Busway Destroying Jobs Already

Sen. Markley, Mike Camillo, Rep. Whit Betts and Rep. Rob Sampson at West Hill Automotive in Newington during today’s press conference

Newington, CT – Sen. Joe Markley (R-Southington) and Representatives Whit Betts (R-Bristol) and Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) joined Mike Camillo, the owner of West Hill Automotive in Newington to stand up against the state’s “partial take” of this family owned business to make way for the New Britain to Hartford busway.

“Less than a month after the groundbreaking of the busway, Governor Malloy’s big white elephant is squeezing out a small business in Newington,” said Sen. Joe Markley.

The owner of West Hill Automotive, a family owned business since 1963 says he will lose the use of a significant portion of his property in a land grab by the Connecticut Department of Transportation for construction on the 9.4 mile busway.

“They will take 6,000 square feet – our storage lot, which means we lose $210,000 in yearly revenue and space to operate our auto towing, repair business. The state offered me $140,000 for the land,” said Mike Camillo.

The Newington Junction site is one of eleven on the $567 million busway route from New Britain to Hartford. This land grab would result in 3 layoffs and the potential of 7 jobs being lost in addition to the shuddering of a family business that has served the area for nearly 50 years.

“We are not going to move. If they come to take my equipment I’ll chain myself to it,” said Camillo.

“This busway was touted as creating jobs and already it is destroying them,” said Rep. Whit Betts. “If you can’t say no to this, then you can’t say no to anything.”

Back in April, homeowners in New Britain spoke out against their property being seized for the busway by the state and now this.

“Our governor says we’re open for business but we’ve got small businesses right here in our community that are existing and flourishing being negatively impacted by this project. I think it’s time to reconsider it and move on,” Rep. Rob Sampson said.