To the Editor:

Ryan Knapp’s response last week (“Disagrees With Gaston On Ordinance,” Letter Hive, August 22, 2025) is incorrect as to the law, seeks to charge people for exercising their 1st Amendment rights on their own property, and confuses Spin for Facts.

Mr Knapp wants to charge property owners for exercising their 1st Amendment right to assemble even on their own property. It’s rather ironic that he decries people objecting to a huge oversized development on his own family’s property that negatively affects traffic and his neighborhood community, but is happy to tell Main Street residents they can’t do what they want on their property unless they get a random permit and pay for police security.

Mr Knapp’s defense of pay to play to exercise 1st Amendment Rights is the tail wagging the dog. The people’s rights do not serve the police. The police serve the people’s rights. Taking Knapp’s logic to the next step … why don’t we simply limit people’s rights so persons living with even number addresses can leave their homes on some weekdays and those in odd number addresses on other weekdays. We could cut the police budget by 80%. Ludicrous? Of course, same with the Assembly Ordinance. The people’s Property and 1st Amendment Rights are not for sale.

Mr Knapp cited a Supreme Court case that is totally irrelevant to the Assembly ordinance issue. It addressed NYC concert sound systems in city parks, not 1st Amendment street protests. Knapp didn’t even try to defend the case.

In Mr Knapp’s response he addresses me as “the consummate litigator” in the “spin zone.” “Litigator” is usually a term used for corporate lawyers. I’m a “trial lawyer.” That means I represent people. I’m happy to have secured more than 100 jury verdicts for people. Irrespective, in a jury trial, spin doesn’t work. Juries decide cases based on evidence and facts. Jurors are “the finders of fact.” The people of Newtown easily see through Ryan Knapp’s projection of “Spin” to avoid “Evidence” and “Facts.”

“As for Rock this Democracy,” Knapp wants me to sue Danbury regarding their Parade and Assembly ordinance. First, the ordinance is not enforced. Second, I find it presumptuous to tell people living in other towns what to do. There are plenty of lawyers in Danbury to challenge the Danbury ordinance. If necessary, Newtowners will challenge their own 1st Amendment Assembly and Property Right Restrictions. If we need help, we’ll ask. Finally, to bring a lawsuit you need to have an existing legal entity. “Rock this Democracy” is not a legal entity, thus there is no “standing.” And, “Rock this Democracy” is in Newtown, not Danbury. Consequently, there is no “aggrievement.” Without a legal entity, standing or aggrievement there is no cause of action. These are simple legal principles that most people know.

I hope this helps clear up the Facts for Mr Knapp.

Not necessarily the views or opinions of any Board or Commission upon which I sit.

Thank you!

Jim Gaston

Newtown