Another city employee has been suspended with pay, this time involving a dispute between Rosemary Wong, a services coordinator for the Downtown senior center and Alanna Kabel, assistant chief administrative officer. Interestingly, according to a story by the CT Post, Leticia Colon, a member of the Board of Education and former City Council member who represented Downtown seniors, came to the defense of Wong accusing Kabel of an unprofessional outburst. From the Post:
… the senior center’s social services coordinator, Rosemary Wong, has been suspended following a heated exchange last week, that some said stemmed from Wong’s attempt to bring the affected seniors into a private meeting on the subject with city officials.
The Dwight Eisenhower Senior Citizen Center at 263 Golden Hill St. is one of three city properties the Finch administration swapped last summer with downtown developer Phil Kuchma. Kuchma also received lots at 285 Golden Hill and 1208 Broad streets. He intends to build apartments and a new gym to serve the neighborhood.
Read more here.
How is it the city just “discovered” asbestos in the Eisenhower Center? Shouldn’t city officials have determined that before, not after, the city agreed to be responsible for the environmental remediation? I wonder how much this discovery is going to cost Bridgeport taxpayers. (And who will get hired to do the work.)
Kuchma and the city knew of asbestos remediation. Inside Straight played by Kuchma.
Anyone familiar with this situation knows Alanna should be out on paid suspension due to her history of violent outbursts and bullying of employees. Perhaps she should talk to cousin Tom McCarthy about anger management classes. Rosemary is a loyal employee and the seniors love her. Don’t think she won’t use this next election season. Has she hired a lawyer yet? More tax dollars down the drain.
Here’s the 411. I think Alanna has the … Wong Number!!!
Alanna Kabel has been acting this way for years. Her insulation of machine insiders is starting to wear thin. None of these arrogant people have any room to act this way any more. The regime is crumbling.
Ms. Wong is loved by her seniors. Shame on those responsible who decided to put Ms. Wong on suspension. They are hurting the seniors.
Alanna has behaved this way too many times for it to be ignored. Now she’s messing with Mario’s house. Be careful Alanna, you don’t become the sacrificial lamb. The Finchies could drop you without blinking an eye.
Bruce is 100% correct regarding Alanna. Having worked with her, she is one nasty person and I hope the gang at M Testicle’s will take care of her post haste.
Much has been written here about Alanna. How we all rejoiced when she left and how we all drank heavily when she returned. There is a bigger story here than just relocating the senior center. The bigger story is HOW it was handled and how this behavior is common among the Finchies. The employees were told what was happening (no discussion or suggestions allowed) and the seniors were treated with total disregard. It was not until Leticia got involved and Rosemary had the “testicles” to speak up to Alanna that the Mayor’s Office spun the story as a wonderful service to the seniors. The facts remain: Bill Finch gives a rat’s ass about the employees and the seniors. Thank you Leticia and Rosemary for having the guts to speak up. We need more people like you and maybe things will start to change.
Hats off to these two individual who stood up. Leticia and Rosemary! You work with our seniors and you know first hand their aches and pains and their lack off services. One of the few places they (seniors) can spend the day in a safe environment and a few thoughtless individuals are willing to trade the center away, instead of following the written contract. Stop taking advantage of our seniors! Stop using them only when elections come around!