Property Tax Targeted
by | Feb 4, 2022 10:30 am | Comments (3)
With the legislative session set to start next week, Connecticut towns and cities say it’s high time to help lower property taxes in a meaningful way.
State
Cabrera Zeroes In On Mental Health
by | Feb 2, 2022 12:36 pm | Comments (3)
Paul Bass Photo
State Sen. Jorge Cabrera at WNHH FMM.
Even in 12 weeks, Connecticut can find a way to enable more people get mental-health help.
So proclaimed State Sen. Jorge Cabrera, who vowed to work with his colleagues to pass legislation to that effect during the “short session” that begins at the Capitol on Feb. 9.
Independent Seeks Top Elections Post
by | Feb 1, 2022 1:11 pm | Comments (1)
Paul Bass Photo
Cynthia Jennings at WNHH FM.
Cynthia Jennings has been involved in elections with three different parties — and has concluded the state needs someone from a fourth party to oversee the vote.
She Wants To Follow The Money
by | Jan 27, 2022 1:42 pm | Comments (0)
GOP Comptroller candidate Mary Fay at WNHH FM.
Mary Fay wants voters to make her Connecticut CFO, so she can keep an eye on how tax dollars get spent.
New Amtrak CEO Promises More, Faster Trains
by | Jan 21, 2022 3:32 pm | Comments (27)
New Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner Friday at Union Station: Once-in-50-years chance to fulfill transit "dreams."
We’re not giving up on that one hour train ride to New York — but in the meantime, a 25-minute improvement has become increasingly realistic.
Continue reading ‘New Amtrak CEO Promises More, Faster Trains’
Sec'y Of State Hopeful Aims To Rebuild Trust In Democracy
by | Jan 20, 2022 11:53 am | Comments (1)
Paul Bass Photo
Secretary of the state candidate Stephanie Thomas at WNHH FM.
“Civic engagement” was more than an abstract concept for Stephanie Thomas when she was in high school. It provided her a warm place, with lights on, to do her homework.
Continue reading ‘Sec'y Of State Hopeful Aims To Rebuild Trust In Democracy’
Stefanowski Makes Governor Run Official
by | Jan 19, 2022 9:09 am | Comments (7)
Christine Stuart Photo
Bob Stefanowski: Ready for a rematch.
With a focus on crime and inflation, Bob Stefanowski is making a second run for governor.
Tweed Manager Eyes Statewide Office
by | Jan 18, 2022 2:35 pm | Comments (7)
Paul Bass Photo
Sean Scanlon, left, and G Cafe's Andrea Corazzini toast on Oct. 21 to a deal bringing an outpost of the bakery to Tweed.
The man who got new flights taking off from Tweed New Haven Airport is now “exploring” a new path for his own political career.
Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon announced that exploration Tuesday: He has formed an “exploratory committee” to run this year for state comptroller.
Looney's 2022 Priorities: Mental Health, Special Ed
by | Jan 14, 2022 4:28 pm | Comments (4)
The Covid-19 pandemic ravaged people’s mental health — but may also have opened a door to fix a longstanding mental health problem.
Continue reading ‘Looney's 2022 Priorities: Mental Health, Special Ed’
3 Top $30K In Sec'y State Race
by | Jan 4, 2022 7:27 pm | Comments (4)
Maritza Bond at fall campaign fundraiser at Portofino's.
Three candidates have reported reaching a fundraising goal in the quest to break ahead of the pack of aspiring secretaries of the state.
Grand Cafe Mounts A "Cheers" Defense
by | Dec 17, 2021 3:08 pm | Comments (8)
Grand Cafe Co-Owner Jose Rivera, customer Julian Welch outside bar.
Everybody knows your name at Grand Cafe — which regulars and supporters called a good thing as they appealed to preserve the Fair Haven haunt’s liquor license in the face of organized opposition by neighbors weary of gun violence, drugs, and lewd behavior on the premises.
Santiago Makes Sec'y State Run Official
by | Dec 16, 2021 2:30 pm | Comments (1)
Paul Bass Photo
Hilda Santiago after announcing her candidacy at WNHH FM.
Vowing to fight for voting rights and help her party attract the state’s growing Latino population, Hilda Santiago stopped “exploring” Thursday — and officially announced her candidacy for secretary of the state.
Judge Rejects Landlord Bid To Break Rental Aid Contract Under State Program
by | Dec 7, 2021 3:42 pm | Comments (6)
Thomas Breen photo
State housing court Judge John Cirello.
A housing court judge turned down a landlord’s bid to evict one of his tenants instead of accepting state rental assistance funds designed to keep her in place — ruling that a property owner who has applied to Connecticut’s pandemic-era relief program can’t simply change his mind after the state has already cut a check.
Continue reading ‘Judge Rejects Landlord Bid To Break Rental Aid Contract Under State Program’
Gov Issues Covid Call To Arms At Pearl Harbor Ceremony
by | Dec 7, 2021 3:37 pm | Comments (2)
Connecticut National Guard Major General Francis J. Evon, Jr., Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz, and Gov. Lamont at Tuesday's wreath-laying ceremony.
Connecticut National Guard Sgt. Fatou Toure and Sfc. Tristan Johnson on Tuesday.
Calling on Americans to stand “arm in arm to fight an invisible enemy,” Gov. Ned Lamont commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks by urging a new Greatest Generation to step up for their country in the fight against Covid.
Continue reading ‘Gov Issues Covid Call To Arms At Pearl Harbor Ceremony’
Paid Family Leave Program Gets Underway; Backers Celebrate At Claire’s
by | Dec 1, 2021 5:36 pm | Comments (12)
Paul Bass Photo
Connecticut Paid Leave Authority CEO Andrea Barton Reeves at Wednesday’s event outside Claire’s.
State leaders converged on an appropriate spot Wednesday to celebrate the first day in which workers can sign up for benefits under Connecticut’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program: Claire’s Corner Copia.
Continue reading ‘Paid Family Leave Program Gets Underway; Backers Celebrate At Claire’s’
Ranked-Choice Voting Fuels Statewide Run
by | Nov 29, 2021 9:18 am | Comments (12)
Paul Bass Photo
State Rep. Josh Elliott at WNHH FM.
Josh Elliott wants you to be able to vote for him — and for one of his opponents.
He’s running for the state’s top elections post to help make that possible.
ConnCORP, WorkPlace Team Up To Help Black And Brown Entrepreneurs “Seize” The Cannabis “Moment”
by | Nov 23, 2021 4:37 pm | Comments (6)
Nora Grace-Flood photo
Social Equity Council Chairwoman Andrea Comer, ConnCORP Board Chair Carlton Highsmith, WorkPlace President and CEO Joseph Carbone, and BJM Solutions Founder Fred McKinney at Tuesday’s press conference.
Black and Brown entrepreneurs will learn about “joint ventures” — and perhaps enter into one — with the help of a marijuana “manifesto” that’s in the works.
Redistricting Critics Slice Own Voting Maps
by | Nov 8, 2021 9:15 am | Comments (18)
Laura Glesby Photo
Aaron Goode with voting reform advocates at Sally’s slicing session.
Aaron Goode
One alternative Congressional district map, with New Haven and Bridgeport combined.
Seven voting reform advocates gathered around a table at Sally’s, far more satisfied with the way their pizza had been sliced than with the way New Haven is currently split into state legislative districts.
Continue reading ‘Redistricting Critics Slice Own Voting Maps’
Alders Endorse Regional Climate Pact
by | Nov 5, 2021 9:35 am | Comments (16)
Thomas Breen photo
Thursday night’s Board of Alders meeting.
Electric buses, lower taxes for low-income people, endorsed.
The Board of Alders set Connecticut’s Democratic governor and top state legislators a challenge Thursday: Find a way to make fuel sellers — and not the poor and working class — pay for transportation-related carbon emissions, and help save cities like New Haven from bearing the brunt of climate change and air pollution.
$2 For OJ ... & Illegal Drugs?
by | Nov 4, 2021 5:38 pm | Comments (8)
Thomas Breen Photo
Fair Haven neighbors “occupy” Grand Cafe’s lot in September.
A month and a half after “occupying” the lot in front of a problem bar, Fair Haveners showed up in force yet again to try to solve the social ills emanating from Grand Cafe — this time online, through over three hours of testimony urging the state to pull the venue’s liquor permit.
What, Ned Worry?
by | Nov 3, 2021 2:20 pm | Comments (14)
Paul Bass Photo
Lamont fields questions Wednesday on Scranton Street.
Many Democrats nationwide woke up fretting Wednesday about their prospects in next year’s elections. But not Connecticut’s top Democrat expected to seek reelection, Gov. Ned Lamont.
Was “Justified” Force Also “Necessary”?
by | Nov 2, 2021 9:08 am | Comments (9)
NHPD images
Officers arresting Shawn Marshall at the CT Financial Center in January; one intervened to stop the other from continuing to use force.
A second look at the exoneration of a cop in the use of force against a troubled man has raised a question: Whether New Haven is out of step with new statewide standards for police accountability.
The debate centers on whether departments should consider only whether cops’ use of force is “justified,” or whether it should also be deemed “necessary” in light of other alternatives.
Sports Betting Kicks Off At Sports Haven
by | Oct 25, 2021 5:50 pm | Comments (32)
Thomas Breen photos
Vinny Rosarbo betting on the Saints …
… as Gov. Lamont (far right) and other state officials cut the ribbon on legal sports betting at Sports Haven.
Sliding five new $100 bills into a self-serve kiosk at Sports Haven, Vinny Rosarbo bet on more than just the New Orleans Saints beating the Seattle Seahawks.
He was also throwing his support behind a statewide wager that newly legalized gambling options will help Connecticut more than it will hurt by promoting the kind of addiction that led a state representative to resign his position the same day.
Brazi’s Birthday Bash Boosts Bond; Reports List Initial Secretary of State Campaign Donors
by | Oct 21, 2021 8:16 am | Comments (3)
Isaac Yu Photo
Bond takes the cake at Wednesday evening’s fundraiser.
With Alicia Keyes’ “Girl on Fire” playing in the background, city Health Director Maritza Bond sashayed into a room packed with partygoers at her 45th birthday bash — seeking to ignite momentum in her quest to become Connecticut’s next secretary of the state.
West Haven/New Haven Lawmaker Arrested For Allegedly Bilking Covid Relief Fund Of $600K
by | Oct 20, 2021 2:37 pm | Comments (9)
Connecticut Rep. Michael DiMassa, D‑West Haven, accused of wire fraud, leaves court Wednesday followed by a media scrum. pic.twitter.com/MpfB0v7GnA
— Brian Zahn (@brizahn) October 20, 2021
State Rep. Michael DiMassa.
A state legislator who represents a handful of blocks in the Hill — and most of West Haven — was arrested Wednesday for allegedly defrauding the City of West Haven of more than $600,000.