News

Local GOP Launches 2015 'White Paper' Series

By John Voket

Published: September 18, 2015 12:00 am

After turning out in force during Newtown’s Labor Day Parade and planting candidate lawn signs around the community, local Republicans are resurrecting what party leaders have described as a “white pa...

Breakfast Fundraiser Benefits National Vigil, Inspires Supporters

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: September 18, 2015 12:00 am

The Newtown Foundation (TNF), a local nonprofit organization formed in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, December 14, 2012, hosted more than 125 people at a breakfast fundraiser...

Selectmen Hear About Proposed Parks & Rec Capital Projects

By John Voket

Published: September 18, 2015 12:00 am

Along with brief presentations by the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers, the Booth Library Board of Trustees, and the Public Works Director, the Board of Selectmen settled in for a more extensive dis...

Police Reports, August 31-September 15, 2015

Published: September 17, 2015 12:00 am

911 Hoax Police report a September 8 incident involving an Emergency 911 telephone call, which later proved to be a hoax. Police said they responded to Hilario’s Service Center at 131 Mt Pleasant...

First Selectman Produces Paper Trail Regarding Rejected FHA Appointee

By John Voket

Published: September 17, 2015 12:00 am

After hearing concerns about a Democratic Town Committee nomination for the Fairfield Hills Authority that was rejected after a missed deadline, First Selectman Pat Llodra produced extensive documenta...

Drivers Needed For FISH Of Newtown

Published: September 17, 2015 12:00 am

FISH of Newtown drivers met at a post Labor Day potluck picnic and enjoyed the various foods, drinks and the camaraderie of the dedicated volunteers. They exchanged stories of their experiences and co...

Selectmen Hiring Pension Consultant, Endorse Funds For Band Van

By John Voket

Published: September 17, 2015 12:00 am

During a special meeting September 10, the Board of Selectmen met and heard from two representatives of a Windsor company that was later unanimously hired to oversee the town’s pension fund. That even...

Legal Wrangling Slows Lawsuit Over Newtown School Shooting

By Dave Collins, Associated Press

Published: September 15, 2015 12:00 am

DANBURY (AP) — Newtown and its schools are putting up a stiff fight against a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the parents of two children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, questioni...

Cross Country And Field Hockey Teams Prepping For Tuesday Openers

By Andy Hutchison

Published: September 14, 2015 12:00 am

As midsummerlike temperatures greeted the cross country team participants for practices in the first week of September, they had cool-weather success on their minds. By the time the late October South...

Traffic Concerns Change Design Of Hawleyville Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: September 14, 2015 12:00 am

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members at a September 3 public hearing learned about certain revisions that a developer has made to a major mixed-use development proposal for Hawleyville in resp...

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.

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.

Log In

Local GOP Launches 2015 'White Paper' Series

Breakfast Fundraiser Benefits National Vigil, Inspires Supporters

Selectmen Hear About Proposed Parks & Rec Capital Projects

Police Reports, August 31-September 15, 2015

First Selectman Produces Paper Trail Regarding Rejected FHA Appointee

Drivers Needed For FISH Of Newtown

Selectmen Hiring Pension Consultant, Endorse Funds For Band Van

Legal Wrangling Slows Lawsuit Over Newtown School Shooting

Cross Country And Field Hockey Teams Prepping For Tuesday Openers

Traffic Concerns Change Design Of Hawleyville Project