The City of Hartford today unveiled new anti-graffiti public service announcements. They were created by Hartford students who recently completed their summer internship with the Mayor’s Office and the Hartford Office for Youth Services in partnership with Capital Workforce Partners, the Greater Hartford Urban League, and the Connecticut Puerto Rican Forum.
At a news conference today, Mayor Pedro E. Segarra praised their creativity and the mentorship of the Communications and Constituent Services divisions. He also remarked on the already strong partnerships with the Knox Parks Foundation, HART (Hartford Areas Rally Together), Hartford Crime Stoppers and Hartford Public Access Television. A special thank you was also extended to the Hartford Police Department, Community Court, Councilman Jim Boucher, Councilman Calixto Torres, and State Senator John Fonfara for their guidance in this project.
“These public service announcements speak to the heart of many matters. Our youth need to have a positive outlet and need to have a voice in our community. Their message is being heard in regards to quality of life issues,” stated Mayor Segarra. “I’m proud that Hartford’s young people are expressing themselves and that they have internship opportunities like this in which to excel. I’m also proud that we continue to find new ways of addressing the cleanliness and beautification of our great City.”
The two PSA’s are called “How Does It Feel” and “Do the Crime, Do the Time.” They can be seen on Channels 5, 95, and 96 on Hartford Public Access Television. Channel 96, Government Cable Access TV, streams live on www.hartford.gov.
One way to continue the spirit of the highly successful “Week of the Parks” community effort is to address graffiti and vandalism. On Saturday, August 28th, Mayor Segarra worked with volunteers at the Charter Oak Monument Park on Charter Oak Avenue. That’s when he saw that the monument recognizing the historical significance of the Charter Oak Tree had been “tagged.”
“When someone defaces history--- where our democracy began--- I get mad,” said Mayor Segarra. “This is where the great Charter Oak Tree once stood. That’s the mark that should be made on history, not a tag on the monument and plaque.”
Today, Mayor Segarra wrote a personal check for $500 to Hartford Crime Stoppers as a reward for information leading to the arrest of this vandal. The anonymous tip line is (860) 722-3477.
