Westport Delegation Releases Statement on Antisemitic Flyers Found in Local Neighborhood
Today, state Senator Ceci Maher and state Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson released the following statement on recent reports of antisemitic flyers found in Westport.
“We vehemently condemn another incident of hateful propaganda in our community. We have no tolerance for hate speech against any person or group, based on race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, country of origin, gender identity, or any other affiliation. A hateful action against one Westporter is an attack on us all and we are grateful for the Westport Police and ADL for their vigilance as this incident is investigated.”
According to reports, the antisemitic flyers were discovered last week in driveways in the impacted neighborhood. This most recent finding follows a disturbing trend of flyers promoting white supremacy, racism, homophobia and other bigoted causes being discovered across the state.
The CT Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Releases Statement Following Florida State Board of Education Decision to Require Educators to Teach that Slavery Benefited Black People
The CT Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Releases Statement Following Florida State Board of Education Decision to Require Educators to Teach that Slavery Benefited Black People
HARTFORD – Today, the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus (BPRC) released the following statement condemning the Florida State Board of Education decision to require educators to teach children that Black people benefited from slavery. The newly approved standards also include language stating Black slaves participated in violent acts during race massacres.
“The decision by the Florida State Board of Education is not shocking, this is par for the course for that state’s ‘leaders’ and conservatives as well,” said state Senator and BPRC Chair Pat Billie Miller. “Their unusual obsession with restricting the accurate teachings of Race, racism and our country’s real history are not only cheap political attempts to bolster favor with their constituents, but also exposes their own ignorance and hate. This decision is racist and I applaud Florida’s teachers’ union for pushing back. In Connecticut, this serves as another reason why we must remain steadfast in our commitment to teach our country’s true history, not shy away from difficult discussions and topics, and never allow racism to penetrate anywhere, but especially not in our classrooms. Young people have the potential to set right what has been wrong for so many years. No adult has the right to take that power from them by altering history so it suits their ignorance.”
“The most disheartening part of all this is that it fits a trend for many of our conservative states and pushes it a step further,” said State Representative and BPRC Vice Chair Antonio Felipe. “In classrooms, in medical facilities and even in State Legislatures the voices of disenfranchised people have been silenced. Now the attempt is being made to fill that silence by mandating a revisionist history that stifles progress towards equity for Black Americans. This country has some dark times in it’s history, attempts to ignore or put a positive spin on those times devalues the fight and the struggle they created for so many.”
According to multiple reports, Florida’s public schools will now be required to teach students that some Black people benefited from slavery because it taught them useful skills. Included in Florida’s new racist education standards is language that states, “instruction includes acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans but is not limited to 1906 Atlanta Race Riot, 1919 Washington, D.C. Race Riot, 1920 Ocoee Massacre, 1921 Tulsa Massacre and the 1923 Rosewood Massacre.” Florida’s teachers’ union has since condemned these standards.
STATE SENATOR NEEDLEMAN SUPPORTS PURA DECISION TO REJECT UNITED ILLUMINATING RATE INCREASE
STATE SENATOR NEEDLEMAN SUPPORTS PURA DECISION TO REJECT UNITED ILLUMINATING RATE INCREASE
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, gave his support to the announcement that the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority rejected a proposed rate hike requested by United Illuminating. UI submitted an application earlier this year seeking a three-year rate plan that would cost ratepayers $131 million over those three years; PURA instead approved an amount representing an increase of less than $2 million from the current approved revenue requirement.
“I’m highly supportive of this decision by PURA to reject this rate increase after review,” said Sen. Needleman. “Ratepayers deserve transparency in the services they receive, and PURA found that UI’s proposal featured significant errors in a cost-of-service study, and found performance deficiencies that influenced their decision-making. This is especially promising because it will align with PURA’s new regulatory goals, which are intended to ensure multi-year rate plans remain effective in providing efficient, affordable service. The approved one-year rate plan will save money for ratepayers at a time when electric costs remain high; I’m hopeful that this decision bodes well for the strength of electric utility regulation in our state.”
SENATOR FLEXER HAILS NEW CONNECTICUT STATE LAWS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
SENATOR FLEXER HAILS NEW CONNECTICUT STATE LAWS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
HARTFORD – State Senator Mae Flexer today welcomed the signing of several new, bipartisan bills into laws that will strengthen women’s reproductive rights in Connecticut, ensuring that they retain the power to make their own medical decisions amid national concerns over reproductive rights.
These Connecticut laws were passed this past legislative session in response to the conservative U.S. Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, which for half a century guaranteed a woman’s right to an abortion in America.
“I have the great privilege of representing the students at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. And last summer, these students were terrified. But they didn’t just sit there in their fear – they instead said, ‘What can we do to make this better? What can we do to make sure that we have better access to healthcare here at UConn?’ And they reached out to Representative Haddad and me,” Sen. Flexer told a large crowd at the bill signings press conference. “This is a shining example of how you can take your concern for something in a moment when so many things in our country are under attack, and actually make change happen. I am so thankful to these students for the leadership that they demonstrated.”
The four bills signed into law today will:
- Protect medical providers in Connecticut who provide health care for out-of-state residents from adverse actions (i.e. arrest) taken by some other state where abortion has essentially been outlawed.
- Allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control without patients first needing to visit their doctor. The law permits pharmacists to prescribe a hormonal contraceptive and emergency contraceptive only if they have completed an accredited educational training program.
- Increase access to reproductive care by college students by requiring public higher education institutions (i.e. UConn, the state universities) with on-campus residences to develop a plan by January 1, 2024, that addresses students’ need for reproductive health care, including contraception, abortion, and gender-affirming care.
- Protect the privacy of patient health data online, ensuring that individuals who are seeking health care information and services online can trust that their personal data and information is secure and cannot be collected and used against them.
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Sen. Moore Featured on News 12
Sen. Moore Featured on News 12
HARTFORD – State Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) was featured on News 12 recently. Watch here.
Chair of Public Safety Committee, Senator Gaston, Releases Statement on CT State Police Trooper Audit
Chair of Public Safety Committee, Senator Gaston, Releases Statement on CT State Police Trooper Audit
Today, state Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport), Chair of the Public Safety Committee and member of Connecticut’s Legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, is releasing a statement following a recent presentation of an audit that found there is a high likelihood Connecticut State Police Troopers falsified thousands of traffic tickets.
“As chair of the Public Safety Committee, it is my due diligence to make sure drivers around our state are protected against unfair practices and have equal protection under the law,” said Sen. Gaston. “I will make it my mission to ensure equity and fairness for all Connecticut drivers behind the wheel. This audit presents a real challenge for our state, and my colleagues and I will work to find a solution. As we continue to conduct a thorough review of the audit, I am reaching out to community members while collaborating with law enforcement as we assess what actions will be taken from here.”
The Public Safety Committee and Judiciary Committee are set to have a meeting on July 26 to discuss and determine how to implement a future system where this will not happen in Connecticut again.
BURLINGTON LEADERS WELCOME STATE FUNDING SUPPORTING BURLINGTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
BURLINGTON LEADERS WELCOME STATE FUNDING SUPPORTING BURLINGTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Today, Burlington leaders gathered at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department to announce and welcome funding approved in the state budget approved in June that will provide additional financial support to the fire department for the first time in more than a decade. State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), State Representative John Piscopo (R-Burlington), Burlington First Selectman Doug Thompson and Burlington Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Boucher joined together today to celebrate the important support for local volunteers working to keep the community safe.
“Our first responders, especially those who volunteer to protect our communities and keep us safe, deserve not only our respect but our support. This funding ensures they will receive that support,” said Sen. Slap. “This is the first increase in stipend and per-call pay in more than a decade for these men and women. It’s an important investment in public safety.”
“I was proud to stand with the Burlington delegation in support of this funding for the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department,” said Rep. Piscopo. “Keeping a fully staffed department has been challenge, as it has been other departments and many other sectors of the economy. This investment makes positive impact on our community by immediately supporting BVFD’s critical operations.”
“The Burlington Volunteer Fire Department has served our community as our town has grown considerably,” said First Selectman Thompson. “The demand that has placed on our volunteers, in addition to training and skills needed, has made it difficult to recruit and retain volunteers. The Town and State have provided funding for the BVFD to use at their discretion to address these issues. All received an increase in per-call pay, and officer stipends were increased based on their level of involvement. We held an event in February honoring our first responders and showing our appreciation; today, we back that up with this funding, dedicated to those serving our community. I’m grateful to Senator Slap and Representative Piscopo for their aid in securing this funding.”
“We really appreciate the support of state and local representatives acknowledging the hard work the volunteer firefighters and EMTs do,” said Chief Boucher. “This funding will help us to continue to retain and recruit members and service the community.”
In the state budget approved by legislators last month, the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department received $170,000 to increase stipends for about a dozen officers. These funds will also increase the per-call pay for the entire fire department, which constitutes about 75 individuals. Prior to this funding, the department’s stipends had not been increased in more than a decade. The amount will support the fire department for the next two fiscal years, through mid-2025.
The Burlington Volunteer Fire Department has served the community for 76 years, providing mutual aid service to neighboring communities when needed.