Cha, cha, cha, cha changes!

Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Time: 1:52 PM

After much beta testing, I'm starting to revise the CSS code on this blog. You'll be seeing changes to the site that are long overdue. The long-awaited video section will be added to the site and you'll be able to watch every meeting I attend (I videotape everything).

Missed a Common Council meeting...have no fear, you can watch it here.

Want to see highlights of the local public access shows...walla, you can watch all the shows you missed.

If there is somehting you would like me to cover that I'm missing, please send me an email at hatcityblog@yahoo.com.

Believe me, things are going to heat up on this site this summer!

Hockey team on ice


Time: 1:45 PM

My heart goes out to all of those roudy, drunk, crazy, and great fans who came out game after game cheering on their team.

They're the real losers...
ess than a month after playing for the Colonial Cup championship, the Danbury Trashers have suspended operations for the 2006-07 season, the United Hockey League announced Monday night.

The move comes after Trashers owners James Galante was arrested by federal authorities last Friday on a 72-count indictment. Authorities have accused Galante of racketeering, extortion, witness tampering and circumventing the UHL's salary cap, among other charges.

"I was shocked to find out about an hour ago,'' Trashers forward Drew Omicioli said Monday night, shortly after 11 from his home in Rhode Island. "It's something that we knew could happen.

"Hopefully, it's one of those things where it could be settled for the following year. Like I said, I'm just pretty shocked, right now.''

Trashers president A.J. Galante, the son of James Galante, was unavailable for comment Monday night, but the team's Web site did have a brief message for fans and advertisers:

"Season ticket holders/advertisers – Please check the Web site soon for more information regarding season ticket deposit refunds, etc. – More information to follow very soon.''
Hey A.J, how about apoligizing to your fans stood by the team and sold out the arena during every home game.

Is an apology too much to ask?

Who's worse...

Monday, June 12, 2006
Time: 4:15 PM

James Galante or the people who turned a blind eye to his shady dealings?

Think about it.

Do you think no one in this city didn't know what Galante was up to?

Three small points:

1. The fact that Galante was allegedly associated with the mob was in the press for at least the last year.

2. Everyone knew about his monopoly on the trash business in the area.

3. How can anyone forget about Galante going after a hockey referee at a Trasher's game...that didn't seem strange or somewhat odd?

And this is just the stuff that was briefly reported on in the press. Since we know the News-Times isn't the greatest when it comes to actually reporting on the news that effects this area, think about all the crap that went on unreported in the press (and people gossip about in private).

Look, I'll make this real simple. You just know someone, somewhere knew something that the average Joe didn't know about the trash king and the people who know everything about everyone around town are no other than politicians and people the polticians talk to (trust me on this folks).

Was his arrest a big surprise to anyone...no. You don't have the feds crawling all over your back if you didn't do anything wrong and they've been looking into his trash business for at least the last year (if not longer).

Although Galante had a well-known dark-side, people still associated with him like it was no big deal. People were more than happy to take his money, name stuff after him, let him run a hockey team that screwed some of the most dedicated fans I've even seen.

If there was someone you should feel sorry for, it's those faithful fans who came out game after game to root for their favorite hockey team only to find out that they were taken for a ride. Those hard-working people who live paycheck to paycheck because the rent, taxes, and bills are so high it's not even funny...those people scrapped up enough cash and came out to a hockey game to have a great time and look what they get for their faithfulness and loyality. You know I love you fans as we've hung out on more than one night (and all of you guys are crazy) but don't count on a third season of Trasher hockey in Hat City...it's over and I'm just as sad as you are right now which is why I want some answers.

What about the people who were screwed out of their money by being forced to pay high prices for their trash removal. Where was the outrage when Galante gobbled up all the trash businesses while making it look like there was some type of market by using different trash company names....

Oh, there is so much more to talk about regarding this case, Galante, and the people who were gald to take his cash and services. This goes deeper than Galante and those individuals have some explaining to do.

AND spare me the innocent till proven guilty line. If I hear someone say that, I'm laughing straight in their face.

We were all screwed and we should demand answers as Galante's scheme went on for a long time without anyone raising a red flag. The more I follow the money trail, the more pissed off I become and hopefully, everyone will be just as upset as I am right now.

What's happening this week


Time: 12:49 PM

Trying something new here...

This is a small list of things happening in the city this week.

Monday (6/12):
Democratic Town Committee meeting 7:30 p.m. @ Democratic Headquarters

Tuesday (6/13):
Commission on Persons with Disabilities. 6:30 p.m. City Hall 3rd floor.

Zoning Commission meeting. 7:30 p.m. City Hall 3rd floor.

Wednesday (6/14):
Civil Service Commission Meeting. 6:00 p.m. City Hall (I could be wrong on the time. I'll have to verify).

Environmental Impact Commission. 7:00 p.m. City Hall.

Board of Education meeting. 7:30 p.m. Administrative Center, 63 Beaver Brook Road (click here for .pdf file of the agenda)

Thursday (6/15):
Lake Kenosia Commission Meeting. 5:30 p.m. City Hall (Caucus Room, 3rd floor)

Fair Rent Commission. 7:00 p.m. City Hall.

Danbury Railway Museum presents Jeep Lovers: Stop by and check out antique Jeeps (I mess my old Jeep Cherokee). Click here for more info.

Friday (6/16):

Saturday (6/17):
The Danbury Railroad Museum presents "The Little Engine That Could" Rail Tour. Click here for more info.

Also, go check out a baseball game and support the Danbury Westerners. They're playing a bunch of games so try to make it to one game and cheer these guys on.

Now, I know this list is far from complete so, if you have anything you would like for me to add, please send me an email at hatcityblog@yahoo.com (or add your events in the comments section of this post). I'll update this list throughout the week so check back often.

Lamont invades Hat City

Sunday, June 11, 2006
Time: 12:31 PM

Look who came down to my neck of the woods.

Ned Lamont came to the Greek festival in Danbury on Saturday to get a taste of the Greek experience.

CTBob and yours truly were on hand and caught up with Lamont and asked him a few questions regarding his campaign and his crusade to unseat George Bush's favorite Democrat.

Here's the interview (good grief, I think I'm turning into an online reporter). Hat's off to CTBob, that man knows video!

NOTE: I will post my full report on my day at the Greek festival very soon.


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INDEPENDENT PARTY OF DANBNRY
DATABASE COMING SOON


“Facebook”“Twitter”“Email”

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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