2021-09-22@11:11pm–#Fairfield CT– Police called for an individual seen checking car doors on Jackman Avenue area.

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2021-09-20 #Fairfield

Theft from a vehicle overnight, a wallet was stolen in the 200 block of Greenfield Street .

Theft from a motor vehicle overnight in the 200 block of Berkeley Road.

Vehicle entered and rummaged through. Nothing taken on Pickwick Street.

A Milwaukee pipe threader was stolen from behind the theater on Sanford/Post Road.

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2021-09-22-@6:20pm–#Stratford CT– #cttraffic– A multi-car crash with injuries in multiple lanes I-95 northbound just before the Moses Wheeler Bridge. Expect delays.

2021-09-22 @ 5:29pm–#Fairfield CT– Shoprite on the Black Rock Turnpike was evacuated for a short time due to an odor of gas inside. By 5:50 firefighters reported on the radio they located the source.

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Between July 6, 2021, and July 7, 2021, Westport Police officers took two separate
reports of tires and rims being stolen off vehicles. The first incident occurred at the Saugatuck
Train Station on July 6 at approximately 3:00 p.m. The second tire/rim theft occurred at the
parking garage located at 21 Wilton Road on July 7 between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

As a result of informational sharing with area police departments that experienced
similar crimes Shawn Oliphant was developed as a suspect. Evidence linking Mr. Oliphant to
the two larcenies was reportedly obtained by the detective assigned to this case.
Based upon the investigation, a warrant for Mr. Oliphant’s arrest was completed and
signed by a Superior Court Judge.

On the morning of September 16, 2021, Mr. Oliphant was arrested by a Westport Police
detective. Per the warrant, he was charged with Larceny in the Third Degree and Larceny in the
Fourth Degree. Mr. Oliphant was held on a $50,000 bond and arraigned later that same day at
Stamford Superior Court.

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2021-09-22@3:54pm–#Bridgeport CT– First responders on scene of an assault on Carrol Avenue. No further details because, well Joe….

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[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – During today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights hearing titled “Big Data, Big Problems: Implications for Competition and Consumers,” U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) questioned Facebook and Google witnesses about the companies’ support for the Open App Markets Act. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) last month, and cosponsored by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would set fair, clear, and enforceable rules to protect competition and strengthen consumer protections within the app market.

“Two companies, Google and Apple, have gatekeeper control over the dominant app stores that allow them to dictate terms for everyone,” said Blumenthal. “Their duopoly allows them to set the terms, and they do. If app developers don’t like the terms there is nowhere for them to go. That is what we call a broken market.”
Blumenthal emphasized that Facebook has also been affected, saying “Big as Facebook is, powerful as it is, it is not immune,” noting that Apple has blocked Facebook’s gaming app from the App Store several times and forced Facebook to remove a notice informing its users about the 30 percent rent fee Apple extracts from digital goods and services.

Blumenthal asked Facebook Vice President of Privacy and Public Policy Steve Satterfield if the company would support the bill, saying: “would Facebook support Congress setting fair, clear, enforceable rules on app stores that would prevent Apple and Google from using their gatekeeper power to extract excessive rents and block competition like what happened to you and your app Facebook gaming?” Satterfield said Facebook is “looking at the bill and we’re providing feedback.”
Blumenthal questioned Google Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy Markham Erickson on whether the company’s Android operating system is safe despite allowing side loading and better developing access. Blumenthal noted that Apple “claimed that if we allow consumers to make their own decisions, all sorts of really horrible or terrible things are going to happen.” Erickson affirmed that Android phones are secure, stating: “we do believe we provide a very safe and secure ecosystem for app developers to reach a global audience of billions of users in 190 countries and that is not undermined by allowing consumers to be able to download applications outside of the app store or to side load those applications.” Erickson confirmed Google is “taking a look at your legislation.”

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): I want to shift to the issue Senator Blackburn also raised, our bipartisan bill, the Open App Markets Act, which would set robust rules to promote competition and strengthen consumer protection. I am proud that this bill is bipartisan. I want to thank my colleague Senator Klobuchar for her leading role in this area. And she is a cosponsor of the bill. It’s received wide support as was mentioned earlier from consumer groups, antitrust experts, and app developers. Ms. Slaiman I especially appreciate your reference to it and the support that Public Knowledge has provided for the bill. Two companies, Google and Apple, have gatekeeper control over the dominant app stores that allow them to dictate terms for everyone. Their duopoly allows them to set the terms, and they do. If app developers don’t like the terms there is nowhere for them to go. That is what we call a broken market. Not even Facebook is immune to Google and Apple’s gatekeeper control. Big as Facebook is, powerful as it is, it is not immune. Apple has blocked the Facebook gaming app from the app store at least five times and it has prohibited other cloud gaming services from becoming available on the app store. Apple has also forced Facebook to remove a notice informing consumers about the so-called Apple tax. That is the infamous 30 percent rent fee they extract from digital goods and services.

But the little guy is as much a victim as the big guys like Facebook. And the Open App Markets Act would protect developers’ ability to offer competitive prices, tell consumers about lower prices, and give consumers the right to make their own decisions about the apps they install. That is what is called competition and a free market. Or at least freer than it is now. It would mean that Facebook and others don’t have to pass the Apple tax on to consumers and small businesses. It would mean that iPhone users could side load Facebook gaming directly on to their phones if Apple continues to block the app. These are basically pro-consumer and pro-competition rules. Mr. Satterfield, would Facebook support Congress setting fair, clear, enforceable rules on app stores that would prevent Apple and Google from using their gatekeeper power to extract excessive rents and block competition like what happened to you and your app Facebook gaming?

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#BRIDGEPORT, CT – City of Bridgeport announces that the deadline to submit American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant applications in response to the request for proposals (RFP) from small businesseshas been extended to September 30, 2021.  City representatives will be onsite hosting a workshop at the BRBC’s Business Expo tomorrow from 12:30pm-1pm for any small business owner that has questions about the application. 

Applications were initially due on August 31st and hundreds of small businesses applied for funding.  The City is now offering an opportunity for other Bridgeport -based business who may have missed that deadline to submit their applications for ARP funding by 2PM on September 30^th.    

Mayor Ganim stated, “Supporting our small business community through the ARP funds is a unique opportunity to reenergize our local economy while providing improvements to the landscape of our city storefronts.  This is a win for our restaurants, small retailers, the city and for the patrons who will be seeing the visual impacts.”

“We have heard from our business community about the need to extend the deadline for these grants. We want to be fair in this process and allow our small business community the opportunity to apply for funding to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and expand their services,” stated City Councilmember Scott Burns.

“I want to encourage all small businesses who have not previously received any help from the City to apply for funding. We need to make sure that our small businesses, especially those who usually do not get any aid, have the opportunity to apply,” stated City Councilmember Ernest Newton.

Last month, the City of Bridgeport released thirteen requests for proposals for funding through the American Rescue Plan Act for Bridgeport based small businesses and non-profits. Over 600 applications were submitted and are currently being reviewed by non-conflicted selection committees comprised of city staff, City Council representatives, and community members. The first round of award decisions is expected to be announced by the end of this month

Two hard copies of the applications and supporting documents must be submitted to the City’s Purchasing Department at 999 Broad Street no later than 2pm on Thursday September 30, 2021. To access the Small Business Expansion and/or the Storefront Improvement Program        

RFPs, click here : www.bridgeportct.gov/arp

For those wishing to attend, details about the BRBC Business Expo can be found here https://www.bridgeportexpo.com/

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WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Tuesday released the following statement on the Biden administration’s decision to increase the refugee admissions target to 125,000 in Fiscal Year 2022:

“Resettling refugees in the United States has long been a bipartisan priority, and I’m glad to see President Biden fulfill his promise to raise the refugee admissions target. It’s our moral obligation to welcome those fleeing persecution and violence, and doing so also strengthens our communities, boosts our economy and furthers our national security goals. As thousands of Afghans and millions of other refugees worldwide are forcibly displaced, this decision ensures the U.S. is part of the solution. As Chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Homeland Security, I am going to work hard to fully fund the agencies that were hollowed out by the Trump administration to ensure we have the capacity to welcome more refugees to America,” said Murphy.

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