Submitted by Michael Hahn, RTC chair on behalf of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee
Once again, Greenwich Democrats are pointing fingers at Republican leadership, accusing them of blindly obstructing critical spending projects without cause. They’re banking on the hope that residents won’t see through their half-truths, but here’s the full story.
The reality is simple: Democrats want what they want, and they’re unwilling to negotiate. Rather than engage in good-faith discussions, they’ve turned to public relations stunts, theatrical walkouts, and strong-arm tactics to pressure their colleagues into submission.
Consider the facts. The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) proposed a responsible 3% budget increase. Democrats countered with a demand for 6%—double the BET’s figure. When Republicans stepped up to do the tough work of bridging this gap, Democrats chose to abandon the budget meeting, taking their quorum with them and grinding any chance of compromise to a halt.
Their justification? A claim that they needed more time to review the mark-ups. This excuse falls flat—Democrats had already had days to study the proposals. Instead of rolling up their sleeves, they opted for a dramatic exit.
Worse still, Democrats have resorted to slinging mud, borrowing divisive buzzwords from national politics—like “DOGE” and “chainsaw”—to smear Republicans. These labels are not only unproductive but also misleading. Far from reckless obstruction, Republicans have meticulously reviewed the largest proposed budget increase in recent town history, offering targeted cuts to protect taxpayers.
Low taxes don’t materialize by accident. They’re the product of careful planning, tough choices, and open dialogue—none of which can happen when one side chooses grandstanding, insults, and unchecked spending over cooperation. Greenwich deserves better than this. It’s time for Democrats to stop the theatrics and start working with their colleagues for the good of our town.