Bee Needs To Include More Voices Of Change
Bee Needs To Include
More Voices Of Change
To the Editor:
Rather than a front-page story reporting to advise the Newtown voters that the Board of Selectmen scheduled a special town meeting on April 8 for the voters to approve $897,286 to purchase the modular classrooms for the high school (two quads with eight classrooms required to alleviate overcrowding at the high school) and to approve refunding (refinancing) $10 million of existing General Obligation Bonds (to possibly save the town $450,000), John Voket chose to write a front-page story based on John Kortze, MaryAnn Jacob, Kathy Fetchik, Herb Rosenthal and Sarah Beierâs opinion of the information in my personal email regarding the budget that was sent on March 22.
John Voket did not seek any comments from me to afford me an opportunity to counter any of the remarks or the accusations made by the people in the article. Instead, Mr Voket was more interested in seeking out my personal distribution list. A few years ago, he asked me to give up all my WeCAN email correspondences. Last year, he told me I shouldnât send out emails as an elected town official.
Mr Voket continues to provide slanted news to the Newtown residents. He consistently reports the opinions and points of view of the same people (Will Rodgers, John Kortze, Kathy Fetchik, Mary Ann Jacob, Paul Mangiafico and Herb Rosenthal). We have 12 Legislative Council members, six Board of Finance members, seven Board of Education members, three Board of Selectmen members, seven PTA presidents, and many other commissioners/board members in Newtown. Providing consistent opinion of only half dozen people in the community may not accurately reflect the community sentiment.
 The Newtown Bee could at least make an attempt to be more fair and balanced. Majority of the articles with my name in it connects me to the IPN party affiliation and yet other elected officials are not connected to their party affiliation. I am not sure if Mr Voket has asked any other public official or a community member for their personal email distribution list.
 I would like The Newtown Bee to begin to acknowledge that there is a strong community desire for change. The Bee decided to support Herb Rosenthal and the citizens of Newtown voted for change. The Bee supported Will Rodgers and provided Mr Rodgers with years of favorable articles and yet the citizens of Newtown voted for change again by supporting Chris Lyddy.
It is unfortunate that there are significant attempts to dampen the spirit of those who want and seek change. Business as usual is not sitting well for many in Newtown. The town leaders forced a creation of a third political party when they ignored the sentiment of those who wanted change. Our school system is not what it used to be and FFH redevelopment plans are not going well. Priorities are out of whack and Newtown has no vision or a long-term plan to address the needs of today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the feeling that âNewtown is nicerâ is eroding along with our real estate value.
Po Murray
38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                             April 8, 2009