As invited guests of the East End Community Club, Representative Noujaim and State Senator Joe Markley presented an overview of the recently ended legislative session to more than 30 concerned Waterbury residents.
The legislators presented a brief recap of what Rep. Noujaim termed a “difficult session” that included many bills he said were votes against the human element of the state. Elaborating, Rep. Noujaim mentioned specific legislation like the bill to allow release credits for convicted violent criminals regardless of whether or not they completed counseling programs, the transgender or “bathroom bill” that will allow people to use any bathroom depending on how they feel and the myriad tax increases and new fees relating to the Governor’s budget.
Referencing the votes he cast during this past session, Rep. Noujaim said “We can’t think about Republican or Democrat, we need to think about every single person who sent us to Hartford.”
The state legislators also called on two of Waterbury’s aldermen who were present at the meeting and asked them to join them at the front of the room to discuss important local issues. Alderwoman Anne Phelan and Alderman Jerry Padula graciously accepted the invitation and discussed the city budget, including taxes and mill rates, binding arbitration and education issues.
