Memories of 9/11

Thursday, September 11, 2025
Time: 8:48 AM

(NOTE: On 9/11, I post my recollection of that terrible day before paying my respects for the lives lost by listening to every name of the victims during the 9/11 service. As years pass, I re-write and add new memories to the annual post, and this year is no different.)

September 11, 2001, is a day that many residents of Danbury—and the nation—will never forget.

I remember that morning as if it were yesterday. I woke up, made my usual cup of coffee, and stepped outside onto my porch at my lake house in Sandy Hook, where I saw the most vivid and beautiful blue sky I had ever seen. As always, I was running behind schedule and scrambling to get ready for work, but thankfully, I lived close to my job at the time.
As I ironed my clothes, I tried to catch up on the news by flipping between ABC and NBC. I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of my colleagues at work laughing when I walked into the office late again, especially since I had told them I would be on time today.

I can clearly remember reaching for the remote control and pressing the power button when it was announced that "something" had struck one of the World Trade Center towers. At the time, I didn't think much of it, as it seemed unfathomable that someone would deliberately fly an airliner into one of the tallest buildings in the country.
While driving to work, I usually listen to The Howard Stern Show in the morning. However, that morning I tuned into 1010 WINS to find out more information about the accident at the World Trade Center. It was then that I first learned something serious had happened, as a reporter announced witnessing a second plane hit the tower. By the time I arrived at my job, the reality of the situation had already sunk in—the country was under attack.

As I walked into the office, where I worked for a book publishing company, I was greeted by complete chaos. The internet had shut down entirely, as the World Trade Center was a major hub for communications. People were frantically using their cell phones to try to reach friends and loved ones who worked in the city. With no way to access information other than the radio—since we didn't have any TVs in the building—many employees resorted to running outside to get news reports from car radios.

I remember when I first learned about the major explosion at the first tower. My heart sank as I realized that a friend of mine sometimes worked at the World Trade Center. My friends were frantically trying to reach him for hours, but there was no response; he had a young son and was expecting a daughter. I remember the horrible feeling of emptiness that comes with the loss of someone close to you. In the office, my colleagues moved about in a state of disbelief, as many of them knew someone who worked in that section of Manhattan.

As the day progressed, we were overwhelmed with countless false reports and rumors. Frustrated, I thought to myself, "To hell with this," and decided to pack up my things and leave work. There was no reason to stay, especially since most of the publishing industry is located in the lower part of New York City—a area now engulfed in a cloud of dust. My mind was occupied with thoughts of my friend, as I still didn't know if he was alive, lost, or dead.

Looking for any information—since we had no televisions and very limited internet access at work—I pulled over to the first bar I could find. A bar had two things I needed: a television and beer. It was there that I witnessed, for the first time, what I had only heard about on the radio, which made the situation even worse. The only bright spot of that day was the phone call I received, informing me that my friend who worked in the towers didn't have to be in the city that day. However, he lost many colleagues who never made it out of the building.

As the days pass, I can't shake the memories of scores of first responders and construction workers in the area who traveled to the site around the clock, sifting through the rubble looking for survivors. The dust on their bodies and the look of despair in their eyes are images I'll never forget.

A few weeks after the event, a group of friends and I decided to take a late-night drive into the city to see the site ourselves. My friend, who knew the city well, managed to get us within a couple of blocks of Ground Zero. The best way to describe what we saw was that the entire area looked like an apocalyptic scene, with shattered glass and papers from missing loved ones scattered everywhere. The sight of the towers and the smell of the smoldering destruction are experiences that are etched in my memory. That was a brief overview of my strongest memories from that day, and to be honest, I'm not sure why I'm writing this.

Perhaps it's because the memory of that day is still vivid in my mind as I watch the memorial service.

Or maybe it’s because that moment was a turning point in my life when I chose to become more politically active.

Or maybe I wanted to share my feelings with someone who is experiencing those same emotions right now. America before the events of 9/11 feels like an alternate reality to me.

I know in my heart that I will never forget the events of that horrific day for the country and the world. My heart will always go out to all those who lost a loved one on that tragic day in our nation's history, as well as to the first responders who are still suffering from the consequences of that tragedy today.


HatCityBLOG EXCLUSIVE: Greater Danbury NAACP Juneteenth Ceremony

Saturday, June 21, 2025
Time: 1:51 PM


HatCityBLOG EXCLUSIVE: Former long-time Zoning Commission Rob Melillo speaks out against HB 5002

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Time: 5:59 PM

DO YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO SPARE?

Meet Rob Melillo, a former long-time member of the Danbury Zoning Commission and one of the most vocal critics of the state housing omnibus bill, HB 5002.

I have known Melillo since my early days covering land-use meetings at City Hall. His views on development issues have historically been regarded as rational and well-reasoned by the public.

Recently, I conducted an interview with Melillo to discuss HB 5002 and its potential negative impact on the public's right to express opinions regarding specific forms of housing and on-site parking in Danbury and municipalities throughout the state.

NOTE: If you’re an elected official or a land-use board member from the Greater Danbury community and have an opinion (for or against) HB 5002, reach out to me via Messenger, email at hatcityblog@yahoo.com or the HatCityBLOG hotline at 203.885.7694.


HatCityBLOG EXCLUSIVE: Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi details opposition towards HB 5002 housing omnibus bill

Thursday, June 05, 2025
Time: 1:27 PM

Earlier today, while attending Gov. Lamont's end-of-session press conference at the State Capitol, I had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, during which he detailed his opposition to the recently passed housing omnibus bill.

There has been a historic bipartisan backlash against the bill, with a diverse group of state lawmakers, mayors, First Selectpersons, and land-use board members from both sides of the political aisle expressing their dissatisfaction with the package.

In Ridgefield, Democratic State Representatives Aimee Berger-Girvalo and Savet Constantine, who represent Ridgefield, New Canaan, and Wilton, joined their colleagues from Greater Danbury in opposing a bill that significantly restricts public participation and local control over housing matters in communities across the state. However, Ridgefield's State Senators Julie Kushner and Ceci Maher voted in favor of this controversial bill.

NOTE: If you’re an elected official or member of the land-use board in the Greater Danbury community and wish to offer your take on HB 5002, reach out to me via Messenger, email at hatcityblog@yahoo.com, or phone/text the HatCityBLOG hotline at (203) 885-7694. THIS IS A VERY FAST AND DEVELOPING STORY…


HatCityBLOG EXCLUSIVE: Danbury GOP mayoral candidate Emile Buzaid speaks out on state housing omnibus bill

Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM

Earlier today, Danbury City Councilman and Republican mayoral candidate Emile Buziad became the latest elected official to weigh in on the state housing omnibus bill (HB 5002), which has faced extensive bipartisan opposition among state lawmakers and municipal leaders across Connecticut.

The bill is opposed by an unprecedented, bipartisan group of elected officials and state lawmakers, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) as well as the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST), which outlined their objections in a recent press release:

Fair Share Housing Mandate - The bill requires OPM to determine each town's affordable housing target based on certain factors, including housing mix, grand list strength, wealth, and poverty. This fails to consider water and wastewater capacity and other factors that are critical to supporting housing development. It also requires municipalities to adopt zoning regulations to “create a realistic opportunity” for developers to build affordable housing units to meet the municipalities' state-determined "affordable housing allocation". Such regulations would be subject to review by OPM to determine whether the municipality is in compliance. If a municipality is deemed in compliance or is exempt from the requirements, it may be prioritized for certain discretionary state funding, including Clean Water Fund, the Urban Act, the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), the Main Street Investment Fund, and the Incentive Housing Zone program. How will this impact funding for small towns that do not have the capacity to meet the assigned housing allocation requirement?

Transit-Oriented Communities – By prioritizing funding for municipalities that qualify as Transit-Oriented Communities, the bill calls into question whether any funding under STEAP, which only has enough funding for 20-30 municipal projects each year, will be available to small towns that are not in a position to qualify as a Transit-Oriented Community.

Municipal Liability Costs - Subjects municipalities to attorney’s fees and costs under the Affordable Housing Appeals Act if the court determines that the municipality acted in bad faith or caused undue delays in appealing a decision on an 8-30g affordable housing project. This will have a chilling effect on the right of municipalities to appeal projects that may pose certain environmental, traffic congestion, or other issues in their community.

Minimum Parking Requirements - Prohibits local zoning regulations from establishing minimum off-street parking requirements for certain housing developments.

As-of-Right Conversion of Commercial Buildings - Mandates that municipalities allow commercial buildings to be converted to residential housing developments as-of-right. Fair Rent Commissions – Requires all municipalities regardless of population to establish and staff fair rent commissions, although municipalities may participate in commissions established by regional Councils of Government.

As of now, neither Danbury Mayor and Connecticut Party Chairman Roberto Alves nor the members of the city's state delegation who supported and approved the bill (Farley Santos (109), Bob Godfrey (110), Ken Gucker (138)) have commented on the legislation.

NOTE: If you’re an elected official from the Greater Danbury community and have an opinion (for or against) HB 5002, reach out to me via Messenger, email at hatcityblog@yahoo.com or the HatCityBLOG hotline at 203.885.7694.


Hartford state lawmaker warns of loss of local control of developmental matters with passage of housing bill

Tuesday, June 03, 2025
Time: 10:29 AM

State Representative and Deputy Speaker Minnie Gonzalez from Hartford is a prominent Democrat who strongly opposes the recently passed housing omnibus bill, HB 5002. Critics argue that this bill significantly undermines the public's ability to comment on development issues and centralizes housing decisions, stripping authority away from municipalities like Danbury.

State Representative Gonzalez serves on the Housing Committee, is a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, and served as a member of the Majority Leader's roundtable on affordable housing.

In the following clip, she outlines her objections to the omnibus housing bill, explaining how the legislation restricts local control over housing decisions in communities while benefiting developers, which can unintentionally contribute to the gentrification of neighborhoods.

The bill was opposed by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) as well as the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST), which outlined their objections in a recent press release:

Fair Share Housing Mandate - The bill requires OPM to determine each town's affordable housing target based on certain factors, including housing mix, grand list strength, wealth, and poverty. This fails to consider water and wastewater capacity and other factors that are critical to supporting housing development. It also requires municipalities to adopt zoning regulations to “create a realistic opportunity” for developers to build affordable housing units to meet the municipalities' state-determined "affordable housing allocation". Such regulations would be subject to review by OPM to determine whether the municipality is in compliance. If a municipality is deemed in compliance or is exempt from the requirements, it may be prioritized for certain discretionary state funding, including Clean Water Fund, the Urban Act, the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), the Main Street Investment Fund, and the Incentive Housing Zone program. How will this impact funding for small towns that do not have the capacity to meet the assigned housing allocation requirement? Transit-Oriented Communities – By prioritizing funding for municipalities that qualify as Transit-Oriented Communities, the bill calls into question whether any funding under STEAP, which only has enough funding for 20-30 municipal projects each year, will be available to small towns that are not in a position to qualify as a Transit-Oriented Community.

Municipal Liability Costs - Subjects municipalities to attorney’s fees and costs under the Affordable Housing Appeals Act if the court determines that the municipality acted in bad faith or caused undue delays in appealing a decision on an 8-30g affordable housing project. This will have a chilling effect on the right of municipalities to appeal projects that may pose certain environmental, traffic congestion, or other issues in their community.

Minimum Parking Requirements - Prohibits local zoning regulations from establishing minimum off-street parking requirements for certain housing developments.

As-of-Right Conversion of Commercial Buildings - Mandates that municipalities allow commercial buildings to be converted to residential housing developments as-of-right.

Fair Rent Commissions – Requires all municipalities regardless of population to establish and staff fair rent commissions, although municipalities may participate in commissions established by regional Councils of Government.

Among the bipartisan group of state lawmakers in Greater Danbury who voted against the proposal are city State representatives Raghib Allie-Brennan (representing Danbury, Bethel, and Newtown) and Patrick Callahan (representing Danbury, New Fairfield, and Sherman). Additionally, Ridgefield State Representatives Aimee Berger-Girvalo and Savet Constantine (representing Ridgefield, New Canaan, and Wilton), Brookfield State Representative Marty Foncello, along with Newtown State Representatives Tony Scott and Mitch Bolinsky, also opposed the measure.

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HatCityBLOG ON THE SCENE: 2025 Dia de Portugal/Portuguese Day Parade

Sunday, June 01, 2025
Time: 3:48 PM


Stay tuned...

Thursday, January 30, 2025
Time: 4:25 PM

While most of the HatCityBLOG reporting has migrated to Facebook, I do plan on moving things back to the website while I upgrade things.
Stay tuned...and follow everything Danbury at the HatCityBLOG Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/hatcityblog/

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INDEPENDENT PARTY OF DANBNRY
DATABASE COMING SOON


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CITY OF DANBURY VIDEO ARCHIVE (Dec 2012-present)

The Mercurial (RIP)
Danbury News Times
Danbury Patch
Danbury Hamlet Hub
Danbury Daily Voice
Tribuna Newspaper
CT News Junkie
CT Capitol Report

10.03.18 (PDF):
"Approval of Danbury Prospect Charter School"

10.30.20 (HatCityBLOG VID): Charter School discussion during 2020 interview with Julie Kushner

2018 (RADIO): WLAD
"State Board of Ed signs off on Danbury charter school proposal"

08.20 (VID): CT-LEAD
"Stand up for Education Justice" Rally

08.20.20 (OP-ED): KUSHNER: "Charter schools are not ‘magic bullet’ to improving Danbury schools"

09.13.20 (OP-ED): CHAPMAN
Candidate for state Senate supports charter school for Danbury

01.15.21 (VID): CT-LEAD
Danbury Prospect Charter School press conference

03.19.21 (OP-ED): CT MIRROR
"Danbury leaders do not want a charter school"

04.01.21 (OP-ED): CT-LEAD:
"Why did Sen. Kushner vote against us?"

05.06.21 (VID): Danbury rally to fully fund public schools

10.07.21 (VID): Danbury City-Wide PTO "Meet the Candidates" education forum

10.07.21 NEWSTIMES
Danbury candidates quarrel over charter school, education funding

01.10.22 NEWSTIMES
"New operator named for Danbury charter school: ‘I’m a huge advocate for parent choice’"

01.10.22 NEWSTIMES
"Some Danbury Democrats ‘open minded’ about charter school after new, CT operator named"

01.21.22 (OP-ED): CT MIRROR
"Lessons from Danbury: Ending the dual process for charter school approval"

02.09.22 NEWSTIMES
"Proposed Danbury charter school won’t open in 2022, governor leaves funding out of budget"

02.18.22 NEWSTIMES:
Danbury residents plead for charter school funds in 9-hour state budget hearing: ‘Just exhausted’

03.05.22 (LTE):
Time has come for Danbury charter school

03.12.22 (OP-ED): TAYLOR
"Why I am excited about the Danbury Charter School"

03.16.22 (LTE):
"Why a Danbury Charter School?"

04.02.22 CT EXAMINER:
"Crowding and a Lack of Options for Danbury Students, But No Agreement on Solutions"

04.04.22 (OP-ED): DCS
"Danbury Charter School plans debut"

04.07.22 (PODCAST): (CEA)
"SENATOR KUSHNER DISCUSSES POINTS OF OPTIMISM FOR DANBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS"

04.18.22 (VID): CT-LEAD
Protest press conference

04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU
Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school

06.03.22 (OP-ED): KUSHNER:
"Career Academy ‘a great deal for Danbury"

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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.

The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.

Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.

Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.

CLICK HERE TO READ/DOWNLOAD MAYOR BOUGHTON'S DEPOSITION

CLICK HERE TO READ/DOWNLOAD MIKE McLACHLAN (then MAYOR CHIEF OF STAFF) DEPOSITION

Danbury Area Coalition for the Rights of Immigrants v.
U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
3:06-cv-01992-RNC ( D. Conn. )

(02.25.08) Court docket

(10.24.07) Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Emergency Motion for Protective Order

(09.26.07) Press Release

(12.14.06) Complaint


Barrera v. Boughton, No. 07-01436
(D. Conn. filed Sept. 26, 2007)

(02.25.08) Court Docket

Amended complaint

Defendants' Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Defendants' Motion to Dismiss State Law Claims

Plaintiffs' Opposition to Motion to Dismiss

Order on Motion to Dismiss

Defendants' Answer to Amended Complaint

NEW HAVEN REGISTER: Immigrant's 2006 arrest was flawed Danbury mayor testifies

(10.05.07 (VIDEO) Boughton mislead the public about Danbury's involvement in raid

(09.18.07) Yale Law Students expose Danbury involvement in raid

(12.14.06) VIDEO: Interview with Yale Law Students at FOI presser

(12.14.06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 FOI complaint media roundup

City Clerk Jean Natale standing next to skinhead sparks outrage

(10.03.06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 rally

(09.29.06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 case deepens

Word of raid spread across the country

(09/29/06) VIDEO: Danbury 11 protest news conference

(09/29/06) Immigrant newspaper "El Canillita" gives best account of ICE day labor raid at Kennedy Park


trans_button Santos Family Story
VIDEO: Tereza Pereira's ordeal with ICE agents

VIDEO: Danbury Peace Coalition Immigration Forum (April 2006)
featuring Mayor Boughton and Immigration attorney Philip Berns

VIDEO: 2007 Stop the Raids immigration forum at WCSU

2007: Community protest anti-immigration forum

A tribute to Hispanic Center Director and immigrant activist Maria Cinta Lowe

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2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Results:
11.15.23 Recanvass return
(Head Moderator Return Format)

11.07.23: Election night returns
(Head Moderator Return Format)

11.07.23: Initial returns


ESPOSITO FINANCE REPORTS:
Oct 10 2022
Jan 10 2023
Apr 10 2023
Jul 10 2023
Oct 10 2023

ALVES FINANCE REPORTS:
Apr 10 2023
Jul 10 2023
Oct 10 2023

CAMPAIGN SLATE DATABASE
Dem/GOP slate/ballot position

VIDEO: DRTC convention
VIDEO: DDTC conveniton


2021 (ALVES/ESPOSITO)

TOWN COMMITTEES
(VID) DDTC nomination convention
(PDF) DDTC campaign slate flyer

(VID) DRTC nomination convention
(PDF) DRTC campaign slate flyer

FORUMS/DEBATES
(VID) 2021 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum

CAMPAIGN FINANCE
First quarter
Alves Apr 10th SEEC filing

Second quarter
Alves Jul 10th SEEC filing
Esposito Jul 10th SEEC filing

Third quarter
Alves Oct 12th SEEC report
Esposito Oct 12th SEEC report

CAMPAIGN MAILERS
Alves "Jan 6th" attack mailer 10.21.21
Esposito "you can't trust Alves" attack mailer 10.20.21
Alves mailer 10.20.21
Alves mailer 09.30.21
Esposito mailer 09.28.21
Alves mailer 09.27.21
Esposito mailer 09.27.21


PAST CAMPAIGN COVERAGE

2005 (BOUGHTON/ESPOSITO)
Danbury 2005 election results
Newstimes Dean Esposito profile (10.25.05)

2007 (BOUGHTON/ABRANTES)
Danbury 2007 election results
(VID) Helana Abrantes TV ad
(VID) BRT tax deferral presser
(VID) Helena Abrantes "Community Forum" interview

2009 (BOUGHTON/GONCALVES)
Danbury 2009 election results
(VID) 2009 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum
(VID) 2009 Danbury Chamber of Commerce mayoral debate
(VID) 2009 DDTC nomination convention

2011 (BOUGHTON/TABORSAK)
Danbury 2011 election results
(VID) Saadi/Nero campaign kickoff

2013 (BOUGHTON/NO DTC ENDORSED CANDIDATE/MCALLISTER)
Danbury 2013 election results
(VID) 2013 DDTC nominaiton convention

2015 (BOUGHTON UNCHALLENGED)
Danbury 2015 election results

2017 (BOUGHTON/ALMEIDA)
Danbury 2017 election results
(VID) Al Almeida concession speech
(VID) 2017 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum
(VID) Al Almeida nomination acceptance speech

2019 (BOUGHTON/SETARO)
Danbury 2019 election results
(VID) 2019 NewsTimes Editorial Board interview with Mark Boughton and Chris Setaro
(VID) 2019 Danbury City-Wide PTO educational forum
(VID) 2019 Danbury Chamber of Commerce mayoral debate
(VID) 2019 convention endorsement speeches from Mark Boughton and Chris Setaro