Robert Sanchez

New Britain is getting $4.1 million in affordable housing grants thanks to the state’s Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) program: 14 townhouse rental units in Columbus Commons and 11 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments for Friendship Service Center’s building on North Street.

I have heard from several sources that recruiting minority teachers in our state can be challenging. I am pleased the Education Committee is looking at a measure that would put a pilot program in place to change this outlook providing a pathway and an incentive to high school students interested in the teaching profession to prepare for Connecticut’s teaching programs. A public hearing for my proposal, HB 5470 will address the possibility of expanding the number of partnering schools in the near future so more high school students can participate.

New Britain will receive a $200,000 grant for detailed site planning and redevelopment, environmental analyses, and identification of a Master Developer for potential Transit Oriented Development sites around the East Main Street CTfastrak station.

Honored to have been recognized as a 2015 Children’s Champion by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance. Every year, the Alliance recognizes lawmakers that work closely with early childhood advocates to shape legislation impacting the well-being of Connecticut’s young children in the areas of healthy development, early care and education, nutrition and safety.

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New Britain residents can expect to save hundreds of dollars in the coming years because of a new state law which will implement a statewide mill rate cap of 32 mills in 2016, and 29.36 mills in 2017. This same law will also ensure that New Britain does not lose any revenue due to the change in the amount of car taxes collected by pledging 0.50% of the annual State sales tax to the towns in our State.

I joined my Black and Puerto Rican caucus colleagues at a press conference in Hartford, in support of legislation to increase police training and address recruitment issues to ensure the hiring of more officers who live in the communities in which they serve. The legislation we are supporting requires the appointment of special prosecutors in cases where there is a death that involves an officer and the use of physical force.

Happy to have joined the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA) and local New Britain agencies to call on Governor Malloy to restore $3.4 million in critical Human Services Infrastructure (HSI)-Community Action Program funds to the state budget.