Our Public Works Crews And First Responders Are The Best
To The Editor:
I could not be more impressed by the people who kept Newtown running this past week.
As the snow piled up and conditions became dangerous, our Public Works crews were already out doing what they always do: stepping up when our town needs them most. While many of us were home, they were on the roads in the middle of the night, plowing, salting, clearing fallen limbs, and making sure emergency vehicles and commuters could travel safely. The work is cold, exhausting, and relentless. It demands precision, coordination, and an unwavering commitment to doing the job right, and our crews truly delivered.
Our first responders met the same moment with professionalism and resolve. Emergencies do not pause for weather, and our police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel navigated slick roads and dangerous conditions to answer calls and protect our neighbors. Their calm under pressure and steady commitment are easy to take for granted until a storm like this reminds us how much we rely on them.
I also want to thank First Selectman Bruce Walczak for his steady, responsive leadership throughout the storm. His clear communication, early preparation, and strong coordination across departments ensured that residents were informed and that town operations ran smoothly. Thank you Bruce for your leadership through another serious winter storm!
Storms test preparation, teamwork, and resolve. Newtown met that test because dedicated public servants stepped up without hesitation.
To every Public Works employee and first responder who worked long hours to keep our roads clear and our neighbors safe, thank you. Your work is deeply, deeply appreciated!
Brandon Moore
Newtown
Bruce’s communication during the storm? Sorry, but that was a failure and an area that warrants serious introspection from our FS. Did anyone get a Code Red call like Dan used to do? Nothing early on, then flurries or repetitive emails after the fact with old information. I don’t know if it was an issue using the technology or what, but our neighbors in Monroe and Bethel did a far better job updating their constituents.
Lets not start a campaign by gaslighting the residents, the voters in Newtown are smarter than that.
While I was First Selectman, Town policy was to reserve the CodeRED system strictly for true emergencies. The most significant crisis during my term was the August 18, 2024 flood, which severely impacted homes, businesses, roads, bridges, and park infrastructure. That was a genuine emergency requiring mass notifications over a period of days.
For snowstorms or other weather events that did not wreak significant damage, I used the Town’s News & Announcements system to notify subscribers and supplemented those updates through social media.
It’s important that Town communication channels are used appropriately. CodeRED was intentionally reserved for the most serious events so residents would not become desensitized and begin to tune out critical alerts.