Hugh Bailey
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hughsbailey.bsky.social
Hugh Bailey
@hughsbailey.bsky.social
570 followers 1.2K following 570 posts
Policy director, Open Communities Alliance, Connecticut
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hughsbailey.bsky.social
Now that's a ringing endorsement from a fellow party member if I've ever heard one.

ctmirror.org/2025/11/14/c...
Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, said after the housing veto and discussions over spending in the wake of federal cuts, he wonders whether Lamont “is even in touch with the reality of what the people in the state of Connecticut are experiencing. “I think the number of people who are experiencing unhoused status and homelessness is increasing in our state. For a state which is one of the richest per capita in the United States and also of the richest country in the world, to allow that to happen and not have an intervention, and despite multiple advocates, community members, reaching out to the governor, and his unwillingness to address this in a meaningful manner is painful to me,” Anwar said Thursday, of the veto.
November 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Wait Hearst CT has had like 10 stories on the Mamdani effect so now I don't know what to believe
November 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
But what if the mandates were what we need?

CT's New Housing Proposal Heads To Special Legislative Session ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/11/10/c...
With a special legislative session scheduled this week to pass a bill aimed at addressing the issue, Gov. Ned Lamont, legislative leaders, and a coalition of local officials gathered in East Hartford to unveil what they called a reset: a bipartisan housing proposal that replaces the mandates of the vetoed House Bill 5002 with incentives, infrastructure investment, and regional planning.
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Read all the way to the end:

Sonnenfeld replied, “Should we write you up as a profile in courage?”

www.ctpost.com/politics/art...
Emails show Lamont considered signing Connecticut housing bill days before vetoing it
Lamont instructed an aide to draft a statement announcing his support for the legislation before ultimately vetoing it.
www.ctpost.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Not to be lost among all the higher-profile races yesterday, Casetti losing in Ansonia is pretty satisfying

UPSET IN ANSONIA, TYSZKA DEFEATS CASSETTI valley.newhavenindependent.org/2025/11/04/u...
UPSET IN ANSONIA, TYSZKA DEFEATS CASSETTI - Valley Independent Sentinel
ANSONIA – Democrat Frank Tyszka defeated six-term incumbent Republican Mayor David Cassetti, part of a broader sweep that has returned Democrats to power in the Brass City for the first time since 201...
valley.newhavenindependent.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
It's cool to work in the Ganim administration and make vague references to "Bridgeport's reputation" holding the city back. I wonder what that refers to?

ctmirror.org/2025/11/03/m...
Bridgeport is moving in the right direction with balanced budgets, higher credit ratings, and exciting new development projects. But there’s no doubt that Bridgeport’s reputation has been a drag on its success. Understanding this reality, the Charter Revision Commission made ethics reform a centerpiece of charter revision, turning what is currently a single paragraph in the charter to an entire chapter.
November 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
A lot going on in this story, but I just want to focus on this quote from maybe the most anti-housing Democrat in the state.

Four acres is a lot of space. You're trying to make it sound like it's being jammed in to a tiny lot, but it's just not true

insideinvestigator.org/denials-and-...
“When you have a five-story, 75-unit building on a 4.3-acre lot, on a narrow street with no sidewalks and limited access ­— you know, that’s a public safety concern and a lot of people are upset and rightfully so,” said Allie-Brennan. He noted a fatal hit-and-run that occurred earlier this year up the street, saying adding more cars to the area would make it, “even more concerning.”
November 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
I guess I missed where these guys were focusing their efforts on those five factors. CT 169 all in on cutting lumber costs, apparently.
trumbullbrod.bsky.social Tom Broderick @trumbullbrod.bsky.social · 12d
If removing zoning will only increase housing by “.8 of 1%” (lmao the dumbest crap) then why do you dedicate your spare to desperately blocking any and all zoning reform?

No CT politician—including our governor—should take these bad faith charlatans seriously
November 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
The thing to understand when people say stuff like this -- new housing will "destroy" Newtown -- is that the town is immense. It's the fifth-largest town by area in the state. Nearly 60 square miles. Most people won't notice anything

www.newtownbee.com/10302025/on-...
CT Gen Stat § 8-30g intention to provide “affordable housing” while the intent may be noble is going to destroy this town.
October 31, 2025 at 4:43 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Was silence not an option?

www.wshu.org/connecticut-...
CT Gov. Lamont to Mamdani: 'Revolution is easy, governing is hard'
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is ready to work with Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, if he wins next week’s election.
www.wshu.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:25 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Not really, but thanks for spreading a story that basically makes stuff up

ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/10/30/q...
October 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Who cares if they build a gas station, but if people say their town's farm character is threatened by a development on a site that is literally a former car dealership, you're not obligated to believe them

www.newstimes.com/news/article...
Residents say New Milford farm heritage is threatened by drive-thru eatery, market, 24/7 gas station
“This reconstruction will substantially alter the character of the more rural northern part of town,” reads a letter of opposition to the development plan.
www.newstimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
In case you like reports that detail wild things the governor says about housing that may or may not be true, this story has got it all

Report: Much of state-funded affordable housing is rehabbed property ctmirror.org/2025/10/27/c...
Much of state-funded affordable housing in CT is rehabbed property
It wasn't clear from the Office of Legislative Research report how much the properties actually expanded the state's overall housing stock.
ctmirror.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
As the guy in the insurance company commercial says, "Let's give it up for that guy"

www.newtownbee.com/10272025/pz-...
Sam Grummons spoke next. He expressed support for the development, saying, “I’m here because the people most affected by your decision, they can’t be here tonight. They’re working second shifts at Danbury Hospital, they’re at home with the kids. They don’t have the luxury to take time off to come here … They’re the nurses, teachers, and police officers who make Newtown run. They’re the customers keeping My Place restaurant and Station 25 in business, and they’re being priced out. I’d like you to understand that for every delay and every denial, the people I just described — they’re the ones who pay the price.” Grummons continued, saying that P&Z has denied between 300-400 housing units that represent $2-4 million in tax revenue that funds the schools. He urged the commission to “identify legitimate concerns that should become conditions of approval.” He then said to “close the hearings, schedule the votes, make decisions. That is what leadership looks like. Make democracy work for all of us, not just a few of us.”
October 27, 2025 at 5:50 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
The idea that rich New Yorkers would flee to CT in the event of a Mamdani victory is not supported by facts. The thesis of this story is basically: But what if it was the other way?

www.ctinsider.com/business/art...
Affluent NYC residents scanning CT suburbs, brokers say. Here's where and why
Connecticut real estate brokers say wealthy NYC buyers are eyeing moves ahead of the mayoral election, as Greenwich luxury sales surge
www.ctinsider.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Rep. Allie-Brennan: We're not against affordable housing.

Also Rep. Allie-Brennan: I hate everything on the table and in current law that allows affordable housing.

We've got some kind of Democrats in this state

www.ctinsider.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: CT developers are exploiting the system. It’s time to rewrite the rules
'I am not calling for the repeal of 8-30g. I am calling for reforms that restore balance and put people before profit, state Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan writes.
www.ctinsider.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Still not clear whether housing will be taken up in the special session.

The governor, you may recall, repeatedly promised housing would be a priority

Lamont, lawmakers offer details on new housing bill ctmirror.org/2025/10/23/l...
Lamont, lawmakers offer details on new housing bill
After HB 5002 veto, the governor and lawmakers have worked to modify new housing legislation, to be taken up at next month's special session.
ctmirror.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Glad we're still having this discussion about whether raising taxes on the rich will cause them to flee the state

ctmirror.org/2025/10/23/c...

I mean, it's not like we have direct counter-evidence to that proposition anything www.wbur.org/news/2025/04...

They didn't leave MA, they won't leave CT
October 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
As always with these things, if you want to argue the developers are biased in their traffic assessments, fine. Do your own analysis.

"The neighbors don't want it" is not good enough, and the guy down the street is not an expert in traffic flow.

www.newstimes.com/news/article...
Neighbors decry ‘serious public safety problems’ with 300-apartment plan at Newtown-Bethel border
The complex would add 111 cars to the Route 6 corridor during the morning rush hour and 117 cars during the afternoon rush hour.
www.newstimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:32 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Wow, a lobbyist for natural gas thinks Lamont is killing it on energy. Good enough for me

Lamont’s moves on energy provide roadmap back for Democrats  ctmirror.org/2025/10/22/l...
Lamont’s moves on energy provide roadmap back for Democrats
The governor should be applauded for recognizing the role clean, low-cost natural gas plays alongside zero-carbon solar and wind.
ctmirror.org
October 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Let's check in on Westport's first selectman race, because the governor says we need buy-in from local officials to get a housing bill signed.

So they all say we need a solution, but they all hate the only one on offer.

Promising!

06880danwoog.com/2025/10/21/s...
In the area of state mandates for affordable housing, all agreed on the need for solutions. They praised State Representative Jonathan Steinberg for voting against HB 5002, which would have taken local control away from zoning near transportation hubs. They also hailed Westport’s Affordable Housing Fund (though, as Moore noted, its current $1.5 million will not go far).
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Excellent job as always highlighting the negativity in the headline.

New homes? No. "More harm"? That's how we do it.

45-unit Fairfield project gets green light despite flood concerns. 'We’re creating more harm' www.ctpost.com/news/article...
45-unit Fairfield project gets green light despite flood concerns. 'We’re creating more harm'
"It just, to me, seems like a very chaotic, harmful situation," said  planning and zoning commissioner Alexis Harrison.
www.ctpost.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
Hey how bout we stop doing this

Dan Haar: Lamont suggests CT senator apologize for posing with anti-Trump 'cholesterol' sign www.ctpost.com/connecticut/...
Dan Haar: Lamont suggests CT senator apologize for posing with anti-Trump 'cholesterol' sign
"I thought that sign was offensive and inappropriate and he shouldn’t have been there," Lamont said.
www.ctpost.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
The Democrats' responses to this are good -- this is manufactured outrage not to be taken seriously.

But there's another level. You also don't have to write the story.

No Kings photo of CT senator and physician with anti-Trump 'cholesterol' sign prompts GOP outrage www.ctpost.com/journalinqui...
No Kings photo of CT senator and physician with anti-Trump 'cholesterol' sign prompts GOP outrage
"This man is a doctor: He is someone supposedly entrusted with protecting health," a state Republican lawmaker said.
www.ctpost.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
hughsbailey.bsky.social
I'm glad Darien has these units. I'm happy they're pushing back on people's fears. But this is a key line:

"Most of the new affordable housing units are occupied, with long or closed waiting lists"

There's a lot more to do.

www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
Darien leaders say affordable housing can thrive without hurting property values or schools
Darien’s efforts to grow its affordable housing is a model for other towns, says Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky.
www.ctinsider.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM