[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6611808,"mediaKeyId","2892878-317991499787f0573397613be37cf074","parentId",2892878,"title","Mayor urges state advocacy after budget cuts to city revenue; councilors and students urged to take concerns to Hartford","audioSeconds",569,"startMs",5172264,"endMs",5741739,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892878-317991499787f0573397613be37cf074&start=5172&end=5741","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892878-317991499787f0573397613be37cf074/thumbnail_5172264.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611808/New-London/New-London-County/Connecticut/Mayor-urges-state-advocacy-after-budget-cuts-to-city-revenue-councilors-and-students-urged-to-take-concerns-to-Hartford","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611808-52eb083719a7adcf90855684e3404390/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188370&Signature=Jv9xtf37vZlGbQmMC9poNLhGZQ6y7QPgmyuW9scSXyRMC4Ld7q3lcGyW~lIhXImiZDYSq2bSZ4neoffVda7bg2rx~7FxLf~-EnlxxGuF7sTmuZdfkVQjJ0HSE7FBGrl5299LvqkZ4p7bFBZ-glidAgIDmW~NsI7MA~YQDdsqXlCg-u9TVIvMxLA6OBjy5Fjf2VvhZbmhnZe9bfKkeSQ~eG4BeMalwa~8tcHPb47NwWzCgeeYCfP0sHaLVlVIHMm78OOc7ZuuEkdDPRRXAIQN6QmDGmBvhrYiSNEkchJdgJqidDRYIUL-2da2JktAkwZcclSeXz8gc4OFhIk10ObKAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New London","date","2025-04-08T00:12:20.723Z","article","Mayor Pastro used his remarks to frame the city’s budget pressures as driven by state actions and called for concerted advocacy in Hartford.

The mayor said the state has taken properties off the local tax rolls and that the city lost $2.5 million in state support this year. “The state is supposed to reimburse us for the properties they take off of our tax rolls and they do not and then on top of that, this year, they cut us by 2 and a half million dollars,” he said. He described the local effects on families and services, saying many households in New London are struggling: “60 percent of our families are ALICE households. Asset limited, income but employed.” He argued the property-tax system is regressive and that raising local property taxes further would disproportionately hurt low-income residents.

Councilor Dice and other councilors responded by urging constituents and student advocates to testify and write to state legislators. A councilor noted upcoming local budget deliberations and invited residents to attend finance-committee meetings scheduled Tuesday through Thursday, where the education portion will be discussed. Councilors discussed logistics for testifying in Hartford—written testimony, Zoom, or in-person appearances—and said city staff would try to notify interested residents when relevant committee hearings and bill schedules are posted.

Mayor Pastro framed the advocacy strategy as taking the message to the state rather than asking the city’s poorest residents to pay more: “We’re not going to fight amongst ourselves again in this city. We’re gonna fight the people who are crushing us in Hartford,” he said. Several councilors volunteered to help organize residents and students for testimony and letter-writing campaigns.

The transcript records an extended exchange about the effects of state policy on local revenue and the need to coordinate advocacy; no new local taxes or formal council directives were adopted in the meeting record. The mayor and councilors encouraged public engagement in the legislative process and pledged to alert residents when committee hearings are scheduled.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04-07-2025 City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Pastro told the council that state-level decisions have reduced the city's revenue base—citing a $2.5 million cut and removal of property from the tax rolls—and called on residents and councilors to advocate in Hartford for relief. Councilors encouraged public participation in upcoming legislative and budget committee hearings.","taxTitle","New London, New London County, Connecticut","taxId",70139,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6611813,"City council approves tourism marketing payment, legal transfer and project contingency adjustments",141,6572680,6714585,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892878-317991499787f0573397613be37cf074&start=6572&end=6714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892878-317991499787f0573397613be37cf074/thumbnail_6572680.jpg","/articles/6611813/New-London/New-London-County/Connecticut/City-council-approves-tourism-marketing-payment-legal-transfer-and-project-contingency-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611813-72b4653de27912241c8f3dd6ea7d9ea4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188370&Signature=i5vjN3oaHvG-jrDWOwVBO2vsureFYLNKEDJCXWKqCqFwpZjOhlvzZ8W42KkdGWq-8q4wRjKN4HRUCbAhbJe8eaeY1vvj72gHV1s3TNKqqvuHO5zyV3SioWNz~IRxb7snE42ReHoBYFF2CyRc5ej7uZtxg~W3o0~xcu1yAeTAyOzAF5qIbF7xyLU~vlGd1RoO2p5xvopyJ4N4j6GsFNU3LOEOOsGnP8YO8lrJAHD8oZxC~7h03xLJbnFaF5tyv0kd0-hMl9v84CTqKlFvv6vo4IFN1DmNHz9psnu9mzxSm4DsR8Gqgi2iHetLij~fKx-dEmwTqE4v9whWz~ZqGdNpUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New London City Council approved three appropriation and transfer items during its meeting.

Ordinance 040725-01: The council approved an ordinance authorizing $16,800 in funding tied to the Eastern Regional Tourism District and a regional marketing partnership. The backup material in the record states the money will be used to produce a longer-form promotional video and shorter commercial segments with CTvisit Eastern Connecticut; Quinn and Harry (the city’s contracted marketing firm) will provide the services on the city’s behalf. The ordinance passed by roll-call vote with councilors recorded voting in the affirmative.

Resolution: Council approved a transfer of $38,000 from contingency to cover legal expenses related to an ongoing investigation; council amended the motion to ensure funds are moved to the law/legal/financial account rather than directly to the police department. The amendment and the main motion carried.

Community center contract allowance: The council approved a transfer of $250,000—money originally held as a general-contractor allowance—back into the city project contingency because that portion of the contractor’s allowance was not used. Council amended the CAM to replace the word “purchase” with “transfer” to reflect the accounting action; the amended motion carried.

All three measures recorded passage in the meeting transcript; named roll-call votes were used for the Eastern Regional Tourism District appropriation.","New London City Council approved three financial actions: a $16,800 tourism marketing appropriation, a $38,000 transfer for legal expenses (amended to a legal/financial account), and a $250,000 return of general-contractor allowance to project contingency (language amended from \"purchase\" to \"transfer\").",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6611818,"Nonprofits urge continued CDBG support at New London public hearing; committee approves contingency plan",1469,70375,1539520,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892878-317991499787f0573397613be37cf074&start=70&end=1539","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892878-317991499787f0573397613be37cf074/thumbnail_70375.jpg","/articles/6611818/New-London/New-London-County/Connecticut/Nonprofits-urge-continued-CDBG-support-at-New-London-public-hearing-committee-approves-contingency-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611818-80107e93ec51789f3cb4d4cea97a68e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188370&Signature=CIOZTBnZV6HsYXM8PiZQf-21RqpNTWwR2Vng5OOm1CjlI7z9hyI~xpCBP2D1q1sK4~cLE4oFQFNC1rPPQukCkq5d9NTYubYcuyF03DcsV5zITkIKnT1VoAc0FFfiMTL8pI9agoQ2F1rwE0NAYd4se0GxPbXdsFXGs2xRbLTyizF64XB8T8gs2A8r8suNVor-KWjK9loUD6KuXoDYdN0Ivby3vD0SmIbub1Ujwk0xZUdNHqw9Pmq2oNdHEEjTpzGJA0tmlPIldsZd-3QkKAC7xnss8GoYN6Kryul3KxobIhnxf67y9WF~09qBM73HocmWAFVLuYGidS1GH9gD35KZ-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from local nonprofits and city staff spoke at a second public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), describing programs that rely on CDBG dollars and asking the city to continue support.

At the hearing, speakers from Heavy Hitters USA, the New London Maritime Society, Safe Futures, New London Recreation, the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Centre, TVCCA, the New London Homeless Hospitality Center and other local groups detailed how they use CDBG funding and what shortfalls they face.

Shannon Russell, representing Heavy Hitters USA, said the group uses grant funds to support youth programming and scholarships that keep students “in the gym,” and noted the organization’s summer program has returned after wrestling season. Susan Tamulovich of the New London Maritime Society told the council her group seeks a modest, lower-cost measure—window scrims that would block about 30% of incoming light—to protect artifacts at the Custom House Maritime Museum. Nazmi Ojeda, director of education and community engagement for Safe Futures, said CDBG funding helps provide free, confidential in-person services and clinical support for victim survivors; he said the organization supported “over 10,000 victim survivors” last year.

Josh Posey, New London recreation director, described requests to continue a “rec mobile” that provided activities in parks and subsidized housing (he said the program served about 450 participants last summer), and to support adaptive leadership services for children with special needs. Annie Stockton of the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Centre said CDBG allocations enable the center to purchase culturally appropriate, healthy food and to leverage other funding. TVCCA’s director of senior nutrition said CDBG funds support home-delivered and congregate meals for seniors; a speaker identified an expected reach of roughly 290 New London seniors.

After public comment closed, a motion was offered to approve a contingency plan “as recommended by the Office of Development and Planning.” The committee motion and second were recorded in the transcript, and the motion passed unanimously. The hearing record shows the council’s public-welfare committee then closed the hearing and approved the recommended contingency plan.

Speakers and organizations at the hearing provided program descriptions and service counts but generally did not specify dollar amounts sought in public remarks; where applicants submitted specific funding requests they are recorded in the city’s application materials, not the hearing transcript.","Representatives from local nonprofits described services funded by Community Development Block Grant money and asked the council to sustain funding. The council’s public-welfare committee approved a contingency plan as recommended by the Office of Development and Planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor urges state advocacy after budget cuts to city revenue; councilors and students urged to take concerns to Hartford

City council approves tourism marketing payment, legal transfer and project contingency adjustments

Nonprofits urge continued CDBG support at New London public hearing; committee approves contingency plan