Letters to the Editor: Reviving a tradition of civic conversation

Editor’s Note: Last week we announced the start of a Letters to the Editor section in the Woodbridge Town Chronicle — a place where community voices can be shared and heard. In the print newspapers of years past, letters to the editor were often the liveliest section, where readers spoke directly to one another, the broader community, and its leaders.

That tradition was not just about reactions. Through letters, people shared new information, raised overlooked issues, and expressed values that helped shape the culture of their town. In doing so, the letters elevated community discourse — shaping the civic narrative, not merely reacting to it. They provided a forum where neighbors debated local issues, challenged officials, applauded good work, and lifted up voices just enough to be heard above the din of daily life. In this way, letters gave texture to the civic life of a town and reminded everyone that democracy is not just about elections, but about an ongoing conversation among residents.

With these first letters, we begin that tradition anew here at the Woodbridge Town Chronicle.

To submit a letter for consideration please refer to the submission guidelines.

Beecher proposals risk financial disaster

To the editor,

In following the recent Tri Board meeting that is discussing possibly renovating or rebuilding Beecher Road School, I am blown away by the projected dollar amounts to satisfy any of the proposals. Has anyone also taken into account that in 2015 the largest bond issue in town history of $13 million was passed by the town for improvements to Beecher that we were told would keep Beecher in good stead for 20 years through 2035? Yet here we are 10 years later ready to scrap all that! And what about the $2.3 million that was recently bonded to do roofs and grounds improvements? All that is tossed aside to totally redo Beecher?

This is financial lunacy and our First Selectman Mica Cardozo needs to talk to people who understand the impact of financial decisions such as these and stop relying on whoever is advising him. Woodbridge cannot afford a bond issue anywhere near what they are proposing. With numbers of $70 million to $140 million, anything even close to this would destroy our budget, cause massive tax increases, and cause a massive downgrade of our bond rating, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in increased interest on our debt.

In less than two years as First Selectman, Mica has seen our quiet town having to fight a mammoth 96 unit apartment complex as well as proposals for many more high density housing projects. Now massive debt for Beecher? Mica, wake up and start learning how to use the word “no.”

— Matthew T. Giglietti

The writer was a member of the Woodbridge Board of Finance from July 1986 to December 2023 where he served as Chairman for 35 years (1988–2023).

Leaving party politics to find common ground

To the editor,

In late March, I resigned from the Woodbridge Democratic Town Committee (WDTC) where I also served as Campaign Coordinator. This was not an easy decision; in fact, it was painful. It had become evident that the town leadership who I supported and helped to elect was steering the town in a direction that was not aligned with the future I envision for Woodbridge. I believe I was appointed to the Conservation Commission to thwart, not advance, conservation goals. When I refused to fall in line with the pro-development agenda, I was ostracized and silenced. Other WDTC members and appointees are also being treated this way if they dare oppose the leadership’s desire to scale the town’s population against the will of the people. Many residents voiced similar concerns after the December 2nd zoning changes and were IGNORED.

When I was the Fundraising Chair of the Beecher Road School PTO, I had the pleasure of working with a Dream Team of fantastic parents at Beecher. We raised a record amount, allowing us to fund teacher grants and amazing programming to support our wonderful Beecher community. This Dream Team consisted of ALL political affiliations — diverse in every way. We found common ground in working hard to make a difference for every student and teacher. It was an incredible experience, and I will adore those people forever, regardless of who they voted for in a national election or how they choose to behave now that I’ve resigned from the WDTC. I have found the same spirit of collaboration and tolerance with the ‘A Common Ground for Woodbridge’ team who share my passion for working together in a non-partisan way to strengthen our wonderful community.

I hope that everyone can return to loving their neighbor and building the future we ALL want for Woodbridge.

— Joi Prud’homme

The writer is a candidate for the Amity Board of Education on the Republican Party endorsed slate (Row B on the ballot).

Editor’s Note: Letters reflect the perspectives of their authors. They are published to foster dialogue about issues of local concern, including questions of governance, transparency, and accountability, as well as topics such as highlighting upcoming or past events from community groups. To submit a letter for consideration please refer to the submission guidelines.