Norwalk Election 2021: Josh Goldstein For Common Council

NORWALK, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in town will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on a few topics.

Democrat Josh Goldstein, 31, is running for the Norwalk Common Council.

Occupation: Attorney

Family: My partner Elizabeth and I live in South Norwalk.

Experience: Member of Norwalk Zoning Commission since 2019

Family in government: No.

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The most pressing issue facing Norwalk is working to mitigate the effects of climate change. Norwalk has already begun to face the effects of climate change from excess flooding from the Five Mile River to substantial property damage due to increasingly intense storms. We can take action at the city level to combat these challenges. If elected, I and our Democratic team will seek to mitigate our changing landscape by working to improve our climate infrastructure and Norwalk’s energy efficiency, while preserving and enhancing natural assets such as Calf Pasture Beach.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I am very excited to be running with a team of Democratic at-large candidates who are unified in our goals of making a more livable, sustainable, and equitable Norwalk. We believe strongly that we need to support residents and small businesses, preside over responsible and innovative development, improve our infrastructure, and continue to build towards a world-class education system. The other candidates who are running for this position have a starkly different view of Norwalk and have long been advocates of an agenda that would stymie responsible growth and development, stall the significant progress that has been made to ensure that Norwalk continues to have a safe recovery from the pandemic, and render Norwalk more inefficient, less business-friendly, and less safe.

Accomplishments:

As a member of the Zoning Commission since 2019, I voted in support of projects including the now-finished soccer complex at West Rocks Middle School, a 69-unit expansion of Colonial Village, a state-of-the-art girls softball field at Brien McMahon High School, and the Wall Street Place complex. I also voted in favor of a zoning regulation that expanded affordable housing. In that position, I have listened to and learned from citizens across Norwalk about what is truly significant to them and what they want Norwalk to become. I am also a trial attorney with the law firm of Adelman, Hirsch & Connors, LLP, where I represent people who have been injured due to negligent or reckless actions.

Other issues:

In addition to our Democratic party platform, one issue that is particularly important to me is reforming our zoning regulations so they are easier to understand and more equitable. In particular, I think that people or entities that wish to build large-scale developments must be required to engage with community stakeholders in a forum other than (and prior to) a public hearing.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I believe that a position on the Common Council should be used to amplify voices that oftentimes do not have a seat at the table. As the youngest candidate running city-wide, I deeply believe in the importance of seeking and understanding the perspectives of those who have different lived experiences. All Norwalkers deserve representation on the Common Council and if elected, I will fight to make Norwalk a place where its citizens continue to feel that its government is working for them.