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| Dear Neighbor,
From my family to yours, I want to take a moment to send my best wishes for the holiday season. May it bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness, and time well spent together. Remember that no matter how we celebrate, we also share many blessings. So, in the spirit of the season, please spread the joy that makes this time of the year truly special. Looking ahead to the new year, I am excited for all that we will accomplish together. It is my sincere honor to represent you and work on issues that matter to our community and Connecticut. This week's newsletter topics include:
- Out n' About in the 41st
- Severe Weather Protocol Activated for Saturday Through Tuesday
- Thousands of CT Residents Set for Medical Debt Relief
- Elder Fraud Rising in CT
- CT Transportation News
- Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
- Beware of Porch Piracy
- Community Events
Have a great weekend,
Aundré |
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| Watch out! The Santa Sightings Convoy was spotted in our neighborhood this week! Thanks to Mystic Fire Department - Official for bringing some holiday cheer to our local streets! |
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| This week, I had the privilege of visiting the Maritime Adventure Program at Mystic Seaport Museum! This remarkable initiative connects under-resourced youth with maritime education and career pathways, offering hands-on experiences such as sailing, boatbuilding, ocean conservation, and museum studies.
With a strong focus on leadership, teamwork, and technical skills, the program helps students earn certifications, build confidence, and explore careers in the maritime field—all while fostering resilience and personal growth.
It’s inspiring to see such impactful opportunities for the next generation happening in our community. A heartfelt thank you to the mentors and staff for empowering these brilliant young leaders and future maritime experts!
I’ve spent a lot of time discussing youth disengagement and loneliness with ARPA champion & U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, as well as Town of Stonington, CT First Selectman Danielle Chesebrough as part of her work on CCM’s 119K Commission.
As a proud member of the CT Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, I’m thrilled about the over $300,000 in resources we’ve secured for community nonprofits and institutions to deliver world-class after-school programs, summer camps, and enrichment opportunities such as outdoor education to working families in our district.
Thank you the Seaport’s Sarah Cahill and Peter Armstrong for allowing me to speak with students about the fun and meaningful work they are doing at the largest maritime museum in the US!
We will continue advancing these efforts at the state, local, and federal levels—it truly takes a village and strong community partnerships! Honored to represent this incredible institution and the best district in Connecticut! |
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Connecticut will experience a period of extremely cold conditions during the next several days, so Governor Lamont has activated the state’s severe cold weather protocol starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, and effective through 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24.
This is the first time the protocol has been activated this season. Its purpose is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold, which could be life-threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.
Anyone in need of shelter is urged to call 2-1-1 to get connected to these services or visit 211ct.org to view a list of locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary. |
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More than 22,000 residents of Connecticut can expect some or all their medical debt to be eliminated, thanks to a major state initiative in partnership with the national nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt.
Undue Medical Debt collaborates with state and local governments to leverage public investments, negotiating with hospitals and other providers to eliminate large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medical debt. This initiative specifically targets patients whose income is at or below four times (400%) the federal poverty level, or who have medical debt that constitutes 5% or more of their income. Because these medical debts are acquired in bulk and pertain to individuals who are least able to pay, they can be purchased at a fraction of their face value. |
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The state allocated approximately $100,000 from its share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in this initial round. With this investment, Undue Medical Debt successfully negotiated with a secondary market partner (such as a collections agency) and a national provider to acquire approximately $30 million in qualifying medical debt for Connecticut residents.
Residents do not need to apply for this medical debt relief, nor can they request it. Those whose debts have been identified for relief will receive a branded letter from Undue Medical Debt detailing which debts have been eliminated. These letters will be sent out through the U.S. mail, starting December 23, 2024.
To view a sample of the letter recipients will soon receive in the mail, you can click HERE.
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Recent incidents in New Haven and Fairfield Count show anyone can be the victim of an online scam. However, millions of our elderly neighbors are targeted for some type of financial fraud every year. With the holiday season upon us, it's an important reminder that not everyone is acting from a benevolent place in their heart. With the elderly population growing and seniors racking up more than $3 billion in losses annually, elder fraud has remained a growing problem.
Common elder fraud schemes include Romance scams (Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites); Tech support scams (Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues); Grandparent scams (Criminals posing as a relative — usually a child or grandchild — claiming to be in immediate financial need); Government impersonation scam (Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments); and Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam (Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstake, which they can collect for a fee). |
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There are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones, including the following (courtesy of the FBI and 2-1-1):
- If you believe there is a scam attempt, end all communication with that individual. Create a shared verbal family password or phrase that only you and your loved ones know. Also, disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen.
- Search online for the contact information (name, email, phone number, addresses) and the proposed offer. Other people have likely posted information online about individuals and businesses trying to run scams.
- Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action.
- Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one. Take precautions to protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity.
- Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door service offers.
- Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, gold, or other precious metals, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses.
- Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know.
Contacts and more information
Office of the Attorney General – Senior Fraud Hotline
The State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Unit runs an Elder Justice Senior Fraud Hotline at 860-808-5420. The office also has a website here.
Department of Aging and Disability Services
The Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services posts recent examples of frauds and scams on their website here:
To Find Services in Connecticut’s Community Resources Database:
Search by Provider Name: Better Business Bureau of Connecticut
by Service Name: Fraud Prevention |
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The CTDOT has announced that there will be no inspection, maintenance, or construction activities on major highways during the following time frames:
- 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 24 to 6:00 a.m. Thursday, December 26, 2024
- 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024, to 6:00 a.m. Thursday, January 2, 2025.
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Now through January 1, 2025, drivers across Connecticut can expect to see more law enforcement on the roads to prevent impaired driving and keep roads safe for everyone. During the holiday season, drunk driving is a significant threat.
The CTDOT urges the public to take proactive steps to ensure a safe holiday season:
- Designate a Sober Driver: Before drinking, plan a safe way to get home. Use a ride-share service, or public transportation, or designate a sober driver.
- Stay Alert on the Roads: Keep a safe distance from drivers who appear impaired. Report dangerous drivers by calling 911.
- Intervene When Necessary: If you see someone attempting to drive impaired, take their keys and help them arrange a safe ride home.
Driving under the influence of any substance, whether alcohol, cannabis, prescription medication, or over-the-counter drugs, is illegal and dangerous. Impaired driving can lead to jail time and fines. |
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While the holiday season generally brings holiday cheer, there are some Grinches who dampen the mood. With online shopping becoming more prevalent, package thieves – better known as porch pirates – have more opportunities to swipe deliveries.
The Better Business Bureau, citing a Security.org study, said package thieves stole more than $18 billion in merchandise over the last year. |
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Here are some ways – courtesy of the BBB – to discourage porch pirates:
- Don’t leave unattended packages.
Try to schedule a delivery when you know you will be home. If you aren't going to be home, ask a trusted neighbor if they mind holding on to packages. Also. some retailers offer garage delivery.
- Ship to store, storefront, or post office box.
Consider shipping to a retailer with a physical location near your home or, if you have one, ship to a post office box that accepts packages.
Installing a home security system with cameras or a video doorbell is a great way to deter package theft, especially when highly visible.
Many delivery companies include the option to require a signature before leaving a package but be sure to check with the delivery company on their policy for packages that are not signed for; they may return it to the sender after a certain number of attempts.
Most retailers provide tracking details with links to delivery services; some even send their emails to let you know when something has landed on your stoop.
If you fear your package being stolen, file a report with your local police department and the delivery company. Depending on your delivery service, they may offer insurance or other policies to reimburse you for your losses. |
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| Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative |
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