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Listening to Voters

Dave Yaccarino is the leader East Haven’s working families deserve. In winter 2019, during our special election for state representative, there were a few critical issues being debated on in Hartford. Among them was raising our state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and instituting a paid family and medical leave program. Both of these issues polled high among voters and would go far in closing Connecticut’s shameful wage gap.

I didn’t support State Representative Joe Zullo (R-99)’s campaign because I believed, if elected, he would have voted against both of those proposals and others that would help struggling families like ours right here in East Haven.

Just last month, the United Way of Greater New Haven determined that more than 11,000 households in East Haven qualify as asset limited, income constrained, employed (ALICE). This means that these households are above the federal poverty line, but living off less than the basic cost of living. And that’s on top of the nearly 2,500 households that are living below the federal poverty line. Nearly half our town is one catastrophe away from financial ruin.

Luckily the minimum wage and paid family medical leave bills passed into law. Unfortunately, however, Joe Zullo proved me right and voted against both.

Dave Yaccarino understands that we live in an inequitable state, that the richest among us have felt little to no effects from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. This virus has most affected small business owners and essential workers who are struggling to make ends meet.

Rather than point fingers, Dave is hitting the streets, knocking on doors, and listening to voters about their needs. Dave can win this election with your readers’ support and their votes. I encourage your readers to cast their votes on Line A for Democrat Dave Yaccarino.

Kimberly Glassman

East Haven

Democrat Kimberly Glassman is a 1st District representative on the Town Council.