Thursday, July 14, 2011

Connecticut Lockdown

Related: The Connecticut Con 

Don't fall for it.

"Connecticut to lay off 328 in initial wave of job cuts" by Stephen Dockery, Associated Press / July 14, 2011

HARTFORD - Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s administration will lay off 328 state employees - most of them Department of Correction workers - in a first wave of job cuts aimed at balancing the Connecticut state budget, officials said yesterday. Roughly 6,500 layoff notices will go out over the coming weeks.... 

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"Unionized prison guards are warning of inmate riots and other problems inside the state’s lockups if the government goes ahead with planned budget cuts....

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It's getting hard to tell the criminals without a scorecard:

"Conn. bondsman to forfeit fugitive’s bail; Drug case ruling issued by court" July 12, 2011|By Dave Collins, Associated Press

HARTFORD - The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled yesterday that bail companies must forfeit bonds to the state when defendants do not show up in court, even when suspects flee to countries that refuse extradition requests and prosecutors do not seek their return to the United States.

The 6-0 decision came in the case of Flavio Bail Bonds LLC of New Britain, which, barring further appeals, now must pay the state $125,000 for the bonds it posted for David Sheriff after his arrest on marijuana charges in 2006. Authorities say Sheriff fled to his native Jamaica in 2008, just two days before his trial was supposed to begin, and remains at large.  

Time to legalize that s***.

Jamaica refuses in most cases to extradite its citizens to the United States in drug cases. Connecticut authorities say they arrested Sheriff after they found more than 20 pounds of marijuana in his Bloomfield home during a drug investigation. Sheriff pleaded not guilty.

Flavio’s lawyer, William Sweeney, argued that the company should not have to forfeit Sheriff’s bonds because state prosecutors never sought to extradite him from Jamaica, and the firm’s agents have no authority to go to the island nation to get him.

Sweeney also said there’s a conflict of interest in state laws on extradition and bond forfeitures, because they appear to discourage the state from seeking extradition with the prospect of filling its coffers with forfeited bond money.
 
Yeah, that's what drew my attention. It's all a money grab.

The Supreme Court rejected those arguments and upheld a Superior Court judge’s ruling....

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Related: Seeking budget relief, Conn. governor to press state employee unions


Time for a NEW GOVERNOR!

"Out of jail, Bridgeport’s ex-mayor hints at a new run; Ganim points to support in poll, Facebook" by John Christoffersen, Associated Press / July 14, 2011

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Former Bridgeport mayor Joseph Ganim said he has been busy with his foundation, which raises money for youth groups. He also has been working at his family’s law practice in Bridgeport....

Ganim was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2003 for steering city contracts in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in expensive wine, custom clothes, cash, and home improvements.

Ganim was convicted of 16 corruption charges, including extortion, bribery, and racketeering. His sentence was reduced after he participated in a drug treatment program.

Ganim was a popular mayor, often credited with reviving Bridgeport as it emerged from bankruptcy, and he had ambitions to become governor....

Governor Ganim does have a certain ring.

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 "Ex-Bridgeport, Conn., mayor ends 7-year term for graft" by John Christoffersen, Associated Press | July 20, 2010

HARTFORD — Joseph Ganim, the former mayor of Bridgeport, Conn., became a free man yesterday after serving nearly seven years for corruption while in office, but political observers and local officials doubt he will run for office any time soon.

Ganim, 50, was a popular mayor, often credited with reviving Connecticut’s largest city, and had ambitions to be governor....

Ganim, convicted of 16 corruption charges, was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2003 for steering city contracts in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in expensive wine, custom clothes, cash, and home improvements....

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They doubted he'll run?

Also see: FBI agent who busted Conn. politicians to run for House

Body of man, 19, recovered from lake