesterday. The victory came almost a year to the day of his termination; Cornell was fired July 17, 2013.  http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2014/07/11/dcf-ordered-to-rehire-fired-worker/  Check out Cornell's DCF Plantation blog.
http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/  Cornell Lewis Legal Defense Fund:  http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/2013/07/help-with-legal-fund.html



Follow CP on Twitter for state, national and global headlines and updates on the status of our Trayvon Martin and Safe Work Environment Acts. https://twitter.com/CommunityParty1  Check out CP's No Sellout blog for the archive of our Hartford News columns. http://hendu39.wordpress.com/  Listen to WQTQ 89.9 FM for CP's public service announcements on our racial justice initiatives. https://www.facebook.com/wqtqfm Contact us at 860-206-8879 or info.community.party@gmail.com.

DCF ORDERED TO REHIRE AGENCY CRITIC

Associated Press Get AP Mobile for your phone at GetAPMobile.com
APNewsBreak: DCF ordered to rehire agency critic

By SUSAN HAIGH
Published: 47 minutes ago
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - An arbitrator says the Department of Children and Families did not have just cause when it fired a youth services officer who has been an outspoken critic of the child welfare agency.

Arbitrator Susan Brown directed the agency to reinstate Cornell Lewis to his position at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown. She said in Friday's ruling DCF must also compensate him for lost wages.

Lewis was fired a year ago for allegedly failing to supervise youth under his care in 2012. The agency also put his name on an abuse and neglect registry.

Lewis, who is black, has criticized DCF for having what he calls a racist attitude toward black employees.

A DCF spokesman said it is reviewing the decision. The agency can appeal the ruling in court.

FIRED EMPLOYEE OF DCF REINSTATED BY ARBITRATOR

Cornell Lewis arbitration decision as reported by DCF plantation blog staff writer.

I feel vindicated after reading that an arbitrator has decided in favor of overturning my dismissal from Connecticut Juvenile Training School over one year ago. It is my hope to return to work soon.

WHO ADDRESSES BASIC SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES

Employees at Connecticut Juvenile Training School fall under the old paradigm of representatives advocating for certain things. When a meeting was held at CJTS June 24th with Department of Children & Families Commissioner Joette Katz a proper protocol of questioning ensued. Employees at CJTS were steered toward asking questions that did not cause controversy or ruffle feathers. The one black female who raised one racial question (“why Commissioner Katz do people of color receive harsher discipline than other ethnic groups?”) had it disregarded. There are few Union Stewards or Youth Service Officers willing to broach basic social issues before management on the DCF Plantation.

Issues concerning social issues need illuminating before CJTS management; employee’s recent existential angst, petition / letter to Katz are derived from earlier incidents around bias and discrimination. Now the hierarchy at DCF will dispute that claim and say “CJTS is in turmoil because certain YSOs love controversy” but the real reasons seem more profound--- complex. Until Key Stone Cops management develops courage to discuss basic social justice issues problems at that facility will continue. Also it is the time for YSOS to demand social justice issues get pushed to the front of their agenda. Do not think any management people will decide in favor of unveiling race as a topic of discussion: America is still not comfortable talking about slavery or racism in some broader context. The only way race gets air time in America is when the people force it out in the open; after Trayvon Martin’s shooting death race became this hot topic. When basic social justice issues do not have the necessary public forum society suffers. At CJTS all those problems manifesting themselves in various forms have beginning points with suppression of not discussing social justice concerns.

If people peruse history correctly please notice how social upheavals always result when issues are stuffed down then not allowed public forums for dialogue.

SAY IT AIN'T SO, A PROBLEM AT GIRLS FACILITY, MAYBE JANE DOE?

The DCF Plantation blog was informed that the new girls facility in Middletown  might have a problem. Sources report that a Youth Service Officer has been removed from the girl's facility and might be under investigation. There is speculation the problem associated with the YSOs transfer back to Connecticut Juvenile Training School is linked with transgender youth named Jane Doe. There are no further details at this juncture.

Again, this is news from anonymous sources and nothing is confirmed, as usual DCF management will not talk to staff writers from this blog.

THE FREE JANE DOE ACT

NO SELL OUT
Just another WordPress.com weblog

« Free Jane Doe, Inc.
Political Roundup: Jane Doe Act / John Dankosky / Cornell Lewis / Global Fast Food Strike »

Coming in 2015 : Jane Doe Act

16-year-old Black transgender teen Jane Doe has been incarcerated at York Correctional Institution in Niantic since April 8, by order of  Department of Children and Families Commissioner Joette Katz. Jane Doe faces no criminal charges; DCF imprisoned this Black child in an adult prison for allegedly assaulting DCF staff members.http://www.democracynow.org/2014/5/8/after_abuse_under_state_supervision_transgender
Cornell Lewis and I are collaborating on the Jane Doe Act, which is legislation that would prohibit DCF from sending one of their clients to a correctional institution. The statute which allows DCF to incarcerate their clients has only been used twice, counting Jane Doe. CT Gen. Stat. 17a-12: “When, in the opinion of the commissioner, or the commissioner’s designee, a person fourteen years of age or older is dangerous to himself or herself or others or cannot be safely held at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, if a male, or at any other facility within the state available to the Commissioner of Children and Families, the commissioner, or the commissioner’s designee, may request an immediate hearing before the Superior Court on the docket for juvenile matters where such person was originally committed to determine whether such person shall be transferred to the John R. Manson Youth Institution, Cheshire, if a male, or the Connecticut Correctional Institution, Niantic, if a female.”
If DCF has a client whom they feel they can’t handle, that youth should be sent to a treatment facility, where their behavior issues can be addressed clinically. We’re also discussing an outreach campaign to raise awareness about Jane Doe and the criminalization of Black and Latino youths. Stay tuned for updates. Check out Cornell’s DCF Plantation blog.http://dcfplantation.blogspot.com/
David Samuels
Founder
Community Party
https://twitter.com/CommunityParty1


Related

THE LIONS TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEIR OPPRESSORS

I watched the Face Book video intently on a computer. Five lions sat on stools and waited for commands by circus handlers inside a cage. For who knows how long these lions did as they were instructed; time passed and maybe a portion of the lions self esteem faded away as whips, long steel bars and water hoses goaded lions “ into their place” before oppressors. Then during just another day in captivity one lion got off the stool and fought back : instruments of oppression mentioned above did not induce fear anymore, then all the lions got off their stools and fought back. The spell had been broken.

The illustration about lions can be applied to Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown, Connecticut. For years the Youth Service Officers [ esp. those of color ] have been trained to accept the conditions of oppression. CJTS management used devices [ like those lion handlers ] like policy and procedure as cudgels [ clubs] to beat any hope out of the employees in achieving egalitarian rights. However YSOs signed a petition / letter of grievances and sent it to Department of Children & Families Commissioner Joette Katz. This organizing among YSOs is the opening salvo against their oppressors. Just like those lions refused to accept further punishment, human beings on the plantation say enough-fight back. At some point beasts from a jungle or human beings are not to be treated as ciphers; all living things have a right to be treated with respect and not tormented. CJTS employees do not receive the respect they deserve, that is why YSOs voted not to let CJTS Superintendent William Rosenbeck attend the meeting with Katz. For all intents and purposes the employees [ lions] know who the handlers at the plantation are.

A small rebellion has taken place at CJTS plantation and no matter what happens next the lions have risen against their masters. Once people decide not to sit on a stool created by oppressors then it is time for action.

IS THERE NO ONE GUILTY OR RESPONSIBLE

The conflict at Connecticut Juvenile Training School is one of management in their privileged position versus Youth Services Officers [ front line staff ]. It is also a historical clash between those people [ white privilege] in charge of the process which governs incarcerated youth at this facility, while YSOs produce the labor which actually keeps production moving [ state & federal dollars for every youth entering CJTS ]. However front line staff entering the workplace at CJTS is treated like feudal serfs by administrators and their sycophants. For at least five years a group of activists called the DCF Plantation 5 broached issues of racism, bias and injustice at CJTS only to be ignored by people running the facility. Now a different Greek Chorus raises their voices in opposition to atrocities and demand answers. Yet administrators at CJTS and Department of Children and Families [ DCF is the main facility under which CJTS operates] consistently states no problems really exist except in the thinking of a few troublemakers.

Is there no one guilty or responsible for all the complaints from employees except the employees? Why did YSOs recently sign a letter / petition then send it to DCF Commissioner Joette Katz? Why did the staff at the same facility refuse to meet with Superintendent William Rosenbeck to air grievances? Is there no one guilty or responsible? When Katz met YSOs at CJTS on June 24, 2014 Rosebeck did not attend the meeting because his employees do not trust him. In the drama at CJTS management does not accept any blame for rampant racism, favoritism, the doling out of overtime to certain employees or fostering a culture of non trust.

Is there no one guilty or responsible for what white management is attempting to do to YSO Barray Monterio, he is accused of being inattentive while working. Yet at the beginning of 2014 a certain YSO was caught sleeping while supposedly watching a CJTS resident in a hospital. No one in management has made a stir about this issue, even though it was called in to CJTS by an administrator. Tell me who is to blame for the low morale among most employees due to erratic policies of dysfunctional management. The Workers Compensation claims at CJTS are staggering: people are disheartened and sad about repressive measures against them and maybe use the loop hole of WC to escape their version of a living hell. Is there no one guilty or responsible for the June 24th hijacking of YSOs agenda when Commissioner Katz came to speak before the natives? Hell, the YSOs put forth all the work but played second fiddle when it came time to speak. How do you prepare a meal but others get to sit at the head of the table—eating choices cuts of the meat first.

Is there no one guilty or responsible for allowing employee right wing activity aimed at people of color to fester until employees complained to Human Resources? Who takes the blame for allowing a resident of CJTS to almost escape the facility by tying bed sheets together then climbing a fence? Let us not forget to mention this same youth had a change of street clothing on and a twenty dollar bill in pocket. There are cameras everywhere at the facility but no one saw him trying to escape. More importantly who disciplined people supposedly in charge of monitoring those expensive cameras? Looks as if the facility operates by some form of osmosis or the magical manipulations of a gremlin.

COMMUNITY PARTY REPORT

David Samuels
Founder
Community Party

                         Political Roundup: Shawn Wooden in Concert / Dennis House, WFSB & White Privilege  


This column appears in the July 3 - 10 edition of the Hartford News... Community Update: Gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Pelto and his running mate Ebony Murphy both ducked Community Party member Mary Sanders' question about racial justice issues during a candidate forum on Monday. Watch for yourself at the 1:26:21 mark of the Connecticut Network video... http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=10441  Office of Policy and Management Under Secretary Mike Lawlor, Central Connecticut State University researcher Ken Barone and token Black William Dyson of the so-called Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project attempted to spin the latest data on racial profiling in this state. Stay tuned for updates... http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/gov-dan-malloys-stooges-spin-racial-profiling-stats/   Carlos Camacho of the CT Justice Party remixed a classic Hip-Hop joint for Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra... http://hendu39.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/its-all-about-the-baseball-benjamins-by-pedro-segarra/  Check out our Resources section at the end of this column for a look at the July Fourth holiday from a racial justice perspective.

"Mayor Pedro Segarra announced the plan on June 4, with City Council President Shawn Wooden standing next to him. On June 8, Segarra said it was 'a done deal.' In other words, the time for your public input was never. Last week, my WNPR colleague Jeff Cohen reported that the city has already put the stadium architect job out to bid, even though the stadium itself hasn't been approved.

"Meanwhile,... the deal is falling apart. The voters don't like the largesse bestowed on the wealthy Rock Cats owners. Wooden is getting clubbed by state Sen. Eric Coleman, his opponent in a primary for Coleman's seat, for being a directionless tool. Wooden, who stood with Segarra and never objected to the 'done deal,' is now moving backward like a crawfish on crack and insisting on bigger private investment." ~ Courant columnist Colin McEnroe on the Hartford stadium controversy

Big shout out to WFSB TV Face the State host Dennis House, who apparently has signed on to be Wooden's new campaign manager. House totally distorted the facts about stadiums during the program last Sunday. House named Baltimore, Maryland as an example of a city where a new stadium was a "success." Read on for the actual statistics on Baltimore and Jacksonville, Florida. House also said that former major league baseball player and current ESPN analyst Doug Glanville named "many minor league cities" where stadiums have boosted economic development and employment, when Glanville and Wooden appeared on Face the State two weeks ago. Glanville did not provide one statistic to support his claim.

                                                           
                                                                 It’s the Concert Event of the Summer!

You saw, read and heard Hartford City Council President / state Senate candidate Shawn Wooden all last week, as he desperately tried to explain away his flip-flop on the New Britain Rock Cats Hartford stadium deal. Now Shawn will be taking his performance to the next level as he spins live in concert! The Corporate  Media Spin Tour will feature Shawn performing his greatest hits…

 I Always Wanted Private Funding (I Just Never Said It), Stadiums = Jobs, Forget About My Flip-Flop, Don’t Take Your Vote Away, I Want Your Primary Love, Solid as a Rock Cat, Bonding with You, and Stop Dogging My Stadium Plan (featuring DMX).
If you don’t have money for a ticket, just borrow it like the City of Hartford does!

This is a Politics as Usual production.

"Advocates justify the construction of the stadiums with public subsidies and tax
dollars in two very distinct ways. The first way points directly to economic benefits.
Advocates say that a newly constructed sports stadium will revive the local economy and
expedite its growth within the immediate region. Secondly, proponents say that a new
stadium can act as a job creator and have multiplier effects on the local economy.
"However, more often than not these claims turn out to be untrue. In order to understand
the economics of sports stadiums one must separate fact from fiction. Cities believe that
investing millions of public tax dollars into a stadium will improve the cities image and
thus attract new investment and business dollars. However, Mark Rosentraub, an expert
on sports economics says that using sports franchises as a way to stimulate economic development is a myth. (as cited in Delaney & Eckstein, 2003).

"In Jacksonville, team owners for a new NFL stadium projected that $130 million a
year and 3,000 new jobs would be added to Jacksonville’s local economy. In Baltimore,
1,394 new jobs were projected to be created with the construction of their new stadium.
However, none of these projections were actually realized. The projections were only realized by one-tenth of what they were estimated. (Baade & Sanderson, 1997).

"Why are projections so far off? Consulting firms perform much of the promotional studies for team owners that contained flawed methodologies and unrealistic assumptions. A consultant who provided a report not consistent with favorable results was immediately fired or not given
new contracts with team owners in the future. Therefore, these studies, more often than
not, concluded adding a sports franchise will have a meaningful impact on the local
economy. "  ~ Haverford College report, The Economic Effects of Sports Stadiums and Franchises

It would be nice if Wooden put the same energy into talking about racial wage / wealth disparity in this city as he has doing his pathetic spin tour. http://www.faireconomy.org/news/state_of_the_dream_2010_drained Segarra and Wooden got played like racquetball by the Rock Cats owners because they were only thinking of advancing their own political careers. This myopia made them easy marks and their self-serving scheme blew up in their faces. If Segarra and Wooden were truly thinking about the best interests of Hartford residents, they would have never considered trying to foist this fraud on the people in the first place. This issue is emblematic of the mentality of corporatist Democrats who are so eager to impress their ruling class puppet masters, they become victims of the same element who put them in power.

If these two bunglers were sincere about putting a dent in Black / Latino unemployment, which hovers at Depression-era levels, they would implement egalitarian measures such as the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement's Jackson Plan. http://mxgm.org/the-jackson-plan-a-struggle-for-self-determination-participatory-democracy-and-economic-justice/ The Jackson Plan is based on participatory democracy in the form of the Jackson People's Assembly and worker owned cooperatives. The late Jackson, Mississippi Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, a self-described Fannie Lou Hamer Democrat, successfully launched worker cooperatives in that city. Worker cooperatives also thrive in Boston, western Massachusetts, southern Vermont, the San Francisco Bay Area, Madison, Wisconsin, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_cooperative#Comparison_with_other_work_organizations  

House mentioned on Face the State that the city is now putting together a stadium proposal that would include other elements, including the planned North Hartford supermarket which initially was scrapped after the stadium deal was announced. The concern with this plan would be a lack of access for North End residents on days that the Rock Cats are playing or the stadium is in use for other events, due to traffic and parking issues. Councilman Larry Deutsch, who was a guest on Face the State, talked about the need for year-round jobs that pay a living wage. The city's revamped proposal should include a stipulation that jobs connected to the stadium, supermarket and any other related businesses must meet this criteria. Deutsch said that he has asked the city's attorneys if $50 million will be placed in an escrow account, so that the city will have cash on hand if the Rock Cats move in four or five years and the city is stuck with an empty stadium (the scenario that New Britain currently faces). No one has given Deutsch an answer.

House had a problem with Deutsch's plan to have a referendum on the stadium, using the city's low voter turnout as justification. The number is low because residents in the poverty stricken areas of Hartford see that their economic plight remains the same, no matter who gets elected. House would obviously prefer that Segarra and Wooden make the call with no input from community residents, which is what started this damn mess in the first place. House's stance on the stadium plan is yet another example of what Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman refers to as the Access of Evil. http://www.thenation.com/article/access-evil House is acting as a mouthpiece for the city's power brokers, who wanted this stadium to be built on the people's dime.

While House and his colleagues at WFSB sit and smile in front of TV cameras every day, all hunky-dory with their white privilege, people of color in this city are dying slowly. These community residents bravely endure poverty on a daily basis; if the on-air personalities at WFSB experienced these conditions for 15 minutes, they would jump out of a window. I'm talking about folks who stay outside all day during the summer. They're not out there because they're enjoying the fine weather. They can't stay inside too long, because it's so damn hot and they don't have air conditioning. I submit that If House and his co-workers had to walk a mile in the shoes of the poor, their approach to journalism would change dramatically.

The only time that you will see a WFSB satellite truck in North Hartford is when a Black or Latino male is being chalked out in the street; they would have absolutely no interest in covering a community meeting on the socioeconomic causes of urban street violence. WFSB regularly perpetuates the racist image of North Hartford as the area to be avoided at all costs. The truth is that the North End is filled with insightful people who see through the bs of city politics better than anyone else. House, instead of blaming the people for the voter turnout numbers, why don't you actually talk to them and ask how they feel about the hustlers who work at 550 Main Street? I'm talking about the people who live on streets like Cabot, Enfield and Westland, the areas that WFSB uses to air their images of violence pornography. You could even have North Hartford residents as guests on your show. Talk to the people for a change, instead of the crooks and liars whose public policies have created the conditions that WFSB exploits every day.

Follow CP on Twitter for state, national and global headlines and updates on the status of our Trayvon Martin and Safe Work Environment Acts. https://twitter.com/CommunityParty1  Check out CP's No Sellout blog for the archive of our Hartford News columns. http://hendu39.wordpress.com/  Listen to WQTQ 89.9 FM for CP's public service announcements on our racial justice initiatives. https://www.facebook.com/wqtqfm Contact us at 860-206-8879 or info.community.party@gmail.com.