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.
City workers joined contractors on White Street Thursday near Western Connecticut State University to install equipment to make crossing White Street safer.
In this Vision for Vacancies, we look at a building that was the home of Meeker's Hardware, a family business for 125 years. The hardware store closed for renovations in 2010, but never really reopened successfully. A Realtor's sign is in the
Danbury Police charged one woman and a man with assault and disorderly conduct Sunday.
Danbury Police charged a Waterbury man with third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and interfering with a 911 call.
More than 300 people put their best feet forward Saturday to raise money for children Saturday in the March for Babies at the Matrix Corporate Center in Danbury. This press release was sent by the March of Dimes.
Ethan Allen Interiors, with its headquarters in Danbury, says in this press release it has won an environmental award in Vermont where it has two manufacturing plants.
Danbury Police charged two Danbury men in unrelated cases Wednesday with possession of drugs with intent to sell.
City workers joined contractors on White Street Thursday near Western Connecticut State University to install equipment to make crossing White Street safer.
The following property transfers were recorded by the Danbury Town Clerk.
Business and employment experts are sounding the alarm over a legislative proposal they say would give Connecticut workers on-the-job powers "never before seen in the workplace."
City property values fell roughly $2 billion in its 2012 revaluation, but a study of 29 abandoned homes shows they lost value faster than the city's average home.
Governor Dannel Malloy's office said he will visit Danbury Wednesday to make an announcement regarding economic development.
Two Danbury men were charged Tuesday with taking a woman to the Harambee Center Saturday, breaking into the center, and raping her there.
Danbury wins designation as Tree City, and it plants more trees. This is a press release from Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton's office.
Alfred Clady, age 87, of Danbury, died Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Danbury Hospital.
Danbury police charged Henry Gebert with first-degree assault. Gebert has a lengthy history of crime convictions in Danbury.
The city is concerned about abandoned houses, and city departments work together to find the owner of each house and get each one cleaned.
Danbury police charged a city woman with three counts of risk of injury to a minor Friday.
A look, in photos, of the recent highest selling houses.
This announcement was provided by the Candlewood Lake Authority.
