Month: April 2018
Larson, Rojas Announce Approval of $1.5 M State Funding for East Hartford YMCA
Larson, Rojas Announce Approval of $1.5M State Funding for East Hartford YMCA

Photo: (L-R) East Hartford YMCA President & CEO Harold Sparrow and Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford) in the Legislative Office Building after the State Bond Commission meeting Friday, April 13, 2018.
EAST HARFORD— Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford) and Representative Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford) announced today that the State Bond Commission approved a $1.5 million grant-in-aid to the YMCA of Greater Hartford for renovations and improvements to the YMCA Larson Center of Excellence, located in Mayberry Village, East Hartford.
“Investing in the YMCA Larson Center will allow us to better serve the families in our community. With this funding, the Larson Center will be able to continue offering preschool child development, summer day camp, youth sports, teen leadership programs, and activities for seniors, adults, and families in Mayberry Village,” Sen. Larson said. “I am committed to investing in programs that better our community.”
“Over the years, the YMCA in Mayberry Village has provided innumerable educational programs and activities for children and adults,” said Rep. Rojas, co-chairman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. “Simply put, without the ‘Y’ at the Larson Center of Excellence, very few of these resources could have been offered. The town just would not have been able to afford them. I’m very appreciative of the governor and others who have understood the need to support the Y’s important contribution to our community.”
“We will be able to nurture the potential of every youth and teen through programs such as preschool child development, summer day camp, youth sports, and teen leadership. We will provide services and programming for active older adults, adults, and families that promote a healthy lifestyle,” said East Hartford YMCA President & CEO Harold Sparrow and Executive Director Laura Floyd. “The YMCA is grateful for the leadership and guidance of State Senator Tim Larson, who championed this effort, along with State Representatives Jason Rojas, Henry Genga, and Jeff Currey. Without their support, we could not accomplish the many goals we have set for ourselves in this East Hartford community.”
Bridgeport Delegation Secures $3.1 Million in Supplemental Car Tax Reimbursement Money
Bridgeport Delegation Secures $3.1 Million in Supplemental Car Tax Reimbursement Money
City lawmakers applaud the release of money
The city of Bridgeport is slated to receive $3.1 million in supplemental car tax reimbursement money after the Bridgeport legislative delegation fought to secure the release of the funds from the state Office of Policy and Management.
The funding announcement comes after lawmakers representing Bridgeport, Hamden and Torrington expressed concern over the amount of motor vehicle tax reimbursements allocated to each of the three cities. The three communities were facing a motor vehicle tax reimbursement shortfall of more than $10 million collectively.
A fundamental tenet of the bipartisan budget, Public Act 17-4, that passed last year was that municipalities with car tax rates above 39 mills—the state mandated car tax cap for 2018—would be made whole for the difference between the cap and the higher tax rate.
To help make the municipalities whole, the Office of Policy and Management is releasing $5 million from the stabilization fund dedicated for car tax reimbursements.
State Reps. Andre Baker, Jack Hennessy, Ezequiel Santiago, Steve Stafstrom and Chris Rosario, and state Sens. Ed Gomes and Marilyn Moore said this funding will help steady the city’s bottom line.
“During this time of tough budgetary challenges, it is crucial for the Bridgeport legislative delegation to stand together and ensure Bridgeport receives its fair share of funding. The Bridgeport delegation worked hard with lawmakers from Torrington and Hamden to secure $5 million in supplemental car tax reimbursement money. This money should help Bridgeport balance the current year’s budget and ensure that taxpayers will not have to bear an additional burden. As an Alliance District, it is vital that we maintain state funding. We hope that this additional state funding allows Bridgeport to stabilize the tax rate and prioritize making needed investments in city service and education,” the Bridgeport legislative delegation said.
“I’m very grateful for the hard work and combined efforts of the Bridgeport legislative delegation for fighting for this critical funding for our city to be released. This will more accurately reflect motor vehicle taxes based on updated property values in Bridgeport that took a hit as a result of the Great Recession. In a very difficult budget year it is critical to capture every dollar that our taxpayers deserve. Thanks again to Bridgeport’s strong delegation and to legislative leadership for standing up for what is right for the 147,000 residents of our city,” said Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim.
Bridgeport, Hamden and Torrington each underwent property tax revaluations in 2015 or later, and each municipality saw tax rate increases of more than 4 mills. With each community having tax rates above 39 mills, the municipalities needed the reimbursement money to be made whole.
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Looney: Funding for Hamden Car Tax Offset Released
Looney: Funding for Hamden Car Tax Offset Released
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven, Hamden & North Haven) today announced that the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) has released funding intended to offset motor vehicle taxes in Hamden, Bridgeport and Torrington.
In January, Senator Looney wrote Governor Dannel P. Malloy and OPM Secretary Ben Barnes urging them to release funding and lobbied the administration throughout the winter and spring.
“I am pleased that the administration has decided to release this funding in order to prevent towns from losing this critical revenue,” said Senator Looney. “This funding will help Hamden balance the current year’s budget and ensure that Hamden taxpayers will not have to bear an additional burden.”
The FY17 budget passed by the General Assembly accommodated the completion of revaluations in these three localities when determining the formula for car tax grant distribution. It was assumed that this accommodation would still be there in the FY18 budget given our strong efforts to keep Alliance Districts (which all three of these towns are) to be kept whole as much as possible in terms of state aid.
In order to address this unintended situation, the legislature in PA 17-4 of the June Special Session authorized the Office of Policy and Management to issue supplemental motor vehicle property tax grants to municipalities that conducted recent revaluations. Since it appears that $5 million is available, Senator Looney has been advocating that the Office of Policy and Management issue these supplemental grants.
Sen. Winfield Announces State Funding for Fine Arts Space in New Haven
Sen. Winfield Announces State Funding for Fine Arts Space in New Haven
Bond Commission set to approve funds at its April 13 meeting
NEW HAVEN— Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) announced today that the State Bond Commission is expected to approve a $1.2 million grant-in-aid to redevelop an industrial building at 169 Henry Street, the future home of a new accelerated fine arts and mentorship program in New Haven titled Elm City PostMasters. The commission is set to approve the funding at a meeting this Friday, April 13.
“I am thrilled that funding to renovate 169 Henry Street is expected to be approved and I appreciate the governor’s support for this project,” Sen. Winfield said. “Community service through the arts is an important theme in New Haven and no other city does it quite like us. The Elm City PostMasters will be a great addition to our booming arts scene and will also bring jobs and new opportunities for our city youth to learn, grow, and succeed.”
“Our team believes in art as a vehicle for civic dialogue and in artists as exceptional innovators and thought leaders who have the ability to change the world. As a society, we often underestimate art’s ability to unlock our other intelligences,” said Titus Kaphar, the project’s founder. “The creative nuance and out of the box thinking that is integral to the arts is transferrable to all aspects of life. I have lived all over the country; New Haven is the first place that has felt like home. This city has been the catalyst that has helped nourish my family and launch my career. There is no other place in America I would rather start this project than here.”
“Elm City PostMasters will serve as a model for community organizations to follow,” said Sen. Looney. “Creating a space for established artists as well as new and emerging artists will add to the fabric of the community, and the jobs and mentorship opportunities will enrich the lives of so many young people. I want to thank Governor Malloy for his support and commend Mr. Kaphar and his partners for turning this dream into a reality.”
About the Project
Titus Kaphar and Jonathan Brand, both Yale MFA graduates ,with Jason Price and Carrie Mackin, are coordinating a $6 million redevelopment of the 40,000-square-foot former Macalaster Bicknell industrial building, located at 169-181 Henry Street, for an accelerated fine arts and mentorship program titled Elm City PostMasters.
The PostMasters program will provide three types of programming; six to10 Studio Fellowships, two to four Emerging Curatorial Fellowships, and four Artists in Residence Fellowships. Once renovated, the building will also include a gallery, a small café, a co-working space for creative networking, event and meeting rooms, and a small auditorium. The building will also include four residential units to accommodate the artists in residence fellowship.
In addition to career development workshops and networking activities for Fellows, PostMasters will provide afterschool jobs to neighboring high schools for students participating in the Youth Arts Mentorship Program designed for those already engaged in the arts who have shown continued interest in the arts. This program supports the mission of PostMasters to promote and nurture art on an individual and community level while fostering an appreciation for all cultures. Additional events such as visiting artist lectures, workshops, and performances will be available to the public and PostMasters members.
Deborah Berke Partners, whose principal is the Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, is the architecture and design firm for the project. Both public and private investors have committed to supporting the renovation project and the PostMasters program. Partners include the RISC Foundation (Lin Simon), ConnCat and the Yale Art Gallery, as well as the City of New Haven and the State of Connecticut.
The City of New Haven is granting $200,000 to offset the cost of renovation and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community has already provided a $1,085,000 low-interest Brownfield Loan for environmental remediation and hazardous building materials abatement and interior demolition of the property.
The property was acquired by 169 Henry Street, LLC in May, 2017 and interior demolition and hazardous building materials abatement was completed in November 2017. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by September 2018.
Sen. Larson Revives Crumbling Foundations Legislation
Sen. Larson Revives Crumbling Foundations Legislation
HARTFORD— Insurance Committee Co-chair Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford) announced today he plans to introduce an amendment that would create revenue for the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund through fees on new or renewed homeowners insurance policies and mortgages.
“This proposal renews my continued commitment to help out eastern Connecticut homeowners who are still struggling through this horrific ordeal,” Sen. Larson said. “This legislation provides a new source of revenue, which is a $10 surcharge on new home mortgages, insurance companies who are writing insurance properties in the state of Connecticut and individual policy holders. All of these funds collected will be deposited into the crumbling foundations assistance fund.”
“This is another option we can create to take care of a debilitating problem affecting hundreds if not thousands of homes in northeastern Connecticut,” said state Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), who is an incorporator on the new Connecticut captive insurance company charged with collecting and dispensing state funds to inspect and repair crumbling foundations.
The amendment to SB 377 would:
- Add a $10 fee on new and renewed mortgage loans after July 1, 2018
- Require insurance companies to pay a $10 fee on new or renewed homeowners or rental insurance policies after July 1, 2018
- Adds a $10 surcharge on new or renewed homeowners or rental insurance policies after July 1, 2018(fees shall be sunsetted on June 30, 2025)
- Require all collected fees to be deposited into the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund
- Increase the amount of time a homeowners has to provide proof of loss to an insurance company from 60 days to 120 days
- Change the amount of time a homeowner has to take legal action against an insurance company for denying a claim from two years to four years