Chris Parkin
@parkinc.bsky.social
Lawyer, BOEer, Cornellian, YIMBY, Nutmegger, mostly a lurker, once called a Gadfly
I think he gained points for a generally good initial covid response and most people assume that the absence of a four alarm fire (for them personally) equates to good governance despite the litany of policy failures. Two terms is plenty.
October 31, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I think he gained points for a generally good initial covid response and most people assume that the absence of a four alarm fire (for them personally) equates to good governance despite the litany of policy failures. Two terms is plenty.
Couple that with paywalls and you get social media comments about pictures and headlines but not substance because most of the social media gutter doesn’t actually pay for journalism.
September 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Couple that with paywalls and you get social media comments about pictures and headlines but not substance because most of the social media gutter doesn’t actually pay for journalism.
“Thing proposed to meet need” doesn’t generate outrage clicks and comments nearly as well as “people big mad about things that scares them.” As long as media is incentivized to drive clicks the race to the bottom will continue.
September 10, 2025 at 11:25 AM
“Thing proposed to meet need” doesn’t generate outrage clicks and comments nearly as well as “people big mad about things that scares them.” As long as media is incentivized to drive clicks the race to the bottom will continue.
Not sure everyone should trust the part where the passport book is surrendered as part of the process.
September 8, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Not sure everyone should trust the part where the passport book is surrendered as part of the process.
Same street that fought about the definition of family. www.fox61.com/article/news...
Hartford sues Scarborough mansion family
HARTFORD — A legal battle, with flavors of a TV sitcom, is underway in Hartford City Hall. The question at hand: does the government have the right to dec...
www.fox61.com
July 27, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Same street that fought about the definition of family. www.fox61.com/article/news...
You mean to tell me apartments were built and home prices didn't crash? Weird.
June 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
You mean to tell me apartments were built and home prices didn't crash? Weird.
I was warned there would be if Lamont signed the bill 😂
June 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I was warned there would be if Lamont signed the bill 😂
The Fairfield County left is dominated by a smug demand for progressive policy that makes them feel good without inconveniencing them at all. The second it impacts their life in the slightest.... See also school regionalism.
June 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The Fairfield County left is dominated by a smug demand for progressive policy that makes them feel good without inconveniencing them at all. The second it impacts their life in the slightest.... See also school regionalism.
It's cowardice. Especially if you won't at least stand up and say "this bill is a problem because X and instead I'm going to insist that we reform local zoning, permit multifamily across residential zones, and dramatically reduce parking requirements. Because I believe in fixing the housing crisis."
June 25, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It's cowardice. Especially if you won't at least stand up and say "this bill is a problem because X and instead I'm going to insist that we reform local zoning, permit multifamily across residential zones, and dramatically reduce parking requirements. Because I believe in fixing the housing crisis."
NIMBY gonna NIMBY. An element of the timing of all of this is that municipal leaders who might otherwise be at least quietly supportive of this measure joined the veto chorus because it is advantageous in municipals and they'd rather win a local race than fix the problem.
June 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
NIMBY gonna NIMBY. An element of the timing of all of this is that municipal leaders who might otherwise be at least quietly supportive of this measure joined the veto chorus because it is advantageous in municipals and they'd rather win a local race than fix the problem.
“Our town is committed to thoughtful, inclusive planning that meets housing needs while preserving environmental sustainability and local decision-making,” said Gerber. Of course no one expects any of these folks to say *how* they would meet the need. eastoncourier.news/2025/06/24/e...
Easton and Fairfield Officials Cheer Lamont’s Housing Bill Veto
A bill concerning housing and the needs of homeless people has been “reluctantly” vetoed by Gov. Ned Lamont. “House Bill 5002 makes a really good start on a really important issue…
eastoncourier.news
June 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
“Our town is committed to thoughtful, inclusive planning that meets housing needs while preserving environmental sustainability and local decision-making,” said Gerber. Of course no one expects any of these folks to say *how* they would meet the need. eastoncourier.news/2025/06/24/e...
Love how he says he tried to read it, doesn't understand it, but is dead convinced it must be bad.
June 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Love how he says he tried to read it, doesn't understand it, but is dead convinced it must be bad.
Sadly, quite believable.
June 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Sadly, quite believable.
They've built an encampment atop Mt. Stupid.
March 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
They've built an encampment atop Mt. Stupid.
COGs are great for allowing local pols to look like they’re doing something. The something seems to often be meeting about a plan to make a plan to prevent development.
March 27, 2025 at 2:00 AM
COGs are great for allowing local pols to look like they’re doing something. The something seems to often be meeting about a plan to make a plan to prevent development.
In fairness, they want all everything somewhere else.
March 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
In fairness, they want all everything somewhere else.
Well yes. That was a tone deaf regionalization effort. Looney’s probate map concept rightly sent people to the barricades and probably set back rational discussion a decade. Legislators I’ve talked to are all gun shy.
February 20, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Well yes. That was a tone deaf regionalization effort. Looney’s probate map concept rightly sent people to the barricades and probably set back rational discussion a decade. Legislators I’ve talked to are all gun shy.
Compounded by postage stamp sized districts.
February 20, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Compounded by postage stamp sized districts.
I mean it does preserve them. For the wealthy.
January 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I mean it does preserve them. For the wealthy.
I think you are broadly correct. But that doesn't solve the psychological piece of this. A public policy that holds people harmless costs zero when supply increases don't actually hurt value.
December 31, 2024 at 5:29 PM
I think you are broadly correct. But that doesn't solve the psychological piece of this. A public policy that holds people harmless costs zero when supply increases don't actually hurt value.
So long as more supply means lowered equity for current owners, this tension will persist. If there was a way to hold owners harmless to value reduction, there may be a cleaner path forward. E.g. establish a value baseline and allow reductions that follow material supply increase to be deductible.
December 31, 2024 at 5:17 PM
So long as more supply means lowered equity for current owners, this tension will persist. If there was a way to hold owners harmless to value reduction, there may be a cleaner path forward. E.g. establish a value baseline and allow reductions that follow material supply increase to be deductible.
But then what pretext can we use to deny multifamily and mixed use development walkable to town centers?
December 31, 2024 at 3:29 PM
But then what pretext can we use to deny multifamily and mixed use development walkable to town centers?
I assume you also hear lament that there's no place for empty nesters to downsize. So they can't be expected to pay all these taxes. Affordable housing should only exist for boomers looking to cash out their house that appreciated 400 percent.
December 21, 2024 at 3:22 PM
I assume you also hear lament that there's no place for empty nesters to downsize. So they can't be expected to pay all these taxes. Affordable housing should only exist for boomers looking to cash out their house that appreciated 400 percent.
That talking point's cousin is "it will bring in piles of children who cost money to educate and that will drive up taxes because our schools that have suppressed enrollment due to housing costs won't be able to hold them all" 😑
December 21, 2024 at 3:16 PM
That talking point's cousin is "it will bring in piles of children who cost money to educate and that will drive up taxes because our schools that have suppressed enrollment due to housing costs won't be able to hold them all" 😑