After power outages and post-storm issues postponed The Newtown Bee’s third “Diversity Discussions” segment, the locally focused webcast is back on the calendar for Tuesday, August 18, at 4:30 pm.

Nearly 6,000 visitors to The Newtown Bee’s Facebook site have viewed all or part of the first two “Diversity Discussions” — panel-driven Facebook Live events that have engaged local law enforcement, educational, and community leaders in often spirited conversations about policies, practices, and the ways Newtown is working to be more inclusive and welcoming to all.

The rescheduled third segment of the series on Tuesday, August 18, will focus on housing. Guests will include Land Use Director George Benson, local Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Don Mitchell, and Fair Housing Officer Kimberly Chiapetta.

This discussion comes at a time when developers and the community are working to expand the availability of workforce or affordable housing, and a growing number of state officials are calling for new measures to entice towns to build more affordable housing.

The issue was most recently highlighted in a series of articles published by the Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica showing the lengths wealthy towns have gone to in blocking affordable housing, and by extension the people who need it. These exclusive zoning requirements have rendered Connecticut one of the most segregated states in the nation.

Compounding the challenge, Connecticut also has the fifth highest average housing costs for homeowners in the nation — and for those renting, their costs are the tenth highest, according to US Census data.

The webcast will outline where Newtown stands among similar western Connecticut communities regarding access to housing; the ways local planning and zoning regulations impact the cost, type, and density of developments that could and do incorporate workforce housing opportunities; and the challenges Newtown and developers face creating more affordable options for those who seek to live here.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said he believes these localized webcasts “remind the people that those who are elected or employed to serve the public are your neighbors for the most part. It also shows how to engage in local government. These folks are approachable and willing to talk — we need to celebrate that, as well, and include them in these very important conversations.”

The series was developed in partnership between The Newtown Bee and Rosenthal, who also sits in for the discussions, and is hosted by award-winning Newtown Bee Associate Editor and broadcaster John Voket.

Residents are encouraged to submit questions about how Newtown approaches managing and promoting its housing diversity via e-mail to john@thebee.com.

Please put “Diversity Discussions” in the subject line, and submit by noon on August 18.