Former New Britain City Council member Aram Ayalon (D-3), as part of his campaign for state representative, announced two proposals as a, “policy platform for affordable housing,” one on property taxes and the other on rents.
“Far too many of our neighbors,” Ayalon said, “especially those on lower or fixed incomes are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing taxes and rents, forcing some to face eviction and displacement.”
Ayalon is running for state representative in the 26th Assembly District. Another former Council member, Dave DeFronzo (D-AL), has also announced that he is seeking the seat.
On property taxes, Ayalon is proposing, “a threshold circuit breaker system for Connecticut’s property tax, modeled after successful implementations in states like New York,” adding, “This system would cap property taxes at a certain percentage of income and provide credits to taxpayers based on their income level, offering much-needed relief to struggling homeowners and renters alike.”
“In a state with the third-highest property tax burden in the nation, it’s clear that we need a more equitable approach to taxation,” said Ayalon, “By implementing a threshold circuit breaker system, we can ensure that homeowners and renters alike are not unfairly burdened by property tax increases beyond their means.”
Ayalon’s campaign pointed to New Britain’s, “2022 revaluation, which saw property values skyrocket by 50% and subsequently led to a significant increase in property taxes.” His campaign says that his plans are about, “taking proactive steps to combat the housing affordability crisis affecting both renters and homeowners in the district.”
On the issue of skyrocketing rents, Ayalon says that he, “supports a plan to establish a 2.5% annual cap on rent increases, mirroring pre-pandemic trends and ensuring that rent hikes remain in line with inflation.” He says the plan would exempt, “owner-occupied 1-4 family homes,” and have, “a local, administrative process for landlords to request higher rent increases on a case-by-case basis.”
Expressing disappointment with rent caps not being approved yet in the legislature, Ayalon said, “I will not make this same mistake. As your State Representative, I believe that every resident deserves the opportunity to establish roots and thrive in their community without outrageous rent increases.”
“Affordable housing is not just a matter of policy; it’s a matter of justice and stability for our community,” Ayalon said. “As your State Representative, I am committed to real action to address this crisis, not just superficial language about affordability that does not support working families.”
An open seat election in the district will occur this year after current State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), announced his retirement after serving the district for 21 years. If both Democratic candidates qualify for a primary, Democratic-registered voters will decide the Democratic nomination for the seat in an August 13th primary election. No Republican has filed a candidacy with the state yet.
Editor’s note: Cover photo by local photographer, Dr. Frank Gerratana.
