Tenants Group Demands to Be Heard
By Moe Kav | Correspondent at November 8, 2023 | 8:20 pm | Print
Polish Community Urged To Attend Nov. 14 Council Meeting
The new “hot spot” ordinance which was approved and signed into law on Oct. 4 is stirring up a hornets nest for Mayor Tim O’Brien and the 11 Alderman who supported it.
The law, which has been described as arbitrary and capricious by some legal experts, seeks to punish landlords and tenants for making 911 phone calls that the City may deem excessive.
Rory Bellantoni, a former NY State Supreme Court Justice, who specializes on the First Amendment and Constitutional issues and who has been following this issue and others involving the attack of the people’s rights by Government across the country, told the City Journal, “as a former Judge and former prosecutor from NY, I can tell you that this law will have dire consequences on the New Britain society at large.”
“To punish people for calling 911 and reporting crime is an endorsement of criminality,” said Bellantoni. “Instead of punishing criminals, they are punishing those who report them and to boot, the Constitutional Violations involved will be enormous and unconscionable.”
The mayor’s office has said the intent of the “hot spot” fee is to stop students from partying and disrupting neighbors.
Secret and behind closed door meetings have been taking place since the implementation of this law by dozens of tenants, who have vowed to form a New Britain Tenant Group and fight this law.
Maria Aguayo, who would not give her address, said this law is unfair and the people of New Britain already pay taxes for 911 and first responder services by our police and fire departments. Aguayo is urging tenants and all residents to let their voices be heard at the next committee meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
“Unless the Mayor and his cohorts change course, we will change it for them,” said Aguayo.
In addition there are other groups who are planning their own legal attacks on the O’Brien administration which involve students, landlords, and home owners. One such meeting was held on Oct. 24 at the Whinstone Tavern which drew nearly 350 concerned residents.
Dan Silver, a local attorney who has been identified by members of the tenants group as one of the attorneys who will be seeking legal action against the city said that this law is a direct attack on the first amendment of the US Constitution.
“They have gone too far politically this time,” said Silver “Just way too far.” he reiterated.
When asked if he will be representing the tenant groups, Silver answered “yes” with support from other attorneys as well. Just waiting to get all the names of all the plaintiffs and a signed retainer” said Silver.
On condition of anonymity several members of the tenant group asked that their names and the locations of their meetings not be divulged.
An all out legal and media attack on Mayor O’Brien is underway said one New Britain resident who was present at a recent meeting. My family has lived in New Britain for 35 years he said. They escaped Communist Poland and love it here. It’s sad to see what is happening and he urged the entire Polish community to rise up against O’Brien and join the other city residents at the Council Meeting on Nov. 14.
“We heard them, now they must hear us,” he said.
bill, 5 years ago
just tell your tenants NOT to call 911 for any reason.
do we really need cops and the court system to solve our problems?
Elopez1984, 5 years ago
First of all if the polish community drinks less liquor there would not be in the situation they are in. I find this news uncalled for. I do agree that good or bad landlords should be punish for their actions. I live in New britain housing and I have complained against the people that run the place and nothing was done to rectify the issues. Why make private meeting and not inform the people of the town that the so called issues are happening. I voted for Mayor O’Brian and i would do it again….
P.S I am a resident of new britain for 19 years. and comparing this town with the capital hartford we live great….
clemp, 5 years ago
It is true that as residents of New Britain we do pay taxes for public services - police included.
However, let’s remember that this fee applies only to properties that are called upon and must be visited by the police more than five times per year, or nine times for larger properties.
How many times have you had to call the police to visit your property this year? If it’s less than five, this fee does not apply to you. If it’s more than five, then why? What behaviors by the tenants required more than five visits by the police in one year?
I see this fee as part of a larger incentive by the mayor to deal with landlords that are happy to rent to less than responsible residents.
With the right tenants - be it families, students, young professionals or New Britain natives, this fee is non applicable. How reasonable is that?