Lack of Mayoral Leadership in New Britain During the Pandemic

By Alderman Aram Ayalon

The Coronavirus pandemic created great challenges to leadership around the world.

In order to best meet this crisis local, state, and federal governments all need to contribute their share to minimize fatalities and reduce the spread of COVID-19. One of the most important levels of leadership that affects the spread of the virus is the local town/city where the mayor’s leadership is key. Mayors have the power to set and enforce state and federal regulations such as the wearing of masks, social distancing in public places. They are also in charge of providing PPE equipment support, information to the public regarding best practices, technical support, and more. The role of mayors is most important in supporting the poorest and most vulnerable population which suffers most during the outbreak from shortage of food, lack of employment and housing. Furthermore, the mayors are role models and set the tone by wearing masks, modeling social distance and how they treat their own employees during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, in New Britain, Mayor Erin Stewart failed to provide the leadership needed to combat the pandemic. First, she was very late in closing city hall to the public (April 6) while most other city and town hall in Connecticut were already closed for two or three weeks. Second, while most business and local, state and federal governments were sending their employees to work from home, Mayor Stewart insisted on requiring all city employees to physically show to work whether or not they could do work from home. Third, the mayor did not appear in City Council meetings wearing a mask nor other city employees attending the meetings, despite federal and state urging to do so. Similarly, many city employees working outdoors were seen not wearing masks while in close proximity with co-workers. Fourth, while most towns and cities in Connecticut cancelled the 4^th of July mass celebrations and fireworks, Mayor Stewart insisted on maintaining the event, and spending $60,000 on fireworks. While spectators were urged to view the event in their cars, still such car crowds may have put more people at risk.  Fifth, while the school district reported that close to 10% of its students did not have access to WIFI and could not benefit from online learning during the pandemic, the mayor refused to provide any support such as with hotspots, despite requests from the Democrats on the City Council. Only after the New Britain school board received financial help from the Federal Government did the mayor let her IT department cooperate with the school district.

In conclusion, as the pandemic has had a devastating impact on the United States with more than 140,000 dead and millions infected and as the rate of infection in New Britain keeps going up and stands at 1549 per 100,000 with 94 fatalities as of July 19, it is incumbent on Mayor Stewart to take this pandemic seriously and provide leadership on this matter that the residents deserve. She needs to wear a mask in all her official work, require all city employees to wear masks and maintain social distance as well as allow them to work from home as much as possible. Furthermore, she needs to focus city resources on supporting the residents and schools, reduce large gatherings, establish limitations on crowding in city parks and playgrounds, and develop a plan to combat the second wave of the Coronavirus that almost certainly will hit us soon.

As mentioned in WTNH on July 12, 2020, Mayor Erin Stewart is planning another run for governor of Connecticut. Is this type of leadership we can expect from her?