Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?
To The Editor:
We want our elected officials to understand local issues and the US Constitution, and to listen to what residents have to say. What we do NOT want is for them to insult their constituents and call us stupid. That is definitely not wise, nor is it the way to win votes!
In his letter to the editor last week, Derek Pisani, referring to himself in the 3rd person, said “Derek Pisani is exploring the idea of suing Newtown for “Gross Stupidity”.” And then he quotes himself again (again referring to himself in the 3rd person and getting his name in print more times) saying at the Legislative Council meeting on July 2: “The magnitude of stupidity in this town is incomprehensible and needs to be addressed”.
Do the voters want to hear that one of our elected officials thinks Newtowners are stupid?
He goes on to say “It has always been my goal to find common ground when negotiating.” Good goal! But name calling is not negotiating or finding common ground; it’s what a child does when they know they’re losing.
I can understand his frustration; public opinion was strongly against him, and he was soundly outvoted. But if he wants to run for reelection, he should show respect for his constituents and colleagues.
Get over it, Derek Pisani. Maybe in the future you could actually try your goal of negotiating and finding common ground, instead of name calling when you don’t get your way.
Betsy Litt
Newtown
It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for “Gross Stupidity.” This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents.
Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit.
Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc.
Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn’t that what we elect people to do?
I applaud Pisani’s dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.
Please stop referring to your fellow Newtowners as the Mob. I was at the Legislative Council meeting where Mr. Pisani insulted the intelligence of a room full of Newtown voters; twice, and not in a satirical way.
Plenty of new projects have been given the green light – the repurposing of the Taunton Press property is a welcome addition to Town, a new retail center is under construction on Church Hill Rd there are ongoing plans for the existing Fairfield Hills campus.
Newtown is a wonderful place to live. Kudos to the Town officials who have managed to grow Newtown and maintain a small town feel, which may mean saying no to development more often than you would like.
There will always be two sides to any proposal – different points of view are welcome and essential – name calling adds nothing to the conversation.
I’ll gladly stop referring to the group as a “mob” when they stop behaving like one at public hearings. Expressing a different point of view is one thing—drowning out speakers, jeering at volunteers, and weaponizing misinformation is another. That kind of conduct deserves to be called out plainly.
As for the projects you referenced, I agree—repurposing existing structures such as the Taunton Press and redeveloping long-blighted properties are welcome improvements. But those projects weren’t met with the same level of opposition because they built on what already existed. When development touches vacant land—even when owned privately—this same group regularly mounts loud, emotional campaigns that ignore property rights and long-term planning needs.
Newtown is a wonderful place to live, largely due to thoughtful planning and strong leadership. That includes the courage to say yes when it’s easier to say no. I appreciate respectful disagreement. What I don’t accept is a pattern of obstruction disguised as community concern.
Let’s all raise the level of discourse—but that also means calling out tactics that are meant to intimidate or mislead.
Tom — Satire is an art. I could give you many fine examples. Neither Mr. Pisani’s rant at the Legislative Council meeting nor his double-down Letters to the Editor rise to the level of satire. They fall under the heading of “invective.”