Month: February 2021

2021-02-10@4:40pm–#Bridgeport CT– #ctfire–Firefighters on scene of a basement fire on Sauders Avenue. 3 lines in operation.

2021-02-10@1:38pm–#Bridgeport CT– Park Avenue (right off North Avenue) at Lorraine Street is closed due to this crash that took down power lines and a tree. This is not connected to the bumper car incident at the Fairfield Home Depot which I’ll have a fully report shortly.

Tampering with Evidence

#Westport CT– On April 4, 2020, the Westport Police Department received information that a town resident was possibly downloading child pornography onto his computer. The Sergeant investigating the matter was able to determine that the IP address of the computer being utilized to download the suspected images did in fact come back to a home in Westport. A search warrant was then applied for and granted to search the computers and electronic devices at the address in question. During the execution of the search warrant, one of the residents, Sam Gold, allegedly tampered with some of the devices that the investigating detectives were attempting to inspect.

During an examination of the devices that were seized, suspected images of child pornography allegedly downloaded by Sam Gold were located. Based upon the investigation, an arrest warrant was applied for and granted by a Superior Court Judge. On the morning of February 6, 2021, Mr. Gold turned himself in at the Westport Police Department in connection with this active warrant. Per the warrant, he was charged with Possession of Child Pornography in the Second Degree, Tampering with Evidence, Interfering with a Search, and Interfering with an Officer. Mr. Gold was released after posting a $100,000.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on the morning of February 9, 2021 at Norwalk Superior Court. (Westport Police Press Release)

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on Friday introduced legislation to assist families who are struggling to afford diapers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Diaper Assistance Act would provide $200 million in additional funds through the Social Services Block Grant program for diaper assistance. Prior to the pandemic, nonprofit diaper bank distribution only met 5 to 6 percent of diaper need. Since the start of COVID–19, many diaper banks around the country have experienced triple the increase in demand for diapers due to the pandemic and economic shutdown. Nonprofits alone cannot fully address this public health crisis that impacts one in three families in the United States. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) will introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“We often don’t think about the hidden costs of parenting. Even before the pandemic, diapers were expensive and families often struggle to buy this basic necessity for their kids; imagine how much worse that is now,” said Murphy. “The cost of diapers can have adverse health consequences for infants and small children. I’m proud to join my colleague Senator Ernst in introducing this much needed legislation to help nonprofit diaper banks provide for parents in need.”

“Having access to clean diapers is a basic need for families that can’t be overlooked during this pandemic. Amidst COVID-19, diaper banks in Iowa and across the country have faced serious challenges, which is why this bipartisan measure with Senator Chris Murphy is so important. Iowa moms and dads shouldn’t have to worry about having access to clean diapers; this bipartisan bill will go a long way in helping address those challenges,” said Ernst.

“Diapers are essential for keeping children healthy, but are inaccessible for nearly one-third of parents in the U.S. who are unable to afford the cost.” said Lee. “Since the start of this pandemic, the need for diaper assistance has only grown as millions have fallen into poverty—it’s unacceptable.It is past time our government help ensure that everyday parents have the resources they need to support the health and wellbeing of their families. I am eager to continue working alongside Senator Murphy and lead this effort in the House.” 

“Record levels of unemployment and deep cuts to working hours have left millions of families in a deep economic recession, unable to secure basic necessities such as diapers. Unfortunately, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three families did not have the diapers they needed to keep their child clean, dry, and healthy, and now that number is larger than ever. Diaper banks across the country have stretched limited resources to address skyrocketing need for diapers in their communities. This critically needed legislation will provide long-overdue resources to ensure that millions of families across the country will have access to the diapers they need to keep their children healthy and thriving,” said Samuel Goldblum, CEO of the National Diaper Bank Network.

Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) is welcoming a viability grant to Bridgeport from the Department of Agriculture. The viability grant will help to establish the first shipping container urban farm in the city and increase access to healthy green vegetables. The funding will allow for the purchase, installation, and construction of three shipping container urban farming structures to hydroponically grow microgreens and leafy vegetables which will provide year-round access to microgreens to Bridgeport’s residents and the East End NRZ Market.

 “Urban communities should have access to locally grown produce and I am thankful to the Department of Agriculture for awarding Bridgeport this funding,” said Sen. Moore. “Not only will this make locally grown vegetables more accessible to people who live in the city, but it magnifies the importance of nutrition, locally grown food, and health equity.”

$49,999 has been awarded to the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport’s FEED Center program to purchase, construct, and install one walk-in combination cooler and freezer to increase Connecticut produce distributed into the Bridgeport area, which will result in:

• 10-15% increase in the pounds of CT Grown produce in FEED distribution channels.
• 10% increase in new markets for farmers with seconds and thirds at competitive market rates.
• 40% increase in FEED’s capacity to purchase, store, process and distribute CT grown produce.
• Newly developed print and digital marketing materials distributed to highlight CT farmers and CT Grown produce.

This press release was made possible by:

2021-02-08@1:13am–#Bridgeport CT–Tonight’s vehicle fire is a car in the parking lot at Scruples on North Avenue.

2021-02-07@7:55pm–#Bridgeport CT–#cttraffic— A one car rollover on I-95 northbound on the exit 28 ramp.

2021-02-07@6:35pm–#Fairfield CT– A private plow operator threatened at town plow driver on Newell Place (off South Benson Road). He threatened to “shoot him if he returned”.

This news report is made possible by:

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, a public hearing will be held on a proposal from majority democrats to create government-run health care in Connecticut. 

Despite the lofty promise of affordable and accessible Health Insurance, this proposal could:

• Cite promise savings and access that are unproven and unsustainable
• Raise the cost of private and employer health insurance
• Force people onto state run Medicaid
• CT taxpayers will pay for the government-run insurance’s future losses.
• Kill good-paying private sector insurance jobs in our state

Republicans have proposed a better way.

Our Republican solution (SB 502 proposed by Senators Kevin Kelly, Paul Formica and Tony Hwang) protects middle-class families and Connecticut jobs. It will be based on market proven health insurance risk management and cost controls.  It could lower health insurance premiums up to 20 percent while not harming our state’s flagship insurance industry.Our Republican solution makes health insurance more affordable, but it does not put thousands of Connecticut jobs in jeopardy at a time when the state is dead last in the nation in job growth.

We want your input on this critical issue!

Here’s how to participate:

1. Send an email to instestimony@cga.ct.gov
2. In the subject line, write:  No to SB 842!
3. Include your name and town
4. Copy me at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov

Tuesday’s public hearing starts at 11:00 A.M. via Zoom. It can be viewed via YouTube Live.

Individuals who wish to testify via Zoom must register using the On-line Testimony Registration Form. Registration will close on Monday, Feb. 8 at 3:00 P.M. Speaker order of approved registrants will be listed in a randomized order and posted on the Insurance and Real Estate Committee website on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 9:00 A.M. under Public Hearing Testimony.

If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone. To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at (860) 240-0411 to leave your contact information.

Senator Tony Hwang Press Release

BRIDGEPORT, CT –On Saturday February 6, 2021 the Bridgeport Fire Department was dispatched to Taft Avenue on a medical call on a reported party suffering chest pain. While on
scene the party who was exhibiting signs of intoxication displayed a knife when the BFD
members tried to assist him. Bridgeport Police were called to the scene. The party was
transported to St. Vincent’s Medical Center by AMR.

The party Arturo Otavalo of Bridgeport is charged with 53a-181 BREACH OF PEACE 2ND DEG 1
02/17/2021 1 COUNT, and 53a-62 THREATENING 2ND DEG 1 1 COUNT his bond was set at
$5,000.