State delegation: COVID-19 is main focus
GREENWICH — The annual Greenwich United Way legislative breakfast usually draws enough people to pack Town Hall. On Thursday it was turned into a Zoom event, so it was no surprise that the discussion was dominated by talk of the pandemic.
Right now, all other issues take a back seat to overcoming the coronavirus, said said state Rep. Harry Arora, R-151.
“We are in a crisis,” said Arora, who was elected last month to his first full term in the state Legislature. “I’m not going to say anything other than the fact that the first thing is to contain COVID. No COVID containment, no policy relevance.”
“We are in a crisis.” State Rep. Harry Arora
State Rep. Stephen Meskers, D-150, said Arora was “on the mark” with his observation, adding the current wave of the virus could place a higher strain on health professionals and potentially hospitals than the first wave did because it is slamming the entire nation, not just regions.
In addition to the health toll, Meskers, who was elected to his second term in office last month, said he continues to worry about the pandemic’s economic impact.
“I am concerned about business development and sustaining our restaurant industry and the service workers there,” Meskers said. “I’m looking to do something there (in the new term).”
Kimberly Fiorello, a Republican set to be sworn in next month to her first term in the 149th District, said so much is “in flux” right now because of the pandemic, it is not the time to pass “any massive legislation.” Hartford’s focus should be “doing everything we can to support people on the front line and supporting our local businesses,” she said.
The three were joined by First Selectman Fred Camillo during the hour-long discussion.
Camillo said the state and town had to take a “don’t cause any more harm” approach during the pandemic because “people are hurting” and the financial effects of the pandemic will be felt into the future.
“Don’t increase the cost of living for our residents,” Camillo said. “Last year after I was sworn in, we were hit with something right off the bat after the state Legislature had increased the sales tax a few years ago. That hit parking services and right away we were in a deficit (in town) and we had to fix that. Hopefully we won’t have to do that again this year.”
Fiorello and Arora mentioned the Republican Caucus’ position that new paycheck deductions to fund the state’s new family leave program, which are set to begin on Jan. 1, should be delayed for three months.
“This is primarily an ordinary, hard working person’s tax because it
really does not hit the billionaires and millionaires because they’re self-employed and can opt out,” said Arora.
Meskers offered some hope for Connecticut’s economic future, mentioning the state’s $3.1 billion rainy day fund — “probably one of the healthiest funds of any of the contiguous states” — and stating, despite still unanswered questions about federal support, that the state is better positioned to come out of the crisis than others in the region.
“Given where we are fiscally versus New York and Massachusetts, I think opportunistically we might see tax rates going up eventually in New York and Massachusetts and Connecticut becoming more attractive,” Meskers said. “I think we’re in flux still.”
Camillo thanked the Greenwich United Way for all it had done since the beginning of the pandemic to meet the human services needs of town residents. Camillo had pushed for the town to support the agency’s community relief fund at the dawn of the pandemic and said he is still
in regular contact about town needs with the non-profit’s CEO David Rabin.
“We have to try our best to stay ahead of this so we’re not always reacting,” Camillo said.
Fiorello, who ran as an opponent to the statewide police accountability bill passed over the summer, will serve as a member of the Judiciary Committee, and said she plans to “keep an eye on public safety.”
“I continue to have conversations with those in law enforcement,” Fiorello said. “I intend to craft a bill that responds to the needs of our police officers to continue to ensure public safety.”
State Sen. Alex Kasser, D-36, was unable to take part in Thursday’s event due to a scheduling conflict.
The audience included outgoing state Rep. Livvy Floren, R-149, who did not run for reelection after 10 terms in Hartford. The Greenwich United Way thanked her for her 20 years in the Legislature and her service to the town and the state.