The People Of Newtown Deserve Facts, Not Speculation
To The Editor:
While I don’t know Arnie Berman personally, I often see him at town events. As a member of the Newtown Lions, our paths cross regularly, and I’ve always appreciated his community service — from volunteering at the Great Pootatuck Duck Race to hosting Amazon food donation drop-offs for distribution to FAITH Food Pantry, Hospitality Hall, and others.
That’s why I was disappointed to see Arnie put politics ahead of facts in his recent Letter Hive submission (“The Art Of The Giveaway,” August 22, 2025). He accused me of holding “closed-door discussions with WinnDevelopment to finalize a deal,” implying I’m acting alone. That is simply false. I’m working with a bipartisan team that includes the Fairfield Hills Authority, the Economic Development Commission, and our Economic & Community Development staff.
Arnie then devotes much of his letter to speculating about what is or isn’t in the lease. He is wrong to portray me as the lone negotiator, and I’m fairly certain he is not at the table himself. If everything were truly happening “behind closed doors,” as he suggests, how is he so familiar with supposed lease details? That may be the more important question.
The people of Newtown deserve facts, not speculation.
Jeff Capeci
First Selectman
Newtown