Last Updated on December 22, 2025 by Matthew Hallock
OP-ED
Fairfield held an Open Table (Saturday 12/20) that was more than a meeting; it generated a feeling of what true leadership looks like. And while State Senator Tony Hwang and I are both running for First Selectman, I wasn’t even on the panel and this wasn’t a campaign stop, photo op or scripted lecture — though more than one person mentioned that they wish all the candidates on the ballot were there. This was a deep dive into the “what do we do now” phase of protecting our town after the disastrous Housing Bill HB 8002 was just passed by Hartford.
These leaders strategized on how to hold the line against the massive state-mandated overreach signed into law earlier this month. It was a collection of the most progressive, rational voices fighting for common sense and local control in Connecticut.
This is coming on the heels of Fazio and Hwang’s commendable but under-reported performance in Hartford recently, during the “emergency” session that was called solely to pass the housing bill. Sen. Fazio was all over the airwaves then, decrying the process and the content of the legislation.
Perhaps more impressively, Senator Hwang (2) set the stage for advocates (3) who are trying to provide affordable milk to disadvantaged youths. This was in front of an empty gallery (1) as well as a display of apathy from other Senators, who either left the chambers entirely (4) to get what they told themselves was a free lunch or rudely turned their backs on the speaker (5). All of this was out of the limelight, to Senator Hwang’s credit. Read the story here: Deadly Sins sighting: Greed & Gluttony in the capital.
These displays of true leadership are truly refreshing and always in demand.
