Dear Editor,
As the November election approaches, it’s critical for voters to understand that big developers and affordable housing advocates have a vested interest in seeing Senator Ryan Fazio removed from office. Their agenda isn’t about creating sensible housing solutions—it’s about stripping local communities of their right to control zoning and development.
Over the past two years, Senator Fazio has been a staunch defender of local control, fighting against statewide mandates that would allow developers to build high-density housing anywhere, regardless of the impact on traffic, schools, and the character of our neighborhoods. His leadership was instrumental in stopping harmful bills like Work, Live, Ride (HB 5390), which would have permitted multi-unit residential buildings near transit stations without any local input. Thanks to Fazio’s efforts, towns like Greenwich and New Canaan were spared from a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores the unique needs of our communities.
Let’s be clear: big developers want to bypass local zoning boards to maximize their profits, and affordable housing advocates are pushing for policies that often ignore the realities of infrastructure, traffic, and public services. Fazio has stood in the way of these special interests because he believes in preserving local control and ensuring that development is done thoughtfully, with input from residents who know their towns best.
If developers and their allies succeed in pushing Fazio out, they will have free rein to bulldoze through our local zoning laws. The consequences will be irreversible: overcrowded schools, increased traffic, and the loss of the small-town character that makes our communities so special.
We need Senator Fazio in Hartford to continue the fight against unchecked development and to protect the rights of local governments to make their own decisions. He’s proven that he’s willing to stand up to powerful interests, and we should do everything we can to keep him in office.
Brittney Singer
