Submitted by Christina Downey Greenwich Democratic Party Chair
Yes, Harry Fisher, $100 million of funding for their districts is a big number! (FISHER: Bringing Home the Bacon? Democrats Distort the Facts. Oct 10, 2024). Thanks for noticing what a great job our Democratic state representatives have done securing state dollars for local schools, nonprofits and pedestrian safety projects in their districts that include Greenwich and parts of Stamford. Any money brought home from the state eases what local property owners need to pay to municipalities.
Representatives Rachel Khanna, Steve Meskers and Hector Arzeno were the ones who picked up the ball that Harry Fisher’s Republican-controlled town finance board dropped when it came to the Glenville corridor traffic improvement project. Our state reps successfully secured $6.5 million from the state Department of Transportation to get moving on this important pedestrian safety and traffic calming initiative.
Representatives Rachel Khanna, Steve Meskers and Hector Arzeno successfully lobbied to get a 20% state reimbursement — amounting to $15 million more than expected — for Central Middle School (CMS) construction. This success is even more notable because the Republican-led Greenwich finance board refused to approve CMS funding in time for a normal grant application process.
Representatives Rachel Khanna, Steve Meskers and Hector Arzeno even had a hand in getting $400K in funding to repair 80-year old elevators at Greenwich Library. You guessed it — Republicans on the town finance board had been stalling that project for years.
Our Democratic delegation supported a bill this year that used federal American Rescue Plan funds for local nonprofits in Stamford and Greenwich including River House, Parsonage Cottage, Ferguson Library, Family Centers, Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Greenwich Alliance for Education and the Avon Theatre.
Republican Ryan Fazio voted no on that money and Rachel Khanna’s Republican challenger, Tina Courpas, said she would have opposed it.
We understand why Harry did a double take. This all-Democratic house delegation has been wildly successful. Let’s re-elect them, and add Nick Simmons in the state Senate, and expect more of the same.
Christina Downey, Chair, Greenwich Democratic Town Committee