Nancy Johnson strikes out

Saturday, June 10, 2006
Time: 10:27 PM

She's no batter, she's no batter...SSSWWIINNNGG batter!

Dan Malloy's night in Danbury


Time: 1:02 PM


On Thursday night, I had the opportunity to meet Dan Malloy and his supporters as he opened his first regional office at Democratic Headquarters on 161 Main Street in Danbury.

An impressive crowd of approximately 60-70 from Danbury and the surrounding area stopped by and offered their support for the endorsed candidate of the Democratic Party for Governor. Malloy returned the favor by delivering an inspiration speech and reinforcing his belief that he has what it takes to beat New Haven Mayor John DeStefano in the Democratic primary in August and defeating Governor Rell in the general election in November.

As many recall, Danbury was on of the cities in Connecticut that help give Malloy the victory over DeStefano at the State Convention last month so it wasn't ironic that Malloy opened his first of many offices in Hat City. Also, given the fact that Danbury is one of the largest cities in lower Fairfield County and that the Democratic Headquarters in Danbury is open year round, it was a smart move for Malloy's campaign to step up shop in the area.

Although Malloy won the nomination, he still has his work cut out for himself against DeStefano and Rell. According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, Gov. Rell leads Malloy 65 to 22 percent. Also, according to the poll, if the primary was held today, Malloy would lose to DeStefano 46 percent to 35 percent. The most telling part of the poll is the number of undecided voters or people who don’t know enough about Malloy to offer an opinion. When asked to offer an opinion of Malloy, 79 percent of the people polled haven’t heard enough of him. If Malloy is to gain ground on Rell, it is critical for him to bring these numbers down which is his goal as we head into the summer.

While attending the grand opening, I was able to get some comments from supporters of Malloy including 5th District Director Joelle Schmitz, Danbury State Represenative and Deputy Speaker Bob Godfrey, and Danbury Democratic Town Committee Chairman Joe DaSilva (pictured left to right). I was able to bring back for you readers an inside view of Malloy's big night, comments from Malloy's supporters, and an interview with the man of the night, Dan Malloy himself.

You can view photos from the event by clicking here.

NOTE: These video file aren't small so do bother attempting to view them if you're not on a broadband connection. Also, if you're experiencing playback problems, pause the video and allow your computer some time to upload the file. Enjoy.

Video clip 1: Voters, volunteers, and local political leaders offer their viewpoint regarding Dan Malloy the man, and his crusade to defeat Gov. Rell.

Video clip 2: Highlights of Malloy's speech to his supporters and my one on one interview.

UPDATE: As a note, I do not (and will not) endorse Malloy or DeStefano and this post should not be seen as an endorsement but more of a inside look into a campaign and view from people who support a particluar candidate. I've always given these two candidates equal time as I think it's important for undecided voters to learn more about these two guys. I just happened to do Malloy first since he was in the area.

Rest assusred that I will be doing a piece on DeStefano (with all the trimmings) in the very near future.

In jail without the bail


Time: 9:52 AM

Disgraced.
Danbury trash kingpin James Galante lost control of his empire Friday as FBI agents took him into custody at his White Street garbage plant as part of a breathtakingly broad investigation into the garbage-hauling industry's ties to organized crime.

Galante was charged with 72 counts of racketeering, extortion and witness tampering, among other charges. He was one of 29 people indicted, including an alleged mob leader, a former Waterbury mayor, a state trooper, a Drug Enforcement Agency official and a former hockey coach.

"Organized crime's stranglehold on the citizens of Connecticut through its control of the trash industry has been broken," said Kimberly Mertz, the state's top FBI agent.

The racketeering charges against Galante, owner of Automated Waste Disposal of Danbury, included acts of violence, threats of violence, extortion, bribery and tax evasion. Several of the charges carry 20-year prison sentences and fines of up to $250,000.
And it doesn't stop there. It seems like the hockey team is skating on thin ice as well.
James Galante's dream team, the Danbury Trashers, found itself skating on thin ice Friday with allegations that several of the hockey players and their wives were made part of a plan to defraud the United Hockey League.

Although the families were not identified in the federal indictments, investigators said Galante paid certain players and their spouses with trash company checks, even though they did not work for any of his trash businesses.

Investigators said Galante's overall scheme was designed to circumvent the United Hockey League's salary cap.

According to the indictments, five hockey players and their spouses were added to the payrolls of the various companies owned by Galante, even though the players were receiving regular salaries from the Trashers' team account.

The team's former coach, J. Todd Stirling, was also one of the 29 people charged in the investigation.

One player during the 2004-05 season was allegedly added to the books as a "salesman" for Diversified Waste Disposal and given a DWD check at the end of the month, as well as one from the hockey team.

In 2004, the wife of another hockey player was added to the payroll of Automated Waste Disposal at a yearly salary of $74,000, even though she never worked there.
Who loses out in the end...those faithful Trasher fans.

One question you should ask yourself...how far up the foodchain will this story take us in Danbury?

Who else will be caught up in this net?

Did people turn a blind eye to the dealings of Galante?

That's an angle I'd like the newspaper to examine...or maybe I'll just do it myself.

Malloy open shop in Danbury

Friday, June 09, 2006
Time: 10:04 AM



Dan Malloy opened his office in Danbury Thursday night and I'll have the full rundown of the big event (inc;luding video highlights) later today.

Arrested


Time: 9:49 AM

You knew this day would come...
Danbury businessman James Galante and several employees of his trash hauling company were arrested Friday morning as part of the federal investigation into organized crime and the region's trash hauling industry.

Galante was to be brought to U.S. District Court for arraignment.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office, Tom Carson, confirmed Galante's arrest.

Galante was arrested at his Danbury trash hauling company, Automated Waste Disposal, according to his attorney, Hugh Keefe.

"It was fully expected. This particular date was not, but the next issue now is his release. I expect they will seek detention," Keefe said.

H. James Pickerstein, the attorney for Galante's businesses, confirmed that several employees were also arrested with Galante.

"I'm told it's a 111 page indictment that is under seal and I have not seen it," Pickerstein said.

Nancy caught red-handed again

Thursday, June 08, 2006
Time: 1:51 PM

Oh Nancy, shame on you!

Pascarella profile featured in News-Times

Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Time: 11:54 AM

Eileen FitzGerald does an excellent job in her reporting of the Board of Education's pick for School Superintendent. It's very detailed and worth a read.

I still don't know why the News-Times couldn't do a quick announcement of this imporant decision in their news alert yesterday but...

UPDATE: Now that's better. The News-Times made Eileen's article their TOP STORY on their website.

Attaboy!

BREAKING NEWS: Board of Ed. pick Dr. Pascarella as their choice for School Superintendent

Monday, June 05, 2006
Time: 5:17 PM

The search seems to be over.

From Board of Education Press Release:
The Danbury Board of Education has identified Dr. Sal V. Pascarella as the candidate of choice for Superintendent of Schools. "Our board has worked very hard in meeting and interviewing excellent candidates. The final phase will include a site visit to Dr. Pascarella’s current district," said Chair Joan Hodge. "In addition, Dr. Pascarella will spend a day in Danbury meeting with administrators, faculty, staff and students."

Dr. Pascarella brings extensive educational leadership and experience to this position. He is currently Superintendent of Schools in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. During the past thirteen years, he has helped create a high energy, team-oriented atmosphere where students, parents, teachers, school board members and the community join together and work toward academic excellence. In 2006, Old Saybrook Schools was the recipient of the prestigious National Civic Star Award for Connecticut in recognition for excellence in establishing school and community partnerships that encourage student achievement and academics. Under Dr. Pascarella’s stewardship, the Old Saybrook School District has been recognized for an award winning National Blue Ribbon School and for its students consistently achieving academically above their state and national comparators.

Prior to Old Saybrook, Dr. Pascarella was Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and the Building Principal of Evanston Township High School, in Evanston, Illinois. During his tenure there, he acted as curricula planner and advisor to the Evanston elementary schools, a multi-ethnic system with eight schools and 7,500 students. He also helped institute the World of Difference Program, a social responsibility curriculum to reduce prejudice through exploration of strategies which enhance the ability of students to cultivate an appreciation of diversity. He received national recognition from the College Board for the leadership and vision for developing S.T.A.E. (Steps Toward Academic Excellence), a comprehensive program to identify marginal students which resulted in increased numbers of honors class participants.

Prior to Evanston, Dr. Pascarella was principal of Jack Benny Middle School in Waukegan Illinois. He began his career as a middle school teacher and instruction team leader in Long Grove, Illinois.

Dr. Pascarella received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lea College and his Masters and Doctorate of Education degrees from Loyola University in Chicago. He has participated in post-doctoral studies at Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, MA and the University of Oxford in England. He is currently an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University in the Educational Leadership Department.
Hat City Blog will bring you more information on this developing story soon.

UPDATE 6:00 P.M.:
It seems like the News-Times is more interested in updating us on such critical hard-hitting stories such as the condition of a pitbull dog and the latest drama surrounding rap idiot DMX than this HUGE story.

Remember where you heard this story from first...

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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