Date: Fri 02-Apr-1999

By DOROTHY EVANS

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

snapshot-Jack

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: JACK CORCORAN

Occupation: I have been retired for almost ten years now. I was a computer

programmer from the vacuum tube days. I did scientific and engineering support

programming. I was with Perkin-Elmer in Danbury for 24 years and Argonne

National laboratory for 10 years. I was always on the cutting edge of high

technology. It was a great ride. I have a degree from Wesleyan University.

How Long in Newtown: I have lived in Newtown for 24 years. I previously lived

in Trumbull.

Biggest Change Seen in Town: I have seen the lack of change. During the time

when so many other towns, like Monroe and Trumbull, have changed drastically,

Newtown has maintained its original character that everyone moved here for.

Family: My wife, Virginia, and I have been married for 39 years. She is now

retired, but previously worked at Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport as a

secretary. We have a son and a daughter. Our son Chris is in Tucson, Ariz. in

the Plant Science Department of the University of Arizona. Our daughter

Elizabeth is bureau chief of Forbes in Burlingame, Calif. She and her husband,

George Anders, have a 2-year-old son, Matthew.

Hobbies: I do animation and multimedia projects on my home computer. I also

grow roses and build outdoor furniture.

Favorite Authors: My favorite authors are T.S. Eliot, Robert Service, Stephen

Vincent Benet, and Douglas Adams.

Organizations: I am a member of the Danbury Area Computer Society where I

write reviews of the meetings for their newsletter. I also volunteer for the

Newtown Library's annual book sale and am working with Garden Club members on

a project for the restoration of the library's Memorial Rose Garden. I run a

camera for public access TV.

Favorite Vacation Spot: My favorite vacation spots are Arizona and California,

where the kids are.

Personal Philosophy: To regret what I know full well that I should regret, and

feel good about all the rest.

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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 02-Apr-1999

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