With the official start to the local election season in Danbury around the corner, I wanted to talk to the leaders of two major political parties in my neck of the woods and gain some insight into their campaign operations.
First up to bat is Larry Riefberg, who recently replaced mayoral candidate Roberto Alves as the city's Democratic town committee chairperson.
In part one of my interview with Riefberg, we discuss his political background, his views on the importance of civic involvement in local government, his concerns regarding the Danbury GOP's plans to redraw the city's voting wards, and the Democrat's gameplan win back control of city hall in November.
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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.