The City Council of New London, Connecticut, voted last week to disperse more than $13 million in federal pandemic relief funds during an emergency meeting. Now, some residents say they feel unheard and the decision was made in haste without their input.
The City Council on Wednesday approved a far-reaching plan to spend more than $13 million in federal funds on a variety of programs and city initiatives.
The Connecticut Democratic Party has asked towns to put together their slates for municipal offices differently this year, a move criticized by Republicans as small-town politics heat up for a contentious election season.
Democrats say the measure protects against the spread of COVID-19. Republicans argue that the move is a form of voter suppression.
Rather than coming up with slates via caucuses, where any registered Democrat is allowed to vote, the state party has sought to limit local Democratic town committees to voting for candidate endorsements among committee members only.
The state party didn t notify the Secretary of the State s Office of its rule change in time for it to be formally added to the bylaws. Party officials claim this was on purpose, and was always meant to be a temporary change caused by the pandemic.