From the Mayor's Desk: Your City at Work - October 30th, 2026

Your City at Work: From the Mayor's Desk

ELECTION REMINDER: This upcoming Tuesday, November 3rd, Stamford residents have several options for casting their ballots in the November 3 election. Voters will elect statewide constitutional officers, Members of Congress, state lawmakers, a local Judge of Probate, and Board of Education members. Not sure how to cast your ballot? Read more below.

• Early Voting: Early voting is available now through Sunday, November 1, at the Stamford Government Center from 10 AM to 6 PM daily.
• Absentee Ballot: Voters returning absentee ballots can use one of two secure drop boxes: the Stamford Government Center parking garage or the location next to the Harry Bennett Library book drop.
• Election Day Voting: Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, November 3. To locate your polling place, visit the Registrar of Voters.

Read below to learn more about initiatives my administration is working on, resources for Stamford residents, information about upcoming events, and important city and state information.

MAYOR'S UPDATES

• BIG NEWS - MOMS Organic Market: I am thrilled to welcome the first MOM's Organic Market in Connecticut in the South End. In addition to MOM's, this space will be home to Club Studio, Primrose Schools, Chipotle, and Jersey Mikes. We are excited to see the revitalization of this space and look forward to attracting additional tenants that will expand retail options for residents. Thank you to the V20 Group for their partnership and commitment to bringing a new grocery retailer to Stamford.
• Oak Park Redevelopment: Last week, I joined state and local officials and the Charter Oak Communities team to celebrate the completion of Phase 1 and groundbreaking of Phase 2 of the Oak Park redevelopment! With 61 new affordable homes completed and 43 additional townhomes planned, this project represents an important investment in our goal of expanding access to high-quality affordable housing in Stamford. The City supported this redevelopment with $1.25 million from our capital budget and $750,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

• Paving Season Wrap Up: With paving season coming to a close, our crews are beginning to prepare to transition to leaf pickup! Thanks to our paving team for their efforts this yea. Was great to see their recently completed work on Shadow Ridge Road, Sun Dance Road, and Snow Crystal Lane. PHOTOS
• 2027 Arts and Culture Grant: We are proud to offer grants of up to $15,000, through the Arte & Culture Commission, to support local arts and cultural programming. The SAC Grant supports Stamford-based organizations, artists, and community groups working to expand access to the arts and bring engaging cultural experiences to our community. Applications are open now and the deadline to apply is November 12^th, 2026. For more information visit here.
• School Construction Updates: For the latest updates from Westhill and other construction sites, check out the September issue of Building Excellence. You can read it here - along with previous issues. Want updates delivered directly each month? Sign up here for our Building Excellence newsletter.

CITY NEW S

• 2026 Veterans Day Parade: The 2026 Veterans Day Parade will take place on November 8^th, with parade kickoff at 12:00 pm, a ceremony at 1:00 pm will follow. For more information see the flyer below.

• Leaf Pickup: Leaf pickup will begin on November 12^th in the North Zone (North of the Merritt), followed by the Middle Zone (between the Merritt and I-95) on November 23, and the South Zone (South of I95) on December 7. Residents are reminded that loose piles of leaves or bagged leaves must be placed behind the curb of their property and not on the road or sidewalks. Piles of leaves and bags not in compliance will not be picked up, and residents could face fines.

• Free Vaccine Clinic: Flu shots and COVID-19 vaccine are now both available for free at our Henry Street Clinic for Connecticut residents 18 and younger. Call (203) 977-5385 to make an appointment.

• Stay HUSKY Covered: The City of Stamford is partnering with Stamford Health to identify at-risk HUSKY D recipients and assist them in maintaining their health care eligibility before the new rules take effect early next year. This work is being done alongside local health care providers, nonprofit social services agencies, and housing authorities to ensure that we reach individuals and families that need support. Read more about this effort here.

• Making Stamford Streets Safer: Making Stamford's streets safer for everyone is at the heart of our Vision Zero Program. From safer intersections and crosswalks to automated speed enforcement in school zones, we're continuing to invest in proven strategies that reduce crashes and save lives. As part of this effort, Stamford's Automated Speed Enforcement Program will become operational this month at 14 locations across seven school zones. To learn more visit here, and for more on the Stamford's Vision Zero Program, visit here.

  RESOURCES FOR RESIDENTS

• Boards and Commissions: Are you a Stamford resident interested in serving on a City Board or Commission? Click here to learn more about serving.

• Walk In Permitting: Walk-in Permitting occurs weekly every Wednesday from 8:30 - 10:30 am. Walk-in permitting sessions take place on the 7th floor of the Stamford Government Center. For more information, visit here.

• Apply for a Special Events Permit: To reserve a pavilion or host events at city parks click here.

Employment Opportunities in the City

Traffic

• Eversource Cable Modernization Project: Eversource has started construction to replace two of its underground cables from 1968. To learn more and sign up for construction updates visit here.

• Old Long Ridge Road Bridge: After a visual inspection of the Old Long Ridge Road Bridge, just south of Hunting Ridge Road, city engineers have implemented a temporary one-way traffic pattern, effective immediately. The City will share further updates as they become available.

• Mill Road Bridge: The Mill Road bridge near Old Long Ridge Road is open to one lane vehicular traffic. On August 4th, 2026, the Engineering Department together with Bridge Design Consultant reviewed the proposed bridge design. To watch the video and learn more about this project, visit here.

• Bridge Street Bridge: TheConnecticut Department of Transportation notified the City that the Bridge Street bridge had concerns related to the two beam ends located under the curblines on the west most abutment. Following this notification, the City's Engineering Department field reviewed the concern on September 2nd and following a meeting with CTDOT Bridge Safety on September 4th, asked the City's Transportation Department to reduce the lane width of the bridge from four lanes to three using waterfilled barriers to remove vehicular loads off the two beams that day. The City will share further updates as they become available.

Public Health

• For information Health services, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DIGEST

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Have a wonderful weekend!

Caroline Simmons