Get involved and make a difference.

The city is short 12 to 18 volunteers on its boards and commissions.
“Volunteers are an important part of local government,” Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said. “We need to fill vacancies.”
Every few years, as people move and retire and resign, the city notices it needs more volunteers, and the city noticed the problem this month.
To volunteer, a person must be 18 years old, a registered voter, and interested in working on a board or commission.
To express an interest, send a letter to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, call his office at (203) 797-4511, or visit the city’s Web site at www.danbury-ct.gov.

I just don't know what to say about the Democrats in Danbury any longer.

It's obvious that there needs to be new blood in the Democratic Town Committee as well as new leadership. Simply put, the party is a mess, disorganized, and simply lack vision.

Many Democratic voters I've talked to told me that they didn't come out to vote simply because they didn't know ANYTHING about Dean Esposito or what the Democratic party stood on many issues and I have to say that I don't blame them. The party was so disorganized that they simply couldn't get their act together (wonder why Lori Kaback won, it's because she did her own thing and didn't work with the Democratic Town Committee which in retrospect, was a good thing).

And don’t give me the old line that Democrats picked up seats on the Common Council because it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have the top job. Those Democrats will say “yea” to the Republican’s agenda (well, maybe not Lynn Taborsak but most will follow the Republican’s gamebook). If you think I’m kidding, all you need to do is click on the Common Council’s minutes and take a look for yourself.

But the election was in the past and this is a new year so we should start the year thinking about the future.

The only thing is that the Democrats are still doing the same silly stuff they have done in the past (and I'm not even going to bring up the backstabbing and the in-fighting which is simply disgusting).

The Democratic Town Committee is hosting a forum on overdevelopment and you wouldn't believe who's the guest speaker...Neil Marcus.

NEIL MARCUS!!!!

If anyone has sold out the city of Danbury, it would be this lawyer (who happens to represent the same developers who are building stuff all around the area). If you want to hold someone responsible for the overdevelopment of this city, you can start with this guy.

I simply don't know what the Democrats are thinking, and it seems like the News-Times feels the same way.

Danbury Democratic leaders are out of power and out of sorts. How else to explain a forum they plan with Neil Marcus as the guest speaker?

Marcus is an attorney and good at his job. But he represents developers; developers who are mostly interested in squeezing Danbury and every other community for whatever they can get.

Nevertheless, Democratic leaders have organized "Who Sold Out Danbury's Residential Neighborhoods?" and invited Marcus to speak.

Sounds like a joke, but it isn't.

Apparently Marcus is going to hold forth at the Jan. 19 forum on how he does what he does to municipalities and neighborhoods.

According to Common Council member Lynn Taborsak, a Democrat, "This is literally like talking to the devil incarnate."

Showcasing the "devil incarnate" may sound exciting to Taborsak and Democratic Town Committee Chairman Bernie Gallo, but it's not leadership.

Development is a serious issue. To be seen as leaders, Danbury Democrats need to discuss serious issues in a serious manner:

-Hold the forum in a public meeting room where the general public feels welcome, rather than the town committee's storefront on Main Street.

-Invite speakers who are not the "devil incarnate" but actually working to promote what's best for Danbury.

-Come up with an agenda that is something more than a campaign slogan.

If Democrats want to regain voter confidence in Danbury, they need to do better than this evening with the "devil incarnate."

I'll go one further, hold the current leadership and memebers accountable for their lack of working together which cost them the last election and demand new leaders to run the party. After losing three elections (the last one being a complete joke), it's obvious that it's time for some new blood. The only question now is who's going to step up to the plate.

Now this is an great analysis of the stupid anti-immigrant protest held by Connecticut's favorite hate-group the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control (CTCIC) last Saturday at Kennedy Park.

Why did it take a columnist from Hartford to accurately write the tone of this silly and senseless event?

From the Hartford Courant

Day One of the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control's call to crack down on employers hiring undocumented day laborers, and all is quiet at Danbury's Kennedy Park.

Pito arrives first, bundled against the predawn cold in a thrift-store parka.

A few minutes later Juan walks up with a smile that defies the cold and the unkind hour.

They knew even then, just past 5:30 Monday morning, that the prospects for a day laborer weren't good. Not because of the protest that took place in the park Saturday, but because there's never much work when the weather's cold - unless, of course, it's snowing and people need workers to shovel.

But they came anyway, hoping that talk of police arresting day laborers and employers was just a rumor. By daybreak, dozens of men were competing for one job, rushing a prospective employer's car as if it were the last lifeboat on a sinking ship.Work is the reason they are all here. It's why Juan and Pito made the long and dangerous trek from Ecuador, Juan a year ago and Pito just two months ago. "We walked, we ran, we prayed," Juan said. And so, better to be out looking for work, elusive as it often is, then home watching TV.

[...]

Usually the men come to the park during the week, but Juan came out Saturday to watch the protest arranged by CCIC's Paul Streitz. The so-called "Stop the Invasion" protests were organized in 19 states, but attendance by opponents of illegal immigration was sparse. About 50 showed up in Danbury.

It wasn't the first time he'd heard the anti-immigrant rants. But he got a kick out of the folks who came out in support of the immigrants; must be nice to be able to speak out without fear, he said. And he had to laugh at the talk of immigrants taking jobs from Americans. Never once has he competed against an Americano for a job. Would they really want this one, he asks?

[...]

What kind of people would we be if we turned away a newcomer? Juan asks.

Oh, that's an easy one, Juan - people like Streitz and his followers, whose ignorant rhetoric has the fortunate effect of turning off just about everyone. Even Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, whose call for state police to enforce immigration law in his town stirred controversy last year, seems to be finding CCIC hard to stomach.

"I think there is an element out there that can be racist in tone, that can project the very worst in human nature," Boughton told WTNH-TV about Saturday's rally. "I think that there are people that are involved in this particular rally that are doing that."

What they aren't doing is stopping the supply or demand of jobs that the men gather for. By 7 a.m., the two men are joined by 20 more. An hour later, the number doubles. When a truck pulls up, its driver holding up one finger, a crowd of men push to make it into the passenger seat. And even after some start shouting that the man doesn't pay - Juan worked 16 hours for him once and got only $50 - more than a few fight to get picked.

Not an Americano among them.

Now this WAS the tone of the event and Helen Ubiñas nailed it in her piece. You see, the majority of Danbury residents ignored this racist hate rally and the people who were quoted in the other newspapers who supported the CTCIC wackos were either CTCIC members themselves, or people who DIDN'T even live in Danbury (the best the Danbury News-Times could do was quote a 19 year old brat who's barely able vote and smoke cigarettes...and also NOT from Danbury).

Ubiñas was smart enough to give you the real the story because she did what no one else cared to do...get the viewpoint of the people MOST effected by this hate-speech...the immigrants and day-laborers themselves.

Newsflash CTCIC members: not ALL day laborers are illegal (that goes for people who work at McDonalds, or what you describe as MexDonalds). No one in Danbury is buying you line of garbage but the wackos whose grandparents would be the ones with the white hoods.

Hopefully there will be more columns and articles like Ubiñas’ which not only exposes the stupidity of the CTCIC, but the ridiculousness of the whole issue regarding illegal immigration in Connecticut which unfortunately has been blown out of proportion.

After all the concern, he only gets one year.

From the News Times

A 21-year-old amateur Bethel pilot who took two friends on a drunken joy ride in a plane stolen from Danbury Municipal Airport accepted blame in a plea deal calling for one year in prison.

Philippe Patricio of Payne Road, Bethel, pleaded guilty Monday in Westchester County Court during an appearance with his attorney, Ed Camacho.

Camacho said Patricio is glad to have the case resolved — at least the New York part of the case. Patricio is still facing charges in Connecticut in connection with his drunken flying caper.

Patricio has been in prison since his June 22, 2005, arrest for allegedly stealing a small plane from the airport. Two teenage friends were passengers during the ride, which lasted several hours, authorities said.

Patricio, who does not have a pilot's license, is said to have sneaked into the airport with his friends and flew the plane he took before landing at Westchester County Airport, which was closed at the time.

At his March 8 sentencing, Patricio could get up to one year in prison, said Camacho, who plans to ask Judge Rory Bellantoni to sentence Patricio to time served, which means Patricio would finish his term that day.

When his New York sentence is finished, he will remain in custody while he is transported to Danbury Superior Court for an arraignment on the charges he is facing in Connecticut. At that point, a judge will set bail.

If Patricio is able to post the amount, he will be released from custody pending the outcome of the Connecticut case.

So lets see, you break into an airport (exposing the lack of security at the facility) fly around drunk in the dark, could of crashed into a number of houses, and scared the living hell out of everyone in the area. For all of theis, not only is he sentanced for only a year in jail in New York, he'll probably get out on time served and also be able to post his bail in Connecticut and be released pending trial.

If he lucky, he can get this all done before happy-hour.

Ah, it's the day after the silly rally and I have to say that the newspapers did a good job in their reporting although I think the Danbury News-Times and the New Haven Register tried to be even-handed in their quotes from the protestors and counter-protestors.

You see, this really wasn't a protest but rather a publicity stunt by a bunch of extremists who would rather ALL immigrant to leave the area, not just the ones here illegally. Nobody who lived in Danbury and wasn't a member of the CTCIC came to show their support while many people from the area show their support for the counter-protestors. I walked around the area surrounding Kennedy park and honestly couldn't find one person off the street who supported Paul Streitz and his whackpack.

Now first, lets read the story as reported by The Hartford Courant (which personally, I think is the most accurate):

From the Hartford Courant

DANBURY -- Small groups of protesters rallied nationwide Saturday against illegal immigration and lax border security, demanding the government penalize employers who hire illegal workers.

The so-called "Stop the Invasion" protests were organized in 19 states, but in several cities only a smattering of opponents of illegal immigration turned out.

[...]

In Danbury, Conn., about 50 people calling themselves the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control spent about two hours chanting and holding signs that read "Arrest Illegal Employers."

Paul Streitz, who organized the demonstrations, said members believe illegal immigrants are taking jobs from citizens while driving down property values.

"This is not a racist thing," said Daniel Anastasia, 46, a construction worker from Westchester, N.Y. "We pay taxes, they don't. I get paid what the union says. The contractor pays them cash. It's not fair to me."

From the New Haven Register:

An anti-illegal immigrant group staged a "Stop the Invasion" protest in a city park Saturday, squaring off against counterprotesters as each side shouted slogans and waved signs.

The rally by about 50 members and supporters of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control (CTCIC) was part of a coordinated protest done in 20 states by 37 immigration control groups.

[...]

"What is going on every day here at Kennedy Park is a criminal activity," said Streitz. "The illegals are criminals by being here and people who employ them are criminal as well, that’s against federal law. Political polls show that in general, people want the illegals out and they should be deported. The illegals to me are not doing something immoral; it’s just that our government doesn’t enforce the laws."

Christopher Towne, a member of Danbury’s Peace Coalition, participated in the counter-demonstration.

"We want to support them. They are our neighbors, they’re our friends," he said.

He said the CTCIC’s efforts are "Not going to fly. It’s not going to be fruitful, because if you don’t have the people’s support it’s not going to happen."

Now the News-Times:

About 100 people stood on either side of Kennedy Avenue on Saturday morning, police officers and barricades dividing them.

On one side, a protest group held signs reading, "Speak English," and "Arrest Criminal Employers."

Made up of state immigration control groups, including the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control (CTCIC), the group wants the government and city to do a better job enforcing immigration laws to rid the city of illegal immigrants who the group says put a strain on the economy.

On the other side of Kennedy Avenue, people protesting the protesters held signs bearing phrases like "Igualdad Justicia," which means "Justice and Equality."

Some belonging to the Danbury Peace Coalition and Latinos United In Action, they wanted to express that all people deserve the opportunity to live and work in the United States.

[...]

In the last year, immigration issues have heated up in Danbury, with Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton deputizing police officers in April 2005 as immigration officers. That same month, the CTCIC held a meeting in Danbury, using the city as an example of a place where immigration laws were not enforced.

"I am here as an American, not as a racist," said 19-year-old Geoff Caravella of Bethel. "This is not a racial matter."

If immigrants are allowed to be here illegally and not pay taxes, what is the incentive for them to become legal? he asked.

"No one is taking away the fact they are hard working people. Immigrants just need to do it legitimately," said Caravella, a college student, who said he worked with immigrants before.

A 20-year-old man speaking Spanish, who would only give his first name, Euclides, said, "We are here to work. We are not terrorists. I am here out of necessity of my family."

[...]

The father who has two kids and a wife in Ecuador, came to the U.S. in 2005 with his brothers, ages 17 and 19. They get jobs doing everything from landscaping and construction to cleaning.

"I am offended because we are human beings just like they are," Euclides said. "As human beings, we all fundamentally seek a better life."

Now, you can go and read all of the articles if you wish but like I said before, no one that I can tell from Danbury WHO WASN"T ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE CTCIC showed up to give their support to the protestors.

A 19-year old kid is talking about immigration laws? Is that the best the News-Times could do in getting a quote from someone locally? Although the News-Times reporter got a quote from a immigrant in Danbury, you would think that someone representing the city's newspaper would be able to get more viewpoints from immigrants in the area, and less viewpoints from protestors who are barely able to vote (the first question the reporter should of asked the little Bethel boy was if he is registered to vote or if any of his family members are a member of the CTCIC). Since she is working for the News-Times, she should have an advantage in reporting the news over the guys at the Register and the Courant.

Like I said in my earlier posts, this event was a joke and a waste of time. The pictures in the News-Times don't really give portray the rally as it really went down and I encourage you to take a look at the video I shot and come to your own conclusion. I think in the end, you'll agree with the viewpoint of The Hartford Courant than the other dailys because this was a “so-called” event.