9:38pm–#Shelton CT– A house fire at Long Hill and Platt Road. Firefighters were called in by callers near Sikorsky. Firefighters first report smoke in the area then a confirmed fire in the area. People were inside the building rescued by firefighters.
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7:00pm ish– A woman showed up to Bridgeport Police Headquarters on Congress Street to report she was sexually assaulted in the Bob’s Discount Furniture parking lot which is located across the street from State Police Headquarters. According to radio reports she was assaulted in a white Honda, possibly by a known person.
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7:55pm–#Bridgeport CT–A Yellow Cab was dispatched to Read Street for a fare, when the person got in the cab he began cutting up the seats and glass patrician. He then got out of the cab and fled on foot according to radio reports.
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Kathleen Andrews issued a statement today after being released from the hospital. The Andrews family was found by police reportedly stabbed and assaulted by a baseball bat just after 6am on February 16th. Police had fatally shot they husband Christopher Andrews after police had said he walked towards him with a knife in the driveway of the home.
“In these darkest days that have passed since the events of last Tuesday, our family has been overwhelmed by the support we have received from our community. The kindness and generosity that continues to be shown to myself and my children has given our family hope and strength to begin to heal. My gratitude for the incredible doctors that worked tirelessly to save my family is immense. With that being said, this road is a long one. The loss of my beloved husband and adored father of my children has left our family irrevocably changed and utterly devastated. To compound this grief by learning of the inaccurate reporting of that morning’s events, and of my husband’s actions, was extremely disappointing. Our family humbly asks for patience and privacy as we begin to navigate this new course of our lives. Chris was an incredible husband, father and friend and deserves to be remembered as such.
5:28pm–#Fairfield CT– Police on the way to Jogues Hall at Fairfield University where security has one in custody of alleged “narcotics violation” according to radio reports.
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Bridgeport, CT – Mayor Joe Ganim and labor unions representing thousands of rank and file municipal employees today launched a joint effort called the “Labor Management Cost Cutting Committee” that will work collaboratively to find creative ways to cut city spending andcommunicate about ongoing labor-management issues. This was an effort last implemented when Mayor Ganim last served as Bridgeport’s chief executive in the 1990s and is based on the principles of Total Quality Management which seeks to address challenges in the workplace common to both labor and management and foster a more cooperative atmosphere.
“I am very excited to get this effort underway,” said Mayor Ganim. “We are currently facing a serious budget deficit of $20 million for the current fiscal year and the morale of our city employees has also suffered in recent years. We are open to any ideas to help us close the budget gap and often the best ideas come from employees on the ground. We want to send a strong signal to our partners in the municipal labor force that we are all in this together and we need your help. This was a very successful effort the last time we implemented it, and it resulted in improved services, cost savings and greater efficiencies for taxpayers. It also fostered better internal and external communications with city employees and the community, improved labor-management relations, and raised the morale of municipal employees by recognizing their significant contributions.”
Cory Bromley, Chief Steward for LIUNA (Laborers’ International Union of North America) Local 1224, said, “In the last twelve years, no city administration ever asked for our opinions or input on how to run city government and improve employee morale. So the fact that Mayor Ganim is coming to us and resurrecting Total Quality Management and involving the unions and management together in a solution is huge. The employees are here full time, so who better to ask for creative solutions to solve some of these financial problems than those of us who are here every day? This also provides a level of transparency not only to the taxpayers but also to the rank and file workforce as to how the city is being run. I am very excited to participate in this effort and I can’t wait to bring this back to my membership. LIUNA is ready to move forward in collaboration with Mayor Ganim’s administration in a positive direction to help run the city better and save money, and improve morale of the workforce.”
Mike Freddino, Vice President of NAGE (National Association of Government Employees) R1 Local 200, said “This is a good idea that is needed. This will help the city come up with good ideas to cut costs. We plan on sending out a survey to our members that asks a very simple question: What could we do better to save money and cut down on waste? This includes everything from containing the costs of health benefits to creative solutions for trash pickup and everything in between. I was involved in this effort in the past and it was very helpful. It also helps morale for both labor and management to have equal input on this committee and for individual employees to be recognized for their efforts.”
Ron Lupica, Vice President of AFSCME Local 1303, said “I appreciate the fact that we’re able to be involved and have a voice at the table with management in solving some of these financial challenges. As opposed to the last administration which was more of a dictatorship. Employee involvement is important to helping the city run efficiently. It is also important for the employees to know that the city administration is listening to them. Ultimately, this collaborative effort will help the taxpayers see the work done by our municipal labor force whether it is picking up the trash or filling potholes, and they will know their tax dollars are being well spent.”
Nancy Sweeney, 2nd Vice President of BCSA (Blue Chip Staff Association) Local 168, said “I am very grateful that Mayor Ganim is starting up this effort once again. I was involved in this in the past and I can say that this is a great way for union members to get to know members in other bargaining units and a very active approach to getting labor and management to collaborate much more effectively with each other.”
In a letter inviting the heads of all municipal labor unions to participate in the first meeting, Mayor Ganim wrote, “my priorities are to implement cost savings initiatives, improve employee morale, and bring accountable and transparent municipal government to our constituents. I believe we share a common ability and desire to address these areas through innovative and collaborative efforts. With this, through your cooperation, I would like to introduce the Labor Management Cooperative Cost Containment Committee. The purpose of this committee is to provide a forum for communication, information gathering, research, and team problem-solving.
As in the past, subjects of collective bargaining will continue to be formally negotiated. However, this committee will consist of a leadership representative from each union and representatives from management, who will work towards resolving important matters brought forth by the committee members.”
Moving forward, the Labor Management Cost Containment committee will draw up a subcommittee structure and assign chairs, establish ground rules. The subcommittees will be made up of equal membership from management and municipal labor unions and will operate with the goal of building consensus from both sides. The committee as a whole will begin to meet on the last Thursday of every month.
(City of Bridgeport press release)
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WESTPORT, Conn. — The Westport Youth Commission is seeking 9th through 12th grade students and adults to volunteer for the 2016-2017 school year. “The Youth Commission serves as a public forum for youth issues and advocates for youth needs and concerns in the community,” Human Services Director Barbara Butler said. “Its 30 members, 15 students and 15 adults, are appointed by the First Selectman.” Incoming 9th grade students are invited to join the Freshman Committee prior to applying for appointment as sophomores.
If you are currently in grades 8 through 11 or an adult who is interested in discussing youth issues on a monthly basis while making a difference in your community we invite you to join. The appointment process for youth and adults includes the submission of a letter of interest, a completed Interest Inventory and at least one letter of recommendation on behalf of the candidate. Completed documents must be received by April 8, 2016. The application and interest packet can be found on the Town of Westport website (www.westportct.gov) under “Appointed Boards: Youth Commission.” All WYC meetings are open to the public and are generally scheduled for the third Thursday of each month. Appointed WYC members commit to participate in at least one advocacy group and other tasks as needed throughout the year which may involve additional meetings. Please contact Kevin Godburn at 203-341-1155 or kgodburn@westportct.gov with any questions.
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#Norwalk CT–On February 18, 2016, at 1:40 p.m., a male suspect and two female suspects entered the lobby of a condominium complex on Seir Hill Road. The three suspects gained access and then proceeded to the fourth floor, where they burglarized two apartments. Both apartment doors were forced open and jewelry and cash taken. There is believed to be a fourth suspect, who was driving a newer model, light color, mini-van, possibly a white or silver Dodge Caravan. The suspects remained inside the building for approximately forty minutes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dominick Cisero at 203-854-3034, dcisero@norwalkct.org or Detective Adam Mulkern at amulkern@norwalkct.org. Anonymous tips can be left at any of the contact below.
Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111 Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com
Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).
(Norwalk Press Release)
HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he has introduced legislation that will empower businesses by modifying a 1981 state law, which mandates that retailers of alcoholic beverages sell their products at certain – and artificially high – prices. The proposal will put the authority to determine the prices of these products back into the hands of retailers and out of the hands of government.
Currently, Connecticut is the only state in the region with a law requiring that retailers of alcoholic beverages sell their products at a minimum price determined by the wholesaler industry. That means retailers cannot set the price of the products they put on the shelves in their own stores. As a result, consumers in Connecticut often pay more for these products than in other states because of an artificially determined price that was required by the government. This statute is unique to only off-premises alcohol retailers and treats no other types of industries in the same manner.
“Why would government force residents to pay artificially high prices? It’s illogical and backwards. We need to be competitive with surrounding states, who have lower prices – and we need to let the market work instead of allowing backwards laws to remain on the books,” Governor Malloy said. “You’re either for inflated, artificially high prices, or you’re against them. We’ve done much to reform out liquor laws in a consumer-friendly way, from Sunday sales to allowing stores to remain open later. But the prices for residents should come down – it’s the commonsense thing to do.”
The Governor is proposing that the law be modified to allow retailers to sell wine and liquor using a more reasonable, logical criteria: actual cost paid. This is the same standard used in neighboring states in the northeast.
The legislation is Senate Bill 14, An Act Ensuring the Regional Competitiveness of Connecticut’s Liquor Prices. It comes after the Governor passed a series of reforms, including allowing off-premises alcohol to be sold on Sundays and allowing stores to remain open later if they choose.
(State of Connecticut Press Release)
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12:11pm–#Fairfield CT– A two car crash bringing traffic to a crawl in front of BJ’s over the hump on Black Rock Turnpike. Avoid the area.
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