PRESS RELEASE

City of Danbury Department of Planning & Zoning Releases Online Survey

(Danbury, Connecticut) – Today, the City of Danbury Department of Planning & Zoning has released an online survey to obtain public input on important issues related to the development of Downtown Danbury. The survey is part of the public engagement process for the Downtown Danbury Zoning Study.

Conducting this Study was a recommendation of Innovate, the City of Danbury’s 2023 Plan of Conservation and Development. Public input is key to ensure success of the Plan and its recommendations. We want to hear from you! The city is considering zoning changes to better support development and redevelopment in the Downtown.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The online survey can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com/r/DowntownDanbury or by scanning the QR code below.

Visit www.downtowndanburyzoning.com to learn more about the Study.

Since we're now 22 years removed from the tragedy, I decided to take a different approach for a new generation of young adults who were either too young to remember 9/11 or who were not born in 2001.

In the decades after the terrorist attack, the YouTube group, EnhancedWTCVideos, has taken the lead in restoring and digitally enhancing video footage from people who recorded the tragedy from ground zero.

In 2001, HD and/or digital cameras were nonexistent in the United States as most people recorded video on 8mm analog or digital videotape. The EnhanceWTC Video group was able to upscale and enhance the video to near 1080p quality, providing people with a view of the tragedy with video quality higher than what could be achieved at the time.

One of the memorable 9/11 footage is from videographer Cynthia Weil, who captured the events from her window view with a digital 8MM camera on a tripod from 8:50AM till the fall of the second tower.

Weil's footage is considered one of the most vivid and detailed videos from that day, and the enhancement of her video and audio footage is very difficult to watch. It will give a new generation of Americans an accurate view of the magnitude of the terror on that difficult day.

Never forget.

-----

(WARNING: EXTREMELY graphic footage...VERY VERY difficult to watch. It is best viewed with noise-canceling headphones to truly hear the event as it happened). TIMESTAMPS (via EnhancedWTCVideos YouTube page):

0:00:00 - 1st short take starting at 8:50:22am. WTC 1 (North Tower) already burning.

0:00:04 - 2nd short take starting at 8:50:31am.

0:00:28 - 1st long continuous take starting at 8:53:10am. Camera is mostly stable.

0:05:15 - Good view on the impact floors of WTC 1. Some people can be seen falling along the east face of the building. (Edna Cintron aka "waving woman" is captured). 0:10:17 - 2nd plane hits WTC 2 (South Tower) off-camera at 9:02:59am. Some smoke and flame expulsions can be observed on WTC 1.

0:59:17 - WTC 2 starts to collapse at 9:58:59am.

1:19:06 - Large pressure pulse pushes smoke out of lower impact floors of WTC 1, epsecially from floor 92 at north face.

1:28:41 - Destruction of WTC 1 begins at 10:28:22am.

Videographer: Cynthia "Cindy" Weil

View on WTC from: North Camera Location: 166 Duane Street, Manhattan.

Tribuna Newspaper

After covering the last nine elections and listening to countless political sales pitches from endless candidates for office from both parties, my views on the local political cycle have grown more cynical. Quality-of-life concerns that have plagued this city for decades are routinely overlooked and not adequately addressed as property taxes and living costs in the state's seventh-largest city continue to rise.

The city streets I traveled as a college student in the early 1990s, as a commuter in the late 1990s, and as a father with two newborns in the 2000s still lack adequate sidewalks, requiring residents to risk their lives while traveling from point A to B.

Ask any nurse at Danbury Hospital who routinely deals with the ordeal of walking on Osborne Street or Sand Pit Road to Germantown, residents who risk their lives walking along sections of Federal Road, Mill Plain Road, North Street, or South Street, and the decades-old complaints about a lack of care when it comes to the well-being of pedestrians who travel the city streets will be identical.

Cyclists in Danbury are in worse shape than residents who walk the city streets. Compared to other communities in Greater Danbury, an emphasis on bicycle safety is virtually nonexistent throughout all seven wards of Danbury. The lack of broad curbs or bike lanes throughout the city makes commuting on bicycles in Danbury just as treacherous as walking on the same streets. As an avid cyclist, I routinely pack my bike in my car and travel to Brewster NY, where cycling their well-maintained trails doesn't require me to put lives at risk.

In short, residents who will be shocked upon viewing their upcoming property tax bill this month should DEMAND that their elected officials get serious about making streets throughout the ENTIRE city safer for residents whose commute doesn't involve driving in vehicles. There's simply no excuse for residents to endure decades of woefully inadequate roads for pedestrians and cyclists.

Quality-of-life problems in Danbury deserve more than political rhetoric and back-and-forth mudslinging from both political parties. As individuals who were raised in the city, Mayor Dean Esposito and Democratic mayoral candidate Roberto Alves should be aware of these long-standing quality-of-life concerns; therefore, residents deserve to hear a forward-viewing vision for Danbury, including realistic proposals that immediately address these concerns and move well beyond the city's recent transit-oriented development study.

Here's hoping that this election cycle will end my growing cynicism.

"Britton said that what transpired during the evening in question was a “pretty simple story.” He said that he and a friend were on their way to dinner that April evening and had some free time to spare beforehand.

“We went down to City Hall. I wanted to show her around,” Britton said. Like other City Council members, he has a city-issued ID badge and a key fob, both provided through the city’s human resources department, that allows entry into the building.

“Obviously, I’m aware there are cameras everywhere,” he said.

The tour included a walk through the council’s caucus room, where, Britton said, he has a mailbox. He said he took his friend through a City Hall entrance that leads into the Council Chambers on the third floor, which they walked through.

The third floor also includes several other rooms, including Esposito’s office, Yamin’s office and a conference room. Britton said he “wasn’t paying attention” as he and his friend walked through the area, and he “tried to key fob” into a door that he said “ended up being the mayor’s office.”

“It obviously didn’t work. I think we were in there for 15 minutes or so. So it was pretty quick. That’s pretty much the story,” Britton said.

He said he accidentally wandered into an area of City Hall he was not authorized to access, for which he took responsibility. Britton said while he understands “the optics are not great,” his actions have “not been out of the ordinary.”

“I heard that councilmen do this with their family and friends — show them around City Hall,” he said."

Councilman Joe Britton is a well-respected attorney, a man of integrity and deep commitment to our city and honorably serves our Danbury residents. The Councilman has City-issued identification and a City-issued key badge allowing him to lawfully enter City Hall. We fully expect and support a transparent discussion of this matter including the resolution of questions concerning the regularity of the city's quarterly reviews, established building entry protocol, monitoring the whereabouts of persons in City Hall and for the complete set of facts to be known before we will comment further.

UPDATE 7: Danbury Voice picks up on the story.

City officials claim that Danbury Councilman Joe Britton’s attempted to access secured areas of city hall that he does not have authorization to enter during the evening hours of Saturday, April 15, said John Kleinhans, Government Affairs and Communications Advisor.

As part of the City of Danbury’s quarterly security review, concerns were raised that Britton and an unidentified woman entered the office of the Corporation Counsel which council members and the public do not have access to due to the highly confidential, privileged information and records contained within the department, Kleinhans said.

City officials have announced an investigation of a city council member who allegedly tried to gain unauthorized access to areas of City Hall in April.

In a news release from the Mayor's Office Thursday evening, officials said 4th Ward Councilman Joe Britton, accompanied by an unknown woman, tried to access secured areas of Danbury City Hall during the evening hours of Saturday, April 15.

The allegations came following the City of Danbury's quarterly security review, which indicated that Britton and the woman entered the Office of Corporation Counsel.

As chairman of the Republican party, I will refrain from making a full statement regarding Councilman Britain's alleged malfeasance, until the investigation is complete.

But what I will say is that I am disappointed in his actions, as they have been presented.

For a councilman and an attorney to wander into restricted areas of City Hall, (allegedly after hours, in an empty building) one of them being the legal department, is poor judgment.

As a Prominent member of the Danbury Democrat Party to try and gain access to the Mayor's secured office area is extremely poor judgment.

I believe many questions should be asked; what was his intent and the purpose of him trying to get into the Mayor's restricted office.

I remember reading about Watergate in school. On the surface, it was an innocuous event. I truly hope this isn't the start of Danburygate.

But before full judgment is rendered, let's wait to hear all the facts.

UPDATE 4: City Councilman At-Large John Esposito III posted the following comment.

As a member of the current City Council I want to know what Joe Britton was doing and who knew he was doing it.

In response to the announcement of the inquiry, my comment is as follows: I was in City Hall that Saturday afternoon withj my City-issued ID badge and City-issued City Hall access key. As requested by the City, I will meet with City officials to discuss this matter in detail. I intend to be fully transparent. I have nothing to hide.

I am incredibly disappointed in the allegations that have come to light about Councilman Britton. It is important, regardless of political affiliation, that everyone is held accountable for their actions. Especially our elected leaders. I am hopeful that both parties are transparent and forthright during the investigation, and with the public, into the events of April 15th.

Statement from the City of Danbury and Mayor Dean Esposito.

9th Annual American Dream Awards Community Hero Award Honorees and Scholarship Recipients Revealed

The New American Dream Foundation (TNADF) will hold its 9th Annual American Dream Awards on Friday, September 15, at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury.

TNADF has significantly impacted the greater Danbury area in 2023, with over 1,000 individuals served. Their initiatives include the senior hot meal program, a community resource center for immigrants called the New American Dream Center in partnership with the Connecticut Institute For Communities, Inc., and various educational programs to inspire immigrant families and youth, collaborating with community organizations, public schools, and state universities with the support of the CT Health Foundation.

The event's theme is "The Power of Education – The Power of Community," presented by Union Savings Bank. It will highlight the contributions of community organizations and individuals in education and social services provided to immigrants and their descendants and bestow three American Dream Award Scholarships of $3,000 to immigrants and children of immigrants who faced many challenges along their journey to achieve their American dreams.

The New American Dream Foundation 2023 Community Hero Award honorees are:

The Lebanon-American Club of Danbury, founded in 1922, celebrated their centennial last year. The Club initially assisted members in becoming American Citizens, learning English, and served, along with the three sister parishes of St. Anthony, St. Ann, and St. George, as a social support system for Lebanese and Syrian immigrants and their descendants. The Club has awarded thousands of dollars to college-bound students of Lebanese and Syrian heritage and their descendants through its annual scholarship program for the past 50 years.

Daily Bread Food Pantry has distributed food free of charge in downtown Danbury, welcoming those in need, whatever their background or circumstances, since 1984. Most recently, Daily Bread Food Pantry has increasingly provided nutritional support to hundreds of immigrant families struggling to provide food for their families and themselves due to job loss, low wages, or personal crises, becoming a vital alternative as most do not qualify for government programs.

The 2023 American Dream Award Scholarship recipients are:

Elvia Fajardo, a Danbury High School graduate, is attending the University of Hartford as a Nursing Major this fall. "I am a proud child of immigrant parents who both migrated from Ecuador. My parent’s journey to the U.S. was indescribable. My American dream is to honor my parents." Fajardo said.

Julia Clara Ferreira, a Danbury High School graduate, is attending the University of New Haven as a Forensic Science Major this fall. "I am a very proud daughter of Brazilian immigrants. I am also the youngest child of two and will be the first person in the family to graduate high school and continue on with my education," Ferreira said.

Daniel Espin is a Computer Science Major at Western Connecticut State University and is the son of Ecuadorian immigrants. "As an immigrant, I have faced countless challenges and learned valuable lessons. The most important lesson is the language barrier I faced and how I managed to overcome it by being persistent and never giving up," Espin shared.

"The gala is an opportunity for all of us to come together and go beyond highlighting the cultural contributions of the immigrant community, and sincerely celebrate their determination in the pursuit of their American Dream above all else," said Celia Bacelar-Palmares, TNADF President and Founder. "We are so proud to honor these community organizations and support the next generation of immigrants to reach their American dream."

Ticket proceeds will support The New American Dream Foundation programs and Mission Health Day - a day of free health screenings and other community services for the uninsured and the income challenged, hosted by Nuvance Health and TNADF. Tickets are limited and only sold in advance. To purchase tickets, tables, and ads in the event booklet, visit www.americandreamgala.com.

###########

ABOUT TNADF

TNADF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2016 by the Bacelar-Palmares Family. It serves as the philanthropic branch of the Tribuna Newspaper, a trilingual publication founded by the family in 1999. The TNADF's mission is to celebrate, support, and inspire immigrants of all generations, committed to providing opportunities that enhance access to education, health, and civic engagement.

The New American Dream Scholarship Awards - Since 2016, The New American Dream Foundation has provided scholarships to immigrant youth regardless of their legal status and honored inspiring community members through its American Dream Awards gala. To date, over $70,000 has been awarded in scholarships to students.

TNADF Senior Hot Meal Program provides 650 seniors living in tax-credit communities in Danbury with a monthly hot meal prepared by the Amber Room Colonnade and purchased by the foundation at cost. Over 30 volunteers serve the meals. Through the program, community members can volunteer and give back to the descendants of the previous immigrants, on whose shoulders every new community stands. Since 2020, over 22,000 meals have been served to seniors. TNADF Senior Hot Meal project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $50,000 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS.

The New American Dream Center (TNADC) is a free in-person resource center to guide and support immigrants. In the Newcomer's Program, the Center connects immigrants with existing resources in our community through partnerships with local organizations. It streamlines their access to these resources by helping them gather all the appropriate paperwork and documents needed to access health care, education, and other services.

In the New Americans Program, the Center helps immigrants determine their eligibility for citizenship. We will support those eligible by removing the financial barriers to the application process with grants for low-income families to cover the application fees.

The Center is a partnership between The New American Dream Foundation and the Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc. Since its opening in the spring of 2023, TNADC has served over 200 families.

For more information on The New American Dream Foundation, Inc., visit www.thenewamericandreamfoundation.org.

Cornell Funeral Home

Brian E. Cotter, Esq., 77, respected attorney and professor, beloved father, brother, and grandfather, passed away on June 25, 2023. He was born in Alexandria, VA on January 24, 1946, the son of the late Atty Robert and Rita (Lang) Cotter. He was proud to grow up in Abington and Cape Cod, MA as one of seven siblings who he loved fiercely.

Brian attended Georgetown University as an undergraduate and earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law. He moved to Danbury in 1971 where he remained a resident for almost 50 years.

Throughout his distinguished career as supervisory assistant state’s attorney for the Judicial District in Danbury from 1972-1996, Brian prosecuted many high-profile cases.

He was equally proud of his work as a professor of law at Western Connecticut State University and of his private practice, focused on mortgage and later immigration law.

Brian believed in democracy and civic duty, serving on the Danbury Board of Education for two terms and actively participating in local politics in his home states. He served as treasurer of the Connecticut State’s Prosecutor’s Association, and president and vice president of the Danbury Bar Association.

He loved politics, the New England Ocean, playing and watching golf, and always enjoyed a good laugh. Brian most of all loved his role as an “over 40” father to his son Sean, and again his role as “Gramps” to his granddaughter Olivia. He often expressed his appreciation of the opportunity to be an older and wiser father, and fully treasured every moment spent with Sean. Later in life, he loved nothing more than helping raise his granddaughter, and was often seen on dinner dates about town with his favorite girl, Olivia.

Brian is survived by his son, Sean Cotter; his daughter, Elizabeth Cotter and her husband, Eric MacFayden; his granddaughter, Olivia; his sister Julie Cotter; his brothers Chris, Greg, and Barry Cotter; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his third wife, Leslie Burkhard.

He was predeceased by his wife of 32 years and mother of his children Ellen (Tomaino); and his brothers Jim and Shawn Cotter.

Here's an interview I conducted with Cotter the day before Election Day 2007.