|
|
|
|
|
The legislative session was highlighted not only with broad policy victories for Connecticut residents, but also robust local support in the form of funding coming back to Newington and New Britain.
I, along with Rep. Kate Farrar and state Sen. Matthew Lesser worked tirelessly to secure $26 million in each of FY 2026 and FY 2027, for a total of $1 million more over two years that will help further stabilize our local property taxes, cap the mill rate on local car taxes, and support town services and our public schools.
Among the increases Newington will receive are an additional $260,000 over two years for town road aid and $340,000 more in the Education Cost Sharing grant.
Those increases are on top of the $1.2 million in new special education funding coming to the town, including more than $183,000 through Special Education Expansion and Development grants.
Furthermore, Newington will receive nearly $100,000 for various town projects, including $15,000 for the pools at Mill Pond and Churchill, $20,000 for the Lucy Robbins Welles Library renovation, $50,000 for the animal shelter and $10,000 for Newington public schools' diverse library circulation materials.
This state funding coming to the town reflects the united partnership and advocacy of the town's Democratic legislative delegation.
|
|
New Britain, meanwhile, received over $300 million in the state budget spread out over the course of two years, and includes $17.2 million in new education funding. The budget also includes funding for the following nonprofits and projects in New Britain.
New Britain Arts Council: FY 26 & FY 27 $39,380
New Britain Fire Explorers: FY 26 $15,000
Human Resource Agency of New Britain, Inc.: FY 26 $30,000 / FY 27 $25,000
New Britain ROOTS, Inc.: FY 26 $30,000 / FY 27 $15,000
Meriden-New Britain-Berlin Young Men's Christian Association, Inc.: FY 26 $35,000 / FY 27 $40,000
New Britain Police Athletic League: FY 26 $25,000
The Young Women's Christian Association of New Britain: FY 26 $10,000 / FY 27 $15,000
Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain, Inc.: FY 26 $35,000 / FY 27 $50,000
Boys and Girls Club of New Britain: FY 26 $80,000 / FY 27 $75,000
New Britain Legacies: FY 26 $25,000
New Britain Football and Cheer, Inc.: FY 27 $15,000
Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc.: $10,000
Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation: $2,500
Human Resources Agency of New Britain $100,000
Two park benches at the MLK monument: $3,000
CCSU food pantry: $3,000 |
|
| I will take part in two end-of-session community discussions, one in Newington, the other in New Britain. Please join me and other members of each municipality's respective state delegation. Please see the details below. |
|
Later this week and next, many Connecticut communities will celebrate Juneteenth -- the federal and state holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth, which officially falls in June 19, serves as a celebration of the resilience, culture, and history of the Black community. But it also is a stark reminder of how far this country must go in terms of racial equity and equality.
On June 19, 1865, about two months after the end of the American Civil War, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free.
The U.S. government recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021, and Connecticut followed in making it a state holiday in 2022. |
|
While the federal and state governments have only recently recognized the holiday, Connecticut communities have been trailblazers in celebrating Juneteenth.
In 1989, the Norwich Branch of the NAACP organized the first official Juneteenth celebration in the state, and several other towns followed suit in subsequent years.
As part of its 2012 Juneteenth Celebration, Norwich forged the “Norwich Freedom Bell” located in the David Ruggles Freedom Courtyard. |
|
The city of New Britain will host the fourth annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival on June 19 at Central Park, 230 Main St., from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The event will kick off with the raising of the Juneteenth Flag at 5 p.m. Following the flag raising, the community is invited to gather for live music by Profile Band and complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers. Local organizations will be present, offering opportunities for individuals to engage with and support their community. Informative displays highlighting facts about Juneteenth will be placed throughout the park.
The New Britain Museum of American Art is hosting the 24th annual Access for All Community Day/Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free.
The event will feature artistic performances, music, in-gallery experiences, and of course artmaking. Shop from local Black-owned businesses, support independent artists, and eat at regional food trucks. Continue the celebration with cocktails and music at the Museum in the evening. For more information, visit here. |
|
| Progress in the Opioid Crisis |
|
|
|
The final public workshop for the Newington Town Center Master Plan will be held on Thursday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at the Newington Town Hall, 200 Garfield St., in the Town Council Chambers.
This meeting will have a presentation followed by a question and answer session with the project team. The presentation will include:
- The purpose of the Newington Town Center Master Plan
- A recap of community feedback
- A review of the proposed conceptual Master Plan
|
|
| Progress in the Opioid Crisis |
|
|
Connecticut’s Opioid Services Division was established in 2018 in response to the growing overdose crisis and to expand statewide access to the prevention of opioid use disorder, opioid treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, outreach, engagement, and overdose prevention coverage with a focus on overdose deaths.
This marks the third consecutive year of decreases of statewide overdose deaths.
The division manages projects and initiatives that resulted from infusion of State Opioid Response grant funding as well as those approved by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Some of 2024’s improvements include:
 Expanded innovative services in the state, adding three and continuing to support original Harm Reduction Centers in municipalities with highest morbidity rates: Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, and New London
Added outreach services via Peer Navigator Programs in two areas of the state;
Distributed close to 60,000 naloxone kits (naloxone is a lifesaving, overdose reversal medication), exceeding the state saturation goal for the year.
Hosted a successful and informative Harm Reduction Conference. The conference included four expert speakers from around the country, as well as two panel discussions, focused on addressing equity, and stigma, 390 individuals attended the conference: 263 in person and 127 virtually.
While we are heartened to see data going in the right direction, we know there is much more work to do to fight this public health crisis. Our hearts are heavy for the 990 individuals who lost their lives to overdose in 2024 and their loved ones whose lives have been forever altered. We remain steadfast in our mission to expand access and availability of life-saving medication, public education, harm reduction, treatment and recovery supports until no lives are lost to drug overdose.
Additional information is available on the DMHAS Opioid Services Division website at http://portal.ct.gov/.../opioid-treatment/opioid-services.
Anyone seeking services regarding opioid use disorder in Connecticut should visit www.liveloud.org or call 1-800-563-4086 any time, day or night. |
|
As always, if I can be of assistance to you and your family, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Gary.Turco@cga.ct.gov. Don't forget to "LIKE" my Facebook page for news and legislative updates!
Sincerely,
Gary Turco
State Representative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
