Open Space Threats

To the Editor:

The ongoing drive by town officials to raise a significant amount of taxpayer money for so-called open space acquisitions represents a waste of taxpayer resources and a dangerous attack upon constitutionally protected private property rights in Newtown. These proposals to raise a large pool of taxpayer dollars for so-called open space uses are nothing more than efforts on the part of a small group of town officials to dictate how private property is to be used in what has become an increasingly hostile environment for private property owners in Newtown.

I predict that this large pool of taxpayer money will be used by the town for the following:

The town will support individuals, organizations, and their sleazy lawyers to go into neighborhoods and challenge the titles of private property owners. Through threats and harassment the town will be able to acquire property at bargain prices.

Town officials will pressure the police department to not arrest trespassers on private property in order to establish public easements where none existed. This will force private property owners to give up their property to the town in order to protect their personal safety and financial liability exposures instead of incurring a large amount of legal costs to defend their property.

The town will compile secret lists of property owners with their financial backgrounds in order to determine who will be easy prey. Farmers will be especially vulnerable to the coming wave of eminent domain claims by the town.

I am sure that you are saying to yourself that this could never occur in Newtown. On the contrary, despicable actions to confiscate private property for public use have already occurred and are occurring now. My family is one of the victims of First Selectman Rosenthal’s crusade to expand open space by any means possible.

Mr Rosenthal wants the town to be a player in the real estate market with taxpayer money. Instead of being a player, the town will become the 1,000-pound gorilla. A large pool of taxpayer money combined with an out-of-control first selectman will result in property values in Newtown being determined by the town. Property owners are about to find out that it is not nicer in Newtown.

Brian R. Schlier

Old Purdy Station Road, Newtown                         October 13, 2003