Mayor Mark Boughton offically threw his hat into the mayoral race yesterday at the Republican Party Town Committee meeting.
Boughton drew criticism from both sides of the political arena for his stance on illegal immigration (his original proposal of building a place where day laborers can gather away from Kennedy Ave irratated his social conservative political base. His change in strategy by proposing state police be deputized as immigration officers drew criticism from minorities in the area and led to a march in Danbury that drew over 1,000 people).
Boughton, a former social studioes teacher for Danbury High, has also created controversy for what some call an over-development of the city citing an increase in new condominiums (Boughton plans to bring 500 condos to Kennedy Ave, 100+ units to Crosby Ave and has been responsible for the creation of several condominium complexes since winning office back in 2001).
People are also critical of Boughton for the lack of police enforcement in the area (primarily traffic enforcement) as officers have worked without a contract for the last three years. The local newspaper, The Danbury News-Times, reported last week that many police officers from Danbury are now moving to Florida due primarily to the lack of a contract.
The overcrowding of schools in the area (primarily middle schools) is also an issue that critics say Boughton has failed to address promptly (Boughton announced plans to make additions to the Broadview and Rogers Park middle schools).
With these issues surrounding Boughton, it's safe to say that it's going to be an interesting campaign season.
Issues, like illegal immigration," said Boughton, who drew both praise and criticism this year for drawing national media attention to Danbury's burgeoning immigrant population. "The problem is a failed federal policy, and the lack of a policy that people can understand."
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In November, he will face Democrat Dean Esposito, a former town clerk and Common Council member who works as a house painter. "He's running?" Esposito said, jokingly, on Monday night. "With all his problems, I wasn't sure he was running again."
Esposito said Boughton has flip-flopped on the immigration issue. He said Boughton first called for the creation of a hall where day laborers could meet potential employers.
"Then he gets a bunch of phone calls attacking him for proposing a hall, and so he goes out and attacks illegal immigrants," Esposito said. "It's obviously an issue, but it has to be addressed at the federal level. If I was mayor, I'd be talking to the governor, to the state representatives and to the senators."
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Boughton said one of his administration's most recent accomplishments is to address run-down buildings and other blight in the city.
A blight task force issued 400 citations in 2004. It has focused on finding and closing illegal apartments in attics and basements of homes. City officials say the added units are often poorly built and create crowded conditions and fire hazards. With a handful of families living in what were originally single-family houses, cars park illegally on lawns or jam streets.
"Our neighborhoods are a core component of a successful city," Boughton said. "We're bringing them back."
04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school
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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.
Mayor Mark Boughton offically threw his hat into the mayoral race yesterday at the Republican Party Town Committee meeting.
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.
