News

FHA Members Talk Money, Development, Demolition

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: October 28, 2015 12:00 am

Demolition, political affiliation, future planning, and finances drove conversation Monday at Fairfield Hills Authority’s October meeting. Opening the evening with good news, Grants Coordinator Christ...

Open Burning Season Starts November 1

Published: October 27, 2015 12:00 am

The local open burning season is scheduled to begin on Sunday, November 1. Open burning permits, which are required for the activity, will start being issued on Monday, October 26, at the fire marshal...

Library's Handicapped Driveway To Be Temporarily Unavailable Early Next Week

Published: October 27, 2015 12:00 am

C.H. Booth Library’s driveway for handicapped drivers and guests will be inaccessible on Monday and Tuesday, November 2-3. Library Director Brenda McKinley is announcing this temporary closure due to ...

Preparedness Involves Storms, Water, Virus-Related Concerns

By John Voket

Published: October 26, 2015 12:00 am

While Newtown and the region dodged a recent threat as Hurricane Joaquin banked away instead of toward the East Coast a few weeks ago, local emergency management officials are remaining vigilant about...

FISH Participants Must Call By 4 PM

Published: October 24, 2015 12:00 am

FISH of Newtown, Inc, is requesting that those in need of a ride call 800-794-0034, no later than 4 pm the day before the ride is needed. FISH offers free transportation to Newtown residents, regardle...

New Speed Tables Installed On Queen Street

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: October 24, 2015 12:00 am

Various road work on Queen Street, which started in July, is nearing completion with the construction of five “speed tables” intended to hold down motorists’ travel speeds on the busy north-south road...

Convicted Murderer Heath Dies In Jail

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: October 24, 2015 12:00 am

Convicted murderer and former Newtown resident John Heath has died. In October 2013, a Danbury Superior Court jury convicted Mr Heath, who was 72 at the time of his death, of murdering his 32-year-old...

Review Continues For Hawleyville Mixed-Use Plan

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: October 24, 2015 12:00 am

Two town land use agencies last week continued their ongoing detailed review of a major mixed-use complex proposed for Hawleyville, which would include 180 rental apartments in six multistory building...

Sandy Hook Man Dies Following Waterbury Motorcycle Accident

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: October 24, 2015 12:00 am

WATERBURY — A Sandy Hook man died on October 17 as a result of injuries he received in a motorcycle accident on October 15 in Waterbury. Dustin Gregory Hanson, 23, of Sandy Hook died at Waterbury Hosp...

New Zoning Application Submitted For Tractor Supply Store Proposal

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: October 24, 2015 12:00 am

An application for a proposal to convert a South Main Street (State Route 25) site from its current R-1 (Residential) zoning designation to a South Main Village Design District (SMVDD) zoning designat...

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

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