Top 10 of 2019: #5 – Alleged Theft by City Hall Administrator

Many important stories have been covered by the New Britain Progressive in 2019. It may be difficult to name only a few articles as the top stories of the year, but there are a few the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten.  Other Top Ten stories can be found at “Top Ten Stories of 2019.”

Just weeks after Republican Mayor Erin Stewart secured re-election, news came out alleging that one of the top administrators in City Hall under her administration, Zeena Tawfik, had been arrested for allegedly stealing funds that had been given to the city for human services for the city’s people.

More than a few people have raised questions about the scandal. (Alleged City Hall Theft Scandal Emerges Post-Election.) The news coverage about the story to date has raised more questions than have been answered, making this a story appearing likely to continue into the new year. Between that, and that this scandal reached so high into the administration and apparently inner circle of Stewart, certainly made this scandal something that the New Britain Progressive lists as one of the Top Ten Stories of 2019.

Alleged City Hall Theft Scandal Emerges Post-Election

December 8, 2019

Opinion by Rosemary Klotz

POST ELECTION NOTE: When first elected, Erin Stewart got rid of the Director of Community Services, Chris Montes who had served New Britain with the utmost professionalism, integrity and creativity for decades. Chris privately raised thousands of dollars each year to supplement his meagre budget. If a homeless mom with kids showed up at 5pm on a Friday afternoon mid winter with shelters full and no place to go, guess who got her settled someplace warm and safe for the night and followed through with additional services as needed, later? Etc., etc., etc.

Erin Stewart immediately replaced him with her close friend, Zeena Tawfik. I don’t know if she had any legitimate qualifications or experience for this job, but stories of the ensuing LACK of SERVICES are many and well known.

We now find that this apparently troubled woman allegedly STOLE MONEY INTENDED for SERVICES for personal use (casino, fast food etc according to the Herald). She was allegedly caught stealing a $7,000+ check issued in October 2018. We do not know how often or how long this type of thing was going on or if there were other alleged thefts. We do not know how long the Mayor was aware of this problem. What we do know is that this friend of the mayor left her position in September, before the election. Interesting that the “spin” tells us this matter was discovered AFTER Ms. Tawfik’s replacement started reviewing the department’s financial records. Will all the facts ever come out? I doubt it.

It is also interesting that during the LWV Debate in October, the Stewart’s favorite lawyer, (our illustrious Republican State Senator Gennaro Bizzarro) stood up and started yelling when one of the Democrats brought up the issue of nepotism and the hiring of multiple unqualified friends during Erin’s reign. I guess it was a sensitive subject, considering the Tawfik situation. So convenient that they were able to keep this disgraceful and sad situation under wraps until after the election. It is amazing what a crack PR team and control of the local press can do to suppress damaging stories on behalf of an incumbent. Just saying…