Newsletter Volume 3 • Number 40
Republicans hack at fire truck maintenance, sidewalk disability access, flood protection
You don’t have to be an engineer to see that Greenwich’s Grass Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, poking out into Greenwich Harbor, will need to be protected against rising seas and stormwater flooding. A proposed project to ring it with a seawall will be costly, and we should at least be keeping it somewhere on the books. But Republicans on the town finance board’s budget committee voted to erase it from future spending plans.
It’s a kick the can down the road tactic that GOP members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) have been using for years to hide what they don’t want to talk about. The budget committee votes weren’t final. But they paint a picture of what will happen when the full BET, where the GOP holds a majority, meets for “Decision Day” on April 1. So, rising flood risk? Nah.
Republicans gave a thumbs down to the Department of Public Works’ request for money over several years to flood-harden a host of streets and critical facilities in Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich and by Greenwich Hospital. Board Chair Harry Fisher, who dismisses the dangers of climate change, called federal estimates of sea level rise “totally unrealistic.”
Rink? What rink?
Republicans also voted against a motion by Democrats to put a sum in the budget two years from now for architectural and engineering plans for the ice rink that’s now in the hands of a fast-track committee. They abstained from approving funds to fix the geothermal HVAC system at the Hamilton Ave. school, where kids desperately need reliable heating and air conditioning.
They signaled “no” on small dollar, high interest local items like traffic safety and firetrucks.
- They refused a DPW request to add pedestrian signals over I-95 Exit 4 and a sidewalk on Indian Field Road in Bruce Park, which would provide a continuous sidewalk between Bruce Park and Cos Cob Park
- They refused maintenance funds for our aging fleet of fire trucks, after declining for years to buy new trucks to replace the old ones
- They proposed slashing funding for downtown parking signs and disability upgrades to sidewalks
Schools are the wild card
What we don’t know is the fate of the largest chunk of our town budget. How will majority Republicans handle public school funding? As we’ve reported before, they developed fiscal “guidelines” haphazardly, in secret, without consulting the Board of Education first, and there’s a multi-million dollar gap. In budget meetings they proposed two staff-related cuts that suggest they’ve got knives out. But the concern is they’ll reveal a bunch more school cuts on “Decision Day” itself, similar to the chaos of last year’s meeting.
Schools Superintendent Toni Jones has suggested if she’s forced to meet Republicans’ initial number she’d have to fire dozens of teachers.
You can still weigh in
Your voice matters. The easiest way to speak up for what’s important to you is by writing the BET here. And remember, if you don’t like the result, your next chance to make a change is to vote for all six Democratic BET members in the November elections. If our candidates receive more votes than the Republicans, they will wield the tie breaking vote. Democrats have led the finance board for only two years in the last century. It’s time for balance in government. And considering what’s happening again this year, maybe we should try them again.
Checking the president
In the wake of the Trump chaos, Republican leaders are facing fury at town hall meetings across the U.S., even in the reddest of districts, or dodging meetings with their constituents altogether. In Greenwich, Democratic leaders have been speaking to packed rooms of residents who seem to be asking one pointed question in various ways: “What are you doing to protect us from the spending cuts and attacks on our freedoms?”
State Attorney William Tong was warmly greeted at a meeting of Greenwich Democrats last week, where he relayed how he has joined nearly two dozen other states in suing the Trump administration. Tong leads the National Association of Attorneys General, and as the first in his family born in the United States, said birthright citizenship allowed him to be who he is today.
“So when [Trump] tried to ban birthright citizenship, we sued. Check. When he tried to ban all federal funding the following Monday, we sued on Tuesday. That’s what we’re doing. Check, Mr. President! We need checks and balances because checks and balances keep us free,” he told the large audience. But Tong noted that we have to take action too. “Don’t overthink it,” he said. “Fight. Win municipal elections. If you’re hoping for change… you’ve gotta exercise those muscles.”
Congressman Jim Himes echoed Tong, as he addressed a well attended meeting of the Retired Men’s Association last week. When questions came up about cuts to Social Security, DOGE’s activities and whether we face a constitutional crisis, Himes had this to say: “I’m constantly asked what are you going to do? At the end of the day, we will get the democracy that the people of this country demand.”
What we’re reading
New wrong-way highway cameras saving lives
We were pleased to learn that the wrong-way camera alerts installed throughout the state last year are saving lives, a reminder of the many ways that government keeps us safe. Following the deadliest year of fatalities from wrong-way crashes in 2022, CT adopted a law providing for the installation of these devices on high risk ramps throughout the state.
Greenwich has them at two locations, off the Merritt southbound at the North St. exit, and off I-95 northbound at Exit 5. Reporting on the findings, the DOT’s Joe Cooper said, “Nearly 300 drivers have entered the highway in the wrong direction, saw the flashing lights, stopped, and turned around. Those are lives saved as a result of this technology.” Read it here.
Action Calendar
March 27. Speak.
Testify at the town budget public hearing, Town Hall Meeting Room, 7:00 p.m. You can submit written testimony here.
March 28. Engage.
Join U.S. Senator Chris Murphy for a timely discussion on the impact the Trump administration is having on programs important to Connecticut residents. Westhill High School, 125 Roxbury Road, Stamford, 7:00 p.m. Limited seating, RSVP required.
April 3. Sing.
Join us for a fun-filled night of music, laughter, and great company on Thursday, April 3, at 7:00 p.m. at Old Greenwich Social Club, 148 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich. RSVP
April 5. March.
At the Board of Ed building, 290 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich 9:15 a.m. – Join Indivisible Greenwich (IG) and make your own sign; 9:45 a.m. – Welcome and speakers; 10:15 a.m. – March down Greenwich Ave. to the Greenwich train station (Join IG to NYC or others depart for Stamford, New London or Hartford rallies – or call it a day.); 11:12 AM – Take the train to join the march in NYC (Bryant Park). Wear white, bring your signs and bring your noisemaker.
April 9. Get Inspired.
Come to our monthly DTC meeting and hear from CT Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, 7:30 p.m., Greenwich Town Hall Cone Room, 101 Field Point Road.
April 10. Learn.
Hear our State Comptroller Sean Scanlon discuss the impact of federal decisions on our state budget, and get your questions answered. Moderated by Rachel Khanna. 10:00-11:30 a.m., YWCA Greenwich. RSVP here.
| Volume 3, Number 40 • March 27, 2025 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |