Police UPDATE: The shooting involved two victims who were seated in a vehicle. A female was shot multiple times and is in critical condition at Bridgeport Hospital after undergoing surgery early this morning. A male also seated in the vehicle was shot in the leg and also was treated at Bridgeport Hospital for non- life-threatening injuries. BPD continues its investigation at this time.
2020-08-01@11:49pm–#Bridgeport CT– Two people have been shot at Maple and Kossuth Street. Two cars were in the street that was involved in the shooting. Police are still investigating.
2020-08-01@10:31pm–#Fairfield CT– #MTA—#MetroNorth— Police were called to the Fairfield Metro train station where a male allegedly assaulted a female train conductor. She appeared to be hit in the head and was being treated by AMR when I left the scene.
UPDATE: There were three people shot, one seriously. A large crowd of family members showed up at Bridgeport Hospital which brought out a large police presence.
2020-08-01@8:40pm–#Bridgeport CT– Police are reporting that two gunshot victims arrived at Bridgeport Hospital. According to the victims the incident took place on I-95. There does not appear to be any police activity on the traffic cameras at this time.
2020-08-01@8:11pm–#Fairfield CT– A homeowner on Fairfield Beach Road saw flares east of the Penfield Lighthouse and called Fairfield Emergency Communications (911). Firefighters were dispatched on their fireboat and discovered a boat had run up on the reef. Three people were rescued and the vessel is being towed to Captian’s Cove Marina.
2020-07-01@3:00pm–#Milford CT– #cttraffic– Firefighters just battled a brush fire near exit 36 and are now fighting another one near exit 32. This one is causing a lot of smoke and reducing visibility.
2020-08-01@10:35am–#Bridgeport CT–#cttraffic– Route 8/25 is pretty interesting this morning. Firefighters are responding to a crash southbound near exit 3 and reporting that there is a naked man in the northbound lane dancing.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) wrote the Department of Justice (DOJ) today seeking an investigation into “reported violations of Americans’ civil liberties by Zoom and TikTok and the national security implications of both companies’ relationships with the People’s Republic of China.”
Both Zoom and TikTok have tried to conceal their ties to China, where “tech firms are notoriously bound to draconian intelligence laws, media regulations, and extrajudicial pressure that compels them to censor and spy for China’s state security services.” Americans’ use of these platforms has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic even following reports of potential threats to the privacy of their data and their freedom of expression. Compounding these concerns, both Zoom and TikTok have refused to answer even basic questions from lawmakers regarding their business practices, including who has access to users’ personal data and when they comply with information requests from China or other governments.
The full letter to DOJ is available here and copied below.
Assistant Attorney General Demers:
We are writing to urge the Department of Justice to open an investigation into reported violations of Americans’ civil liberties by Zoom and TikTok and the national security implications of both companies’ relationships with the People’s Republic of China. Based on numerous reports, we are extremely concerned that Zoom and TikTok have disclosed private information about Americans to the PRC and engaged in censorship on behalf of the Chinese government.
As tens of millions of Americans turn to Zoom and TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic, few know that the privacy of their data and their freedom of expression is under threat due to the relationship of these companies to the Chinese government. Of particular concern, both Zoom and TikTok have sought to conceal and distract from their meaningful ties to China, holding themselves out as American companies. This concealment is alarming – Chinese tech firms are notoriously bound to draconian intelligence laws, media regulations, and extrajudicial pressure that compels them to censor and spy for China’s state security services. Even when subsidiaries, product teams, or servers are located outside of the country, when their engineers or management are based in China, sensitive personal data is still within the reach of Chinese intelligence.
By hiding vulnerable ties and dependencies on China, Zoom and TikTok have obscured from American consumers that their personal data could be at risk. While Zoom is headquartered in the United States, the research group Citizen Lab found that the Zoom application appears to be developed by three companies in China, including at least 700 employees in China that work in “research and development.”[1] Similarly, although TikTok has claimed to be based in the United States or Cayman Islands, it is owned by a Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance. Moreover, although TikTok is quick to claim that the app does not work in China, it is slower to highlight the fact that Bytedance operates a sibling app in China that exactly mirrors TikTok. This naturally raises questions concerning TikTok’s other claims of independence from China and calls into question who is actually running the app.
Zoom and TikTok also share a recurring and disturbing history of complying with demands by the Chinese Communist Party and silencing criticism of the Chinese government. Although the United States has long prided itself on being a safe haven for dissidents and human rights activists escaping repressive regimes, we are profoundly concerned that both companies could pose a threat to the safety of Americans, their families, and brave activists inside of China working with U.S.-based dissidents.
For example, in early June, several Chinese pro-democracy advocates, including a prominent dissident based in the United States, were suspended by Zoom following a demand from the Chinese Communist Party because they had held a peaceful commemoration of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations on Zoom.[2] In addition to being a chilling case of censorship within the United States, Zoom has still failed to answer whether it turned over information about those attending that meeting to the Chinese government. Such disclosures of sensitive information concerning that meeting, and other similar events like online church services, could be a death sentence for vulnerable communities inside of China.
Despite repeated promises of transparency and multiple inquiries from Congress, both Zoom and TikTok have failed to answer even basic questions about their business operations, including who has access to personal information and when they comply with request from China or other governments. We believe that it is imperative that the Department of Justice investigate and determine whether Zoom and TikTok’s business relationships, data handling practices, and operational connections to China pose a risk to Americans. In addition to opening an investigation, we request that the Department of Justice and its partners in the Intelligence Community provide a briefing to Congress on this issue as soon as possible.
This press release was made possible by:
Visit BMW of Bridgeport at: https://www.bmwofbridgeport.com/
Westport, CT – First Selectman Jim Marpe issued the following statement today:
As we enter a new month of restrictions and regulations designed to keep ourselves and others safe, it is understandable that some are experiencing “Covid fatigue,” and perhaps are becoming too relaxed in abiding by public health requirements. Westport needs to remain vigilant. We must all maintain social distancing, not gather in large groups, practice diligent hand washing, and continue to be responsible by wearing a face covering whenever leaving our homes. This is especially important during the summer months when we are drawn outside to exercise, shop, dine outdoors and go to the beach. Wearing a face covering and wearing it properly over both the nose and mouth protects us and protects those we may come in contact with. To those who forget, or choose not to wear a face covering, you are placing those around you in an uncomfortable position, and may be putting their health at risk. Remember to bring your face covering as if it were your cell phone!
There are some who may not agree with the actions that are being taken by town health and safety officials but, please remember that the best interests of our residents and visitors are foremost in the decision making process. We want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy all the Town’s amenities in a safe and responsible manner while respecting family, neighbors and friends. Everyone can help by wearing a face covering and maintaining social distancing.
To date, we have not mandated the wearing of face coverings because my leadership team believes that residents’ personal responsibility in insuring the virus does not spread in this community has a much stronger impact than the imposition of a mandate. I am confident that residents, visitors and guests will be considerate of others. If we are all wearing a face covering, then we are setting a positive example to those around us. Please continue to be respectful of others and wear face coverings properly at those times when you are required to do so.
Weekend Beach Traffic and Possible Closures
Residents are reminded that weekend traffic and possible overcrowding at town beaches may result in early closure. In an abundance of caution and to insure public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a beach reaches a capacity where it is deemed impossible to maintain social distancing, it will be closed to additional beachgoers. Signage at key intersections on local roadways will inform drivers if a beach is closed, and traffic will be diverted from the area. Parking on local streets to avoid the parking lots will not be allowed.
Residents who wish to spend the day at a town beach are advised to arrive before 10am. If a beach closes, it may re-open mid to late afternoon, provided safer conditions relative to crowds and social distancing are observed at that time. The Town will make every effort to inform residents of the current conditions throughout the day via the Town of Westport and Parks and Recreation Department website homepages and the Town and Parks and Recreation Facebook pages so residents may plan their beach trip accordingly.
While in the Compo Beach area, you are reminded to wear a face covering when walking on the beach boardwalk, using the restrooms or area sidewalks, or at any other time when you are unable to maintain a six foot distance from others. Please have a face covering available at all times.
2020-08-01@12:27am–#Westport CT– Audi Driver Assistance System alerted police of a rollover accident with one of their vehicles at the Longshore Golf Course at 260 Compo Rd S. Police located the car near the 9th hole. The driver was nowhere to be found.
