July 13, 2025. Ian Skoggard and Debra Tangarone welcomed nearly 30 people from Spring Glen Church, Congregation Mishkan Israel and the Unitarian Society of New Haven.
Debra shared an update on the legislative session. Although the governor vetoed an omnibus housing bill, which included the original “Work, Live, Ride” bill, a special legislative session in the Fall will revisit it. Hopefully some version of the bill will be passed. Spring Glen member Marie Bravo presented on housing developments that are in process in Hamden, as well as the various town commissions that make decisions about housing.
Rev. Caitlin O’Brien, CONECT Senior Organizer, shared the good news of the Hamden Newhall Neighborhood Association’s successful “Foundations First” campaign. After a year of advocacy and relationship building in the neighborhood, the Legislative Council voted to move 6.4 million dollars to an account for Newhall foundations. Cause for celebration!
Pheobe Ploof from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national organization that funds community development and improvement projects presented on successful housing projects in CT. She praised the group for its organization and energy, and helped us begin to discern what kind of development(s) we want to make happen in town.
No CONECT meeting is without an action plan! Attendees signed on to a thank you letter to Legislative Council members who voted to fund Newhall Foundations, and volunteered to monitor monthly meetings of the town commissions involved with housing: Planning and Zoning, Inland Wetlands, and Economic Development so that we can track when it is time to show up and speak up!