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Connecticut needs more housing, but we can’t build it by sidelining the very people and towns that are doing the work on the ground.
In Bethel, we’ve worked hard to plan responsibly, expanding housing options while protecting our infrastructure and quality of life. Yet we’ve seen developers exploit loopholes in state law, ignoring safety, affordability, and local input. Residents are rightfully frustrated, and they deserve better than another top-down policy that leaves them out of the process.
This bill creates another unelected housing council, gives OPM more authority over local planning, and expects regional groups to take on massive new responsibilities with limited funding and no clear accountability. That’s not reform, that’s bureaucracy with a new name.
I don’t take pride in voting against my party, but I take great pride in standing up for my community.
I want to thank the Governor and legislative leadership for listening to concerns and trying to improve this bill. But the version before us still doesn’t address what we’re experiencing in towns like Bethel, where residents want to grow responsibly and have a voice in how it’s done.
My “no” vote wasn’t about partisanship, it was about standing up for the people I represent and the communities that deserve a seat at the table.
As I said on the House floor, I’ll continue working with anyone, from either party, to get this right, because housing reform only works when it’s transparent, balanced, and built on trust.
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