2022–01-12@7:25pm–#Fairfield CT– Two UNLOCKED vehicles were entered in a driveway in the 300 of Godfrey Road. One of the cars had a remote garage door opener with two additional cars in the garage were also entered. Nothing of value was taken.
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Ever since the press has lost it’s access to the Bridgeport Police radios over a year ago, the press was promised various ways of being informed of crimes that we would otherwise not know about. I frequently asked twice a week for “Calls of Significance” which these reports ran hot and cold. I’d usually get them more frequently the more I let the public know about it. Despite broken promises, Scott Appleby of the Emergency Communication Center said they would post “calls of significance” to Twitter or Veoci, a reporting system used to let us and the city council know of hit and run accidents at best.Today, the Bridgeport Police issued a press release saying “Over the past several weeks, the city has undergone a rash of numerous street robberies on the West Side, in the Hollow and in the Madison Ave. corridor by juveniles with a large kitchen knife.” There were NO calls of significance or Tweets to warn the public of these robberies in the Hollow. Why are they hiding these calls? It is ironic that during the mayoral election between Bill Finch and Joe Ganim, Ganim stated that Finch directed that there be no bad news until after the election which was not true. Ganim, during the election was seen running to press conference and opening phony police sub-stations throughout the city. Ganim also staged photo ops of him putting up a fence he paid for with his own funds between Trumbull Gardens and Sunshine Circle apparently because that caused all the crime in that neighborhood.With 21 homicides for 2021 and 2 homicides the first two days of they year the mayor is no where to be found in the way of a press conference or photo ops for the crimes under his watch; and now crimes aren’t even being reported! The city council will complain about not being informed but they continue to go along with the mayor. The first year of Ganim’s term (after prison) there was a press spokesperson but he quit after a year. He has not been replaced (almost 6 years now). The mayor’s office has 3 communication professionals. The police department of state’s largest city has none. ALL other surrounding towns are up front with crime reporting. As they say, only in Bridgeport. I’ve always felt it my obligation to report to the citizens of potential danger in their neighborhoods. When I can’t do my job it is my job to report it to the citizens.
2021-01-14@2:00pm–#Bridgeport CT– Report of a pedestrian being struck in the 2500 block of East Main Street between Noble and Louisiana Avenue.
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Bridgeport, CT— This week, Representative Jim Himes (CT-04) joined leaders from the public and private sector at Bridgeport’s Public Library to announce the launch of the Affordable Connectivity Program. This new federal benefit provides financial assistance for those who are struggling to pay their bills, ensuring they remain connected to the internet.
“The pandemic highlighted that broadband access is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a must-have,” said Himes. “That means that public servants and private service providers must come together to make sure every American family has access to the internet. While much of the historic infrastructure package will take years to materialize, this subsidy is available right now for families in Fairfield County. Let’s make sure to spread the word.”
“The digital divide and lack of equitable connectivity were prevalent in Bridgeport and other working class communities long before the COVID-19 pandemic. I commend our national leadership and specifically Congressman Himes for prioritizing investments to broadband infrastructure, which will finally allow families, students, and small businesses access to affordable and reliable internet services. I encourage all Bridgeport residents to see how they can benefit from this important program,” stated Bridgeport Mayor Ganim.
“We learned early on in the pandemic that almost half of our students did not have access to a device or WiFi connectivity,” said Superintendent Michael Testani of the Bridgeport Public Schools. “Over the last year we’ve worked to close the digital divide and provide students with devices, but without this key piece of digital infrastructure those devices are useless. I’m very grateful that this bill will expand the availability of WiFi, which will help expand access to teaching, learning and exploration.”
“Optimum is super excited to be here because we all share the same collective goal; to connect all homes and businesses with broadband,” said Jen Ostrager, Vice President of Community Affairs at Optimum. “Connecticut has always been at the forefront of public and private partnerships. Customers are eligible to use this $30 subsidy on any package, including our $29.99 offer. So effectively, a qualifying household could get internet access at no charge.”
“We are proud to be here to celebrate the passage of the infrastructure package,” said Michael Cicchetti, Vice President of Government and External Affairs at Frontier. “We look forward to working with officials at the local, state and federal level to bring rural and urban residents the connectivity they need to participate in a modern society.”
“The Affordable Connectivity Program allows students to connect to classrooms, individuals to work remotely and connects all of us to family, friends, telehealth services and critical resources,” said Eduard Bartholme, Associate Bureau Chief at the Federal Communication Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. “This is not a direct to consumer benefit — it’s a discount that comes off your bill. Those who are interested in signing up can learn how to do so by calling a toll-free number, 877-384-2575.”
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the following criteria:
27,000 Connecticut residents currently lack access to the internet. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 654,000 or 18.7% of people in Connecticut will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit.
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2022-01-13@5:14pm–#Trumbull CT– #ctfire– Firefighters on scene of a bathroom fire at 100 Woodside Court building 6 where there was a fire in a bathroom, extinguished by the sprinkler system.
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#Bridgeport CT– Suspect MARVIN OWENS DOB 3/23/1967 is in custody on several charges after he attempted to elude police late this morning by engaging them in a motor vehicle pursuit from New Haven to Bridgeport. Owens had several outstanding domestic violence warrants to include:
Owens crashed the vehicle he was operating on Boston Avenue in Bridgeport and fled on foot. Officers engaged the suspect in foot pursuit and subsequently apprehended him at the intersection of Boston Avenue and Seaview Avenue.
Active investigation, additional charges to follow.
HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut businesses will see another rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2022. The Connecticut Insurance Department has approved a filing with decreases of 14.1% to workers’ compensation pure premium lost costs, and an 8.2% reduction in assigned risk rates. The decreases pave the way for insurance companies to reduce the workers’ compensation premiums for individual businesses in Connecticut.
This is the eighth consecutive year of rate decreases in Connecticut. Since Governor Lamont was inaugurated in 2019, Connecticut businesses have experienced savings of more than $140 million in workers’ compensation premiums – a significant savings compared to the $800 million workers’ compensation book of business in the state.
“This further decline in workers’ compensation insurance premiums is good news for businesses, enabling employers to invest more money back into their companies and employees, and providing a boost to our economy,” Governor Lamont said. “It’s even better news for workers, because the decrease reflects the fact that workplaces are getting safer and safer.”
“The loss costs and assigned risk rates have steadily gone down over the last eight years, helping businesses better control workers’ compensation insurance costs – one of their critical operating expenses,” Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais said. “This reflects an ongoing decrease in the number of workplace injuries and claims filed. For the duration of these eight years, the cumulative impact has been over $300 million in reduced premium savings.”
In the voluntary market, which is the open competitive market, loss costs (the primary component of workers’ compensation rates) will decrease by an average of 14.1%. Most Connecticut employers purchase workers’ compensation coverage in the voluntary market. In the assigned risk market, which is the market for employers unable to obtain coverage in the voluntary market, rates will also decrease by an average of 8.2%. The continued rate relief in the assigned risk market benefits the many businesses in that market because of poor prior loss history and related reasons. It is particularly good news for new businesses that are often forced to obtain coverage in this market because they lack the business experience to be written in the admitted market.
The Connecticut Insurance Department issued a memorandum and order approving the filing of the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). The council compiles data annually from the workers’ compensation market in Connecticut and countrywide to propose loss costs/rate adjustments for the ensuing year.
With the approval of the NCCI filing effective January 1, 2022, companies in the voluntary market review their own loss cost experience (actual losses and claim adjustment expenses) and company expenses and submit individual company rate filings to the Connecticut Insurance Department.
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2021-01-12@4:45pm–#Bridgeport CT– #cttraffic— A multi-car crash I-95 southbound, where else but 27A
Organizations Can Now Apply to Participate
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced the launch of CTpass, a new state program administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation that offers group rates to eligible organizations to access public transportation services throughout Connecticut, including rail and bus systems.
The program was first proposed by Governor Lamont in early 2021 as part of his ongoing efforts to support the workforce development and job growth needs of the state. Its creation was ultimately approved by the state legislature in legislation related to the implementation of the 2022-2023 biennial state budget that the governor signed into law in June.
“This is an innovative way for private employers, schools, job training service providers, social service providers, and other organizations to increase access to Connecticut’s bus and rail system,” Governor Lamont said. “Affordable transportation to workforce training, educational programs, and employment continues to be one of the largest impediments for individuals with low incomes, and this program seeks to address those needs.”
CTpass is similar to the state’s U-Pass CT program, which launched in 2017 as a collaboration between the Connecticut Department of Transportation, UConn, and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, and enables students enrolled in the state’s public institutions of higher education to have unlimited use of Connecticut’s rail and bus systems. CTpass expands this concept, providing more organizations, including those that are privately operated, with the ability to participate.
Organizations interested in joining CTpass can now submit applications to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The department will negotiate with applicant organizations for group fares based on the rail and bus services that each organization would like to access.
“Public transportation plays a critical role in eliminating barriers to education and the economy,” Connecticut Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said. “The CTpass program has the potential to make a big difference in making Connecticut more accessible for students, employees, and job seekers alike.”
“Access to high-quality transportation continues to be a fundamental issue for people in getting to work or a job training program and was identified as a priority of the Governor’s Workforce Council Strategic Plan,” Connecticut Chief Workforce Officer Dr. Kelli Vallieres said. “CTpass will tackle this issue head on by developing an expanded net of organizations who can qualify for group rates, ultimately making transportation more accessible to people who need it most.”
Organizations that can participate in CTpass include but are not limited to:
Once an application is submitted, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will review it and contact the organization for the next steps in the process.
For more information on CTpass or to download the initial application, visit ct.gov/dot/CTpass. Questions or requests for additional information can be emailed to DOT.CTpass@ct.gov.
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2022-01-11@6:40pm–#Bridgeport CT– #cttraffic–Bridgeport Police are in Milford on I-95 near exit 40 pursing a blacked out Mitsubishi wanted in a car jacking.
