Letters

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

Published: Jun 25, 2026 4:42 pm

To The Editor:

The greatest threat to our national security and economic stability is the Grifter in Chief. Trump believes he is the smartest one in the room and doesn’t need advice from experts. On the world stage, his foray into Iran went from Epic Fury to Epic Fiasco. Here at home, he turned the Reflection pool into a giant green swamp that is Making Algae Great Again. His attempt to leave his stamp on DC is akin to a dog marking its territory in the back yard.

On the national security side, he lies about our allies and praises our enemies. He alone thought he could win in Iran and come out a hero. Eventually the only winners will be Iran, China and Russia. Everyone else will be worse off, especially our allies in the Middle East (if we have any left). Estimated price tag so far for US taxpayers and consumers — $132 B. This does not include the loss of life on all sides of this conflict that you cannot put a price tag on. To add insult to injury, the only qualification his new acting Director of Intelligence has, is his willingness to repeat the lie that Trump won the 2020 election. He is part of the staff of Bobbleheads, intent on making our elections less secure.

On the fiscal side, Trump is treating the US Treasury like his personal piggy bank. $2.5 B to cancel wind projects that would have produced enough electricity to power over 6 million homes annually. The $1.8 B thug fund is still on his wish list, $400 M to upgrade the Qatari jet that he plans to take with him when he leaves office. He wants at least $300 M for his gaudy ballroom and the tab for his golf trips is now over $100 M. The Reflection Pool is up to $16 M and counting. It’s not clear yet who is going to be on the hook for the $300 B he has promised Iran. By the time he leaves office we may just be another one of his bankrupt operations.

There has been an uptick in pearl clutching amongst the congressional Republicans but it’s unlikely it will result in any meaningful pushback to their dear leader, no matter how unhinged he behaves.

131 days till the mid-term elections.

Kathy Quinn

Newtown

None

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Discusses Kent And Shelton Houses

Dave, you are right that only those in the Borough signed onto the law suits, as it was made clear during the Borough meetings that signers had to be residents of the Borough. However, as you know, there was a concerted effort by the Newtown Conservation Coalition to organize people (throughout town) and to orchestrate actions intended to foil the overall development. If one searches the Bee for “Newtown Conservation Coalition” one will find many articles and editorials that cite the coalition. More that 18 of those articles and editorials, from March 2024 through February 2025, are about the Castle Hill Development and include direct quotes from the NCC head/founder including, e.g.,: 1) Newtown Conservation Coalition founder Dave Ackert has sagely urged his fellow NCC members to “stick to the relevant regulations issues and concerns in your testimony,” as “general opinions and concerns will not be considered when making their decision." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing] 2) “We’re being sold a lot of things,” said Ackert. “The developer said he is going above and beyond in preserving open space, but the only part [of the plan] that doesn’t have houses are the steep slopes. He’s not avoiding buildable land, he’s using every buildable inch.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/09272024/borough-zoning-hears-perspectives-on-castle-hill-development] In addition to the articles and editorials, you (Dave) also wrote over 8 letters related to the development, in essence speaking for the residents, e.g., saying “On behalf of hundreds of concerned residents living within 500 feet who signed protest petitions, and residents downstream who’s property and finances could also be negatively impacted, I ask the BOS to rescind the discontinuance decision now.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/07102025/discusses-rochambeau-trail-and-6-commerce-road] The main tools for the Newtown Conservation Coalition are FOI complaints and legal action. These actions have increased the amount both the Town and the Borough have had to pay for legal counsel over the last few years. The cost is shared by all households and businesses for Town actions. Unfortunately, it is shared by very few, relatively speaking, for Borough actions. This year’s Borough costs are $58,000 to date. There were FOIA/legal actions in 2024 and 2025 too. Eventually, we will all see if that was money well spent. My sense is that the answer is no.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

my concern is not limited to this single FOIA request or this one case. It is the broader pattern of obstructionism, fear-mongering, and personal nastiness reflected in your Facebook page and other public commentary. You routinely call people to action by presenting only one side of complicated issues, assigning the worst possible motives to those who disagree with you, and giving little consideration to the legitimate concerns or perspectives on the other side. That may generate outrage and attention, but it does not make you a constructive participant in Newtown’s civic affairs. You are entitled to question public officials and pursue whatever legal remedies are available to you. But you should not pretend that your own conduct, rhetoric, and repeated escalation of disputes have played no role in the hostility and expense surrounding these matters. Newtown would be a nicer and more productive community with less of this kind of divisive behavior.

My "actions" were a single request for audio recordings of public meetings. It would have cost the Borough ZERO dollars to turn those over, as required by law. Instead, the Chair of the Borough Zoning commission decided, unilaterally, without informing the rest of his commission, to fight that Freedom of Information request. Mr. Johnson attempt to deflect blame falls flat on its face here. Facts matter.

Can you name a single person involved in one of the lawsuits who does not reside in the Borough? I'll wait......

You do realize President Trump was born on June 14, the same date the US Army was founded. The parade was to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. My uncle was a sergeant in the Army and was KIA 3 months before the war in Europe ended fighting the Germans. I'm happy there was an acknowledgement by the President for the brave men and women who are veterans of that branch. Too bad others don't honor them by insisting it was a "birthday parade". What an insult to our veterans! I'm not into cage fighting, but as far as being tacky or disgraceful, I would the UFC fight at the White House pales in comparison to Bill Clinton and an intern named Monica did during working hours.

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Elections Have Consequences XXVI

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