Sometimes, I forget that Jorge Cabrera lives in Hamden because I see him in Derby so much.
Even after his razor thin loss in 2018 he didn’t stop coming around. Not only did I see him at political events, but community events as well. Chances are if you’ve attended something in the Valley in the past two years you’ve seen him.
That’s why he’s the candidate with my endorsement for State Senate in the August 11th primary. Jorge has put in the time, coming to the Valley and talking to the people that live here so that he understands what he needs to do as State Senator to make sure we can build Derby better.
In the legislature, I trust that he is going to work to prioritize the Route 34 widening project. Having that completed will be key to bringing in business to Derby and making downtown as great as we know it can be, but we need somebody who is willing to take the initiative in the legislature to press for funding that the state doesn’t think is a priority and work with all the players to make sure that it isn’t delayed any longer.
I believe Jorge will show the same tenacity for improving the Waterbury line. The Waterbury line is key for Derby to succeed, with the proper funding it will give more people the option to take the train to work or from Waterbury to Bridgeport to see what makes Derby so great.
Unfortunately, our current State Senator only seems to want to pay lip service to our problems instead of doing something about them.
Derby is one of the most economically distressed municipalities in the State of Connecticut and it deserves a State Senator who takes the projects that will improve our city’s economic future seriously. I know Jorge will care for people in the Valley because I’ve seen it time after time, whether he’s showing up to fight for better healthcare for Stop & Shop employees or coming down to Derby to help elect Democrats for municipal office, you know he’s going to show up.
Aniello Malerba III
The writer is the chairman of the Derby Democratic Town Committee
The Democratic primary for State Senate District 17 is Tuesday, Aug. 11. No letters about the primary will be accepted after 12 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7.
