Danbury's Future - Truths, Lies and Where do we go from here

In the title of my letter I have used the title from Coretta Scott King’s book, “Truths, Lies and Where do we go from here - Chaos or Community?” Our issues are much different from what Mrs. King wrote about, but the philosophies of truth, community, facts and how they are distorted to ensure that those in power can't manipulate us in the community, still remain the same. So, I am compelled to write this letter to the city of Danbury and present it to the Zoning Commission for this week's continuation of our struggle to discuss the facts and the law, regarding the Mega Shelter being planted in the middle of three communities.

It is with great sorrow, as I write this letter, I have learned that one of our organizers homes was attacked for the second time, with a stupid act of childish terrorism, that can only serve to strengthen our resolve to see this through to the very end. We the community, tax paying citizens of Danbury, will not be frightened or threatened, or shy away from what should never be allowed to happen to the safety of our community.

During the last meeting we, the tax paying community, listened to city officials, the senior leadership of Pacific House and their attorney Mr. Hollister. We listened to their attorney threaten the zoning board and those opposed to the location of the shelter. We sat and listened to our faith and Christianity be called into question, for disagreeing with our politicians and wanting to protect the children and families in these three adjoining communities. All of us heard the president of Pacific House and those representing his company, contradict each other as to how long the facility has been managed by pacific house. One said since August, the manager in the employ of Pacific House said 18 months. Their Attorney alluded to their recent takeover of the facility from the City of Danbury. Outside persons were brought in to tell us how amazing a 24hour/7 day a week facility is, and how great it would be. But now under the scourge of overdoses, beats and break ins, the facility is no longer a new model, it is just like all the other facilities now and the doors are being locked at 7:00 PM and no one can leave the facility. If they do, they are locked out for the night. In the winter, in a nor'easter, in the elements to fend for themselves. These are not people that care about the homeless, this is about money and politics. The rules are changing, to control the uncontrollable situation, just so they can get those of you on the board to vote in their favor. Then the rules will change again, and again, to benefit their income flow should they get all of you to allow this to happen to our city and our communities. This is not the legal 20 bed limit that previous administrations found to be acceptable to limit the impact on the surrounding community.

We have the proof, which will be presented to the commission tonight. Again we the community are dealing from facts: nothing has been manufactured to elicit emotions or community based rage.

We the citizens of Danbury have been repeatedly told that our fears of panhandling, drug overdoses , burglary, prostitution and the strain on our city services are total fiction. Even with all of the hard evidence presented, those for this Mega Shelter still hold their ground and spout the political rubbish.

There have been four deaths attributed to those living in the Pacific House. Two had happened the week prior to the last hearing and our city leaders withheld the information so they could forward their agenda. Outright lies to the Board and to the taxpayers of the City. One woman was found dead in her room after three days. Another man, a resident of the facility was found dead behind one of our local restaurants on Mill Plain road. During the height of the pandemic there was a resident of the facility found last April at the end of Westwood Village, frozen to death, when this was supposed to be a 24/7 facility. Another person was found dead in the high grass on the side of the road at exit 4. But there is no evidence that anything out of the ordinary has happened at the former Super 8, now referred to as the Mega Shelter.

Besides the many drug overdoses that our city police and fire personnel respond to,it is unconscionable that Danbury’s Police Chief has ordered the reports that our officers submit from their calls to duty, to be changed to reflect that nothing negative was happening at or near the facility. These facts are being relayed to us from city personnel that will remain nameless, to prevent retaliation to them and their careers. And that, should a call come in, no lights and or sirens are to be used to draw attention to the event. But, again as we are told, there is nothing going on at the facility that the community should be worried about. I suppose that the resident of the shelter, a young man that had fallen to the ground outside of McDonald's drive thru window in a drug overdose situation, was nothing more than a “wellness visit”, as the police report was changed too, when he was administered Narcan out in the open for all to witness. Or the woman that went through the city stealing our lawn signs, who was arrested by the way, and her name has still been covered up by our Police Chief. Why ? What is being hidden? Why can’t those of us that filed the complaints have the right to press charges? Isn’t that the law, our rights as citizens of Danbury?

The lies and manipulation must stop now. Let's debate this from a foundation of truth and conviction from both sides. We need to begin with honesty, not the manufactured letters in favor that are being presented and produced primarily from organizations outside of Danbury, berating those against this facility, and calling our faith and our human integrity into question. We too can submit letters but our letters will be based on facts, not manipulated words and information to solicit emotions and false responses based on non-truths. The Pacific House accepts government funds and private contributions from communities and individuals wanting to keep this type of institution out of their own neighborhoods. Last month, the Pacific House received over $300K from their annual gala event in contributions. Danbury should and does take care of its community members in need through its LEGAL and heartfelt outreach efforts and organizations. I urge the Board to listen to the community that lives here, and please take into account that over 1500 people have stood up and put their names to a petition against this facility’s location and the changing of city ordinances. Fact, having a 172 bed facility, with drug dealers, prostitutes, mentally ill persons, and drug addicted persons blocks from two schools, close to a college campus and dormitories, set adjacent to three communities that are being infiltrated as fear escalates for the safety of our local children needs not to happen. This proposal must be voted down. Danbury, as reported from several news organizations, cannot become the landing place for everyone else’s homeless, and those flown and bused in illegal immigrants, unvaccinated and being hidden in the shelter and other city facilities.

Finally the architect of this was and is former Mayor Mark Boughton. Where was he during the last election, why has he not come back in into the public eye and face the community that he did so much for during his tenure as mayor? Who is the puppeteer, who is pulling the strings to make our officials dance to their tune? Our voices will be heard, here in the public forums like this one, in the courts and in the voting booths.

In closing Coretta Scott King closed with this thought in the 1960’s: “While we cannot resolve the issues of decent, integrated housing immediately, we are now making the choices which will determine whether we can achieve these goals in forthcoming decades. We cannot afford to make these choices poorly.”

Today the philosophies still remain true. While we cannot resolve the issues of homelessness immediately, we are now making the choices which will determine whether we can achieve these goals in forthcoming years. We cannot afford to make these choices poorly, at anyone's expense. The Pacific House and this Mega Shelter have proven not to be the solution.