Chairman's View: New Canaan's Fourth Estate (November 15, 2018)

Op-Ed: New Canaan’s Fourth Estate

NOVEMBER 15, 2018 BY JOHN ENGEL AND ROBERT DORAN

We live in challenging times for news. The Internet and the information age, professional pundits, fake news and 24-hour news cycles disrupted the old paradigm of trust and integrity in news organizations. Morley Safer of ‘60 Minutes’ said, “So much crap passes as information that not only does the audience sometimes miss the distinction between news and crap, the editors sometimes miss the distinction.”

To be a successful editor you not only have to find the story, you have to get it right. People have to want to read it, and they must trust it. We have been very lucky with the New Canaan Advertiser. As an essential source for all aspects of local news, the Advertiser has thrived under Greg Reilly’s editorial leadership.

For almost 100 years the New Canaan Advertiser was the only source for local news. No longer. To get our attention and break through the clutter of available news sources requires the skills of a great editor. Greg Reilly has lead with trust and integrity throughout his tenure at the Advertiser. 

Greg comes by it honestly. He has been a reporter, editor or publisher since high school. He studied Journalism at Syracuse University and when he saw a need he created New Canaan Matters. He honed his craft running the Stratford Star before returning to run our beloved New Canaan Advertiser with great distinction for the past three and a half years.

Greg has in many ways been the voice of New Canaan. As our editor, he has been our chief storyteller, a steward of our town culture, and a voice of the people –– using his power as editor for checks and balances with Town leaders. He is often the last one in the room late at night when an important public meeting takes place –– asking tough questions and getting the story right before returning to his desk to put the weekly edition to bed.

Greg has never been afraid to take a position, but he has never been a contrarian. His great gift, as evidenced by his hosting the packed Friday morning Advertiser Coffee, has been listening to the people. He has promoted awareness of every important organization in town. He has moderated debates. He has been a pillar of the community. 

Greg Reilly has held himself to the highest standards of journalism, held people to account and at all times he has embodied and celebrated what is best about New Canaan — Community. And we are better because he was here for a time.

Letter to the Editor: Second Opinion Needed on Reval (March 7, 2019)

Letter: Second opinion needed on reval

MARCH 7, 2019 BY LASZLO PAPP 

Editor, Advertiser:

In his biweekly column in the Advertiser, Chairman John Engel suggested that nothing is wrong with the condo revaluation, but rather he questions if our zoning laws “adequately address an affordable condominium solution.” Having more than 30 years of involvement with our zoning laws, I can state that the Planning & Zoning Commission did and does exactly that. If I may go back a few years: In the 1970s P&Z noticed that the two-family zone does not satisfy the needs and requirements of the citizens. We introduced a cluster zoning, called “Alternate Development” which than evolved into multifamily, later also to apartment zoning. This was the very first “condo” zoning in the area, later followed by other towns.

Back to Mr. Engel’s argument that “the current revaluation is accurate”. He quotes valid statistics that 2018 condos sold for $417 per foot,versus $420 per foot five years ago. This means that in 5 years average condo prices went down 1% and not up 8% to 10% as the revaluation stated. This is very close to the real estate report that the average condo sales price of $ 807,604 in 2014 went down to $ 778,962 in 2018. This proves that the condo revaluation is anything but “accurate.”

What we need is a “second opinion” for a fair condominium valuation!

Laszlo Papp

Letter to the Editor: Library is 'thinking smart' (Dec. 10, 2018)

Letter: Library is ‘thinking smart’

DECEMBER 10, 2018 BY ROBERT BUTMAN PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEW CANAAN LIBRARY

Editor, Advertiser:

This letter is in response to the Setting Priorities opinion column by John Engel, recently published in the New Canaan Advertiser. We appreciate the early support for the Library that John is voicing in his column. We expect the new library to make a major contribution to the vitality of town life and the local economy, and we are grateful that the Town has an earmarked funds for this project from the start.

We are humbled by the initial strong showing of support and enthusiasm from our donors. It is our aim to raise the majority of funding for this project from private resources. 

The Library’s mission has not changed — this new building will meet the clear demand for our services which are now severely constrained by the failing structure we inhabit. 

We are confident that beyond “thinking big,” we are thinking smart. We believe this project is a win for the whole community, an investment in the future.  As the last among our Fairfield County peer towns to build or renovate their library, we are long overdue. We are glad that Town recognizes the catalytic effect their investment will have.  

Robert Butman

President, Board of Trustees

New Canaan Library