Letters to the Editor |
Published in the News-Times print and online editions: |
| OPINION: J. Philip Gallagher: Save the old Town Hall teen center for other valuable uses~ Published 05:10 p.m., Friday, June 29, 2012 There is an old saying that where there is a will there is a way. The Bethel Board of Selectmen has never had the will to save the old Town Hall teen center, which was solidly constructed in 1961. Read entire column… |
| OPINION: Billy Michael: 'No consensus of support' to demolish old Town Hall~ Published 04:51 p.m., Tuseday, June 12, 2012 Bethel residents opposed to the way their Board of Selectmen are disposing of the Old Town Hall should be aware that the Bethel Action Committee is petitioning to overrule the May 30 authorizations that would demolish this public building. Read entire column… |
| Wants Bethel townspeople to decide on old Town Hall ~ Published 04:20 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Since all the positive and negative letters were printed, I'd like to throw my 2 cents into the topic of the Old Town Hall. Personally, I think the town should put the property up for sale to see what kind of revenue it could bring the town coffers. Read entire letter… |
Says time is now to sell Bethel's 'old' Town Hall~ Published 05:06 p.m., Thursday, January 5, 2012 Kudos to the Town of New Milford for selling their old, boarded?]up Town Hall for $120,00 and getting it onto the tax rolls. The building is an attractive, Cape Cod style brick building that was built in the 1960s and which fits in with all the other brick buildings that extend down Library Place to the Railroad Station. Read entire letter… |
| Wants town officials to take a stronger stand ~ Published 05:35 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Another spring, another contentious Bethel Annual Town Meeting. On one side, educators, parents, town employees, and those invested in keeping the dollars flowing into the town. On the other side, the taxpayer watchdogs -- "child-hating," rabble-rousing "no" voters. Read entire letter… |
| Says poor are hit hardest by stimulus program ~ Published 05:21 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 The report to Bethel taxpayers reveals that town schools received $2.9 million in stimulus funding since 2009. While it claims we were "bailed out by Uncle Sam," I believe otherwise. If Bethel received nearly $3 million, think of what the nation's 14,000 school districts consumed of the $787 billion stimulus. Read entire letter... |
| Calls for 'actual decrease' in Bethel's town budget ~ Published 05:21 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Why is it the Bethel budget increases each year regardless of economic circumstances? Most citizens of our town have seen their property values decline at least 30%. Unemployment is running at 9%. Many have trouble meeting mortgage payments. Read entire letter... |
| Wants zero-increase budget adopted by town of Bethel ~ Published 05:20 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Despite the unfavorable economic times, we in Bethel are faced, as usual every year, with a budget that proposes spending money which we cannot afford. The federal and state governments are increasing our tax burden and now Bethel joins that goal. Never mind trying to cut spending, just ask for more money. Read entire letter... |
| Forging a state budget: Let your voices be heard ~ Published 06:40 p.m., Friday, April 22, 2011 It has been a frustrating week at the State Capitol. On Tuesday, I joined my fellow Republicans in proposing a no new taxes budget, which significantly reduces the size and cost of government while protecting the social safety net and preserving state aid to municipalities. On Wednesday, the legislature's Democratic leadership agreed on a two-year budget plan that raises taxes by $2.6 billion. Read entire letter… |
| Not convinced by call for 'shared sacrifice'~ Published 05:20 p.m., Friday, April 8, 2011 Lowell Weicker is back as Governor Dan Malloy. Governor Malloy, like all Connecticut politicians, decides that raising taxes is good. Never mind that gasoline, heating oil, food and clothing prices are all rapidly rising or that local and federal taxes are going up -- Malloy will give us more taxes. Read entire letter… |
| Prefers private donations of food to 'shocking waste' of programs ~ Published 05:20 p.m., Thursday, March 31, 2011 Regarding the article in Thursday's News-Times about funding cuts to Meals on Wheels ("Board blasted for cutting meals"): I delivered food to the elderly for the Meals on Wheels program in the past, and more recently I have visited several recipients of those meals.I have observed that huge amounts of food are wasted. Read entire letter… |
| Opposes any increase in Bethel property tax ~ Published 04:57 p.m., Thursday, March 24, 2011 Bethel taxpayers can address their Board of Finance at the town budget hearing, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Bethel High School auditorium. The board voted by a 4 to 3 margin to send a nearly 4 percent property tax hike on to the voters. This is nearly identical to last years' budget scenario that raised taxes by 3.9 percent. Read entire letter… |
“The power to tax is the power to destroy.” ~ John Marshall, 1819
“The power to tax is the power to destroy.” ~ John Marshall, 1819
