If you were to present information about a complex topic, would you:
(a) prepare useful handouts, an effective Powerpoint, and take the time to break down concepts
or
(b) hand out information from a website that you do not mention, create a Powerpoint that is not readable from even halfway across the room, and lightspeed through material so that only insiders (who have copies of the slides in front of them) who are supposed to know this information anyway are the only ones with a shot in hell of understanding it?

I wish I could say that I gleaned insight from last night’s presentation at City Hall, but the combination of poor visuals, no microphone, and poor discussion turned into a cynicism cocktail for me; I was so confused and bored that I fell asleep for a minute.

I could not even tell you the name of the man who presented most of the material because he spoke too quickly. So, I’m not going to talk about it.

Mayor Perez, when his back was not turned to the public, and when he wasn’t in mumble mode, actually did the best job of clarifying how Hartford might use Obama’s stimulus dollars. Perez said that “funding is coming in because we’re entitled to it.” He explained that most of the money coming to Connecticut is earmarked for transportation (old news) and that the Pope Commons Streetscape project is receiving $3.6 million because it is a transportation project. Perez was careful to repeat that he did not attend all of the CRCOG meetings and that this group, not the mayor, was responsible for suggesting funds go toward this project.

The mayor said that something like the public safety complex might not receive funding. A woman representing the Hartford Preservation Alliance asked if non-profits receive funds, would they be able to funnel that money into something it’s not earmarked for, like the public safety complex. Perhaps I grossly misinterpreted this, but that seems like a misuse of the funds and like something that could jeopardize Hartford receiving all of the funding that we are “entitled” to; of course, the answer to her question was that non-profits should work together with the city.

The most valuable things I learned from the meeting:

  • a lot of the projects getting funding are things that were already planned to begin in 30-90 days
  • Hartford can’t guarantee that any new jobs created with this money would automatically go to Hartford residents. Perez said, “federal money is federal money, not Hartford money” and that “a residency requirement could be challenged.” But, it might be okay to have resident hiring goals/preferences.
  • The reason that Albany Ave is in such gross disrepair is because it is a state road, and that for any improvements to be made to it, the state must approve. This is further complicated by coordination (or lack of) with the MDC. (sidenote: the toilet, tire, and couch depository located between Forest and Laurel is apparently state land also. See a trend?)