Connecticut’s struggles with stark economic disparities between many of its 169 communities are no secret, and some leaders at the local level are working to find ways to make their communities more equitable.

Carl Fortuna is the first selectman of Old Saybrook, and he believes the number one priority for towns to break these barriers is to implement deed-restricted housing.
Deed-restricted housing is a form of affordable housing. It’s when the deed gets recorded on the land records for multi-family housing. There must be a certain number of units in the dwelling that are deed-restricted, and its rental cost cannot exceed a defined amount, which is based on several factors.
Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism!
Fortuna says having deed-restricted units not only helps those who normally couldn’t afford to live in an affluent town like Old Saybrook, but it also is a major benefit to the town.

More about Connecticut gas prices

Gas Prices Jump Another 5 Cents
Gas prices in Connecticut have jumped more than five cents since Tuesday setting a new record.
Keep reading
Connecticut Gas Prices Jump 19 Cents In One Week
By the end of the day Monday, the average price of gasoline per gallon in Connecticut had reached $4.32, up 2 cents since Sunday and 19 cents over the past week, according to AAA.
Keep reading
Connecticut Gas Prices Have Dropped 2 Cents in the Last Week
Average gas prices per gallon in the U.S. are up slightly from the weekend but down about three cents from a week ago, while Connecticut’s average price dropped about two cents during the week ending April 18.
Keep reading
How Gas Prices Have Changed in Connecticut In The Last Week
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline this week is down seven cents. The drop follows President Biden’s March 31 announcement that the country’s strategic petroleum reserve would release 1 million barrels of oil a day for six months.
Keep reading
Lamont Presses Gas Stations to Immediately Offer Tax Relief
As a recently-passed gas tax holiday went into effect Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont pressed Connecticut gas stations to immediately pass the resulting savings on to consumers despite warnings from fuel sellers that the discounts may be delayed.
Keep reading
House, Senate Pass 25-Cent Gas Tax Holiday
With back-to-back votes Wednesday, Connecticut’s House and Senate approved a bipartisan bill suspending for three months the state’s 25 cent-per-gallon excise tax on gasoline in an effort to provide relief from historic fuel prices. The bill, emergency certified by legislative leaders in order to bypass the traditional committee process, suspends the state’s gasoline tax from…
Keep reading
Gas Station Association Says Tax Relief Could Be Delayed
With the legislature expected to adopt a three month gas tax holiday on Wednesday, gas stations were lobbying lawmakers to include a rebate for the taxes which fuel sellers have already paid on their inventory. Both chambers of the legislature plan to meet and pass emergency certified legislation which will include a suspension of the…
Keep reading
Gas Tax Holiday on the Table After Meeting of Governor, Legislative Leaders
Gov. Ned Lamont endorsed a plan to temporarily cut taxes on gasoline by 25 cents Monday following a meeting with legislative leaders from both parties aimed at combating soaring gas prices and inflation. “I think I can tell you there was strong consensus that now is the time to provide immediate relief, A, to the…
Keep reading
Could A Gas Tax Suspension Spell Relief At The Pump?
Republican lawmakers called Thursday for a suspension of Connecticut’s gross receipts tax on gasoline in a temporary proposal they hope will mitigate the impact of a record-breaking surge in gas prices. Standing at a busy intersection in Hartford, House and Senate Republicans proposed to table the gross receipts tax until July, forgoing an estimated $180…
Keep reading
Amidst Rising Gas Prices, Lamont Will Not Seek TCI Approval
Gov. Ned Lamont stepped away from the Transportation and Climate Initiative on Tuesday, telling reporters he would not continue to seek legislative approval as climbing gas prices made the multi-state agreement on fuel emissions a hard sell.
Keep reading
Rhode Island Senate Ponders Connecticut During Transportation Climate Initiative Debate
Connecticut’s rebuff of the Transportation and Climate Initiative was the subject of debate this week in Rhode Island, where state senators voted to move forward with the regional pact despite reluctance from their next door neighbors. Rhode Island’s Democratic-controlled state Senate voted 28 to 7 Tuesday to authorize the multi-state agreement requiring fuel suppliers to…
Keep reading
Transportation Climate Initiative Back In The Mix
With the legislature heading towards a special session, Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday he will push lawmakers to include the Transportation and Climate Initiative in a limited agenda already expected to cover cannabis legalization and budget language. The initiative is a multi-state agreement to require fuel suppliers to buy permits for the pollution that results…
Keep readingMore Interviews

Interview: Ready or Not, Governments, the Metaverse is Coming
Imagine putting on a headset and entering a virtual 3D world where you can interact with others who are doing the same.
Keep reading
Interview: Terrorism Has Evolved Since 9/11, And So Has the Connecticut Intelligence Center
Connecticut Intelligence Center Director Alvin Schwapp, Jr., tells reporter Adam Chiara that the core purpose of the Center, which was established following the Sept. 11 attacks 20 years ago, remains the same.
Keep reading
Interview: AdvanceCT Makes Business Rankings a Priority for Connecticut
Connecticut has been making strides to improve its business-friendliness ranking and is inching its way up with the help of a public-private partnership.
Keep readingInterview: Police Training Continually Assessed to Meet Community Needs
Before a civilian can become a police officer in Connecticut, they must first be certified by the state after completing training in both a controlled environment and in the field with a training officer. I spoke with a few of the officers who are a part of this process, and they emphasized that the program…
Keep readingStudy Says Corporate Tax Incentives Often Harm States More Than Help
In most cases, corporate tax incentives left states in worse financial condition than they were to begin with; that’s the finding of a study published recently by the journal Public Administration Review.
Keep reading
Interview: Senator Wants To Designate Racism As A Public Health Crisis
Evidence shows that minorities in Connecticut are experiencing a magnitude of health disparities.
Keep readingConnecticut Has A Cybersecurity Strategy, But Many Municipalities And Businesses Are Vulnerable
While this is one of the most advanced and largest hacks of the federal government on record, cyberattacks against governments and businesses of all sizes occur every day. Art House, who has served as the chief cybersecurity risk officer for the state of Connecticut and also served as a White House fellow on the National…
Keep readingDECD Commissioner: COVID-19 Business Complaint Form Provides Data But No Clear Direction
The website is overseen by the Department of Economic and Community Development. I spoke with David Lehman, who is the department’s commissioner, about why the state felt the need to create the website and how they are using the information that’s being collected.
Keep readingInterview: Merrill Says Absentee Voting Not A Concern, But There Are Other Threats
Denise Merrill, the state’s top election official, says she’s heard concerns from citizens about whether all absentee ballots will be counted. Adding more tension is the narrative that President Trump is pushing that casts doubt over the integrity of the election. We spoke to Secretary Merrill about how confident she is in absentee voting and…
Keep readingInterview: Another Challenge For Reopening Schools? Safe Ventilation In Every Classroom
However, among the thousands of safety details to be considered for all the different types of school buildings in Connecticut, one problem that may be really difficult to overcome is ventilation. I spoke to Paulo Verardi, an associate professor of Virology and Vaccinology at the University of Connecticut, and he says – based on the…
Keep readingInterview: DEEP Commissioner Says Trucking Waste Out-of-state Can’t Be A Long-term Solution
It’s the last publicly owned trash-to-energy plant in Connecticut, and it has been converting waste from dozens of towns into energy for decades. But its operator, Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA), says it will not have the funds to continue operating the plant after Aug. 31. MIRA’s board of directors voted in May to…
Keep reading
Red Cross: Blood Donations Urgently Needed As Hospitals See 30% Increase In Demand
SHORT: While the American Red Cross has recovered from a severe shortage of blood donations since the initial COVID-19 surge, there is now an urgent need as stay-at-home orders are being lifted and the summer begins. Summer months typically mean a decrease in donations because more people are away for vacation and there are less…
Keep reading