The debate regarding the parade ordinance continues...

The details surrounding Mayor Boughton's parade ordinance has been surrounded in controversy since day one and things are not getting any better.

The ordinance has been sold to the public as a means to control immigrants who spontaneously celebrated during the World Cup games of last year BUT the ordinance will WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON the spontaneous games and WILL have more far-reaching powers that goes beyond the original purpose of the ordinance.

During the May's common council meeting, Mayor Boughton pulled every political move out of his bag of tricks to ram his parade ordinance down the throats of the people. Acting as an individual who knows more about what's right for our city than the elected common council officials we voted into office to represent the interest of our community, twice Mayor Boughton stubbornly placed the will of the Common Council under the bus in order to force a vote on his "so-called" parade ordinance (this after the bi-partisan council majority voted two times either 1.) send the ordinance back to committee; or 2.) amend the ordinance a vote of 10-9.

For those who weren't able to see democracy get tossed out the window, here's video highlights of the debate. Pay particular attention to Democratic minority leader Tom Saadi as he carefully outlines the various problems with the ordinance, offers his amendment to fix the problems, the bi-partisan support Saadi receives from the hardened supporters of the ordinance, the bi-partisan approval from the majority of the council to 1.) send the ordinance back to committee; and 2.) approve Saadi's amendment, and the mayor stepping in and disregarding the will of the Legislative branch of Danbury.

For reference, here's the first TWO SENTENCES from city charter outlining the Mayor's powers in the common council (Section 3-2).

Section 3-2 PRESIDING OFFICER.

With the Mayor presiding, the Common Council shall meet at eight o’clock p.m. on the third Monday in November, 1977, for the purposes of organization, and biennially thereafter, and shall choose one of its members to be President of said Common Council. The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the Common Council and shall have no vote except in the case of a tie.

PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT a former State Rep and three-term mayor who continues to to tell the public that his ordinance can be used as a tool against immigrants who spontaneously celebrate (although EVERYONE his own Corporation Council said THAT YOU CAN NOT MAKE A LAW THAT INHIBITS SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS), somehow couldn't remember these FIRST TWO SENTENCES which clearly outlined what he can or can not do when it was clear that his ordinance was not going to pass "as-is."

After the meeting, the mayor acknowledges his mistake and offers that the entire ordinance come back for a vote in June. This is unacceptable simply because he shouldn't have voted in the first place and the bi-partisan majority made their point clear ON TWO OCCASIONS that the ordinance needs revision.

The Democratic caucus recently send a letter to Common Council President Joe Cavo demanding that the view of the majority of the Common Council be upheld and the parade ordinance be send back to committee for revision.

The Democrats are correct on this. The will of the Legislative branch of Danbury must be upheld against those who want to hi-jack democracy. In no way should this ordinance be brought back towards the council for another vote as it will only give more time for those who want this ordinance to pass to place pressure on those Republicans who voted on the side of the Democrats.

TELL COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOE CAVO RESPECT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL'S BI-PARTISAN VOTE AND SEND THE PARADE ORDINANCE BACK TO COMMITTEE FOR REIVEW.

Common Council President Joe Cavo:
Email: j.cavo@ci.danbury.ct.us

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