‘Lawn Sign’ Pollution

To the Editor:

This letter will be published after the local Newtown elections have been held for ‘09. Therefore, it is appropriate to look back at the visible and palpable signs of the times evident in Newtown during this election season absent the burden of commenting on the actual election results. These signs of the times were, oddly enough ... Signs! So-called personal lawn signs were placed on properties. This ignores any existing formal or informal policies regarding lawn signs to promote a political party, a political agenda, or politicians. Now, it is easy to get caught up in “lawn sign-mania.” Let us be clear on one thing there is no “sign envy,” as recently stated in a letter to The Bee, involved. Not many Newtowners would strive to have Newtown replicate the sign pollution on display in Monroe, Bethel, or Danbury.

It is clear that some deeply committed individuals may succumb to the moment and place one lawn sign on their property and ignore the resulting community blight. In this election year the preponderance, if not exclusivity, of lawn signs appeared to be from the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN), apparently independent from any sense of the need to maintain a pleasant appearance in our town. They appear to follow an in-your-face Smack Down approach designed to show no respect for the rules of etiquette (if not law).

These signs were on both lawns and on parcels that are obviously not lawns. They were at the exit of the post office, at the entrance to I-84, under the underpass on Berkshire Road, and similar locations! Therefore, the argument that you can do whatever you want on your property and the heck with any unwritten town rules does not hold up to scrutiny when lawn signs litter the high traffic, nonresidential areas of town. Remember, political lawn signs were virtually nonexistent in Newtown (as part of an agreement among political parties in town to preserve the beauty of our town during election season) until the introduction of lawn signs by the IPN upon its inception a few years ago.

I have not noticed one Democratic or Republican lawn sign polluting the Newtown landscape. It may be of some value to the IPN to realize that, contrary to their beliefs, most Newtowners (to satirize Eli Wallach in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly), “... Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Signs.”

Perhaps cooler and more enlightened heads will prevail. Lets hope the newly elected town leadership, regardless of party affiliation and signage usage, can stop the spreading of this cancer onto our landscape! Admittedly, this is not likely in an IPN administration. Lets hope that the votes cast on November 3 reflect leadership choices and issues at hand ... not gimmicks! Campaign ‘09 in Newtown did contain ... The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Congratulations IPN, you’ve at least earned the ugly badge.

Sincerely,

Richard English

3 Curry Drive, Newtown                                          November 2, 2009