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Main Street Flag Lowered For Chattanooga Shooting Victims

By Shannon Hicks

Published: July 20, 2015 12:00 am

UPDATE (Monday, July 20, 2015; 3:52 pm): This story has been updated to reflect that Governor Malloy ordered US and State of Conneticut flags to be lowered to honor those killed in Tennessee last ...

Charter Revision Vote May Be Delayed Until 2016, More Review Requested

By John Voket

Published: July 18, 2015 12:00 am

Three individuals, all town officials addressing the Charter Revision Commission July 15, have recommended the panel not rush the final steps of the process simply to get a proposed overhaul of Newtow...

Lewis, Blumenthal Celebrate US Senate Passage Of Education Bill

By Associated Press

Published: July 18, 2015 12:00 am

HARTFORD (AP) — Proposed federal education legislation to fund social and emotional learning skills training for teachers would help prevent violence such as mass shootings, the mother of a 6-year-old...

Council Agrees To Keep Firearms Ordinance Intact

By John Voket

Published: July 18, 2015 12:00 am

Following discussion and deliberation a week earlier by the Legislative Council’s Ordinance Committee, Chairman Ryan Knapp recommended July 15 that the full council suspend any plans to modify the tow...

River Walk Condo Proposal Draws Criticism On Traffic And Size

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 17, 2015 12:00 am

This is an expanded version of a story that appears in the July 17, 2015 print edition of The Newtown Bee. Criticism about the traffic effects and the size of a 74-unit condominium complex ...

Off-Duty Newtown Policeman Involved In Night-Time Crash

Published: July 17, 2015 12:00 am

SOUTHBURY — An off-duty Newtown police officer was involved in a one-car accident on Main Street South early on the morning of July 11. Southbury police said that Michael McGowan, 42, was driving a 20...

BOF Approves Toddy Hill Bridge Grant, Hears About Fuel Issue

By John Voket

Published: July 17, 2015 12:00 am

The Board of Finance on July 13 approved spending a $2.6 million state grant to complete a Toddy Hill Road bridge replacement and re-engineering of the intersection at Berkshire Road (Route 34). While...

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Published: July 16, 2015 12:00 am

First Selectman Pat Llodra is seeking residents to fill several opening on local appointed boards and commissions. In some cases the appointments are required to be affiliated with a specific politica...

Police Plan Crackdown On Speeding Motorists

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 16, 2015 12:00 am

Town police have received approval for a $23,800 grant from the state, with that money to be used for police overtime pay for speed enforcement and for the acquisition of speed-detection radar equipme...

Queen Street Getting New Water Pipes

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 16, 2015 12:00 am

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

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

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.

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Main Street Flag Lowered For Chattanooga Shooting Victims

Charter Revision Vote May Be Delayed Until 2016, More Review Requested

Lewis, Blumenthal Celebrate US Senate Passage Of Education Bill

Council Agrees To Keep Firearms Ordinance Intact

River Walk Condo Proposal Draws Criticism On Traffic And Size

Off-Duty Newtown Policeman Involved In Night-Time Crash

BOF Approves Toddy Hill Bridge Grant, Hears About Fuel Issue

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Police Plan Crackdown On Speeding Motorists

Queen Street Getting New Water Pipes