Your tax dollars at work?!? (and poor reporting from the News-Times)

Saturday, May 30, 2009
Time: 9:25 AM

Money well spent?
Mayor Mark Boughton said he plans to appeal the state Siting Council's decision to allow a cell tower on Stadley Rough Road.

The tower was the subject of a well-attended and contentious hearing last fall before the council, which approved the application two weeks ago by a 6-3 vote.

[...]

The city had spent about $100,000 to hire engineers and consultants to fight the proposal.

After spending 100,000 of YOUR taxpayers dollars on something which was a losing battle from the beginning, the last honest man in Danbury is ready to spend more money for a losing cause.
"Getting a Siting Council decision overturned is a difficult process and rarely done. There isn't much we can do."

First off, this article (which is on the FRONT PAGE of today's News-Times) highlights one of the most notable deficiencies with the paper...the lack of quality reporting. I hardly think former News-Times reporters from the late 70 to 90s (Valerie Roth) or even more recently (Elizabeth Putnam, Eugene Driscoll) would base their ENTIRE article on what's clearly a single a phone conversation between the reporter and the mayor. Seeing that I knew about his ruling A WHILE AGO, the timing of this story is a bit ridiculous and appears to be an afterthoght given the attention being paid to a similar cell tower case occurring in Newtown.

It's unfortunate that News-Times reporter Dirk Perrefort didn't take the time to research the ruling (as opposed to just recycling what's obviously a press release from Boughton) but for those who want the real story behind the ruling (as opposed to reading a article based on a single phone conversation), luckily all the minutes from the case are at your fingertips.

Before reading the informaiton from the Siting Council's website, take a few moments and read the concerns from the neighbors. Their concerns are broken down to three areas, health, environment, and property values.

Second, here are comments from the last honest man in Danbury regarding the application:
This application is deeply flawed and the City of Danbury Cell Tower Task Force is currently working on a presentation to the Siting Council on Sept. 9 to illustrate the deficiencies in the application.

Notwithstanding the fact that Mayor Boughton didn't inform the public about the "deeply flawed" problems with the Cell companies application, lets do something the News-Times reporter didn't take time in doing and take a look at the minutes from the case...which are AVAILABLE ONLINE!

From the hearing here are the Siting Council's finding facts. Take note of the sections entitled "Suggested Alternate Sites" , "Multi Site Solutions" , and "Environmental Considerations" (Note 1-111).

Are you done reading that seciton of the report...good lets continue.

Look at the section entitled "Visibility of tower proposed at 52 Stadley Rough Road" and take note at the aprox. number of residents who would be able to see the tower. as opposed to the number of residents who would see the tower at the alternate sites.

Now, here's a map which shows where the tower would be located.

gmapsat

Okay, lets take a look at the ruling (pdf) FILED ON APRIL 28 2009 and see if the Sitting Council were outrageous in their decision (ruling starts on page 37).

Now that you read all the information (as opposed to the embarrassingly limited info in Perrefort's article, onw should question the wisdom in Boughton appealing this sensible and logical ruling.

Again, the City of Danbury spent 100,000 taxpayer's dollars and put up a defense that had no chance in success (once one simply look at the ENTIRE case, the cell company's compliance with STATE LAW, and the REAL impact the tower would have on the area as opposed to the impact the tower would have if it was built at any of the NUMEROUS alternate sites).

Now, as ANYONE who knows me (or has read this site on a regular basis) understands that I'm a brutal critic of irresponsible development. That being said, this episode has the markings of a NIMBY case as opposed to a irresponsible development fight.

WRAP-UP:

In Conclusion:

1. The planning of the cell tower is now eight years in the making, and after, in essence, wasting 100,000 TAXPAYERS dollars and willing to spend MORE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS in a appeal which he has admitted will probably not favor the city, the last honest man in Danbury needs to give this whole situation a rest.

2. (and more importantly) Dirk Perrefort and the News-Times needs to stop writing articles based off of a SINGLE phone conversation with the mayor. Since this case caught a great deal of attention last year, there is NO REASON the newspaper didn't do a series of follow-ups on the story (including following the Siting Council's proceedings and doing an article that outlines the Council's ruling and dismissal of the city's defense.

3. If the city spent 100,0oo TAXPAYER'S dollars on this small case, one should wodner how nuch TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS are being spent on the Danbury 11 civil lawsuit...

(NOTE: I'll update this post later with more information later).

Upgrades

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Time: 11:44 AM

I have three announcements regarding the future of HatCityBLOG which I'll disclose later today.

Stay tuned...this is going to be FUN!

You're doing a heck of a job Jeanie!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Time: 3:47 PM

Jean_Wasting_Time
I don't know what's funnier, this front page photo from last Wednesday, which clearly shows that ONCE AGAIN Jean Natale is NOT IN HER OFFCICE DOING HER JOB or our City Clerk acting like she has an appreciation for the arts.

Lets check the score...

So far we know that the current City Clerk:
  • Has been publically critcized for NOT BEING AVAILABLE IN HER OFFICE (opting instead to waste her time chatting it up in the Registrar of Voters office).


  • Moonlights as a Justice of the Peace performing weddings during City Hall hours

  • Has been routinely criticized (due to her incompetency) by Minority Leader Tom Saadi and the Democratic Common Council delegation


    SAADI: Getting information, getting meetings scheduled, getting meetings posted on the website is taking so long. Now Jean did injury herself and that’s understandable because she was out of the office for a few weeks but her even being in there, I’m still waiting. I’ve been waiting for weeks to get information [...] this is a disservice to the council, it is a disservice to the public and to you to have to wait so long for information and to not get replies to emails or to requests for information.


  • Has been chastized by the state's Freedom of Information commission

  • Has been criticized by a fellow Republican who called Natale's actions in the Hispanic Center fiasco "racially motivated"


    DIGGS: This ad-hoc meeting was not properly posted in a manner that it should have been by the City Clerk and to include persons who they wanted in this ad-hoc meeting, and may I add, individuals from the community who have downplayed the importance of diversity in the city.

    I checked with Corporation Council regarding with constitutes a legal meeting but at this point...I'm fully beyond that point, I'm fully beyond that issue and I really want to speak this evening on the process...I'm talking about the process that transpired almost two weeks ago.

    My remarks are really about inclusion and about race because this is what the denial of funding for the Hispanic Center is all about. I know I was denied access or even knowing about this meeting because it was promoted in a very secretive and underhanded manner by quite a number of the Republican leaders and the City Clerk's office.

    I contacted the City Clerk after learning of the meeting and she stated that she was too busy during the course of the week to post the meeting. I contacted the Council President the day after the meeting was held and he simply stated that it was posted in the Common Council chambers..."

    [...]

    BOUGHTON: The issue as it relates to whether it was posted or not posted is really germane to the funding of the Hispanic Center...

    DIGGS: It really is focused on the funding of the Hispanic Center because I think it was all racially motivated...

  • Wasted 5,000 in taxpayer's dollars in the placement of a two page ad of the proposed changes to the City Charter which was a.) not needed and b.) a violation of state law that could possibly place the entire charter revision process in jeopardy

  • ...and apparently is someone who had no problem standing next to a skinhead who advocated violence agaisnt immigrants.



Come November, PLEASE think before you vote...trust me, Danbury can do better.

2009 Memorial Day parade recap


Time: 11:23 AM



From yesterday, here's footage of the Memorial Day parade...



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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


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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