(The following open letter to the Legislative Council has been received for publication.)

Expedite The 9/11 Resolution

To the Editor:

You recently received a copy of the proposed 9/11 Resolution for the Town of Newtown in two forms: a short form, and a long form. The resolution reflects the concerns of many Newtown residents. It expresses support for those 9/11 widows and family members who make up the Family Steering Committee For the Independent 9/11 Commission.

This resolution is consistent with the order recently issued by President Bush to all government agencies, instructing them to fully and promptly provide the Independent Commission with all requested documents and testimony. It is also consistent with the concerns of the Family Steering Committee and many other 9/11 families and citizens who have now waited for over two years to get answers to some very basic questions about September 11.

Significant time and effort has gone into finding the right wording for this resolution, in consultation with local residents, members of the Family Steering Committee, and a helpful legislative aide at Senator Dodd’s Washington, D.C., office We have gathered many signatures but are probably a week away from having all 80 required to place this item on your agenda. Given the time that may then be needed for the town clerk to forward this resolution to the town’s attorney, who would then read, approve, and return the item to the clerk, and the subsequent need for advance notice of an item being placed on your agenda, I respectfully invite members of the council to expedite this process: any one of you can place this resolution on your agenda for your next meeting on October 15. There is nothing in the charter or general statutes that would prohibit the council from considering and passing this resolution.

Three thousand loved ones were slaughtered on September 11, and 3,000 families were destroyed. The Independent 9/11 Commission is conducting the most important investigation ever –– and time is running out.

The success of the commission is vital to our public safety, and to gaining closure on unresolved questions about 9/11. The commission itself has publicly complained about repeated missed deadlines on the part of the Norad and the Pentagon, as well as potential witness intimidation. Questions continue to linger in ways that are upsetting and disturbing for many family members and other citizens.

9/11 family members on the Steering Committee have spent months both grieving and closely studying the complex issues surrounding the events of September 11. These widows have sacrificed precious time with their young children to lobby for weeks and months through a maze of obstacles in Washington, D.C. Without them there would simply be no 9/11 Independent Commission. They have accomplished a great public service, and now it is time to do our part: to publicly support their efforts. All of their questions are legitimate and should be included in whichever form of this resolution you may pass.

History will be our witness: will we as citizens and public servants do all we can to ensure that these questions are fully answered?

Please bear in mind that any desire on the part of the Steering Committee for “openness” or “transparency” in the investigation is more than balanced by legislative, judicial, and executive powers that can be brought to bear upon the proceedings of the 9/11 Commission. Among the issues raised by the Family Steering Committee are many areas of inquiry where transparency and openness pose no threat whatsoever to our national security.

I sincerely hope that one or more of you will place the 9/11 Resolution on your agenda for our October 15 meeting at the Newtown Public Library. Readers of The Bee who wish to add their signatures or learn more may call me at 270-9659. Online, see: www.911independentcommission.org.

Thank you,

James Allen

Main Street, Newtown                                                October 7, 2003