Latest news with #NorwalkCityCouncil
New York Times
30-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Bonding Over Politics and ‘Tiger King'
In fall 2018, Justin Joseph Papp was reporting for The Hour, a daily newspaper in Norwalk, Conn., typing notes on his laptop as he covered a Norwalk City Council noise ordinance committee meeting, which was being chaired by Eloisa Maria Melendez. Both were in their 20s. 'I was usually the youngest person in the room and would notice younger people, journalists or speakers,' Ms. Melendez said. Five years earlier, at 19, Ms. Melendez, who grew up in Norwalk, won a council seat in District A, making her the youngest woman to serve on the 15-member council (the first councilman her age won a seat in 1977). 'She was sinking her teeth into decibel levels at local restaurants, and had knowledgeable things to say,' said Mr. Papp, now 34, duly impressed. He grew up in New Milford, Conn., and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Connecticut. Ms. Melendez, now 31, was then also the council's only Latina and fluent Spanish-speaker — her mother is originally from Medellín, Colombia, and her father, who died in 2022, was 'Nuyorican,' she said. 'There is nothing I love more than my city,' said Ms. Melendez, who wears a gold-plated necklace of the State of Connecticut, and graduated with an associate degree in general studies from Norwalk Community College, now CT State Community College Norwalk, while in office. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Axios
21-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Norwalk courts a data center dubbed "Project West"
Norwalk City Council will consider Thursday creating a special zoning district for a data center dubbed "Project West." Why it matters: It would position the city for a "large scale" investment by taking 300 acres of its Southwest Development Corridor, according to a council document. Catch up fast: City officials were approached by an unnamed national technology developer last year and signed a nondisclosure agreement as the city assisted with the project's potential development. After months of negotiations and preparation for the voluntary annexation of thousands of acres, officials are now finalizing zoning. Driving the news: The new Technology & Industry Overlay District would simplify and streamline the approval processes necessary for high-tech projects that can take more than a decade to complete fully, city manager Luke Nelson told the council during a Feb. 6 meeting. To qualify, projects must cover a minimum of 40 acres and 100,000 square feet of building space. They don't necessarily have to be data centers. Context: Microsoft's five West Des Moines data centers — the " epicenter for advancing AI" — represent over $5 billion in investments and 350 permanent jobs over nearly two decades. Friction point: Microsoft's centers consume as much as 11.5 million gallons of water monthly for cooling. WDM city leaders in 2023 told Microsoft that future centers will be considered only if technology can significantly reduce peak water usage — and then they approved its sixth Microsoft data center last year after improvements to infrastructure alleviated concerns, the Register reported. Altoona, where Meta has invested billions of dollars, decided to boost its water production a few years ago. What they're saying: Hollie Zajicek, Norwalk's economic services director, tells Axios that Project West officials have been working with utility providers for months to determine options with the least impact on the community. What's next: Thursday's meeting is the second of three ordinance readings. Land deals could be finalized shortly after the council's March 6 meeting.
CBS News
21-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
California's lawsuit against Norwalk over homeless shelter ban can move forward, judge rules
A judge has denied Norwalk's request to dismiss a lawsuit the state of California filed against the city over its proposed ban on emergency homeless shelters. However, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant also dismissed the Norwalk City Council as a defendant in the lawsuit, which state officials filed last year while accusing the city of violating several California laws including the Housing Crisis Act. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have both slammed the city of Norwalk's decision to move forward with a moratorium on emergency shelters, supportive housing developments and certain businesses such as payday loan providers. A city report detailing the proposed ban said such establishments "may have detrimental effects" on the local community. During a city council meeting in September, several people spoke both in opposition and support of the ban, from a man who said a shelter near his restaurant drew "a disaster scene" of people loitering to a woman who urged council members to repeal the measure as she said many are just "one paycheck away from sleeping in their cars." While the state's lawsuit can move forward, Judge Chalfant also said in a tentative decision this week, which was later finalized, that state officials have not alleged "imminent and significant hardship" stemming from the ban. "Petitioners charged into court and insisted on invalidation of the moratorium without alleging any facts of imminent and significant hardship," Chalfant wrote, giving the city of Norwalk 30 days to file an answer to the petition. The judge also wrote that state officials are "correct" in contending "that there is a significant public interest" in ensuring the city ordinance doesn't violate state law. City officials have defended the proposed ban in court filings by saying it is not being enforced since there is currently a stay on it. Along with emergency shelters and some affordable house developments, the ordinance would also ban certain businesses such as convenience stores, payday loan providers, laundromats and car washes. During a Sept. 17 meeting, the Norwalk City Council voted to move forward with extending the proposed ban following a presentation by Norwalk City Manager Jesus Gomez. The council had first approved the moratorium weeks earlier in August. Gomez had presented a staff report that said emergency shelters and the other establishments "may have detrimental effects" on the local community. Just a day before the meeting, Newsom had threatened legal action against the city of Norwalk while California's Department of Housing and Community Development issued a notice of violation to the city earlier that same week. The notice of violation had directed Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios and other local leaders to repeal the ban by Sept. 23, saying it violated several state laws, including the Housing Crisis Act and Anti-Discrimination in Land Use Law. The repeal was never made. In early October, Newsom's office released a statement saying Norwalk is no longer eligible for "key state housing and homelessness funds." A month later, the state filed a lawsuit against the city. On Wednesday, Newsom released a statement reacting to the court's decision to allow the litigation to move forward. "No community should turn its back on its residents in need. We will continue to hold Norwalk accountable for its failure to reverse this cruel and unlawful ban," Newsom said in the statement. Meanwhile, the city of Norwalk released a statement saying Judge Chalfant's statement highlighted "the absence of any imminent or significant hardship," and in doing so, had "echoed the City of Norwalk's consistent position." "This is not an act of defiance but rather an effort to pause, listen, and find common ground with the State," the statement said, adding that the city would work with state housing officials. "The irony, of course, lies in the fact that the State is pushing for action against a moratorium that is already on hold, protesting enforcement where none exists," the statement continues, again defending the proposed ban by saying it's not currently in effect.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California's suit against SoCal city's ban on homeless shelters moving forward
A court has denied the city of Norwalk's request to dismiss the state's lawsuit against the city for its ban on shelters for homeless residents, officials announced Wednesday. The state filed the lawsuit last year, arguing that the city's moratorium on homeless shelters and supportive housing violates several state laws. The lawsuit comes after Norwalk lost its eligibility to receive state housing and homelessness funds in October after the state Department of Housing and Community Development revoked its compliance with the housing element law. 'Rampant' tow truck scam targeting Southern California drivers, officials say In August, the Norwalk City Council adopted an ordinance putting a moratorium on various establishments, including emergency shelters, along with transitional and supportive housing. In September, the City Council voted to extend the moratorium without discussion. Before City Council members voted on the extension, HCD sent city officials a 'Notice of Violation and Corrective Action Letter' regarding the ordinance. In response to the court's ruling today, Newsom, who signed an executive order in July last year allowing state and local officials to dismantle homeless encampments, released the following statement: 'No community should turn its back on its residents in need. We will continue to hold Norwalk accountable for its failure to reverse this cruel and unlawful ban.' State Attorney Rob Bonta said one of Californians top concerns is affordability issues and Norwalk's ban threatens families and individuals struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
