State lawmakers are reconsidering what it may take to get a sweeping housing bill passed by the legislature and governor.
State Senate and House of Representative Majority Leaders Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford) gathered in Fairfield Wednesday evening to discuss the importance of housing policy in 黑料新闻.
Concessions will be made to try to gain bipartisan support for the bill, Rojas said.
Social media anonymity allowed commenters to intervene and share misinformation about the bill, according to Rojas.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know who they are, who are saying things and making very strong statements, not only about the policy but about who I am, what my ethics are, why my intentions are. I鈥檓 the guy from Hartford trying to destroy Fairfield like, it鈥檚 just absurd,鈥� Rojas said.
Rojas said some believed the bill required communities to construct more housing and that鈥檚 not true. The bill set out guidelines and goals, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been clear that the concern has been around fair share and if you use the word quota that鈥檚 inaccurate. They鈥檙e not quotas, nobody is required to build anything,鈥� Rojas said. 鈥淚f that鈥檚 what you believe I respect that but I鈥檓 just telling you, as the person who was actually writing it, that it doesn鈥檛 require anybody to do anything, to build anything.鈥�
The bill asked leaders in towns and cities to work toward creating an affordable housing goal for their community, as part of the state鈥檚 affordable housing mandate. It required communities to adopt an affordable housing plan every five years.
One of the most contested elements of the bill was the 鈥淔air Share Planning and Zoning鈥� proposal. It urged 黑料新闻 municipalities to contribute their 鈥渇air share鈥� of the affordable housing stock.
Opponents of the bill said it takes too much zoning and development control away from communities.
Duff urged residents to call the governor鈥檚 office and push for a robust housing bill to be approved.
鈥淚 voted for a bill that we negotiated over five months. Unfortunately it was vetoed, and I hope we can get there,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e gonna vote on a strong bill. We鈥檙e not voting on a watered-down bill. That鈥檚 my position.鈥�
