Post by Jerald Lentini / Redsky

Jerald Lentini • Feed

It’s outrageous that our taxpayer dollars are funding CCM’s lobbying campaign to undermine essential housing reform. Manchester is our people, and CCM hurt them this session by working against affordable housing and for higher rents. Enough is enough.

STEVE STEPHANOU, TOWN MANAGER JAY MORAN, MAYOR SARAH JONES. DEPUTY MAYOR PAMELA FLOYD-CRANFORD. SECRETARY Town of Manchester 41 Center Street • P.O. Box 191 Manchester; Connecticut 06045-0191 www.manchesterct.gov DIRECTORS ED BOLAND PETER CONYERS JERALD LENTINI JESSEE MUNIZ POLAND ZACHARY REICHELT DENNIS SCHAIN August 13, 2025 Mr. Joe DeLong Executive Director Connecticut Conference of Municipalities 545 Long Wharf Drive New Haven, CT 06511 Dear Mr. DeLong, On behalf of the Town's Board of Directors, I write to express Manchester's disappointment regarding the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities' (CCM) June vote urging Governor Lamont to veto HB 5002, An Act Concerning Housing and the Needs of the Homeless. We respectfully disagree with CCM's position and stand firmly in support of the policies contained in HB 5002 as thoughtful and necessary steps toward addressing one of our state's most urgent challenges: the lack of affordable housing. Contrary to CCM's concerns, HB 5002 does not strip communities of local control. In fact, it empowers municipalities by setting a realistic and flexible baseline that enables each town to plan and prepare for needed affordable homes while keeping key decisions within the hands of local government. Manchester embraces the opportunity to modernize our zoning and planning regulations so that these homes can be built through private development and public-private partnerships, not through unfunded mandates. We believe the policies contained in the bill are not only essential for those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity-they are critical to Connecticut's economic future. Our state is currently struggling to fill tens of thousands of jobs, and employers cite housing affordability as a major barrier. HB 5002's framework is a strategic investment in workforce stability, community vibrancy, and long-term prosperity.

Manchester remains committed to working collaboratively with the state, CCM, and other municipalities and stakeholders to ensure that all residents-regardless of income have access to safe, affordable housing. We respectfully urge CCM to reconsider its position and recognize that the policies contained within HB 5002 are the balanced and pragmatic solutions that Connecticut needs. I look forward to continuing to work with you and the rest of CCM's member municipalities on fulfilling the organization's mission of improving everyday life for every Connecticut resident. Sincerely, Steve Stephanou Town Manager Town of Manchester, CT

aug 15, 2025, 4:54 am • 1 0

Replies

But where would the housing go? It's not like there's a huge vacant lot next to, I didn't know, a stop and shop or something, that's been abandoned for years.

aug 15, 2025, 5:12 am • 0 0 • view

Oh wait...

aug 15, 2025, 5:13 am • 0 0 • view

🤷🏻‍♂️ We’re working on it. A couple of fine local businessmen decided to extort the town a bit, and it’s taking much longer than it should to get a development agreement signed and shovels in the ground as a result. But there should be a couple hundred units there in the next few years.

aug 15, 2025, 2:37 pm • 1 0 • view