Email: mark.langlois@patch.com
Tel: 203-209-7371
Your Beliefs: Patch asks me to share with you my beliefs, so I must tell you I believe in small town democracy (town meetings, committees and boards) where people can see government at work. If people had been watching, the boards and commissions in California who voted each other outrageous pensions and salaries might have been stopped. It's easier for me to write about neighborhoods and government than it is to write about crime and corruption, but crime and corruption are my rave favs. I love knowing something and telling people about it before they heard it somewhere else. I want to beat the competition every day.
Politics: I am a registered Democrat, but because I've been a newspaper reporter since 1982, I have never been active in politics. Because both parties know how I am registered, I have to treat both sides of the aisle with visible and obvious equality. In practice, that means I am equally disliked on both parties. I defend the first ammendment rights of everyone to speak their mind, whether or not I find what they say reprehensible. I publish what they say in their words and in a way where when they read it over, they agree they said it and it's what they think.
Religion: I am a practicing Roman Catholic, and I enjoy the religious diversity in Danbury. I'd love to visit your church, Catholic or otherwise.
Local hot button issues: The local hot button issues in Danbury today are the proposed army reserve facility overlooking Danbury Fair Mall and Danbury Airport. The second issue that simmers in Danbury and is alive across the country is immigration and illegal immigration. I won't be confident the army reserve facility is gone until the Pentagon tells me so. I don't think the congress and the president have the courage to tackle the immigration issue.
Where do I stand on the issues?
My question about the army reserve facility is why buy a property in Danbury when the state owns one in Newtown. Both are linked by good roads to lower Fairfield County, and both are near I-84. My suspicion is the opposition by Newtown residents couldn't be overcome, and I also suspect this facility will make use of the Danbury Airport. One thing opponents have to consider is what are the alternative uses for the land. Would it be less offensive to the neighbors as condominiums, as factories, office space or retail? It is unlikely to remain undeveloped forever.
On the second issue, I think federal immigration law is the problem, and it needs reforming. I can understand a person's hurry to leave squalor to a piece of the good life. Somehow we have to fix the law.
The Danbury Fire Department extinguished a dumpster fire Danbury at Comcast Cable on Shelter Rock Road. This video was shot and edited by Dave King, a musician in the Danbury area who manages public access television programing for Comcast.
The following information was provided by the Danbury Police Department. A person charged with a crime is innocent until having been convicted in court.
Danbury's Municipal Code is a wee bit behind the times, and a two-year effort is underway to restore it to reality.
Danbury native H. Frank Taylor has died in Florida at age 96.
Whether you like the rolls, or the sashimi or maybe it's the wasabi, the real question is who does it best?
It was standing room only in the bleachers at WCSU's football field, where the university graduated nearly 1,000 people Sunday.
We had a record 476 votes cast for Danbury's Best Yoga Studio in this week's Readers' Choice Poll.
The following property transfers were recorded by the Danbury Town Clerk. Any information about previous sales comes from Vision Appraisals.
Teachers reveal what happens when they're teaching 20 young students without a paraprofessional. This video was shot by Danbury's John Neumuller, who will air the entire meeting at 7 p.m. Saturday on Comcast.
Neighbors to the proposed Belimo Air Controls manufacturing plant on Turner Road say they knew it would be something, but they don't think big trucks will work.
Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut honored two of its volunteers Tuesday at a breakfast of nearly 600 people.
Dark fruit, slightly earthy is the way Peter describes this Italian Red wine. You have to enjoy this guy. He's having fun.
Manufacturing plans proposed for Turner Road draws questions from neighbors.
The celebrated children's author was best known for his book "Where The Wild Things Are."
To honor a Danbury athlete who died young and to help children at the Samuels' Early Learning Center, the Holt Foundation and the New Hope Baptist Church are working together to build a playground.
State Rep. Dan Carter argues that helping workers unionize might just hurt both the workers and their clients.
This week's Readers's Choice poll contest is Yoga Studios. Which is Danbury's best yoga studio?
Cindy Mcfadden, a former Union Carbide employee, moved out of Danbury on Thursday, first telling the City Council on Tuesday it was her bad neighborhood that drove her out.
The Danbury Police Department provided the following information. A person charged with a crime is innocent until having been convicted in court.
Jim Barbarie's Restaurant takes top honors for Mother's Day Brunch.
