What’s wrong providing housing affordability to police and fire employees, school teachers and healthcare professionals? Open up opportunities so they can reside in the communities they represent, and spend money there.
Housing affordability is a hot-button issue in Connecticut that cuts across every demographic. A battle has emerged between pro-homes movement (YINMBY) and suburban opponents (NIMBY) fearing realignment to large-acre zoning that preserves a lifestyle, blocking others not of their ilk.
Governor Ned Lamont recently vetoed a housing bill – Work, Live, Ride – that would have prioritized certain state infrastructure funds for towns that agreed to allow more apartments near public transit hubs.
Many suburban residents pushed back on Lamont, forcing the veto. Facing reelection next year Lamont’s considering a special session to address the housing shortage after accusations he folded to suburban-vote power while his political base rests in urban areas.
While Bridgeport meets the state’s housing criteria for providing sufficient affordable housing units — and seeks to build more – its neighbor to the east Stratford has not met that merit that critics says has created a Mason-Dixon like barrier, Barnum Avenue the demarcation. Most housing units are approved for Stratford’s South End, a higher industrial and business district with much lower median household income. Housing proposals for the more affluent North End generally die the gooey death.
Place the housing units closer to the jobs area, town leaders argue. And therein lies the rub: Stratford’s highest employer, by far, Sikorsky Aircraft bumps up against the highly residential North End, north of the Merritt Parkway, home to many senior residents who have been there for decades and become intensely antagonistic with any mention of “affordable housing” two words that have taken on a fear-mongering life of their own.
In addition Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, up for reelection this year, and the Town Council have embraced a sewer exclusion area, essentially where sewers cannot be built above the Mason-Dixon line.
The housing disparity has injected Trojan Horse housing discrimination, and rift between Stratford decision makers and developers seeking to open dwelling opportunities across the town and not be shoe-horned into the South End.
OIB recently interviewed two local Stratford developers about this issue, Mark Genest and Mark Slade, with assistance from media partner Steve Krauchick from Doing It Local. See their views in video above.
They’re NOT “Roadblocks”.
According to e-mail from Connecticut first lady Lamont, they are “Guardrails”.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-01/trump-weighs-declaring-national-housing-emergency-bessent-says?embedded-checkout=true
BTW is it more about black and brown AKA affordable housing then valuation?
I am sure black and brown people “professional” working can buy/move into the places they aforementioned?
I mean it seems like its about devaluation on all levels. The Ds went on about Trump and that collusion think for years, beating that drum to it followers. The impeached him, twice for it, I believe. Ok say it too, to what end is Russia/Putin’s goals? To make America value stronger or weaker? Obvious weaker, no?
I am sure Blackwell, who is a cop and guts paid hundreds of thousands a year can afford to move in to upper Stratford. 🙂
Inclination and racism is very different things. As is affordable housing and housing supply.
I say every level it seem this housing crisis is a end game of devaluation more then address the housing supply. Take the East Side housing development proposal the removal parking, was that based to address the housing affordability crisis the Port needs to take part in to America is facing or devalue?
Surely that plot can be developed with parking on the ground level and decent number of units to generate a decent profit the enhance the community and deliver a need service. So what do that truly say.
The D’s may be in collusion with a foreign entity to devalue America. Or perhaps a domestic the increase their value by a weaker America. That m ight be bit harsh but when that American pendulum swings form positive to negative question arose.
It funny, when you devalue some like wanting to add AKA affordable house to higher value areas and it come with resistance it’s labeled racist AKA gentrification. Jesus Christ, some people are good with the words to increase, “generate”, their flock. 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcM4zWiikKQ
# gentrification.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whfQf3Pd5bU
People with the works , what do you call black and brown people who study, and work hard to move out of “affordable housing” area of a more “affluent” areas how may oppose, “gentrifications” wanting to bring that Affordable housing” they work hard to move out off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARoXrgyHVhE
The fact of the matters is , pick of the litter of the streets and trees/greenery and every area look “gentrify”
People that the real “community” thing. what’s behind each door, well. To each their own, I guess. JS Good Luck, people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5d1K0JcgIs.
PS. Not saying the D- party are domestic devaluationers sf America it is just when see that pendulum swing to a point of devaluation of America you have to ask questions, and voice you perspective right John L. 🙂
use your words people unless you know you are full of shit. 🙂 Play nice people
Lamont of President. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObkJNstaog8
Click count # the saurus AKA Proof read. 🙂
revised and revision.
BTW is it more about black and brown with regards to AKA affordable housing or is it about valuation, particularly devaluation?
I’m sure black and brown people “professionals” who worked hard can buy/move into the places they aforementioned just as any white can in the same professional income? No?
I mean it seems like its more about valuation, particularly devaluation when it comes to the “affordable housing” label in more values communities and racism when it come to increasing the valuation, AKA “Gentrification” in less value communities. Though it can be said racism plays out in both. I guess that is America political game, for better and worse, strength and weakness, value and devalue. JS
The Ds went on about Trump and that collusion think for years, beating that drum to it followers and any potential new generational converts. They impeached him, twice for it, I believe. But was it “disingenuous” John L ?
Considering what is playing out in the Port that everyone here on OIB seems to agree Port Politics is corrupt, to say the lease. Why are those that view the that presidential race to have been corrupt, demonize for their view. Granted shit got out of hand but its wasn’t like it got to the level of those “fiery but mostly peaceful protest” that played out over Floyd’s death.
But lets say there are some truths to that collusions. To what end is Russia/Putin’s goals? To make America value stronger or weaker? Obvious weaker, no?
I am sure Blackwell, who is a black cop and gets paid hundreds of thousands a year can afford to move in to upper Stratford value level. 🙂
Inclination and racism is very different things. As is affordable housing and housing supply.
It seem this “housing crisis” is a end game of more about devaluation then to address the housing supply.
Take the East Side housing development proposal and the removal parking, was that based to address the “housing affordability” crisis the Port needs to take part in, to America the housing crise or devalue?
Any body find this ironic? you have the local level, Port elected official ( some ) want the state to intervene on local zoning decisions, particularly elimination of parking requirement. And they you have local advocates, and local pols mad at P- Lamont for vetoing a housing bill that take some of that local control way and require lower value project, like what the Port zoning did. At least that how is seems, comes off the me.
Surely that plot can be developed with parking on the ground level with decent number of units to generate a decent profit that enhance the community and deliver a need service. So what dose that truly say. How “disingenuous” is this entire politic debate, John, L? 🙂
The D’s may be in collusion with a foreign entity to devalue America. Or perhaps a domestic entity the increase their value by a weaker America. That might be bit harsh, but when that American pendulum swings form positive to negative question arise.
It’s funny, when you oppose the devalue a community by lowing the standards and restrictions under the flag of affordable house you are labeled racist , however when you support increase the community in value AKA gentrification it comes off as a racism
Jesus Christ, some people are good with the words to increase, “generate”, their flock. Some people need the The- Saurus 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcM4zWiikKQ
# gentrification.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whfQf3Pd5bU
Click count revision, revise # The Saurus 🙂
People with the works, what do you call, label a black or brown people who study, work hard to move out an “affordable housing” area for a more “affluent” quality of life to better their family, who may oppose an ‘affordable housing” in their current community?
Who do you label someone who lives in a devalue community, or not, who oppose a market base housing project that increases the devalue community AKS “gentrifications” I know what you call the proponents, racist 🙂 but the other side/view?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARoXrgyHVhE
A fact of matter is, if everyone with their community just pick of the litter of the streets and locals took and emphases on Aesthetic greenery/trees and plant base greenery and community would be AKA “gentrify”
People that the real “community” thing to get behind the you can true do for your community. Unfortunately that is a selfless deed. In politics it what’s in it for me more than the “community” / neighborhood. But that politics. Funny the least have the greater value. form a community stand point. JS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5d1K0JcgIs.
Revise, revision, Thesaurus
PS. Not saying the D- party are domestic devaluationers of America it is just when see that pendulum swing to a point of devaluation or lack of action to increase. you have to ask questions, and voice you perspective right on what every means/platform. OIB the best ESL class my not be “disingenuous’ ” people’s platform but is it a form. John L. 🙂
Use your words people on what ever platform you can find, access. If need be go Jasper McLevy and stand on a soap box, unless you know you are full of shit. 🙂
Play nice people people with the words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObkJNstaog8
P.S # New addition D, P Lamont, Though you may have stick him on a treadmill. Trees and litter appears is important. 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ncj62u_SUds