Letters

Endorses Leonardi

Published: Oct 30, 2025 2:31 pm

To The Editor:

I am writing in support of Brian Leonardi, who is running for Legislative Council, District 1. I have known Brian for nearly 10 years and had the pleasure of serving alongside him on the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2021-2023.

During his time on Planning & Zoning I saw firsthand the type of thorough, thoughtful, and ethical approach Brian brought to all matters before the Commission. More recently, Brian has served on the Board of Education for the past two years. In speaking with Brian and reading about his position in meeting minutes and Newtown Bee articles, it is clear that Brian has brought the same principled and consistent approach to the Board of Education. With this as backdrop, and knowing the type of person that Brian is, I have no doubt that he would be an incredible asset if given the opportunity to serve on Newtown’s Legislative Council.

Newtown has been fortunate to have someone with Brian’s temperament and professional background volunteering to tackle difficult issues and make tough decisions on behalf of our community. I fully endorse Brian’s candidacy for Legislative Council and encourage you to vote for him during early voting or on election day.

Connie Widmann

Newtown

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Supports Pertoso

Bruce’s letter paints a picture of runaway development, but the real story is the collapse of local cooperation — not the rise of §8-30g. That law has been on the books since 1990. For decades, towns and developers worked together to shape projects that made sense: added sidewalks, deeper setbacks, fewer units — genuine compromise. What’s changed isn’t the law, it’s the politics. A loud social media mob has made any compromise politically toxic. The “no growth” crowd demands nothing be built anywhere, ever, and bullies anyone who suggests otherwise. Planning and zoning boards no longer negotiate; they hunker down, hoping to appease the Facebook comment section. But here’s the irony — when compromise dies, developers stop compromising too. Once a project triggers §8-30g, the town can fight it, but state law ensures the developer will eventually win. So instead of working out a reasonable design, everyone heads to court. The developer doubles the unit count to pay for the lawyers, and the town burns taxpayer money trying to lose more slowly. That’s how we end up with the very projects the NIMBY mob fears — because they made reasonable development impossible. If people truly care about Newtown’s character, they need to stop the performative outrage and start engaging in real planning again. Screaming “no” to everything isn’t preservation — it’s self-sabotage.

On 8-30g Affordable Housing

I’m honestly surprised Bruce had to look up what an “agreement in principle” means. After years of business experience and managing 200 people, I would have expected that term to be familiar by now. Hard to believe it’s a new concept at this stage in his career. Although rest assured Newtown, vote row A and when times get tough, we have Google to help the selectman.

Housatonic Railroad Agrees to Pootatuck River Restoration Plan

I asked AI what does agreement in principle mean An "agreement in principle" is a preliminary, non-binding understanding reached between two or more parties that outlines the fundamental terms of a future contract. It is considered a stepping stone toward a formal, legally enforceable agreement. This type of agreement is used to establish mutual intent and a basic framework for negotiations before the parties commit to a detailed, final contract.

I think the Municipal part of the town should develop similar programs to identify strategies and measurable objectives thus driving even better results and possible efficiencies.

BOE Listens To Elementary, Intermediate School Strategic Goals

The commissioners literally said — in plain English — that because this is an 8-30g application, traffic isn’t a valid reason for denial. But sure enough, there’s Dave Ackert up there grandstanding about traffic again. It’s almost like some folks will say anything to keep affordable housing out, even if it means ignoring state law and wasting everyone’s time.

P&Z Discuss ‘Kelmendi Apartments’ At 128-130 Mt Pleasant And 1 Hawleyville Roads

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