To The Editor:

The passage of HB-8002 last week represents an abuse of power and a betrayal of democratic process in Connecticut.

By calling an “Emergency Special Session” on November 12, the Democrat majority and it’s legislative leaders rammed through this overhaul of local zoning laws with zero public hearings, zero committee debate, and zero opportunity for residents, municipal officials, or even most legislators to read the final text before voting. Lawmakers were handed the bill mere hours before the vote; many admitted they had not reviewed it fully.

This was not an emergency. There was no flood, no fiscal collapse, no imminent crisis justifying the suspension of normal order. The only “emergency” was political: Democrat leaders wanted to impose a deeply unpopular, state takeover of local zoning before towns could mobilize opposition to this unpopular bill.

Connecticut’s constitution allows emergency sessions for extraordinary circumstances, not for dodging transparency when pushing controversial policy. Using this tool to silence public input on a bill that will permanently alter every town like ours is an affront to open government.

Governor Lamont still has the chance to reject this undemocratic power grab. He should veto HB-8002 and insist that any future zoning changes go through the regular legislative process — with public hearings, testimony from residents and local leaders, and genuine deliberation.

The people of Connecticut deserve better than legislation passed in the dead of night under the false banner of emergency.

Jim Bernardi

Newtown