Blog against Theocracy

Friday, April 06, 2007
Time: 10:37 PM






This site is a proud member of "Blog against Theocracy" and in honor of those political activists who feel that society should be based on religious beliefs (e.g. against administering the Plan B pill, against same-sex marriage), I offer you the following video from First Freedom First.


UPDATE: HatCityBLOG will be back on Monday. Have a great Easter weekend.

Common Council member Ted Cutsumpas resigns...


Time: 6:11 PM

...and takes a new role on Mayor Boughton's team.
Common Council member Ted Cutsumpas resigned his seat on the council Thursday and took a job as the city’s new Community Services Director.

The job in the mayor’s office is designed to help people in the community who have problems with the city.

The former director, Rich Antous, is now director of the city’s Unified Neighborhood Inspection Team. The UNIT works on improving neighborhoods by removing blight. Antous took the job in 2006.

[...]

Cutsumpas joined the council in 2005 to fill the unfinished term of Wanda Payton, who resigned. Cutsumpas started his new job on Thursday by learning about the city’s new 311 telephone system. The system gives people a place to call if they have a question about Danbury.
I still think after his long-winded reading of the budget report, "Open-Space" Cutsumpas could make more money by bottling his voice and selling it as a sleeping agent...maybe I'll call 311 and tell him about my idea.

In any case, this election season will be very interesting as Cutsumpas grabbed a good amount of votes during the 2005 election...
COUNCILMEN AT LARGE








Name Tot. 1st W 2nd W 3rd W 4th W 5th W 6th W 7th W Abs.
*Robert T. Riley (R) 5395 1009 524 1008 499 521 620 840 374
*Ted A. Cutsumpas (R) 5707 1051 572 1075 522 572 633 866 416
*Pauline Repko Basso (R) 6053 1131 600 1146 550 600 674 883 469
*Gregg W. Seabury (R) 6136 1129 629 1105 590 629 674 930 450
Shailesh Nagarsheth (R) 4975 1018 484 873 460 484 568 763 325
*Mary G. Saracino (R) 5438 1023 524 1037 501 524 606 802 421
*Colleen A. Stanley (R) 5487 1032 550 1014 500 550 638 804 399
Alfred E. Cipriani (D) N/A 834 676 972 667 676 675 755 319
Renata DaSilva Amaral(D) 4975 732 618 853 618 618 630 662 244
Sherri Neptune (D) 4960 711 616 851 597 616 630 684 255
Ingred A. Espinosa (D) 4884 687 575 845 733 575 632 639 198
*Lynn H. Taborsak (D) 6254 938 737 1179 711 737 726 862 364
Adolfo Pena (D) 4909 757 600 849 598 600 609 663 233
Patricia Matta-Wrobel (D) 4766 692 589 811 585 589 598 640 262
Richard J. Leinert (I) 215 23 23 33 27 23 28 33 25
Gary J. Driscoll (I) 457 63 38 87 50 38 51 71 59
John L. Dietter (I) 231 24 20 35 27 20 27 52 26
Margaret A. Dyer (I) 556 78 53 97 67 53 63 80 65
Kevin G. Nolan (I) 519 72 50 85 68 50 48 76 70
Marcia M. Ennis (I) 279 28 31 48 24 31 35 48 34

Cutsumpas seat could easily be in play if the Democrats put forward a strong Common Council candidate...

Holiday posts


Time: 5:40 PM

Here's what I have lined up for this weekend.

I'm still in the process of editing clips from Tuesday's ridiculous Common Council marathon. Seems like I bought some bad video tapes so some of the footage is all messed up and so I'm trying to clean up the video distortions. While you wait, feel free to check out the videos of interest selection as I'll be updating the list throughout the weekend.

As a sidenote, Helena Abrantes made her third appearance on Ivon Alclime's show "Ideas at Work and Beyond" and lets just say, this election won't be like 2005 (quick, who was the Democratic nominee). Lynn Taborsak took the gloves off and ripped Mayor Boughton's budget to shreds and joined the ever-growing list of politicians who criticized the mayor's early budget (and wait till you see video footage of Taborsak's remarks at Tuesday's meeting...OUCH).

Lastly, on a serious note, my daughter of four months did something so cool this week...after countless training by yours truly, CTLauryn held her bottle for the first time. I know, it sounds really lame but I'm really enjoying the whole father thing and I cherish every moment I have with the little one.

I can't wait to show her off at church on Sunday!

A sad day

Thursday, April 05, 2007
Time: 4:41 PM

As a big fan of the movie "A Christmas Story," this report breaks my heart.

BREAKING NEWS: Congressman Murphy announces his appointment as Chairman of Congressional Open Space Caucus


Time: 2:04 PM

This is great news for Danbury and the fifth district!
Today, Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) held a press conference to announce his appointment as Chairman of the Congressional Open Space Caucus, and update residents of the Fifth District on his work to protect the Farmington River and the Metacomet Monadnock Mattabesett (MMM) trail.

"I am thrilled to be taking a lead role on environmental and open space issues in Washington. Protecting the environment is why I became active in politics, and I am making protecting open space one of my top priorities in Congress," said Murphy.

As Chairman of the Congressional Open Space Caucus, Murphy will assist the House leadership in crafting legislation to protect open space across the country. Murphy sought out this position because he knows that protecting open space in the Fifth District is so important to his constituents. Since taking office, he has met with several organizations whose missions are to protect various trails, rivers, and scenic vistas in the District.

"I am committed to working with people in the Fifth District to protect the environmental character of our corner of Connecticut," said Murphy.
Not only do we have a Democratic State Rep who working to protect open space, NOW we a Congressman who's going to keep a VERY, VERY close eye on the open space issues in Danbury as well.

The people in the Terrywille area should be proud.

Here's a sample of some of items on Murphy's agenda.
In his first months in office, Murphy has begun to work with his Northeast Congressional delegation colleagues to ensure that the Partnership for Wild and Scenic Rivers program is adequately funded so that the Farmington River is protected. He is also working to ensure that the study designed to examine the extension of the Farmington River 's Wild and Scenic designation signed into law last year is adequately funded and implemented. The Farmington River provides the Hartford region with its drinking water, and it is the most fished river in the state, so its cleanliness is vital to the meet the needs of Connecticut residents.

Murphy has also signed on to legislation, HR 1528, the New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act, to extend and protect the MMM trail, which stretches 220 miles through Massachusetts and Connecticut , cutting through the Farmington Valley . Two million people live within ten miles of the trail and thousands of Connecticut residents enjoy the recreational opportunities provided by the trail.

"The Farmington River and the MMM trail are two of the unique assets that make Northwestern Connecticut so special. Without a proactive effort on the part of Congress to protect assets like these, we could threaten the unique character of Northwestern Connecticut ," said Murphy.

Finally, Murphy is also leading an effort to galvanize support among his freshman colleagues in the House of Representatives for legislation to address global warming.

"Global warming is the most pressing environmental issue of our time. We entered Congress at a time when public demand for action to address global warming has reached critical mass. As new members of Congress elected to bring change to Washington , it is our responsibility to begin to solve this growing crisis," Murphy wrote in a letter to his freshman colleagues.

Murphy is an original cosponsor of HR 1590, The Safe Climate Act of 2007. To assist the lead sponsor, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman, Murphy is garnering support among the new Member class for the legislation.

Murphy has long advocated for reducing emissions and increasing our reliance on alternative energy sources. Last summer, he unveiled a comprehensive energy plan to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil and to protect the environment.

HR 1590 directs the federal government to take various steps to reduce U.S. emissions of the pollutants that cause global warming to 1990 levels by 2020. These steps will be achieved by amending landmark laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act to ensure that emissions are gradually reduced by freezing emissions from further increasing in 2010, and by reducing emissions by roughly 2% per year from 2011 to 2020. These cuts could be achieved using existing technologies, such as alternative energy sources. From 2020 to 2050, with more advanced technologies available, emissions would be reduced by roughly 5% per year.

Bloggers at the Capitol highlights: Health care in Connecticut


Time: 1:15 PM






Part two of my "Bloggers at the Capitol" series centers around the health care debate that's currently underway in Connecticut.


Writers from Connecticut Local Politics, My Left Nutmeg, Spazeboy, CT Bob, CT NewsJunkie, and ConnecticutBLOG asked several of the top Democratic state legislators about the possibility of universal health care becoming a reality before the end of this session.


More video content added to section


Time: 11:24 AM

While I'm in the process of editing the video footage from Tuesday night's Common Council meeting, I wanted to alert you to the new content over at the "video of interest" section.

1. Mayor Boughton's State of the City Speech.

2. Interview with lawyers of the "Danbury 11."

3. Republicans insult our intelligence regarding the broadcasting of local government meetings.

I'll add more content later. Since the layout of the site has changed, several of the past post will have to be modified to take into consideration the larger text area. Once I fix the past posts, I will add more videos of interest to the section.

Bloggers at the Capitol video highlights: The education question

Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Time: 3:21 PM






As I stated before, last week, a group of writers from different blogs in the state made their way to the Capitol and attended a meet-up with some of the top Democratic leaders in Connecticut.

We had a lengthly discussion with the state legislators and were able to ask them numerous questions ranging from specific items in the state budget, conservation, housing, and funding education, to how does being hit with a tasergun feel like.

In the first of my posts from last week forum, here's my video report on the exchange between bloggers and state legislators, which focused on education.

May I make a motion...


Time: 12:16 PM



...that the members of the council WAIVE THE READING OF LONG WINDED USELESS REPORTS IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A COPY IN YOUR HAND! I thought the stacking of the audience by the anti-immigrant goons was bad enough but the senseless length of Tuesday night's Common Council meeting will go down as one of the biggest waste of time in recent memory.

Between myself loosing the feeling in my legs from all the standing, the poor Danbury Live crew passing out, the glazed look and the News-Times reporter's face, members of the council falling asleep (you know who you are and I have the photos to back it up :-), and the sudden outrage from everyone in attendance when the water cooler (which was full when I first waled in at 7:30) was empty by 10:30, you would think that someone would have realized that the meeting was unnecessarily dragging on (and on and on and on).

For me, the breaking point came when Ted "open space" Cutsumpas stood up and read his portion of the budget report. My God, he could make millions if he bottled up his voice sell it as a sleeping agent since listening to him read his report was like listening to Ben Stein do the roll call from the movie Ferris Bueller.

At one point, I almost screamed "FOR GOD SAKES, PLEASE STOP READING REPORTS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR HAND!" but I was too busy trying to get the feeling back in my legs and I needed to save my energy. It took half of the council members drooling on themselves from falling asleep for the light bulb to go off over Mayor Boughton's head and call a very simple motion to waive the reading of the budget reports. The loud applause from the audience told the story.

Once I'm able to process the video and photos, I'll bring you highlights from the meeting. You won't believe your eyes.

Blogger's article on Wilton High School scandal hits the mainstream

Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Time: 6:46 PM

Blogger Saramerica's story on the Wilton High School case hits the mainstream today and it's one incredible article to say the least.

Although the story in today's Greenwich Time is not available online, you can read the article on My Left Nutmeg. I'll provide a link to the article once it's online.

UPDATE: Her article is now available online. Make sure to check out her blog, it's pretty good.

Members of the Danbury 11 have their day in court

Monday, April 02, 2007
Time: 9:12 PM

Undercurrent gives the details...
This morning more than 70 immigrants and immigrant supporters showed up outside the federal building in Hartford to show support for the Danbury 11 and demand that all charges against these men be dropped. The picket stretched along the sidewalk of the Federal building as supporters for immigrant rights chanted and demanded justice for immigrants everywhere.

It is my pleasure to announce that our voices did not go unheard. The Danbury 11 case has now been continued and they now have a second hearing assigned for September 17. Although the final decision was not made today, this day proves to be essential for their case. Their lawyers attest that lesser-known defendants would have been deported on the spot. Now ICE is left to decide whether it will defend its illegal entrapment of the day laborers.

The Danbury 11 have become more than just a group of undocumented immigrants who were picked up by ICE. The decision made today proves that the Danbury 11 have a case. The decision made today proves that immigrants have a right to a proper defense. And most of all, it proves that immigrants have a right to be heard!
The demonstrations surrounding this case is getting more media attention. Lets just say that this case, and the possible lawsuit, is FAR from over.

...developing.

Wilton High School principal waffles under media spotlight


Time: 2:04 PM

I guess the coverage this story is getting to the principal since he's now making stuff up.

Principal Timothy Canty said the issue is not free speech, but educational merit — he said the piece did not give proper credit to its sources and adds that he wished not to cancel the play, but to postpone it.


What a load of garbage...let's run the videotape of Canty again.

This was canceled because a mother claimed that the play was anti-war plain and simple. For principal Canty to make this 11th hour claim is completely dishonest and speaks volumes of this man's character. Shame on him and the pro-war people of Wilton who will do anything to silence those who oppose them.

Congressman Murphy/Courtney to introduce legislation to improve, fix Medicare Part D Drug Program


Time: 12:45 PM

Fixing the Medicare Part D prescription drug program is long overdue...
On Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 12:30pm, Congressmen
Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Chris Murphy (CT-05) will host a joint press conference to announce legislation they intend to offer in Congress to improve and expand the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Murphy and Courtney have long been advocates for fixing certain harmful provisions in the prescription drug program to give Connecticut 's seniors a program with real savings and without penalties.
The Murphy/Courtney joint presser will happen tomorrow at 12:30 tomorrow, Room 1B at the LOB (State Capitol). I'll provide a full round-up of the event tomorrow including interviews with Congressman Murphy and Courtney tomorrow.

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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