Marvin Seymour Zimmer, 88, of Trumbull, husband of the late Wilma (Spewak) Zimmer, died peacefully October 11, in Bridgeport Hospital. He was born in Torrington, son of the late Harry and Ida (Wolff) ...
Joan (Wright) Weber, 95, of Stratford, beloved wife of the late Raymond Smith who died in battle during World War II, and the late Edward Weber, died October 9, with her daughter and caregiver, Sandra...
Belinda (Coté) Robertson, 67, of Milford and previously of Stratford, beloved wife of the late Jessup Bruce Robertson, died October 9 in Milford. She was born August 26, 1950, in Lincoln, Maine, daugh...
Jane M. Pierwola, 72, of Newtown died October 10 at Danbury Hospital after a long illness. She was born July 24, 1945, in Bridgeport, daughter of the late Marjorie Quinn Koerner and Philip J. Koerner....
Amelia Ann Grasso, 80, of Vernon, Conn., died peacefully on the night of October 10, at Hartford Hospital. She was born September 25, 1937, in Newark, N.J., the daughter of Teresa Guarino and...
Grace Joyce Montague Davis, 87, of Port Charlotte, Fla., beloved wife of the late Louis W. Davis, died September 22, with her family by her side. Born in Bridgeport, she lived in Fairfield for 50 year...
William McDonald "Bill" Edelen, 83, a 36-year resident of Newtown, died peacefully at the Danbury Regional Hospice. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Mary Ann McDonald and Cloyd Chambers Edelen on May 9...
Helen Pritz Szamotula, 87, of Sandy Hook died peacefully October 8 at Connecticut Hospice of Branford, surrounded by her loving family. Her loved ones say God took her to heaven after a long and coura...
Melissa L. (Scheibel) Miller, 47, former Newtown resident, died October 6 at Regional Hospice of Danbury, while in the presence of her loving husband. She was born on May 19, 1970, in Bridgeport, daug...
Arthur "Art" Radun, 95, of Newtown, husband of 72 years to Irene (Soltes) Radun, died October 6 at Danbury Hospital. He was born in Little Falls, N.Y., April 13, 1922, a son of Wilhelmina (Semrow) and...
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?
