Court rules in favor of Zoning Commission in homeless shelter dispute

Monday, December 04, 2023
Time: 8:19 AM

Last week, the Superior Court ruled to uphold the Zoning Commission's decision to deny 3 Lake Avenue Extension LLC's request to amend the city's zoning regulations; the modifications request would have allowed for the existence of a controversial homeless shelter at the site of the former Super 8 Hotel on the city's westside.

At the time of this post, it's unknown if the plaintiff will appeal the court's decision.

You can read the decision below (DOCKET: DBD-CV22-6041619-S)


HatCityBLOG exclusive: Mayor Roberto Alves oath of office and inaugural remarks as the 32nd Mayor of the City of Danbury

Friday, December 01, 2023
Time: 11:46 AM


CAMPAIGN 2023: Complete election return data

Saturday, November 25, 2023
Time: 9:51 PM

I'm in the process of updating the site with a complete collection of the election data.

Here's a historial account of the return data.

Recanvass Head Moderator Return Format (long form)

Election Retrurn Head Moderator Return Format (long form)

First Election Return Results 11.07.23


Internal polling shows Logan and Hayes in dead heat for Congressional seat


Time: 9:23 AM

Internal polling from geroger Logan shows the Republican in close contest against Represenative Jahana Hayes in a potential rematch for the fifth district Congressional seat.

With the extereme unpopulaity of President Biden's handling of the war in Gaza among young Democratic voters, polling news like this should serve as a wake-up call for supporters of the Congresswoman who will need all hands on deck for the 2024 campaign cycle.

The Washington Examiner reports...

"A new internal poll in the race for Connecticut's 5th Congressional District shows a tight one between three-term incumbent Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) and George Logan, a Republican who lost by just over 2,000 votes last cycle.

The district is one of the most competitive in the nation, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which has rated it as “lean Democrat.”

This is reflected in an internal polling memo for the Logan campaign, obtained by the Washington Examiner, that shows the race is neck and neck and within the margin of error of 4.9 percentage points. Forty-three percent of voters said they support Hayes, 41% said they support Logan, and 16% remain undecided.

The generic ballot is also within the margin of error, with 44% of voters saying they prefer a Democratic candidate and 42% of voters saying they prefer a Republican candidate.

Logan leads among independent and unaffiliated voters, 41% to 33%; among independent men, 39%-28%; and among independent women, 43%-37%. The poll, conducted Nov. 11-13, finds President Joe Biden is unpopular in the district as well, with only 40% of voters approving of the job he’s done and 53% disapproving of his performance.

This is a rematch of last cycle’s race in the district, in which Hayes defeated Logan by less than 1 percentage point."

Five Thirty Eight ranks polling firme used by Logan (Public Opinion Strategies) at B+

You can view the internal poll below.


The results

Friday, November 10, 2023
Time: 7:47 PM

(Sorry for the long delay; no, I haven't moved all of my content to Facebook or abandoned the web verison of HatCitBLOG. Things will be back to speed here soon as I give this page an update).

Here's the long-form verion of Tuesday's results.

Word of caution for new readers: this report is different than the traditional returns in news reports. the primary purpose of the long-form returns is to provide a VERY VERY detailed breakdown of the results in each of the city's seven wards.

At first, understanding the report can be a bit overwhelming (it's over 100 pages), but once you get the hang of reading the report, you'll appreciate the attention to detail. Please free to leave a comment if you have a problem understanding the report.

I'll give an analysis of the data and the election later as this data takes a LONG while to export and do a cross-compare analysis to the return data of previous races, which are also over 100 pages (you get the idea of the amount of work ahead).


Motor vehicle compliance program adds 459k to grand list.

Thursday, October 26, 2023
Time: 11:17 AM

Today, the city of Danbury announced that the implementation of the motor vehicle compliance program added nearly a half million dollars to the city's Grand List.

Press release from Mayor Dean Esposito

Today, Mayor Esposito announced that $459,027 has been added to the City of Danbury’s Grand List through the Motor Vehicle Compliance Program.

“The City of Danbury provides exceptional public services to our residents, and the goal of the Motor Vehicle Compliance Program is to ensure that those who live within the city pay their fair share in taxes. I want to thank Donna Murphy, the City of Danbury’s Tax Assessor, for implementing and overseeing this important program for our community,” said Mayor Esposito.

The Motor Vehicle Compliance Program utilizes license plate scanning technology and extensive investigation to identify vehicles permanently located within Danbury that are not registered with the city.

Since the program started in November 2022, we have added over 1,500 vehicles to the Grand List and have billed an additional $459,207 in tax dollars.

You can learn more about the Motor Vehicle Compliance program by watching Episode 78: This Week in the City, Motor Vehicle Compliance Program. The City of Danbury’s weekly “This Week in the City” videos are posted to Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and the city website every Thursday.


Parents criticize Board of Education over response to bomb threats at Pembroke Elementary


Time: 6:53 AM

Parents at Pembroke Elementary School have been on edge since discovering that a school aide was responsible for the string of bomb threats that traumatized the community. At the latest meeting of the Board of Education, one parent expressed her dissatisfaction with school officials over the handling of the bomb threat investigation.


HatCityBLOG VIDEO: 2023 Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Debate

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Time: 1:02 PM


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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


REAPPORTIONMENT FILES

MEDIA
02.04.23 (OP-ED/NEWSTIMES): Letter: "Republicans rigged the system in Danbury"

01.25.23 (OP-ED/PATCH):
"Letter: 'Danbury Is Not Immune To Gerrymandering'"

01.24.23 (NEWSTIMIES-TENSA):
"Is proposed Danbury ward map 'gerrymandered' or does it better represent downtown? Plan sparks debate"

02.17.22 (NEWSTIMES-PERKINS): "Danbury is redrawing its ward maps. Here’s what it means for voters."

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
01.25.23: (VID) REAPPORTIONMENT AD-HOC

01.17.23: (VID) REAPPORTIONMENT AD-HOC
• (DOC) PLAN A MAP (01.17.23)
• (DOC) PLAN B MAP (01.17.23)

R.A.C MEETINGS
10.06.23: (VID) R.A.C. final report
09.29.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting
04.28.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting
04.21.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting
04.07.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting
03.16.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting
03.10.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting
03.03.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting
02.17.22: (VID) R.A.C. meeting

02.01.22: (VID) Establishment of R.A.C. (02.22 City Council)

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"

trans_button
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

“Facebook”“Twitter”“Email”

trans_button
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

trans_button


trans_button
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


MONEY RACE:
(As of Oct 10th filing)

INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:
Alves:
58,810 for reporting period, 194,868.00 total to date.

Esposito:
38,950.00 for reporting period, 189,850.00 total to date.

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) DONATIONS:
Alves:
14,250.00 for reporting period, 30,350 total to date.

Esposito:
0 for reporting period, 8,350.00 total to date.

EXPENSES:
Alves:
96,622.69 for the reporting period, 115,685.70 total to date.

Esposito:
35,996.31 for the reporting period, 57,826.15 total to date.

CASH ON HAND:
Alves COH: 133,332.30
Esposito COH: 154,173.85

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