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Second District representative Joe Courtney has written to Governor Jodi Rell protesting her decision to exclude his district from a share of federal dollars aimed at fighting the effects of foreclosures.

The cash at issue is 25 million dollars given to the state of Connecticut under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, for neighborhood stabilization initiatives.  The state Department of Economic and Community Development has issued a plan which would distribute the funds to seven of Connecticut’s largest cities, none of which are in the second district.  Joe Courtney says this is plainly counter to the spirit and letter of the legislation.

 "If you look at what the intent of congress was, which is to really recognize that high rates of foreclosures extend beyond distressed urban areas, and to help even rural parts of the country, with this program, then I really think they need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a better and more balanced proposal." 

Courtney points out that although cities like Hartford and New Haven are suffering, towns in eastern Connecticut have generally higher delinquent mortgage rates than the average, and in fact Plainfield has the highest foreclosure rate in the state.  A spokesman for Governor Rell says she will be looking into ways to modify the plan to address concerns in eastern Connecticut.