The New England First Amendment Coalition called on the City of Stamford (Conn.) today to revise its rules on public comments in accordance with state and federal constitutional protections for free speech.
The city’s Board of Representatives is in the process of changing its public commentary policy and had at one point considered unconstitutional and unreasonable restrictions. Those restrictions included limiting the number of times an individual can address the Board, restricting comments about subjects the speaker already addressed, and prohibiting “disparaging” remarks against Board members.
“While these are contentious times and managing public meetings can be increasingly difficult, our coalition is nonetheless concerned,” wrote NEFAC in a March 4 letter to Board President Ramya Shaw. The coalition explained that:
“Despite our concerns with the proposed amendment to Section E.3, the city is still able to regulate public comments. It is permissible under state and federal constitutions, for example, to designate when in a meeting such speech is allowed or to set reasonable time limits for those speaking. Without these limits on expression, one might argue, government meetings cannot proceed effectively and efficiently. These limits, however, must be viewpoint neutral and reasonable. Much of the proposed amendment to Section E.3 is not.”
Shaw responded by saying that the Board is now pursuing new revisions that do not include the restrictive language originally proposed.
NEFAC previously fought restrictive speech ordinances in New Hampshire, first in Nashua in 2023 and then in Manchester in 2025. The coalition also published an audit of speech codes in the state, finding various forms of restrictions that limit public expression during government meetings.
NEFAC is the region’s leading defender of the First Amendment and open government. The coalition began in 2006 to advance and protect the five freedoms of the First Amendment, including the principle of the public’s right to know. We’re a broad-based organization of people who believe in the power of an informed democratic society.
Our coalition is funded through contributions made by those who value the First Amendment and who strive to keep government accountable. Please make a donation here.
NEFAC appreciates the support of all its donors and contributors. In particular, we would like to recognize the Estate of Gloria L. Negri, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the following Leadership Circle donors: Rhode Island Foundation, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters of NEFAC’s work include Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Boston University, the Academy of New England Journalists, and Truro News.