The Fred Lucas bashing continues

Friday, January 27, 2006
Time: 10:04 AM

This guy is having a tough week as the bloggers are ripping apart over his "puff" piece on the Congressional races.

From My Left Nutmeg
Fred Lucas in the Danbury News-Times, under the headline "Congressional scandal makes incumbents vulnerable," writes an article about how there's really no reason to be mad at the likes of Johnson, Shays, and Simmons and how Democratic efforts will most likely fail.

First of all (according to Lucas) these aren't really Republicans.

But it may be tough to paint all Republicans with the same brush in Connecticut.

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4th Dist., was the first House Republican to call on DeLay to resign as House majority leader in April – well before the leader was indicted by a Texas grand jury for money laundering and violating campaign finance laws.

Aha! So, for Lucas, managing a PR disaster by getting an equally corrupt but less obviously corrupt Roy Blunt into the leadership position passes for high moral principle.

The article goes on in a similar vein. Read it if you wish. Lucas' email address is at the end of the article, if you want to bitch.

If you're as upset as most bloggers are about this story, send Lucas an email and let him know about it (be polite).

Funny parody on anti-immigrant group and rally

Thursday, January 26, 2006
Time: 1:45 PM

Although they used my photo in the article (hat tip to Bruce Wingate), this is not a shameless plug; it's a pretty good (and funny) article.

Give it a read.

Bloggers rip into Fred Lucas "puff" story


Time: 11:55 AM

Oh my!

One of the problems in western Connecticut that doesn't get much attention is the weak coverage of national politics. There are alot of reasons for this, but the basic one seems to be economic - they just don't make money doing it.

Case in point - today's puff piece in the Danbury News-Times on the Congressional races.

This sort of regurgitation of political spin does more harm than good. It does a disservice to the News-Times' readership and the community it serves, because it functions as an echo chamber for the carefully crafted, focus-group tested sound bytes and phony publicity stunts that political candidates and their handlers cynically substitute for real discussion of the policies they are deploying and whose interests they are serving.

Johnson is very close to the leadership team of DeLay and Blunt.That "petition" for "new leadership" was nothing but a publicity stunt, and everybody who is paying attention knew it. They were trying to spin the thing, when all that is really happening is a turnover to a top lieutenant, forced upon them by legal proceedings in Texas and the Congressional Democrats' increasingly effective campaign to raise the issue of Republican dishonesty and corruption nationally.

You'd think the News-Times and Lucas would have enough professional pride to either do real journalism on what is going on Washington, or stick to local news.

The News-Times needs to do a better job when covering the Congressional races and not fall into this type of reporting.

1. Shay's comment about Roy Blunt is so out-of touch with reality that it should of been challenged (anyone who knows national politics knows that Blunt is just as corrupt as Delay and has a paper trail to back up that claim).

2. Nancy Johnson and Tom Delay's close relationship goes back many years as well (I don't have enough time to go into this topic at this time but their history is just a google search away). Why did the News-Times fail to mention in the article about Johnson's free trip she took with her husband to Ecuador (at the expense of The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation organization which receives federal funding). This issue was a hot topic in the media when it first surfaced but it was no follow-up story and the case disappeared.

From the October 12 post:
Johnson's trip also sparked criticism from Washington watchdogs. William Allison, editor-at-large at Washington's Center for Public Integrity, which studies congressional travel, had questions about the Nature Conservancy's sponsorship.

He asked why an agency that relies on money from the U.S. Agency for International Development, or AID, would take Johnson and three other House members on such a trip.

"I know money is fungible, but the Nature Conservancy gets federal money, so the question is whether taxpayer money is funneled through them for lobbying," Allison said.

BRT meeting feedback

Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Time: 10:20 PM

If anyone attended the BRT public forum regarding the construction of the Kennedy Park complex last week at City Hall, please (PLEASE) shoot me an email ASAP.

I need to talk to you.

Good sushi, bad owners, shameless mayor

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Time: 5:38 PM

Surprise, surprise.

Seems like the owners of new sushi bar Ichiro Restaurant have some explaining to do.

From the News-Times
There were 11 bedrooms in a space designed for three. There were 29 beds all told on just one side of the two-story duplex, city officials said.

For months, city inspectors have been cracking down on dangerous illegal apartment houses. Over the weekend, they found one of the more extreme examples.

Only this one had a twist.

Many illegal apartments are filled with undocumented immigrants, but the residents of the Thorpe Street duplex were of Asian, not Hispanic, ethnicity.

The house was purchased by the owners of the Ichiro Hibachi and Sushi Bar on Newtown Road, which opened in April. They turned one of the two apartments into a residence for restaurant workers. Now the restaurant's two partners are in hot water.

City inspectors entered the boarding house Saturday afternoon, with the permission of a man who answered the door. Officials described the renovated interior as resembling a dormitory or military barracks.

The inside rooms were neat and sparse – simply a series of bunk beds with little else, officials said. However, the city inspectors described it as one of the biggest fire traps they have seen.

The kitchen had been torn out and replaced with a bedroom. There were bedrooms in the attic as well. The heating system was jerry-rigged and bedrooms had too few escape routes, officials said.


You know that the wackos in the area were hoping that the place was housed by Latinos instead of Asians.

The funny thing is that this illegal apartments are nothing new to the area. Landlords have been getting away with this stuff for years and the city has not been togh enough of them. Now with illegal immigration being the so-called "hot" topic in the city, Mayor Boughton is acting like he's talking tough on landlords by linking illegal immigration and human trafficking to this particular situation (oh, did I mention that illegal apartments have been a problem in Danbury for YEARS before illegal immigration WAS an issue).

"We know that often in situations like this the food service industry is involved with human trafficking," Boughton said, referring to the practice of bringing immigrants into the country to provide cheap labor. "If you have a single-family house with 29 beds, there is obviously something going on. We will refer this to the proper federal authorities."

When reached at the restaurant Monday, David Pan said the workers are legal residents of the United States. "They all have documentation. They are all legal residents.

"Some of them are my friends. Some of them are my relatives. This a family business."


This is just nonsense, Boughton is playing his anti-immigration card (although subtle) with a situation where there is NO evidence that any of the people are illegal. Don't get me wrong, having a illegal house is a bad thing but connecting this case to the overall theme of illegal immigration is not only a political stunt and dishonest, but also shameless.

For years illegal apartments has been a major concern that the city never properly addressed probably because of the influencve some landlords have in city government (you know who they are). Funny how the city never tackled this issue or even really mention it to this day.

Seriously tackling illegal apartments is not something high on the priority list in this area or else something would of been done about it years ago (anyone who lived here during the late 80s and 90 know about complains about illegal apartments being occupied by Asians). Nothing will come of out of this situation than a fine and just like the countless other illegal homes in the area, they'll be back in business in no time.

Will Boughton's hubris be his downfall

Sunday, January 22, 2006
Time: 11:31 AM

Mayor Boughton's arrogance and hubris seems to have gotten him into some serious trouble. If what is said in this letter is correct, the mayor might have a very serious legal problem on his hands (especially if their was a cover-up with the recorded minutes).

From Sunday's News-Times
I would like to address a Jan. 12 article in which Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton claims I am being "disingenuous." How convenient.

In this one article, Mayor Boughton blatantly tells untruths on at least three separate occasions.

Boughton claims: "At the time of the caucus, he was driving around with a rat painted on the side of his car." My truck was not lettered until three weeks after the Republican Common Council caucus in question.

He then claims that my "name came up" at the caucus and that he made an "off-hand remark about people being involved in the rat episode who have a personnel file an inch thick." It was the mayor who brought up my name and that of another Danbury police officer.

This is proven by the fact that the inflatable rat used in police union demonstrations did not appear until the night of Tuesday, Oct. 4, at a Common Council meeting - the day after the caucus meeting.

Lastly, the mayor said he did nothing wrong and the reference to my personnel file was made "in passing" and that personnel records of city workers can be disclosed under FOI regulations.

That represents a total misstatement on the part of the mayor. FOI regulations state if someone requests a personnel file, they have to articulate a valid reason for the request and then the employee has the absolute right to seek a denial of the request.

By disclosing my personnel file, even "in passing," he violated my rights under FOI.

No surprise here. The mayor's arrogance and cavalier attitude are on display daily and are compounded by the majority of Republican and Boughton administration lackeys who do not have the integrity to tell the truth or perform their sworn duties.

Mayor Boughton, you have threatened my livelihood and that of my family. You have overstepped your bounds.

This letter was written by Karl Murphy, the police officer who was behind the infamous infatable rat that was on display across the street from city hall.

Is a stated before, the police union contract dispute is the one thing that could (and will) hurt the mayor. He has let this issue go on for far too long and just like the Democrats in-fighting, this issue is quickly coming to a boiling point where we now have a situation where the mayor is talking about personal information to other Republicans during an open-session at City Hall.

If you haven't been up to speed in the war between the police department and the mayor's office, we'll give you the rundown later and explain why this situation can get out of control very quickly.

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

04.07.22 (PODCAST): (CEA)
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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


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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
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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