Assessment of Bethel CT 2014

8/12/2019 Assessment of Bethel CT 2014

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Fordham University

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SERVICES SWKO 6208 Human Behavior & the Social Environment I

Neighborhood Assessment - Bethel Connecticut

By: Daniel R. Gaita

February 2014


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Demographic Background

Bethel Connecticut is a small New England town with a population, according to

the 2010 United States Census, of 18,581 residents. The median age of the

population is 42 with 51.3% female and 48.7& male. 7.6% of the community is

Hispanic or Latino. Race demographics are charted below:

31.1% of the population is made up of children under the age of 18. 35.9% of

Bethel households have children under the age of 18 while 24.4% of households

have individuals aged 65 and over. Bethel provides 7,306 housing units with

94.9% being occupied. 77.4% of these housing units are owner-occupied.

(2010 Census)

88.8%

1.8%4.5% 2.8%

Bethel, CT Population % By Race &

EthincitySource: US Census

White

Black

Asian

Other


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Specific Neighborhood Economics Defined

Bethel is located in the State of Connecticut, the wealthiest state in the United

States and sits inside of Fairfield County, which has the highest per capita

income in the state. As demonstrated in the charts below, Bethel has a lagging

per capita income of only $36,608 placing it not only below the county average,

but also below the State average. (US Census)

This subtle difference typically goes unnoticed by most. But to those tasked with

creating annual budgets, this creates major challenges as the Towns residents

are not financially equipped to provide the same level of services as neighboring

communities. Because of the above mentioned challenges the town must either

raise tax rates or increase fees to provide the same services or they must reduce

or cut services all together.

Bethel Fairfield County Connecticut Nation

$36,608$48,295

$36,774 $27,343

$88,286$100,593

$84,170$62,982

Bethel CT Income Vs. County, State and

NationSource:

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

Per Capita Median Income


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Historical Development

Bethel (which means house of God) first settled around 1700. A large number of

Bethels affairs were handled through the Congregational church then. In April of

1777 Bethels historical records were burned by the British during the British raid

on Danbury. In the late 1700sP.T. Barnums grandfather built one of the towns

earliest hotels, the Barnum Tavern. The Town Center is also defined by the U.S.

Census Bureau as an historic district.(US Census)

Geography and Environmental Influences

Bethel has a town center of 4.1 square miles, a total area of 16.9 square miles

with 16.8 square miles of land and .1 square mile of water. Bethel is bordered by

Newtown to the east, Danbury to the west, Brookfield to the north and Redding to

the south. Bethel is also conveniently situated along Interstate 84, as well as

along Routes 6,58, 53, 25,and 302. The dynamic access to multiple local, state

and federal roadways and

infrastructures make

Bethel an easy commute

to surrounding areas.

Bethel also sits along the

Metro-North Railway

system and has its own

train station. This allows residents to easily find mass transportation to virtually

any location in America, including the relatively close major cities of New York,


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NY and Boston, MA. Additionally, Bethel is along the Danbury Housatonic Area

Bus Transportation System (HART) route providing another means of accessing

mass transportation to locations along designated routes.

Bethel sits in the Northeast region of the United States, her residents can look

forward to enjoying four seasons and the spectacular display of colors in the fall

and an amazing bloom of foliage and color in the spring and summer.

Beliefs and Attitudes

Bethel has manifested into divided population segments. Not along race,

ethnicity, or religion, but more along differing ideologies between the schoolees

and townees. The schoolees are represented by the students, parents,

teachers, and administrators while the townees are represented by the residents

of the community living

on fixed incomes that

no longer have children

in the school systems.

Those fighting to fund

the schools in Bethel

often come up against

those fighting to reign


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in taxes and spending. The key factor in these differing ideologies lay in the

interpretation and implementation of required state and federal education

mandates.

Those outside of the education process are not aware of the influence that these

mandates have on education costs thus they are not fully aware of how and why

education costs continue to rise while their fixed incomes remain flat.

Bethel hosts several collective bargaining units, also known as Unions which

compounds the challenge of increasing costs. Many have demonstrated

reluctance to spending halts or reductions to wages, salary and benefits costs for

member employees. As a result, when education budgets are voted down,

teachers are laid off, class sizes grows, and the ripple effect punishes the next

generation.

The townees believe the schools should not be asking for more money while at

the same time the schoolees are trying to cut costs while maintaining all required

educational mandates in order to obtain the promised state and federal education

dollars, which are, by law due, for mandated education costs.

As these issues continue to surface during budget seasons, the townees and

schoolees continue to battle with each other over annual budgets instead of


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taking their frustration to the state and federal government for failing to fund

100% of their mandates as required by law.

A second key issue specific to local beliefs and attitudes is in the method by

which the town provides selective funding for Non-Governmental-Agencies such

as Meals On Wheel, and the Womens Center. Many residents have asked for

line item authority via ballot to determine what agencies receive their tax dollars

while others argue that taking away funds from any of the many agencies being

currently funded would be detrimental.

Finally, Bethel is proud of its Town Hallform of government whereby its

residents meet annually to agree upon or make changes to the Board of Finance

and Board of Selectmens proposed budgets prior to that budget being placed on

an annual referendum ballot for passage. Residents share a belief that this form

of government keeps control of spending in the hands of the voters / tax payers,

rather than a select few elected Selectmen.

Local Politics

Bethel has approximately 11,000 registered voters, half of whom are registered

unaffiliated and the other half split fairly evenly between the major Democratic

and Republican Party. Dont let the simplicity of these numbers fool you. Every

two years Bethel holds its local municipal elections and always gets to

experience its form of democracy play out.


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During nearly every two-year municipal election cycle, many frustrated residents

form their own minor parties while they jockey their ballot line with other major

parties to influence the outcome. Additionally, Bethel politics are known for some

of the nastiest name-calling, blame games, finger pointing and misinformation

trickery tactics in the area. As one political town committee member said, Bethel

Republicans eat their young, while referring to the party leadershipsresistance

to new ideas and new faces witnessed during previous years. However, since

2009 both major political parties have improved their openness to new members

and ideas.

Local Economy and Business

As of 2011 Bethel has an overall

labor force of 11,022 with 10,264

employed. The median home sales

price in 2009 was $344,250.

Located just 46 miles from the State

Capitol of Hartford, 56 miles from

New York City, and 140 miles from

Boston and sitting along the Metro-

North Railroad, Bethel is considered

by some, a prime location to settle-

down and focus on discovering and or continuing a great career. As can be seen


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in the chart on the previous page, Bethel has a fairly diverse local economy with

an eclectic selection of both industry and business.

Major players in the local economy are Duracell Inc., Target, Eaton Corporation

and the esteemed gem, Blue Jay Orchards, whose annual apple and pumpkin

seasons draws crowds from across the country.

Income (and wealth) Distribution

IncomeFromEarnings

SocialSecurity

RetirementIncome

Supplemental SecurityIncome

PublicAssistanceIncome

Food StampIncome

CT 80% 28.80% 17.70% 3.60% 3% 9.50%

Bethel 87.40% 23.40% 15% 0.90% 1.20% 5.70%

0%

20%40%60%

80%100%

AxisTitle

Bethel & CT Income Type Distribtuion

(2012)Source:

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productvie

w.xhtml?src=bkmk


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Housing

The Town of Bethel has limited sources of age restricted, public assistance

housing units. With only 80 units total,

40 of which are Section 8, and 40 are

age and income restricted, Bethel has

limited resources specific to low income

housing for those most in need. 100% of

the low-income age restricted units are

occupied by residents earning less than $10,000 individually. Of those, 100% are

between the ages of 46-93. While 80% of those are between the ages of 66-89.

73% are female and 26% male. (Housing Authority)

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

%o

fpopulation

Bethel CT Income Distribution (2012)Source:

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productvie

w.xhtml?src=bkmk


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Educational Facilities

Bethel has a centrally located educational campus, The David W. Deakin

Educational Park

provides five schools

from grades K-12 along

with multiple sports and

recreation fields and

areas. Education enrollment has dropped in the recent years. As of 2010-2011

Bethel had 2,938 enrolled students in grades K-12. Breakdown of education

specifics are detailed in the

following charts provided by

the 2010-2011 Bethel

Strategic School Profiles

report:


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Health and Welfare Systems

Bethel has a single employee Social

Services Department that coordinates

with community charities, volunteer

organizations, and churches to ensure

basic needs can be met for those most

in need. However, with only one

employee for the entire department it

can become frustrating for those

seeking assistance to attain access to

available services and aid.

Bethel has many local charities, food pantries and a consistently giving

community base. Organizations like Brotherhood-In-Action, the Lions Club,

Nights of Columbus, and many local churches and civic organizations provide

much needed support for local residents and neighboring communities.


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Social Control and Safety

Bethel is served by a full-time police force, two volunteer fire department and

boasts one of the regions successful

implementations of its paramedic

intercept system that has reduced

ambulance and paramedic response

times from fifteen minutes down to

five. Crime rate data is provided in the

charts below, complements of:http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ct/bethel/crime/#data
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ct/bethel/crime/#datahttp://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ct/bethel/crime/#datahttp://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ct/bethel/crime/#datahttp://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ct/bethel/crime/#data


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Sources of Information and Public Opinion

Thanks to the internet and digitization, Bethel residents can find help, answers,

and information on nearly all activities within the community via the links provided

below.

http://www.bethel-ct.gov- The official Town of Bethel website

with available links to most forms, documents, agendas, minutes

and municipal departments, boards and commissions.

http://www.bethel.k12.ct.us- The official website for the Bethel,

CT School District.

http://bethel.patch.com-A local online forum for local news,

blogs and information.

http://www.bethelbulletin.comA local online forum for local news,

blogs and information.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/59892217473/Bethel

residents hosts multiple Facebook group pages acting as voter

watchdog sites that also serve to provide broad information to

residents and voters.
http://www.bethel-ct.gov/http://www.bethel-ct.gov/http://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/http://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/http://bethel.patch.com/http://bethel.patch.com/http://www.bethelbulletin.com/http://www.bethelbulletin.com/https://www.facebook.com/groups/59892217473/https://www.facebook.com/groups/59892217473/https://www.facebook.com/groups/59892217473/http://www.bethelbulletin.com/http://bethel.patch.com/http://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/http://www.bethel-ct.gov/


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Sources

2010 United States Census, Retrieved February 14th, 2014, from

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml

Chesley, G.M., (2011). Bethel Public Schools, Strategic School Profile 2010-2011,

Retrieved February 10th, 2014, fromwww.bethel.k12.ct.us

Town of Bethel, Economic Development Information PDF (2011). Retrieved February

9th, 2014, fromhttp://www.bethel-

ct.gov/filestorage/1190/136/8405/Bethel_Brochure_v2.pdf
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtmlhttp://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtmlhttp://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/http://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/http://www.bethel-ct.gov/filestorage/1190/136/8405/Bethel_Brochure_v2.pdfhttp://www.bethel-ct.gov/filestorage/1190/136/8405/Bethel_Brochure_v2.pdfhttp://www.bethel-ct.gov/filestorage/1190/136/8405/Bethel_Brochure_v2.pdfhttp://www.bethel-ct.gov/filestorage/1190/136/8405/Bethel_Brochure_v2.pdfhttp://www.bethel-ct.gov/filestorage/1190/136/8405/Bethel_Brochure_v2.pdfhttp://www.bethel-ct.gov/filestorage/1190/136/8405/Bethel_Brochure_v2.pdfhttp://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml

Documents

Assessment of Bethel CT 2014