It's about time...

Our reader comment section has and will continue to draw controversy about what readers post and what we choose not to remove from the site.

But to monitor what’s there, we are asking you, the posters, to help us out.

We now have a new feature that will allow posters to notify us of any inappropriate comments. To flag a comment as inappropriate, you must be a registered poster. You then can click on the red Flag as Inappropriate text posted in the comment section. An e-mail is then immediately sent to me, alerting me of a possible inappropriate comment.

Smart move...the quicker the News-Times remove the scum from their comment section, the better.

(Hey, it's the weekend..enough of BigT's fat head getting top billing on my site. bumped to the top)

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, here's my 2 cents.

1. Relay for Life Walk: June 8-9, 2007, Bethel High School, 300 Whittlesey Drive, Bethel, CT.

A great event for a important cause. Grab you sneakers and join in the walk benefit for the American Cancer Society.

Bethel has been a part of Relay For Life® for the past 13 years and has spawned several new relays in other area towns! The Bethel relay includes the towns of Bethel, Redding, New Fairfield and Danbury. It is a fun-filled event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer in our community. More than 200 Relays will be held throughout New England in 2007, all celebrating survivorship and raising money to help the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.

But, Relay is much more than a walk around a track. It is a time to remember those lost to cancer and celebrate those who have survived. It is a night for people who have shared the same experience to comfort and console one another. During this event, we honor survivors during the Survivors Lap and Reception and we remember those lost to cancer during the Luminaria Ceremony. We also celebrate life, friendship, and a chance to work together toward a cancer-free future.

Most importantly, Relay gives you the power to help in the fight against cancer. By joining together as volunteers and donors, our efforts help the American Cancer Society strive toward a future where cancer doesn’t take the lives of our friends and family.

If you have any questions on how to register, contact: Jill DeRosa for general registration information or Megan Garcia for online team set up & registration.

2. 28th Annual The Greek Experience: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Clapboard Ridge Rd., Danbury, CT

Oh my, what can I say about this event! Good food, great people, great dancing and lots of drinking (I'm still recovering from the drinks that were thrown at me. Now I know how those in-laws in the movie "My Fat Greek Weeding" felt. OPA!

Time: Fri. 5 to 11 p.m., Sat. noon to 11 p.m., Sun. noon to 9 p.m. Festival featuring traditional Greek food and pastries. Events include folk dancing, live band, tours of the church, cultural activities and artwork. Admission: Free. Phone: (203) 748-2992

Last year at this time, I was at the festival with ConnecticutBob where we interviewed Ned Lamont (who was also in attendance). Bob made a video of his experiences following Ned around the festival and he was able to capture the fun everyone had at the event.


3. Hat City Music Festival: IVES STREET DANBURY- CITY CENTER STAGE.

Who doesn't like a concert?

THEME: A TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDS!

FREE outdoor performances on the City stage and then walk to tons of after party's

Danburys favorite event producers invite you to experience the Hat City!

MAGIC HAT AFTER PARTY FRIDAY JUNE 8 WITH

DARK STAR ORCHESTRA @ TUXEDO JUNCTION

tickets for this show on sale now at ticketmaster

all outdoor preformnaces are FREE , FREE

CONTACT?

sean@monkeybardanbury.com

Check out Danbury's entertainment source

Hatcityentertainment.com or pick up a copy at all downtown venues in Danbury

Want information or to advertise contact editor@hatcityentertainment.com

Event information

Contact

sean@monkeybardanbury.com

Here's a list of bands that will be playing this weekend:

Jun 8 2007 6:30P	FORGET PARIS	DANBURY
Jun 8 2007 7:00P	PETE WYNDORF	DANBURY
Jun 8 2007 7:45P	JEN DURKIN'S EQUINOX
Jun 8 2007 8:30P	BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS TRIBUTE!!!!!! I n I	DANBURY
Jun 8 2007 10:00P	DARK STAR ORCHESTRA at TUXEDO JUNCTION	danbury
Jun 8 2007 10:00P	3 Lane Change free show at MonkeyBar	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 12:00A	CLICK HERE FOR STAGE 2 ACTS ~~~~~~	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 1:00P	Six7 - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 2:00P	Earnest hem N haw - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 2:30P	STAGE 2 ACTS TBA VERY SOON !!!!	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 3:00P	ScareCrow Collection - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 4:00P	Kitty Kitty Bang Bang - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 5:00P	PAUL CORTES - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 6:00P	RWANDAN drummers - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 7:00P	the Bomb Squad - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 8:00P	CEE REED - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 8:30P	LIVE TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN - MAIN STAGE	DANBURY
Jun 9 2007 10:45P	Electric Mayhem - free funk party MonkeyBar	DANBURY

UPDATE: Avid reader DisNoir36 adds this to the mix:

You missed something. The Portuguese Cultural Center is having yet another festival this weekend. This time it's the all Popular Saints festival. Instead of having a festival for each individual patron saint of every town in Portugal they have one all encompasing festival. It runs Friday to Sunday. Also, I haven't been to the mall lately but I drove by this morning and saw a bunch of rides set up there in the parking lot. They usually have a month long fair outside in the parking lot. 4.

So when someone tells you that there is nothing happening in Danbury, tell them that they're wrong.

If I missed something that's going down this weekend, email me at hatcityblog@yahoo.com (or in the comments) and I'll add it to the list.

The complaints keep rolling in on The BigT Talk & Variety Show starring hate-monger Tom Bennett, anti-immigrant United States Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement Vice President John McGowan, and sidekick "Bones" over their consistent broadcast content violations on Comcast. Were Bennett's, McGowan's, and Bones' call for residents of Danbury to assassinate members of the immigrant community (as well as Bennett's racial attack upon me) the last straw?

We can only hope...

To: Dave King, Head Coordinator, and Candiann Roswell, Public Access Coordinator Comcast Public Access

It has come to my attention that a person named Tom Bennett has a show on Comcast which is advocating violence against members of our community.

In addition, on HatCityBlog there were posts which provided a transcipt of some interchanges between this individual and "ctblogger". During these written exchanges the writer "bigtprd" (apparently Tom Bennett) repeatedly used racist terminology. This is unacceptable and if repeated on a public access show would result in the termination of the show. Please review the tapes and transcripts of this cable show and ensure that personal attacks and racist diatribes are not part of your programming.

PS. I have met "ctblogger" many times. He is a kind and gentlemanly person, who would not belittle or intimidate anyone.

He is just really really tall.

Please help send a message that the resident of Danbury will not tolerate individuals who consistently violate the rules and regulations of Comcast. No one should tolerate individuals like Bennett, McGowan, and "Bones" who think there is no problem with using sexually explicit language with a female minor, spreading rumors of firebombing the Hispanic Center, issue racial slurs, and repeatedly call for people to assassinate certain members of the immigrant community.

Enough is enough. Bennett and his xenophobic cronies need to be handed their walking papers and escorted out of Comcast studios before someone gets hurt.

I think the comments from the Waterbury Chief of Police Chief Neil O’Leary regarding State Senator Louis Deluca's press conference yesterday speaks for itself.

Deluca: the gift that keeps on giving...

In honor of today's News-Times editorial regarding Republican State Senate Minority Leader "Loony" Louis DeLuca and his ties to Danbury trash kingpin James Galante, MikeCT from My Left Nutmeg presents this feature video clip for your viewing pleasure.
Check out MikeCT's post and see what else he has to say.

PPM.

FUNNY, I CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE...
The more I hear from the anti-immigrant United States Citizens for Immigration Enforcement (USCFILE) President Elise Marciano, the more I'm convinced that 1.) she's the most clueless "deer-in-headlights" individual in Danbury; and 2). she's should be considered nothing more than a bigot who has a hatred for ALL immigrants.

Casted as Mayor Mark Boughton's favorite puppet speaker, which he gleefully picks first to speak at any council meeting where the parade ordinance was addressed (see May and June), Marciano is able to spew her venom of racism and bigotry wrapped around a web of misinformation surrounding the effectiveness of this ordinance against those "disgusting" immigrants who held spontaneous parades during the World Cup games of 2006. While conveniently overlooking critics of the ordinance (including the Democratic nominee for Mayor), Boughton allows un-informed Marciano to go on and on with her long-winded idiotic statements that have no bearing on the ordinance and has more to do with getting on the record citizens who are upset against immigrants ruining THEIR city.

In fact, Marciano's silliness during the entire parade ordinance debate is SO embarrassing, that we'll have to cover her disgusting behavior in two posts.

Read Marciano's simple-minded letter to the editor regarding the parade ordinance. Take note at her bigoted remarks in BOLD and we'll cover those remarks in the next post.

On Tuesday, June 5, the Danbury Common Council will vote on a parade ordinance aimed at reducing "spontaneous parades."

Last year, during the World Cup soccer games, Brazilians and Ecuadoreans living in Danbury took to the streets after a Brazil or Ecuador win during these games.

These "parades" stopped traffic on Main Street, endangered people's lives by overloading vehicles and otherwise interrupted normal traffic and activities so they could celebrate.

This was a large display of inconsideration of all the people of Danbury and only served to anger more Danbury residents. Americans do not care about soccer beyond what their children play in school.

The ordinance before the council makes an alternative solution to any future parades by offering alternative sites for celebrations which will not inconvenience hundreds of people and can be organized for the safety of all people.

The Danbury Common Council needs to get out in front of these issues to avoid the chaos that took place last year. I urge the voters of Danbury to call their council member and urge them to vote for this ordinance.

Now, if Marciano would open up her ears and eyes, or ACTUALLY READ THE ORDINANCE instead of being blinded by her bigotry, she would have known that this ordinance DOES NOT IN ANY WAY ADDRESS SPONTANEOUS PARADES.

Let's take a look AT THE FIRST PARAGRAPH of Article II: Parades and Public Assemblies (NOTE THE PORTION IN BOLD).

Sec 11-15 (a):

Parade means any march, demonstration, procession, or motorcade, which the parade permit applicant believes will consist of more than twenty-five (25) persons, animals, or vehicles or a combination thereof upon the streets, sidewalks, parks or other public property owned by or under the control of the City of Danbury, for a common purpose as a result of prior planning that interferes with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic upon said streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property.

Lets go down to section 11-15(d) which defines public assembly.

Sec 11-15 (d):

Public assembly means any meeting, demonstration, picket line, rally or gathering, which the parade permit applicant believes will consist of more than twenty-five (25) persons, held on the streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property owned by or under the control of the City of Danbury, for a common purpose as a result of prior planning that interferes with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic upon said streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property.

Note the words PRIOR PLANNING. spontaneous actions DOES NOT FALL UNDER the definition of PRIOR PLANNING and Marciano knows this because it was repeatedly told this VERY POINT on several occasions (including by the CORPORATE COUNCIL who drafted the ordinance).

It's like she's something out of the Twilight Zone....hmm, that gives me an idea.

Since the videotape doesn't lie, lets turn back the clock to May and watch the xenophobe queen in action.



Although it's much easier to simply say Marciano is simply has idea what the hell she's talking about, it would be an insult to those who don't know wht they're talking about.

It's even more sinister, disgusting, and downright dangerous...

Marciano and her followers such as USCFILE Vice President and co-host of the BigT Talk & Variety Show John McGowan (the individual WHO advocated that residents go out and shoot immigrants at Kennedy Park) care about one thing...attacking immigrants...not undocumented immigrants but ALL immigrants. Marciano letter to the editor or hate-filled rants to the Common Council does not distinguish between undocumented and documented and she doesn't distinguish between the two for a reason...because in her world (regardless of what she says), there is no difference between the two groups.

Remember the organization we're talking about here...USCFILE is nothing more than a group that was once part of the former Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control (CTCIC).

• You know, the group headed by Paul Streitz that was FOUNDED in Danbury.

• You know, the group headed by Paul Streitz that made a laughable claim that jobs at McDonalds (or as Streitz called it, MexDonalds) were being overrun by Latinos.

• You know, the group headed by Paul Streitz who filed a laughable claim about the Mayor of Stamford and Danbury and their association with undocumented immigrants.

• You know the group headed by Paul Streitz who has a libel case filed against him from Mayor Boughton.

• You know the group headed by Paul Streitz who could only round up 16 people to their demonstration in front of the News-Times, could only get 40 people to demonstrate in front of Kennedy Park, could only attract 70 supporters to their anti-immigration forum in 2006 (at least that was better than Marciano's forum earlier this year).


Marciano is no better than Streitz, in fact she's worse because she has the ear of Mayor Boughton and several on the Common Council and this is something that ALL level-headed residents of Danbury should be VERY concerned about.

...to be continued.

(Before Mayor Boughton attempts to spin the story surrounding his action in regarding the parade ordinance (in an effort to do damage control), this post has been bumped to the top).

The Mayor claims to have done his homework but looks more like his dog ate his homework than anything else.

I mean, you gotta be kidding me right? At this point, one has to question anything that Mayor Boughton states in regards to the proposed parade ordinance which is up for a re-vote again at tonight's Common Council meeting.

Boughton said the ordinance wasn't only created to stop spontaneous parades. He said it won't stop them entirely, but it will give police more power to step in, for instance, ticketing everyone who blocks an intersection or blasts their car horn.

1. This ordinance will NOT stop ANY spontaneous parade and Mayor Boughton knows this because his CORPORATION COUNCIL STATED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

2. In the run-up for the ordinance back in late April-early May 2006, the only thing Mayor Boughton and supporters of this ordinance talked about was THE WORLD CUP GAMES and the IMMIGRANTS THAT CAUSED TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. There was NO TALK about making sure everyone was paying the same amount of money for their parades and marches...although it's part of the ordinance, THE ONLY CARD being played was the drumbeat against immigrants and the excuses being stated NOW is basically a line of B.S. I was there, I videotaped the meetings back in 2006, and I (and those who attended the meetings and kept an eye on this ordinance from day one) KNOW BETTER and are not fooled.

3. As for this giving the police more power to ticket people...THEY'RE ALREADY LAWS ON THE BOOKS FOR THIS. The ordinance has NOTHING to do with ticketing people "who blocks an intersection or blasts their car horn."

Anyone who has watch this story from the beginning knows that the Mayor is changing his tune because he's caught by people who are now actually paying close attention to what he's saying and holding him accountable.

Case in point, watch this exchange where the mayor's "slight-of-hand" is caught by a reporter who knows better.

Okay, go over the lies from the mayor in that small exchange.

LIE number 1: The Mayor says that the World Cup games were NOT spontaneous because he and the chief had "prior planning."

FACT: What the Mayor and police chief do in terms of addressing traffic concerns has NOTHING to do with the legal definition of prior planning as outlined by the ordinance.

JUST READ THE ORDINANCE!

Sec 11-15 (a):

Parade means any march, demonstration, procession, or motorcade, which the parade permit applicant believes will consist of more than twenty-five (25) persons, animals, or vehicles or a combination thereof upon the streets, sidewalks, parks or other public property owned by or under the control of the City of Danbury, for a common purpose as a result of prior planning that interferes with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic upon said streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property.

The term "parade permit applicant" MEANS A PLANNING COMMITTEE and NOT AN INDIVIDUAL and definitely NOT THE MAYOR OR POLICE CHIEF.

In other words, PRIOR PLANNING does not mean the following:

The Mets are one game away from winning the World Series. I'm at a bar and tell my buddies that if they win, we'll run up and down the street and celebrate with the other Mets fans.

NOR does it mean this...

I'm at my house watching the World Cup games and decide to jump into my car and drive up and down the street because my team won

NOR does it mean this...

I just graduated from high school and I drive my car up and down the road with my friends, which I'll probably see for the last time, because I finished High School.

Ladies and gentlemen, that's called SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATION and I don't care how much you hate immigrants, there is nothing you can do to stop this type of expression because it's called FREE SPEECH and is protected by the first amendment (yes, even those who are not citizens of this country are protected by the constitution). Corporation Council KNOWS this because they stated at THE VERY FIRST AD-HOC COMMITTEE PROCESS that the city IN NO WAY can stop this form of expression. PERIOD!

THIS is prior planning.

The local AOH plans to hold a St. Partick Day's parade. a planning committee is formed to organize the event.

OR

The police union plans on holding a demonstration in front of City Hall against the Mayor over the lack of a contract. A planning committee is formed to organize the event.

OR

A group of immigrant rights organizations plan on holding a rally down Main Street to protest Mayor Boughton and the fact that he uses the immigration issue for political purposes. They get together and plan the event.

Listen to Common Councilman Paul Rotello explain why this ordinance WILL NOT ADDRESS "spontaneous celebrations" in my interview with him.



LIE number 2: When called out on LIE number 1 by an alert Elizabeth Putman, the mayor fumbled and stated that the celebrants had prior planning because they knew that they were going to go out in the streets after the game.

FACT: Look at my prior fact statement.

LIE number 3: The ordinance is another "tool in the toolbox" to help the police.

FACT: This so-called "tool" was not needed in the "toolbox" to address traffic concerns that stemmed from spontaneous parades (a.k.a. those pesky immigrant parades). They are already LAWS on the books to address the problems that stemmed from the World Cup games.

Here is Minority Leader Tom Saadi outlining EVERY POINT I just raised at last month's Common Council meeting.


The real problem that is being ignored is that, just like with the Elmer's Diner disaster, Mayor Boughton (a.k.a the person who does his homework) didn't have the proper foresight to address the situation properly choosing instead to shamelessly use the topic of "immigration" as a vehicle to rally up both his low-information (i.e. those whose only source of local news is the News-Times) and his anti-immigration bigoted base (headed by Elise "deer in the headlights" Marciano) to support for his policy (I'll deal with Ms. Marciano in a later post as she deserves special treatment).

Let's go back to the video tape and watch the mayor in action again...

Now, if Mayor Boughton handled the situation in 2002 with people going to the green and ice rink to celebrate there, it begs the question WHAT HAPPENED IN 2006? Also, for the mayor claiming that the World Cup games only happened on the championship level and that he didn't anticipate that there would be a parade after "every single game" (and even that is stretching it a bit).

To drive my point home, from the HatCityBLOG archives, I present to you Margret Mitchell from May 2006 when the immigration card was being used when the parade ordinance was first introduced.

MITCHELL: This is something that I wanted for years and I written various Council people, Council Presidents and the Mayor about this. Ever since the World Cup soccer game in 1994, which was a terrible disruption to our neighborhood...

See what happens when you VIDEOTAPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS!

Did you hear Mitchell say "1994"...did you hear Ms. Mitchell use the term "disruption on Main Street." Unfortunately, Ms. Mitchell is out of state right now but trust me, if there is any thorn in the side of the Council, it's Ms. Mitchell and when she said that she addressed the problem of the World Cup games with the Mayor and Common Council, SHE DID.

Also, ANY person who has been a resident of Danbury KNOWS about the World Cup games because, as Ms. Mitchell clearly stated, it's been an area of concern for at least 13 years if not more. For Mayor Boughton to state that he didn't anticipate that there would be a parade after "every single game (again this is a stretch) is completely and without question DISHONEST as people who are fans of soccer celebrate whenever their team wins (whether it's Equador, Protugal, or Italy ALL OF WHOM celebrated up and down Main Street in 2006).

This is just nonsense and the people of Danbury deserve better than a mayor who's more of an expert of double-talk and passing the buck to the "previous administration" than someone who claims to have done his homework.

MY oh MY!

What a treasure chest of video footage I've collected regarding the parade ordinance.

From Elise Marciano consistent lies, to the selling out hypocrisy of Councilman Stanley and Riley, I'm in the process of producing a MOUNTAIN of video footage exposing what's at the heart of the ordinance...the dishonesty of the Boughton administration and the Republican controlled Common Council that he has wrapped around his finger.


We here at HatCityBLOG are far from done is exposing the lies surrounding this so-called ordinance and after rolling out the footage, some people have some explaining to do.


(On a personal note, I want to thank everyone who've emailed or called me today. The show of support today was overwhelming and I want to thank all of those who told me that they came out to the meeting as a result of reading this blog.

The most shocking was being approached by several Republicans who said that they read the site everyday and were impressed with the recent reporting of the ordinance as well as the Elmer's Diner disaster. It goes to show you that people can look beyond partisanship to see the light surrounding the Boughton "banana republic" administration.

People over politics...whatever).

In another example of local government out of control, from May 22, 2007, here's video footage of the BRT tax deferral ad-hoc committee meeting.

When you watch this meeting, PLEASE take note that the purpose of the meeting was about whether or not the tax deferral should be rescinded. Also take note of what was allowed to be presented (slide show by BRT about them helping out Western Connecticut State University, Mayor Boughton's spin speech), what was NOT allowed (questions from the lone Democrats on the ad-hoc) and the answers to the FEW questions the Democrats were able to present ($7,000.00+ in rent collected from each student, the amount of money BRT will collect from the tax giveaway, who will be responsible to police the area).

A higher resolution version of the video (and comments on the meeting) will be posted soon.

NOTE: Due to problems with the camera, the first ten minutes of the video has distortions.

It's Wednesday and I still can't believed what happened at last night's meeting. Simply stunning...stunning.

Now, I'm not going to get into the details of what happened simply because in order for me to talk about what happened, I'll need to explain to everyone the parliamentary procedures that were involved in the entire matter. Right now, since I'm dealing with a mountain of phone calls and emails, I simply do not have the time to break everything down in a way that everyone will understand.

There are a lot of members of the public (including a number of people who showed up to the meeting because of what they read on this site) who are really pissed off right now and all I can say is take a deep breath. I know how you feel and I'm just as disappointed as anyone else over the way Mayor Boughton conducted the meeting (from cherry-picking members of the public to speak, to his comment to Lynn Taborsak after she rightfully called him out on his hypocrisy regarding one of his appointments). As many of those who read this site and we're at the meeting said, there are several people on the Council who need to show the courage and come forward and explain themselves about the way they voted.

And don't get me started on the fact that this entire matter could have been resolved during a special session rather than during a regular meeting when the mayor suddenly found someone to fill the open seat on the Council.

Where do we stand with the ordinance now? Well, as of now, the ordinance is now law and it should go into effect sometime in July.

What can the public do about the ordinance? Well, the one thing that can be done is let the mayor know that the ordinance in it's current form is unacceptable and needs to be modified. If Saadi's amendment was approved, most likely none of the nonsense that happened would have happened. Now, the public needs to stand up and make it known that an ad-hoc committee needs to address the concerns in Saadi's amendment that was approved by a bi-partisan majority of the council before the mayor overstepped his bounds and violated the charter.

Again, it's going to take a little while to digest everything that went down BUT one thing is for certain...there needs to be a change in the way the city operates and the only way that will happen will be by the citizens of Danbury exercising their right to vote and eliminating the one party rule that we currently have in the city.


And oh yes, Elise Marciano is a disgusting racist bigot and a disgrace to our city.

...developing.

No wonder Mayor Boughton was talking to Corporation Council in the hallways during the executive session.

No wonder Pauline Basso made an appearance in the hallways during the executive session.

No wonder the parade ordinance was bought up for discussion AFTER THE CAMERAS STOPPED ROLLING and the public went home UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MEETING WAS OVER AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

No wonder Mayor Boughton decided to act tough in front of the council AFTER THE CAMERAS WERE TURNED OFF.

No wonder Mayor Boughton decided to pick every anti-immigrant supporter of his so-called ordinance while ignoring Helena Abrantes and other critics of the ordinance who were prepared to rip him to shreds (he's damn lucky I didn't raise my hand).

I wonder how Common Councilman Robert Riley can look himself in the mirror tonight.

We'll bring you everything that happened at last night's outrageous Common Council meeting later but one thing is for certain...Mayor Boughton is a disgrace to this city and will probably go down as the most partisan, disgraceful, arrogant mayor in the history of this city who needs to be booted out of office.

We're in touch with those who are familiar with Freedom of Information law as well as in contact with members of the national mainstream media and I personally promise that I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO GET YOU ALL THE INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CAMERAS STOPPED ROLLING, THE PUBLIC LEFT, AND THE MAYOR PULLED HIS DIRTY TRICKS.

Look citizens of Danbury, we're living in a banana republic folks...you better wake up and smell the coffee.

...developing.

(story is bumped up to the top. Originally posted May 5 2007)


The response to Mayor Boughton's ill-advised decision to ignore the majority of the Common Council has been very intense this week and if the amount of emails I'm receiving is any indication, it's safe to assume that the backlash shows no signs of letting up any time soon.

From those who witness the bizarre events during Tuesday night's meeting at City Hall and members of the public who learned about Mayor Boughton's move afterward, to individuals on the Common Council who left the meeting enraged at the mayor's decision to ignore the will of the council (as well being EXTREMELY outraged with the political attack comments of Common Council President Joe Cavo), people I'm talked to are very concerned over the chain of events that occurred at the meeting and highly critical with the mayor's attempt to ram this ordinance through the council.

In my many years of attending the meetings at City Hall, the move from Mayor Boughton and the comments from Joe Cavo (which I'll post later today) will go down in my mind as one of the darkest moments in recent memory. To ignore the will of the majority goes to the heart of what makes democracy great and just reinforces my sincere belief that ALL local government meetings need to be broadcast as well as people NEED to get extremely involved in this years municipal election.

After the meeting, many members of the Common Council who were angered by the mayor's move (as well as the comments from an individual who is suppose to be President of the Common Council) were gracious enough to share their thoughts with HatCityBLOG.

It's getting to the point where someone should keep a scorecard on how many times the city charter is violated.

The charter tells the storyn (note the portion in BOLD):

Section 2-6. VACANCIES.

Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, any vacancy in any elective City office except the Board of Education, from whatever cause, shall be filled within 40 days by appointment by the Common Council for the unexpired portion of the term or until the next biennial municipal election, whichever shall be sooner, at which election the office shall filled for the remaining unexpired portion of the term, and such person shall take office the first Monday following his election. When the person vacating the office shall have been elected as a member of a political party, such vacancy, when filled by appointment, shall be filled by appointment of a member of the same political party.

Remember section 2-6 of the charter when you read this News-Times article from my post this post from Friday April 6 2007 entitled "Common Council member Ted Cutsumpas resigns..."

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.

Say it with me...V-I-O-L-A-T-I-O-N.

Is there an explanation for this violation from the mayor's office or from Common Council President Joe Cavo...oh, silly me, it's GENE ERIQUEZ'S FAULT.

...if you don't respect the city charter, you don't deserve to be in office.

(As a preview to tomorrow's Common Council meeting on round two of the parade ordinance scandal, this post is bumped to the top. Originally posted 05.04.07)



For those who don't wish to sit through the entire debate on the parade ordinance, here's a video package of the key parts of the fiasco including the outlining of the problems with the ordinance, the fact that the ordinance DOES NOT ADDRESS SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS (as stated by CORPORATION COUNCIL AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE), the Saadi amendment (which was approved by the bi-partisan majority of the Council), the vote to resend the ordinance back to committee (which was approved by a bi-partisan majority of the Council), Mayor Boughton violating the charter, and the infamous political smear from Common Council President Joe Cavo.

Don't listen to the lies, READ THE ORDINANCE and be informed!

(In honor of tomorrow's Common Council meeting on the second round of the parade ordinance scandal, this post is bumped to the top. LISTEN CAREFULLY and READ THE ORDINANCE. Originally posted May 2, 2007)

There been an alarming amount of misinformation from those who are pulling all the political tricks in order to push this so-called "parade ordinance" through the system.

From the misinformation regarding the impact this new policy will have on spontaneous celebrations (e.g. immigrants World Cup festivities), to the possible constitutional problems, which could ultimately cost the city a GREAT deal of money in legal fees, more than ever, it's important for people to have a better understanding about what Mayor Boughton is attempting to push through the Common Council.

Since the News-Times failed to fully inform the public, I felt it necessary to pick up the slack and do the job that the mainstream media refuse to do. Instead of explaining how bad an ordinance this is for the everyone in Danbury, I decided to go to the lawmakers who are fighting this ordinance and have them do it for me.

In an exclusive interview with HatCityBLOG, Democratic Common Councilman Paul Rotello took time out of his schedule to help explain the various problems with the ordinance and why everyone should be concerned.

Part 1: The public is misinformed ("This is not the ordinance you want, this is not the ordinance you expect.")



Part 2: If this ordinance doesn't address "spontaneous celebrations" then why do we really need this ordinance? Is this matter more about a knee-jerk reaction to immigration? (note: the World Cup games were in 2006).



Part 3: Threat to the right to assemble and technical problems with the ordinance.

Sections of the ordinance mentioned by Councilman Rotello in interview (note the section in BOLD)
Click here to download the entire ordinance (pdf)
ARTICLE II: PARADES AND PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES

Sec 11-15 (a):

Parade means any march, demonstration, procession, or motorcade, which the parade permit applicant believes will consist of more than twenty-five (25) persons, animals, or vehicles or a combination thereof upon the streets, sidewalks, parks or other public property owned by or under the control of the City of Danbury, for a common purpose as a result of prior planning that interferes with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic upon said streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property.

[...]

Sec 11-15 (d):

Public assembly means any meeting, demonstration, picket line, rally or gathering, which the parade permit applicant believes will consist of more than twenty-five (25) persons, held on the streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property owned by or under the control of the City of Danbury, for a common purpose as a result of prior planning that interferes with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic upon said streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public property.

[...]


Sec 11-22 Standards for issuance

(a): The Chief of Police shall issue a permit as provided for herin when, from a consideration of the application and from such other informaiton as may otherwise be obtained, he finds that:

(1) The conduct of the parade or public assembly will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of the other pedestrian or vehicular traffic contiguous to its route or location;

(2) The conduct of the parade or public assembly will not require the diversion of so great a number of City police officers to properly police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to prevent normal police protection of the City;

(3) The concentration of persons, animals, and vehicles at public assembly points of the parade or public assembly will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such public assembly areas;

(4) The conduct of the parade or public assembly is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property;

(5) The parade or public assembly is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays en route;

(6) Adequate sanitation and other required health facilities are or will be made available in or adjacent to any public assembly areas;

(7) There are sufficient parking places near the site of the parade or public assembly to accommodate the number of vehicles reasonably expected;

(8) No parade or public assembly permit application for the same time and location has already been granted or has been received and will be granted;

(9) No parade or public assembly permit application for the same time but a different location has already been granted or has been received and will be granted, and the police resources required for that prior parade or public assembly are so great that in combination with the subsequent proposed application, the resulting deployment of police services would have an immediate and adverse effect upon the welfare and safety of persons and property; and

(10) No event is scheduled elsewhere in the City where the police resources required for that event are so great that the deployment of police services for the proposed parade or public assembly would have an immediate and adverse effect upon the welfare and safety of persons and property.

(bumped to top. -ctb)


For a head start on what happened with the ordinance last month, please view the parade ordinance resource link on the right hand side of the site.

On Monday and Tuesday, HatCityBLOG will bring you everything you need to know about the proposed so-called parade ordinance.

From interviews of Democrats and Republicans on the Common Council, to exposing the misinformation flowing from Mayor Boughton and his administration (as well as the use of the "immigration card"), this site will give you a detailed analysis on one of the most misleading piece of legislation in the history of Danbury.

Why are we doing this? Because the mainstream media has failed the public in terms of properly informing them about the ordinance. They've allowed the mayor to mislead the public about the impact this ordinance will have on spontaneous parades, and allow anti-immigrant xenophobes such as Elise Marciano to use the media as a vehicle to spread her "point-of-view" to the public unchallenged.

We here at HatCityBLOG will do everything in our power to show the public:

• The true story behind this proposal,

• Expose the lies flowing out of the mouths of the anti-immigrant community,

• Explain why Common Council President Joe Cavo MUST issue an apology to the entire Common Council and members of the public regarding his outrageous partisan comments at last months meeting,

• And finally, give YOU all the information you need in order to make a sound decision, demand that democracy be upheld, and call on the mayor to stop misleading the public and interfering with the will of the majority of the legislative branch of government in Danbury.

From misleading information on the parade ordinance, to squashing questions from the critics of the BRT tax giveaway and not taking responsibility for the foreseen traffic nightmare at Elmer's Diner, it's clear that the Mayor is out of touch with the concerns of the people in Danbury and will run this city as he sees fit (regardless of opinion). The era of the low-information voter in the city needs to come to an end and HatCityBLOG will give you all the tools in order to make an educated opinion. With over 7000+ people viewing this site in the last month, and 450-700 in the last THREE days, we must be doing something right.

...developing.

For a head start on what happened with the ordinance last month, please view the parade ordinance resource link on the right hand side of the site.

Oh, this is rich!

Poor Lou Dobbs. Just like the local xenophobes who pollute Danbury, they just can't admit to the fact that they LIED when confronted with the facts. Case in point, recently, Dobbs made the outrageous claim about leprosy statistics in an attempt to link the disease to illegal immigration. Once confronted by the crew at Media Matters, the Southern Law Poverty Center and the New York Times, Dobbs came out with a new lie this week...suggesting to his audience that he had admitted error.

I'll let Media Matters give you the details.

In response to a New York Times column by David Leonhardt that noted CNN correspondent Christine Romans' inaccurate citation two years ago on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight of the number of leprosy cases in the United States, host and CBS Early Show contributor Lou Dobbs claimed on the May 30 program that he "set this record straight a couple of weeks ago." But as Leonhardt noted, Dobbs "has never acknowledged on the air that his program presented false information twice." As Media Matters for America noted, Dobbs insisted on the May 6 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes and the May 7 Lou Dobbs that the original report was correct. And on the May 16 edition of Lou Dobbs to which he referred, Dobbs did not correct Romans' report, as he claimed on the May 30 show and in Leonhardt's column that he had done; instead, as Media Matters noted, he misrepresented what Romans had said without admitting error. On the May 30 show, still not admitting that Romans' 2005 statistic of "7,000" cases of leprosy in the United States "in the past three years" was wrong, Dobbs called it "an ad-lib on the set of this broadcast uttered more than two years ago ... an unscripted ad-lib, not a report," ignoring his defenses of the report in May.

On the April 14, 2005, edition of Lou Dobbs, Romans aired a quote by Madeleine Cosman, anti-immigration activist and founding director of the Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the City College of New York. Cosman said: "We have some enormous problems with horrendous diseases that are being brought into America by illegal aliens." After the report, Romans said that Cosman "told us that there were about 900 cases of leprosy for 40 years. There have been 7,000 in the past three years." However, as Media Matters noted, there had not been 7,000 cases of leprosy "in the past three years," as Romans said. According to the National Hansen's Disease Program (NHDP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), there were 398 cases of Hansen's disease, or leprosy, reported between 2002 and 2004 -- "the past three years" at the time Cosman made her statement.

CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl challenged Romans' numbers during a profile on Dobbs on the May 6 edition of 60 Minutes. The next day, Dobbs told Romans on Lou Dobbs: "I stand 100 percent behind what you said." Romans said, "We don't make up numbers here," and supported her claim that her figure was accurate by quoting from Cosman's article: "Hansen's disease was so rare in America that in 40 years only 900 people were afflicted. Suddenly, in the past three years America has more than 7,000 cases of leprosy." Neither mentioned the HHS statistics.

On the May 16 edition of Lou Dobbs, in a report on leprosy, CNN correspondent Bill Tucker gave accurate leprosy statistics, but he did not mention Romans' citations of Cosman. Later during the same program, in an interview with representatives of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Dobbs misrepresented Romans' citation, claiming that the 7,000 number referred to "active" cases of leprosy rather than cases "in the past three years." Dobbs said, "[W]e did not say there were new cases at any time," adding, "What we said in point of fact was that there are 7,000 cases on the ... active leprosy register." Later, Dobbs stated: "So we did not say, we quite agree, that there were 7,000 new cases. We said there were 7,000 on the registry."

In his May 30 New York Times "Economix" column, Leonhardt documented the history of the citation, noting the actual HHS statistics, and concluding: "So Mr. Dobbs was flat-out wrong." Leonhardt wrote that Dobbs "admitted as much, sort of," in a conversation the two had, and when Leonhardt read Romans' citation to Dobbs, the CNN host replied: "I think that is wrong." Leonhardt then wrote that Dobbs told him "that as far as he [Dobbs] was concerned, he [Dobbs] had corrected the mistake" on May 16, even though, Leonhardt added, "he [Dobbs] has never acknowledged on the air that his program presented false information twice." Leonhardt concluded: "[I]f 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?"

According to mediabistro's TVNewser weblog, CNN issued a written statement in response to Leonhardt's column, in which CNN stated that "Lou Dobbs took the initiative to set the record straight in a full report on the subject two weeks ago," presumably referring to Tucker's May 16 report. Dobbs' May 30 report was posted in a commentary on CNN.com the next day.

From the May 30 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight:

DOBBS: Now, if I may, a personal note tonight that I'd like to share with you: I've been, over the years -- because of our reporting on controversial issues and my strongly held beliefs on those issues -- attacked, and usually pretty vigorously, by both the left wing and the right wing of this nation's media, both mainstream and otherwise, and of course the politicians that form the extremes of our political spectrum.

As a matter of fact, I'm regularly attacked by the right wing -- the biggest business lobbyists in the country, The Wall Street Journal editorial page, the Bush administration -- for my criticism of so-called free trade policies and outsourcing.

I'm regularly attacked by the left wing as well -- the Southern Poverty Law Center, The New York Times, The Nation, MALDEF [Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund], and MEChA [Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán] -- for my opposition to illegal immigration.

Today, The New York Times published a column that picks up where an advertisement, a paid advertisement in the Times, paid for by the Southern Poverty Law Center, left off two weeks ago.

Today's New York Times column is primarily a personal attack on me, focuses on an ad-lib on the set of this broadcast uttered more than two years ago by Christine Romans on the number of cases of leprosy in this country, an unscripted ad-lib, not a report -- by the way, we've never done a report on leprosy until we had to set this record straight a couple of weeks ago. That's over four and a half years of reporting on that issue.

This is why you should NEVER believe a WORD that comes out of an anti-immigrant pundit. Whether it's a moron like Dobbs, or a local goons like Elise Maricano, Tom Bennett and John McGowan, they're all the same...simple-minded bigots individuals who are so blinded by their hatred for immigrants, that they say and do anything to get their point across (no with consideration for the truth).

Hopefully, this is the start of a new trend where the media will challenge these morons on their facts and expose their lies. Maybe the News-Times can learn a thing or two from Media Matters, the NYT, and the SPLC the next time they call Marciano for a quote.

Lou Dobbs: Liar. Local xenophobes: Ditto.

The results are not surprising...


HAS MAYOR BOUGHTON DONE ENOUGH IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS AT ELMER'S DINER?

I've receiving a great deal of advice from several sources on how to handle Tom Bennett and his bigoted show, which unfortunately is still on the public's local access channel on Comcast cable.

In the last month, HatCityBLOG has presented a clear case where Bennett, his co-host John McGowan: Vice president of Elise Marciano's anti immigrant group United States Citizens for Immigration and Law Enforcement (USFILE), and the individual who goes by the name "Bones" should not only be immediately removed from the airwaves, but possibly be investigated by the police department for their statements against members of the immigrant community.

Although we have over two and a half years of footage in which Bennett has repeatedly violated the rules and regulations of Comcast, his call for violence towards members of the immigrant community during the May 18th episode (as well as his comments and threats directed at yours truly) should be more than enough to alert law enforcement to get involved.

Let's recap:

Here's a transcript of Bennett issuing a threat against me on YouTube.

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...

Here's highlights of May 18th show where Bennett, USFILE Vice President John McGowan, and co-host "Bones" calling for people to kill members of the immigrant community.


Here's a breakdown of Connecticut's law against hate crimes.

AN ACT CONCERNING HATE CRIMES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2004) For the purposes of sections 53a-181j to 53a-181l, inclusive, of the general statutes, as amended by this act:

(1) "Disability" means physical disability, mental disability or mental retardation;

(2) "Gender identity or expression" means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's assigned sex at birth;

(3) "Mental disability" means one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders";

(4) "Mental retardation" has the same meaning as provided in section 1-1g of the general statutes; and

(5) "Physical disability" means any chronic physical handicap, infirmity or impairment, whether congenital or resulting from bodily injury, organic processes or changes or from illness, including, but not limited to, blindness, epilepsy, deafness or hearing impairment or reliance on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device.

Sec. 2. Section 53a-181j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2004):

(a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass another person because of the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, [or] disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of such other person, causes serious physical injury to such other person or to a third person.

(b) Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree is a class C felony.

Sec. 3. Section 53a-181k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2004):

(a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass another person because of the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, [or] disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of such other person, does any of the following: (1) Causes physical contact with such other person, (2) damages, destroys or defaces any real or personal property of such other person, or (3) threatens, by word or act, to do an act described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection, if there is reasonable cause to believe that an act described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection will occur.

(b) Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree is a class D felony.

Sec. 4. Section 53a-181l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2004):

(a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the third degree when such person, with specific intent to intimidate or harass another person or group of persons because of the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, [or] disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of such other person or persons: (1) Damages, destroys or defaces any real or personal property, or (2) threatens, by word or act, to do an act described in subdivision (1) of this subsection or advocates or urges another person to do an act described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, if there is reasonable cause to believe that an act described in said subdivision will occur.

(b) Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Approved May 21, 2004

Here's Comcast rules and regualtion Section E, 4-5:

4. No obscene material, sexually explicit conduct, or material soliciting or promoting unlawful conduct.

5. 5. No material which incites violent or harmful acts on other persons.

Bennett, USFILE Vice President McGowan, and the individual "Bones" are clearly using the airwaves to incite people to harm members of the immigrant community and commit a hate crime.

Not only is this against the rules and regulations of Comcast, this type of language is against F.C.C. rules as well as something that the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control should consider investigating.

This is NOT a case of free speech or First amendment rights as there are limits and laws in terms of what can and can not be said on the airwaves and Bennett has repeatedly VIOLATED THESE LAWS in the last three weeks alone.

In the last two weeks, letters have been flowing into Comcast demanding that action be taken against Bennett, an editorial on Bennett's outrageous behavior was recently published, and other blogs in Connecticut are taking notice and are expressing outrage and calling for action.

Its simple. Comcast have a responsibility to not allow individuals like Bennett, McGowan and "Bones" to issue call for arms against members of our public.

What will it take for Comcast to do the right thing...when some innocent person gets hurt by one of Bennett deranged fans?

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).