Updates from State Rep. Farley Santos for June 29, 2026

June 29, 2026

The Mayor’s Office joined Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz to honor our Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. It was one of those moments that reminds you what service, sacrifice, and patriotism truly mean.

These heroes shared stories of courage, hardship, and resilience. Many returned home to a nation that did not fully recognize their sacrifice. We had the opportunity to give them the gratitude and respect they have always deserved.

As someone who was not blessed to born in the United States, I told them that I was blessed to raise my right hand and swear allegiance to this nation, just as they did when they answered the call to serve. The freedoms and opportunities my family found in America exist because of generations of veterans who defended them.

I’m proud to serve on the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, where we’ve delivered meaningful victories for veterans, including the 100% disabled veteran property tax exemption, expanded mental health services, and Connecticut’s version of the HEROES Act. But there is still more work to do.

This wasn’t about politics. It was about gratitude. Gratitude for a generation of Americans who answered the call, carried the burden, and helped preserve the promise of America for all of us.

I’m grateful to have honored veterans whom I have known forever like Tom Talarico, JP Trudel, Deacon Ed Torian, and others.

God bless our veterans, their families, and the United States of America.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026

One of my favorite times of the year is graduation season. It's a chance to celebrate the hard work, perseverance, and achievements of students across Danbury as they reach an important milestone. Whether they're graduating from high school, or a technical program, or moving up from middle school or elementary school, each graduate represents the promise of a brighter future for our community.

Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2026!

Abbott Tech

One of the themes of my graduation speech at my alma mater, the Henry Abbott Tech, was gratitude. And the Class of 2026 displayed it openly.

Graduate after graduate took time to thank their parents, families, teachers, and mentors for helping them reach this moment. It was a powerful reminder that no one achieves success alone. Behind every diploma is a village of people who sacrificed, encouraged, supported, and believed.

This year’s class left me feeling deeply hopeful about the future. Their thoughtfulness, support for one another, and respect for their school and community were on full display.

I also had one of those moments that reminded me I'm getting older. This was the first time I spoke to a graduating class made up entirely of students who weren’t even born when I graduated in 2007. I still remember Coach Carvalho telling our baseball team that he and his wife were expecting their second child.

Last week, that child beautifully sang the National Anthem and then walked across the stage to receive his diploma. Life comes at you fast.

Congratulations to the Daly family on their son’s graduation, to my friends Mr. and Mrs. Bertrando on their grandson’s achievement, and to the family of my favorite high school math teacher, Mr. Pacific. It was special to see his grandson cross the stage and continue a legacy that Mr. Pacific helped build through the countless students whose lives he touched. Thank you to every Abbott educator!

As I told the graduates, just as I told my own class years ago: "Wherever you go, whatever you do, be proud, be privileged, and be honored to say that you are a graduate of Henry Abbott Technical High School."

Congratulations, Wolverines.

Make us proud.

Danbury High School

Congratulations to Danbury High School Class of 2026!

873 graduates crossed the stage and took the first step toward their future. My message is simple: Challenge yourselves to do more, dream bigger, and never stop growing. And as you find success, remember to give back! Your community needs you, too!

A special thank you to Principal Dan Donovan and every teacher, counselor, paraprofessional, and staff member who helped these students reach this moment. Your impact extends far beyond the classroom, and I remain committed to supporting you and our schools.

It was especially meaningful to be asked by my former Board of Education colleague, Kathy Molinaro, to present her grandniece Ava with her diploma. I've known Ava since she was a little girl coming to events with her grandpa, and I know my former City Council colleague, Rich Molinaro, would have been incredibly proud of her tonight. In fact, I know he is.

We were also honored to award the 2026 Landon Jack Verissimo Santos Memorial Scholarship to an outstanding DHS graduate, helping continue Landon's legacy by investing in the next generation.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. Danbury is proud of you and can't wait to see what comes next.

Endeavor Middle School

Congratulations to the 8th graders of Endeavor on moving up to high school!

Keep striving, keep believing in yourselves, and never stop chasing your goals. The future is bright, go show the world what you're capable of!

Broadview and West Side Middle Schools

Started the day last week celebrating the Broadview Bears Moving Up Ceremony and the second to last event of the day was the Westside Warriors Moving Up Ceremony. So proud of my Sunday School kids who graduated last week.

As I told the students this morning, the next four years will fly by. I sat in those same seats 23 years ago, and it feels like yesterday.

Embrace every moment. Work hard. Persevere through challenges. Get involved. Before you know it, you'll be walking across the high school graduation stage.

Congratulations to the Bears and the Warriors. I’m so proud.

You've got this!

Juneteenth Celebration

This year’s Juneteenth celebration was bigger, better, and more meaningful than ever.

Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of freedom, equality, and ensuring that history is never forgotten.

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees, especially my former Board of Education colleague, Ms. Gladys Cooper, whose decades of service and leadership have left a lasting mark on our community.

Thank you to the Danbury Juneteenth Coalition and everyone who helped make this important celebration possible.

Farmers Market is Back!

The Danbury Connecticut Farmers' Market is back every Saturday morning until Oct. 17. Get down to the CityCenter Danbury Green for all the freshest goods around!

Danbury All-American

What an awesome accomplishment for Danbury!

Congratulations to Rysaiah Saunders on earning All-American honors with a third-place finish in the nation in the 110 meter hurdles at the New Balance National Championships!

Rysaiah also helped lead Danbury's relay teams to an outstanding national showing, with the 4x100 finishing seventh in the country, just .005 seconds shy of All-American status.

Congratulations to Rysaiah, his teammates, their coaches, and their families. Thank you for representing Danbury with excellence and making our entire community proud!

New Laws Taking Effect

Over 80 new Connecticut laws take effect July 1st, here are some of the changes you can expect to see around our state!

Hoop Dreams

Friday Night Lights is BACK at Beaver Street!

Great to join Mayor Roberto Alves and Jason Nova for tip-off of the Danbury Summer Classic.

Shoutout to Bam Moorer, Coach Jordan Walker, and everyone involved for giving our young athletes a place to compete, grow, and shine over the next 7 weeks.

Love seeing the Beaver Street Court investment put to good use and bringing the entire city together

Strengthening the Economy

A strong economy is built one investment, one business, and one partnership at a time. That's exactly why I'm proud to help execute Mayor Roberto Alves' economic development strategy. One that is creating jobs, attracting investment, and growing Danbury's economy.

It was a pleasure speaking to the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Danbury class about the drivers of economic development and how thoughtful planning, housing, infrastructure, and business growth all work together to strengthen our region.

Great sharing the conversation with Greg Dembroski, Brookfield’s Economic Development Director and Waleed Albakry, Danbury’s Planning Director. The future of Greater Danbury is filled with possibilities as we work together with a shared goal of responsible development of our region.

Commitment to Community

It was great to spend the evening supporting my friend Chelen Reyes, president & CEO of Union Savings Bank as he, and Union Savings Bank Foundation were recognized by ARC for their tremendous commitment to our community.

Chelen is the kind of leader every community hopes for, thoughtful, compassionate, and deeply invested in the people he serves. Under his leadership, Union Savings Bank, one of Danbury’s longest continuously operating businesses, continues to fuel our local economy, support nonprofits, and strengthen our city.

A huge congratulations as well to Ari Rosenberg and ARC. Their work changes lives every single day. I’m proud that State Sen. Julie Kushner, our delegation, and I secured more than $400,000 to help fund 60 new shelter beds, addressing a critical need in our community. Because when someone is sleeping out in the winter cold, all of us should feel it.

Congratulations, Chelen, Union Savings Bank Foundation, and ARC. Danbury is better because of you.

Public Service Appreciation Day

THANK YOU to Scott and the team at Green Funeral Home for hosting another outstanding Public Service Appreciation Day. Every year, they take time to recognize the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and first responders who serve our community with dedication and professionalism.

A shoutout to Twins BBQ Co. for keeping everyone well fed!

Acts of appreciation like this go a long way.

Thank you for supporting the people who show up for Danbury every single day.

Four Decades of Excellence

Congratulations to Dawn Blom and her team at Dawn's Pizzazz Artistic Group & Day Spa on 40 incredible years in business!

I was proud to join Mayor Roberto Alves in presenting a proclamation and flowers in recognition of this remarkable milestone.

Dawn’s story is a true Danbury success story. What started as a one-chair salon in her parents’ home has grown into an award-winning business that has served thousands of clients, created careers for countless professionals, and become a fixture in our community.

As a fellow Abbott Tech graduate, I have always admired Dawn’s journey. She is a proud Abbott Tech alumna whose business prowess, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to community service have made a lasting impact. Beyond building a successful business, she has consistently found ways to give back—supporting local nonprofits, community events, schools, and charitable causes throughout our city.

Congratulations to Dawn and her entire team on this well-deserved celebration. Forty years of success is an incredible achievement, and Danbury is stronger because of leaders like Dawn who continue to invest in and give back to our community.

Honoring Volunteers

Service. Compassion. Community.

Those were on full display as Mayor Roberto Alves honored the volunteers of Danbury Hospital, Milford Hospital, and Sharon Hospital. A fitting tribute as we celebrate America 250.

Thank you for making a difference.

Mayor's Cup

The 45th Annual Mayor’s Cup in support of charity with my friends, City Council Majority Leader Frank Salvatore and former Danbury State Senators Mark Nielsen and David Cappiello. Great causes, good company, and a little friendly competition. Every now and then, we all deserve a day.

Congratulations, Judge Cradle!

Congratulations to Judge Melanie L. Cradle on her historic appointment to the Connecticut Supreme Court by Governor Ned Lamont.

Judge Cradle's exceptional resume, extensive legal experience, and unwavering commitment to justice make her a truly meritorious selection. As the first Black woman appointed to Connecticut's highest court, this is both a historic and well-earned achievement.

I look forward to supporting and approving her nomination in the General Assembly. Wishing Justice Cradle continued success as she takes on this important role in service to the people of Connecticut.

World Cup Watch Parties

The beautiful game has a way of lifting your spirits and breaking your heart. The good news over the past week-plus is that all three of my teams -- the U.S., Brazil, and Portugal -- have made it through to the knockout round of 32.

Here are some photos from the Watch Parties through the week.