Travis Simms

This week, our community mourns the passing of Ernie Dumas -- a devoted community activist, former Common Council member, and a tireless advocate for fairness, justice, and the people of Norwalk.

First, I want to wish everyone a happy, safe and healthy new year. I'm looking forward to a productive 2026 representing Norwalk at the State Capitol.

As we gather with loved ones and reflect on the year behind us, I want to thank you — truly — for your trust, your engagement, and your steadfast support.

Connecticut cannot thrive economically or socially if we do not build more housing. That is why I was proud to have attended the ceremony at Oak Grove in Norwalk last week, where Gov. Ned Lamont signed HB8002, a broad bill that addresses the state's housing shortage.

Attorney General Tong said this week he will obey a court order prohibiting the United States Department of Agriculture from forcing states to turn over data on SNAP recipients.

This week, the Connecticut House of Representatives suffered a devastating loss with the passing of State Representative Kevin Ryan. First elected in 1993, Rep. Ryan faithfully represented the 139th District for more than three decades.

We've had a lot of statewide issues lately, so it's nice to focus on local news for a change.

This week, the legislature convened in a special session to take up several pressing issues, most notably approving $500 million to safeguard vital services like food assistance, health care, energy support, housing, and child care against possible federal cuts.