Our Democracy 2022

I have heard said Connecticut is the Reddest Blue state in the country. As a legislator representing Bridgeport, we urban legislators are outnumbered three to one in regard to suburban and rural legislators. For eighteen years, I have been fighting to address the systemic racism that Connecticut was founded on as a colony. There are soo many issues the legislature is ignoring. It's frustrating to be an urban legislator because the majority support maintaining status quo. I don't accept that, which is one of the reasons I am being Primaried. Addressing the problem of depending upon property taxes to pay municipal expenses such as education certainly does not work for Bridgeport residents. We have the highest property taxes, are still subject to 'redlining' when it comes to car and house insurance. We pay twice as much as neighbor, Fairfield. Our children are not getting the education they deserve. The 'pipeline to prison' remains in place for minorities in Connecticut while the wealthy communities throw up barriers to progress. After our country experienced the "Black Lives Matter" trauma, I really thought we could address such things as opening opportunities for low and middle class housing. I supported the bill to open Huskey to the undocumented. This Primary I am in has really opened my eyes to just how entrenched the status quo is: Either you are a 'go along, get long, do what your told legislator, vote the way you are told, or else expect to be Primaried. I am committed to doubling my efforts to move Connecticut out of its moribund status that only favors the rich. It's like my physical therapy after having complete knee replacement surgery a few months ago - it takes work and commitment to heal, whether it's to heal oneself, or to 'heal' a state like Connecticut that is so locked in the past.
Preserving the status quo is not my job. My job is to move Bridgeport and the State of Connecticut despite all the corruption and intrenched money interests.