Date: Fri 01-Aug-1997

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-GOP-Democrats

Full Text:

GOP Looks Forward To November While Democrats Consider September

BY STEVE BIGHAM

As the Democrats consider the possibility of a September primary, the

Republicans are already busy figuring out how they can win in November.

GOP leaders say they're ready for whomever the Democrats choose to run against

them. First selectman hopeful Russ Melita and his running mate, Bill Brimmer,

are already locked in. They were the unanimous choices to help retain the

party's seat at the head of the town government, which will soon be vacated by

Bob Cascella.

Mr Cascella announced in June that he would not seek reelection.

The Democrats, on the other hand, have lots of ground to cover before they can

start concentrating on their Republican counterparts. Herb Rosenthal, who won

the Democratic caucus, still has Gary Fetzer to contend with at the primary.

Mr Fetzer announced this week that he has begun soliciting the signatures

required to force a primary. (See related story.)

Mr Brimmer said the issues will remain the same, no matter who the Democrats

decide to put up.

"This is going to be about what it is that Newtown needs, no matter who the

candidates are," he said Tuesday.

The Republicans say they have no intention of sitting idle as they wait for an

opponent. They have already put together a plan of action, delegated duties

and have begun looking for a place to set up their party headquarters. The

party is looking ahead to the Labor Day Parade.

Things cleared up much quicker for the Republicans this summer, despite the

early interest of three candidates for the town's top administrative position.

But once the GOP's town committee backed Mr Melita, candidate Cordalie Benoit

opted to step aside, and Mr Brimmer chose to join the Melita ticket. Since

then, Mr Brimmer, a member of the Legislative Council, said he and Mr Melita

have developed a strong partnership.

"I think it's going excellent. Russ is in Martha's Vineyard right now, but

we're on the phone with each other all the time," he said.

Mr Melita is chairman of the GOP's town committee and is a former member of

the council. He and his wife, Jean, live on Budd Drive. They have four

children, Tony, Vinnie, Joe and Liz.

Mr Brimmer is the chairman of the council's ordinance committee and is the

founder and facilitator of the Newtown Job Seekers Group. He and his wife,

Barbara, live on Hattertown Road. They have three children, Kelley, Erin and

Matt.

The Way We Were

Silver Alert For Blue McGrath Ended

Top Of The Mountain

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Knotweed Initiative Program Planned

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 01-Aug-1997

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