Dear Neighbors,

With the CT legislative session in full swing and bills moving through the legislature very quickly, I wanted to update you on some testimony that I’ve submitted recently:

Advocating for Connecticut’s Children and Families:

I testified in favor of school breakfast for all students, and eliminating the cost for students eligible for reduced cost lunch. There is growing food insecurity in all communities throughout Connecticut, including in Greenwich. Free school breakfasts, available for all, reduce absenteeism, help children learn better and remove the stigma for children who need this help but are afraid to ask because they don’t want to be singled out. Providing free school meals to all students isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart policy.

I also supported a bill to help make early childhood education more affordable. The lack of available and affordable childcare affects so many families in Connecticut, and the state loses roughly $1.5 billion per year due to the lack of infant and toddler care. Addressing the waitlists for early childhood education programs and depositing funds into the Early Childhood Endowment will make care in Early Start programs more affordable. Childcare is an investment in Connecticut's economy.

Preserving our wetlands and coastal areas:

I testified in support of legislation to protect and preserve riparian buffers. Riparian buffers are areas next to streams, lakes or wetlands that contain trees, shrubs, or other plants. Healthy, vegetated riparian buffers are essential to clean water, flood resilience, cold water habitat, and drinking water protection and it is imperative that we protect and preserve them. In fact, vegetative riparian buffers are some of the best tools for protecting water quality, reducing flooding, and building climate resilience.

Protecting and preserving riparian areas is the fiscally responsible thing to do because it is more cost effective compared to engineered stormwater fixes, it protects municipal infrastructure from flooding, as well as protecting property values and property loss from erosion.

Protecting Local Control

I submitted testimony against a bill that would make changes to the laws governing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Among other things, the bill undermines local zoning regulations on ADUs.

While ADUs are an important tool to meet the need for affordable housing in a community, allowing development of ADUs without consideration to existing infrastructure capacity could strain infrastructure, potentially posing risks to neighbors and the surrounding environment.

As I've stated previously, I believe that local governments are better informed about how much additional density their infrastructure can handle, and where to locate it.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me at: Rachel.Khanna@greenwichct.gov or (203) 622-7706.

Best Regards,

Video: Food Insecurity in Connecticut

The state’s Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, and Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO) annual report concludes that hunger in Connecticut has worsened and unless we take action, it will continue. With rising food insecurity, the emergency food system, like food banks and pantries, is under increasing strain.

YWCA Women Who Inspire Awards

It was a tremendous honor to be among this year's class of Women Who Inspire.

The YWCA has been an important part of my life going back to when my family and I first moved here, 25 years ago. I consider myself very fortunate to be part of this community and to be able to do the work that I do.

I am so grateful to my family, friends and colleagues who have stood by my side and supported me along my journey.