Josh Elliott

Governor Ned Lamont is activating Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol beginning Friday, January 23 at noon and it will remain in effect until noon on Wednesday, January 28, due to a blast of extremely cold air that will impact the state during this period.

Please remember the Hamden warming center is open and available to anyone in need of a safe, heated place to stay. The warming center provides critical relief from dangerously low temperatures and helps to ensure that no one has to endure the cold alone. If you or someone you know could benefit, please make use of this resource and help spread the word so our community can remain safe and warm during harsh winter weather.

You will find Hamden’s warming center inside the Keefe Community Center Gym (11 Pine Street; enter through the George Street parking lot at 19 George Street), and it will remain open through March 29. The center operates seven nights a week, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Please note the warming center is not a shelter and does not provide beds. It offers a clean, safe, indoor overnight space to protect individuals in need from harsh weather conditions, particularly those who might otherwise spend the night outdoors.

Connecticut passed new legislation spreading out when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients receive their benefit. The change will help reduce congestion at retailers, especially at the start of the month, and improve the overall client experience.

Click here for more information.

It is Energy Savings Week in Connecticut. Discover practical energy-saving tips to help improve the efficiency of your home or business.

Click here to visit the Energize CT website for valuable resources, including energy solutions for homes and businesses, income-eligible energy efficiency programs, and much more.

Governor Ned Lamont has signed an executive order to streamline and speed up licensing, certification, and permitting processes for Connecticut residents and businesses.

The initiative reflects the governor’s ongoing commitment to making state government faster, more efficient, accessible, and responsive. Modeled after a nationally recognized program in Pennsylvania, the order aims to improve government operations and digital service delivery across agencies.

The executive order establishes a framework that would allow residents and businesses to receive refunds of application fees if agencies fail to meet established processing deadlines, creating greater accountability and transparency for the public. Under the new rules, state agencies must review existing licensing and permitting systems and identify opportunities to upgrade technology, including expanding online applications.

Join me and my legislative colleagues on Saturday, January 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at The Whitney Center (200 Leeder Hill Drive, South Entrance) for a morning of conversation and connection. Enjoy breakfast and an opportunity to share your thoughts and concerns and ask questions on the issues that matter most to you. Your voice counts.

On Monday, January 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Spring Glen Church (1825 Whitney Avenue) come out for an educational event focused on addressing the region’s housing crisis.

A speaker from the Regional Plan Association (RPA) will share insights on local housing opportunities, explain the recently passed Connecticut housing law, and lead a discussion on actions our community can take at the local level.