2021-08-20 #Bridgeport CT– Two more officers are leaving the Bridgeport Police Department. Officer Robert Roj is taking his experience to Easton and Steven Caldwell to Greenwich. This makes five to leave the force this week. However, I’m told by multiple source that some of these officers were suppose to leave in July but their paperwork was purposefully delayed to delay the inevitable.
Three days ago when three other officers left I reached out to Rowena White, Mayor Ganim’s director of communications” and emailed her “I know three officers just left for Shelton today. What should the police force be at full staffing and what are the levels now? Will the chief be declaring another state of emergency anytime soon like she did during the Puerto Rican Day Parade? I got an auto response that said: “Comms is out of the office with Mayor Ganim|Bridgeport BackPack2School events every day this week. Please include any action items needed in your email along with deadlines. We will respond as soon as we can. Thank you.”
You’d think with two other communications people working for her Rowena White could respond with even a quick reply on her cellphone. Its not that she’s not responding back to me, but to you the public. It’s apparent they don’t want you to know what is going on in multiple areas. A short staffed police department will affect everyone from safety to increased insurance rates. Move along, nothing to see here….
WASHINGTON, D.C.]– Amid a series of Tesla crashes, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, voiced serious concerns about Tesla’s misleading advertising and marketing of its Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) features to consumers, and called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation and take enforcement action.
“Tesla’s marketing has repeatedly overstated the capabilities of its vehicles, and these statements increasingly pose a threat to motorists and other users of the road,” wrote the senators to FTC Chair Lina Khan. “Accordingly, we urge you to open an investigation into potentially deceptive and unfair practices in Tesla’s advertising and marketing of its driving automation systems and take appropriate enforcement action to ensure the safety of all drivers on the road.”
“[T]here are no fully autonomous vehicles currently available on the market,” the senators continued, stressing the limitations of Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD technology. “Understanding these limitations is essential, for when drivers’ expectations exceed their vehicle’s capabilities, serious and fatal accidents can and do result.” The lawmakers cited specific examples of Tesla’s advertising to consumers in which the company overstates the capabilities of its technology, including a 2019 YouTube video the company posted on its channel, titled “Full Self-Driving” showing a Tesla driving on its own, which has been viewed more than 18 million times.
“Tesla drivers listen to these claims and believe their vehicles are equipped to drive themselves – with potentially deadly consequences,” wrote the senators, emphasizing that at least 11 people have died in fatal crashes with Autopilot activated since Tesla introduced the feature in 2015. One California driver was arrested for riding in the backseat of his Tesla while the vehicle was in Autopilot on the highway and pointed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s claims about Tesla’s systems as justification for his actions.
2021-08-20@12:50pm–#Bridgeport CT– #cttraffic– A state trooper has been by a human while on a traffic stop on I-95 southbound near exit 27. No word on the circumstances for the stop.
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has issued an executive order related to the COVID-19 emergency declarations (Executive Order No. 13D) requiring that all Connecticut state employees and staff of all childcare facilities and preK-12 schools statewide must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by September 27, 2021. Those who do not get vaccinated due to certain exemptions will be required to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. However, state hospital and long-term care employees will not have the option of being tested in lieu of vaccination.
The State of Connecticut is working with state employee unions to implement the requirement quickly and fairly.
“Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most effective means of preventing infection and subsequent transmission,” Governor Lamont said. “Our dedicated state employees must work together to ensure a safe work environment for one another and can do so by getting vaccinated. Those who work in healthcare settings, where the risk of COVID-19 infection is high and the impact of a spread of the infection is dire to the health and safety of their patients and residents, have a responsibility to their patients, residents, and coworkers to get vaccinated. I have also emphasized for well over a year the importance of keeping our kids in the classroom, full-time, and making sure it is as safe an environment as possible for learning for everyone in the school building. Ensuring all of our educators, including early childhood educators, and school staff are vaccinated will keep students in the classroom and keep childcare open for families. Getting vaccinated keeps yourself safe, keeps your community safe, and will help beat back the ongoing spread of this virus.”
“Unlike last year, this year we have a new, outstanding public health tool to battle the COVID pandemic,” Connecticut Public Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford said. “The COVID vaccine can help us pave our way back to a normal life for our workers, teachers and students.”
“The mission of the Connecticut State Department of Education is to ensure all of our children obtain a world-class education, and that requires them being in the classroom with their teachers and friends,” Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said. “Teacher and staff vaccination is the most effective way of keeping our school staff and students healthy and in school.”
State hospital and long-term care employees include any person who is employed by or provides any services in the following facilities:
Albert J. Solnit Center South
Whiting Forensic Hospital
John Dempsey Hospital
Connecticut Valley Hospital
In addition, it also applies to all state employees who regularly visit these hospitals or long-term care facilities as defined in Executive Order No. 13B.
To locate clinics in Connecticut providing COVID-19 vaccines, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.
Scott Appleby of Office of Emergency Management for Bridgeport said the chemical spill involving a water base inorganic chemical. At this time DEEP is in command of the scene and there is no immediate threat to the public.
2021-08-19@ 3:53pm–#Bridgeport CT– The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is on scene at 50 Cross Street for a chemical spill at Tradebe Treatment and Recycling of Bridgeport. It’s not know what was spilled but judging from the smile in the picture it can’t be all that serious.
2021-08-19@1:08pm–#Bridgeport CT– Police are reporting there was a foot pursuit in the 1000 block of Pembroke Street. The person was captured and a firearm was recovered.
#Trumbull CT–On Sunday, August 15, 2021, at about 4:00 a.m., Trumbull Police arrested three (3) juveniles in the area of Lake Avenue, after residents reported youths going through unlocked vehicles parked on the street. One 16-year-old and two (2) 14-year-old Bridgeport residents were taken into custody when officers located them walking in the area.
The Trumbull Police initially received a report of several youths tampering with motor vehicles on Pinehurst Street, and then they subsequently ran into a white sedan and fled the area. The first responding officer located a white Nissan unoccupied and running on Gwendolyn Drive, near Main Street. One 14-year-old suspect was located nearby and taken into police custody. A Stratford Police K9 was requested to assist with tracking of the remaining suspects, which eventually lead to the apprehension of the other 14-year-old suspect, who was walking nearby on Main Street. The 16-year-old suspect was later observed in the area and taken into custody by police. He was later found to be in possession of the key fob to the Nissan that had been abandoned on Gwendolyn Drive. It was later determined that the Nissan had been reported stolen to the Bridgeport Police Department on August 13, 2021. Inside the Nissan, officers recovered a variety of property that had been stolen from several other vehicles in the area. All three (3) juveniles were charged with Larceny 3rd degree, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 6 degree, and Interfering with an Officer. One 14-year-old suspect was charged with an additional count of Interfering with an Officer for providing officers with a false
August 19, 2021 Page 2 identity when he was being processed for the arrest. All juveniles were released to the custody of a parent, with a promise to appear in Juvenile Court on Monday, August 23, 2021.
Police remind residents to ALWAYS LOCK YOUR VEHICLES, remove all packages and valuables, and never leave the keys inside. In addition, they should use features on their security systems to notify them of motion on their property during late night hours. Immediately report any suspicious persons or activity to the police and dial 911 for all emergencies.
Effective at 12:01 AM on Monday, August 23, the Towns of Westport, Fairfield, and Easton have issued temporary town-wide mask mandates. Neighboring cities of Norwalk, Stamford, and Bridgeport currently have mask mandates in place.
Yesterday, Fairfield County was the fifth county in Connecticut to be moved into the “high transmission” category – the most severe level as defined by the CDC. Hospitalizations in Fairfield County are on the rise. The rise in case levels in Westport for the past two weeks will likely place the town into the “substantial transmission” or “red” category this week.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) strongly recommends that all residents over the age of two years, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, wear masks when in indoor public spaces. The Governor’s Executive Order No. 13A provides municipal leaders with the option of requiring masks in indoor public places within their respective towns and cities for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. Indoor public spaces include retail establishments, restaurants, gyms, workout studios or other businesses, as well as galleries, museums, performance spaces, places of worship and government buildings. Businesses may still require proof of vaccination to enter, but a mask will also be required.
Westport Weston Health District (WWHD) Director of Health Mark Cooper stated, “The COVID- 19 vaccine is the most powerful tool against infection and severe illness, but the increasing number of breakthrough infections after vaccination are a reminder that no vaccine is 100% effective. As long as there continues to be cases of COVID in Westport, it is important to continue the use of the other tools at our disposal to reduce transmission such as masking when indoors and in large outdoor crowds, hand washing, social distancing, and limiting gathering sizes. This is particularly important as we approach the start of the new school year and to those young people who are unable to be vaccinated as they return to the classroom.”
Private social gatherings appear to be a growing source of transmission. Please reconsider social gatherings and be mindful of transmission that happens within the home. Keep gatherings to outdoors if possible and get tested, even if you only feel cold-like symptoms. Follow CDC guidelines for masking against the Delta and other variants. This advice is for everyone whether vaccinated or not.
I am grateful that Westporters recognize the importance of wearing masks and getting vaccinated. It is for our physical and mental health and safety that we remain vigilant, and at the same time, be respectful to others who may have differing opinions. We have come a long way in combatting this virus. While this development may seem like a step backward, it is undoubtedly necessary until the time comes when all have the capacity to be vaccinated and COVID-19 is a more manageable, non-life-threatening virus. We are stronger together.
Vaccine Booster
Yesterday, the President announced that it will be critical to administer “booster” vaccinations to continue to fight the pandemic. Please note that the general public will not be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster until after September 20th, and at that time, anyone receiving the booster will need to be at least eight months from their second vaccination. When available, additional information and instructions about the booster will be posted on the WWHD website, www.WWHD.org. For questions about COVID-19, including vaccine planning, call the WWHD at 203-227-9571.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, authored an op-ed in USA Today in support of President Biden’s decision to end the longest war in our nation’s history.
“The images coming out of Afghanistan are heartbreaking, but the rapid takeover by the Taliban is not a reason to reverse course and indefinitely put more troops back into the country. On the contrary, it’s confirmation that President Biden made the tough but right decision to end this forever war,” said Murphy.
Murphy continued: “We thought we could build a modern participatory democracy and American-style military out of whole cloth. We were wrong. Another one or five or 10 years of U.S. troop presence would not change this reality. But Trump (who bragged this summer that he forced Biden’s hand on a withdrawal) and the Washington establishment are now arguing that we should have stayed. They want to ask American taxpayers to continue to spend trillions of dollars to protect a corrupt government and prop up Afghan forces.”
On the importance of continuing our humanitarian and counter-terrorism mission, Murphy said: “I’m not saying we should totally disengage. We have an obligation to help as many of our Afghan partners as possible seek safety and resettlement. And we must maintain counterterrorism capabilities to guard against any future threats from al-Qaida in Afghanistan.”
Murphy concluded: “President Biden did the right thing by ending the longest war in our nation’s history, and the events of the last week simply confirm the soundness of his decision.”
Murphy released a statement after the Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Kabul. Last week, Murphy delivered remarks on the Senate floor on the situation in Afghanistan. Murphy has long been supportive of President Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
