Occupy DC glitter bombs Senator Joe Lieberman on his way to the Alfalfa Club. The Alfalfa Club is a yearly gathering of the 200 most powerful political and business leaders, the oligarchy of the United States who have disenfranchised the 99%.
On Thursday, PIX 11 reported exclusively that the Feds have been asking about the business relationship between Mayor Maturo and his close friend Chief Gallo. A day later Paul Hongo, the former Deputy Director of Town Affairs for East Haven, entered the picture. In an exclusive interview with PIX 11, Hongo admitted that the FBI questioned him over Gallo as well as Maturo. Here is part of that interview.
Diaz: Has the FBI asked you about Mayor Maturo? Hongo: Yes, him and several other people.
Diaz: Do you think he is being investigated by the FBI? Hongo: I think he and several others are being investigated. Yeah sure
Diaz: What are they investigating him for, corruption from the top down? Hongo: Absolutely.
Mayor Maturo was adamant there is no investigation on Thursday saying, "Mario if there was I'd tell you. I was straight with you the other day and I'm straight with you now."
Hongo on the other hand strongly believes the Feds have their eyes focused on a cast of characters, "I won't be shocked if any number of people are arrested."
Today, the Susan Bysiewicz campaign announced that foir the fourth quarter the Democratic candidate for US Senate raised 273,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011 with a total of $890,000 cash on hand.
Press release:
"We are clearly on track to have the resources that we need to communicate Susan's message of holding Wall Street, corporate special interests, and Washington accountable to the middle class," said Jonathan Ducote, Bysiewicz's campaign manager.
Hispanic residents and civil-rights advocates have raised alarms for years about the police in East Haven, Conn. Their claims gained chilling corroboration on Tuesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a sergeant and three officers on charges of terrorizing the town's Hispanic neighborhoods, stopping and detaining people, searching businesses without cause, beating people in handcuffs, smashing a man's head into a wall.
The charges echoed what the Justice Department reported in December, accusing East Haven police of widespread "biased policing, unconstitutional searches and seizures and the use of excessive force." This was made more appalling when the mayor, Joseph Maturo Jr., was asked by a reporter how he would respond to the arrests and said that he might have tacos for dinner. First, he said he was joking. When it dawned on him that snide flippancy was the wrong response to grave accusations of police brutality, he said he was sorry for his "off-collar comment."
That is not enough. Mayor Maturo should now resign. He has shown a stunning incapacity for understanding the severity of the scandal in his government and has been fatally compromised by his knee-jerk support for the tainted police department and its chief. The mayor's repugnant remark is the least of it. This case is about institutional brutality and oppression.
Maturo, the writing is on the wall...it's time to go.
New Haven's Latino advocates saved one taco for East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. and sent 399 others to people who might appreciate them more-diners at a local soup kitchen.
The delivery came Thursday afternoon at East Haven Town Hall, as Maturo's now-infamous "taco" remark continued to reverberate across the nation.
Maturo's off-the-cuff remark came after four of his cops were arrested for allegedly targeting, brutalizing, and falsely arresting Latinos. When a reporter from New York's WPIX TV asked Maturo what he'd do for the Latino community, Maturo responded, "I might have tacos when I get home." (Watch it here.) Maturo has since apologized for the remark.
As outrage spread, a national coalition called Reform Immigration for America urged people to text TACO to 69866 to condemn mayor's remark. The group pledged to send Maturo one taco for each person who texted in support.
As of Thursday afternoon, 2,600 people had sent a taco text.
Around 1:20 p.m., activists showed up at Maturo's door with aluminum trays carrying the first delivery of 400 tacos.
"These tacos represent every person across America who was disgusted by and condemns your comments," announced Latrina Kelly, interim head of Junta for Progressive Action, a New Haven-based Latino advocacy group.
Maturo wasn't there to hear her remarks. He slipped out a back door and was spotted driving off in his city-issued car shortly after 1 p.m., the time of the scheduled delivery.
[...]
In Maturo's absence, Junta's Kelly spoke to a throng of local and national reporters. The press group was so big that it couldn't fit into the mayor's office; Kelly had to relocate to the hallway to accommodate the crowd.
"Hopefully, you now know that comments like yours only heighten racial tension, and help explain how the kind of racial intolerance uncovered by the U.S. Justice Department was allowed to take hold in the East Haven police department," Kelly told Maturo via the cameras.
I bet the residents of East Haven really miss April now...
Today, fifth Congressional District Democratic candidates Dan Roberti and Chris Donovan sent dueling emails to their supporters touting their latest round of endorsements.
Donovan received an endorsement from the AFT Connecticut...
MERIDEN, CT - AFT Connecticut announced their support for Democratic candidate for the Fifth Congressional District Chris Donovan today in Meriden. AFT Connecticut, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, represents more than 28,000 members in more than 90 local unions across Connecticut. AFT Connecticut represents teachers and school related personnel, state and municipal employees, healthcare professionals, and higher education faculty.
"Chris has been one of the strongest supporters of teachers, students and public education in Connecticut, so this was an easy decision for our union to make. We are proud to offer our endorsement to Chris Donovan, and we pledge to work hard for his election to Congress." said Sharon Palmer, President of AFT Connecticut. "We trust Chris to fight for the issues important to students, parents and teachers - to improve our public schools, for increased access to early childhood education, and to make higher education more affordable. "
"I thank the members of AFT Connecticut for their support and endorsement, and I'm excited to be working with them. From my experience teaching at the University of Hartford, I know just how difficult the jobs of these hard working teachers are, and how important. We must commit to supporting our students, teachers, and schools, to making early childhood education a reality for all of our children, and to bring higher education within reach for every student," said Donovan.
AFT Connecticut joins former 5th CD Congressman Jim Maloney, Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman, Connecticut Working Families Party, the Newtown DTC, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Blue America, AFSCME Council 15, the Connecticut Council of Police, the Connecticut Education Association, the Connecticut State Council of Machinists, the IAFF - Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, United Auto Workers Region 9A, the Connecticut Laborers District Council, and the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 777 in endorsing Chris Donovan as the best candidate to fight for the families of Connecticut's fifth congressional district.
...while Roberti received an endorsement from former Meriden DTC chairman Frank Cirillo.
Yesterday evening, Frank Cirillo, former Meriden town chair, endorsed me for Congress and hosted a meet and greet at the beautiful Augusta Curtis Cultural Center in Meriden.
I am truly honored to have Frank's support, and the help of so many across the 5th, while we build this campaign from the ground up. As we kick off 2012, it is humbling to reflect on the momentum we have built over the past year, and I thank you for making it possible.
A few highlights from 2011 include the early endorsements from my dear friends, the Kent Democrats, DSCC Member Audrey Blondin, and the hardworking men and women of CWA Local 1298.
I could see how the campaign had grown at our press event in New Britain, to introduce the first part of my jobs plan, by the energetic supporters who greeted me.
We closed the year out strong with a great crowd at our Waterbury office opening, where I received endorsements from former Waterbury Senator Robert Dorr and former New Britain Senator Joe Harper.
In 2011 we laid the foundation, and we haven't missed a beat in 2012. We continue to grow our support by knocking on doors and talking with the people of the 5th District about the issues we face today and the common sense solutions necessary to resolve them.
I'm sure we'll hear of more endorsements from Donovan, Roberti, and Elizabeth Esty in the lead of to the convention later this year.
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