U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal posted a series of tweets calling on Eversource not to charge customers for storm cleanup costs.
Consumers Beware: Eversource’s next ploy—even as the pandemic persists—will be to charge us for hundreds of millions in their repair expenses. I’ll fight it. PURA should just say No. (https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/1292486684244873218)
More intolerable Eversource rate increase attempts imminent—as they try to hit consumers with costs of restoring power. They’d combine insult & injury during the COVID-19 crisis. The company is rolling in money, top execs collecting tens of millions, these expenses are on them.
Consumers deserve refunds, right away. Not rate hikes to cover costs of Eversource misjudgments, amounting to utility malpractice. Especially as consumers & businesses struggle to survive & recover, Eversource owes them rebates & respect.
#Stratford CT–The Stratford Police Detective Division is attempting to identify the below-pictured subject. He is the suspect in a commercial burglary that occurred on 8-3-2020 at approximately 3:00 a.m. at 2595 Main St. Power tools and $20 dollars were taken during the crime. He is 35-45 years old male, white, possibly Hispanic, and 160 lbs. He has black hair with graying around the temple area. He has large tattoos on both inner forearms. He was last seen wearing a short-sleeve shirt with shorts and blue running sneakers with no socks. He arrived and left on a mountain bike.
If anyone has information as to the identity of the suspect please call Det Gallagher at 203-385-4142, Police Dispatch 203-385-4100 or you may submit an anonymous tip to the Stratford Police TIP411 app.
Bridgeport, CT –The promotional oath of office was administered for four Bridgeport Police officers on August 10th, 2020 at Margaret Morton Government Center which elevated Police Officer Jarrett, Martinez, Paoletti, and Caiazzo to their new position as Sergeants in the City of Bridgeport.
“The outstanding work that these four individuals have contributed to our community as Police Officers will serve us to an even greater extent as they begin their work as Sergeants. We recognize and celebrate their dedication and look forward to their positive impact and the wisdom and good judgement they will impart to the police officers they supervise.”
Oath of office affirms that the newly appointed Sergeants will continue to faithfully and impartially serve the City of Bridgeport to the best of their skill, wisdom, judgment, and ability.
Currently, COVID-19 restrictions for in-person ceremonies are still in place. When allowed, a traditional promotional oath of office will take place at a time and location to be determined.
Westport, CT – The following message was issued by First Selectman Jim Marpe, the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Westport Emergency Response Team today:
According to the DPW, most roads are considered passable and crews continue to clear debris on all roadways.
As of 11:15 AM EST, 13 percent, or approximately 1,600, of Westport’s Eversource customers are without power. Power restoration is being managed by Eversource and is a dynamic issue. The town is unable to answer inquiries on the status of specific outages and the particular work that may be necessary to restore power to a specific address or neighborhood. Only Eversource is able to do this work and provide this information.
Officials continue to compel Eversource to communicate responsibly and as accurately as possible to both town management and the general public. Eversource has not consistently provided any information about progress which has been a source of frustration for us all and for all of the residents who are asking for status updates. Sources are indicating that complex outages, less than 1 percent of customers, may require additional time for a complete restoration. Any new utility poles that require installation will be addressed tomorrow or shortly thereafter.
Residents can be assured that the concerns surrounding Eversource’s lack of communication and inadequate response to this emergency will be addressed by town officials as well as state and federal legislative representatives immediately after the recovery and restoration for this current situation is considered complete.
For those in need of relief, a cooling center has been established at Greens Farms Elementary School (17 Morningside Drive South) from 11 AM to 7 PM today. The entrance is located on the left side of the building by the bus loop.
o If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
o A face covering is required.
o Conform to social distancing regulations.
o Only 25 people will be allowed in the gym at one time. Entrance may be limited if there is a significant line.
Charging stations and Wi-Fi access is available at the Town Hall, Westport Weston Health District and the Westport Library. We request that residents limit their use of the charging stations to 1 hour to allow others the opportunity to charge their devices.
Non-potable (non-drinkable) water is available at all Westport firehouses for the purposes of flushing toilets and bathing.
Westport dispatch requests that residents not call in the same outage, downed tree or wires that have already been called in. The information has been reported to Eversource.
Parks and Recreation
The Longshore Golf Course and Longshore tennis courts and restrooms at ER Strait Marina are closed. Fueling pumps at ER Strait are not functioning.
Restrooms at Compo’s South Beach are now open. The fuel pumps at Compo are functioning.
Homeowner Information:
If your power has been restored and your cable/internet access remains down, please contact your provider. Those providers rely upon electrical restoration or pole re-installation before their services can be addressed.
Homeowners are often seriously injured trying to do their own post-storm cleanup work.
Homeowners should contact electricians to manage individual issues, such as wires that have been pulled from the home or electrical panels. These situations require a certified electrician to re-attach those wires. Once Eversource determines wires are safe, neither its crews nor Town DPW crews are allowed to re-attach or service to individual home electric panels.
Consider consulting a professional before undertaking any major restoration or tree / large limb removal.
Do not use a chain saw if you are not experienced in properly and safely operating it, or if you are not physically fit. If you must use a chainsaw, work only on the ground, not in a tree.
Use extreme caution when using ladders.
Stay safe in hot weather, hydrate, and pace yourself.
Food safety reminders:
Any food remaining in a refrigerator or freezer during the outage should be considered contaminated. Do not rely upon appearance or smell to determine if it is safe to consume. When in doubt, throw it out.
When power comes back on, clean out your refrigerator and freezer BEFORE you put new food in it. Wash the inside of the refrigerator and freezer with soap and warm water then wipe with a mild solution of ½ tablespoon bleach in a gallon of water. Keep doors open to allow to dry. Once dry, allow the unit to get cold before placing food inside.
Westport Yard Waste Site at Bayberry Lane is open for those who wish to discard tree limbs and branches.
All public meetings have been canceled until Wednesday
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL and STATE PRIMARIES
TODAY, August 11, 2020
The polls are open TODAY (Tuesday, August 11) until 8:00pm. All voting will be take place at Bedford Middle School, 88 North Avenue. Please wear Personal Protective Equipment and participate in social distancing.
The Official Ballot Drop Box is located at the rear entrance of Town Hall. All ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office no later than 8PM today, when the polls officially close.
#HARTFORD, CT – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement following a meeting Monday afternoon with Eversource CEO James Judge:
“I insisted to James Judge that he must make refunds to customers, and avoid any rate increase or charge for restoring power. He declined to commit to such action. In addition to money back to consumers and businesses for their losses, I also told him that there must be leadership changes, including his resignation. Connecticut residents and businesses suffered severe financial harm because of Eversource’s failure to prepare for this storm, and they should be made whole. I will continue to fight for consumer rebates, removal of Eversource’s senior leadership team, and a complete evaluation of the company’s abjectly poor performance including possible restructuring of the company. In the midst of a pandemic, as I have traveled across the state, I have seen and heard how this unacceptable epic failure has deepened the hardship and heartbreak of households and businesses. This company must be held accountable — this must never happen again. ”
This press release was made possible by:
Visit BMW of Bridgeport at: https://www.bmwofbridgeport.com/
#Hartford, CT– Attorney General William Tong today joined a bipartisan coalition of 28 attorneys general led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson in urging the U.S. Senate to provide relief for all federal student loan borrowers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) currently only covers federal student loans owned by the federal government, excluding nearly 8 million borrowers whose federal student loans are owned by private entities.
“Student loan borrowers with all types of federal loans are struggling to pay their bills just like many Americans,” saidAttorney General Tong. “The Senate must pass legislation that allows all borrowers with federal loans – regardless of the type – to get much needed financial assistance. Students should not have to choose between paying their loans and buying groceries or paying rent during this unprecedented public health and economic crisis.”
In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act, which provides financial relief for Americans, including student loan borrowers, impacted by the global pandemic. Under the CARES Act, student loan borrowers do not have to make payments and interest will not accrue on their loans through Sept. 30, 2020. The CARES Act also suspends involuntary collection activities and negative credit reporting through Sept. 30, 2020. While this relief is critical, the CARES Act only applies to federal student loans held by the federal government.
Nearly 8 million federal student loan borrowers have Perkins loans that are held by schools, or commercially held Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) loans that are held by financial institutions. While the federal government supports or guarantees these loans against default, borrowers were excluded from CARES Act relief. These borrowers are struggling with the pandemic just like other federal student loan borrowers, but do not have relief options under the CARES Act solely because of the entity that owns their loan.
In the letter, the coalition urges the Senate to provide the same relief currently available to borrowers whose federal student loans are owned by the federal government, including a temporary suspension of payments, a 0 percent interest rate, and the suspension of involuntary collections. The coalition also calls for the relief measures to apply retroactively if borrowers have already made payments. The attorneys general ask members of the Senate to support added relief as part of a stand-alone bill – the Student Loan Fairness Act, S.4237 – recently introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, or as part of the larger coronavirus relief package currently being debated in the Senate.
Recognizing that the effects of the pandemic will be long-lasting, the coalition calls on Congress to implement longer-term solutions for struggling borrowers. Such measures include extending the temporary suspension of payments past Sept. 30, 2020 and requiring student loan servicers to evaluate borrowers for income-driven repayment plans once they resume payments.
#Westport CT–On August 10, 2020, the Westport Police Department was informed Yaroslava
Cayvskaya returned home. Officers responded to her residence and confirmed she
was present and appeared in fine health. The Silver Alert has been canceled. The
Westport Police Department would like to thank the community for their vigilance
during this investigation.
2020-08-10@6:18pm–#Bridgeport CT– A person fell approximately 30 feet from a ladder after an attempted forced into a home in the 300 block of Wood Avenue. It is not known if it was their property or not.
This news report is made possible by:
Visit our sponsor AFC Urgent at: https://www.afcurgentcarebridgeport.com/
(HARTFORD) – Attorney General William Tong today warned Connecticut residents to be on alert for tree removal, power restoration or other repair scams in areas still without power or where heavy damage resulted from Tropical Storm Isaias.
After past significant storms and weather events, Connecticut residents have reported individuals, some claiming to work for utility companies, going door to door offering to reconnect electric power, repair roofs, remove trees or do other work in exchange for cash. The utility companies, and their authorized contractors, always carry identification and none will ask for payments from consumers. Be wary of any other contractor who is either going door to door, or who contacts you offering a service during this time.
“With some Connecticut residents still waiting desperately for their power to be reconnected and or trees to be removed from their driveways, it is important to be vigilant of bad actors looking to make money off vulnerable, frustrated people,” Attorney General Tong said. “Always verify the legitimacy of a contractor or business offering to do work for you.”
The Attorney General advises Connecticut residents to hire only contractors licensed by the state to repair damage to their homes and property. Consumers should always verify the registration and insurance of any individual or company before allowing them to work on their property. When contracting for home repairs, homeowners should always use licensed local contractors, and ask for and investigate their references. Furthermore, be sure to ask for a written estimate from at least three contractors that include labor and materials, read the fine print before signing a contract, and do not pay a contractor in-full in advance.
The Attorney General further cautioned consumers against purchasing electrical generators from unlicensed retailers, sometimes from the backs of trucks. There are serious risks posed by a damaged or defective generator and consumers should only purchase them from a reputable business.
Consumers can check and verify whether a contractor is licensed in Connecticut at https://www.elicense.ct.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx. Suspected scams can be reported to the Office of the Attorney General at attorney.general@ct.gov or to the Department of Consumer Protection’s Hotline at 1-800-842 2649 during business hours and at 860-713-6160 after hours and on the weekend.
#Norwalk CT–The Norwalk Police Detective Bureau is requesting public assistance in identifying an individual that used a stolen credit card at Walmart on Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk, CT on August 2, 2020 at 1:45 P.M. The credit card was stolen during a motor vehicle burglary on Gregory Boulevard which occurred on August 2, 2020. Anyone who recognizes this individual is asked to contact Detective Lindsey Taylor at 203-854-3183 or ltaylor@norwalkct.org.
