Julia Elisabeth Offer Reis, 59, died February 22, ending her valiant five-year battle with ALS. Born in Detroit, she grew up in Racine, Wis., and spent most of her adult life in Newtown, Ridgefield, a...
Daniel Edward Knopf, 77, of Addison (Rathbone), N.Y., died on February 16, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Bridgeport on February 5, 1940, he was the son of the late Edward and Dora Ward Knop...
Nancy A. O'Neil, 73, of Danbury died on March 4 at Danbury Hospital. She was born in Brooklyn on June 15, 1943, daughter of the late Roger and Mercedes Whiteway Peavy, and grew up in Manhasset, Long I...
John Francis McNulty, 87, of Newtown died peacefully at home on March 5, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Geraldine (Griffin) McNulty for 60 years. He was born in Brookly...
Betty Joan (Smith) Holey, 90, died February 9, in Black Mountain, N.C. Born in Toledo, Ohio, on October 17, 1926, she was the second oldest of five girls born to the late Eunice (Lauer) and Grant Haro...
Cynthia McCann Mooney, 59, of Woodbury, beloved mother and exceptional equestrian, unexpectedly died February 27, in the comfort of her home. She was born on January 2, 1958, to parents Jean and Rober...
David Lawrence Johnson of Newtown died peacefully in his sleep during the morning of March 5, after a pleasant evening with his family. He was the son of Isabelle Hecket Johnson and Jack Raymond Johns...
Suzanne J. Simone, 34, of Carmel, N.Y., previously of Newtown, died unexpectedly February 26. She was born May 13, 1982, a daughter of Steve and Fran (Reheuser) Simone of Middlebury and Sandy Michaud ...
Eugenia Theodora Zimski Whitehead, 98, formerly of Bridgeport and longtime resident of Sandy Hook and Redondo Beach, Calif., died peacefully February 28 at Madison House in Madison, Conn. She was born...
Dale Egee, 83, of London, England, and Southbury, died on February 14 of heart failure. She was born in New York City to the late Corinne and Caldwell Richardson. Shortly afterward, the family moved t...
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?
