Month: February 2022

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is appointing Paul Lavoie to serve as Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, a position that is responsible for coordinating state and private-sector efforts on behalf of the administration to promote growth in the state’s manufacturing sector.

In taking the position, Lavoie will succeed Colin Cooper, who became the state’s first chief manufacturing officer when the position was created in 2019. Cooper recently announced plans to retire.

“Manufacturing is a key sector of our economy, and having this position of chief manufacturing officer in my administration is important to letting these companies know that they have a seat at the table in my administration,” Governor Lamont said. “This sector has a critical role when it comes to jobs, exports, innovation, and productivity. Over the last couple of years, thousands of manufacturing jobs have been added in Connecticut, and I am determined to keep this momentum going. Connecticut has the best educated, best trained, and most productive workforces in the world, and our future success depends on our ability to connect these workers to the businesses that need to fill jobs in highly skilled, good-paying positions. Paul is a friendly face in Connecticut’s manufacturing community, and I confident that he will be able to hit the ground running.”

Lavoie has extensive experience in the manufacturing sector and currently serves as general manager of Carey Manufacturing in Cromwell, where he has worked since 2017. The company is a manufacturer of catches, latches, and handles, as well as electronic hardware. In this position, Lavoie oversees the sales, marketing, production, quality, engineering, financial, and human resource teams. In recent years, Carey Manufacturing has gained attention for successfully reshoring manufacturing jobs to Connecticut from China.

Prior to that position, from 2013 to 2017 Lavoie was vice president of sales, marketing, and human resources at ETTER Engineering Company, a third-generation, family-owned engineering and manufacturing business based in Bristol. In addition to managing sales, marketing, and human resources, he led the development and implementation of strategic, sales, and marketing plans that helped the firm grow 234% the over three years and earn recognition on the INC 500|5000 list in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

He has also served on several manufacturing-related boards and currently is a member of Connecticut’s Industry 4.0 Working Group and the Governor’s Workforce Council.

Lavoie will begin serving in the position effective Monday, February 7. It is based within the Department of Economic and Community Development.

“I am honored to be appointed by Governor Lamont to serve as Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer,” Lavoie said.  “I look forward to continuing to build on the foundation created by Colin and working with all manufacturing stakeholders to grow the manufacturing sector. We will continue to engage, educate and enable our manufacturers to take advantage of the market opportunities, grow their businesses and solidify Connecticut’s reputation as the Silicon Valley of Advanced Manufacturing.”

Cooper’s list of accomplishments includes meeting with hundreds of manufacturers, coordinating the manufacturing sector’s response to the pandemic, strengthening collaboration across state agencies, and providing strategic direction for the Manufacturing Innovation Fund, which supports a wide range of programs to help Connecticut manufacturers innovate and strengthen their workforce. Most recently, Governor Lamont and Cooper announced a series of new initiatives to boost the long-term competitiveness Connecticut’s manufacturing sector.

“Serving the state and working with our manufacturers has been an honor for me,” Cooper said. “I’ve been most impressed with the passion and engagement of our manufacturing stakeholders throughout the state and I’m optimistic that Paul will continue to advance the communication, cooperation, and collaboration that has developed to the benefit of our companies and world-class workforce. I’d also like to thank Governor Lamont, Commissioner Lehman, the state legislature, and many others across state agencies for their support of Connecticut manufacturing. It is heartening to see the growing recognition of the vital role manufacturing plays in the Connecticut economy and the opportunities it provides our citizens.”

“I want to thank Colin for his leadership and tireless dedication on behalf of our manufacturing community,” Governor Lamont said. “His strategic vision has resulted in a number of initiatives and investments that will further strengthen this critical industry sector for years to come.”

Cooper’s final day of state service will be February 25.

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2022–02-03-10:39am–#Bridgeport CT– Today’s vehicle fire is a 3-wheeled recreational vehicle behind a home on Bunnell Street. It is not near any homes and the firefighters are taking care of it.

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U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, convened a hearing titled, “Stopping COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging,” During the hearing, senators and witnesses examined the ongoing scams and price gouging related to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted education efforts to ensure consumers are aware of such scams, and explored proposals to strengthen FTC enforcement against unfair and deceptive practices.

In his opening remarks, Blumenthal shared the story of a Shelton, Connecticut resident whose son paid $60 for a rapid COVID test after waiting for hours at multiple locations and was told all tests were out of stock.

“He needed a test because he was potentially a danger to his older parents. He and the son went to a walk in test facility, waited in line for 45 minutes before they were told no more tests. They went to another facility, waited for 50 minutes, no more tests. And they were told the only tests left were rapid tests available to purchase for $60,” said Blumenthal.

“You are being taken advantage of, you’re being exploited, and what’s happening to you is unconscionable,” Blumenthal said of the Shelton family and other consumers who have faced difficulties. “Taking advantage of people by raising the costs of these lifesaving products is not only immoral, in most states it is a crime.”

With consumers inundated with sophisticated scams, online marketplaces rife with counterfeit PPE and treatments, and companies charging exorbitant prices for tests, Blumenthal highlighted stronger efforts needed to bring scammers and price gougers to justice.

“We need to impose steep financial penalties and absolutely bring criminal charges,” said Blumenthal. “I’ve said this in a variety of others contexts – the one thing that these companies understand is prison time and criminal charges. Profiteering during a pandemic is reprehensible, it costs lives, it must end…For these criminals, only prison time will act as a deterrent.”

Blumenthal also discussed the lack of enforcement at the federal level and the limited legal tools the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have to hold wrongdoers accountable. While the FTC has received more than 700,000 complaints and it’s estimated consumers have lost upwards of $700 million since the start of the pandemic, the FTC has only brought three cases against scammers since Congress passed a law in December 2020 giving the agency more tools to levy stiffer financial penalties.

“I am deeply frustrated and disappointed that federal enforcers have failed to do more and a large part of the problem is almost certainly lack of sufficient authority. And that’s why I will be proposing a measure that will fill that gap, that will enable federal enforcers to do more, and protect consumers in Connecticut from these price gougers and scammers,” said Blumenthal. “Our consumer protection laws are dead letter if they are unenforced, and the Federal Trade Commission has to do more, has to do better, has to be more vigorous and assertive.”

“This fraud, this undermining of our pandemic response, is happening because there are nearly no consequences. The burden is falling on consumers. These bogus testing centers, counterfeit facemasks, and deceptive marketing schemes are crimes. I expect more enforcement and so does the American people.”

Video of Blumenthal’s opening remarks can be found here and the transcript is copied below.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): The Subcommittee on Consumer Protection of the Commerce Committee will come to order. I want to welcome our witnesses and thank Chair Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Roger Wicker who is with us and especially my partner in this effort, Senator Blackburn whose leadership has been very important throughout our subcommittee process today, no less than in our past meetings. She’s played an important role and I want to thank our witnesses for being here as well.
Nothing could be more important right now than protecting consumers against the spreading scourge of price gouging and scamming on the internet and elsewhere relating to COVID prevention and treatment products. Connecticut alone has received more than 800 complaints, including one from a constituent of mine in Shelton, Connecticut, Julius Hull, whose son tried to get a test. He needed a test because he was potentially a danger to his older parents. He and the son went to a walk in test facility, waited in line for 45 minutes before they were told no more tests. They went to another facility, waited for 50 minutes, no more tests. And they were told the only tests left were rapid tests available to purchase for $60.
As Mr. Hull put it to me, “We’re being told to wear masks, get vaccinated, keep social distances and get tested if you have any symptoms. We’ve done this and get hit with a $60 bill. I don’t know who put the price of these tests at $60 each, but I believe we’re being taken advantage of.”
Yes, Mr. Hull, you are being taken advantage of, you’re being exploited, and what’s happening to you is unconscionable and I would say the same thing to every one of those 800 people who have complained about similar practices. $60 per test is ridiculous. Taking advantage of people by raising the costs of these lifesaving products is not only immoral, in most states it is a crime.
State attorneys general are stepping up bringing cases where they can, but it’s a national challenge and I will be very blunt, there is a glaring lack of enforcement at the federal level. The federal government, including Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice have few legal tools to hold price gougers accountable. That is a glaring gap in the law that needs to be corrected. I am deeply frustrated and disappointed that federal enforcers have failed to do more and a large part of the problem is almost certainly lack of sufficient authority.
And that’s why I will be proposing a measure that will fill that gap, that will enable federal enforcers to do more, and protect consumers in Connecticut from these price gougers and scammers. We need to impose steep financial penalties and absolutely bring criminal charges. I’ve said this in a variety of others contexts. The one thing that these companies understand is prison time and criminal charges. Profiteering during a pandemic is reprehensible, it costs lives, it must end.
Last year, the subcommittee held a hearing on scams and fraud exploiting the pandemic. We heard then that the pandemic has created a bonanza for swindlers and con artists. The theft continues. The FTC has received nearly 700,000 reports of fraud since the start of the pandemic, approaching $700 million lost. At each new phase of the pandemic, consumers have been inundated with more sophisticated scams. Online marketplaces are still rife with fake facemasks, sophisticated counterfeits are still infiltrating our supply chain, putting unsuspecting consumers and health care workers at risk and social media platforms are still a megamall for snake oil salesmen hawking fake cures and prevention measures. It’s not a small change theft. People are going unvaccinated because of the commercial misinformation from these snake oil salesmen and then contracting COVID-19 and dying.
So we’ve seen a new trend. An entirely new paradigm of fake or deceptive testing schemes during this recent surge. Bogus testing centers that promise quick result and left consumers waiting for days. In some cases the results are not even real, again, these scams cost lives.
The purpose of this hearing is to sound alarm, raise a fed flag, create awareness about the surge of scams. But it’s also to ensure that those who steal from consumers and put them at risk are brought to justice. Our consumer protection laws are dead letter if they are unenforced, and the Federal Trade Commission has to do more, has to do better, has to be more vigorous and assertive, it has failed to create deterrents through hefty fines and strict court orders. And it must do more.
In December of 2020, Congress gave the FTC new legal tools to help bring stiff financial penalties against fraud. I want to recognize Chair Cantwell’s substantial leadership on that law which I was pleased to help lead. We urged the commission to fight harder, we gave it more funding. Last year the acting director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection told us that it had, “cases in the pipeline,” and yet the FTC has brought two cases in the last ten months since that hearing. Three in total under the new law.
However, the FTC continues to issue warning letters that are nothing more than a notice and not even a slap on the wrist. They don’t rise to that level. Again, this fraud, this undermining of our pandemic response is happening because there are nearly no consequences. The burden is falling on consumers. These bogus testing venters, counterfeit facemasks, and deceptive marketing schemes are crimes. I expect more enforcement and so does the American people.
I expect the FTC to refer cases to the Department of Justice and collaborate with states for criminal prosecution. For these criminals, only prison time will act as a deterrent. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses about what else can be done and should be done to protect consumers and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stop price gouging, hold online market place scammers accountable, and ensure that our laws are enforced.
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2022-02-02@6:36pm–#Fairfield CT– Police were called to AFC Urgent Care where a child was reportedly stabbed in the head from a domestic fight yesterday.T

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2022-02-02@6:22pp–#Fairfield CT– #Bridgeport CT–Fairfield Emergency Communications is getting flooded with calls regarding a strong odor of gas from Stratfield Road, Fairfield Woods, Katona Drive all the way to Park Avenue. Fairfield Fire is working with the gas company supervisor. Bridgeport Fire Department also receiving the same calls in the north end off of Park Avenue. Their radio dispatch said they are possibly tracing a sewer gas problem they encountered last week.

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today unveiled his first package of legislative proposals for the 2022 regular session, which includes a series of tax cuts that will provide approximately $336 million in relief for Connecticut residents.

The governor said that he is proposing the tax cut package as the state is projecting an operating surplus of $1.48 billion, which will enable a significant reduction in the one-time revenues built into the enacted budget and will continue to ensure the state has a strong rainy day fund.

“When I took office three years ago, Connecticut had a $3.7 billion deficit with projected deficits for many years to come, and for the sake of our economic future I made it a commitment to turn that instability around and strengthen our state’s fiscal health,” Governor Lamont said. “Today, Connecticut has a surplus, and we did it without broad-based tax increases, and while making an historic investment in our pension obligations and leaving the rainy day fund untouched. Connecticut’s fiscal health is stronger than it’s been in decades, and now we can move toward the next phase of the Connecticut comeback – cutting taxes for the people who live here.

“I asked our budget analysts to run some numbers to determine how we can cut taxes in a realistic way that won’t negatively impact the strong fiscal standing we’ve created, while targeting those cuts for those who can benefit most. I’m hopeful that the legislature will agree that these cuts can provide relief, and this package can be the first in a series in the coming years as we continue bringing Connecticut’s fiscal stability on more and more solid ground.”

Governor Lamont’s tax cut proposal includes five parts:

Restore full eligibility for the property tax credit (estimated impact: 500,000 people)The governor is asking the legislature to immediately restore full eligibility for the property tax credit beginning in income year 2022. Under current state law, the property tax credit is limited to those over the age of 65 or those with dependents. Expanding the credit to all adults within the current income limits ($109,500 for single filers/$130,500 for joint filers) will have an estimated fiscal impact to the state of $53 million.
Increase the property tax credit from $200 to $300 (estimated impact: 1.1 million people)In addition to restoring the property tax credit to full eligibility, Governor Lamont is proposing to increase the credit from its current rate of $200 to a maximum of $300 per filer. Increasing the property tax credit to $300 will have an estimated fiscal impact to the state of $70 million.
Accelerate the planned phase-in of the pensions and annuities exemption from income taxes (estimated impact: 250,000 people)The governor is proposing to accelerate by three years – from 2025 to 2022 – the planned phase-in of the pensions and annuities exemption under the state income tax. Under current state law, income year 2022 is scheduled for a 56% exemption as the fourth year of a seven-year phase-in of the exemption, which is scheduled to reach 100% by 2025. Single filers with an adjusted gross income less than $75,000 and joint filers with less than $100,000 qualify for the exemption. Accelerating the exemption three years earlier will have an estimated fiscal impact to the state of $42.9 million in FY 2023, declining to $0 in FY 2026 as the existing phase-in is already assumed in the consensus forecast.
Expand student loan tax credit (estimated impact: up to 32,000 people)The governor is proposing to expand a student loan tax credit that he championed and was adopted in 2019, which gives employers a 50% tax credit on up to $5,250 in payments toward an employee’s student loan. The program would leverage business expenditures alongside the state tax credit to significantly expand eligibility to all loans issued by the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA). The change would be retroactive to January 1, 2022 and will have an estimated fiscal impact of $9.4 million.
Reduce motor vehicle property taxes (estimated impact: 1.7 million vehicles, which amounts to 77% of vehicles in the state)Governor Lamont is asking the legislature to approve a law that will lower the mill rate cap on motor vehicle property taxes from 45 mills to 29 mills and reimburse local governments for the resulting revenue impact. A 29-mill cap on all motor vehicles will provide property tax relief for over 1.7 million vehicles in 103 towns and cities, including 20 of the 25 distressed municipalities. This would continue to apply to passenger, commercial, and combination vehicles. Reimbursements to municipalities would cost an additional $160.4 million above the current appropriation.

HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday held a press conference in Hartford urging Connecticut residents to file their taxes as soon as possible, amid an unprecedented U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) backlog. Given the agency’s chronic underfunding and challenges brought by COVID-19, Murphy and Blumenthal this week called on the IRS to provide penalty relief for frustrated taxpayers who have been unable to receive help. The senators also urged the U.S. Department of the Treasury to increase funding for the IRS, which would improve taxpayer services and modernize IT systems to file taxes and claim refunds. Taxpayers can begin filing their 2021 taxes as early as this week. 

“This is going to be challenging tax year, in part because the IRS is understaffed and using decades old technology that’s not keeping up with the pace of returns. We are going to continue pressing our colleagues to allocate additional resources to the IRS so that they can process these returns quickly, update their technology, and go after the big tax cheats. And we’re hoping that the IRS is going to take some steps in the short run to be able to process these claims faster,” said Murphy. “We’re pushing the IRS to be better this tax season to be able to get those returns turned around quickly.”

“Taxpayers deserve a responsive IRS that will promptly process their refunds while making cracking down on tax cheats.  IRS needs more resources to make up for years of reduced funding and staff at a time when the number of tax filers has increased,” said Blumenthal.

In a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Murphy and Blumenthal on Thursday expressed concern that persistent underfunding of the IRS will have negative effects on American taxpayers and called for a minimum 14% increase in annual IRS funding, and an $80 billion investment over 10 years.

This week, Murphy and Blumenthal called on the IRS to provide penalty relief for taxpayers amid extensive, ongoing processing backlogs at the IRS. As of late December 2021, the IRS continued to have a backlog of 6 million individual income tax returns and 2.3 million amended individual tax returns.

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2022-02-01@7:30PMish–#Bridgeport CT– Police are looking for a silver Audi with four black males with mask, glove and skullies according to radio reports for a purse snatching that took place at Stop and Shop on Villa Avenue. They are also wanted for a strong armed robbery on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport. Of course there was no notification on that one.

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2022-02-01@4:30pm–Report of a four car accident on Barnum and East Main Street.

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2022-02-01@12:18pm–#Fairfield CT– Report of an air compressor taken from construction site on Bronson Road.

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