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Showing posts from December, 2024

Who Will Win Enfield's Election?

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  A sign at October’s “No Kings” rally in Enfield captures a growing frustration across party lines that may help explain the town’s political shift: “Left or Right, We All See Wrong.” Unaffiliated voters now make up 44 percent of Enfield’s electorate. Photo by author. We don't conduct polls in Enfield, so it's hard to tell what motivates voters. Here’s a non-scientific look—a reporter's take based on registration data and recent history. Overall Election Outlook The outlook for this election remains genuinely uncertain. While the registration numbers point in multiple directions, recent history reminds us that Enfield voters are willing to surprise us. The Biggest Story: Unaffiliated Voters Widen Their Lead The main trend in Enfield isn't about Democrats or Republicans—it's unaffiliated voters solidifying their dominance. Their registrations grew 38% in ten years, from 8,695 in 2015 to 12,034. That's 3,339 new voters—exceeding both parties' combined growth...

Fix it or face foreclosure: Enfield’s blight ordinance targets minor issues

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  Chipped paint on Town Hall is blight under the town's proposed blight ordinance Imagine being fined $100 a day because your lawn grew too tall while you were in the hospital. Under Enfield's proposed blight ordinance, this nightmare could become a reality for many residents. The Town Council will consider this revised ordinance at its Monday night meeting—but as written, it could harm hundreds of residents over minor cosmetic issues, from overgrown grass to temporary home repairs. While it's reasonable to address properties that pose genuine health and safety risks, this ordinance goes too far by treating cosmetic issues as equally severe. For example, if grass or weeds grow taller than 12 inches, the town can issue a citation requiring correction within 10 days. If it's not addressed in time, the property maintenance inspector can impose fines of $100 a day—with no cap—until the problem is resolved. In extreme cases, these escalating fines could even lead to foreclos...