The First Selectman On The Budget
To The Editor:
On April 28, Newtown residents will once again have the chance to shape the future of our town by voting on the school, municipal, and capital budgets. These votes matter because they reflect what we value as a community and how we choose to support one another.
As someone who has spent countless hours working with our boards, staff, and residents, I’ve seen firsthand how thoughtfully these budgets were built. They weren’t rushed or taken lightly. They were reviewed by three separate boards, questioned from every angle, and refined with one goal in mind: meeting Newtown’s needs without adding unnecessary costs.
These budgets protect the things that make Newtown feel like home. They support our excellent schools, our senior programs, our parks and recreation spaces, and our public safety services. They ensure our roads are safe, our bridges are maintained, and that we’re ready when storms hit. They allow Human Services to continue supporting residents who need assistance, something that matters deeply in a town that prides itself on looking out for one another.
Our schools remain one of our greatest strengths. They offer high‑quality special education, strong academics, and opportunities in sports, music, and the arts. These programs help our children grow into confident, capable young adults and reflect the values we share as a community.
What stands out most to me is that these budgets reflect who we are. They support our youth, our seniors, our families, and every resident who relies on the services that keep Newtown strong, safe, and connected. They help preserve the character of the town we love, a place that is both welcoming and vibrant.
I hope every resident will take a moment to vote on April 28. Supporting these budgets is a way to invest in each other and in the Newtown we want to continue building together.
Bruce Walczak
Newtown
I am glad to see First Selectman Bruce Walczak engaging the electorate. Mark your calendars, folks — apparently, communication from Town Hall is possible after all.
But where was Bruce two days ago, when Connecticut State Police requested assistance from Newtown Police after two individuals fled on foot from an I-84 crash? As a manhunt went through town, police were stationed at our schools, and many residents checked their car doors, deadbolted their houses, and armed themselves (Thank you James from Port Conway).
That sounds like exactly the kind of situation where residents would expect timely communication from town leadership. Parents, neighbors, and residents in the affected area should not have to piece together information after the fact while police are actively searching the community.
The issue is not whether our police did their job. They did. The issue is whether Town Hall is doing its job when it comes to keeping residents informed during real-time public safety situations.
If the First Selectman can write to residents about the importance of showing up for the budget, he should also show up when residents are looking for clear, timely information during an active police incident. This kind of communication was promised during the campaign.
Unfortunately, Bruce Walczzzzak is starting to look like just another politician: campaign on change, criticize the last guy, ask taxpayers for more staff, and then tell residents the job still cannot be done.