Sens. Looney And Winfield Announce $10.2 Million In State Bonding For Housing, Youth, And An Independent Library In New Haven
NEW HAVEN – Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney (D- New Haven) and state Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) today welcomed State Bond Commission approval of more than $10 million in state funding for various New Haven improvements, including housing redevelopment, a new youth center, and repairs to Connecticut’s oldest independent circulating library.
The total $10.262 million in state funding was approved earlier today when the State Bond Commission met in Hartford.
“Once again the State of Connecticut has come through with some essential funding for major investments in our communities, this time for much-needed affordable housing and senior housing improvements in New Haven, a re-born youth center for children who may still be struggling through the ramifications of the COVID pandemic, and a significant investment in the Institute Library, which really fills a special, cultural niche in the social fabric of New Haven,” Sen. Looney said.
“I’m also very pleased with the planned improvements to the phone system at the New Haven correctional facility, which is 20 years old and doesn’t even allow for voicemail. Regular contact with friends and family members is an integral part of rehabilitation, and that’s what these upgrades will provide,” Sen. Looney said. “All of these state investments will improve the quality of life for thousands of New Haven residents, and I want to thank Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for their commitment to our citizens.”
“The investment made here will have real impact in the lives of the citizens of New Haven,” Sen. Winfield said. “Whether it’s more affordable housing units, desperately needed places for our youth, or repairs to one of our centers of knowledge, what is being done with these monies is critically important to our great city. The governor and the bond commission are to be commended for such important investments.”
Today’s approved bonding includes:
- $5 million for the Science Park/Winchester Works housing development project. This project will result in 1,000 total housing units, including 200 units of affordable housing (for incomes that are 50% of the area median income).
- $1.75 million for the Institute Library for urgent repairs to the roof, elevator, bathrooms, and safety systems. Founded in 1826, the Institute Library provides quiet reading areas, a large circulating collection of up-to-date literature, unique programming and rich opportunities to engage with members and the surrounding neighborhoods of downtown New Haven; its mission is “mutual assistance in the attainment of useful knowledge” for its members and the New Haven community at large through literature, civil discourse, and the arts.
- $1.5 million for the relocation and construction of the Trowbridge Youth Center. This project will convert a former recreation center that is currently uninhabitable.
$1.3 million for The Towers at Tower Lane for improvements to senior housing and programming space, allowing for an expansion of senior activities for its 328 senior residents. - $737,000 to upgrade the outdated telephone system at the New Haven Correctional Center. Upgrades include lightning protection, testing cabling and jacks, labeling, and replacing cabling
Senators Duff And Maroney File Request With Us Senator Cantwell To Legislate American’s Data Privacy
Senators Duff And Maroney File Request With Us Senator Cantwell To Legislate American’s Data Privacy
Today, state Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) requested that US Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, review American’s data privacy laws. Building off the bipartisan agreement in Congress, Senators Duff and Maroney are requesting any legislation that US Senator Cantwell considers, not preempt stronger state laws.
Earlier this year, Senate Bill 6, An Act Concerning Personal Data Privacy And Online Monitoring, coauthored by Sen. Duff and Sen. Maroney, was passed in Connecticut. It was then signed into law by Governor Lamont on June 22. This law will help to protect consumers online in Connecticut. It establishes a framework for controlling and processing personal data, and establishes responsibilities and privacy protection standards for data controllers and processors. It also grants consumers the right to access, correct, delete and obtain a copy of personal data, and opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes.
The letter Senator Duff and Senator Maroney sent to US Senator Cantwell is below:
Dear Chairwoman Cantwell:
We are writing to you with regards to the effort to legislate Americans’ data privacy.
We were pleased to hear reports that you favor a strong bill. As coauthors of Connecticut’s new data privacy law, Senate Bill 6 (Public Act 22-15), we know how difficult and complicated regulating consumer privacy can be. The sheer number of lobbyists hired in Connecticut to weaken or even kill the legislation is unlike anything we have ever seen in our careers in the Connecticut Legislature. In large part, this is the reason it took seven years to pass in Connecticut.
We respectfully request that any legislation you consider not preempt stronger state laws. We understand that several states have passed industry written laws that provide no protection, but believe that states such as Connecticut, California and Colorado have enacted many provisions that provide meaningful defenses against the unwanted sharing of information. We are particularly proud of the strongest child protections in the country present within our law.
We are hopeful that any bill that receives favorable action in the United States Congress will contain a universal opt-out, a strong definition of “sale,” protections for children aged thirteen through sixteen and real penalties for violation of the law.
Thank you very much for your work and being a great ally.
Sincerely,
Bob Duff
Senate Majority Leader Senator
James Maroney
14th District
Senator Duff Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Looney, Duff Statement on Republican Plan to Cut Debt Payments
Today, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released the following statement after the Supreme Court today ruled in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health to effectively strike down Roe v Wade, which has codified the right to seek an abortion for nearly 50 years.
“The Supreme Court’s overturning of settled law on reproductive health is the nightmare we feared. Decades ago Connecticut wrote Roe v. Wade’s abortion protections into state law and this year we took additional steps to protect not only our residents and medical professionals but also any American who has an abortion in our state. However, now that the Supreme Court has put an end to safe, legal abortions as a right in our country, Connecticut is dependent on having lawmakers and a Governor who will defend that right. We are no longer dealing with a theoretical threat to abortion access. Every local election will determine our access to that right.”
Senator Looney Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Senator Looney Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Today, Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) released the following statement after the Supreme Court today ruled in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health to effectively strike down Roe v Wade, which has codified the right to seek an abortion for nearly 50 years.
“This decision will cause confusion, pain, and division across our country and will do so disproportionally for low income women whose health care options are already limited. Democrats in the General Assembly anticipated this upending of legal precedent and enacted additional safeguards for reproductive health care in our state this year, including protection against litigation from residents of other states.”
Sen. Cabrera Releases Statement in Response to Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion Rights and Access
Sen. Cabrera Releases Statement in Response to Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion Rights and Access
HARTFORD, CT – Today, state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) released the following statement after the Supreme Court today ruled in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health to effectively strike down Roe v Wade, which has codified the right to seek an abortion for nearly 50 years.
“The Supreme Court decision today overturning almost 50 years of established law threatens the freedoms of women everywhere,” said Sen. Cabrera. “We must stand together to protect the right to choose. Although this is a somber time, it is not the end of this fight. In Connecticut, we will continue to ensure the right to choose is protected no matter what.”
State Senator James Maroney Releases Statement Following Supreme Courts Decision To Overturn Roe V Wade
State Senator James Maroney Releases Statement Following Supreme Courts Decision To Overturn Roe V Wade
Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) released the following statement following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade:
“This decision moves our country backwards,” said Sen. Maroney. “While we have Roe Versus Wade codified in Connecticut, this is a step backwards for women’s rights and reproductive freedom. I am saddened by the supreme court’s decision, but resolved to continue to fight in Connecticut to protect the rights of all of our residents.”
Senator Needleman Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Senator Needleman Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) released the following statement after the Supreme Court today ruled in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health to effectively strike down Roe v Wade, which has codified the right to seek an abortion for nearly 50 years.
“Today is a sad day for women and women’s rights in the United States. I believe strongly that these decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor and that the government should have a very limited role in this conversation. I am grateful, however, that Connecticut has taken steps in a bipartisan way to protect the rights of women and to ensure they can get adequate reproductive healthcare on their terms in our state.”
Statement Of Senator Mae Flexer On Today’s U.S. Supreme Court Decision Affecting National Abortion Rights
Statement Of Senator Mae Flexer On Today’s U.S. Supreme Court Decision Affecting National Abortion Rights
“This is a dark day for our country. The rights of more than half of Americans have been rolled back in an unprecedented way. We no longer have control over our own bodies depending on what state we live in. And make no mistake, there is nothing “pro-life” about this. The United States has the highest maternal death rates of any developed country and is virtually alone in the world in having no paid parental leave. This decision is not about caring for women and families, it is about controlling women. There will not be fewer abortions in our country, abortions will continue. But we are now going to see women die in parts of our country because they will not be able to access safe health care. This will not just affect abortion access, but also access to contraception, fertility treatments, miscarriage treatments and other types of health care.
“It’s hard to express how truly devastating this decision is. But I am proud that Connecticut will continue to be a leader in protecting the full spectrum of health care rights for all of our citizens and welcoming our fellow Americans who come here for critical health care that is now illegal in more than a dozen states. We will also continue to be an actual pro-family state that respects women and supports families with access to early child care, the strongest paid family and medical leave in the country, strong pregnancy protections and much more. We will do everything we can to ensure that women will continue to be treated as full and equal citizens, even as the U.S. Supreme Court and dozens of state legislatures do the opposite.”
Senator Haskell Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Senator Haskell Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Today, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) released the following statement after the Supreme Court today ruled in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health to effectively strike down Roe v Wade, which has codified the right to seek an abortion for nearly 50 years.
“Is it possible to be unsurprised but stunned? Today, our country took a devastating step backward. Now, states must follow Connecticut’s lead by insisting that abortion is health care and ensuring all are welcome to exercise their rights here.
For the first time, the Supreme Court has taken away a broadly popular and often-exercised right. And they won’t stop here. In the text of today’s decision, Justice Thomas laid the groundwork to ‘correct the error’ of rulings allowing contraception, same sex relations and gay marriage.
I thank Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan for their dissent, ‘with sorrow – for this court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection.'”
Senator Slap Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Senator Slap Releases Statement In Response To Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion Rights And Access
Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) released the following statement after the Supreme Court today ruled in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health to effectively strike down Roe v Wade, which has codified the right to seek an abortion for nearly 50 years:
“I am stunned at this news. Even though we knew it was likely, I am so saddened at what this decision will do for women’s freedom and for our nation. It is not enough to just take solace that we live in a state like Connecticut which protects women’s freedom. We know that all women in all states deserve the right to choose. We also know that the rights we enjoy in Connecticut are under attack – in every election, and every year, we need to remain vigilant.”