Enfield Things

No Kings Protest Enfield What may be most striking about Enfield’s No Kings protest is how peaceful and calm it is. People are carrying homemade signs, some with dogs in tow, hugging people they know, and many waving small American flags. Drivers are blowing their horns in appreciation and support, which enlivens the crowd. Enfield’s No Kings protest began at noon. People were here well before the start, and many are still flowing in. It’s hard to say how many, but it’s in the hundreds and rising. It might top July’s protest, which reportedly drew about 700. I’ve never seen this level of political engagement and activism in Enfield. This is a classic suburban town, not prone to drama except on Facebook, but in normal life focused on school sports and things for kids to do. What are the implications of this? From a national perspective, it adds something to the conversation; from a local perspective, Democrats are hoping the anti-Trump backlash will translate into a local victory on ...

I had the chance to interview Councilmember and State Rep. John Santanella on his Cox TV show, Community Crossroads. We discussed some of the major issues in this election. One thing missing from Enfield’s election season is real discussion. There are no debates, no forums where a panel or the public can question the candidates. As a result, we usually hear more about their backgrounds and resumes than how they would tackle the town’s biggest challenges. With that in mind, Councilmember and State Rep. John Santanella invited me to interview him on his Cox TV show Community Crossroads. [ Here’s the link to the show .] Usually, he’s the one asking the questions, but this time he asked me to turn the tables and focus on town issues. I was glad to take him up on it. The questions I asked are the same ones I’d put to any candidate: the property revaluation, school funding, economic development, the Enfield Square redevelopment, outsourcing of town services, the charter-revision questions, ...

  Signs near Enfield Town Hall With only 23 days left until the Nov. 4 election, Enfield Republicans hold a substantial financial advantage over Democrats — and far more money for last-minute mailers and advertising. But Democrats have come from behind before. Fundraising Totals Show GOP in the Lead According to the latest campaign filings for the period ending Sept. 30, Republicans have raised a total of $47,022, compared to $32,014 for the Democrats. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 20. Cash on Hand: A Critical Gap What may hurt Democrats in the final days is cash on hand: they report just $3,263, versus $24,418 for Republicans. These figures come from official state campaign-finance documents (Form 20), using: Line 17 – Total Monetary Receipts Line 19 – Expenses Paid by Committee Line 20 – Balance on Hand Different Donor Bases [ Correction ] An earlier version of this post stated that the Enfield Democrats relied mostly on local donors, while Republicans had a broader regional b...

Sample Ballot District One referendum question: Shall the Enfield Town Charter be revised as proposed by the Charter Revision Commissionand as approved by the Enfield Town Council by Resolution #7276 at its regular meeting of June 16, 2025? (Click on ballot to see clear version) On Nov. 4, voters will face a yes-or-no decision on the Charter Revision Commission's work. It's a mess of things, but only one provision matters: Should the town have an Automatic Budget Referendum? Any budget the Council approves with more than a 5% spending increase must be put to a town-wide vote This referendum question is entirely political. [ Sample ballot , and Explanatory Text ] Why it's misleading The referendum idea was hatched by Republican leadership on the Charter Commission and sold as something that will be fiscally responsible and increase voter accountability. It will do no such thing because of how the town's finances work in the real world. What really determines whether tax...

Russell Speeder's Car Wash design presented to PZC at its Sept. 25 meeting. The Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a Russell Speeder's Car Wash at the former site of the 99 Restaurant and Pub, located at the corner of Hazard Avenue and Freshwater Boulevard. The restaurant building, which closed last year, will be demolished to make way for a car wash and vacuum station area Two-Step Approval Process The project advanced in two stages. In April, the Norwalk-based company sought a zoning text amendment to allow car washes in the Business Regional (BR) zone, which covers shopping centers such as the Stop & Shop plaza. Until then, car washes were only permitted in the Business General (BG) zone. The amendment was approved on a 5–2 vote, but only after debate. One commissioner warned of a potential “proliferation” of car washes, noting Enfield already has two on Elm Street. To address that concern, the commission added a requirement that car washes in BR zones m...

Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Linda DeGray holds up rendering of Enfield Square redevelopment proposal at Thurday's meeting with the developers. To her left is Commissioner Terrence Lynch, and right, John Petronella. Source: YouTube A plan to demolish and redevelop the Enfield Square Mall is facing sharp opposition from the Planning and Zoning Commission. At a meeting on Thursday, PZC Chairwoman Linda DeGray stated that the latest proposal — which includes the potential for 700 apartments, a new big-box store, and smaller buildings for restaurants and retail — was not what the town had wanted. "I understand you're businessmen, but this is our town," DeGray said. "These people live here. You guys live in Nebraska." "This is still way too much," she said, at one point holding up a rendering of the development plan. "We are looking for more open space. We want something that is a little bit more representative of a town, not a city." ...