Letters

League Of Women Voters Enlightens Members

Published: May 01, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor:The Bee for explaining Newtown's recent referendum ballot questions in print and posting town officials' budget messages on its YouTube channel, furthering what was described in the Apri...

Volunteers Can Assist Postal Food Drive

Published: May 01, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: The Annual Postal Food Drive will be held on Saturday, May 13. This drive is the major supplier of food to the Newtown Salvation Army Food Pantry that is located in the office of Newtow...

Thank You From Commission On Aging

Published: May 01, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: All of the members of the Commission on Aging would like to say a warm "thank you" to the citizens of Newtown who took the time to vote their approval for the proposed new senior center...

Poor Manners And Misunderstandings

Published: April 28, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: I started writing this at 7:40 pm on April 25 while the polls were still open and no results in. As I worked in the rain to disassemble my "vote yes for senior center" booth outside the...

A Step Forward For Voter Input

Published: April 28, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: Tuesday's referendum was the first time under our new charter where we were compelled to put a multitude of projects on the ballot as part of the appropriations process. Regardless of w...

Boxes, Bags And Truck Loads Of Books Donated

Published: April 28, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: Friends of the C.H. Booth Library volunteers held their annual Spring Donation Day event on Sunday, April 23. Once again, it was a pleasure seeing so many generous townspeople bringing ...

Bipartisan Solutions, Now Approved Through Referendum, Will Benefit Taxpayers

Published: April 28, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: I'm writing to express my gratitude to the voters of Newtown for approving all items on the budget. The uncertainty at the state level presented an extra challenge this year for elected...

Boxes, Bags And Truck Loads Of Books Donated

Published: April 28, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: Friends of the C.H. Booth Library volunteers held their annual Spring Donation Day event on Sunday, April 23. Once again, it was a pleasure seeing so many generous townspeople bringing ...

Have We Forgotten Mental Health?

Published: April 28, 2017 12:00 am

To the Editor: A recent 60 Minutes episode, "Newtown 4 Years Later," starts with the comment: "When a mentally ill man murdered 20 first graders and six educators at Sandy Hook School..." Mentally ill...

Seduced By Convenience

Published: April 21, 2017 12:00 am

To The Editor:Reuters Technology News: Bose Corporation spies on customers using its wireless headphones who download its Bose Connect app to their smartphones. This app tracks all their audio choices...

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.

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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