Look, I'm just a blog so I don't have the ability to reach a large audience (trust me, that will change very soon). The stonewalling of the mayor needs to addressed and although the News-Times did a couple of stories on the matter, we need to let them know that they need to stay on the story.

Here's a couple of questions that are still unanswered.

How did the cost of broadcasting meetings go from 60,000 to 90,000? Where did the Mayor get this figure from?

Why are there such a large number of ad-hoc committees in limbo (with some committees going back as far as May)?

Why did the mayor say the Democrats didn't bring up the matter of a review of how the city handle grants during the budget meetings when, according to minority leader Tom Saddi, the Democrats did bring it up the matter during that time period? Why was the item pulled from the agenda by the Republicans in August without discussion?

What exactly did Boughton say in Brazil? His blog offers no information regarding what he said and reads more like a "a day in the life" site.

How much did the city pay for his travel expenses? Where did these funds come from?

Is there a public need for a dog park? If broadcasting meetings is too expensive, why is the mayor proposing a dog park which, by his own estimate, will cost the taxpayers 15,000?

If the illegal immigrants are draining the city resources, why give the BRT developers a seven year tax abatement for the Kennedy park condo project. How much will the city lose in terms of the people who will occupy the complex and will receive the tax abatement for seven years (i.e., kids who will go to school, extra traffic, emergency services, etc).Why give the developers free sever hook-up rights? Shouldn't the same rule apply to those individuals who won't pay taxes for seven years since unlike illegal immigrants, they will not be renting but actually owning their real-estate?


These are fair questions and the public is only informed when the media pays attention.

Please call or email the management at the News-Times and encourage them to stay on the story.

* Jacqueline Smith Managing Editor/News (203) 731-3369 jsmith@newstimes.com

* Eric Conrad Editor (203) 731-3361 econrad@newstimes.com

* Mary Connolly Editorial Page Editor (203) 731-3362 mconnolly@newstimes.com

* Walt VanDusen Managing Editor/Prod. (203) 731-3363 wvandusen@newstimes.com

* Valerie Roth: Metro editor (203) 731-3370 vroth@newstimes.com

* Eugene Driscoll Online Editor (203) 731-3348 edriscoll@newstimes.com

There are more issues in Danbury besides illegal immigration and the longer the public is attention is diverted to this hot-button topic which is being fueled by angry minute section of the total population, the more questions go unanswered and more things will occur under the radar which will have an impact on the TOTAL population.

Even one phone call or email can make a difference...