Rise Up To A Challenge

By CURT CLARK

Published: Oct 24, 2008 12:00 am

To the Editor:

My name is Catherine M. Corbett, I am from Sterling, Conn. I would like to ask that you advocate on behalf of many visually impaired, and physically challenged children, and young adults, adults and their families and friends to have as many opportunities to have fun and experience the joy of skiing that they might otherwise not get.

This is not a plea to patronize usâ¦we truly are asking for you to give sacrificially. We understand it will require work and time and for thought on your parts to help us make this happen. I would like each one of you involved with the decisionmaking process to take a step out of your comfort zones and realize that we as a group know what it means to do extra! We do it every day of our livesâ¦

By no means is this an effort to ask you to feel bad or guilty, but to step up and rise to a challenge as our children, young adults and adults â¦and their families must do every day for the rest of their lives, and give them the challenge of mimicking you in doing!

Love without works is dead!

Independence and followed by action are the marching orders for all of these kids â¦we demand it of them, for their own good.

It is a few days out of the year that could present a challenge to the town, but these young people will have a challenge for the rest of there lives.

I can say the Leaps of Faith program has given my son a window to see through that I think he thought was lost when he lost his vision to a brain tumor at age 5Â½.

Not only has he benefited, but also my other children and relatives and friends from knowing the possibilities to enable a person to never give up.

When we give expecting nothing in return it is a lovely legacy to impart and to show by exampleâ¦.I am saying this with the sincerest of motives. If it is not possible for things to take place as we hope, please by no means forget us for the future.

So best to you, feel free to call or write I would love to speak to you in regard to any advocating in a way that is respectful, kind, and nurturing to all involved.

With kindest regards,

Catherine M. Corbett

Braillist/Mother of a Blind Skier

Sterling, Conn.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â October 21, 2008

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The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

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Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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Rise Up To A Challenge

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