Dog Park Location Debate

Dog park supporters divided on the location
By Wynne Parry Staff Writer 03/21/2008

STAMFORD - Residents were unanimous this week in supporting an effort to create Stamford's first dog park.

But, during a public hearing Wednesday night at city hall, dog owners and others had many opinions about where to put it.

The city is considering four sites - Czesick Park on Shippan Avenue, the Hunt Complex on Courtland Avenue and two sites in Kosciuszko Park on Dyke Lane.

"None of the locations are perfect. Each has advantages and drawbacks," said city Rep. Arthur Layton, R-17.

Layton and city Rep. Eileen Heaphy, D-8, hatched the idea and formed the nonprofit Friends of the Stamford Dog Park about a year ago. They hope to raise $40,000 to create it.

Resident Coleen Banks, 49, said her visits to the prospective sites left her strongly against one - the Hunt Complex - the least expensive option and a city favorite.

The site near Exit 9 of Interstate 95 is isolated, she said.

"I was uncomfortable being there," she said. "I just think that if you are going to provide something for the dog owners of the city of Stamford, it would be rather insulting to give them this rather unparklike setting."

Resident David Winston, 58, spoke in favor of the Hunt Complex.

A Cove resident and cat owner, Winston said he would like to attract dogs and their owners to the area.

"That kind of activity is going to encourage a neighborhood environment," he said.

Other speakers addressed the two remaining sites. Czesick Park drew concern because of the traffic the dog park might generate and the controversy embroiling the neighborhood over proposed artificial turf fields at West Beach across the street.

Kosciuszko Park has a high water table, making it muddy, and it is more remote, said a resident, Jan Goldfluss, 50.

The Parks and Recreation Commission plans to decide at its next meeting, scheduled for April 16, said Mickey Docimo, director of parks and recreation for the city.

Once the department approves the park and selects a site, the Friends of the Stamford Dog Park must come up with the money for a fence, benches and other items.

The group has raised about $2,300, Heaphy said. Click here to read more.

Headless Chicken Investigation Continues

Town still investigating six headless chickens--March 22, 2008

Greenwich Animal Control officers are investigating six beheaded chickens found behind a Mason Street bank Thursday afternoon, considering whether the birds were killed as part of a religious ritual, Greenwich Police Lt. Richard Cochran said Friday.

Over the years Greenwich Police officers have collected dismembered carcasses of chickens and other animals that appeared to be ritually killed, Cochran said.

The killings also could be a disturbed individual's idea of a prank, Cochran said.

"Whether it was linked to Holy Week or some other event we're not sure," Cochran said. "It could also just be a stupid prank."

The perpetrators could face animal cruelty charges, Cochran said, which under state law is a felony that can carry up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, depending on the circumstances.

The chickens were found by passersby under a tall hedge in the parking lot behind Putnam Trust Bank at 10 Mason St. Thursday afternoon.

Cochran said police checked security cameras on the property, but the devices did not record the area where the animals were left.

"Anybody with information about this should call us," Cochran said.

Residents with information about the chickens should call the Animal Control Division at 622-8299.

--Martin B. Cassidy

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Advocate: School Closing Decision Delayed

Panel votes to close elementary school; decision delayed on which building
By Donna Porstner, Staff Writer --March 20, 2008

STAMFORD - The Board of Education Redistricting Committee last night voted to close an elementary school in 2009 but delayed a decision on which one for at least a month.

The move freezes a controversial plan to close Toquam Magnet Elementary School - at least for now.

The committee has been discussing whether to close Toquam when the new interdistrict magnet school opens in the Cove in 2009.

Board members agreed to the one-month delay to give Mayor Dannel Malloy time to talk to state officials about how the new school may be populated. Members were told the magnet school couldn't have a traditional attendance district, in which children are assigned to a building based on where they live.

Malloy asked members to "pause" so he could have a "broader dialogue" with the state about the new magnet school.

"He's going to be a great advocate," Board of Education Vice Chairman James Rubino said. "He's a man of great influence."

Malloy and board members were vague about what they hope to get from the state.

Members were expected to chose one of four options last night: keeping all schools open, closing Toquam and redistributing those students to their district schools, closing Toquam and moving those students to the new magnet school while retaining the curriculum, or closing Toquam and moving its students to the new school with the new environmentally themed curriculum.Ê

Instead, members voted in favor of closing an elementary school and tabled the three other options.

Because of declining enrollment and a limited budget, school officials are considering the closure of an elementary school when the new school opens. The school district is expected to lose about 700 students over the next seven years.

Closing a school would save about $5.4 million annually.

Malloy, a non-voting member of the school board, said his first choice would be to keep all schools open.

But board members said adding a 13th elementary school would necessitate cutbacks in other areas.

"I've often heard the schools ought to run in a more business-like fashion," Board of Education President Richard Freedman said. "What business people do is assess risk that could cost you dearly, and paying for a 21st school could cost us dearly."

Parents were stunned Toquam was targeted for closure because it is one of only two public elementary schools in Stamford to meet all federal No Child Left Behind standards this year without requiring remedial action. They launched a "Save Toquam" campaign and put signs with the motto on their cars and all over the city.

With redistricting, the board is trying to alter the attendance districts to ensure all schools have a similar balance of students, factoring in race and family income.

Toquam parents attending last night's meeting said they were relieved the closing has been put on hold.

"I am cautiously optimistic," parent Beth Covino said. "It still feels like limbo."

Redistricting Committee Chairwoman Susan Nabel asked Malloy to report back in four weeks so the committee could decide.

"It isn't in any of our common best interest to keep the tension going," Nabel said.

Toquam parents were thankful Malloy intervened. Had it not been for the mayor, the committee likely would have voted to close Toquam last night, said Astrid Olsen, who has two children at Toquam.

"We probably would have left here even more depressed than we are now," Olsen said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Stamford Times: Toquam Decision Delayed

BOE halts redistricting; seeks to come up with new plan (Thursday, 4 p.m.)
By A.J. O'CONNELL March 20, 2008

STAMFORD — The board of education halted their redistricting effort and said on Wednesday night that they would reconsider the closing of Toquam Magnet School.

The decision comes after Mayor Dannel Malloy cut funds from his capital budget that would have gone towards the construction of the new intradistrict magnet school. Malloy this month cut $2.8 million from his capital budget for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for the new Intradistrict Environmental Magnet School, effectively derailing the board of education's plans to open the new magnet school in September of 2009. Malloy said he hoped the cut would stimulate discussion, and cause the board to spend more time developing a comprehensive redistricting plan.

On Wednesday that is exactly what happened.

Malloy, a non-voting member of the board of education, told the board at a redistricting committee meeting that more dialogue with the parents, the state and with the community is needed before the board can decide which school to close.

"Taking up any of the remaining motions would be a mistake at this time," he told the committee.
A motion to keep all the existing schools open while opening the new magnet school already failed 3-1 in committee. Board member Robert King voted in favor of operating 21 schools.

The three motions to which Malloy referred would have closed Toquam Magnet School, and either sent its students back to their districted schools or to the environmental magnet.

Malloy offered to work with the board of education and the state in order to come up with a different redistricting plan.

"While I'm not happy that 13 months after this committee started, we're coming to a halt for a while, I'm happy to have the help in coming up with (a redistricting plan,)" said board member Rosanne McManus.

The decision will push back the magnet lottery, said Superintendent Joshua Starr. The lottery was supposed to occur on Monday, but will instead take place in May.

Redistricting committee chairwoman Susan Nabel said that she will expect a report from Malloy in four weeks, on April 10.

Parents from Toquam Magnet School, who crowded the board room, applauded as the mayor left at 7:30 p.m. to attend another meeting.

"I'm so pleased that the discussion isn't over," said mother Dana Patashnik, whose two sons are in kindergarten and second grade at Toquam.

Other Toquam parents were cautiously optimistic after Wednesday's vote.

"I'm glad they didn't close our school tonight," said Toquam mom Ida Morris, "but they did decide to close one school."

Parents from other schools were equally concerned.

"It leaves the possibility that that other schools may close," said Hart mother Chris Kanaris.

"Anything is possible the way this project has been going," said Jennifer Adams, also a Hart parent. Click here to read more.

Headless chickens found behind bank

Headless chickens found behind bank
By Martin B. Cassidy Staff Writer March 21, 2008

Six blood-spattered fowl with their heads cut off were found behind a Mason Street bank yesterday afternoon, disturbing customers and prompting calls to police.

Police said they didn't know anything about the decapitated birds, which appeared to be chickens, left strewn under a tall hedge along the parking lot of the Putnam Trust Bank. Calls to the Animal Control Division were not returned yesterday.

Several bank customers stopped to lament the birds. David Tovar, a Greenwich resident, said he was sickened by the grisly sight of the dead birds when he spotted them after making a deposit at the bank.

"I just think it is really kind of strange for these chickens to be left here," Tovar said. "Somebody should come quickly to pick them up or bury them. Children come to the bank with their mommies."

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Scary Robberies at Stamford Mall

2nd teen in a week robbed at knifepoint near mall
By Zach Lowe Staff Writer March 14, 2008

STAMFORD - Four suspects robbed a city teen at knifepoint Wednesday night in a glass enclosure that leads to the Stamford Town Center parking garage, authorities said.

It was the second knifepoint robbery at the mall in the past week. On Sunday, an unknown assailant stabbed a 17-year-old city boy in the shoulder during a robbery in a men's bathroom on the mall's fifth floor, police said.

No arrests have been made in that case. Police arrested one suspect in Wednesday's robbery after a brawl that left one officer with a broken ankle and another with a torn hamstring, said Lt. Sean Cooney, a department spokesman.

The other three suspects remain at large.

Police were looking into whether the two robberies are linked, said Sgt. Paul Guzda, a supervisor in the detective bureau. They are reviewing surveillance video from both crime scenes, he said.

The victim Wednesday was listening to his iPod when the four men approached him in the glass enclosure off Veterans Park on Atlantic Street, next to the mall, Guzda said.

One suspect held a knife to the victim's throat as the others swiped his iPod and took a small amount of cash from his backpack, Guzda said.

The victim, 16, ran to a Dunkin' Donuts and called police with a customer's cell phone, Guzda said.

Patrol officers spotted the four suspects near Columbus Park, Guzda said.

The suspects fled, and two officers chased a 17-year-old down Atlantic Street and caught him near Bank Street, police said.

The suspect, whom police did not identify because he is under 18, resisted arrest and punched the officers before they tackled him, Cooney said.

One officer's ankle got caught between a concrete planter and a post that holds up an awning for the Safavieh home furnishing store at 230 Atlantic St., Cooney said. The officer broke his ankle and was treated at Stamford Hospital, he said.

Officers stunned the suspect with a Taser at least twice to subdue him, police said. He was charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, two counts of assaulting a police officer and interfering with police.

He was being held on $300,000 bond and was scheduled to appear March 27 at state Superior Court in Stamford, police said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Robbery At Stamford Mall: Incident #1

Teenager stabbed during robbery attempt at mall
By Angela Carella Assistant City Editor March 10, 2008

STAMFORD - A 17-year-old Stamford youth was stabbed in the shoulder yesterday during an attempted robbery in a restroom at the Stamford Town Center mall.

The young man was expected to be released from Stamford Hospital after a few hours, Sgt. Richard Phelan said yesterday evening.

The knife "just missed an artery," Phelan said. "He's very lucky."

The incident occurred at about 5:25 p.m. when the teen walked into the men's room on the fifth floor of the mall, outside the Saks Fifth Avenue store, police said.

"He was followed in by two males who announced it was a robbery," Phelan said. "They demanded his wallet and they had a knife."

The teen called out to his friend, who was in the men's room, and one of the robbers stabbed him once in the right shoulder, Phelan said.

No other details were available yesterday evening as police pursued two male suspects in their late teens.

Police were reviewing videotapes from mall security cameras to obtain more information, Phelan said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Morale Low at Ferguson Library

Report: Morale low at library
By Neil Vigdor, Staff Writer March 9, 2008

Greenwich Library suffers from poor employee morale, a lack of opportunities for advancement and general dissatisfaction with management, according to those surveyed in a consultant's report on the institution. The 6-page report commissioned by the town paints the library as a dysfunctional place where employees said they felt alienated and bullied at times by management.

Employees interviewed for the report told the consultant that management's support of and communication with the staff was lacking. Some confided that they felt discriminated against because of what they described as perceived favoritism on the part of management and a lack of personal and professional respect and courtesy.

In a statement, the town said the consultant's work was the result of an agreement with the unions representing Greenwich Library staff. "This special initiative was designed to effect positive change so as to hear and address union members' complaints without formal investigative fact fg and without the intent to find or assign fault or blame," the statement said.

Mario Gonzalez, who has been the library's executive director for the past 81⁄2 years, said in an interview that the institution had its problems like any organization and was trying to correct them.

"It was apparent to me that we needed to do a better job at addressing internal communication and getting our house in order," Gonzalez said. "This is a cherished institution. When you have so many people that are very passionate about their job and the work that they do, issues arise, and it's my responsibility to address them."

Town officials hired Stamford-based consultant Julie Jansen last year to evaluate the work climate at the library after a number of employees and union officials complained about conditions there. The library, which is the second-busiest in all of New England, receives about 80 percent of its funding from the town.

Jansen, who previously had been used by the library to train staff members and develop a strategic plan, interviewed 24 of the library's 180 employees for the report.

The subjects who were interviewed were recommended by the human resource officials of the town or volunteered to be interviewed. All were promised that their names would not be used. Eighteen of the 24 employees interviewed are members of the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 136, most of whom are librarians.

Lynn Mason, who is the union's business manager and works at the town-owned Nathaniel Witherell nursing home, said the employee responses summarized in the report were consistent with sentiments of the LIUNA members.

"The sad thing is it was allowed to get to this point," said Mason, who declined to discuss specific grievances of the union members.

Roberta Denning, president of the library's Board of Trustees for the past two years, said the report was being taken to heart but was meant to be confidential and not for public discussion.

"The conclusions and the recommendations were shared with the staff several months ago," Denning said. "All of the issues that were raised are being addressed."

The town gave a copy of the report to Greenwich Time in negotiations after first denying a Freedom of Information request, but maintains its position that the report is not a public document.

Neither Denning nor Gonzalez, who was portrayed quite negatively in the report, would say how much the town paid for the consultant's evaluation and referred questions on its cost to town Human Resources Director Maureen Kast. A message seeking comment was left with Kast's assistant.

In the report, the library's employees said they perceived Gonzalez as dictatorial, controlling and bullying. Gonzalez disputed the report's characterization of his management style and dealings with employees. "I believe that I'm open, that I have access to the staff and that I embrace the employees and value the work that they do," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez also questioned the consultant's methods, saying that Jansen asked leading questions about issues such as employee morale that elicited critical comments.

Jansen said she worked very hard to ask open-ended questions, however, which she said were not shared with members of the library's management ahead of time.

As part of her consulting business, Jansen said her job is to try to help people become better managers. She declined to say how much she was paid for her work or how conditions at the library compared to her other clients.

In her report, Jansen recommended that regular meetings between the library's management and staff be held, coaching of management in the areas of communication and leadership, implementation of team building exercises and conflict resolution.

"I've heard there have been improvements, which is good," Jansen said. Gonzalez said the town hired another consultant to help the library implement the recommendations in the report. A number of changes have already taken effect, from holding monthly staff meetings to improving the lines of communications, he said.

"So, all in all, there's more access and more communication and people getting together face-to-face. So it's not just e-mailing and telephone calls," Gonzalez said, adding that he is attending more staff meetings than in the past.

Gonzalez said the library's entire operation has been turned "upside-down" as a result of the report, with rank-and-file staff members have more say in the decision-making process. The employees also have formed working groups with the consultant's assistance focusing on communication, staff development and staff recognition, he said.

"Like any business, you're going to have employees that may not be 100 percent satisfied," Gonzalez said. "I recognize that, and I'm trying to address that."

Despite the concerns aired in the report, Gonzalez pointed out that the library has a low rate of attrition and has many employees with long tenures.

Mason, the LIUNA representative, said the library was slowly making positive strides. "It's better, but we're a long way from the finish line," Mason said. Another area where library officials said they have made a conscious effort to improve the work climate is getting the Board of Trustees more involved with the staff and day-to-day operations.

Denning, the board's president, said she had confidence in the library's ability to overcome its problems because of a common bond.

"Whether it's the staff, the management, the board or the unions, we all love the library and want to make it better," Denning said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

A Story About Pumpkin Spice

Two falls ago, I got really into pumpkin. The frenzy started with the “Autumn Crepe” at Meli-Melo (pumpkin gelato with Nutella and whip cream) and grew with Cold Stone’s pumpkin ice cream mixed with Twix. In December, when I was still talking about pumpkin, someone said, “Starbucks has a pumpkin spice latte.”

The next morning, after a holiday shopping expedition, I swung into Starbucks in Westport. I walked up to the counter.
“Do you still have the pumpkin spice latte?”
“Yes, we sure do!”
Me: “YES!”
Him: “Oh, excited are ya?”
Me: “Yes, I’ve been waiting for this day for ages, I’ve never had one!”
Him: “We should have it for a while, at least through the end of the month. Sally, how long are we gonna have the pumpkin spice, a while right, don’t we have a bunch left.”
Sally: “Oh yeah, we usually have it ‘til like, March or April.”
Me: “OK, can I have a tall, skim pumpkin spice latte?”
Him: “With whipped cream, right?”
I hadn’t thought about the whipped cream, so focused was I on the pumpkin, but he sounded psyched about it, so that made my decision: “Yeah, definitely!!!”

He passed the order on to the busy barista, and I saw someone slime a dark, translucent orange-brown elixir in the cup. Oohhhh, ok, I thought, a latte with a mix, I can handle that.

I went to wait in line behind the four other people who were already waiting in the busy Starbucks. It was the first Saturday shopping day in December, so you can imagine how on edge these people were- more than the usual “whose drink’s gonna come out next” tension.

The barista hollered for a caramel cappucino, then my “PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE WITH WHIPPED CREAM!” I stepped forward, trying to hide my excited smile from the shoppers.
“Now, I ordered before you, how is yours ready before mine?” a woman said, smiling, but you could tell she was actually irritated.

I looked her straight in the face and said in a silly, exaggerated, isn’t-it-obvious voice, “It’s the POWER of the pumpkin!”
She laughed, and so did the people behind me. (‘Cause what other explanation is there, really?)

I floated out of the Starbucks, pumpkin spice latte proudly aloft in my hand, feeling like a movie star.

I hurried to my car, smiling hugely now, and got in as fast as I could (it was also damn cold). I took my first sip...

and cackled out loud with delight! It was so good! The pumpkin flavor was SO subtle! The spices, I could vaguely taste the spices, they weren’t overpowering either! The latte flavor came through, too.... it was another perfect pumpkin combination. I took another sip, almost, almost, too excited to appreciate it.

I felt a rush of happiness, and I threw the car in reverse to make the space available to another impatient shopper. Their stress didn’t fluster me. Taking more sips, anything could have come my way, and it wouldn’t have bothered me, ‘cause I was under the influence of pumpkin.

If you are even the slightest bit of a pumpkin fan, I can unreservedly recommend this latte. Now, I’m not sure if I’d be in the mood for a pumpkin spice latte at 7 am (you can’t abuse the pumpkin, or overdo it), every single morning (maybe, maybe, you never know!!!) but for a 3pm pick-me-up, it is fantastic!

Now, my next steps:
1) find out what the pumpkin elixir is, and if it’s for sale
2) go online and investigate other pumpkin products (I think I friend of mine once made pumpkin ravioli, with an elixir from Trader Joe’s)
3) someone mentioned pumpkin oatmeal- I’m not sure if they meant that it exists or were suggesting that I create my own pumpkin mix, or what.

These next steps will be careful steps, because pumpkin is very dear to me. Click here to read more.

Cheeeeeeeeeese! Cheese on I-95

Crash spills fuel, cheese onto I-95
By Angela Carella Assistant City Editor, March 5, 2008

STAMFORD - A tractor-trailer accident near Exit 6 of Interstate 95 about 8 p.m. Monday created such a mess that it was not cleared until rush hour yesterday morning, state police said.

The operator of the truck, which was carrying cheese, lost control "after being distracted by his coffee" and swerved into the right shoulder, where he struck the guardrail and skidded into the rock embankment, a state police report said.

The crash broke open the trailer, throwing cheese onto I-95, and split the side gasoline tank, spilling about 50 gallons of diesel fuel, according to the report.

There were no injuries.

The driver, Kurt Lentz, 55, of Pennsylvania, whose truck had Indiana plates, was charged with failure to maintain the proper lane.

The tractor-trailer was totaled.

It took all night to clean up the cheese, fuel and other wreckage caused by the crash, a state police spokesman said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Articles about Immigrants and Jobs

--ACLU: Immigrants and the Economy (3/12/2002)

--Study: Immigrants take young Americans' jobs

--The Immigration Equation (New York Times Magazine) July 9, 2006

--NY Times Topics: Illegal Aliens

--Study Finds Immigrants Don't Hurt U.S. Jobs: Pew Detects No Link To Unemployment (Washington Post, Aug. 11, 2006)

--Article: Do Immigrants Take or Make Jobs?
Click here to read more.

Articles about Danbury Immigrants and Arrests

--Danbury Council Vote on Policing Immigrant Community Draws Thousands to Protest (NY Times Feb. 7, 2008)

--Connecticut City Plans to Team Its Police With Federal Immigration Agents (NY Times Feb. 6, 2008)

--City of Danbury press release: MAYOR BOUGHTON ADDRESSES “DANBURY 11” LAWSUIT (Sept. 26, 2007)

--Stung in the Search for Work (NY Times Dec. 21, 2006)

--Volleyball and Violations: Immigrants' Pastime Is Out of Bounds in Danbury (NY Times Aug. 2, 2005) Click here to read more.

Judge Says Day Laborer Arrests Not Racial Profiling

Judge won't block deportation of illegal aliens in Danbury
Associated Press-- February 5, 2008

DANBURY, Conn. -- A federal judge has refused to block the deportations of nine men picked up during an undercover operation targeting illegal aliens in Danbury in 2006.

Immigration Judge Michael Straus ruled Monday that Danbury police did not exceed their authority during the 2006 sting at Kennedy Park.

The judge also ruled Monday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents did not rely on racial profiling to make the arrests.

Straus ruled that "solicitation of day labor in our current culture has a strong correlation to undocumented presence in the United States and lack of employment authorization" and thus it was not unreasonable for police to question the men, nor was it racial profiling.

Straus also said the illegal aliens had no right to counsel prior to being placed in deportation proceedings, nor do officers have to advise individuals of their right not to cooperate.

Lawyers from Yale University's Jerome N. Frank Legal Services plan to appeal.

The case now goes to the Bureau of Immigration Appeals, which could take more than a year to rule. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York is ultimately expected to decide the challenge to Danbury police and methods used by ICE.

"The ruling declares open season on day laborers," said Simon Moshenberg, a student at the Yale Law School's Worker and Immigrant Rights Clinic, which represented the men.

The judge's ruling is the latest round in the legal wrangling over the so-called "Danbury 11." Two of the original 11 have already been deported.

The ruling comes two days before the Danbury Common Council votes whether to deputize local police as federal immigration officers. They did not have such authority in the Sept. 16, 2006, arrest of the nine day laborers.

The men in Monday's case were among those nabbed after an undercover officer in a sport utility vehicle offered laborers work. The men entered the vehicle and were driven a few blocks to ICE agents, who questioned the men about their citizenship status. Click here to read more.

Illegal Immigration Letter- Paul Streitz

To the editor:

Who says illegal aliens are poor? So poor that they need money for heat during the winter?

It is estimated that $23 billion was sent back to Mexico in 2006. If there are 12 million illegals, that amounts to $159.72 per month remitted for every illegal man, woman and child in the United States of America. And that does not count money sent back to the other South American and Asian countries and India.

If illegal aliens are sending back 5 percent of their earnings to Mexico, the Mexicans are taking billions out of the pockets of working-class Americans.

If illegal aliens are so poor in America, why do houses harboring illegals have so many trucks with license plates from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania?

If illegals are so poor, why does New Haven Mayor John DeStefano want to set up a bank for illegals?

If illegals are so poor, why are all the restaurant jobs and construction jobs seemingly done by illegals?

If illegals are so poor, why are so many doing jobs at Yale University, such as grounds-keeping and cleaning, that Americans used to do?

If illegals are so poor, why does Bank of America give them credit cards? Why have they been able to take out home mortgages?

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro says, "We cannot deport 12 million people." Why should Americans deport anybody? Dry up the jobs. With the money that illegal aliens have made, they can all go back to their home countries drinking champagne on a first-class airline ticket.

Paul Streitz

Darien

The writer is co-director of CT Citizens for Immigration Control, an Internet organization of residents throughout the state. Click here to read more.