Wow, how time flies. I can't believe that it's been two years since I started this crazy thing. When I started this blog on this date in 2005, I had no idea that a little local blog would turn into a site where people around the world would come to visit. Heck, the only reason I started the site was because I was familiar with the local nonsense in Danbury but didn't want to fill up my first site, ConnecticutBLOG, with Danbury-related topics.
When this site started, it was a very basic site that used the same old, tired, boring Minima template that many old, tired, boring blogs still use today. I didn't put much energy into the site for the first year because my main interest was the war in Iraq and the corruption cases in Connecticut (e.g. Ernest Newton). As time passed, three things became apparent to me. 1.) There were a great deal of stories unfolding in Danbury that the local media was ignoring, 2.) No one was reporting on anything that was happening at City hall (meetings) and 3.) No one was holding any elected official accountable for their statements. After attending a town hall meeting and asking the mayor and chief of police TWO simple questions on immigration, hearing the mayor's response, and hearing the reaction from the audience who corrected him on some of his "facts", it became crystal clear to me that I needed to focus more of my attention on Danbury and with that, this site began to really take off.
After two years, I'm proud to say that the roles are reversed as ConnecticutBLOG is no longer my primary blog and I focus a great deal of my attention to this site as well as the community blog, My Left Nutmeg. Blogging isn't easy, in fact, it's pretty damn hard as you have to be on message with at least one post every single day and that is no easy task. With the advent of YouTube, the experience I acquired videotaping the Lamont/Lieberman race, and the encouragement of my readership, I've worked hard to bring to the nation's attention, the many issues happening in the area as well as the political theater of this little Connecticut city that often goes overlooked.
As we enter this second year, we're going to do a little more than cover silly politics as there is much more to Danbury than political gridlock, political incompetence, and narrow-minded anti-immigrant bigots who run around the area and act like they have no common sense. Danbury is a wonderful place to live that has a wonderful history and a great community and as time goes on, we're going to focus more on the things that make Danbury a great place to live.
NOW, that not to say that we're not going to keep our eye on the political ball, nor does it mean that we're not going to cover this campaign season in a way that never been seen before, it's just that there's a greater story in Danbury that needs to be told and it involves an ever changing community that has changed the landscape of the area that I remembered when I first set foot on Main Street twenty years ago. Be on the lookout for more interviews, stories on start-up businesses, festivals and local events that you've probably overlooked in the past. I'll debunk the belief from many that there isn't anything to do in Danbury these days...
Finally, as always, this site wouldn't be what it is without your readership and consistent encouragement and for that, I thank you.
With that, lets get back to the show!
(* Web Stats is not an exact science. A fairly large percentage of my readership view this site using a RSS reader which is not picked up with the stat counter. Because of this, the numbers on sitemeter are always going to be lower than the actual viewership by at least 25 percent).
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"
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.
Hey, is this mic still on?
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.
