Supporting Our Disabled Veterans, Youth Advocacy Day, and Road Work on Rt. 104

April 30, 2024


The House is proud to pass a new bill supporting our veterans who put their lives on the line for our freedom. I'll break down how new legislation will bring aid to our disabled veterans.

Crews will soon work on Route 104 in Stamford. Please read below to find out when and where to expect delays on that busy street.

The state is inviting you to learn about a multimillion-dollar plan to build an electric bus building in Stamford to charge the fleet. Keep scrolling to learn how to register and when that meeting will take place via Zoom.

Here are the sections of today's email:

  • Supporting Our Disabled Veterans 
  • Help for the Homeless
  • Youth Advocacy Day at the Capitol
  • Expect Delays on Route 104
  • Suicide Prevention Workshops at Ferguson Library 
  • Public Meeting on CTtransit Electric Bus Garage
 
Supporting Our Disabled Veterans

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill I co-sponsored that would support veterans who have been disabled during service. This is a small way to say, “thank you."

House Bill 5491 establishes a property tax exemption for veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption will be used for a home that is a primary residence, but if a qualified veteran does not own a home, the exemption will apply to a single motor vehicle they own.

More than 1,200 veterans in Connecticut are totally and permanently disabled as a result of their service.

These brave men and women have spent their lives fighting to protect our freedoms. It is our turn to support them when they come home with disabilities to ensure they live with dignity and without fear of losing their home.

The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration. This year’s session ends on May 8.
 
Help for the Homeless
On Monday, my colleagues and I passed House Bill 5458, which is designed to help reduce our growing homeless population. The proposal requires the Department of Social Services to develop a strategic plan to improve housing stability and health outcomes for the homeless and others who are at risk of losing their home.
 
Youth Advocacy Day at the Capitol
It was an honor for my office to host our CT Climate youth and a pleasure to meet dozens of students who are passionate about saving our planet. With the help of Sunrise Connecticut, high school and college students shared their voices at Youth Advocacy Day and engaged directly in the legislative process at the Capitol. They spoke directly with legislators and policy makers about important issues including climate change and environmental justice.
 
Expect Delays on Route 104

Drivers will need to slow down for road work on a half-mile stretch of Route 104 in Stamford. Crews will mill and resurface the road from the evening of Sunday, May 5 through the morning of Friday, May 10.

You can expect lane closures on Route 104 from just south of Maltbie Avenue to just north of Webbs Hill Road. The night work will take place from 7:00 P.M. – 5:30 A.M.
Click Here To Learn More
 
Suicide Prevention Workshops at Ferguson Library
The Stamford Department of Health and Human Services is offering a community workshop Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), a bystander intervention training program designed to teach you how to step in and help someone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. Participants will learn to recognize early warning signs, identify if someone needs help, and how to take action.

The first workshop will take place Monday, May 6 from 10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. in the third flood board room in the Main Library of Ferguson Library. CLICK HERE to register.

The second workshop will be on Thursday, May 9 from 6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. in the same location. Reserve your spot by CLICKING HERE.
 
Public Meeting on CTtransit Electric Bus Garage
You are invited to listen to a presentation about a proposed CTtransit Electric Bus Garage in Stamford. The Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to start building a free-standing battery electric bus building in the fall on Elm Court for additional indoor storage and charging of the fleet. The project is expected to cost nearly $14.5 million.
If you’re interested in learning more, asking questions, and providing feedback, please register for a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 P.M. on Zoom. CLICK HERE for instructions on accessing the meeting and ways to provide comments and ask questions.
Click Here To Learn More About the Project