Norwalk Mayoral Candidates Outline Visions on Housing, Schools, and City Hall Reform

NORWALK, Conn. — Four candidates for Norwalk mayor, Democrat Barbara Smyth, Republican Vinny Scicchitano, and unaffiliated candidates John Kydes and Erik Vitaglione, shared their visions for the city’s future during an Oct. 15 debate at Nathan Hale Middle School, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Norwalk in partnership with Norwalk Acts and NancyOnNorwalk.

Qualifications and Vision for Leadership

Smyth, a longtime Common Council member and former teacher, said her experience in both city government and the classroom gives her “a very unique perspective and understanding” of Norwalk’s needs.

“Norwalk is such a very diverse community with differing needs and sometimes competing needs… The experience that I have in our classroom really gives me an understanding and sensitivity to those needs throughout our community and being able to bring people together.”

Scicchitano, a lifelong resident and business owner, described himself as a unifier.

“We have roughly 38 to 40 percent of this community that feels as if they’re disenfranchised from the process,” he said. “I am the one person that’s most qualified to unify this community.”

Vitaglione said he represents residents who haven’t participated in city politics before.

“I’m here to represent the 40 percent of households that are below $75,000 a year,” he said. “I’m here to represent the 57 percent of renters that are cost-burdened.”

Kydes, a former Council president, said he joined the race because he believes “Norwalk is going down the wrong path.”

“I believe that I have the experience and the knowledge and the willingness to make the changes that we all want,” Kydes said. “Norwalk does not operate like any business. What has given me that experience to be mayor is my time on the council, getting to know the departments, being engaged and involved, and learning every aspect of how city government runs.”

City Challenges and School Funding

All four candidates cited affordability, education, and taxes among the city’s biggest challenges.

Scicchitano pointed to “affordable housing, property taxes, and transparency” as top issues, calling for a “business approach to budgeting.”

“Our property taxes are too high,” he said. “We need to broaden our revenue base to relieve the burden that we have on the residential property tax owners.”

Vitaglione focused on housing costs and transit access, adding that Norwalk must “increase small local business[es]” and improve enforcement of fines and violations to diversify revenue.

Kydes emphasized state funding shortfalls.

“Norwalk has been shortchanged with ECS funding for far too long,” he said. “By getting more ECS funding from the state, we can then take that burden off the taxpayer.”

Smyth said collaboration with the Board of Education and better communication are essential to address ongoing budget tensions. Her plan included reestablishing the policy of the mayor chairing the Board of Education.

Affordable Housing

On the topic of affordability, candidates offered sharply differing approaches.

Vitaglione called for a “more diverse array of housing stock,” including duplexes and accessory dwelling units, as well as a “tax deferment for developers that want to build housing that can satisfy mixed income levels.”

Kydes questioned how new developments affect schools and affordability.

“I don’t know when $2,100 for a one-bedroom apartment was considered affordable,” he said. “I will start addressing that issue day one if I’m elected.”

Smyth proposed creating a “housing consortium that includes members of the community, developers, and financers” to diversify the city’s housing stock. She also called for “modernizing tax relief for elderly and disabled homeowners” and reinstating a developer contribution to the city’s affordable-housing fund.

“Why not do both?” she asked. “I’d like to see that 10 percent affordable stay as well as developers contributing to the Affordable Housing Fund.”

Scicchitano said Norwalk needs to define its goals before expanding further.

“We are at 14 percent now with a 10 percent state mandate. So what is the ultimate number?” he asked. “We need to create incentives for home ownership … to bring people, give people the ability to put down roots, build equity, and build wealth within their family.”

City Hall Reorganization and Efficiency

When asked about City Hall’s structure, Kydes criticized the current system.

Other candidates agreed the reorganization had created communication gaps but differed on how to address them.

Smyth said she supported the original effort, citing improvements in professionalism, but acknowledged that “it is very siloed.”

“I would do a full audit of every department and look at where we can find more efficiencies,” she said. “The departments need to talk to each other. We need better communication with the public and among the staff.”

Scicchitano said he would personally review every department.

“I will ensure that every department is looked through personally,” he said. “We need to grow the business atmosphere in Norwalk … and make sure everyone is doing the job they were intended to do.”

Vitaglione said he doesn’t know for sure what is all needed, but he believes the blight and zoning departments need to improve enforcement, noting that absentee landlords “are taking advantage of the system and evading taxes.”

“Basically, you’re asking me to assess what’s going on in the wall through a window. Like I’m a general contractor, I won’t know until I’m there and look at the paperwork and see new performance, who’s working, who’s not.”

Smyth later noted that the city had recently appointed a full-time human-resources director and said she would add “a full-time grants writer” to identify funding opportunities.

Police Cooperation and Immigration Policy

Candidates differed on whether Norwalk should cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Vitaglione said he opposes cooperation with ICE, describing the agency as a “fascist arm of the government.” He said he does not support “armed masked people in our streets” and added that he would personally confront such actions if they occurred in Norwalk, even at personal risk.

Kydes said he would direct the police department “not to support it in any way,” but added an exception for undocumented residents who have been convicted of felonies.

“If an undocumented, undocumented resident is identified not by profiling, but as a convicted felon, the Norwalk Police Department should notify the federal authorities, because I believe if you’re living here, and you commit a crime, and you commit a class, you know, a felony, you should lose that right.”

Smyth said she would maintain the city’s existing policy of non-cooperation.

“The City of Norwalk does not cooperate with ICE agents,” she said. “I will absolutely stand up to ICE agents and do everything in my power to protect our community … If one person is not safe to go into the police department to report a crime, then no one in this community is safe.”

Scicchitano said he would follow state and federal law while ensuring safety for all residents, noting that his own family’s immigrant experience shapes his perspective.

Trash and Recycling Policy

Candidates also weighed in on Norwalk’s new waste and recycling system, which sparked strong reactions among residents.

Smyth said the policy was introduced to control “exponentially increasing” waste costs.

“The city spends well over $7 million annually to send out our waste… By working together … we can make sure we’re all contributing to reducing these costs together.”

Scicchitano criticized the rollout as poorly communicated.

“The way that it was rolled out, I think, was really done incorrectly,” he said. “It’s not so much what happened, but the manner in which it transpired.”

Vitaglione, who rents, said he has not been directly affected but recognized the controversy.

“I know that the red tops have been highly controversial,” he said. “My landlord … is required to go get a dumpster now because there will be no pickup for that.”

Kydes, who spoke last on the topic, said he would “change it with 100 percent certainty.”