DoingItLocal

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: 

• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline
• Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian A airs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program

 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:

• Violation of a Protective Order (5 counts), Assault in the 2^nd Degree, Unlawful Restraint in the 1^st Degree (2 counts), Threatening in the 2^nd Degree ($300,000 court set bond)
• Violation of a Protective Order (5 counts), Reckless Endangerment in the 1^st Degree, Assault in the 3^rd Degree ($150,000 court set bond)
• Violation of a Protective Order (5 counts), Assault in the 3^rd Degree ($250,000 court set bond)  

• Owens also has an active arrest warrant out of Stamford CT for Violation of a Protective Order ($75,000 bond)

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:

• Organizations that provide a training program listed on the Connecticut Department of Labor Department’s Eligible Training Provider List;
• Apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program sponsors;
• Providers of an alternate route to a certification program that the Connecticut State Board of Education has approved
• Institutions of higher education;
• Private occupational schools;
• Private employers;
• State or municipal agencies; and
• Public or nonprofit social service providers in Connecticut.

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.

George “Georgie” Chatzopoulos of Chips Family Restaurants passed away today after a year long battle with brain cancer. He was 55. George started his original restaurant in Orange and then to Fairfield, Wethersfield, Southbury and Southington. George was a well known philanthropist often holding pancake fundraisers for numerous organizations. He also held fundraisers in his restaurants on Thanksgiving Day like the Tip A Cop for Fairfield Police Benefiting Special Olympics.

WASHINGTON–The Connecticut Congressional delegation on Tuesday announced the state has received a record $159.9 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help families keep their homes warm and pay their energy bills this winter. In addition to the annual appropriation of $65.8 million, the state also received $94.1 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan. In 2021, roughly one-third of Connecticut households struggled to pay their electric bills.

“LIHEAP funds are a lifeline for so many families during these cold winter months. No one should be forced to choose between paying their energy bill and putting food on the table. Thanks to federal dollars we helped secure in the American Rescue Plan, more Connecticut families than ever will have the support they need to stay safe and warm this winter,” said members of the Connecticut congressional delegation.

Last week, Murphy, Blumenthal, and Hayes joined a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Richard Glick urging the agency to use its authority to protect consumers from unfairly high energy costs. In October, Murphy and Blumenthal also urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for LIHEAP as swiftly and at the highest level possible.

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