Danbury Mayoral Candidate Dean Esposito Issues Post-Pandemic Plan for Hat City

It's on everyone's mind, how do we move past COVID-19 and what will the future look like in the Hat City?

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Dean Esposito is the Republican candidate for Mayor of the Hat City and "Danbury Dean" has a Post-Pandemic Plan which he issued in a press release on Monday (9/27/21). The 4 part plan emphasizes public safety and economic recovery and reads:

Public Health Recovery Plan

Increase the number of locations citywide for Covid-19 vaccinations and testing. As Chief of Staff, Esposito worked closely with the Health Director on creative solutions for hard-to-reach communities. Under Mayor Esposito’s leadership, getting tested or vaccinated in Danbury will be both safe and accessible.

Esposito looks to go one step further in public health accessibility. His plan is to acquire an unused space in downtown Danbury for the Health Department to utilize in addition to City Hall. This will allow the Health Department to expand on the number of services it already provides to the community and offer the extra space needed for efficient operations.

Additionally, Esposito feels there is more to be done in the community with regards to addiction recovery and mental health. As Mayor, he plans to make an increased effort to promote and connect the services offered by organizations in Danbury and programs from the State and Federal government to residents and families in need.

Public Safety Recovery Plan

Esposito is a proud supporter of our local law enforcement and first responders. He’s seen first-hand how these brave individuals served our community tirelessly through this pandemic.

Esposito’s plan includes supporting our local law enforcement with responsible funding increases. As Mayor, Esposito will support a budget that allocates funding to all emergency personnel for pandemic response training, and will work with the Chiefs and Emergency Management Department to identify new resources to better serve and protect the community.

And, during his first two years in office, Mayor Esposito will begin plans to build expansions for the Fire Department Headquarters. The need for additional space is increasing and Esposito knows how critical it is for our firefighters to have the resources they need to protect the community.

Business Recovery

There is no question that Danbury families and local businesses suffered throughout this pandemic. As Chief of Staff, Esposito worked on each fiscal budget with Mayors Cavo and Boughton, and for the past three years, there has been no increase to property taxes. But Esposito knows there is more that we can do.

Family-owned restaurants have found solutions to keep in business through temporary outdoor dining. As Mayor, Esposito will continue to be an advocate for small businesses who want to see these solutions become permanent. He plans to work with City departments on additional initiatives for our small businesses, and urge state leadership to adopt more creative incentives as businesses continue to recover.

For the downtown business owners, Esposito will continue implementing sidewalk renovations and infrastructure improvements. Esposito believes more lighting, public art initiatives, and an enhanced public safety presence will help revitalize the area for the entire community to enjoy and revive local businesses who have suffered tremendously over the past year and a half.

Education Recovery

Esposito will continue to advocate for a Public Charter School in downtown Danbury. Danbury was offered an opportunity to provide education to over 700 students, with zero impact to Danbury taxpayers. With private funding to build the school, and State funding to operate it, Esposito feels that this Charter School is a choice that Danbury families should be able to make for their children.

For the safety of our students and faculty, Esposito has been working on solutions to update and enhance various air handling systems throughout the district. He is also an advocate for mental health counseling in our public schools. He plans to assess the various needs of the district and see what resources Danbury counselors may need to serve more of our students.

Esposito added:

“To continue to increase the burden to our taxpayers is irresponsible. Our students deserve the best schools, and we have continued to increase the Board of Education budget, thus increasing the local share of education funding. But if you make the decision to raise property taxes, you make it even harder for the families of our school children to get by. Our community is already facing financial hardship increased by the pandemic, which directly or indirectly affects our children. That’s why I am calling on families to support me in fighting for the fair share of State funding that your kids deserve.”

Dean Esposito is opposed by Democratic City Councilman Roberto Alves.