A large turn out of residents packed the C.H. Booth Library’s Meeting Room for a Community Conversation with local legislators on the evening of January 22.

State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky, JP Sredzinski, Raghib Allie-Brennan, and State Senator Tony Hwang invited the public to bring questions and concerns regarding issues and priorities for the 2020 Legislative Session, which starts February 5.

“This is an opportunity for us to get feedback,” Senator Hwang said during the introductory portion of the meeting.

One of the first audience members to speak to the legislators raised concerns over an article he read about a specific case in Norwalk where taxpayers’ money was being used toward extra immigration expenses. The resident then asked why it is happening and if it will keep on happening.

Rep Bolinsky said that as a sanctuary state, Connecticut has “swung the door open” when dealing with this issue and that immigration policy has to be dealt with on a federal level for consistency throughout all states.

“It’s a difficult issue to deal with. We need help,” he concluded.

Rep Sredzinski echoed his sentiments, saying that it is a policy issue that needs to be dealt with on a federal level.

Rep Raghib Allie-Brennan added insight about one of Connecticut’s rules: “We passed a law this past session that was called the Trust Act that made sure ICE agents can’t just roll up to a neighborhood and pick someone up, that’s what opens up to a lawsuit. We are protecting our backs… and making sure people aren’t getting scooped up and sent away. There needs to be some accountability.”

Sen Hwang put the question into perspective saying, “I think one of the important parts of this is that we don’t have the article in front of us, we don’t have all the details and nuances of that occurrence, so we have to reserve some degree of judgement in regards to policy commentary…

“But on a general basis in regard to immigration — I am an immigrant. My family went through the immigrant experience. I understand this country was built on that. We have an important role to maintain a degree of open access to people that are here for the right reasons.”

Additional questions and concerns that were brought up during the hour-long gathering included guidelines for voter identification; tolls; people and companies leaving the state; taxes, such as the grocery tax; and state pensions.

At the end of the Community Conversation, Sen Hwang gave a special thanks to the town officials present for the work they do serving locally.

To everyone in the room, Rep Bolinsky made the closing statement, “We didn’t get to every question, obviously. You guys have great questions. Please, for goodness sake… contact us as a group or contact us individually.”

To contact State Representative Mitch Bolinsky, call 860-240-8700 or visit repbolinsky.com. To contact State Representative JP Sredzinski, call 860-240-8700 or visit repsredzinski.com. To contact State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan, call 860-240-8500 or visit housedems.ct.gov/allie-brennan. To contact State Senator Tony Hwang, call 860-240-8800 or visit senatorhwang.com.