Housing Committee Passes Improvements to 8-30g Housing Law

Housing Committee Chair Sen. Tony Hwang and Ranking Member Rep. Brenda Kupchick on Mar. 7 applauded the committee’s passage of legislation which aims to improve and update the controversial 1990 affordable housing state law known as “8-30g”.

“The time is right that we update this 27-year-old state housing law,” Sen. Hwang said. “It is time we adapt and innovate Connecticut’s housing policies to recognize a fast-changing housing landscape. Housing policy impacts so many other policies and every community. As Chairman of the Housing Committee, I take that responsibility seriously and hope to review and evaluate 8-30g in a comprehensive and transparent way. We have heard loud and clear from residents from the 28th District and throughout Connecticut that change is needed – and this legislation reflects that change.”

“I’m optimistic our efforts to reform the 8-30g statute over the last many years are seeing positive results by the passage of three bills out of the Housing Committee,” said Rep. Brenda Kupchick. “This is an important and crucial step to modifying the law. We need to make sure local zoning laws are protected and not overridden by predatory developers under the 8-30g law that hasn’t resulted in the goal of measurable increases in affordable housing.”

Rep. Kupchick and Sen. Hwang co-sponsored two major pieces of legislation that would update the 8-30g state statute: House Bill 6880 and House Bill 7057. The bills now await debate and passage in the House of Representatives.

Hwang and Kupchick on Feb. 16 participated in a wide-ranging discussion at the Legislative Office Building on “8-30g”. The forum was designed to:

• Receive input from local zoning officials, community leaders and residents from impacted neighborhoods.
• Boost affordable and workforce housing stock for seniors, working families, and disabled residents.
• Develop innovative housing policies for urban, suburban and rural communities.

Hwang represents Fairfield, Newtown, Westport, Weston and Easton. He can be reached at 800-842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov .

Kupchick represents Fairfield and Southport. She can be reached at 800-842-1423 and at Brenda.Kupchick@cga.ct.gov .

Attached photo: Working to Improve CT Housing Policy. Connecticut General Assembly Housing Committee Co-Chair Larry Butler, Committee Ranking Member Brenda Kupchick, and Committee Co-Chair Tony Hwang.

Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra and Sen. Tony Hwang (pictured) on Mar. 1 testified before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Education Committee in opposition to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed state budget and the unfair burdens it places on municipalities, schools, and property taxpayers. Llodra and Hwang called upon state lawmakers to craft a state budget that is fair and equitable to all cities and towns. The state legislature’s 2017 regular session ends in June. Hwang represents Fairfield, Newtown, Westport, Weston and Easton. He can be reached at 800-842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com .

State Sen. Tony Hwang on Feb. 27 issued the following statement after a partnership of two federally-recognized Indian tribes chose East Windsor to host a commercial casino:

“Casino expansion is a bad bet for Connecticut. Let’s talk about the long-term economic and social costs of expanded gambling. Let’s talk about the potential for increased gambling addiction among Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents and our seniors. Let’s consider how casino expansion has become an economic dead end for nearby New Jersey. Let’s consider how casino expansion could trigger a provision in the current state-tribal compact under which the tribes would no longer have to pay the state 25 % of their slot machine revenue. And what about the people’s voices? Forget it – no referendum vote will be held. There are many questions and the negative impacts of expanded gambling are plain to see, yet Connecticut is rolling the dice on this and calling it sound policy.”

Hwang represents Fairfield, Newtown, Westport, Weston and Easton. He can be reached at 800-842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com and www.NoMoreCasinosInCT.org .

Attached photo: Sen. Tony Hwang is interviewed by WFSB Channel 3 on Feb. 27 at the Legislative Office Building.

Sen. Tony Hwang on Feb. 22 welcomed Sacred Heart University Athletic Training students to the State Capitol. The students came to Hartford to lobby for their vocational scope of practice, and they were given a tour of the historic Senate Chamber by Sen. Hwang. The students were able to sit in the Charter Oak Chair, also called “The Wishing Chair.” The chair was carved in 1857 from the fallen Charter Oak tree, which in 1687 hid the self-governing charter given to the Connecticut colony by King Charles II in 1662. The Charter was hidden to prevent British officials from returning it to King James II. Those who take tours of the State Capitol are allowed to briefly sit in “The Wishing Chair” and make a wish. Sen. Hwang encourages area residents to contact him whenever they plan on visiting the Capitol. Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport . He can be reached at 800-842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com. Attached photo, left to right: Meagan Hanley, Bridget Kampf, Sen. Hwang, Jordan Velez, Sarah Jaquith.

“No More Casinos in CT”

State Sen. Tony Hwang (center) on Feb. 23 spoke with reporters at the Legislative Office Building about why he opposes efforts to open a commercial casino in the Hartford area. Hwang cited the economic and social costs of more legalized gambling in Connecticut. He and a newly formed, non-partisan, 12-group alliance have joined forces to oppose the legalization of off-reservation commercial casino gambling in the Constitution State. For more information on the alliance: www.NoMoreCasinosInCT.org . Hwang represents Fairfield, Newtown, Westport, Weston and Easton. He can be reached at 800-842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com .

Sen. Hwang Stands Behind Effort to Make Changes to 8-30g Housing Law

Housing Committee Chair Sen. Tony Hwang on Feb. 16 participated in a wide-ranging discussion at the Legislative Office Building on the controversial 1990 affordable housing state law known as “8-30g”.

Sen. Hwang said the public hearing was an opportunity to:

· Receive input from local zoning officials, community leaders and residents from impacted neighborhoods.
· Boost affordable and workforce housing stock for seniors, working families, and disabled residents.
· Develop innovative housing policies for urban, suburban and rural communities.
· Provide exemptions due to environmental and watershed impact.

Sen. Hwang noted that more than 80 percent of Easton and more than 50 percent of Weston are watershed areas and said that part of the discussion should focus on environmental protections.

“We asked area residents to make their voices heard in Hartford, and they are doing exactly that,” Sen. Hwang said. “Housing policy impacts so many other policies, so when we get the chance to improve a nearly three-decades-old state law, we need to do it in a comprehensive way. We continue to urge people contact us with their thoughts on how to make Connecticut’s housing policies a role model for the rest of the nation.”

· The public may continue to email their comments about ways to improve the law to HSGtestimony@cga.ct.gov. (Comments may be as brief as you like. Include your name and town.)
· Put “Improve 8-30g” in the email’s subject line.
· Copy Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov

Attached photo: Working to Update Improve CT Housing Policies. Left to right: Housing Committee Chair Larry Butler (D-Waterbury), Easton resident Jeff Becker, Housing Committee Chair Sen. Tony Hwang (R-28th District). Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com .