John Levin

Candidate for Common Council District D

Party Affiliation: Republican

What district are you running to represent, and what do you see as its biggest strengths and challenges?

I’m running for District D.  I see the strength of any community to be its people.  Residents in this district are diverse, hardworking, smart, sensible, and resilient.

District D also enjoys some unique assets: Cranbury Park, a rich tree canopy, the Norwalk River and the adjoining Norwalk River Valley Trail, and the Silvermine River and Historic District.

Challenges:

• ensure that development on Main Ave is done well and serves the needs of the community
• rising property taxes

How will you ensure the voices of your constituents are heard and reflected in city policy? 

I will encourage Norwalk residents, and my constituents in District D, to show up at Council and Committee meetings and express their wants and concerns.  I will do my best to amplify their voices and ensure they are considered. And I intend to work cooperatively and constructively with other council members to get these addressed.

What specific projects, services, or infrastructure improvements are most needed in your district? How would you advocate for them?

As our city grows, it is likely that Cranbury and Silvermine will need a fire station (southern Wilton also needs this and should share its cost). That is a big-ticket item, because it will include not just land acquisition, construction, and purchasing new equipment, but the continued staffing cost for the facility. The first step should be a comprehensive needs assessment.

Norwalk is a diverse city. How would you work to bridge divides and represent the full range of residents in your district, across race, income, age, etc.? 

Talk to everyone.  Treat everyone with respect. Listen. This should not be a difficult thing. I intend to hold regular “town halls” with resident to engage constructive discussions, share ideas and find solutions.

What are your top three priorities for Norwalk as a whole, and how does your district factor into those goals?

1. Improve transparency and accountability in city government. Transparency is much more than jargon: with a city government that has lopsided one-party rule, it is urgently needed. I will ask the questions that others may be afraid to ask. And more.
2. 88% of Norwalk’s budget is funded by local property taxes, and three quarters of that is from residential property. Norwalk needs to diversify its revenue sources. Our state legislative delegation can, and should, help with this. This won’t be easy, but let’s start now.
3. Fiscal responsibility: watch the dollars, and the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars spent on everything, including lawsuits, murals, short-lived athletic fields, and on, and on.

How would you address concerns about development, traffic, and preserving neighborhood character in your district?

In District D, most of the land is zoned for single family homes, much of which is one acre minimum. Existing zoning ordinances, properly enforced, should preserve neighborhoods.
Traffic. Norwalk’s traffic problems are not unique. I would seek to find good solutions employed by other cities and find out if they can be put to work in Norwalk.

What’s your position on affordable housing, and how should it be implemented in your district specifically?

In my own experience, affordable housing is housing that was built in great abundance forty years ago. But the housing shortage in Norwalk, Fairfield County, and much of Connecticut is real and creating hardship for many families and individuals. I majored in economics in college. The laws of supply and demand are both universal and inexorable. Short of an economic collapse or a surge in violent crime in our city, I don’t see demand falling. Consequently, housing affordability will be driven by supply. As District D is predominantly single-family homes, high property taxes factor into housing affordability for many residents. Solutions that I like include:

• Improve ADU (accessory dwelling unit) regulations and outreach to empower property owners and offer useful alternatives to renters, families and seniors.
• Again: work with our legislative delegation to ensure the State will encourage our neighboring towns to embrace affordable and multi-family housing development rather than rely on Norwalk to serve those needs.
• Facilitate and promote conversion of the many vacant office buildings to residential and mixed-use alternatives, a trend firmly in place in other cities.

How do you see the Council’s role in shaping school funding?

At present the Council has no direct role in shaping school funding. But the Council can take steps to develop alternative funding sources so the City can reduce its reliance on property taxes.

What city services do you believe need the most improvement in your district?, 

I think better enforcement of speeding laws and noise ordinances would be most appreciated by District D residents. Installation of new sidewalks and crosswalks has been ongoing, is greatly appreciated and of course should continue.

Do you support changes to the city’s budget process to increase transparency, public input, and council input?

I served on the Charter Revision Commission this year and this question was examined in detail. I proposed that the Charter be modified to dilute the Mayor’s appointment power of the BET (Board of Estimate and Taxation – the budget setting authority) be diluted to allow the Common Council to choose half of the 6 appointed members. This proposal was not supported by a majority of the Commission and went no further. The City’s budget process is set by Charter; changes to increase transparency and public and Council input in the short term would need to be voluntary on the part of the Mayor’s office and the BET — I would support them.

How will you collaborate with the other Council member representing your district and with At-Large members to get things done?

I get along well with others and treat people respectfully.  Collaborating with other Council members who seek transparency and accountability in our city government should be easy. And working with others to find solutions for Norwalk’s problems will be a pleasure. 

What is your approach to resolving conflict or disagreement, either with fellow Council members or constituents?

I’ve been married for 34 years and (with my wife) raised two children. And I’ve worked for companies both large and small.  I know a bit about conflict and disagreement.  It’s normal and should never be an insurmountable obstacle.

Step 1: listen to what they are saying.

Everything else follows: Ask questions. Respectfully share my own thoughts. Establish a foundation of facts and goals to create common ground. Try to work from there. Be patient. Question my own conclusions and check for errors.  If necessary, take a break and revisit later. Don’t quit trying.  But I am keenly aware that others may not agree with me on everything, and of course I can be wrong (though never intentionally).  Regardless, we should continue to work together respectfully and constructively, serving Norwalk to find solutions for real problems.

How will you keep residents informed about city decisions and how they affect your district?

Again: regular “town halls”. Also, social media (my campaign Facebook page is LevinForNorwalk. And I am now and will continue to be ready to talk with residents any time. Call or text me any time: 646 – 221 – 9134. Yupp, that’s my phone number.

What experience, professional, civic, or lived, has prepared you to represent your district effectively?

 I worked on Wall Street for over two decades, holding jobs with increasing responsibility. The stakes were high, hours were long, facts mattered and there were ample servings of success and failure. I read long documents and investigated situations until I got satisfactory answers. I learned that hard work pays off, getting the right answer leads to success, and cooperating with others can yield results.

Also, I got some excellent training starting at age 17 when I enlisted in the US Marine Corps.  Having people yell at me and insult me – seriously, that’s nothing.  I love a challenge, and obstacles usually can be overcome. Don’t quit.Last: I served on the Charter Revision Commission. It was a front row seat and an excellent education into how Norwalk government is structured and what its responsibilities are. There remains ample room for improvement, but I learned that unless something already is perfect, it can be changed for the better.  All it takes is hard work and determination, patience, and the assistance of others. Solutions can be found and things, even government, can be made better.  I’m optimistic. 

If elected, how will you remain accessible to residents and responsive to local concerns throughout your term?

Same as #13.  Again: my phone number is 646 – 221 – 9134. I will answer calls and texts.