I am a former resident, and I still have family in Newtown.

I have been saying for years that Newtown needs a new hotel. Not one of those chain hotels, but something more like a boutique hotel and spa (like the Newtown Inn, but with more rooms and spa facilities).  For my senior design project in college, I actually created renovation plans for one of the old buildings at Fairfield Hills for this purpose.  Unfortunately, the current approved plan calls for that building to be torn down.

––Carolyn B Anders

Lakewood, Colorado

I’d like to see a small central shopping and dining area conducive to pedestrians, similar to downtown Bethel and New Milford.  Perhaps the Grand Union area could be reconstructed into a pedestrian mall instead of just another parking lot and store.

––Gabriel Dunn

40 Hi Barlow Road, Newtown

Newtown needs to bring back the one thing that is most sacred in the US Constitution, democracy. The “one party” system that exists here has created a situation where the administrators in the town have achieved total political control. Elections are staged because the politicians have eliminated almost all competition for local office. Eighty percent of our candidates have run unopposed over the last 30 years. Therefore, they are appointing all of the key people and are not allowing any competent competition. It is time for a third party to run candidates so that the voters have a choice. If that happens, you will see a much larger voter turn out and finally some actual debate on the serious issues that face Newtown.

 ––Barry Piesner

34 Alpine Drive, Sandy Hook

 

NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION: Do you think Newtown’s political parties do a good job in providing qualified candidates for local elections? Would you ever consider serving in public office?

Click on the “Talk Back” link at NewtownBee.com (or mail your comments to The Bee at PO Box 5503, Newtown CT 06470) and watch for your views in print in the next edition of The Newtown Bee.

Contributors will be limited to one published submission per month, and all submissions are subject to editing.