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Lamont orders fines for those who flout rules on mask-wearing and large party limits

Gov. Ned Lamont talks about the importance of wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at a press conference on the New Haven Green Wednesday at a walk-up COVID-19 testing site to highlight the importance of testing for the disease even if you are asymptomatic. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker also attended the event. The testing was conducted by Murphy Medical Associates based in Greenwich. (Cloe Poisson, CTMirror.org)

Gov. Ned Lamont established a new series of fines Monday, ranging from $100 to $500, for those who refuse to wear protective masks in public or who organize or attend large, private events.

The new penalties, administration officials said, were requested by municipal leaders whose only other option to enforce coronavirus containment rules was to arrest violators and charge them with misdemeanor offenses. Continue reading Lamont orders fines for those who flout rules on mask-wearing and large party limits

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Norwalk Police Department releases video of Duff visit

Norwalk Police Sgt. Sal Calise, left, exits the police headquarters on July 24 and addresses State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25), shown center as a reflection in the glass. The image is from security camera video, obtained by NancyOnNorwalk Monday.

Updated at 3 a.m. Wednesday to include the entire video.

NORWALK, Conn. — Video released Monday by the Norwalk Police Department shows Officer Mike Silva step outside a side door on July 24 and spit onto the concrete at the top of a small set of stairs, with State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25) standing at the bottom having a conversation with Officer Mark Suda.

The incident is critical to Duff’s story of being “bullied” by Norwalk Police officers due to their objection to a police accountability bill, then working its way through the Statehouse. Also shown in the video are officers walking out from behind the building and into the parking lot as Duff leaves, as he has described.

Video edited by Harold F. Cobin at end of story Continue reading Norwalk Police Department releases video of Duff visit

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Rowayton marchers chant ‘Black Lives Matter;’ resident cites ‘taboo’

Sunday’s Black Lives Matter protest concludes at Rowayton’s “old school fence,” the topic of recent controversy. (All protest photos by John Levin.)

Brigitte Van Den Houte speaks Sunday in Rowayton. (John Levin)

NORWALK, Conn. — Participating in a Black Live Matter march is a natural for Rowayton resident Brigitte Van Den Houte.

Not only does Van Den Houte work professionally at the executive level to increase diversity in company hiring, her two grown children from a previous marriage are people of color, she said. She thought there would be less racism in America when they moved here from Europe eight years ago. But no, “I was naive to think that it would be better in the United States.”

Up to 100 people marched Sunday through tony Rowayton, chanting “Black Lives Matter” and Black women matter,” and Van Den Houte was one of them.  A flier distributed at the protest indicated that a Black Lives Matter sign is central to their complaints. Continue reading Rowayton marchers chant ‘Black Lives Matter;’ resident cites ‘taboo’

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Bob’s great adventure

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Nancy Chapman’s reporting on this site continues to deliver fresh insights into Bob Duff’s “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at the Norwalk Police Department.” That’s how Duff, our State Senator representing Norwalk and most of Darien, described it on a local community website.  But what if it was not such a bad day? What if it was actually just the opening PR gambit in another of Duff’s re-election campaigns?

We all know about Duff’s love for the camera. His attention to ribbon cuttings. His devotion to self-promotion.  Those are valuable skills for a politician. But where Duff really excels is in his mastery of PR.  Now, in picking a fight with the cops and keeping it going, he may have topped all previous efforts. Continue reading Bob’s great adventure

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In support of Bob Duff and police accountability

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I was horrified with the alleged misconduct directed at Senator Bob Duff (and his family) by of some of the police officers of the Norwalk police department. Bob, Senate Majority Leader, performs all his duties out of great concern with the larger good, and now more than ever with what has come to light in our country involving maltreatment by the police. Bob has been instrumental in helping us here in CT to be more proactive, in order to ensure interactions between the police and public are safe and healthy. Continue reading In support of Bob Duff and police accountability

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Norwalk Zoning officials take action on complaints

A Google view of 179 South Main St., the hedge at left. (Google)

A Google satellite view of 179 South Main St., showing what’s behind the hedge. Owner Jose Ceja has been fined $2,000 and there are more fines coming, Zoning Citation Hearing Officer Gary Oberst said.

NORWALK, Conn. — From contractor yards to unsightly vehicles, a number of property violations were addressed over the past few weeks by the city’s Zoning Citation process.

One of the properties in question, 66 Taylor Ave., was threatened with a $500 fine last month for “use of a parcel of land within a ‘D-Residential’ zone for a use which is not permitted within the zone (Contractor’s Storage Yard).” Continue reading Norwalk Zoning officials take action on complaints

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Norwalk Police union endorses Republican legislative candidates

Norwalk Police at a West Avenue incident. (File photo)

The 2020 election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk Police officers have endorsed every Republican legislative candidate set to be on the Norwalk ballot this fall, save one.

Endorsed at Thursday’s meeting of Norwalk Police Union Local 1727 were:

  • Jonathan Riddle for U.S. Representative
  • Elisavet “Ellie” Kousidis for State Senate
  • Ellen Wink for District 137 State Representative
  • Terrie Wood for District 141 State Representative
  • Fred Wilms for 142 District State Representative
  • Patrizia Zucaro for 143 District State Representative

Continue reading Norwalk Police union endorses Republican legislative candidates

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NPD’s behavior opposite of what we had hoped

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This is an open letter to Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik.

This letter is in response to the recent interaction between some of the members from the Norwalk Police Department and State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. According to a report by CTPost dated September 2, 2020, over 30 police officers approached Senator Duff in July in a brazen act of harassment and intimidation regarding the recent passage of the Police Accountability Bill, which addresses oversight of law enforcement.

If the actions by the Norwalk Police Department are true — and we have no reason to believe that they are not — then we are appalled and outraged that such behavior is being exhibited by our professional men and women in blue. Additionally, if police officers are now rallying together to stand against the very impetus of accountability in which the law addresses, then we are moving backwards. And this is unacceptable. Continue reading NPD’s behavior opposite of what we had hoped

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A Norwalk photo #67: Sept. 11

(Fernando Ulloa, Jr.)

NORWALK, Conn. — Fernando Ulloa, Jr. took at Calf Pasture Beach on the 19th anniversary of Sept. 11.

“I was hoping to get a clear night to capture the 9/11 Tribute In Light in NYC, but there was a cloudy overcast,” he wrote. “Luckily I was still able to capture a glimpse of the 9/11 Tribute In Light to the left of Manresa Island, however faint. To emphasize the 9/11 Tribute In Light, I converted the photo to black & white.”

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Your chance to get rid of household hazardous waste

NORWALK, Conn. — Two upcoming Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events will be open to Norwalk residents at no charge, according to a press release.  Norwalkers can bring their HHW to:

  • New Canaan Wastewater Treatment Plant, 394 Main St. New Canaan on Saturday Sept. 12  from 8 a.m.-2 p.m

or

  • Greens Farms Railroad Station, New Creek Rd. Westport, parking lot #1 (between I-95 and the Metro North tracks) on Saturday Oct. 3 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Continue reading Your chance to get rid of household hazardous waste

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Norwalk Police to release video of Duff visit

From left, Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik and Deputy Norwalk Police Chief Susan Zecca. (File photo – Paul Lanning)

NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik says security camera footage showing officers’ contentious interactions with State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25) may be released Monday.

This  followed a statement issued Thursday by Deputy Norwalk Police Chief Susan Zecca, who said in an email that, “We do not plan to release the video for security reasons.”

Duff’s account of being “mistreated and spat at” during a visit to police headquarters to discuss Connecticut’s new police accountability bill has drawn statewide attention and inspired much controversy in Norwalk. NancyOnNorwalk has hoped to provide the public with video footage and filed a Freedom of Information request on Sept. 2. Continue reading Norwalk Police to release video of Duff visit

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Artificial turf fields approved in Norwalk despite concerns

The field behind West Rocks Middle School.

NORWALK, Conn. — Even though the new synthetic turf field at the West Rocks School Soccer Field Complex won’t be solely crumb rubber-based, concerns still remain.

Norwalk’s Common Council voted 13-1 to approve a $443,088 synthetic turf field at the West Rocks School Proposed Soccer Field Complex, despite concerns over the environmental and health impacts of the turf. The council had previously approved the construction plans for the site in July, but that vote didn’t include the actual turf. Continue reading Artificial turf fields approved in Norwalk despite concerns

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