Painted Into

A Black Hole

To the Editor:

I would like to reply to some of the comments made at the history-making Legislative Council meeting last Wednesday.  Firstly, I am shocked that Mr Amaral said that many of the well thought out comments made by people “should be directed at the Board of Education.” The issues with our schools is a town issue. If we are to correct the problems in our schools for the long-term benefits, all the departments must come to the table to address them. If our leaders cannot do this, then we must hire a town planner to do this work.

Next, Mr Rosenthal said last week in reference to the town hall that “this is my project, and I’m going to get it done.” He maintains that the vote taken in August of 2003 was “advisory” and didn’t count. A Bee article tries to diminish the validity of an opinion poll conducted by Inside Newtown, yet we have discovered with some research that the town had conducted its own survey in which the town hall came in fifth place. How many times do we need to say that we do not support the new town hall project at this time at the expense of other more needed projects? 

Additionally, we were given a long-winded history lesson as to the fact that the town hall issue was “a discussion that has been going on for 23 years.” I questioned the Legislative Council as to how this serves to address the current state of affairs. We have been told what we “can’t” do, when they need to address what we can do.

We were also led to believe that a “pond with a fountain” was on the P&Z’s table for consideration at FFH. This sales tactic to confuse us into looking beyond the town hall project may have worked back in 2001 when we were sold the enigma of FFH, but it’s not going to work this time. Are we so blind that we would shift our focus onto a town “fountain” when the town needs a rec center?

I respectfully ask the Legislative Council to become more diligent and courageous in their pursuit as to how we can rectify this black hole that our leaders have painted us into. This town has suffered long enough.  

Desiree Galassi

151 Huntingtown Road, Newtown                         February 14, 2007