What Was The ‘Misinformation’?

(The following open letter to Legislative Council Chairman Pierre Rochman has been received for publication.)

Dear Mr Rochman:

In a letter to the editor in last week’s Bee, you stated that both The Bee’s editorials and Letters to the Editor are “skewed or blatantly erroneous” and often contain “misinformation.” Since this was printed in the week following my Letter to the Editor in which I directed some criticism at you, I can’t help but think that your letter was directed at me as well as at the Bee editorial staff.

You didn’t specifically identify the “misinformation.” With the vote on Fairfield Hills and the 5/6 School coming up in June, and elections in November, I am anxious to correct any misstatements I may have made so the people of Newtown will have the correct information on which to base their votes. I’m sure that the Bee editorial staff feels the same way.

The following is information I obtained from reading The Bee:

The town sent out 200 letters to developers about the development of Fairfield Hills and not even one responded.

You wanted to link the vote on funding of the 5/6 school to the funding of Fairfield Hills.

The water problems at the Amaral ball field were only discovered after the town spent some $500,000 to purchase the vacant land and it is going to take at least an equal amount to correct the problem so the land can be used for its purchased intent.

Town leaders told the people of Newtown that the property on Queen Street was being purchased so the town could control its destiny and the property would be sold in a year. Some two-plus years later, there are still no plans for the property.

There are overcrowding problems at Sandy Hook Elementary which are currently being relieved through the use of modular space which the town is renting. There are no long-term plans to alleviate the problem.

These problems have occurred over approximately the last two years.

I welcome your corrections. Since The Bee is likely the source of information for most Newtowners, I’m sure they do as well.

Richard Abbott

7 Sweetbriar Lane, Sandy Hook                                   May 9, 2001