I heard this on Main Street!

Elmer's Diner

Today I was in a local diner and heard talk about the new diner, Elmer's, on North Street. It isn't open yet but should be soon.

Dbyblogger didn't realize that it's going to be a 24 hour diner, 7 days a week and it is going to take on an oldies theme...possibly waitresses on skates - you know that type of thing.

Just thought we would share that with you all...Best of luck to the staff at Elmers!

Less Than 260 Days To Go!

November 2007 Election (260 Days Away)

Yes...it's coming again...our city officials are up for election November 2007. Mayor Mark Boughton of course he is going to run again. But the question is what Democrat will be his challenger? Recent rumors of Councilman Saadi and Councilwoman Taborsak have since stepped down from running for the position of Mayor. Who the heck do the democrats have left??

No...If you're pushing for Dean Esposito again just drive around the streets of Danbury and you will see him cruising in a city car...that's right he is a city employee now - no need to run again!

Possibly...In today's Danbury News Times former city clerk, Helena Abrantes may take action and run against Boughton. She is currently the owner of, "The Atlantic," a fine portuguese restaurant here in Danbury and is active in the Danbury Democratic Town Committee. But will that be enough for her to make herself known?

Abrantes will further this statement about running for the mayor's position this Thursday at the Catholic War Veterans.

Moving Back & Moving on.... For 2 City Employees

1. This morning we read that Danbury's Fire Marshall, Barry Rickert, has said no to the job in Southbury and will remain active here in Danbury. Rickert has been with the city of Danbury's fire department for over 34 years and he has chosen to keep on going even though some retire at this stage of the game.

Danbury's Mayor Mark Boughton quoted in today's newstimes, "Barry does a great job," said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. "The citizens are well served. He's a professional and wherever he serves, he'll be a professional."


2. Today it has been made clear and official that Danbury's Finance Director, Dena Diorio will be leaving to take a similar job in North Carolina. Dena was a great asset to the city of Danbury since taking the postion in August 2002. Mayor Mark Boughton has said he will step up the time frame of dispursing the city's budget by a month so Dena, "can oversee the process one last time."

To both Fire Marshall Rickert, and Director of Finance Diorio, we at Dbyblogger wish you much success and truly appreciate your endless efforts to the city of Danbury. Best of Luck!

A New TASTE OF DANBURY

After 30 years, Tortilla Flats has closed. Their offering of tasty Mexican food has been replaced by a ,'neo-asian' restaurant. I am looking forward to this new place. Kabuki, & Ichiro and the others are great and I think if the owner keeps his prices moderately low his business will be successful. I believe this new restaurant won't open until April or May so if you are craving a taste of this food check out Wild Ginger in Ridgefield. It's right off the main street in the CVS shopping plaza...you won't leave hungry!

Dbyblogger would like you to click here if you don't know how to eat with chopsticks....ha ha Check it Out!

Best wishes to the new restaurant on East Pembroke, "Koo"

Who Should Be Heard?

Illegal immigration is always a tough and sensitive issue and most of the time you can't argue for illegal immigration because they are breaking the laws of our nation. However, every once-in- awhile you hear of the personal struggle of an illegal immigrant who is truly just trying to make a better life for themselves and their family and you can't help but wish we had enough room and resources for everyone who want to come to our country. One such story is that of Tereza Pereira of Danbury who's struggle to return to her family after being picked up by ICE last week has continued to make front page news in the News Times. Today's article offered some hope that our justice system isn't completely cold hearted, click here to read the story, Tereza was allowed to return home while her case has been reopened and until she has her hearing. Its hard to say if Tereza should be allowed to stay in the U.S. since she did come here illegally in the first place but it is safe to say she did try to become a legal citizen awhile back and seems to have been taken advantage of by the lawyers she asked to help her apply for citizenship. However it turns out, it seems fair that Tereza have a fair hearing for citizenship and she should be allowed to be at home for her family and children while she awaits that hearing. She may have come here illegally but she's been here so long and has built an entire life here that just deporting her without fully hearing her story wouldn't be fair, but then again everyone seems to have a story and how do we decide whos story should be heard and who should automatically suffer the consequences of knowingly breaking our laws.

Rell's Budget Plan

My first response to the front page of the News Times story this morning, "Rell Unveils Budget Plan", was "oh no they are going to take more money from our paychecks!"However, after reading the full story and seeing some other people's perspective I have to say I think the plan is fair and will absolutely benefit children all over the state. Governor Rell plans to increase education funding to all cities and towns over a 3 year period. The money to fund the increase will be taken from an increase in cigarette taxes (which I support 100%) and a state income tax increase. The income tax increase will spread the burden to everyone and in the end we will all benefit from a better educated youth. The article also mentioned the creation of a new Department of Energy, I just hope this new department also takes on the outrageous electricity price increases that have taken place over the last few years, and that help can be provided for the low income families that have to choose between paying the electric bill and putting food on the table.

"I will accept such criticisms ... for that is part of the price of leadership." (2/7/2007 - M. Jodi Rell)

Mixed opinions are floating around the state of Connecticut this morning as many saw on the news last night or read articles in the papers this morning that Governor Rell has opted to hike up the income tax here in CT. On Wednesday she addressed CT's budget, "offering to raise taxes and exceed the state spending cap for a massive infusion of $3.4 billion to Connecticut schools over five years."

Questions that infused my mind were, "Where is the money going to go?" "Why is it that states who have no income tax have a much better economy opposed to those states who have income taxes?" "Will more and more residents be driven out of the state of Connecticut because of this?" "HOW WILL THIS EFFECT DANBURY?"

This morning I read the 11 page text of Gov. Rell's budget address to the General Assembly (available on NewsTimes.com) and a majority of my questions were answered; taken directly from the speech.

• Education
• "It will save in terms of prisons we will not have to build, lower teen pregnancy rates, reduced high school drop out rates and more."
• "For years we have talked about a 50/50 cost sharing for education between the state and its municipalities - this budget gets it done."
• "Every town will benefit. For instance, by year 5 of my program, Bridgeport will be receiving 85 million dollars more a year for education. Danbury will be receiving 28 million dollars more. West Hartford will be getting 22 million dollars more."
• "A high school graduation exam will be put into place."
• "This investment will result in an additional 14,000 students receiving scholarships and aid."

• Health Care
• "But at any given point in time, about 220,000 people are without insurance. In December, I proposed the Charter Oak Health Plan and enhancements to the HUSKY program to make sure that every adult and child in Connecticut has access to health insurance."
• "Over the past thirty months, nearly 2,800 newborns were identified as having no insurance coverage. That number should be zero."

• Reasonable Development
• "increases grants to regional planning agencies"
• "Proposes 245 million dollars in bonds per year for clean water projects, along with $20 million to secure open space for the future"
• "provides 1.6 million dollars for enhanced global positioning information to help towns make informed land use decisions."

• Energy
• "immediate cost reductions"
• "energy efficiency"
• "making us a leader in alternative and renewable energy"
• "better coordination and integration of energy policy and planning."

• Final Comments

• "Education. Energy. Health care. Responsible growth. Four issues that all speak to the need for generational investment. These issues shape the quality of life we are able to provide for ourselves and our children.

  It’s time to honor our commitments. It’s time to show real leadership. It’s time to get it done.

  Thank you and God Bless the Great State of Connecticut." - M. Jodi Rell

2007 Local Election

Recent rumors have left many wondering which democrat could be the choice to run against Mayor Boughton in the 2007 local election. I don't even think Mayor Mark Boughton has said he would run for sure yet but everyone assumes he will try for atleast one more term. Rumors have for a long time placed Councilman Tom Saadi as the top democratic candidate to run against Boughton in 2007 but recent talk suggests he's decided against it. So who could we expect to step up to the plate? I've heard talks about Councilwoman Lynn Taborsak or former City Clerk Helena Abrantes or even Democratic Town Committee Chair Joe Dasilva running. Whoever it is, it should be interesting.

Loads of Events

Dbyblogger is posting some events hoping Danbury Residents will get out there...enjoy & support! This is what we heard on Main Street...

• Western Connecticut State University recognizes Black History Month. All throughout the month of February WCSU students, staff and guest speakers will host numerous events in appreciation of Black History Month. Click here to go directly to WCSU calendar.

• February 6th - 7:30 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall. You can read the consent calendar posted on the City of Danbury website here. All other city events are also posted on the city's calendar that can be found here for the month of February.

• February 6th - Ad-Hoc Meeting (176 Shelter Rock Road) 6:30 p.m. 3rd Floor Workroom at City Hall

• February 7th - Planning Commission 7:30 p.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 8th - Zoning Board of Appeals 7:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 8th - Ad-Hoc Meeting (Real Estate Taxes for Seniors) 6 p.m. Conference Room C at City Hall

• February 8th - Ad-Hoc Meeting (Tax Abatement for Volunteer FF/EMT's/Paramedics 6:30 p.m. Conference Room C at City Hall

• February 9th - Firefighter Promotion Ceremony 10 a.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 12th - Lincoln's Birthday

• February 13th - Zoning Commission 7:30 p.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 13th - Commission on Persons with Disabilities 6:30 p.m. Conference Room 3 B at City Hall

• February 14th - Environmental Impact Commission - 7 p.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 14th - Civil Service Commission Meeting - 6 p.m. Conference Room 3 B at City Hall

• February 19th - Conservation Commission - 7:30 p.m. Conference Room 3 A at City Hall

• February 19th - President's Day

• February 20th - Tarrywile Park Authority - 6:30 p.m. Tarrywile Mansion Conference Room

• February 20th - Aviation Commission - 7 p.m Conference Room 3 C at City Hall

• February 20th - Youth Commission - 7 p.m. 3rd Floor Caucus Room at City Hall

• February 21st - Planning Commission - 7:30 p.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 22nd - Zoning Board of Appeals - 7 p.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 24th - Saturday with the Mayor 9 a.m - Noon / 3rd Floor City Hall (No appointments necessary)

• February 26th...HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS come to O'Neill Center - WCSU/Westside campus. Go watch the comical players at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (203) 837-8499.

• February 27th - Zoning Commission - 7:30 p.m. Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 28th - Environmental Impact Commission - 7 p.m Common Council Chambers at City Hall

• February 26th...HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS come to O'Neill Center - WCSU/Westside campus. Go watch the comical players at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (203) 837-8499.

If you have any events you would like us to post please feel free to leave a comment! And help us spread the word!

Super Bowl XLI

Even if you're not a huge football fanatic make sure you watch for the commercials and the half time show. This year's super bowl game inclues the Indianapolis Colts vs. the Chicago Bears. Illustrated above on the left is (Colts) Peyton Manning and on the right is (Bears) Quaterback Rex Grossman.....Go BEARS!

An Early Spring

I'ts groundhog day again and this year he did NOT see his shadow which means we will have an early spring instead of 6 more weeks of winter!
I'm sure 'GroundHog's Day' will be on tonight...one really needs a super amount of patience to sit there and watch that movie for a 2nd or 3rd time....Happy GroundHog's Day!

Danbury's Homeless Count

While reading the paper today I came across the following article:

Tracking the homeless Danbury takes citywide survey

By Brian Saxton
THE NEWS-TIMES

I think its great that Danbury and local volunteers are trying to figure out who needs assistance in our city and I think its great that the numbers have gone down significantly in the last year, but 138 homeless people in our city alone still sounds like a lot to me. Wasn't the Mayor's Task Force to End Homelessness supposed to help get these people into safe long term homes? Maybe I am rushing it but I think 138 people having to survive outdoors in the cold winter just isn't right.

Danbury Common Council Bails Out All Failed Community Events...

...Or atleast that seems to be what the Democrats on the Common Council want. I didn't get a chance to comment on this news story yesturday but it seemed so ridiculous that I had to make a point of mentioning it. As I woke up to 98Q yesturday morning I thought I had heard wrong when they were annoucning a top story as, Danbury Democrats look into the real reason First Night Danbury was canceled. My first thought was, hadn't this all been discussed in 2005 when the event almost didn't happen and then again in 2006 when it was canceled? Its been obvious for a long time that First Night Danbury was not attracting the crowds it was ment for, its a shame yes but still reality. So then I was reading the paper and came across the same story. Is it me or is this a huge waste of time by certain common council members? We all know why the event failed, it was a lack of support and volunteers. So why I ask again, are we wasting time on this? Shouldn't CityCenter be the ones responsible to fix this and shouldn't we be focusing on more important issues, and if they think this one is so important then why aren't they putting in the same effort for all the other community events and programs that have been canceled over the years? If you ask me its an attempt to get some extra press coverage but in this case I think it backfired because everyone I know thinks its a waste of time. Danbury Common Council bail out all failed community events...no thanks, we have enough successful ones to focus on.