To The Editor:

Recent proposals for 367 housing units on Mt Pleasant Road have sparked the same predictable responses: traffic concerns, stormwater objections, and demands for endless studies and more bureaucracy. I’ve heard their leadership talk about supporting housing “where infrastructure already exists” while I see them clog up the process for projects that meet exactly those criteria. This wonky, nit-picky approach has prevented 494 housing units from being built as originally proposed, costing us $4.27 million annually in lost property tax revenue while homeowners faced 5.1% tax bill increases.

The real traffic problem? When teachers and municipal employees can’t afford Newtown, they move to Southbury and other places, clogging up I-84 every morning. As process advocates debate perfect drainage engineering while contributing to $60,000 in legal budget overruns, seniors can’t downsize within town, young families leave, and veterans struggle. The housing shortage drives up costs for everyone — renters, buyers, and taxpayers who bear higher municipal costs when we can’t attract and retain workforce.

Both Jeff Capeci and Bruce Walczak talk about fiscal responsibility and supporting working families. Both have talked about supporting development. They both know that housing development generates property tax revenue while spreading municipal costs across more households. But who will actually stand up to the same voices that have made housing impossible for two years? Who will support reasonable projects in appropriate locations instead of letting perfect be the enemy of good? The November choice matters: talk the talk, or walk the walk on actual solutions.

Samuel S. Grummons

Newtown