48°
To the editor:
This past spring, the 2015 Bond Authorization Bill that passed the General Assembly did so with eight 'NAY' votes, two of which came from Fairfield state Reps. Tony Hwang and Brenda Kupchick.
Brenda Kupchick simply hasn’t done enough for Metro-North.
It’s one thing to say you support an issue this important, upgrading our railroad infrastructure and improving its safety for our commuters. It’s another thing to claim you support it, and then vote against funding it.
The 2015 Bond Authorization Bill includes $10 million for bridges, $60 million for investments in local roads, and $14 million specifically for immediate safety upgrades to Metro-North’s rail system.
There are eight out of 54 in their caucus who refused to act. This isn’t an issue that should polarize the left or right. This is about making smart investments in our infrastructure and our commuters, in their safety, and leveraging those investments to grow our local economy. I simply can’t stand idly by while Ms. Kupchick misleads voters into believing that she’s some kind of infrastructure advocate. She’s not.
The revenue for these long-needed upgrades should not come from fare hikes, directly hurting our commuting population.
Yes, our state does have an immense amount of debt –debt I plan on tackling once I’m elected – but bonding infrastructure investments to improve Metro-North makes perfect sense to me. I couldn’t think of a reason why she wouldn’t support it.
If she really were an advocate for upgrading railroad infrastructure, she would’ve proposed alternate legislation to fund it.
Kevin Coyner
Coyner is the Democratic candidate for state representative in the 132nd District. Coyner is a career firefighter and lives in the Pine Creek neighborhood of Fairfield with his wife Natalia and dog Brian.
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