Newtown Braces for Media Presence on 12/14 Anniversary

As the Dec. 14 anniversary draws near, town officials and business leaders are hoping to avoid the convergence of news crews that Sandy Hook Village saw in the aftermath of the tragedy.

While no official plan of action has been unveiled, some parking enforcement will likely be in effect on Dec. 14, and the town will not provide a staging ground for national media — as it did at Treadwell Park in the days after the deadly school shooting last year — according to First Selectman Pat Llodra.

Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe was not available to discuss any parking restrictions or other possible plans to deal with a potential influx of media into Sandy Hook Village in the days leading up to and on Dec. 14.

"Certainly we're going to be very restrictive," Llodra told Patch Friday. "I've been clear about that. It's going to be difficult for there to be any major media presence in Newtown."

In two open letters posted on the town website OneNewtown.org, Llodra has asked the media to respect Newtown's privacy on the day.

"Our community is choosing to remember and honor those who lost their lives in that awful tragedy in ways that are quiet, personal, and respectful – centered on the themes of kindness, love, and service to others," she said. "We are wishing fervently that those many persons who wish us well, and the media, will allow us this time to be alone and quiet with time for personal and communal reflection."

The town will host no public events on Dec. 14, Llodra said.

'We Don't Want Gridlock'

Some in Sandy Hook's business community also said they'd like to avoid the kind of congestion that blocked streets and caused hassles for residents and business last year. The traffic — and adverse impacts on local businesses — was significant enough to warrant a $500,000 STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance) grant from the state, which went, in part, toward reimbursing businesses for the losses documenting during the peak holiday shopping season.

"The merchants are concerned," Mike Burton, President of SHOP, said. "We don't want gridlock." 

He noted that the anniversary falls during the holiday shopping season, which officially kicks off in Sandy Hook on Dec. 7 with the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

And despite requests from Llodra to have the anniversary be "quiet, personal and respectful," major media outlets have already indicated an intent in coming to town. Business owner Mike Porco Jr. said he has been contacted by representatives from the headquarters of CNN and Fox News, asking to park on his property for the anniversary.

“We personally will not be allowing any media personnel to park on our property during that time,” Porco Jr. said.

The Porcos operate local businesses and also own property in Sandy Hook.

National media outlets and advocacy groups have also been trying to reserve space at town institutions like Edmond Town Hall and the C.H. Booth Library, according to Superintendent John Reed.

"In a nice way, we're trying to say, 'Please leave us alone,'" Reed said at an October Board of Education meeting. "The town is working, not to be rude, but not to be overly accommodating."

— Gary Jeanfaivre contributed to this report.