Newsletter Volume 2 • Number 14
A 100-year flood is supposed to be just that: a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring any given year. But the surge of recent rainfall shows those odds have been washed away. Princeton researchers developed new coastal flooding maps that predict 100-year floods could become annual occurrences in New England. That kind of risk requires visionary planning to mitigate the threat.
But our Department of Public Works is saying that homeowners have to take matters into their own hands, and raise their homes. That’s it. That’s the “plan.” You’re on your own. Good luck!
First Selectman: What emergency?
The threat also requires that our leaders be part of the climate solution. But First Selectman Fred Camillo’s signature climate effort has been to put the brakes on a local climate emergency declaration proposed by Greenwich students until the word “emergency” was removed, and any teeth in it were extracted.
Camillo caved to the opinions of the local Republican party, which insists that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by “globalists” to push “radical, progressive policies” rooted in “Marxist doctrine”.
More recently Camillo trumpeted the fact that he was reducing his impact on the environment by only placing his yard signs on private property. If that’s the extent of our First Selectman’s commitment to climate change, we are in for a rough ride.
There’s no money where his mouth is
Although the First Selectman named growing the town’s “green footprint” a 2023-24 goal, no money was budgeted for the development of the town’s Climate Action Plan, which is due in December of 2023. Other empty promises:
- No funding has been put forward to implement our Coastal Resiliency Plan, completed in 2021.
- The town has made little effort to adopt the recommendations outlined in the Energy Management Advisory Committee’s report.
- A solar panel system that was being considered for installation at the Horseneck Lane parking lot was scrapped by the BET in 2022.
- Although Greenwich residents lead the state in ownership of electric vehicles, our town only purchased its first electric car earlier this year.
At least there are the state and the feds
Greenwich has a volunteer Board of Flood Control and Erosion which has created a “Big List” prioritizing flood control projects, but only small projects have been pursued. Instead, it is thanks to President Biden’s America Rescue Plan (ARP), and the CT Department of Transportation, that any significant flood mitigation is taking place at all in Greenwich. The ARP is funding $3.65 million in drainage improvements, and the state is paying millions more to fix three bridges.
The largest investment comes from President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will provide $40 million to decrease flooding along the Byram River. It was Democratic Congressman Jim Himes, and Senators Dick Blumenthal and Chris Murphy who secured that.
But we’re still leaving millions on the table
There are millions more dollars in conservation infrastructure grants that Greenwich is eligible for. Congressman Himes secured over $36 million in infrastructure funding and invited towns to apply. There are state and federal grant programs to prevent flooding, build affordable housing, add electric vehicles to the town fleet, promote energy efficiency, provide essential infrastructure, improve transit for elderly and disabled residents, bridge reconstruction, and myriad other needs.
This summer our state representatives Rachel Khanna, Hector Arzeno and Steve Meskers arranged for Commissioner of Revenue Services, Mark Boughton, who oversees Federal Infrastructure funds in CT, to visit four Greenwich sites that may be eligible for federal money, including the Pemberwick Dam, the Route 1 bridge in Port Chester, and the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Center. To date, no grant requests have been made. Due to an absence of leadership, we are losing out on millions that could be used for critical town infrastructure.
Ignoring green building standards
The town has also missed a golden opportunity with Central Middle School. A building built to Net Zero standards, such as ones recently constructed in Manchester and Mansfield, requires a fraction of the energy of a conventional building, and can be done at the same or lower cost once tax credits and grants are applied. But we said no. The town again committed to legacy fossil fuels for at least another 20 years.
Vote for vision and leadership
Our Democratic candidates for town office have launched an innovative business to reduce CT’s greenhouse gasses, are leaders of local sustainability efforts, have written about the costs of climate change inaction, and have the fiscal expertise to plan strategically for the town’s needs for years to come. It is time for vision, for facts, and for integrity. Vote for Democrats on November 7.
Not so nice, Fred.
Our Board of Selectmen is composed of three representatives: two Republican (Fred Camillo and Lauren Rabin), and one Democratic (Janet Stone McGuigan). But you might be forgiven for thinking that we only had Camillo and Rabin representing us.
That’s because at recent events to listen to neighborhood concerns, highlight new construction, or discuss the work of town committees, Democratic Selectwoman Janet Stone McGuigan has been excluded from participating. This happened at the Glenville Forum, the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center tour, and at the press conference to announce federal funding for harbor dredging.
Things took a similar turn this week, when Fred Camillo contacted citizen members of the Active Transportation Task Force, and asked them to remove McGuigan as a panelist from their public forum. McGuigan has been regularly involved in the work of the Active Transportation Task Force.
The First Selectman has not used his power to promote or fund the Task Force’s recommendations. Setting up public forums during election season, while providing nothing but lip service is not leadership.
Campaign Calendar
Write to Voters
Let’s give that writing hand a workout to get out the vote! Sign up here to write letters to voters, or for help organizing your own writing party, or to join someone else’s party. Voter to voter outreach is proven to boost turnout, which we must do to win big on November 7.
October 7th Day of Action
Join our candidates and fellow volunteers for a day of door-knocking to help us tell voters about our vision for Greenwich. Two time slots this Saturday, 12-2 and 3-5.
Please bring a charged smart phone and comfortable walking shoes. We’ll provide scripts, training, and water. 23 Benedict Place, rear entrance.
October 12 Phonebank
Help us get our Democratic slate elected in Greenwich this November! Come make calls with us at our headquarters at 23 Benedict Place, rear entrance, between 5:30 and 7:30 pm on Thursdays through November 2nd! 23 Benedict Place, rear entrance.
Saturday: Jim Himes Town Hall
Due to the House being called back to session, the October 10th conversation between Congressman Himes and Greenwich Time columnist David Rafferty is canceled. HOWEVER, Congressman Himes will be holding a Town Hall meeting on Saturday October 7, at 1:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room.
Grab a free costume at our Halloween swap!
October 7, 10:00 am – Noon
Save some $$, reduce waste, and meet our candidates at the Halloween Costume Swap at Greenwich Common Park.
Lawn sign, anyone?
Show your support for the team with a better vision for our town. Request a lawn sign here.
Heading out of town this fall?
Don’t forget to request your absentee ballot! And don’t think your vote doesn’t matter. In a recent election, a candidate for the Board of Education won by one vote. It only takes a moment to make your voice heard.
| Volume 2, Number 14 • October 5, 2023 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |