A Waterbury Times| Op-Ed

By D.M.Livingston|Published Jan 2, 2026

Waterbury- Today at 10:15 a.m., U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal arrived in Waterbury alongside U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes and Mayor Paul Pernerewski to tour damage from last week’s major water main break and discuss possible federal assistance.

The visit comes after residents endured days of disruption—loss of water pressure, boil-water advisories, business interruptions, and unanswered questions about the city’s aging infrastructure. While federal officials now point to available infrastructure programs and relief funding, many residents are asking a harder question: why does this level of attention only arrive after crisis—and during an election cycle?

For residents, this visit is less about press conferences and more about follow-through. Infrastructure isn’t ribbon-cutting politics—it’s maintenance, planning, and funding that happens quietly, consistently, and long before emergencies make headlines.

The real test won’t be what is said at 21 East Aurora Street tomorrow morning. It will be whether Waterbury sees sustained investment after the cameras leave—and whether federal support materializes when it’s no longer campaign season.

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EVENT DETAILS

WHO:

• U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal
• U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes
• Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski

WHEN:
Friday, January 2 at 10:15 AM

WHERE:
Waterbury Water Department
21 East Aurora Street
Waterbury, CT