Gallant targets sewer repair and commercial recovery in Coram

Chris Gallant presented a federal agenda centered on sewer repair and commercial revitalization on Monday, Oct. 26, at a Coram Civic Association forum.

The candidate, who is running to unseat Rep. Nick LaLota, spoke alone as LaLota did not attend the event. A two-member panel opened the session with questions on business conditions and infrastructure. Audience members submitted inquiries in advance, which were reviewed before being asked.

Gallant noted his lack of prior political experience as a distinct advantage. “Everything is an us versus them. And me not being a politician gives me the opportunity to be a unique candidate,” Gallant said. “Someone new who can step up and start fighting for what I think our community needs.” He began his congressional campaign in August of last year. At the start of the meeting, he detailed his history in the military, his role as a union leader, and his service as a volunteer firefighter.

The discussion began with the state of Coram’s commercial district. Panelists pointed to a rise in vacancies and a drop in new business openings. They contrasted this with nearby communities that have recently seen new commercial development and investment. Gallant proposed using federal resources to rebuild dilapidated structures and repurpose abandoned spaces. “Revitalizing Coram is going to be a really strong core principle as to how we actually move forward,” he said.

Gallant identified the local sewer system as his top federal priority. The district has managed aging sewer lines for decades. He argued that federal investment in waste lines would improve clean water access. Gallant linked rising leak rates from sewer treatment and septic tanks to increasing cancer rates in the area.

The final panel round addressed the link between deteriorating commercial conditions and social issues, including vagrancy, substance abuse, and crime. Gallant focused on homelessness and said federal aid for better housing was a key part of his plan. He connected substance abuse and mental health to the strain he observed on nurses and doctors during his time as a safety officer.

In the open forum, a resident asked how Gallant intended to unite the community. Gallant cited his non-political background as a tool for bridging partisan divides. “I’ve never run into a burning building and asked the person that I was going in there for who they voted for in the last election. It doesn’t matter,” he said.

Questioners also raised environmental concerns, specifically the recent reduction of regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency. Gallant stated he opposes reversing environmental laws. He said the United States is currently losing the race to achieve zero carbon emissions. He emphasized the need for infrastructure planning to handle rising sea levels and storms. “Superstorm Sandy was about 13, 14 years ago and we still have areas of our district that have been damaged from that and that haven’t just fully gotten repaired yet,” Gallant said.

The session closed with questions about artificial intelligence data centers. Gallant said he is against such projects until specific issues are resolved. He wants to ensure these centers are deemed safe and do not strain local electric grids. He listed noise and other environmental impacts as factors that must be improved or fixed before he would support them.