Letters

Keep Newtown... Old By Van Heim-Sherwood

Published: November 29, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor:old. You can see many historical sights in Newtown, but not all are man-made. Ms Mayer would not want this for the farm she worked so hard to build and keep. Did you know there is an old...

Salvation Army Ready To Ring Out
By Anna Wiedemann and Steve Bennett

Published: November 23, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: On Friday, December 9, we will be ringing at Walgreens, Stop & Shop, and Bottle Stop from 4 pm to 8 pm. We have a new location added this year, Sal e Pepe's [at 97 South Main Street] wh...

Generous Donations For FAITH By Karin Halstead

Published: November 22, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: I would like to thank of the generous people who came out on Saturday, November 19, to support the local volunteer firefighters "Fill the Fire Truck." We were able to give FAITH Food Pa...

In Whose Best Interest? By Suzanne Hurley

Published: November 21, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: As a Newtown resident and teacher, I have watched the board discussions on closing a school with great interest and have one overriding question. Is the proposed model (K-4, 5-7, 8-12) ...

Post Election Emotions By Suzy DeYoung

Published: November 21, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor:Bee there was an egregiously ugly letter in regard to the range of emotions people are experiencing post election. In this past week's There are Newtown residents and families - not to ...

Local Produce Appreciated By Linda Manganaro

Published: November 18, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: This year was a bountiful year at Nunnawauk Meadows in terms of the variety and volume of delicious vegetables that were graciously donated by Harvey Pessin and the hard working volunte...

Tony Hwang For State Senate
By Margaret Capron

Published: November 18, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: It is a Saturday afternoon and my husband and I are taking on the overwhelming chore of keeping up our property. We are mowing and raking debris off the lawn when State Senator Tony Hwa...

Thank You, Newtown AmbulanceBy Amy, Phil, and Ava Musella

Published: November 16, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Betsy, Josh, and Laurie from the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. They were prompt, professional, and amazing with my 3-year-old daughter...

Two Complaints On Election By Robert H. Hall

Published: November 14, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: I write this as we wait for the results of the election. I have two complaints about how this election has been conducted. First, it is wrong for a sitting president to campaign for a c...

Thank You To Volunteers By George Arfaras

Published: November 14, 2016 12:00 am

To the Editor: I would like to extend my sincerest "thank you" to those wonderful young adults and the members of the staff that volunteered to honor the veterans with a breakfast on Veterans Day. The...

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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