The Future Is Brighter

Stamford’s future is held back by fear and dysfunction, but this is fixable. By breaking down our broken system, valuing people as our greatest resource, and embracing the risks necessary for improvement, we can unlock the brighter future our city deserves.

Stamford’s Biggest Problems — And How to Fix Them

Stamford has been held back by fear, a broken system, and failed leadership. These problems make Stamford unaffordable and puts our future at risk.

Culture of Fear

Stamford’s culture is defined by fear. Fear of potential harm is the justification for endless red tape that blocks new housing and businesses. Fear of other people limits who can contribute to our city. Fear of exploitation rewards politicians for pandering to these fears — ensuring we never fix our problems.

We need leaders who can adapt to change. In the future, Stamford enables builders, innovators, and risk takers.

Dysfunctional Government

Stamford’s Board of Representatives is designed to entrench a fear of risk. Originally intended to check the power of the mayor, our representatives now block anything to frame themselves as “defenders of the public.” They block housing, green spaces, infrastructure, commercial zones, and much more.

We need to get rid of systems built on fear. In the future, Stamford votes to approve a charter revision that breaks down the Board of Representatives.

Read Policies

Failed Leadership

Stamford knows what needs to be done to build housing, protect public spaces, and provide family friendly infrastructure. Our leaders have chosen not to take action. Instead we waste time with petty politics and divisive rhetoric.

We need leaders who care about substance more than image. In the future, Stamford encourages 40 new leaders to run for the Board of Representatives and replace the elected officials who have wasted our time, money, and resources.

About the Campaign

The future is coming. What will it be?

The Future Is Brighter is a campaign to introduce optimism for the future. Stamford has a vibrant economy, but our potential is held back by a destructive worldview: anti-social nihilism.

What is anti-social nihilism? It is the belief people make the city worse, nothing can be trusted, and the only change possible is exploitation. This worldview builds nothing, helps no one, and isn’t true. It makes our people miserable and gives permission to act on fear.

The alternative is pro-social conservatism.

What is pro-social? It is the belief people are our greatest resource. People build families, businesses, and places to live. Our city’s infrastructure and policies should be built in support of people.

How does that work with conservatism? Conservatism means conserving what was here already. Stamford is a great community in the greatest country in the world. We can build on what has worked here, but we don’t need to import policy experiments from New York City. We need to ensure the people who grow up here can afford to live here, we need to protect our public spaces from antisocial behavior, and we need to maintain Stamford’s independence from national politics.

We’re going to do things our own way, because it’s what’s best for us. This means taking risks, adapting to new information, and building what our residents need.

This campaign isn’t about gimmicks. It’s about specific and actionable policies to bring about a brighter future for Stamford.

The Future is Brighter is led by Arthur Augustyn, a local business consultant specializing in AI integration and marketing. He previously served as Director of Communications for Mayor David Martin where he modernized city communications and kept the public informed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The son of Polish immigrants, Arthur grew up in Newton, Massachusetts before choosing Stamford as his home and purchasing property downtown.

Meet Arthur

Join the Future. It’s Brighter!

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