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Two State Swimming Areas Closed

By Shannon Hicks

Published: August 17, 2016 12:00 am

Two Connecticut state park beaches have been closed by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for the remainder of Wednesday, August 17, due to high bacteria levels. The swimm...

Probation Request Delayed In Gun Possession CaseÂ

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 16, 2016 12:00 am

DANBURY - A hearing on a former Newtown Middle School teacher's request for special probation in his felony court case stemming from his illegal possession of a loaded handgun at the school on April 6...

Hot Riding Mower Ignites Shady Rest Garage

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 16, 2016 12:00 am

An attached garage at a home in the Shady Rest section of Sandy Hook was damaged by an accidental fire midday on Saturday, August 13, after a hot riding mower parked within that garage ignited nearby ...

Ethics Chair Contradicts Promise To Discuss Sealed Ballots

By John Voket

Published: August 15, 2016 12:00 am

After multiple requests to Newtown Ethics Board Chair Jacqueline Villa to explain how she learned the contents of a sealed envelope full of hearing ballots, the official, via e-mail, agreed to discuss...

Newtown Pension Investment Portfolio Continues To Tank

By John Voket

Published: August 15, 2016 12:00 am

What would Newtown do with an extra $1 million? What about $7.5 million?This report was updated at 4:15 pm on August 15 to includeÃÂ a statementÃÂ from Selectman Herb Rosenthal regarding h...

Principal, Police Chief Offer Observations As SHES Readies To Open

By John Voket

Published: August 15, 2016 12:00 am

As Sandy Hook Elementary School students and staff return home and prepare to occupy a brand-new facility this fall, Principal Kathleen Gombos will be experiencing a first in her career. Over the cour...

Residents, Questions Sought For Fall Political Forum

By John Voket

Published: August 15, 2016 12:00 am

The Newtown Bee is in the early stages of planning its free annual Candidates Forum, which will happen Tuesday, October 18, from 7:30 to 9 pm, on stage at the Edmond Town Hall Theater, with a pre-...

Policy Approved For Police Emergency Services Unit

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 12, 2016 12:00 am

The Police Commission has approved a set of policies and procedures for guidance in Newtown's participation in the Danbury Regional Emergency Services Unit (ESU), a special weapons and tactics unit co...

Police Reports | July 31-August 10, 2016

Updated: December 27, 2018 12:58 pm

Sandy Hook Crash Subaru Rollover Hawleyville Ramp Toyota vs Volkswagen Ford vs Chevy Head O' Meadow Accident Truck vs Truck ÃÂ Cellphone Violation This case was ...

South Main Street Parcel Subject Of Court Appeal

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 11, 2016 12:00 am

In a court appeal dated August 4, the owner of a South Main Street property, which is used in part as a parking lot for commercial vehicles, is challenging recent Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) decisio...

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.

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Two State Swimming Areas Closed

Probation Request Delayed In Gun Possession CaseÂ

Hot Riding Mower Ignites Shady Rest Garage

Ethics Chair Contradicts Promise To Discuss Sealed Ballots

Newtown Pension Investment Portfolio Continues To Tank

Principal, Police Chief Offer Observations As SHES Readies To Open

Residents, Questions Sought For Fall Political Forum

Policy Approved For Police Emergency Services Unit

Police Reports | July 31-August 10, 2016

South Main Street Parcel Subject Of Court Appeal