First Selectman Addresses Storm Response
To The Editor:
The recent storm was one of the hardest moments our town has faced in a long time. It arrived suddenly, struck far more widely than expected, and left a trail of disruption that touched thousands of lives. More than 60 roads were blocked, neighborhoods were cut off, and over 1,000 residents were without power for three days or longer. Some families are still waiting for full restoration. For many, this storm wasn’t just an inconvenience — it upended daily life, created real worry, and tested our patience and resilience.
Over these last few days, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what happened and how we responded. And I want to speak plainly: I should have communicated faster, more completely, and more personally. Information about showers, charging stations, road closures, and our ongoing efforts should have reached you sooner. You deserved clearer updates during a difficult time, and I take full responsibility for not delivering that at the level you needed.
At the same time, I want to express my deep gratitude to the people who stepped up when our town needed them most. Our Police Department, Public Works crews, Emergency Communications staff, Community Center team, Health Department, and Eversource worked through the holiday weekend, in the rain, and through the night. They cleared roads, restored services, opened facilities, and supported residents with unwavering dedication. Their commitment was extraordinary, and I am profoundly grateful for their service.
Back in May, I launched a task force to redesign our emergency communications system. That work was underway, but it was not finished in time for this storm and I am truly sorry for that. Emergencies reveal where systems fall short, and this storm made it clear that our communication structure must be stronger, faster, and more direct.
I am committed to making that happen. You will see clearer alerts, more frequent updates, and direct communication from me as your First Selectman. When a crisis hits, you should never have to wonder where to find information or whether anyone is listening. You should feel supported, informed, and connected, every time.
This storm uncovered weaknesses, but it also revealed the strength of our community. I heard you loud and clear. We will learn from this, we will improve, and we will build an emergency communication system worthy of the trust you place in us.
Bruce Walczak
Newtown CT
Bruce, welcome to the conversation.
Your recent statement after the storm — admitting that you should have communicated “faster, more completely, and more personally” — was fine as far as it went. But this is not just about one storm. It is about a pattern. You ran on openness, responsiveness, and transparency, even saying that “evasive answers or silence are unacceptable in government.”
The problem is that Newtown residents have been dealing with exactly that silence from you since you were elected.
Newtown’s Emergency Management page says the town, together with the Office of the First Selectman, provides “critical public information and warning” during emergencies. The town also rolled out CodeRED cellphone registration on March 24, 2022 so residents could receive emergency information directly.
So where were you when police were searching for missing 23-year-old Kateri Doty in January? Where were you during the brush fires near the Newtown town line in April? Where were you on April 22, when state police and Newtown police were searching for two people who fled an I-84 crash and a canine search moved into the Church Hill Road area?
Residents should not be hearing about a missing person, wildfire conditions, or police tracking dogs moving through backyards from Facebook, neighbors, or kids in town. They should be hearing from their town government.
This is not really about whether you personally press the CodeRED button. Or how many task forces you have created. It is about leadership. You are the First Selectman. You are responsible for making sure the town communicates clearly, quickly, and visibly when public safety is involved.
So yes, it is nice that you have finally acknowledged the problem. But the public did not need this storm to figure it out. We have been saying it for a long time.
Bruce, you were missing when the town needed to hear from you. The question now is whether this storm finally woke you up, or whether this is just another late apology followed by more silence.
It’s a bit ironic.
On July 31, 2025, Bruce Walczak wrote that “evasive answers or silence are unacceptable in government.” He also promised to respond to constituent inquiries and to “close the loop,” even when there wasn’t an immediate answer.
Two weeks of silence in response to a legitimate question seems difficult to reconcile with that pledge.
The standard wasn’t set by his critics—it was set by Bruce himself. Just another politician … say whatever is necessary to get the job.
Original letter: https://www.newtownbee.com/07312025/a-commitment-to-responsiveness/
Maybe we should have let Bruce shift the meetings earlier in the day, because clearly he is asleep at the wheel… Only three weeks after his apology and another false promise to do better … on the night of July 30, Bethel Police, Connecticut State Police K-9 teams, and the Newtown Police Drone Unit were conducting an extensive search in the Saw Mill Road area for a suspect. Residents received no contemporaneous public notice from the First Selectman’s Office.
This is exactly the type of situation the town says its emergency communication system exists to address. Newtown’s Emergency Management page states that, together with the Office of the First Selectman, it provides critical public information and warnings about emergency situations. The town’s own CodeRED materials specifically list criminal activity among the examples of alerts residents might receive.