Dear Neighbor,
On March 8th, Connecticut had its first confirmed case of coronavirus. On March 9th, the Governor declared a state of Public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergencies. Our lives have been radically changed ever since.
Nevertheless, my commitment to you and your family has not changed. We will get through this period, and I know our state will be stronger on the other side. Indeed, we are already seeing significant signs of progress as of the date of this mailer – with decreasing infection, hospitalization and fatality numbers across the board, as well as a careful reopening of our economy.
This newsletter is intended to provide you with further helpful information and resources, as well as an overview of some of the work my office has been doing during this time.
If you have any questions, concerns, or if I can be helpful to you in any way in dealing with our state or local governments, please call or email me anytime – as always.
Coronavirus Resources
Unemployment Assistance
A main focus of my office these past few weeks has been helping residents apply for and receive unemployment assistance. To be frank, our state and federal systems were not prepared for the massive spike in claims in such a short period of time, as well as the increase in aid passed by Congress. This led to backlogs of claims and people going weeks without receiving the promised help.
We have a direct pipeline to the Labor Department and thankfully have been able to resolve these issues for people quickly. Contact us if you are having any issues. If you have not filed yet, visit www.FileCTUI.com to file your claim or call: 860-263-6975, 203-455-2653, 860-263-6974 or 203-455-2650. If you need assistance in the process, contact me.
Business Assistance
If you are a business owner, the Department of Economic and Community Development is developing and updating guidelines on safe ways to operate your business: business.ct.gov/Recovery. They have also opened a small business hotline: 860-500-2333. If you have any questions on how these rules apply to your business, contact me.
Mortgage and Rent Assistance
If you are having trouble paying your residential mortgage or rent, we have worked with banks and landlords to provide you additional time to put together payments. For more information please visit portal.ct.gov/coronavirus/information-for/homeowners-and-renters.
Again, I know that working with state agencies and our partners during this time can be complicated. Phone lines are crowded and applications may be confusing. My office is here to help. Call or email me anytime, and I promise I will get you help.
Advocating For You During this Time
This has been a remarkably challenging time for all of us. My office has worked with many of you to help you through this time, from fixing issues with your unemployment applications to helping your businesses apply for financial aid, to working with the DMV to get your car registered. I know that it is during these challenging times when we need government help and services the most.
We have expanded tele-medicine, brought additional COVID-19 testing sites to our community, expanded affordable childcare options for frontline workers, and delayed due dates for state income taxes and municipal property taxes. Most importantly, we will also address absentee voting, police accountability and other issues related to equitable access to health care, education and housing in the coming weeks and months and during the next legislative session. This will include, but is not limited to, the following:
Absentee Voting
In addition to ensuring that our residents have the resources to deal with impacts of COVID-19, we will ensure that everyone who has health concerns has the right to vote by absentee ballot in the November general election. No one should have to choose between their right to vote and being safe. You should already be receiving an application for an absentee ballot for the August primary if you are registered to vote with a party from the Secretary of the State. The Governor has also already issued an executive order to provide for absentee balloting for the November election should there continue to be no vaccine for COVID-19. However, we are also planning to go into special session to pass legislation to address this issue if needed. Essentially that legislation would state that someone can vote by absentee ballot beyond just “his or her illness,” but also include the reasonable fear of contracting or spreading illness.
Police Accountability
We will take immediate action on police accountability and transparency legislation in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other racial incidents that have captured the attention of our entire nation. These actions are unacceptable and those responsible must be held accountable. We will be looking at many things, including ending police immunity for such acts, requiring body cameras in all towns, reforming certain police policies and procedures, among other solutions.
Healthcare
Additionally, we must address the major health disparities that exist by race and ethnicity which result in poorer health, premature deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs. Declaring racism a public health emergency is a first step in recognizing this problem. We will also strengthen COVID-19 Testing & Contact Tracing to improve Connecticut’s approach to key COVID-19 prevention tools and to ensure a more equitable response. I also support capping exorbitant insulin costs and providing patients access to emergency insulin supplies.
Equal Education
To break down the historic inequities in our public education system where a zip code of a child too often determines the quality of education, we must direct resources where they are needed most and have the state take on the burden of paying for special education costs, rather than having each district fight for those resources. I also support funding for minority teacher recruitment and incentives in order to expand the racial diversity of our teaching staff. And, of course, I will continue to advocate for a more equitable education cost sharing formula that takes into account the needs of the students in each district, as well as town by town finances.
Increasing Affordable Housing Opportunities
We must increase access to, and the availability of affordable housing, especially in areas with disproportionately low amounts of affordable housing. Too often, these same towns also have antiquated zoning laws that contribute to (or in some cases were specifically designed to perpetrate) housing discrimination. Those must go and be overruled by state law.
State Bonding and Help For Newhall Neighborhood
State Bonding and Help For Newhall Neighborhood
In addition to some of this bonded state aid, the package included $4 million I was able to secure to assist homeowners with repairs to homes and foundations built on, or impacted by the old Winchester landfill in Newhall. The funds are in addition to the millions we previously secured to clean up the area, conduct environmental remediation and repair damaged homes.
When the bonding grant is released, the Hamden Economic Development Department will screen and select eligible homes, pick a contractor and administer the funds. Homeowners potentially impacted should contact Economic Development at 203-287-7033. The bill also contained funds for workforce development, launching the Paid Family Medical Leave insurance program and funding transportation improvements. We must now work with the Governor’s Office to secure the release of these funds by the State Bond Commission.
It is now up to Governor Lamont and the Bond Commission to release these funds, and I will hold them to that.
| Hamden State Aid | FY 20 | FY 21 |
|---|---|---|
| Local Capital Improvement Project (LOCIP) | $435,762 | $435,762 |
| Grants For Municipal Projects | $286,689 | $286,689 |
| Town Aid Road | $672,164 | $672,164 |
| Education Cost Sharing | $28,639,000 | $29,892,225 |
| PILOT (State Owned Property & Colleges/Hospitals | $3,022,508 | $3,022,508 |
| Total State Funds (Statutory Aid Plus Bonded Aid) | $35,393,207 | $37,891,559 |