Submitted by Monica Prihoda, Riverside
Any local politician either running or in office better wake up and smell the coffee.
If you’re not outraged and speaking up about what is happening in your constituents’ homes, backyards and neighborhoods, you are truly part of the problem.
Those running for office who claim “local is not national” are either lying or not paying attention to what is happening in CT and in other states.
For starters:
THE ECONOMY isn’t local? Isn’t everyone talking about the high cost of living? Take a look at what is affecting prices of our food, gas, housing and more: the current Federal policies in Washington D.C. Stop playing the Hartford blame game for a War in Iran that is wreaking havoc in all realms of the economy and society.
GUN VIOLENCE isn’t local? Tell that to the families around the state when they suffer the loss of loved ones. Read a recent Greenwich Time headline: “Trump policy changes test state gun laws.” What are you specifically going to do about that?
ICE isn’t local? Tell that to kids statewide not going to school for fear of kidnapping. Yes, that’s what it is. Valuable community members of color – not criminals. Just plain, regular hard working people trying to make ends meet and support their neighbors being taken from their CT communities.
ELECTION VOTING isn’t local? Federal interference with the U.S. Postal Service, early voting and absentee voting makes it harder for people to cast their ballot, and fuels distrust of our state’s election integrity.
TAXES aren’t local? For those politicians who posit the answer to all economic woes is to cut taxes, I ask: How are you going to support our city, town and all other local services? We see and feel how Federal tax cuts (the big beautiful tax breaks) are impacting our country like a reverse Robin Hood – taking from food safety, healthcare, education and natural disaster relief.
OUR ENVIRONMENT isn’t local? Climate change is not coming: It is here. CT’s borders do not protect its citizens from polluted air and water. Local life is again affected by national policies which, if you do not speak out and enact legislation against, you support.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE isn’t local? How should CT deal with this clear and present danger? AI has and continues to impact jobs at all levels from entry through senior in all professions as unregulated companies consolidate, eliminate and pour money into AI, not people.
There is much more, including implications for freedom of speech and the (local) fourth estate.
What policies are you – our elected politicians – going to support and enact?
I encourage you to share your position with local media prior to the election on November 3rd. I think the constituents you will represent have a right to know.
Respectfully,
Monica Prihoda
Riverside