Name: Danbury city council poised to rename city’s sewer plant after ‘Last Week Tonight’ host John Oliver after comedian offered $55K in donations
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Danbury city council poised to rename city’s sewer plant after ‘Last Week Tonight’ host John Oliver after comedian offered $55K in donations

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AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantOct 07, 2020 at 9:32 pmDanbury’s city council is poised to rename the city’s sewer treatment plant after “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver as donations swell to secure the honor.The council discussed the change Tuesday evening and heard overwhelming support for the tongue-in-cheek naming before directing the plan to a special committee meeting to consider the measure further. The council expects to meet Thursday night and the majority of council members voiced support for the plan Tuesday.Advertisement“This will make Mr. Oliver No. 1 in the No. 2 business in Danbury,” Council President Joe Cavo said in recommending the name to the council.The move could mean the end of a playful feud between Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and the popular HBO host that’s been brewing since Oliver’s jabs at Danbury in an August segment.AdvertisementIn that passionate tirade, Oliver poked fun at the city from its legacy in hatmaking to its railway museum and designation as a top city to live during a segment where he highlighted issues that left residents in Hartford and New Britain off the rolls for federal jury duty summons that were noted in an .“If you are going to forget a town in Connecticut, why not forget Danbury. Because, and this is true, [expletive] Danbury,” Oliver said at the time. “From it’s charming railway museum to its historic Hearthstone castle, Danbury, Connecticut can eat my whole [expletive].”In a witty video response, Boughton offered to name the sewer treatment plant after Oliver. “Why? Because it’s full of [expletive], just like you John,” Boughton said in the Facebook video.Boughton later said the offer was made in jest, but that only furthered the HBO host’s desire to receive the honor.“I didn’t know that I wanted my name on your [expletive] factory, but now that you’ve floated it as an option, it is all that I want,” Oliver said in a follow-up segment.So to secure the naming, Oliver offered up $55,000 in donations — $25,000 to the Connecticut Food Bank, $25,000 to fulfill all of the requests from Danbury school teachers on DonorsChoose and $5,000 to ALS Connecticut. He said he’d also pay for a new sign outside the plant bearing his name.Boughton appeared receptive to the offer and brought a formal resolution to the city council to consider Tuesday to rename the sewage treatment plant the “John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant.” The council appeared to be on the verge of approving the new name when Democratic Councilman Paul Rotello ordered the measure be sent to one more ad hoc committee meeting so leaders could discuss the veracity of naming public facilities after people with no actual connection to the city.As it happensGet the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut &gt; The council was plastered with letters of support from around the world, plus more than 60 letters from city residents pleading with the council “not to Danbury this up,” echoing one of the comedian’s jabs. Many sincerely hoped the Oliver sign could turn into a new tourist destination.Advertisement“Despite all of Mr. Oliver’s success in life, I can think of no higher honor than to have the plant to be named after him,” Danbury Democratic state Rep. David Arconti teased. “This will be his legacy.”Boughton noted that a council resolution can be undone at a future vote, so it is possible a future council could undo the humorous name of the plant if they are so inclined, he told the few councilmen concerned about the plan.The donations from Oliver caught the attention of local financial institutions, Boughton noted in a resolution he submitted to the council. He said Union Savings Bank and others were leading a community fundraiser “to match or exceed” Oliver’s donations. They money raised will go to the United Way’s Danbury Food Collaborative.“All these worthwhile donations for a place that’s full of ... well, you know by now,” Boughton wrote in the resolution.Staff writer Zach Murdock contributed to this report.Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at . Advertisement

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantOct 07, 2020 at 9:32 pmDanbury’s city council is poised to rename the city’s sewer treatment plant after “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver as donations swell to secure the honor.The council discussed the change Tuesday evening and heard overwhelming support for the tongue-in-cheek naming before directing the plan to a special committee meeting to consider the measure further. The council expects to meet Thursday night and the majority of council members voiced support for the plan Tuesday.Advertisement“This will make Mr. Oliver No. 1 in the No. 2 business...

Danbury city council poised to rename city’s sewer plant after ‘Last Week Tonight’ host John Oliver after comedian offered $55K in donations

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