Promise kept?

Thursday, March 07, 2024
Time: 7:00 AM

A recent social media posting from Mayor Roberto Alves about infrastructure needs DHS' science lab.

From Mayor Alves Facebook page:

Since I took office in December, one of my goals has been not just to deliver on my promises, but to work to address the challenges our city faces whether they are big, small, or long-standing. Today was one of those days.

Since 2005 the City of Danbury has needed to renovate and upgrade the science labs at Danbury High School. This persistent issue has put the high school's accreditation at risk and has added to the complicated challenges our students and schools face.

I'm so happy to announce that today I signed a contract to finally address this 17-year-long problem, and infuse $13 million into Danbury High School for these long overdue upgrades and renovations to be made this summer and conclude the summer of 2025.

Now, 18 science labs and associated prep and storage rooms, and offices will have floors, sinks, plumbing, piping, lighting, ceilings, lab stations, and more replaced. New equipment and furniture will be installed including fume hoods, lab tables, chairs, marker boards, tack boards, and more.

Normally, this would be considered a promise kept by the mayor for the exception of one thing...the planning and funding for the repairs to the sceince lab was proposed, approved, and funded by the previous administration.

In June 2023, voters approved the Danbury Career Academy Bond (proposed by Mayor Esposito and approved for referendum by the City Council). As outlined and detailed in the bond's text, the allocation of 43.9 million dollars for school repairs included upgrades to the science labs at Danbury High School.

A portion of the allocation for the upgrades comes from a transfer of funds from the SNAPP 2020 bond that voters approved under the Boughton administration.

Of the 21-member City Council, only three members voted against the forwarding the SNAPP 2020 Bond to referendum for public approval. Then At-Large City Councilman Roberto Alves (current Mayor)

Then At-Large City Councilman Frank Salvatore (current Majority Leader)

Fourth Ward City Councilman Farley Santos (current adviser to the Mayor).

Text of the Career Academy Bond that pertains to repairs and upgrades to the science lab is below:

Question 2: District-Wide Facility Improvements Bond $43,900,000 RESOLVED:

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $43,900,000 FOR THE PLANNING, DESIGN, ACQUISITION, RENOVATION, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPPING AND FURNISHING OF VARIOUS UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS AT DANBURY HIGH SCHOOL, HAYESTOWN AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND KING STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL, AND CREATING IMPROVED CLASSROOM SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE DISTRICTWIDE OVERCROWDING AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $43,900,000 BONDS OF THE CITY TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATION AND PENDING THE ISSUANCE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE RESOLVED:

Section 1. The sum of $43,900,000 ($6,600,000 of which shall be transferred from the SNAPP 2020 School Ordinance and $1,400,000 of which shall be transferred from the Danbury Career Academy Ordinance (which included a $2,400,000 transferred allocation from the SNAPP 2020 School Ordinance), as more particularly set forth in Sections 2(a)-(b), respectively, below) is appropriated for the planning, design, acquisition, renovation, construction, equipping and furnishing of various school updates, renovation and improvement projects to schools within the City of Danbury, Connecticut (the “City”), including but not limited to: (i) the performance of Danbury High School accreditation work, all as more fully set forth in the report prepared by New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc.’s Commission on Public Schools, dated September 15, 2021, as amended from time to time, including, but not limited to, updates, renovations and code compliance improvements to science laboratories, nurse suite, and bathrooms, and HVAC equipment & duct evaluation and related renovation and improvements, supply and condensate pipe abatement & evaluation and related renovation and improvements; (ii) ADA compliance work at Hayestown Avenue Elementary School, including, but not limited to, the installation of a new elevator and other related work at the school; (iii) improvements to ADA accessible routes to the stadium bleachers at Danbury High School; (iv) the repair and replacement of the King Street Primary School roof; and (v) the creation and/or modification of classroom space to accommodate districtwide overcrowding, as determined by the Board of Education and the City of Danbury; and related engineering, architect, permitting, advisory, technical support services, construction administration services, and governmental fees and expenses and printing, legal and financing costs related thereto (collectively, the “Project”). Said appropriation for the Project to be inclusive of any and all State and Federal grants-in-aid thereof.

Science lab repairs at Danbury High were set into motion by voters who approved the Career Academy bond package months before Mayor Alves was sworn into office.

It's one thing for Mayor Alves, his campaign staff, and his loyalists to talk about transparency, it's another thing to actually be transparent and forthcoming about amtters of importance as opposed to purposely misleading the public for a political sound bite.


First ward Danbury Democratic Town Committee results

Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Time: 4:38 AM

Here's the totals in the low turnout first ward DDTC contest...


HatCityBLOG Exclusive: City Councilman Dennis Perkins fights to keep presence on town committee amid disloyalty accusations

Monday, March 04, 2024
Time: 2:59 PM

Last week, I sat down with City Councilman and popular African-American entrepreneur Dennis Perkins to discuss his first ward primary campaign to keep his seat on the Democratic Town Committee.

Recently, Perkins and his primary slate members, Andrea Ramos and NAACP member Charlotte Abraham, have vigorously pushed back against toxic allegations against the freshman City Councilman by party loyalists who have accused Perkins and some Democrats of disloyalty to Mayor Alves and his initiatives.

Perkins was the town committee's only abstention vote against the town committee's resolution in support of Mayor Alves' unconventional approach to modifying the city's charter; critics of DDTC leadership believe the town committee's resolution was a means of placing pressure on Democrats on the City Council who are skeptical of the mayor's approach to revising the charter.

Perkins believed that any member of the City Council who also sits on the town committee acted inappropriately by taking a position on the charter while the matter was in front of the City Council.

The primary has caught the attention of area and state Democrats who are weary of the divisiveness and toxicity that has plagued the party for years, and gained significant attention as the party gained a foothold at City Hall.

My interview with Councilman Perkins and the DDTC's first ward slate is here.


HatCityBLOG Flashback: History of Danbury Democrats' opposition to tax giveaways for residential developers edition (take 7)

Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Time: 2:18 PM

In honor of Danbury Democrats’ alarming reversal of the party's principled and well-documented history of opposing tax giveaways for residential developers, here’s yet another oldie but goodie from the HatCityBLOG archives.

In 2011, Lynn Taborsak threw her hat in the race for mayor and became the latest in a long line of Democratic mayoral and city council candidates who vehemently opposed providing tax giveaways for millionaire residential developers while resident property owners in the city are forced to endure ever-increasing property taxes.

Food for thought as residents brace for a historic and fiscally irresponsible thirty-million dollar educational funding increase.


HatCityBLOG Flashback: History of Danbury Democrats' opposition to tax giveaways for residential developers edition (take 6)

Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Time: 10:09 PM

In a continuation of Danbury Democrats’ flip-flop on their long and well-documented history of opposing tax giveaways for residential developers, here’s yet another oldie but goodie from the HatCityBLOG archives.

In 2017, as a co-host of a local access show in the area, I interviewed the then-Danbury Democratic mayoral candidate Al Almeida. I specifically asked him to provide his thoughts and vision for downtown Danbury and the impact tax incentives to BRT for residential development had revitalization efforts on Main Street.

Almedia joined the chorus of Democratic mayoral candidates and town committees during the Boughton administration who profoundly opposed providing tax giveaways for residential developers, while residential homeowners and working families are forced to endure higher property taxes.


HatCityBLOG Flashback: History of Danbury Democrats' opposition to tax giveaways for residential developers edition (take 5)

Monday, February 26, 2024
Time: 2:13 PM

In a continuation of Danbury Democrats’ flip-flop on their long and well-documented history of deep opposition towards tax giveaways for residential developers, here’s yet another oldie but goodie from the HatCityBLOG archives.

Over the last nineteen years, I had the opportunity to interview every Democratic-endorsed candidate for mayor, and my go-to question for each candidate centered on their thoughts on tax breaks for residential developers to spur downtown revitalization efforts.

In the following clip, 2009 Danbury Democratic mayoral candidate Gary Goncalves for his thoughts on the downside of providing tax giveaways for residential developers such as BRT's Brookview Commons building on Crosby Street.

Goncalve's criticism of the BRT deal and disagreement with providing millions of dollars in tax giveaways for residential developers was the cornerstone of Danbury Democrat's opposition towards the Boughton administration's efforts to revitalize Main Street.


HatCityBLOG Archives: History of Danbury Democrats' opposition to tax giveaways for residential developers edition (take 4)


Time: 7:49 AM

In a continuation of Danbury Democrats’ flip-flop on their long and well-documented history of deep opposition towards tax giveaways for residential developers, here’s another oldie but goodie from the HatCityBLOG archives.

When the concept of tax breaks to BRT for residential development was first proposed, former Mayor Gene Enriquez was one of the plan's most fierce and vocal critics. Here’s footage of Eriquez passionately detailing why tax giveaways to BRT are disastrous for taxpayers; the following commentary was the backbone of the local Democrats’ opposition towards the Boughton administration's downtown revitalization efforts.


HatCityBLOG Archives: History of Danbury Democrats' opposition to tax giveaways for residential developers edition (take 3)

Sunday, February 25, 2024
Time: 9:29 PM

In a continuation of Danbury Democrats’ former LONG history of opposing tax giveaways for residential developers, from the HatCityBLOG archives, here’s footage of a 2007 press conference held by Democratic mayoral candidate Helena Abrantes where she and the ENTIRE Democratic caucus and town committee demanded the repeal the seven-year tax abatement given to BRT to build “market rate” housing on Crosby Street.

Several Democrats who opposed the tax giveaways have expressed dismay with the current Democratic leadership's willingness to provide BRT the same tax giveaway the party has historically opposed.

In light of the unprecedented thirty-million dollar education budget request, Democrats who have long-opposed giving tax giveaways to BRT have expressed deep frustration and dismay with the new crop of Democrats who voted to reward BRT with the same lucrative tax break that Democrats historically denounced.

PRESS RELEASE FROM Helena Abratnes campaign for Mayor (2007).

Prominent Danbury Democrats are calling for the repeal of the seven-year tax assessment deferral for the BRT property at 30 Crosby Street.

Helena Abrantes, Democratic Candidate for Mayor, said, "Mark Boughton and the Republican controlled Common Council have ignored the opposition of this tax giveaway and the Ad Hoc committee appointed to consider repeal has been delaying any resolution of this issue." Abrantes stated, "I have the signatures of hundreds of Danbury Taxpayers who demand an answer from their elected officials and want a decision from the Republican controlled Ad Hoc Committee so the entire Council can move forward with the repeal."

"This is the FIRST time in the City's history that a tax deferral was offered for any residential development. There is no benefit to the City or its residents that would justify such a windfall to a single corporate real estate condominium developer, especially recognizing BRT went back on its word regarding the marketing of these apartments on Crosby Street," Abrantes concluded.

Tom Saadi, Democratic Council Leader, who opposed these condo tax abatements from the beginning, said, "We are demanding repeal, especially in light of the developer's 'bait and switch' change in use." BRT originally attempted to justify the tax abatement for its Crosby Street project by claiming it would be bring young professionals to downtown and have an overall positive effect on economic development and revenue for the city.

However, this is an unprecedented use of tax deferrals. In contrast, tax deferrals for the recruitment, retention and/or expansion of Cendant Mobility/Cartus, GE Capital, Belimo and MannKind Pharma provide quality jobs and produce a significant economic benefit for the City of Danbury.

Councilwoman Lynn Taborsak stated, "There are no jobs created, no additional businesses started and no benefit that warrants a multi-million dollar giveaway of both tax dollars and reduced hookup fees for sewer and water. Homeowners in my neighborhood on Jackson Drive, Woodbury Drive and Hawley Road had to pay full-freight for their water and sewer hookups. Why couldn't they get a sweetheart deal like BRT?"

Councilman Ben Chianese said, "The original plan for this project was thrown out the window. Now this project has no resemblance to the plan that was approved by the previous Common Council. As a city, we cannot afford these tax giveaways for residential developers. As Democratic officeholders and candidates, we will demand that the Ad Hoc Committee meet to resolve this issue and we will push for repeal."

Here’s how the Newstimes reported on the situation...

While the Democrats have long complained about the BRT deal, they said their petition proves the public isn't happy, either. "This is the first time in the city's history that a tax deferral was offered for any residential development," Abrantes said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

"There is no benefit to the city or its residents that would justify such a windfall to a single corporate real estate condominium developer, especially recognizing BRT went back on its word regarding the marketing of these apartments."

The city gave BRT -- a Danbury developer -- a seven-year tax incentive to build a five-story apartment building on the site of a former lumber yard. The deal essentially allows BRT to pay taxes as if the property had never been developed, said Dan Bertram, BRT's executive vice president.

The tax break was given with the impression the apartments would go to young urban professionals -- couples and single people a few years out of college, working white-collar jobs and having disposable income.

Instead, Brookview Commons is being rented by students from Western Connecticut State University.

Democrats are calling the change a "bait and switch" and want the tax break repealed. They said the average Danbury resident doesn't get a tax break and questioned why a developer would.

Furthermore, an ad hoc committee formed to explore the possibility of repealing the tax break is being stifled, the Democrats said. "Mark Boughton and the Republican-controlled Common Council have ignored the opposition to this tax giveaway," said Abrantes, who said BRT "went back on its word" by marketing the apartments to college students.

Here are video highlights from the 2007 presser...


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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