The Pillaging Of Newtown

To the Editor:

Is there a plan for Newtown, a plan to restore the quality of life we sought when we first moved here? Do our public officials anticipate and act in the best interests of their citizenry? Why have we become a magnet for one developer after another? Is Newtown’s communal “quality of life” a touchstone for Newtown’s decisionmakers?

We initially witnessed the residential builders invade and stood by as our beautiful open spaces (some historically significant) became dramatically compromised and our roads choked with traffic. Now, we are coping with the horrific strip mall phenomenon, which will guarantee more cars on our roads, more destruction of our town’s aesthetics, and fewer places for peace and quiet.

Land speculators, developers, and like-minded cohorts who look upon Newtown with its expansive borders as ripe for the picking (i.e., the “Build it, Sell it, and Move on” apologists) see a facile means to fast money. These modern-day carpetbaggers give scant consideration to the demographic, financial, and societal consequences of their actions on our town in years to come. We, the residents of Newtown, the people who actually live here, are currently struggling with the aftermath of this self-serving, greed-generated assault upon our community — homes “under water,” a dramatic population increase, serene and scenic vistas ripped asunder, and, of late, vacant stores popping up like weeds while more shopping centers continue to be thrown up. How much of the deterioration in our quality of life should we allow before we exercise common sense and a resolute response? Look at your town. Is it more peaceful? Is your quality of life what it should be? Do you like what you see?

As we continue on our current path, our primary roads have become virtual highways, many of our residential secondary roads are dangerous shortcuts, and our contact with nature is rapidly vanishing. The dead deer and raccoons we see frequently on our roads are disturbing reminders that Newtown is killing its natural beauty and replacing it with a regrettable suburban sprawl that offers money to developers but nothing of lasting value to its residents.

We need an inspired and immediate response to this pillaging of Newtown. If we care about our quality of life, if we care about our town, we need more than lip service and blank stares. We need leadership willing to stand and act. I have seen enough. What about you?

Dan Shea

44 Queen Street, Newtown                                          August 16, 2010