A grim anniversary for America

Newsletter Volume 3 • Number 3

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Two years after the Supreme Court ended a half century of constitutional protection for women’s reproductive freedom, the attacks on abortion keep coming

For people who are pregnant and the doctors who care for them, the United States has turned into a confusing, perilous patchwork since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Democratic-led states, like Connecticut, have passed laws providing greater protections. Republican-led states seem to be competing to enact the most draconian and cruel restrictions, imposing near total bans, and criminal penalties even on lifesaving treatments.

The attack on reproductive rights is also expanding, to include opposing fertility treatments, access to contraception, travel bans for women, and even charging women with murder for seeking abortion care. The situation has become so dire that over 170,000 American women needed to travel outside of their home state last year for an abortion.

There was a temporary reprieve last week as the Supreme Court declined, on a legal technicality, to overturn FDA guidelines on the widely prescribed abortion pill, mifepristone. But at least three Republican state attorneys general are readying other challenges to the pill. Another pending Supreme Court decision shockingly turns on whether Idaho emergency rooms must refuse to offer pregnant patients stabilizing medical care because of the state’s abortion ban.

It’s critical you know exactly where candidates stand before you vote. The litmus test is the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, a bill passed in CT in 2022. It protected and expanded abortion access in the state.

  • All four of our Democratic General Assembly candidates, Rachel Khanna, Steve Meskers, Hector Arzeno and Nick Simmons support that legislation
  • Simmons’ Republican opponent, incumbent State Senator Ryan Fazio, voted “no”
  • Khanna’s Republican challenger in the 149th is on the record opposing it

As the scale and audacity of Republican efforts to control women grows, we must maintain our firewall here by electing representatives who share our values in November.


Two projects for our children moved forward this week, giving Central Middle School students and Boy Scouts something to cheer about.

The Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission voted 4-1 to approve the design for a new Central Middle School building. It’s been a long time coming. The school, built in 1958, has been slated for reconstruction since 2022 when structural concerns led to a temporary condemnation and closure. The rebuild was repeatedly delayed as the Republican-controlled town finance board attempted to micromanage the project, and downsize the school, to the point that Greenwich missed a crucial deadline to apply for state reimbursement.

Nevertheless, Greenwich’s Democratic House delegation succeeded in getting the project to advance with a much higher reimbursement rate than anyone expected from the state—20%—which is about $22.4 million. Now with P&Z approval granted this past week, the project is slated to break ground by December 2024.

Greenwich Boy Scouts get a new bridge

On Saturday, scouts gathered at Camp Seton to mark the completion of a key bridge that replaces one destroyed in 2021 by Hurricane Ida. The vehicle bridge links the main parts of the camp and is essential to its programming. A $250,000 state grant secured by our Democratic state house delegation made the repair possible. “I’m thrilled that this grant helped our Boy Scouts continue the programming that makes this place so special,” said Rep. Hector Arzeno.

From left: Greenwich Boy Scouts Council president James Adams, State Reps. Hector Arzeno and Rachel Khanna, Greenwich Boy Scouts Council officer Nick Barile, and State Rep. Steve Meskers at ribbon cutting for the new bridge at Camp Seton.

Join the virtual phone bank to elect Rachel Khanna. Calls for Rachel: Thursday, June 20th, Tuesday June 25th and Thursday June 27th from 4-6 p.m. via Zoom. Sign up here.

Join this campaign canvass to elect local candidates who will protect reproductive freedom. Meet at Stamford Democratic headquarters, Saturday, June 22nd at noon, 503 Summer Street.

Greenwich Democrats’ monthly meeting. A chance to make friends and learn what we’re up to. 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Town Hall Meeting Room.

Join Democrats from every corner of the state for this annual dinner bash featuring House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Write “Greenwich Table” in the Additional Information field to be seated together. RSVP


Volume 3, Number 3 • June 20, 2024
Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee.
Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836