C.H. Booth Library Director Douglas Lord is confident an e-mail sent last weekend purporting to be from a library representative does not mean the library security systems were breached.
Qualified Newtown voters from the 112th District can begin applying now for a 'no-excuse' absentee ballot for a Special Election being held to fill the district's vacant statehouse seat April 13.
More than 500 Newtown educators and support staff will be more protected from COVID-19 after local weekend clinics — and have you heard some major COVID restrictions are being lifted?
By the time this week’s print edition of The Newtown Bee hits the streets on Thursday afternoon, March 4, Newtown will have a newly appointed Charter Revision Commission. The Legislative Council was e...
Governor Ned Lamont has announced that he has directed Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol activated as of noon on Monday, March 1, remaining in effect through noon on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.
I had the pleasure of working with Renee for years as an Assistant Town Clerk. Everything she states in this letter is true and if I was still a resident of Newtown, I would gladly vote for her. As an Assistant Town Clerk, the only opportunity for advancement is to run for Town Clerk. Renee has proven her dedication to the community and deserves the chance to serve Newtown in that capacity. I wish you the best of luck, Renee!
Ann LoBosco
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.
