The following should be concerned

Saturday, September 08, 2007
Time: 10:58 AM


...very concerned.

Is Cappiello the next to fall? Will subprime fraud impact CT-05?

Friday, September 07, 2007
Time: 4:30 PM

(Story bumped to the top with updates)

Here's a explosive new cross post that is quickly gaining attention across the blogosphere from My Left Nutmeg

Yesterday, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed suit against several subprime lenders in Connecticut who had conspired to defraud consumers with predatory lending practices. You can read the press release here.

As subprime lending practices continue to grab headlines, one has to wonder how far this will go.

One obvious person of interest is none other than State Senator David Cappiello, the GOP's candidate for Congress in Chris Murphy's 5th Congressional District.

David Cappiello, a star GOP recruit who is trying to take on Freshman Dem. Rep. Chris Murphy, lists his full-time occupation as a Mortgage Loan Officer for Danbury-based "Charter Funding." Charter Funding has, so-far, not been sued by Blumenthal.

But after a close look, things get very murky very quick.

Charter Funding, it turns out, is a business name of a secretive Tuscon, Arizona-based subprime lendor, First Magnus Corp. First Magnus is a privately-held lendor that operates around the country under literally dozens of different names, often within the same state. It is a registered foreign-owned corporation, but I'm not sure who its shareholders are.

In any event, First Magnus mortgage shops are franchised out to people like Cappiello (who can apply for franchises and broker licenses online), who then market mortgages (again, mainly subprime) typically to people who have no business getting mortgages.

A number of franchisees have been prosecuted for fraud.

On August 21, First Magnus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and posted the following on its website.
In light of the collapse of the secondary mortgage market, First Magnus will not fund any future mortgage loans, and is no longer accepting any mortgage loan applications or funding any mortgage loans previously originated and not yet funded. We explored all options before taking this action but were left with no viable alternative.

First Magnus values the relationships we have formed with all of our broker partners over the years and appreciate the trust you have shown in us. We are saddened that we will no longer have the opportunity to work with you.

For information about loans already submitted to First Magnus, please contact us at 520.618.9000 or call our toll-free hotline number: 1.866.901.7655.

My question: how many of these bad loans were written by Sen. Cappiello?

How many people have lost their homes because of shady ARMs he handed out?

More importantly... were any of the loans issued under predatory or fraudulent circumstances?

Is Blumenthal's office investigating Chater / First Magnus? Is Cappiello out of work?

It's not every day that a major mortgage lender collapses, and it's not every day that a major mortgage lender employing a major congressional candidate collapses.
DEVELOPING...

UPDATE: This story is possibly picking up steam. Here's what some people have unearthed and posted on MLN.
No longer Charter Funding!

Cappiello's outfit is back with Flagstar Bank. (same people, same office location, etc.)

My guess is that they are independent contractors, and not employees per se, and that they can contract/represent whatever funding source they prefer.

So why did Cappiello's group leave Flagstar for Charter in the first place? Probably for more flexibility in writing deals.


CASES INVOLVING CHARTER FUNDING

Cases of mortgage fraud and Charter Funding in Arizona.

Case of Charter Funding playing it fast and loose in Illinois.


STORY IS PICKING UP STEAM AND IS STILL DEVELOPING...

Shameless Chris Shays receives "Worse Person in the World" honors


Time: 12:00 PM

Couldn't happen to a better political hack.

Hat tip to the great Scarce for the clip.

Too much to do...so little time

Thursday, September 06, 2007
Time: 11:29 AM

Grr...

I'm DYING to break loose on this site but I'm SO busy right now as I'm working on a HUGE project in Bridgeport.

Again, I know, I know, I know about the signs, the moron who was arrested, the person who drove the vehicle, the HUGE wave of embarrassment and backpedaling from the Republicans, and how this story is FAR, FAR, FAR from over.

I know your dying for me to break with the lawn sign story but I really don't have the time right now. There is SO much information to collect that it isn't even funny...in fact, it's downright serious.

With the Taste of Danbury, the Irish festival, the lawn sign scandal, the political season getting into high gear, and a host of guest post on the horizon, lets just say that I'm going to be rather busy on this site this September.

PLEASE, unless you have information to share, PLEASE, PLEASE stop emailing me asking when I'm going to post on the lawn sign story. Thanks in advance.

Enough already

Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Time: 4:38 PM

Yes, I know about the signs.

Yes, I know who the person is.

Of course I'm investigating the story.

Of course the News-Times screwed up the story and didn't do a full report.

Of course, I'm going to write about it.

NO the anthrax IS NOT TERROR RELATED! You're not going to DIE. Cutaneous anthrax is a rather common zoonotic disease (animal disease). It's a skin disease, not the airborne sickness made popular by terrorists in 2001. Learn more on the disease by clicking here before freaking out.

UPDATE: Here, I'll make it easier for you...

Any more questions? Good, now give me a break, I haven't even unpacked all my clothes yet and I'm wrapping my house up with duct tape because of the horrible anthrax scare .

Anthrax scare reported


Time: 12:12 PM

A case of anthrax has been reported in Danbury.

You can learn about the developing story from the News-Times.

The intersection of Padanaram and Jeanette Roads have been blocked off due to the incident. For those who are looking for an alternate route, try out this map of the area in question (I recommend using E. Pembroke Road).


View Larger Map

Bridge of neglect primer


Time: 9:09 AM

Bridge repair? Ahh, it must be election season.

In honor of Mayor Boughton's election year damage control tonight's agenda at the Common Council over the bridge on Padanaram Rd, I bumped this older post to the top of the page. Trust me folks, this story of neglect is long from over.

This entry was originally posted on August 17th @ 8:33 P.M.


Boy, it's been a hell of a week.

First local bigot Tom Bennett finally gets his long-overdue fifteen minutes of shame, and has his live show yanked by Comcast from it's 9 o'clock spot to the no watch zone of 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (I'll get back to this later), now it seems like there has been some rather interesting developments in the Padanaram Rd. bridge disaster.



For those who don't know, the stretch of road from Padanaram Rd to Route 39 (known to local residents as "the shortcut"), has been a grave concern for residents who live on that stretch road. For years, neighbors have witnessed countless accidents by a neglected and unsafe bridges riddled with broken guardrails and improper street drainage (location of the bridge in question marked approximately by the crosshairs in the map).

For at least the last year on a half, the residents of Padanaram Rd repeatedly expressed their frustrations to Mayor Boughton and demanded that the city fix the problem only to receive unacceptable results.



Recently, myself, Ideas at Work and Beyond TV Host Ivon Alcime, were given a tour of the bridge by neighbor, irresponsible development critic and current 2nd Ward Common Council candidate Ken Gucker. On last Thursday's show, Gucker detailed the history of the bridge and the immediate safety risk the degrading bridge poses for the neighborhood, and his troubles getting anyone at City Hall to properly adequately address the hazardous situation on the road.

From last week's Ideas at Work and Beyond, here's footage of Gucker detailing the problems on the road.


Back in town


Time: 8:59 AM

What an amazing time I had at the U.S. Open. I'll share some of the photograhs I took later.

Came back to town with an inbox full of emails and spent the last day running around catching up on things. I guess it's been an interesting few days in Danbury and I have a little catching up to do.

Give me a while to get back to speed...

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INDEPENDENT PARTY OF DANBNRY
DATABASE COMING SOON


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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