Greater Hartford NAACP demands help for North End residents plagued by flooding and for ‘safe, reliable and equitable services’

The Greater Hartford NAACP is calling for action to solve flooding issues in Hartford’s North End neighborhoods, a call coming as the federal Environmental Protection Agency says it is continuing to investigate causes of sewage overflows and whether agencies responsible for the city’s stormwater infrastructure have fulfilled their obligations.

The statements from the NAACP and the EPA come as community leaders and residents continue to seek action from local, state and federal officials and agencies.

“The Greater Hartford Branch of NAACP is committed to working with our partners to fight for environmental justice and to hold leadership accountable ... for the harmful impacts on our Black communities,” said Greater Hartford NAACP President Corrie Betts.

Betts said that the flooding in Hartford’s North End is an example of a long-standing pattern of neglect and mistreatment of Black communities.

He said he has been recently in contact with the national board of the NAACP about the situation.

“This neglect is putting the lives of men, women and children at risk and is also having a negative impact on the economic well-being of this community. The North End of Hartford has long been subjected to disinvestment, redlining and inadequate infrastructure, which has led to chronic flooding and pollution. These issues have been exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather events, further compounding the harm inflicted on these communities,” he said.

He said that it is time for the city, the Metropolitan District Commission, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Department of Public Health and the Environmental Protection Agency to take action and work collectively to address the issues. The city has offered support to residents in the North End, including through a grants program. The MDC also has said it is working to address flooding and backups.

Betts said that they are calling on the organizations and agencies to take the following actions: investing in critical infrastructure improvements in predominantly Black communities throughout the city of Hartford with improvements to water services and flood management systems, addressing the root causes of the issues, such as a lack of investment in the communities, and working with key leaders and organizations to develop solutions that are responsive to the needs of the communities.

“We must act now to ensure that all members of our community have access to safe, reliable and equitable services,” he said.

“The Greater Hartford Branch of NAACP will continue to work with our partners, fighting for environmental justice and holding leadership accountable for their discriminatory actions and the harmful impacts they pose to our Black communities,” he said.

Activist Bridgitte Prince and J. Stan McCauley, president of the Greater Hartford African American Alliance, said they recently supported the legislative proposal, “Act Concerning The Metropolitan District Commission.”

If passed, the bill would require annual audits of the Metropolitan District Commission, establish a task force to examine the organization and operation, require the board of commissioners to adopt, administer and enforce a model code of ethics and permit commissioners from nonmember municipalities to vote on certain rates.

Prince said the bill is legislation that would start the process of justice for those in the North End affected by flood issues.

“The passing of HB 5888 and the MDC Charter Revision is a very necessary piece of legislation. In my humble opinion, the passing of this legislation is the beginning of justice for the disadvantaged who pay premium prices for MDC services without receiving those actual benefits,” she said.

McCauley said he also wholeheartedly supports the legislation because it would increase oversight and transparency within the MDC.

He also said annual audits by an accredited public accounting firm or state agency should be welcomed by the MDC, as their commissioners are not elected by constituents of the towns it serves.

McCauley said while he supports establishing a task force to study the MDC’s organization and operations, he also said it will only be as good as its members.

During the legislature’s Planning and Development Committee meeting on Feb. 17, MDC’s District Counsel Chris Stone opposed the bill, saying its provisions are “unreasonable, unnecessary and have the potential to cause significant harm.”

Stone said the MDC already is subject to a rigorous annual audit by an outside, independent auditing firm — as they have committed themselves to their bondholders that their independent audits be performed in a timely manner to ensure their investments are sound.

Stone also said that they oppose the creation of a task force to examine the organization and operations of the MDC and make recommendations for changes to the MDC charter. They do not understand the need for such a task force and potential changes to the charter, as several legislative changes have been made that affect the MDC and its charter, some made at their request and others despite their expression of concern.

He said the MDC opposes the proposed mandate that 33 volunteer members of the MDC Board of Commissioners adopt, administer and enforce the model code of ethics developed by the Office of State Ethics — as they have their own code of ethics.

Stone also said they oppose commissioners from nonmembers towns voting on water rates, as there is a single water rate applied throughout the district. He said the MDC’s concern with the proposal is that would make it unequitable for a commissioner from a nonmember town who may represent a superminority of ratepayers to have a vote equal in weight to a commissioner who represents a supermajority of ratepayers.

EPA Acting Director of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division James Chow said he recognizes the burdens residents in Hartford’s North End have faced with long-standing concerns over flooding and sewer overflows and the agency is fully engaged in reviewing what has been happening and what can be done to address some of the concerns.

“No one should have to worry about raw sewage, street flooding and sewage backing up in the basements and certainly the health, financial and emotional burdens that result from that. This is something that’s very important to us,” he said.

In addition to EPA Region 1 Administrator David Cash, Acting Director Civil Rights Administrator Sharon Wells, he and other staff coming to Hartford to listen to the concerns of the citizens, Chow said their office is meeting weekly, if not daily, on these issues in Hartford.

“We’re looking for short- and long-term solutions and strategies to address these issues. We are actively investigating the causes of sewer overflows and flooding in Hartford’s North End. We conducted an inspection of the MDC system back in January, and we expect to finalize that report shortly. And we’ll make that report publicly available once it’s been completed,” he said.

Chow also said they are also investigating the extent to which those responsible for operating and maintaining Hartford’s stormwater infrastructure have fulfilled their obligations and evaluating the funding and technical resources that might be available to assist the city, state and the community.

“We’re also actively reaching out to other federal agencies to identify and assess what potential resources might be available to support flood mitigation efforts, stream restoration projects, green infrastructure, green space planning, community redevelopment and other needs that might help address these issues,” he said.