Greenwich Zoning board under attack for having too many old white male homeowners

Housing advocacy groups are using sloppy data and a political agenda to profile zoning boards in Connecticut. These progressive groups, including the Center for Housing Opportunity (CHO) and the Housing Collective, claim that CT zoning boards are made up disproportionately of older white male homeowners who are not demographically representative of the communities they serve. The implication is that local zoning boards are to blame for homelessness and housing affordability in CT.

This flawed study, promoted by CT Senate Democrats and amplified throughout the CT media, motivated Greenwich P&Z head, Margarita Alban to pen a letter (here) to correct the record. She pointed out the sloppy data collection that categorized her as a white male, when she is a Hispanic woman. She also challenged the political motives of the survey.

CT Senate Democrats widely broadcasted this claim that Land Use Board compositions don't represent their communities. Their lead was "New report hints at why Connecticut towns and cities have been slow to approve affordable housing plans: the people weighing such projects are often older white male homeowners."

Between the Lines: As Mark Twain said there are lies, damned lies and statistics. Count this as just another lie that has already traveled in the media and throughout our communities while the truth is putting her boots on.

Story here