Cristin McCarthy Vahey

Dear Neighbor,

Happy New Year to you and your families.

As we approach the Martin Luther King Day weekend, I am reminded of an MLK quote on a poster hanging in my office, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

In these days following the death of Renee Good in Minnesota, and the protests happening here at home, in Hartford, and throughout the country, I am struck by how these words challenge us to draw upon our better angels.

Light and love can be hard to choose in the face of violence, aggression, and uncertainty, and when we strongly disagree with one another's perspective. The truth remains that we are all neighbors living together with one another. May we choose light and love as we stand strong for the values we believe in.

Below you will find information on upcoming events and some of the things I have been up to as we prepare for the Legislative session February 4th.

The Fairfield House delegation is pleased to convene a panelists of local, regional, and state planning experts to discuss the recently passed HB 8002 - An Act Concerning Housing Growth. The event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 7-8:30pm at the BOE Conference Room (501 Kings Hwy E., Fairfield). You can join us either in person or online. I hope to see you there!

In addition, I hope you'll join Rep. Marcus Brown and me on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 11am at Nick Diner (2200 Madison Ave., Bridgeport).

We expect to be joined by some of our Bridgeport City Council members as well!

Speaking of session, the 2026 legislative session begins Wednesday, Feb. 4.

It's easier than ever to follow along and get involved in our legislative session. There are several resources you can utilize that will help you stay updated on our work as it unfolds in Hartford.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:  

• The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) provides nonpartisan and unbiased research to members of the General Assembly and their staff. Part of their duties include writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language. Click here to check out their website.
• In addition, OLR recently published the 2025 Major Issues report, which summarizes key issues the legislature could take up during session.
• You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website.
• Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, as well as House and Senate floor debates.
• You can register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change in the bill's progress.
• Visit this website for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

I was thrilled to join First Selectperson Christine Vitale, fellow legislators, the Friends of the Fairfield Public Library, and the One Book, One Town committee for the unveiling of this year's OBOT selection, "Culpability."

An Oprah's Book Club selection by Bruce Holsinger, the book will provide our community with a wonderful opportunity to discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence, the ethics of decision making, and family life. I started the book on Monday, and I am already hooked. The young adult companion selection, "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix, will allow our young people to participate in the experience as well.

The author, Bruce Holsinger, will visit Fairfield on Wednesday, March 4th for an event at the Community Theater. You can sign up via the library's website.

As we prepare for the legislative session, I had the opportunity to visit Central High School, the largest high school in Bridgeport with 1,800 students. While there, I heard from school leadership that hundreds of their students have not been in school due to fears related to immigration enforcement. Both there and in a recent meeting with Bridgeport Superintendent Avery, we spoke about the $10 million deficit Bridgeport Public Schools are facing this year and the over $40 million gap faced next year.

Last week, I had the opportunity to join the Trumbull High School We the People Team and teacher Katie Boland to help the team prepare for competition. In both Bridgeport and Trumbull, I was inspired by students having thoughtful and intelligent conversations. Our education investments are not just an investment in their future, but in their now.

Speaking of school, please note that Fairfield Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 3 for the Special Election for First Selectperson.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. As always, please feel free to reach out directly with your ideas, questions, or concerns. You can reach me by phone at (860) 240-8585 or (203) 522-3037.

Take care,

Cristin McCarthy Vahey