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The What

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of November 6.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
Hope your November is off to a good start! (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, November 6

Happy Monday! Many of you might remember how this summer, as wildfire smoke from Canada moved into our region, we saw firsthand the impacts of unhealthy air quality and the effects it can have. But outdoor air quality in our area remains a persistent challenge, even outside of the wildfire smoke.

Fairfield County’s air quality is some of the worst in the country, according to the 2023 “State of the Air” report from the American Lung Association. The county received poor grades for both ozone—a harmful pollutant—and particle pollution, both of which can cause health challenges, such as higher rates of asthma.

Poor air quality has numerous negative impacts, and Stamford officials have found disparities in who likely bears the brunt of them. 

“Historically, toxic industries and traffic pollution have disproportionately impacted Stamford’s South End and West Side,” the city stated in a grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency for air quality monitors. “Poor air quality is a systemic issue that people of color face. There is a strong link in the South End and West Side neighborhoods between poverty and chronic disease, deteriorating residents’ quality of life. These areas exhibit some of the worst asthma rates in the community.”

Because of this communities, like Stamford, and state agencies are moving to do more related to air quality monitoring in our region. 

Learn more about those efforts and why local representatives want the city to do more. You can also check out our video highlighting why air quality remains a challenge in our region.

Tomorrow is also Election Day, and while there are no state or federal elections on the ballot this year, there are local races and issues on the ballot. Find out more about what you’ll be voting for in your community: 

Let’s see what else is happening this week.

Stamford

The Board of Representatives will meet on Wednesday, November 8 at 8 p.m. and vote on an agreement between the city and a consultant, The Street Plans Collaborative, to put together a Vision Zero Action Plan. Learn more about the city’s Vision Zero efforts.

Other meetings this week include: 

Norwalk

The Bike/Walk Commission will meet on Monday, November 6 at 6 p.m. and receive an update on work taking place on the Norwalk River Valley Trail. Learn more about the NRVT and its importance to the region.

Other meetings this week include:  

Fairfield

The Affordable Housing Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 8 at 7 p.m. and discuss the next steps and timeline for the town’s Affordable Housing Plan.

Other meetings this week include: 

Greenwich

The Board of Health will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 6 to continue its discussions of a proposed noise ordinance for the town. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Darien

Meetings this week include: 

Westport

Multiple Representative Town Meeting committees will be discussing creating a Traffic, Transportation, and Parking Advisory Committee that would specifically focus on those issues in town. The RTM Public Protection Committee and RTM Public Works Committee will discuss this at their joint meeting on Monday, November 6 at 7 p.m. and the RTM Ordinance Committee will discuss it on Wednesday, November 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Other meetings this week include: 

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Thank you for reading! 

If you are interested in being a part of our reporting or just want to share your thoughts, please reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com. 

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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