Your Life in Greenwich: How Local Elections Affect You

When we think of voting, it’s easy to imagine just presidential elections and big national headlines. But here’s what we want you to know: the local elections happening right in our own backyard are shaping your everyday life, sometimes in ways you may not realize. 

That pothole you dodge every morning on your way to work? Your favorite park in town where you meet your friends on the weekends? The after-school programs your kids love? All of these are affected by decisions made by people you can actually vote for. Let us break it down for you.

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1. The Spaces That Build Greenwich   

School programs that matter to you.Picture this: a shy third grader finally finding their voice in the school musical or a teenager discovering they’re amazing at pottery in art class. When the Board of Estimate & Taxation (BET) votes on the Board of Education budget, those programs are often on the chopping block. We’ve already seen budget cuts lead to fewer PE teachers, reduced media center hours, and eliminated elementary art classes. When you vote for candidates who prioritize education, you can directly impact programs that make our schools special. 

Community centers and after-school resources.Have you seen the new Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center (EGCC) that recently opened in Old Greenwich? The newly renovated space has programs like an adult pickleball league and kids tumbling classes. The decision to build and fund this space came directly from town budget allocations and elected officials who believed Greenwich needed a place where all ages could connect. If you care about spaces like these, choosing candidates who value community wellness will help ensure that these kinds of recreational spaces continue to thrive.

2. Your Morning Commute to Your Weekend Adventures

Roads, parking permits, and sidewalks.If you’ve ever circled for a spot downtown or dodged a pothole on the Post Road, you’ve experienced the effects of local infrastructure decisions firsthand. The Department of Public Works maintains our roads, sidewalks, and shared paths based on funding determined by the town budget and decisions of elected boards. Smoother roads and better pedestrian access doesn’t just happen. They’re a result of electing people who prioritize them. 

Parks and public spaces you visit.Maybe your Saturday mornings mean a walk through Binney Park or a ferry ride to Great Captain’s Island. These experiences aren’t just nice amenities, they’re the result of local planning decisions. When the town plants hundreds of trees, upgrades playgrounds, or decides to keep running the ferry, those choices come from elected officials who decide those spaces matter. Are you aligned with candidates who value the same experiences you do?

3. Your Money and Your Neighborhood’s Future

Property taxes and public services.Greenwich maintains lower tax rates than most Connecticut towns, but here’s what’s interesting: every local vote helps determine whether those rates stay low or increase in order to fund services you rely on. Local services like police, fire, and public works are all affected by this. When BET recently trimmed several million dollars from the school budget, residents pushed back hard and showed how local advocacy tied to voting can create real change.

Development, zoning, and housing.Have you heard about the plans to turn the former nursing home on King Street into apartment units?  That decision hinges on zoning boards, planning commissions, and ultimately, your vote. Votes determine whether your neighborhood grows, stays quiet, or sees new mixed-use development. Do you know which candidates have your priorities in mind? 

4. Your Local Environment and Climate Reality

Trees, gardens, and sustainability.Greenwich's commitment to sustainability isn't just talk, it's action that's making a real difference in your daily life. The town earned both SustainableCT Silver certification and the prestigious Climate Leader designation in 2024, ranking as the highest-scoring municipality among certified Connecticut towns. 

You're already experiencing the results of these local decisions. Those quieter Sunday mornings? That's a result of gas-powered leaf blower restrictions to reduce noise and air pollution in residential areas. The recycling programs and community gardens you see around town? Those are a big part of what earned Greenwich this recognition. When you vote for local candidates who prioritize environmental initiatives, you're directly supporting the policies that create cleaner air, less noise pollution, and more sustainable community spaces. These aren't distant environmental goals, they're improvements to your actual neighborhood that started with local votes and local leadership.

Flood response and storm mitigation.Remember last summer’s flood that hit Riverside and Binney Park? If your basement flooded, your commute got rerouted, or your weekend plans got cancelled, you felt the direct impact of infrastructure decisions. Flood barriers, improved drainage systems, and upgraded culverts all get funded and prioritized through local budgets. Voting for officials who emphasize resilience and infrastructure preparation helps keep daily life safe when weather gets rough.

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Here’s the bottom line. 

Local elections aren’t just about policy. They’re about the playgrounds where your kids play, libraries where you work remotely, classrooms that shape young minds, the streets you walk on, and the community spaces that bring us together. 

Voting in Greenwich isn’t just a civic duty. It’s how you actively shape the town you experience every single day. Your voice matters, especially at the local level where individual votes carry real weight. 

Make your voice heard. Vote to protect the things that make Greenwich feel like home to you. 

What can you do right now? Get ready to vote! 

1. Check if you’re registered and update your info if you’ve moved.

2. Research what’s actually on the ballot. Research the candidates and understand the issues, especially Board of Education races, parks projects, flood planning, and budget decisions.

3. Plan how you’ll vote: early, absentee, or in-person, whatever works for your schedule.