Gary Andrew Marinelli, 67, of Newtown, passed away on July 11, 2019, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on May 22, 1952, in Oakland, Calif., to Carmine and Laura Marinelli.
He is survi...
David R. Hutchins, of Newtown, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 14, 2019. Born on February 14, 1964, David was a proud resident of Newtown for the last 17 years. He was a loving and devoted fa...
Mrs Susan Wiard Seman, 77, of Mebane, N.C., formerly of Newtown, passed away on July 13, 2019, at the Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington. She was born in Washington State to the late Rober...
Morton Marvin Siegel was born February 19, 1927, in Far Rockaway, N.Y. He passed June 28, 2019, in Redwood City, Calif.
Mort had many fond memories of growing up in New York City, where he met and mar...
“Drowning” by Chris Young
“Still got your number in my phone,
And even though you don’t know I listen
I still call and wait ‘til the tone
Just to hear you saying, ‘Leave a message,’
Since you’v...
Jennifer Garofalo, 49, of Orlando, Fla., passed away on June 24, 2019, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on November 28, 1969, in Danbury. She was a Brookfield High School graduate i...
Julie Ann (Harpe) Pierce, of Newtown, age 56, was called home to God on July 2, 2019. She passed peacefully following a long illness. Julie was a warm, friendly person with a sunny personality, a big ...
Irwin J. Miller died on Saturday, July 6, 2019, in Norwalk. He was born on February 19, 1926, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Bertha and Philip Miller. Irwin and his wife of 71 years, Vivian Berger Miller, move...
I agree with your point, Tom.
However, the sheer volume of Trump's false statements and claims -- vs. anyone else -- is astonishing and noteworthy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_or_misleading_statements_by_Donald_Trump
President Biden, too, has claimed “inflation was 0%,” when in fact prices remained elevated. He told us his Afghanistan withdrawal was a “success,” even though Americans and allies were left behind and 13 service members lost their lives. He promised not to build another foot of border wall, but later quietly restarted construction. These examples matter just as much as Trump’s because they show that political dishonesty isn’t unique to one side.
The point is not to excuse Trump or Biden—it’s to recognize that truth matters, and voters deserve accountability from all leaders. Singling out one politician while giving others a free pass only fuels division.
It’s important to put the 8-30g application into context. The reason developers in our town resort to Connecticut’s 8-30g affordable housing statute is precisely because obstructionist voices, led by Mr. Ackert, have repeatedly opposed reasonable housing proposals through local zoning channels. When projects are delayed or denied outright under the guise of “protecting character,” developers have little choice but to pursue the state-level remedy.
Mr. Ackert portrays 8-30g as a loophole being abused, when in fact it exists because communities that resist creating diverse housing options need accountability. If our town had a stronger record of working collaboratively to meet housing needs, developers wouldn’t feel compelled to bypass local boards in the first place.
Regarding wetlands and Inland Wetlands Commission review, it’s worth remembering that these processes are not ignored or hidden from the public. Applications that impact wetlands must comply with environmental regulations, and developers are subject to oversight. Suggesting otherwise unfairly discredits both the staff and the commission, who follow established procedures.
The public certainly deserves transparency, but it is misleading to imply that this project was pushed through in secret. The broader issue is that continued “Not In My Back Yard” obstructionism drives applicants to use 8-30g, ensuring that local zoning boards lose the very control residents claim to want preserved.
If we truly want more local say in how projects are shaped, then we need to stop reflexively opposing housing and start working constructively with applicants. Mr. Ackert’s campaign of resistance has only created the exact conditions he now complains about.
It's certainly good news that a temporary patch to rationed water in Newtown is in effect. But taking a year to come up with a patch is concerning. Where is the sense of urgency to get this permanently fixed?
