Residents along Hospital Avenue noticed the BRT "No trespassing" signs for the last few months and have asked me "what are they planning to do with that land?"
If your familiar with that stretch of road (or the amount of accidents that occur in that area) based on safety concerns alone, NO ONE who lives in that neighborhood would ever want that piece of land developed (what ever happened to preserving open space?)
Well, days after the election, those residents are getting a peek into BRT's master plan...and they're not happy about it.
This week, the residential developer began clear cutting trees on a piece of land they bought that goes down the hill on Hospital Ave/1st Street to Osborne Street.
From what I can tell, upon looking on the agendas of the Planning Commission (going back to Jan 08), I see nothing in terms of a proposal from BRT on this land and I don't know if BRT violated anything in doing what they did.
I'll keep everyone updated on this disaster and get to the bottom of what's going on here.
...unreal.
UPDATE 11.14.09: Here's what we have so far (h/t Ken):
According to vision appraisals, this is a sub division I believe called Jeffery court and will be 4 lots. The zone is R3.
Today, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke about the need for immigration reform at the Center for American Progress and made the strongest indication that a change to the current immigration policy will be addressed by Congress starting in early 2010.
The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”
Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.
Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.
True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.
The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.
Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”
The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”
This month marks the last month of John Esposito's term on the Common Council.
The Democrat from the 4th ward has been a staple on the Council for many decades, serving under the Dyer, Sauer, Eriquez and Boughton administration.
There isn't enough one can say about Esposito as he's by far the most well respected member of the council and will be deeply missed.
From this week, here's footage of the council honoring Esposito.
Rejoice as the one of cable's most racist talking head calls it quits due to his own mouth!
Longtime CNN host Lou Dobbs shocked his viewers Wednesday by announcing that he would be leaving the network effective immediately.
The daily host of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" addressed his viewers after giving the day's headlines and told them Wednesday's show would be his final time in the anchor chair.
"This will be my last broadcast," he said.
He said CNN had allowed him to be released from his contract early and that he was considering a number of options for the next stage in his career.
There have been a number of groups which placed a great deal of pressure on CNN to fire Dobbs and released a number of statements after the moron said goodbye.
NEW YORK - Responding to the news Wednesday that Lou Dobbs will leave his post as a longtime anchor on CNN, the leaders of BastaDobbs.com - a national Latino-led coalition that had been advocating for his ouster - released the following statement:
"Our contention all along was that Lou Dobbs - who has a long record of spreading lies and conspiracy theories about immigrants and Latinos - does not belong on the 'Most Trusted Name in News,'" said Roberto Lovato, co-founder of Presente.org, a national online advocacy organization coordinating the BastaDobbs.com campaign in conjunction with more than 40 local and regional Latino organizations from across the country. "We are thrilled that Dobbs no longer has this legitimate platform from which to incite fear and hate."
The BastaDobbs.com campaign launched in mid-September, and included online petitions, a viral YouTube video, text-message campaign, radio PSAs and a series of events in 18 cities - organized in conjunction with the CNN special Latino in America. The message to CNN was that courting Latino viewers while keeping Dobbs on the network would not with them favor with the fastest-growing demographic in the country. Since then, more than 100,000 people have joined the effort. The events and the campaign garnered significant press coverage in both Spanish-language and mainstream media.
Lovato said the BastaDobbs.com victory marks a key turning point for the Latino community, as it moved from marching in the streets in 2006 to mounting a successful, high-tech campaign against one of the biggest and strongest media voices against common-sense immigration reform.
"The community is newly empowered and energized, and we are ready to fight for a respectful and civil media discourse when it comes to immigration coverage on mainstream news," Lovato said. "This is only the beginning of a much longer-term effort."
Under Pressure, Controversial Host Announces Immediate Departure
Washington, DC - Media Matters for America released the following statement responding to late breaking news that controversial CNN host Lou Dobbs, best known for his relentless anti-immigrant rhetoric, will be leaving his long-time cable news home effective tonight.
"For too long, CNN provided Lou Dobbs with its stamp of approval as he pursued a dangerous, one-sided and all too often false conspiracy tinged crusade against immigrants," said Eric Burns, president of Media Matters. "This is a happy day for all those who care about this nation of immigrants and believe in the power of media to elevate the political discourse."
"Our contention all along was that Lou Dobbs — who has a long history of spreading lies and conspiracy theories about immigrants and Latinos — does not belong on the most trusted name in news," said Roberto Lovato, co-founder of Presente.org. "We are thrilled that Dobbs no longer has the legitimate platform from which to incite fear and hate."
Today is a good day for the Latino community...a day that's LONG overdue.
For a full listing of Dobbs xenophobia, click here.
The News-Times did a write-up regarding a student at Western who was charged with charged with second-degree breach of peace last week.
WestConn police arrested a 21-year-old student after a professor reported that someone was stating racial obscenities in a classroom building on campus Thursday afternoon.
Western Connecticut State University police said they were dispatched to the second floor of Higgins Hall in response to the complaint by a WestConn professor, who reported a person was walking up and down the halls saying racial obscenities.
Police said they found the student on the second floor in the annex portion of the building.
After speaking with the student and getting a written statement from the complainant, police took the student into custody at WestConn's police headquarters.
Vinay Madabusi, 21, of Naugatuck, who lives on campus, was arrested at 4:05 p.m. and charged with second-degree breach of peace, a misdemeanor, police said.
Today, the Fairfield Weekly followed up on the News-Times piece by outlining what the student was actually saying in the hallway.
Racial slurs are bad — most people agree — but are they illegal? Last time we checked, even antisocial speech is protected by the First Amendment.
So we were a tad surprised to hear about the arrest of WestConn student Vinay Madabusi last week. Madabusi, 21, was charged with second-degree breach of peace for walking down the campus’ Higgins Hall and “saying” “racial obscenities,” according to campus police.
There was no indication Madabusi was shouting or confronting someone else; he was only spouting “racial obscenities,” apparently to himself.
For clarification, we turned to WestConn Chief of Police Neil McLaughlin.
McLaughlin says Madabusi was at least being loud enough to attract the attention of a professors in a classroom, “who came out and heard this guy talking and he was using racial obscenities” and then reported him to police.
When confronted by officers, Madabusi “said he was reciting a Tupac song,” adds McLaughlin. (The late rapper cut such songs as “Crooked Ass Nigga,” “Young Niggaz” and “Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.”)
McLaughlin didn’t explain if it was the volume or content of this monologue that caused the arrest, but did say he’s confident Madabusi was causing a disruption.
Today, Secretary of State selected Danbury's 7th Ward (Mill Ridge School) as one of the voting locations to be audited as required by law (Public Act 07-194).
Here's a complete list of the voting locations picked to be audited.
Bridgeport Park City Magnet School 135-1 Bridgeport Wilbur Cross School 135-2 Bridgeport Black Rock School 130-1 Bridgeport Hallen School 135-2 Colchester Abundant Life of the Assemblies of God Colchester Colchester Town Hall Colebrook Colebrook Town Hall Danbury Mill Ridge Intermediate School Ward 7 Darien District 4/Hindley School Darien District 2- Town Hall Easy Lyme East Lyme Community Center District 3 Griswold Pachaug Town Hall Hamden Miller Library District 1 Lyme Lyme Fire House Manchester Waddell School Meriden Isreal Putnam School Area 3 Middletown Wesley School District Middletown Macdonough School District 1 Monroe Masuk High School New Fairfield Meeting House Hill School New Haven Beecher School Ward 29 New Haven Benjamin Jepson Magnet School Ward 13 New London Nathan Hale School District 3 Newington John Paterson School District 6 Norfolk Town Hall Norwich Rose City Senior Center Plainfield 4 Atwood Hose Station Portland Portland Public Library Preston Town Hall Prospect Algonquin School Redding Redding Community Center Shelton Sunnyside School Ward 2 Sherman The Sherman School Southbury Southbury Public Library District #5 Southington Flanders Elementary School Stafford Old Town Hall Stamford Davenport Ridge School Stamford St. Clements Church Hall Stratford Wilcoxin School 7 Stratford Second Hill Lane 10 Tolland Tolland Senior Center Torrington Torringford School 2 Trumbull Jane Ryan School District 4 Vernon Rockville High School Vernon Vernon Center Middle School Wallingford Moses Y. Beach School Wallingford Dag Hammarskjold Middle School Wallingford Cook Hill School Washington Town Hall Waterbury Chase School Waterbury Maloney School Watertown Swift Middle School West Hartford Solomon Schetchter School 10-2 West Hartford Charter Oak School 4-2 West Haven City Hall Voting District 4 West Haven Pagels Voting District 10 Westport Long Lots Elementary School Gym District 7 Wilton Wilton High School District 1 Windham BPO Elks 1311 Windsor Poquonock School ALTERNATE SITES (in order of picking) Waterbury Mount Olive A M E Zion Church Ledyard Juliet Long Elementary School Ansonia Holy Rosary Church Ward 3 West Hartford West Hartford Town Hall 5-2 Middletown South District Firehouse District 10 Stafford Stafford Senior Center Burlington Burlington Town Hall New Canaan Saxe Middle School District 3-30
BREAKING NEWS: Gov Rowland-Rell not seeking re-election
Monday, November 09, 2009 Time: 5:15 PM
Moments ago at the State Capitol, Gov. Rowland-Rell just announced that she will not seek re-election in 2010.
Names of Republicans who could throw their hat into the governor's race include State Senator John McKinney, State Rep. Larry Cafero, and former Congressman Rob Simmons.
UPDATE: Lt. Gov Mike Fedele announces that he intends to run for governor.
Whispers in the state said that the timing of Rell's announcement -- she announced her retirement this afternoon in a press conference -- was tied to the release of a Quinnipiac University poll set to be released tomorrow that showed her losing significant altitude in advance of 2010.
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"
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.
Today, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke about the need for immigration reform at the Center for American Progress and made the strongest indication that a change to the current immigration policy will be addressed by Congress starting in early 2010.
This month marks the last month of John Esposito's term on the Common Council.
The Democrat from the 4th ward has been a staple on the Council for many decades, serving under the Dyer, Sauer, Eriquez and Boughton administration.
There isn't enough one can say about Esposito as he's by far the most well respected member of the council and will be deeply missed.
From this week, here's footage of the council honoring Esposito.
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.
