Lift the ban

Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 5:02 PM

Good editorial on a STUPID and outdated law...

LOCAL ACCESS VIDEO: Community Forum 03.11.09 broadcast

Friday, March 13, 2009
Time: 12:30 PM

Host: John Gogliettino
Guest: Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury (or the organization that was screwed by the mayor and his anti-immigrant ilk).


Required viewing


Time: 9:29 AM

As you know, bloggers have been VERY critical of Gov Rell's dishonet budget proposal that she presented while knowing that it was 2 billion dollars short in terms of addressing the 2011 projected deficit.

With that in mind, at Monday's Democratic Town Committee meeting, 110th State Rep Bob Godfrey took the gloves off and explained the seriousness of the governor's game of smoke and mirrors. The video is about 13 minutes but worth every second of viewing.

Enjoy!


The video tells the story


Time: 8:52 AM

If I said it once, I've said it a thousands times, the VIDEO TAPE NEVER LIES!

Take for instance the situation in East Haven in which there are allegations of police officers harassing members of the immigrant community. Recently, a priest who stands up for the rights for immigrants for arrested for documenting the alleged abuses in the area. Now that same priest has come forward with evidence that police's accounts leading up his arrest was basically made-up.

First, a little background:
A city priest crossed into East Haven to document what he called systematic and sometimes violent police harassment of Latinos — only to find himself arrested and his camera confiscated.

As the head of a parish with a growing population of newcomers from Latin America, Manship has been an outspoken advocate for Ecuadorians and other immigrants.

The priest is Father James Manship, pastor of the Saint Rose of Lima church in Fair Haven. He is scheduled to appear in New Haven’s State Superior Court Wednesday morning in connection with his arrest by East Haven police.

The priest’s advocacy work has recently extended across the nearby border into East Haven, where Latino business owners say that East Haven police have been targeting their customers for harassment. The business owners said that Latino customers are afraid to come to their shops, for fear of being threatened and ticketed by police officers.

[...]

On the evening of his arrest, at around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, Father Manship walked into My Country Store, a convenience store in East Haven run by Ecuadorians. Inside, the police were removing over 60 expired license plates that had been hung as decorations in the store. The license plates were government property, the officers had said, and they were confiscating them.

Manship entered the shop, took out a digital camera, and began videotaping the East Haven police officers who were removing license plates from a wall in the rear of the store.

The officers immediately ordered Manship to stop videotaping, seized his camera and put him under arrest, according to Manship. Within minutes of his arrival, everyone in the store fell silent as Father Manship was led out in handcuffs. He was charged with interfering with a police officer and creating a public disturbance.

[...]

After the police arrested the priest, they noticed that the store was equipped with security cameras. Elio Cruz, a leader in New Haven’s Virgen Del Cisne Ecuadorian community, was in the store that night. “When [the police officers] realized there was videotaping from My Country Store, they went crazy,” Cruz recalled later. “They said it was illegal and they tried to grab the computer.”


Now, here's the police's account of arrest from Hugh Keefe, criminal defense attorney who’s representing the East Haven Police Department (and Jimmy Dyer and James Galante's BFF)
According to the Officer David Cari, Keefe said, Officer Dennis Spaulding had approached Father Manship when he entered the store, advising him to keep his distance from the police. Spaulding had reportedly given Manship a similar warning earlier in the week.

Manship allegedly walked toward the police with an “unknown shiny object cupped in his hands.” Manship stopped and “fully extended his hands” towards the officers. Officer Cari reported that he felt unsafe. He asked Manship if he was holding a video camera, asked him to reveal what was in his hands. Manship reportedly didn’t answer.

[...]

“When you have something in your hand and the police ask you a simple question, common sense dictates that you answer that question,” attorney Keefe said.

You can read the police report in full by clicking here (pdf file).

NOW, here's Father Manship's video footage, which was released to the media yesterday...listen carefully.



As the New Haven Independent reports:
Father James Manship released video footage Thursday that contradicts an East Haven police report justifying his arrest.

[...]

Manship and his supporters released the footage at a press event Thursday at the St. Rose of Lima Church in Fair Haven.

The video, taken by Father Manship (pictured), shows the seconds leading up to his arrest.

The footage appears to contradict a claim made by the East Haven police department in a police report that was withheld until 13 days after the incident. The police report, David Cari, one of two arresting officers, states that he didn’t know what the New Haven priest was holding. He wrote that he saw an “unknown shiny silver object” that Manship had “cupped” in his hands, and was afraid for his safety. Read the police report here.

The footage clearly shows that the arresting officers knew that Manship was holding a camera, not an “unknown shiny silver object.”

In the video, the Officer Cari twice refers to the object as a camera.

“Sir what are you doing? Is there a reason that you have a camera on me?” says Cari, in the video.


[...]

In direct contradiction of Cari’s claim, the video from Manship’s camera shows Officer Cari twice verbally identifying the “silver object” as a camera.

“Sir what are you doing? Is there a reason that you have a camera on me?” says Officer Cari, in the video.

“I’m taking a video of what’s going on here,” Manship replies.

“Well, I’ll tell you what, what I’m going to do with that camera,” Officer Cari says, as he walks around a shelving unit to approach the priest.

Who's telling the truth? I think you know that answer.

Morale of the story...the videotape will always tell the story. In this case, the East Haven police's account of the incident is basically a joke by the fact that the video DIRECTLY contridicts the arresting officer's account of the incident.

More to come...

Brewing problem for City Hall?


Time: 8:44 AM

Allegations of discriminaton at the Danbury Hoiusing Authority have increased over the last couple of months and it now seems like the Attorney General is taking the matter seriously.

More later...

HatCityBLOG VIDEO: Interview with Charter Revision Chairman Carlo Marano and Minority Leader Tom Saadi

Thursday, March 12, 2009
Time: 3:05 PM

Picture 8

After Tuesday's Common Council meeting, Charter Revision Chairman Carlo Marano and Minority Leader Tom Saadi fielded questions from The News-Times, WLAD, and yours truly.

Marano was questioned about the origins of the four year term proposal (listen VERY CAREFULLY to his answer) as well as his thoughts on the entire 17 month charter revision process. I later questioned Councilman Saadi about the defeat of the four year terms proposal as well as his thoughts on the changes as a whole.

All in all, it was a pretty insightful interview...



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Interview with Minority Leader Tom Saadi:



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CABLE ACCESS VIDEO: Spotlight On broadcast for 03.10.09


Time: 1:42 PM

As I stated earlier, based on the popularity of the online versions of the local access shows "Danbury Live" and "Community Forum", another local access host has partner with HatCityBLOG.

The show "Spotlight On" features videos of various events in the Danbury area. Hosted by Bob Brought Jr., Tuesday's show focused on the Danbury Mad Hatter's "Danbury Trasher's night" game agaisnt the Brooklyn Aces.


Neo-Nazi group invades New Haven


Time: 1:24 PM

As word of East Haven police racial profiling immigrants gains attention in the media, one of the most dangerous Neo-Nazi group in the region pays an unwelcomed visit to the area.
Just days after they spoke out against alleged racial profiling of Latinos in East Haven, Luis Rodriguez and city priest Father James Manship discovered frightening flyers at their doorsteps.

A white supremacist group hand-delivered flyers Saturday night to Latino businesses in East Haven and at St. Rose of Lima, Manship’s church in New Haven.

The flyers warn of an “invasion” of undocumented immigrants that will turn the United States into “a third-world slum.” Some of the flyers feature a picture of a soldier holding a rifle.

“This makes me very nervous,” said Rodriguez (pictured), an Ecuadorian immigrant who owns Los Amigos Grocery in East Haven. He and his wife now fear for their safety.

[...]

Just days after they spoke out against alleged racial profiling of Latinos in East Haven, Luis Rodriguez and city priest Father James Manship discovered frightening flyers at their doorsteps.

A white supremacist group hand-delivered flyers Saturday night to Latino businesses in East Haven and at St. Rose of Lima, Manship’s church in New Haven.

The flyers warn of an “invasion” of undocumented immigrants that will turn the United States into “a third-world slum.” Some of the flyers feature a picture of a soldier holding a rifle.

“This makes me very nervous,” said Rodriguez (pictured), an Ecuadorian immigrant who owns Los Amigos Grocery in East Haven. He and his wife now fear for their safety.

The flyers were also deposited at St. Rose of Lima Church in Fair Haven, where Manship (pictured) serves as the priest. As the head of a parish with a growing population of newcomers from Latin America, Manship has been an outspoken advocate for Ecuadorians and other immigrants.

Today New Haven, tomorrow Danbury...

Common Council special meeting wrap-up

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Time: 12:18 PM

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Members of the Common Council learn details of revised teachers contract.
Common Council special meeting 03.10.09


Well, the four year term nonsense is finally a wrap.

Last night, the Common Council voted to approve the teacher's contract as well as axe the four year term proposal from the revisions of the charter.

Although there is a LOT to talk about regarding the origins of the four year term proposal, this post will only focus on video highlights of the meeting itself as opposed to offering my opinion on what happened last night.

This will be an ongoing post and will be bumped to the top as videos are uploaded.




Public speaking



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Item 1: Teacher's Contract



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Item 2: Charter revision



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Introducing Gary Goncalves

Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Time: 5:57 PM

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Democrat Gary Goncalves answers questions from residents at last night's DTC meeting.
Democratic Headquarters, 03.09.09. Photo by ctblogger


After his announcing his intention in front of 150+ friends and family members at the Amber Room Sunday, Democrat Gary Goncalves spoke at last night's Democratic Town Committee meeting about his desire to unseat Mark Boughton in this fall's municipal election.

From last night's DTC meeting, here's highlights of Goncalves' announcement.



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The Goncalves' campaign released the following release.
On Sunday, March 8th, Danbury native Gary M. Goncalves announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination as the candidate for Mayor before approximately one hundred fifty family and friends at a reception held at the Amber Room Colonnade.

On Monday, March 9th, Mr. Goncalves addressed the Democratic Town Committee where he was warmly greeted as he formally announced his desire to be the Democratic Party nominee as the Mayoral candidate.

Mr. Goncalves stated he is running to address the pressing issues that the citizens of Danbury face from increasing taxes and fees to decreased services, to potential teacher layoffs and growing concern for our community’s overall quality of life. Mr. Goncalves further stated that the city's current administration has a clear "tax and spend" mindset that is neither in keeping with the current economic climate nor in the best interests of the future stability and security of the finances and services of the city. He believes that his community, professional and corporate experience combined with his fiscal discipline will position him well to lead our city as Mayor without burdening current and future generations with increased debt.

Mr. Goncalves has already received the support of a number of Democratic Town Committee (DTC) members and elected officials well ahead of official DTC candidate endorsements which occur in July.

Mr. Goncalves now will begin his campaign on a citywide basis. In the months that follow, he will reach out and solicit input from all the diverse constituencies in the city and add their issues, concerns and voices to his campaign commensurately.

Gary Goncalves is fifty-five years old, a native of Danbury who attended our public schools. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Bridgeport. He is married with three children. Mr. Goncalves is currently entering his 30th year of service for the General Reinsurance Company in Stamford where he works as Vice President in the Global Finance Department (General Re is the world's premier reinsurer, and a member of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Group). He has been active in a variety of community and church affairs through the years as a volunteer coaching youth sports, leading non-profit groups, raising scholarship funds, and is currently a member of St. Anthony Parish.

Gov. Rell's dishonest gameshow


Time: 5:25 PM

In honor of Gov. Rell's incredibly dishonest budget which has been blasted on various state blogs, a member of My Left Nutmeg put together this video that highlights our governor's gross malfeasance.

Enjoy!


BREAKING NEWS: DEMOCRAT THROWS HAT INTO MAYORAL RACE

Monday, March 09, 2009
Time: 11:37 PM

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Democratic Town Committee meeting: 03.09.09
DTC headquarters. Photo by CTbLogger


Tomorrow, I'll post my report on tonight's Democratic town Committee meeting where the person who will challenge Mayor Boughton officially jumped into the mayoral race.

More to come tomorrow...

Republican throws his hat in 2010 Congressional race


Time: 1:39 PM

Introducing...
The state’s defense industry may have suffered a setback Thursday, but the Republican Party might have gained a strong challenger to 5th District incumbent, Democrat Congressman Chris Murphy.

When Farmington resident Justin Bernier resigned as executive director of the state’s Office of Military Affairs, Connecticut’s defense industry and infrastructure lost a military-friendly advocate. In his resignation letter, Bernier did not reveal why he was resigning a post created in 2007 by the state legislature.

However, Bernier talked to The Herald Friday about his resignation. He is considering a run against Murphy in the 5th District and wants to begin building support for his campaign.

“I’ve been meeting with [Republican] party leaders across the state about running,” he said. “I should have a decision in the not-too-distant future. So far, the feedback has been positive.”


Hmm...looking at Bernier's background, it seems like he's better suited for the 2nd district race as opposed to the 5th. Genghis has more...

CNBC is a joke

Sunday, March 08, 2009
Time: 9:50 AM

A tad bit off topic but given the state of the economy, this is required viewing.



THANK YOU JOHN STEWART!

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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