News

BOS Ethics Query Stalls On Legal Loophole, High Meadow Memorial Site Discussed

By John Voket

Published: Dec 24, 2015 12:00 AM

A rare request from local selectmen for an advisory opinion by the Board of Ethics was rejected earlier this month because of a legal loophole apparently brought to light by Town Attorney David Grogin...

Grants Will Help Expand, Rebrand Newtown Social Services Department

By John Voket

Published: Dec 24, 2015 12:00 AM

As plans to close the grant-funded Newtown Recovery and Resiliency Team (RRT) operation at Fairfield Hills progress, First Selectman Pat Llodra has been working to create an offset agency so those rec...

Fire Reports, December 17-22, 2015

Published: Dec 23, 2015 12:00 AM

The radio dispatchers at the Newtown Emergency Communications Center at Town Hall South, 3 Main Street, report the following fire calls and the responders: Thursday, December 17: 4:41 pm, alarm, 1...

Police Reports, December 9-22, 2015

Published: Dec 23, 2015 12:00 AM

Bicycle Hit & Run Police said bicyclist Michael Roberto, 53, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., who was riding a yellow Cannondale downhill eastward on the right side of Church Hill Road, while wearing a he...

Construction Continues At The Village At Lexington Gardens

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Dec 23, 2015 12:00 AM

Amid unseasonably mild weather, work is progressing on The Village at Lexington Gardens, a multibuilding commercial complex under construction in the borough at 30 Church Hill Road. The project, which...

Holiday Closings

Published: Dec 23, 2015 12:00 AM

All town offices and agencies will be closed from noon on Thursday, December 24, until 8 am on Monday, December 28, for the Christmas holiday. The following week, offices will close at noon on Thursda...

Mulholland Reelected P&Z Chairman

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Dec 23, 2015 12:00 AM

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) conducted its annual election officers at its December 17 session, reelecting Republican Robert Mulholland to a third one-year term as the chairman of the land...

Draft Charter Published For Community Review, Outreach Campaign Planned

By John Voket

Published: Dec 21, 2015 12:00 AM

Legislative Council Chair Mary Ann Jacob is encouraging townspeople to read, discuss, and save the printed Charter Revision draft in this week’s edition of The Newtown Bee that will be the focus of a ...

December 18-19 Sobriety Checkpoint Planned

Published: Dec 18, 2015 12:00 AM

Town police have scheduled a sobriety checkpoint for the evening of Friday, December 18, and early morning hours of Saturday, December 19. Police will set up the checkpoint on a road where they will b...

Nunnawauk Residents May Be Eligible For Additional Support Services

By John Voket

Published: Dec 18, 2015 12:00 AM

Residents of Newtown’s Nunnawauk Meadows senior housing community may be eligible for assistance covering a number of supplemental services designed to help them live more independently and stay in th...

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.

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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