As a mom and coach, she’s seen the struggles firsthand
Marlena delivered the following remarks at the Opportunity Means Everybody Rally outside of the Connecticut Capitol Building on April 28, 2026.
I’ve lived in New Britain, Connecticut all my life. I am a mother of three children, and two of those are New Britain High School graduates. My youngest starts high school this fall.
I’ve been the PTA mom, the soccer mom, and a cheer coach for New Britain Police Athletic League. I have seen, felt, and heard the struggles about the price of food and rent, and the high cost of living we are all dealing with in our city, and surrounding communities.
We desperately need a renter’s tax credit and affordable rent as the housing crisis grows. We need Connecticut to fund SNAP now because seniors, disabled people, and entire families are wondering if they’ll be able to afford their next meal. More than 32,000 people in Connecticut have lost SNAP since July, and our state has done nothing to help them.
I’m here because I know how much our state is struggling to get by. I’ve seen how important SNAP is to family members and neighbors in my community where I live. This is how I feel and it’s unfair to not be seen or heard by the very people we rely on and voted for.
I am asking the governor and legislature to fund SNAP now, to pass the renter’s tax credit, and to make Connecticut a place where we can afford to live.
