What’s Fair?         

To the Editor:

As a regular volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, I was disturbed by resident Richard Sturdevant’s comments as quoted in the February 4 issue of The Bee. Mr Sturdevant reportedly questioned the Board of Selectmen’s recommendation to sell a Queen Street house “as is” to Habitat for Humanity for $20,000. He considered it an unfair distribution of tax dollars to one family. “It is certainly a noble gesture, but it is not good as a matter of public policy. Only one family will benefit.”

Of course it is unfair, but when did the distribution of tax dollars become fair? Is it fair that Queen Street residents benefit from the open space bought with public money? Is it fair that residents who have no school-age children pay taxes to support schools?

Or, more basically, is it fair that some live in $750,000 homes and others live in sub-standard housing with no opportunity to own a home?

The question here is not one of fairness, but what is best for the town. Newtown is a better community because we care about our schools, even those of us who have no children. It is a better place to live because residents donated land to Habitat for Humanity on which the group has built two houses.

Not only one family benefits from a Habitat house. Everyone who works on the house benefits through the fellowship, learning new skills, and the satisfaction of working alongside a neighbor who will be a contributing member of the community. And the entire town benefits from a diverse citizenry.

Selling one of the Queen Street houses to Habitat for renovation would be a noble gesture that enriches the town. Not to do so because it is seen as an unfair distribution of tax dollars would be miserly and mean-spirited, a decision that in its small way impoverishes us all.

Sincerely,

Wally Wood

62 Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook                     February 14, 2000