Michael Passero, mayor of New London, Conn. – home to the Coast Guard Academy and other Coast Guard facilities – said it is “patently unfair” that Coast Guard members and personnel missed two paychecks during the five-week government shutdown.
“It has hit the community very, very hard,” Passero said Sunday on “Face the Nation.” “But the community has really stepped up,” including donating food. “We never thought we’d see the day [we would need a food bank] on the grounds of the United States Coast Guard Academy.”
Passero said the community is continuing with its “mitigation” efforts, since there’s a possibility of another shutdown.
“We’re not standing at ease with just a three-week reprieve.”
 
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole Foguth