R.I.P David Harple

Saturday, July 25, 2009
Time: 8:05 PM

The News-Times just lost a great, great photographer today.

From Executive producer, Hearst Connecticut Media Group Interactive Keith Whamond's blog
Just heard from a friend that David W. Harple, who has been taking pictures for The News-Times for decades, passed away today after his long battle with cancer. David served many roles for the paper over the years, but most recently he was he chief photographer and coordinated the photo staff.

I don’t know any specifics, but friends of Dave know all too well how hard he had fought his awful disease for the past several years.

Dave was one of the most personable, friendly people I’ve met. He was always looking to spark a conversation.

In an age before Photoshop, and when one needed to have a knowledge of working in a darkroom, you always knew when you saw a photo from Dave in the paper as he had a way of catching an image. I'm so sorry to hear of his loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to Dave's family and friends during this time of mourning.

According to Whamond, the Harple family have established a website (Harple family fund) that's where you can make a contribution.

Community Forum July 22 2009 broadcast


Time: 1:36 PM

Host: John Gogliettino
Guest: Members of the Amerigo Vespucci Lodge


Goncalves responds


Time: 9:57 AM

I guess when it comes to Gary Goncalves quote to the News-Times where he criticized the increase in bonding under the Boughton administration, the last honest man in Danbury does what he does best, takes to the low road while simultaneously offering smoke and mirrors.
Mayor Mark Boughton, who will be seeking his fifth term in office this fall, said Goncalves will have to do his homework "if he wants to be taken seriously."

Boughton added that many of the projects that have been paid for through bonding during his tenure, especially school projects, were reimbursed by the state at rates of between 50 percent and 70 percent.

Today, Goncalves issued the press release in response:

I have done my homework and my comments to the Newstimes were to make the point of this administration's penchant for excessive spending and "big ticket" bonding purchases and the associated costs were obtained directly from the City's Finance Director.

The public is again being intentionally misled by this administration as the taxpayers of Danbury incurred direct costs as a result of these large bonding issues, and, were reimbursed by the state for the rest, which means we're all still paying for this spending. Since the state budget looks to have a few billion dollar deficit, it seems that we'll all be paying for expenditures of this nature for quite some time.

Between Hartford and Danbury, Republican fiscal mismanagement will be taking its toll soon on Danbury and other communities around the state.


...this campaign season is going to be fun!

Danbury Democrats pick Gary Goncalves as their choice for mayor

Friday, July 24, 2009
Time: 6:09 PM

DTC_caucus

Yesterday at City Hall, members of the Danbury Democratic Town Committee held their caucus and endorsed their pick of candidates for this November's election.

Gary Goncalves will lead the top of the ticket as candidate for mayor while Lori Kaback takes a shot at becoming Town Clerk for a third term. Rounding up the ticket is Eileen Coladarci who hopes that three time is a charm as she runs again for the position of City Clerk. The party also nominated candidates for all the common council wards seats as well as Common Council at large, Constable, Zoning Commission, and Board of Education.

After the caucus, I caught up with Democratic Town Committee Joe DaSilva Jr. to get his comments regarding the slate.



While I'll update this post with a listing of all the candidates, I wanted to share with everyone video footage from last night's caucus from City Hall.

Highlights (runtime 15 mins):




Meeting in full (runtime 37mins):






Democratic municipal election ticket:
Mayor: Gary Goncalves
City Clerk: Eileen Coladarci
Town Clerk: Lori Kaback

Common Council at large: Jose Agosto Jr., Barbara Baker, Ernest Boynton, Thomas Dyer Jr., Warren Levy, Oseas Mello and William Totten Jr.

First Ward Council: Frank Anders and Barry Rickert.
Second Ward Council: Daniel Abrantes and Paul McAllister.
Third Ward Council: Barbara Carey and William Tanner.
Fourth Ward Council: Peter Nero and Thomas Saadi.
Fifth Ward Council: Duane Perkins and Frederick Visconti Jr.
Sixth Ward Council: Benjamine Chianese and Paul Rotello.
Seven Ward Council: Philip Cervone and Joselyn Cotillo.

Constables: Francis Harris, Bruce Lees, Gene Letts

Zoning Commission Alternate: Patrick Vanudi

Zoning Commission: Anthony DiCapprio, Richard Jowdy, Thomas Haddad Jr., Jack Gillotti, Clair Motella, Al Pena

Board of Education: Joan Hodge, Robert Taborsak, Patrick McCleary, Kathleen Molinaro

My thoughts exactly

Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Time: 6:40 PM

As someone who attended most of the events at the CT Film festival, I think today's News-Times editorial is DEAD on.
Twofold.

That's how much the 2009 Connecticut Film Festival grew over last year's inaugural run in downtown Danbury.

But even the best numbers can be misleading.

According to figures released by Mayor Mark Boughton's office, this year's Connecticut Film Festival drew an estimated 8,256 people to downtown Danbury.

A large number of those folks, however, were associated with the film industry, not necessarily movie fans from Greater Danbury snatching up tickets and signing up for volunteer duties.

For the Connecticut Film Festival to become a blockbuster, Greater Danbury residents need to support it with their time, their wallets and their civic pride.

[...]

Tom Carruthers, the festival's executive director, has done a remarkable job nurturing this project in Greater Danbury.

But it's no longer a one-man show.

With more promotion and more community involvement, the Connecticut Film Festival could really pack them in.

Eventually, I'll get around to posting my remarks on the Film Festival (I'm holding back until I see the actual figures, as opposed to the spin numbers from the mayor's office). In any event, today's editorial highlights my biggest concern regarding the festival.

(FULL DISCLOSURE: I was a member of a panel at the CT Film Festival)

FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL: Mark Boughton 2nd quarter campaign finance report


Time: 4:22 PM

"We get thousands of checks from thousands of people and we just wouldn't have any way of knowing something like that is happening."

Mayor Boughton's response to his acceptance of James Galante alleged bundled campaign contributions


Well, it's that time of the year again...

July 10th marks the end of the 2nd campaign finance quarter...and you know what that means.

HatCityBLOG is your one stop place when it comes to analyzing Mayor Boughton's campaign finance reports. Since 2007, more than 300 readers have analyzed the mayor's money trail and reported back some interesting tidbits. Here's some goodies that werer found in the past.

As the Fairfield County noted, in 2007, we found some rather interesting donations from April 2003 that appears to mirror Galante's bundled donations that were given to the mayor's PAC in October 2003.

• Members of the Danbury Democratic town committee members donated to Boughton's campaign,

• A family-owned immigrant newspaper, Tribuna, failed to disclose to the public (and it's readers) that they (and immediate family members) gave multiple campaign contributions to Boughton's campaign in from 2005 to present.

Campaign contributions include a 600 dollars in in-kind advertising contributions in late 2005*, 1,400 in contributions to Boughton during the 2007 campaign cycle (including 1,100 after the ICE ACCESS program was introduced in during the October Common Council meeting),

* (NOTE: although the in-kind advertising contribution was received on 10.10.05, Boughton's campaign did not disclose the contribution until after the election against then Democratic mayoral candidate Dean Esposito on 01.10.06)

• Massive amount of contributions from developers (including the infamous Dan Bertram of BRT)

On first glance, there's a number of very interesting contributions made to the mayor's campaign which we'll explore later. For now, download the file, examine the details, and let's work together to expose the ugly truth...get to WORK!


NOTE: The latest report will take a couple of minutes to download...be patient.

NOTE 2: There seems to be several broken links to several reports. I'm working on the problem now...

LATEST REPORT: Mayor Mark 2009 July 10 2009 filing:(pdf format)
Date filed: 04.10.00, Period Covered: 01.11.09-04.10.09

Boughton's PACs (pdf format)

People over Politics PAC

YEAR 2002

2002a
2002b
2002c
2002d

YEAR 2003
2003a
2003b
2003c
2003d

YEAR 2004
2004a ($8,000 IN GALANTE ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS ARE HERE)
2004b
2004c
2004d
2004e

YEAR 2005
2005a

Mayor Mark's 21 Century PAC


YEAR 2006
2006a (07.10.06)
2006b (10.10.06)
2006c (11.02.06)

YEAR 2007
2007a (01.12.07)
2007b (04.10.07)
2007c (07.10.07)
2007d (10.10.07)


Boughton SEEC Form 20 Campaign Finance Statements (pdf format)


YEAR 2001

Statement: Termination Report
Date filed: 06.28.01, Period Covered: 04.23.01-06.28.01)

Statement: 2nd Thurs July 2001
Date filed: 07.12.01, Period Covered: 06.28.01-07.12.01)

Statement: 2nd Thurs Oct 2001
Date filed: 10.11.01, Period Covered: 07.13.01-10.04.01)

Statement: 7 days proceeding 2001 election
Date filed: 10.29.01, Period Covered: 10.05.01-10.23.01)

Statement: Within 45 days following election
Date filed: 12.21.01, Period Covered: 10.24.01-12.14.01)

YEAR 2002

Statement: 90 day report (Election 11.06.01)
Date filed: 02.04.02, Period Covered: 12.15.01-02.04.02)

Statement:Termination Report (2001 campaign)
Date filed: 05.07.02, Period Covered: 02.05.02-05.07.02

YEAR 2003

Statement: 2nd Thurs. month April 20th
Date filed: 04.10.03, Period Covered: 01.02.03-04.03.03

Statement: 2nd Thurs. month July 20th
Date filed: 07.07.03, Period Covered: 04.10.03-06.30.03

Statement: 2nd Thurs. month July 20th (Amendment #1 to 07.07.03 report)
Date filed: 07.09.03, Period Covered: 04.10.03-06.30.03

Statement: 2nd Thurs. month July 20th (Amendment #2 to 07.07.03 report)
Date filed: 08.17.05, Period Covered: 04.10.03-06.30.03

Statement: 2nd Thurs. month Oct. 20th (COLLECTED A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY DURING THIS PERIOD).
Date filed: 10.07.03, Period Covered: 07.01.03-09.30.03 (aprox.)

Statement: 7 days proceeding Election: Nov 4, 2003
Date filed: 10.28.03, Period Covered: 10.01.03-10.21.03 (aprox.)

YEAR 2004

Statement: Termination Report (2003 Campaign)
Date filed: 02.09.04, Period Covered: 01.01.04-02.31.04

YEAR 2005

Statement: April 7th Filing Date
Date filed: 04.07.05, Period Covered: 01.01.05-03.31.05

Statement: July 7th Filing Date
Date filed: 07.07.05, Period Covered: 04.01.05-06.30.05

Statement: Oct 7th Filing Date
Date filed: 10.07.05, Period Covered: 07.01.05-09.30.05

Statement: Oct 7th Filing Date
Date filed: 10.07.05, Period Covered: 07.01.05-09.30.05

Statement: 7 day proceeding report
Date filed: 11.01.05, Period Covered: 10.01.05-10.26.05

YEAR 2006

Statement: Jan 10 2006 report
Date filed: 01.10.06, Period Covered: 10.27.05-12.31.05

Statement: Deficit report
Date filed: 08.07.06, Period Covered: 12.31.05-07.31.06

Statement: Termination report
Date filed: 12.07.06, Period Covered: 07.31.06-11.30.06

YEAR 2007

Statement: January 10 Filing
Date filed: 01.10.07, Period Covered: 11.27.06-12.31.06

Statement: April 10 Filing
Date filed: 04.10.07, Period Covered: 01.01.07-03.31.07

Statement: July 10 Filing
Date filed: 07.05.07, Period Covered: 04.01.07-06.30.07

Statement: October 10 Filing
Date filed: 10.10.07, Period Covered: 07.01.07-09.30.07

Statement: 7th day preceding election report
Date filed: 10.27.07, Period Covered: 10.01.07-10.23.07

YEAR 2008

Statement: January 10th 2008 Report
Date filed: 01.10.08, Period Covered: 10.24.07-12.31.07

YEAR 2009

Mayor Mark 2009 April 10 Report:
Date filed: 04.10.00, Period Covered: 01.11.09-04.10.09

Research

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM

Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been rather busy as of late. Doing research is a tedious affair since most Danbury-related material is not available on the computer, which leaves me with the painstaking task of coverting data from paper to electronic text (actually, it's now that hard if you know what you're doing...it's just TEDIOUS).

I'll be back to full speed soon...

UPDATE: Ugh, I feel like my eyeballs are going to fall out! Spent over five hours going over historical material but it was worth the agony.

"All the time we put in was a waste of time"


Time: 8:29 AM

In light of the proposed changes to Danbury's charter, take a look at what happens when government runs amok (and why the Board Selectman form of government sucks).

LOCAL ACCESS VIDEO: Progressive Soup July 15 2009 broadcast

Sunday, July 19, 2009
Time: 3:59 PM

TOPIC: Union employees fired by Matrix Corporate Center


4 years!


Time: 10:25 AM


WOW, it's four years already?


Today marks the "official" four anniversary of HatCityBLOG. If you told me four years ago that this site would still be around (as opposed to my first blog) I'd laugh at you.

I'd like to take this quick moment to thank YOU the readers for keeping this site alive. Without your support, this site would not be where it is today...in fact, to say that this site has grown over the last four years is an understatement.

Starting on July 19 2005, HatCityBLOG is one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) blog which is dedicated to covering a single municipality in the state and I'd like to think that newer blogs which cover local politics were influenced in some way by the content on this site.

...okay, time to get back to work.

LOCAL ACCESS VIDEO: Danbury Live July 18 2009 broadcast


Time: 10:24 AM


© 2024 Hat City Blog | READ, WATCH, AND LEARN.
No part of the content or the blog may be reproduced without prior written permission.
PEOPLE-POWERED MEDIA.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License

INDEPENDENT PARTY OF DANBNRY
DATABASE COMING SOON


“Facebook”“Twitter”“Email”

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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