By Ketti Marks
Glastonbury residents who suffer from serious illnesses may be apprehensive about the future. Since February, medical research into cancer, TB, Alzheimer’s, and Long Covid has been halted. The president has shut down CDC’s infection control committee. We may or may not be informed if a pandemic is on the way.
Farmers are anticipating that cuts to the Local Food for Schools program will impact their revenue, and that cuts to the National Weather Service will result in a paucity of information about the best time to plant their crops. There are almost thirty farms in Glastonbury.
None of us, farmer or not, are immune from concerns about the weather. If disaster strikes, we may not get help from FEMA. The president has already denied federal assistance to those affected by tornadoes in Arkansas, floods in West Virginia, and a windstorm in Washington State. Is Connecticut next?
Small businesses are worried about tariffs. Rafey Zaheer, who has been named the Connecticut Manufacturer of the Year by the Small Business Administration and is the founder and CEO of the Glastonbury-based company Medzah, said early in May, “You’re watching the news intensely every single day to see what’s going to change today.”
The administration’s proposed budget would eliminate programs that support English language learners and the children of migrant farm workers. It would slash DEI programs, and cut funding for higher education by 4.6 billion dollars.
Today, Americans are experiencing increasing anxiety about the stability and safety of their retirement investments. In Glastonbury, like in all other towns throughout the country, residents worry that the anticipated budget is likely to have additional cuts to the services and programs that many of us depend upon.
On April 16th, Governor Lamont created a tool for nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses to report how they have been impacted by federal policy and funding changes. The tool can be accessed by visiting ct.gov/fedimpact.
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