Not Voting Is A ‘No’ Vote

To The Editor:

As a member of Support Our Schools, a group of dedicated parents and supporters of quality education in Newtown, it amazes me that only 1,400 people voted for the proposed budget.

Thousands of parents were reached out to by telephone, by mail, and in The Newtown Bee. We attempted to educate the parents of the facts and of the importance to get involved by doing nothing more difficult than voting.

There should have been thousands of parents whose children are being crammed into overcrowded classrooms rushing out to vote Yes; there should have been thousands of parents whose children play on overcrowded, undermaintained fields rushing out to vote Yes, and there should have been thousands of people who keep saying they want to buy Fairfield Hills rushing out to vote Yes on this budget.

Now the Legislative Council will probably try to make us decide which of these things we want. Do we want quality education, fields, or Fairfield Hills? This budget supported all of the above and was rejected.

It’s a sad day for Newtown when people who are motivated by nothing more than their own purse strings are more motivated than thousands of parents who should be motivated by the needs of their children and the future of their community.

Remember when further cuts are made to the education budget, the parks and recreation budget, or if we cannot afford Fairfield Hills, if you did not vote, you voted No!

Joseph Hemingway

10 Overlook Knoll, Sandy Hook                                  April 26, 2000