Steve Gilliard, 1966-2007

Saturday, June 02, 2007
Time: 4:27 PM

This is really sad.
Steve Gilliard, 1966-2007

It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog (www.thenewsblog.net), passed away early this morning. He was 41.

To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.
Steve was a great writer/blogger who I had the pleasure of chatting with throughout the Lieberman/Lamont race last year. He was an admirer of my work (as well as all the blogs in Connecticut) and named me one of his favorite local/state bloggers of 2006.
Juan Melli and CT Blogger-They do the dirty work of local and state poliitcs, which will never lead to glory or riches, but is needed because if you think federal government has problems.....these guys are heroes to me.

I'm really going to miss chatting with him about the Connecticut politics...I learned a great deal from his writings and the progressive blogosphere lost a great mind. My thought and prayers goes out to his family at this time of grief.

Weekend roundup


Time: 1:40 PM


WHOA, IT'S HOT OUTSIDE.


While I'm busy cleaning up the house and bringing the air conditionors up from the basement, here's a small list of items I'll be talking about in the coming days.

* It's almost D-Day as the Common Council sets to re-debate the parade ordinance. We'll bring you all the info you need to know on this horrible piece of legislation and highlight the misinformaiton flowing out of Mayor Boughton's mouth (complete with using the "immigraton card" that has angered Democrats and a misinformed public.

* Republican stonewalling and dirty tricks were the highlight of the BRT tax giveaways ad-hoc committee meeting. Proving that democracy no longer exists in Danbury, the Democrats and public have every right to be outrage as the Boughton administration allows YET ANOHTER DEVELOPER screwthe people of the city out of property taxes while raking in millions. When we show you the details, you're going to fall out of your chair.

* Tom Bennett's outrageous behavior has reached a boiling point with him lashing out at me and this site with a slew of racial slurs as well as he and United States Citizens for Immigration Enforcement (USCFIE) Vice President John McGowan calling for people to shoot members of the immigrant community. I wonder if Lynn Waller still thinks that people at the USCFIE are still "nice folks."

* Seems like Mayor Boughton has possibly violated the city charter AGAIN. We'll give you the details soon.

* As a new edition to the HatCityBLOG video collection, we're going to assist the guys at Danbury Live and archive their shows online in full for the viewing public. These guys are going WAY out of their way to bring you the information that the News-Times refuse to report on so what better way to show our apprication than to archive their shows onloine for everyone!

* What's a summer in Danbury without festivals! We'll bring you highlights of most of the major festivals throughout the summer and show you some never-before-seen footage of some of last year's festivals.

* Took a trip down to the mall to see how the re-design is coming along...I brought back some photos and video for everyone to see.

Finally, here's an update on Minorty Leader Louis DeLuca's arrest that I reported on last night.


More complaints against Tom Bennett's show flow into Comcast

Friday, June 01, 2007
Time: 10:54 PM

At some point, Comcast has to see the light, enforce their policy, and remove Tom Bennett. Here's another letter sent to Dave King.
Hi Dave

I called you recently about Tom Bennett's show on Comcast. In our conversation you agreed that much of what he says is objectionable but protected under the First Amendment.

However, on the May 18 show he clearly violates the Comcast regulation:
No material which incites violent or harmful acts on other persons. In at least three instances on May 18, he says that undocumented immigrants should be "shot" or "killed." This is not an abstraction; he says "those people at Kennedy Avenue." What will you do if someone, like the caller he said could join him and his co-hosts to make an "army" of four, followed through and went to Kennedy Park and killed someone? Would you say that Comcast bore no responsibility?

He has defended his use of profanity, racist, sexist and anti-gay hate speech, and personal attacks by saying viewers can always turn to another channel. Actually that is a reasonable defense when the content of the show is merely disgusting or offensive. This defense won't work here; he is calling for killing people which is a clear violation of your policy and may even be illegal. What does your Corporate Counsel have to say about this?

You cannot allow this to continue. I don't know how you justified renewing his contract until August 2007. He can be as disgusting as he wants but he can't advocate killing people. Get rid of him now.
This type of speech IS NOT protected under F.C.C. regulations NOR is it protected under the rules and regulations of Comcast. In fact, as the writer of the letter states, it might even be illegal.

PUBLIC access belongs to the PUBLIC. Tom Bennett's profanity and indecent language must come to an end and it needs to be done now.

What will it take for Comcast to act...an immigrant getting shot from a person who was incited by Bennett, John McGowan, and Bones' call for people to shoot and murder members of the immigrant community on the street?

With each passing day, more and more Comcast consumers are expressing their outrage with many considering canceling their service and switching to AT&T or dish, and even an editorial has been written on Bennett.

Please keep the pressure on Comcast and tell them to do the right thing.

Dave King: Comcast Head Coordinator:

Phone: 203-792-1265

Email: Dave_King@cable.comcast.com


Candiann Roswell: Comcast Coordinator:

Phone: 203-792-1265

Email: Candiann_Roswell2@cable.comcast.com


When emailing Comcast, please cc: HatCityBLOG (hatcityblog@yahoo.com) so we can place your message on the site (privacy will be honored).

Republican Minority leader DeLuca affidavit exposes ties with trashman James Galante


Time: 8:55 PM

Seems like Minority Leader Louis DeLuca had a VERY close relationship with the trash king James Galante (you know, the guy who has ties to to a Genovese crime family member). Seems like DeLuca meet with Galante and asked him for a "favor" regarding a problem he had with someone and is now the minority leader is in a bit a trouble.

Actually, he's in a LOT of trouble.



Senate Minority Leader Louis DeLuca was arrested Friday on charges that he asked a businessman at the center of a federal racketeering probe to rough up someone the senator believed had abused a relative.

State and federal authorities said DeLuca in 2005 sought help from James Galante, a Danbury trash hauler who first caught DeLuca's eye by making a large charitable contribution. Galante is currently awaiting trial on 72 counts of tax fraud, racketeering, threatening and extortion.

[...]

"When you approach someone who is alleged to be a member of organized crime or affiliated with organized crime and you ask for this help, and you slip a note to them in a diner as opposed to even having a conversation, I think it's fair to draw an inference that you don't exactly have the best of intentions," U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said Friday.

[...]

DeLuca is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Waterbury Superior Court.

"I tried to protect a family member who was vulnerable, who was in a physically abusive domestic relationship and who needed help," DeLuca said in a written statement. "My family and I went to the police three times to get help for my relative, but the police said that they couldn't help because the victim wouldn't file a complaint."

DeLuca said he was frustrated by the situation and discussed it with Galante. Authorities said the conversation occurred in April 2005 in a Woodbury diner, where Galante passed DeLuca a note that asked, "Do you want me to have someone pay him a visit?"

Authorities said DeLuca told Galante he wanted the offender roughed up and gave Galante the name and address of the alleged abuser.

The assault never happened. Prosecutors, who recovered the note in a search of Galante's home, said they stopped the beating by parking a police car in front of the associate's house.
Insane...it's like the Sopranos in Connecticut.

Here's a press release from the State of CT's Division of Criminal Justice.

Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane and Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced today the arrest of LOUIS DeLUCA of Woodbury on one count for Conspiracy to Commit Threatening in the Second Degree.

Mr. DeLuca, who is the State Senator from the 32nd District and the Minority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate, is accused of conspiring with a Danbury-area businessman to arrange a threat against an individual whom Mr. DeLuca believed had abused one of his relatives.

The arrest is the result of information discovered in the course of a federal investigation of the businessman, who operates several trash hauling companies in western Connecticut and is under a 117-count federal indictment. The case against Mr. DeLuca will be jointly prosecuted in Waterbury Superior Court by the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Mr. DeLuca met with the businessman in April 2005 and described a problem that Mr. DeLuca was having with an individual whom he believed had abused one of his relatives. At that meeting, the businessman passed Mr. DeLuca a note containing the written question, "Do you want me to have someone pay him a visit?" Mr. DeLuca said "yes" and provided the businessman with the name and address of the intended target. The plan was subsequently called off, however, when authorities learned of it and made their presence known to the businessman's associate who was to have carried out the plan, the warrant alleges.

Mr. DeLuca was arrested today by Inspectors from the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. He was released on a Written Promise to Appear in Waterbury Superior Court, G.A. No. 4, on Monday, June 4, 2007.

Conspiracy to Commit Threatening in the Second Degree is a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of incarceration not to exceed one year and a fine not to exceed $2,000. The charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


The best source of information regarding this story is from the great Christine Stuart of CTNewsJunkie.
The arrest warrant affidavit that lead to Senator Louis DeLuca’s arrest Friday claims DeLuca had a “close and confidential relationship with” Danbury trash hauler James Galante, who has ties to a Genovese crime family member.

The relationship “would explain why DeLuca would seek out Businessman A’s assistance and why Businessman A would be willing to help DeLuca,” the affidavit states. Galante is referred to as Businessman A in the affidavit.

In Sept. 2006 an undercover federal agent, posing as a business associate of Galante, met with DeLuca. At that meeting DeLuca told the agent, “anytime [Businessman A] needs anything, anything, within my power, that I can do, I will do.” DeLuca then told the agent he was shocked when Galante was indicted because he “is not a careless guy.” Then DeLuca advised the agent that if they needed his assistance the best way to contact him is through a specific individual because “nobody knows [about] that relationship.”

Two days later DeLuca met with the undercover agent again. The agent asked DeLuca to influence legislation to help Galante. DeLuca said, “I can’t influence it at this point because it’s out of my hands, but if it gets to the point where I have appointments, I can influence it that way. You know, if somebody, if it’s a commission that needs to be in that, that, is gonna be a watchdog on CRRA and make recommendations then I’ll make an appoint...generally I get an appointment.”

During this conversation the affidavit says DeLuca refused $5,000 in cash from the agent, saying he was “afraid them guys...tracing things and shit like that.” He later told the agent to tell Galante to “hang in there and I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”

On Sept. 21, 2006 DeLuca had a meeting with FBI agents and “admitted that his true purpose of his meeting with Businessman A had nothing to do with securing employment for the target, but rather was to see if Businessman A could pay a visit to the target identified by DeLuca in order to scare him,” the affidavit states.

It was also learned during the course of the investigation that Galante made a large donation in 2001 to a charitable cause sponsored by DeLuca. “Thereafter, DeLuca used his influence to cause Businessman A to be named ‘Italian-American Man of the Year’ by the Connecticut Italian-American legislative caucus. These facts were later confirmed by DeLuca,” according to the affidavit.
Stuart has the affidavit and will make it available online later tonight.

UPDATE: Here's a copy of the arrest affidavit (pdf format). Hat tip again to CTNewsJunkie for scanning the document.

When will Comcast do the right thing and pull the plug on the BigT Talk & Variety show?


Time: 5:59 PM

It seems like Tom Bennett has been busy on YouTube and on his show throwing insults and racial slurs at yours truly.

Since the start of HatCityBLOG's campaign to request Comcast to terminate Bennett's contract and show, letters of complaints have been flowing into the inboxes of Local Access Coordinators Dave King and Candiann Roswell. Unfortunately, the local bigot/wedding D.J. doesn't seem to get the message and has gone as far as bragged about using profane language on his show.

I think it's safe to say that this bigot is digging a hole for himself.

Here's a sample of comments Bennett made on YouTube in response to my video footage of him using a sexual explicit remark with a 15 year old female minor. Take special not of the comments from Big(o)T is bold (WARNING: Explicit language used).
bigtprd
As anyone can see and hear, it was a setup by ctblogger. Also I did not call her she called the show telling the screener she was over eighteen. No rules have been broken, all within guidelines and approved. There is a nob called on off they put them on TVs. Ctblogger thank you for our ratings have gone up 30%.

[...]

ctblogger

1. Your so-called "screener" never ask for anyone age.

2. I don't have to "set" you up. You have no problem putting your foot in your mouth without my help.

3. She called the show yet it was YOU who used the term "eating" which is inappropriate at any age.

4. There is a contract which Comcast requires you to sign and you choose to ignore.

5. Comcast does not keep ratings.

6. Your disgusting.

[...]

TheGeckoNinja

isnt the appropriate term "having oral sex"? instead of "eating out"?

[...]

bigtprd
Yeah, Oral sex is kewl, But I do so like using eating out, It has more effect, like it is discusting, filthy, shameful, rotten, I could go on.

[...]


bigtprd
You really believe I'm racist? well I'm not. Just because an asshole say's it does not mean it's true. Nogger has the skin problem. You just don't want it that way. Because he is black he wants to be Al sharpton. And Knowing that should wake you up.

[...]

bigtprd
And nig you don't get it. I don't give a shit ass hole. Your a fucking scumbag that will get his turn. Gee, and I'm being kewl, Not even upset. And your a peice of shit. Now you must think were friends calling me Tom. You slime, you don't know me. Oh, by the way Comcast has many more letters of love the big T then your hate shit. Call Dave he'll tell you, LOL. And your day's also.

[...]

ctblogger
No Tom, the only asshole is you and your use of profane, indecent language on Comcast WILL come to an end. The public in Danbury have spoken in force to Comcast and your days on public access will come to an end due to your own fat mouth.

[...]


bigtprd

You gonna stop me here to nogger, or is that niglor,

[...]



bigtprd

Get it straight moron! We are from from being buddy or buddy's. scare you! why are you in the dark? Hey they can see you. oh, when you smile.

[...]


bigtprd

I can only hope that it will happen. I win no matter what. I'm none of what yopu claim you moron. If any of you out here do not use any type of profanty do as you will. The ones that use any type of profanity think before you condem Me. I use profanity in a tasteful way to make a point. Watch on google and then make your own decision. Don't be a follower of evil which ctblogger is.

[...]

ctblogger
"I use profanity in a tasteful way to make a point."

Thanks for admitting the obvious...that you use profanity against the rules and regulations of Comcast.

You should stop with the messages while you're ahead..you're digging a hole for yourself.

[...]

bigtprd
I have nothing to loose. I can go on for the rest of my life. What do you have? I have done that frigan show and if it is over then so be it. I will go on! And sooner or latter we meet some were, oh well! I get I what I want. And you will get what ever.

[...]

ctblogger
And sooner or latter we meet some were, oh well!

Is that suppose to "scare" me or something..too funny.

Keep digging that hole buddy...

[...]

bigtprd
You are for Homo's and illegal Immigrants and that is the only reason you are attacking me with lies. Your black and you think that is going to get you somewhere by using your racist bull crap. Let me tell you spook man, it won't. Again I say, I have had 28 wonderful years on our talkshow. If it comes to a stop, oh well, I'll be a happy camper. But, you'll still be black with a attitude towards whites.

[...]

ctblogger
"Let me tell you spook man"

-nuff said.








While defending his use of profanity on Comcast, while dishing out the laundry list of racial slurs and threats, Bennett jumps on his television show and continues his foul-mouthed racial rant (I thought the racial slur "spook" went out of fashion in the 60s).








During this same episode, Bennett and his co-hosts (including Elise Marciano's anti-immigration group Vice President John McGowan) ONCE AGAIN go over the top and repeatedly incite people to kill members of the immigrant community.

So, lets review.

Bennett admits and defends his use of profanity.

Bennett issues a list of racial slurs directed at me on his show thus violating Comcast rules and regulation Section E-4:
No obscene material, sexually explicit conduct, or material soliciting or promoting unlawful conduct.


Bennett and his co-hosts repeatedly talk about "shooting" members of the immigrant community thus violating Comcast rules and regulation Section E-5:
5. No material which incites violent or harmful acts on other persons.

Remember, Comcast public access is the PUBLIC's channel. Since Tom Bennett has repeated violated the rules and guidelines of Comcast, the only remedy for this situation is to immediately terminate the contracts of Producer Carol and Tom Bennett, cancel the BigT's Talk & Variety show, and ban all individuals associated with the show from the studio.

Let Comcast know that the public has had enough of BigT's nonsense and DEMAND HIS IMMEDIATE REMOVAL.

Dave King: Comcast Head Coordinator:

Phone: 203-792-1265

Email: Dave_King@cable.comcast.com


Candiann Roswell: Comcast Coordinator:

Phone: 203-792-1265

Email: Candiann_Roswell2@cable.comcast.com


When emailing Comcast, please cc: HatCityBLOG (hatcityblog@yahoo.com) so we can place your message on the site (privacy will be honored).

Gov. Rell voted state tax package


Time: 9:58 AM

Still think Mayor Boughton's early city budget was a good idea?
Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, said “The Governor has shown no interest in working with Democrats to create a fair, progressive tax system, but I really thought she was serious about a gas tax summer holiday - apparently I was wrong.”

“The Governor is playing a game of bait and switch with the citizens of Connecticut and has been unmasked as not sharing our belief that people need relief. The time has come for the Governor to finally come to the table and seriously negotiate a budget with the Legislature. Time is short and we both have a responsibility to the citizens of this state to get the job done.”

Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said, “The governor has chosen to say ‘no’ to tax relief for millions of taxpayers in Connecticut and instead has sided with the very small percentage of the state’s wealthiest residents.”

Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said, “Clearly the governor is more interested in protecting the small percentage of the wealthiest residents than she is in cutting the gas tax for the summer. In the end, the middle class, working families and the driving public lose with this veto by the governor.”

Getting noticed


Time: 8:48 AM

Thanks to all those who visited HatCityBLOG during the month of May.



With over 7000 hits (or 8000 when you take into consideration readers who view the site using RSS readers which are not picked up with the stat counter), you've made HatCityBLOG one of the most popular local sites in the country. To but that into perspective, Mark Boughton was re-elected mayor with 7615 votes.

If you liked what you read in May, then trust me, I'm just getting started.

Everyone loves a parade


Time: 8:26 AM

Here's video footage from this year's Memorial Day parade. To view in full scrren mode, click on the semi-filled square on the lower right hand corner of the viewer.

(NOTE: Due to a broken camera, video distortions occur during the first two minutes of the video).



Remember, you can view my photos from the parade by clicking here.

Lou Dobbs: Liar. Local xenophobes: Ditto

Thursday, May 31, 2007
Time: 10:06 AM

The only difference between Lou Dobbs and the local xenophobes that pollute the public speaking portion of the Common Council meetings and spread hatred on Comcast is that Dobbs can express his prejudice towards immigrants and lie with a larger vocabulary and without using profanity.
The whole controversy involving Lou Dobbs and leprosy started with a “60 Minutes” segment a few weeks ago.

The segment was a profile of Mr. Dobbs, and while doing background research for it, a “60 Minutes” producer came across a 2005 news report from Mr. Dobbs’s CNN program on contagious diseases. In the report, one of Mr. Dobbs’s correspondents said there had been 7,000 cases of leprosy in this country over the previous three years, far more than in the past.

When Lesley Stahl of “60 Minutes” sat down to interview Mr. Dobbs on camera, she mentioned the report and told him that there didn’t seem to be much evidence for it.

“Well, I can tell you this,” he replied. “If we reported it, it’s a fact.”

With that Orwellian chestnut, Mr. Dobbs escalated the leprosy dispute into a full-scale media brouhaha. The next night, back on his own program, the same CNN correspondent who had done the earlier report, Christine Romans, repeated the 7,000 number, and Mr. Dobbs added that, if anything, it was probably an underestimate. A week later, the Southern Poverty Law Center — the civil rights group that has long been critical of Mr. Dobbs — took out advertisements in The New York Times and USA Today demanding that CNN run a correction.

Finally, Mr. Dobbs played host to two top officials from the law center on his program, “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” where he called their accusations outrageous and they called him wrong, unfair and “one of the most popular people on the white supremacist Web sites.”

[...]

“The invasion of illegal aliens is threatening the health of many Americans,” Mr. Dobbs said on his April 14, 2005, program. From there, he introduced his original report that mentioned leprosy, the flesh-destroying disease — technically known as Hansen’s disease — that has inspired fear for centuries.

According to a woman CNN identified as a medical lawyer named Dr. Madeleine Cosman, leprosy was on the march. As Ms. Romans, the CNN correspondent, relayed: “There were about 900 cases of leprosy for 40 years. There have been 7,000 in the past three years.”

“Incredible,” Mr. Dobbs replied.

Mr. Dobbs and Ms. Romans engaged in a nearly identical conversation a few weeks ago, when he was defending himself the night after the “60 Minutes” segment. “Suddenly, in the past three years, America has more than 7,000 cases of leprosy,” she said, again attributing the number to Ms. Cosman.

To sort through all this, I called James L. Krahenbuhl, the director of the National Hansen’s Disease Program, an arm of the federal government. Leprosy in the United States is indeed largely a disease of immigrants who have come from Asia and Latin America. And the official leprosy statistics do show about 7,000 diagnosed cases — but that’s over the last 30 years, not the last three.

The peak year was 1983, when there were 456 cases. After that, reported cases dropped steadily, falling to just 76 in 2000. Last year, there were 137.

“It is not a public health problem — that’s the bottom line,” Mr. Krahenbuhl told me. “You’ve got a country of 300 million people. This is not something for the public to get alarmed about.” Much about the disease remains unknown, but researchers think people get it through prolonged close contact with someone who already has it.

What about the increase over the last six years, to 137 cases from 76? Is that significant?

“No,” Mr. Krahenbuhl said. It could be a statistical fluctuation, or it could be a result of better data collection in recent years. In any event, the 137 reported cases last year were fewer than in any year from 1975 to 1996.

So Mr. Dobbs was flat-out wrong. And when I spoke to him yesterday, he admitted as much, sort of. I read him Ms. Romans’s comment — the one with the word “suddenly” in it — and he replied, “I think that is wrong.” He then went on to say that as far as he was concerned, he had corrected the mistake by later broadcasting another report, on the same night as his on-air confrontation with the Southern Poverty Law Center officials. This report mentioned that leprosy had peaked in 1983.

[...]

I have been somewhat taken aback about how shameless he has been during the whole dispute, so I spent some time reading transcripts from old episodes of “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” The way he handled leprosy, it turns out, is not all that unusual.

For one thing, Mr. Dobbs has a somewhat flexible relationship with reality. He has said, for example, that one-third of the inmates in the federal prison system are illegal immigrants. That’s wrong, too. According to the Justice Department, 6 percent of prisoners in this country are noncitizens (compared with 7 percent of the population). For a variety of reasons, the crime rate is actually lower among immigrants than natives.

Second, Mr. Dobbs really does give airtime to white supremacy sympathizers. Ms. Cosman, who is now deceased, was a lawyer and Renaissance studies scholar, never a medical doctor or a leprosy expert. She gave speeches in which she said that Mexican immigrants had a habit of molesting children. Back in their home villages, she would explain, rape was not as serious a crime as cow stealing. The Southern Poverty Law Center keeps a list of other such guests from “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”

Finally, Mr. Dobbs is fond of darkly hinting that this country is under attack. He suggested last week that the new immigration bill in Congress could be the first step toward a new nation — a “North American union” — that combines the United States, Canada and Mexico. On other occasions, his program has described a supposed Mexican plot to reclaim the Southwest. In one such report, one of his correspondents referred to a Utah visit by Vicente Fox, then Mexico’s president, as a “Mexican military incursion.”

[...]

The most common complaint about him, at least from other journalists, is that his program combines factual reporting with editorializing. But I think this misses the point. Americans, as a rule, are smart enough to handle a program that mixes opinion and facts. The problem with Mr. Dobbs is that he mixes opinion and untruths. He is the heir to the nativist tradition that has long used fiction and conspiracy theories as a weapon against the Irish, the Italians, the Chinese, the Jews and, now, the Mexicans.

There is no denying that this country’s immigration system is broken. But it defies belief — and a whole lot of economic research — to suggest that the problems of the middle class stem from illegal immigrants. Those immigrants, remember, are largely non-English speakers without a high school diploma. They have probably hurt the wages of native-born high school dropouts and made everyone else better off.

More to the point, if Mr. Dobbs’s arguments were really so good, don’t you think he would be able to stick to the facts? And if CNN were serious about being “the most trusted name in news,” as it claims to be, don’t you think it would be big enough to issue an actual correction?


Lou Dobbs is just another example of a individual who misleads his legion of low-information, close-minded zombies who are blinded with their hatred for immigrants (a.k.a. people who don't look like them). Dobbs' lie echoes the outrageous statements that flow continuously from the mouths of Elise Marciano and her band of rabid xenophobes who (with the help of their supporters at City Hall) give Danbury a bad name.

Just like doing a bit a background checking can expose Dobbs lie, the same can be done to those on the local level who are so out of touch with reality due to their hatred, that they should be ignored by the media and public.

The Cato Institute (hardly a progressive organization) sums it up perfectly.
"America was founded, shaped, and built in large measure by immigrants
seeking freedom and opportunity. Since 1820, 66 million immigrants have
entered the United States legally, and each new wave stirred controversy
in its day. In the mid-1800s, Irish immigrants were scorned as lazy drunks
too beholden to the pope in Rome. At the turn of the century, a wave
of ''New Immigrants''--Poles, Italians, Austro-Hungarians, and Russian
Jews--was believed to be too different to ever assimilate into American
life. Today the same fears arise about immigrants from Latin America
and Asia, but current critics of immigration are as wrong as their counterparts
were in previous eras.

The overriding impact of immigrants is to strengthen and enrich American culture, increase the total output of the economy, and raise the standard of living of American citizens. Immigrants are advantageous to the United States for several reasons: (1) Since they are willing to take a chance in a new land, they are self-selected on the basis on motivation, risk taking, work ethic, and other attributes beneficial to a nation. (2) They tend to come to the United States during their prime working years (the average age is 28), and they contribute to the workforce and make huge net contributions to old-age entitlement programs, primarily Social Security. (3) Immigrants tend to fill niches in the labor market where demand is highest relative to supply, complementing rather than directly competing with American workers. (4) Many immigrants arrive with extremely high skill levels, and virtually all, regardless of skill level, bring a strong desire to work. (5) Their children tend to reach high levels of achievement in American schools and in society at large."

PLEASE remember the following when you hear and read a quote from anti-immigrant politicians, pundits, and rabid extremists:

Knowledge is power; ignorance begets monsters.

What option sounds better to you?

Lebanon Day report


Time: 8:38 AM

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the raising of the Lebanese flag at City Hall yesterday but the News-Times did a really brief write-up of the event.

Veterans were honored on Lebanon Day this year, and the Lebanon-American Club didn't need to look very far to find them.

The club found 50 members -- who had served or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces -- to honor Wednesday at City Hall.

"Today we go beyond local and state contributions by members of the Lebanon-American Club," said Tom Saadi, a co-chair of the day-long celebration and a member of the U.S. Army.

[...]

George Massoud, a World War II veteran, was honored Wednesday after serving as a gunners mate on the heavy cruiser USS Monssen and on the heavy cruiser Quincy. The Monssen was sunk in a sea battle during the invasion of Guadalcanal.

"I feel I'm an American through and through," said Massoud, 87. He was born and grew up in Danbury, and he is very proud to be an American. "I still get tears in my eyes when I see the flag going up."

Had enough of the xenophobes?

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Time: 8:58 PM

Well, this person is fed up with the hate-mongers who pollute our fine city and are led by the simple-minded, bigoted trio of Elise "blinded by bigotry" Marciano, John "Anti-Uncle Sam" McGowan, and everyone's favorite Native American bigot, Tom Bennett.
I have been increasingly disturbed by the tone of some recent letters on the topic of immigration. The language seems to sound more like hate speech and less like constructive or thoughtful points of view.

I was particularly taken aback by a letter appearing in the May 22 edition, "The Mexican flag belongs in Mexico." The writer referenced a photograph appearing in the May 16 edition f The News-Times of a man waving a Mexican flag. From that photograph, the writer went on to state some facts about the flag-waving man.

The facts included that the man would not learn English, that he would not adopt American customs, that he would never be a loyal patriotic citizen, that he has no respect for our laws and that he will make our country weaker. I can't imagine how he knew all these things by simply looking at a photograph.

I don't suppose the writer would have similar comments about the people waving Irish flags in the St. Patrick's Day parade.

My point is not to pick on the writer of this one letter, but to address the generally angry nature of many recent letters on the topic of immigration. I suppose, sadly, that the prevalent attitude is a product of unfortunate and unfair ethnic stereotypes which are only reinforced by the comments appearing in such letters....
Phil Crevier, not a low information voter...

Memorial Day weekend round-up


Time: 12:33 PM

By popular demand, here my round-up of Memorial Day in Danbury. I will update this post with more material once the videos are available online.

Click here to see the photo slideshow from Monday's parade.

Sorry for the delay...

Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Time: 7:55 PM

but I'm still editing over 90 minutes of footage from the Memorial Day parade. Seems like I need to purchase a new video camera as I worn the heads on my present camera. Although it has a two year warranty, I'm going to buy a new model while I take my camera to the shop.

If you like my videos now, wait till I have two cameras going at the same time.

Hopefully, I'll at least have the photos up and online later tonight.

Working hard to give you the news you can't get anywhere else.

Happy Memorial Day

Monday, May 28, 2007
Time: 2:35 PM


We'll bring you video highlights from today's Memorial Day parade on Main Street, as well as the other events from the weekend, later tonight (or possibly tomorrow).

It's too nice outside today to be using a computer so get out of the house and enjoy the day!

Abrantes goes after Mayor Boughton over Elmer's Diner disaster


Time: 1:02 PM

Well, one thing is for certain...she's no part-time mayoral candidate!

Helena Abrantes takes aim at the sight of hand from Mayor Mark "blame the previous administration" Boughton for misleading the public about Elmer's Diner and failing to address the traffic concerns that everyone knew was bound to happen.

From Abrantes' press release:
I have traveled down Danbury's Padanaram Road toward Route 37 for the last 24 years of my life. I am amazed at the recent development on this roadway.

Since the opening of Elmer's Diner, chaos is the only word that comes to mind to describe this situation.

The parking situation is out of control. People are parking on the roadway, as well as across the street in the shopping center and attempting to stop traffic to cross the street. This situation is unsafe and the city was irresponsible in allowing this type of business to be placed at this location.

If I remember correctly, this piece of property was only approved for a small house for Ann's Place. Under the original proposed plan, the traffic would have been very minimal and the interference with traffic flow would have been at a minimum.

I am very concerned for the safety and well-being of pedestrians, patrons, travelers, etc., at this location.

In my opinion, it's a disaster waiting to happen. I pray to God that I am wrong.

Mayor Boughton, please don't blame the prior administration. The zoning requirements were changed during your administration in the last six years.

Chris Murphy votes his conscience


Time: 12:20 PM

Chris Murphy was at the Memorial Day parade in Waterbury and explained to CBS News why he voted against funding President Bush-McCain-Lieberman's War




Hat tip to the great Scarce for uploading this clip.

Local newspaper takes aim at Tom Bennett's bigoted show

Sunday, May 27, 2007
Time: 3:35 PM

As the letters of complaints continue to flow into Comcast over Tom Bennett's profane-laced, bigoted cable access show, the Tribuna raises the stakes and offers a thought-provoking editorial aimed directly at BigT and those at Comcast who still refuse to do the right thing and enforce their rules.
Last month, sparks flew in every direction over the racist and sexist commentary of radio host and shock jock Don Imus concerning the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. His extremely bigoted comments cost him his job with CBS Radio.
Sadly, we do not need to go too far to find the same level of bigotry.

Within Danbury’s local media, there are individuals who express vile and uncivilized opinions, using profanity when referring to woman, regularly making racist comments, referring to undocumented immigrants as “dirty pigs” and calling upon people to purchase guns to protect themselves from them.


Because of the freedoms guaranteed by this great country, we can express our thoughts and opinions publicly. We can differ from, debate with, and protest against one another. However, history has taught us about the high price of these very freedoms when they are spent aimlessly, invested in scars whose brand upon generation after generation serves as a reminder of the insoluble effects of hatred and intolerance.

An old friend of mine in the Danbury police force once told a class of ESL students the story of his parents and their struggles when they arrived in the United States as migrants from Ireland. He described the time his father had walked into a store hoping to buy a present for his Grandmother, but the store clerk refused to sell the item to him simply because he was Irish.

Every group of immigrants that has settled in Danbury has its own tales to tell about the struggles and discrimination they endured or continue to endure. Regardless of whether they arrived legally or illegally, groups from Europe, Asia, the Middle East or other parts of the Americas, have all experienced the unfortunate behavior of “natives” who may be suspicious or fearful of people unfamiliar to them – from signs on storefronts refusing entry to the public humiliation of racial or ethnic slurs to full-blown protests.

As free people, we have the right to voice our opinions on the immigration issue. But regardless of the role one may have in the community, opinions should be shared with tolerance and sensitivity. Those whose opinions are heard publicly should not ignore the responsibility that comes with freedom of speech.

The history of our community is woven from the stories of the many different immigrants groups that have contributed to its growth – from 17th-century British migrants crossing an ocean to escape tyranny to the workers answering the call of industry in the 19th century to the political and economic refugees of the twentieth. These immigrants represent the ancestors of Danbury’s U.S.-born population – past, present, and future.

Even in a republic that from its founding, has been a beacon of democracy and has served as the model for dozens of other nation around the globe, the road to freedom for all has been a rough one. It took the near-destruction of our Union and a civil war to end the formal enslavement of African Americans.

Yet one hundred years later, its aftermath of racial segregation filled land with violence yet again - riots, murders and gruesome beatings of blacks and whites committed to ending racism and intolerance. History provides us with the lessons we need to learn. There is no need to prolong discrimination and intolerance of any kind. The 1960s are still a vivid memory, and we have all seen and heard all the damage hatred and bigotry sow.

We are all from the same point of origin, hailing from the same cradle of civilization, and we are all frail human beings that wither with time, leaving behind only what we have done to change the world around us.

Beyond all of this, I have learned through my faith that to love one another is to love God. It is impossible to have a relationship with the Creator while discriminating among his creation. We in Him are all brothers and sisters.

Well said...but I'll just be blunt.

Tom Bennett and his followers represent the worse our great city of Danbury has to offer. When he's spinning the oldies as a wedding DJ or creating those annoying party favors that everyone throws out after a wedding reception or birthday party, Bennett has the nerve to use the PUBLIC'S airwaves to spew out a slew of indecent and profane remarks, which has gone unchecked by the higher-ups at Comcast who apparently rather look the other way than enforce the rules on their books.

Just based on the clips I've posted so far, Bennett and his co-hosts have 1.) talked about violence against immigrants; 2.) used sexually explicit language with a minor; 3.) offered a slew of racist remarks. THAT'S JUST IN TWO CLIPS FOLKS AND I'VE BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE.

Again, this is just in the small clips I presented and as recent as his last show, he has continued this pattern of toxic bigotry and violence. Here's another letter that was just sent to Comcast based on Bennett's show last Friday.
To Whom It may Concern,

I understand that recently Tom Bennett has taken some flack concerning statements made on his BIG T's TALK AND VARIETY SHOW. Curious, I tuned in last night to see for myself what Mr. Bennett had to say.

After mentioning this very situation, and insinuating it had been rectified, Bennett proceeded to use the racist epithet "raghead", the homophobic term "dyke", and went on to imply that Lynn Cheney should be beaten with a baseball bat, and that Mexicans should be shot while trying to cross the border.

Please explain how allowing this hate monger to have his bully pulpit benefits our community in any way, (which I believe is the root purpose cable access is intended to have).

Free speech is one thing, but BIG T's show is hate speech.
Just like you can't teach a old dog new tricks, you can't teach a hardened profane-mouth bigot to tone down his racist rhetoric...it's simple, Bennet can't change who he truly is which is why his remarks will never change.

Enough is enough.

Bennett's antics need to come to an end and his show (and everyone who repeatedly violated the stations guidelines) need to be escorted off the Comcast premises and pronto. Adding a disclaimer after Bennett's show won't cut it and this issue will only escalate until the rules and enforced on Bennett. We're not talking about someone who let a profane remark slip out of his mouth once or twice, we're talking about someone who uses bigoted language on a regular basis and it needs to come to an end.

PLEASE keep sending emails to Comcast and help bring an end to Tom Bennett's show. Let Comcast know that we're not going away and we will not stop until this issue is resolved.

Dave King: Comcast Head Coordinator:
Phone: 203-792-1265
Email: Dave_King@cable.comcast.com

Candiann Roswell: Comcast Coordinator:
Phone: 203-792-1265
Email: Candiann_Roswell2@cable.comcast.com

When emailing Comcast, please CC: hatcityblog@yahoo.com and we'll post your message on the site (privacy will be honored).

YOUR EMAILS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AS LOCAL BUSINESSES, CUSTOMERS OF COMCAST (WHO NOW HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN COMCAST THE AT&T TV SERVICE) AND THE MEDIA ARE PAYING ATTENTION. Keep up the pressure and tell Comcast to do simply do their job, enforce their rules, and properly deal with their Big(o)T problem.

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INDEPENDENT PARTY OF DANBNRY
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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