The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received September 8, 2026.
There’s a persistently annoying issue in our neighborhoods that drives me crazy every time I see it. All too often, you can pass a utility pole in our communities and see wires spooled up or laying bare on the ground that were simply cut and left there. They’re unsightly, a reminder of what happens when a company is more focused on speed than making sure its workers can complete the job.
The utility workers aren’t the problem here. They’re out doing the hard work every day, running lines and keeping our vital services running. I see this as an issue with whichever utility company is responsible for this work and its handing down of assignments to workers. Whether they’re being rushed so quickly they can’t get those last wires taken care of or they’re simply being told the wires aren’t a big deal, they leave behind a wasteful form of blight that could even be considered a hazard if wires are in a position where people could trip on them.
This has been something sitting in the back of my mind for long enough that I think it’s long overdue we address it. Should I have the opportunity to return to Hartford next year as State Senator, I’m aiming to introduce a bill on this issue. Whichever utility is responsible needs to make sure they’re doing a thorough job and getting annoying blight off our sidewalks and streets, and we can help convince them by making it a requirement to clean up excess wires and make sure the work actually gets done.
I get the feeling I’m not alone in being deeply frustrated about this issue and a lack of a solution for it. If you feel similarly about these leftover wires and want to make sure the utility company responsible for not getting the job done fixes the problem, please reach out to my office in the next few months. I would especially appreciate if constituents from around our district and beyond could send in photos and let my team and me know where the worst offenders are located. That way, not only am I hearing from members of the public who agree something needs to change here, but we will have a catalog of problem areas and can easily and immediately illustrate the pervasive nature of the issue around Connecticut.
If you are as fired up on this issue as I am, please reach out to my office with photos and locations of some of the worst offenders on our streets and in our communities. Email needleman@senatedems.ct.gov or visit https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/senator/norm-needleman/email-contact to get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.
