News

Psychiatric Hospital Eying Locations Other Than Fairfield Hills, Still Interested In Newtown

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: July 01, 2015 12:00 am

The 100-bed psychiatric hospital bid for development at Fairfield Hills has refocused to sites elsewhere in town. Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Thomas Connors said recently that he, along with US...

Governor Declares June 28-July 5 Social And Emotional Learning Awareness Week

By Shannon Hicks

Published: June 30, 2015 12:00 am

Governor Dannel P. Malloy has issued a proclamation declaring the week of July 28-July 5, 2015 Social and Emotional Learning Awareness Week. The timing of the proclamation was done to coincide with wh...

Police: Half Of Local Domestic Abuse Responses Involve 'High Danger' Threat

By John Voket

Published: June 29, 2015 12:00 am

As more of Connecticut’s law enforcement agencies are joining Newtown’s Police Department using a nationally recognized risk assessment tool when responding to domestic violence calls, local officers ...

Carnival Cancelled

By Shannon Hicks

Published: June 27, 2015 12:00 am

Due to the rain, tonight's final outing of the St Rose Parish Carnival has been cancelled.

Communities Touched By Tragedy United Through Survivor Tree

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: June 27, 2015 12:00 am

One sapling pear tree stands amid a patch of tall grass in Fairfield Hills. Others are in an open swath where a new walkway cuts through the field. Another young tree sits within view of a picnic tabl...

Preliminary SHS Playground Designs Presented To PB&S

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: June 26, 2015 12:00 am

Preliminary designs for the new Sandy Hook School building’s playgrounds were presented by representatives of a design firm at the Tuesday, June 23, Public Building & Site Commission meeting. The comm...

Rolled Dump Truck Closes Botsford Hill Road For Six Hours

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: June 26, 2015 12:00 am

A large, loaded 12-wheel construction dump truck, which was traveling on Botsford Hill Road early on the afternoon of Saturday, June 20, flipped over onto its right side and leaked diesel fuel. The in...

Four Vehicles Involved In Flagpole Intersection Crash

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: June 26, 2015 12:00 am

An accident involving four SUVs occurred at the flagpole intersection of Main Street, Church Hill Road, and West Street at about 7:07 pm on June 20. Police said motorist Edward Monarch, 87, of Little ...

Route 34 Bridge Atop Stevenson Dam To Be Closed June 27-30

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: June 26, 2015 12:00 am

MONROE — The section of Route 34 located on a bridge positioned atop the hydroelectric Stevenson Dam will be closed to traffic for an extended period to allow for maintenance on the dam’s floodgates. ...

Charter Hearing Will Consider Town Meeting's Demise

By John Voket

Published: June 26, 2015 12:00 am

Charter Revision Commission Chairman Jeff Capeci will consider it a success if a planned public hearing on the current revision — which includes a proposal to eliminate town meetings — will draw more ...

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.

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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