Strong Proposes Housing Reform Policies

Democratic Mayoral candidate Alicia Hernandez Strong has proposed a series of housing policies aimed at helping city residents.

“We have a housing crisis in New Britain,” Strong said. “Rent continues to climb while people’s wages remain stagnant.”

Strong adds, “Out-of-town landlords continue to make stricter requirements for tenants and tenants rights are rarely enforced.”

The candidate says that, if she is elected as Mayor, she plans to, “Create a landlord licensing system that requires anyone providing housing to register,” adding that she would, “Mandate and publicize data collection around landlords history,” and apply a, “Fee on out-of-town landlords and landlords with over 3 units.”

Strong says she would, “Promote & subsidize diversified housing options including co-op housing, affordable youth housing & emergency temporary housing,” and, “Promote first-time home ownership by providing tax abatements to owners who enter rent-to-own agreements with tenants.”

Strong says that she wants to, “Democratize and rehabilitate public housing,” adding that she wants to, “Appoint Housing Authority members who actually live in-community.”

The candidate say that she would, “Reform the Fair Rent Commission so that its membership is 2/3 tenants, to reflect the 2/3 of New Britain residents that are tenants,” and, “Create an emergency fund for people who are displaced from their homes by fires, floods and other disasters.”

Strong proposes to, “Tax rich, out of state developers who create luxury housing,” and, “Promote and support the formation of tenants’ unions across the city.”

Strong is running for the Democratic nomination for Mayor. Democratic Party voters will determine their nominee for Mayor in the September 14, 2021 primary between Strong and Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25), who was endorsed by the Democratic Party’s Town Committee. The winner will face Republican Mayor Erin Stewart in the November general election.