In conjunction with this plan, Hamden must also look at  old capital projects for potential funding leftovers and utilize  those remainders to pay down our debt service moving forward.  It is imperative to control spending and curb the growth of future costs. To aid these efforts, Hamden’s elected officials have to make a pointed  effort to educate the public on the difference between the operating budget, the capital budget, and the many special funds that go into Town expenditures so the whole community can participate in an educated discussion on how to balance these funds to arrest this existential crisis.

We  need to grow Hamden’s  commercial tax base to reduce the burden on residents– which  is where Adam’s  vision for Smart, Targeted Economic Development comes in. For example, attracting a medical campus to Hamden would bring high-quality services and well-paying jobs to our community while contributing significantly to the commercial tax base. The addition of high-value medical equipment would also increase revenue through the personal property portion of the grand list—further relieving tax pressure on homeowners. Frankly put, Hamden must put its best foot forward in promoting itself as the prime attraction for quality employers, dynamic service providers, and the best site for highway-accessible light manufacturing in the state.

 

The level of crisis also requires a responsible administration to consider other revenue diversification strategies, strategies that do not increase the financial burden on taxpayers.  In short, the greatest proportion of general fund municipal revenue comes from property taxes and state aid.  Hamden must maintain its focus on exploring other grants, lobbying the Connecticut General Assembly for full funding of the State’s Education Cost Sharing Grant (ECS) and Special Education Excess Cost Grant, which has been notably underfunded for decades, and hiring a firm to locate and charge those individuals who evade the Hamden motor vehicle tax, maintaining registration in other jurisdictions. Other ideas that should be given analysis and consideration include Tax Increment Financing (TIF), reviewing local hospitality taxes, a full review of ordinances pertaining to fines, fees, and permits, evaluation of opportunities for “Smart City Data” partnerships, and the creation of an Endowment Fund.

 

It's time to bring in statewide experts to offer impartial advice, share best practices, and help identify innovative, sustainable solutions to Hamden’s structural budget problems and subsequent tax burden.

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Building a Healthier Hamden

 

Adam’s work at the Keefe Community Center and obtaining a Masters of Public Health from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst has made the links between healthy bodies and healthy communities clear.

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During the COVID pandemic, Adam led the rapid transformation of our Town’s human services into emergency response mode. Working alongside dedicated partners, he coordinated critical food security efforts, organized community testing, and later oversaw vaccination events. 

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 Like many of us, Adam wants to control the proliferation of smoke shops.  Hamden doesn’t need one on every block; our youth deserve better. He will work with Town leadership to establish responsible zoning and licensing policies that prevent over-saturation, particularly near schools.

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Since the closure of the Putnam Avenue Stop & Shop, lower Dixwell is an emerging food desert. Adam  will prioritize bringing a grocery store to Southern Hamden and explore other creative solutions to increase access to fresh, affordable food– like growing and expanding community gardens across Hamden. This is both a public health imperative and an economic development opportunity.

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Adam will also expand urban tree planting.  Southern Hamden, with more pavement and less green space, faces higher rates of asthma and heat-related health issues; he saw that first hand at Keefe and when he was on the Church Street School Based Health Clinic Advisory Board. Adam and his team will expand tree planting programs in these areas to clean the air, cool the streets, and improve health outcomes.

 

Public Safety

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Adam knows that Public Safety is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of local government—and it’s a top priority for him. Hamden has seen more than its fair share of emergencies and disasters in recent years. During his time working for the town, he collaborated closely with our Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments, and  understands what it takes to support the people who protect our community.

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To ensure Hamden remains safe, responsive, and prepared, Adam plans to:

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1. Invest in and maintain critical Emergency Management infrastructure.

2. Ensure steady and adequate staffing levels across public safety departments; this is key to maintaining and improving response times, ensuring full coverage across Hamden’s 33 square miles and 240 miles of roads, and also reducing costly overtime due to understaffing.

3. Implement a fully integrated inventory and maintenance plan for our vehicle fleet—including snowplows, patrol cars, and fire trucks—so our frontline teams have the equipment they need, when they need it.

4. Strengthen community policing and prioritize prevention. Building trust, improving neighborhood engagement, and proactively addressing issues before they escalate are essential to a safer community.

5. Utilize the Fire Department and Fire Marshal’s office and corporate partners to enhance the dissemination of fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and household emergency escape plans to reduce the risk of needless tragedy.

 

Education

 

As a father of two daughters who attended Hamden Public Schools and a former Chair of the Board of Education, Adam has a deep understanding of the delivery of education services and its importance in attracting new residents.  Education is not just the standard classroom, but also the support services, arts, athletics, and other elements of school– all of which are a critical community-building element.  

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A strong school system has always been a cornerstone of Hamden’s success and will continue to be a key factor in future growth as a major driver in attracting and retaining families. 

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To maintain and improve Hamden’s education system, Adam plans to:

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1. Use the Mayor’s ex-officio role as a non-voting member of the Board of Education when necessary to stay actively engaged with educational matters and the concerns of the community.

2. Expand opportunities for all of our children, not just academically, but also to ensure they grow into well-rounded, informed citizens who are prepared for current and future challenges.

3. Expand career and technical education opportunities in Hamden, ensuring that our students have pathways to meaningful careers by linking their education directly to real-world opportunities.

4. Maintain relationships with the local community colleges to allow high school students to earn college credits while in high school to reduce the total cost of higher education for families.

 

Community Building

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Hamden is always at its strongest when we come together.  Adam believes in maximizing the opportunity for residents to join with their neighbors at community events, library programming, fairs and festivals.  He believes that partnering with community groups and the various Town Boards and Commissions to preserve and promote these events will create an environment in which the social fabric of Hamden can be strengthened.

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Adam grew up playing little league baseball here in Hamden, and knows that rallying together around youth sports, arts programming, and clubs brings children from diverse neighborhoods—and their families—together, to make a geographically large Town much smaller.

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There are no successes without collaboration among a community who has access to quality information.  Town leadership cannot be vain and it cannot be insulated.  It must be prepared to meet the moment by meeting Hamden’s stakeholders.  Adam is building a broad coalition of supporters— a big tent of people, businesses, and institutions who deeply care about Hamden, who understand its strengths and weaknesses, and are committed to doing the hard work that will make sure Hamden’s brightest days are in its future.

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