Linda Gentile
At the Capitol:
Legislative Office Building, Room 4107
Hartford, CT 06106-1591
(860) 240-8500 | 1-800-842-1902
Bob.Godfrey@cga.ct.gov
In the District:
13 Stillman Avenue
Danbury, CT 06810-8007
(203) 778-5127

2012 Constituent Survey

There's been some good news lately that our economy is improving, employment is increasing, and state revenues are recovering. Our future is looking brighter.

We continue to recover from the Wall Street/Big Bank recession without mortgaging the future. The General Assembly and Governor Malloy reduced both the size and the cost of state agencies through consolidation, productivity increases, and renegotiated employee contracts. We've kept important services like Danbury's DMV office open. We've maintained the safety net. We shored-up funds to cities to help mitigate increasing property taxes. We did raise some taxes, but in a way that spreads the burden to the richest among us.

We can work to overcome these challenges - together. Your responses to my 2011 survey helped me protect the services you need most, see that the rich and super-rich pay their fair-share of taxes, and attempt to reverse the high costs of energy to keep more money in your pocket. I also dealt with your concerns on jobs in a special session in October. Your feedback has provided good guidance for me.

Together you and I can solve our state's problems. So I'm asking you to fill out this new survey and send it back to me. I'm still optimistic. I will keep protecting the vulnerable, especially seniors, children and our embattled middle-class working families.

Reliable utility service is essential to Connecticut's economy and our everyday life. As we continue to recover from both Hurricane Irene and the October Nor'easter, it is vital our utility companies are prepared to restore power during these extreme events.

How can the state improve emergency and utility company response efforts?
Please rate the following choices on their importance (1=most important, 3=least important).

1 2 3  
      Connecticut's Prevention Strategies
Create response standards so work crews are better prepared to restore power during outages
Require better communication between state and local officials during emergencies
Create and enforce storm preparation standards for utilities
Require utilities to submit to towns a list of all trees impeding lines both on public and private property
      Connecticut's Utility Infrastructure
Develop emergency response contracts between utilities and electrical and tree trimming contractors
Establish minimum staffing levels relative to the number of customers
Determine necessary staffing levels for each critical purpose (such as tree removal)
Require utility personnel to be independently certified and have appropriate training for their response activities
      Connecticut's Outage Restoration Practices
Set reasonable standards (similar to neighboring states) with respect to outage recovery priorities (such as hospitals)
Determine crew deployment and power reinstatement priority on a regional basis
Establish procedures to monitor the effectiveness of coordinated response
Require daily conference calls between utility officials and state and local officials
What concerns you and your family the most? Please check all that apply.

Things are fine as they are
I'm afraid I'll lose my job
I'm afraid I'll lose my home
I've lost my job and my prospects for another
      are lower than I'd like
There aren't enough career choices for me or my kids
I can't afford health care

I'm afraid I'll lose my pension
I can't afford car insurance
I can't find an affordable place to live
I'm afraid of being victimized by criminals or drug abusers
I'm afraid of increasing costs of gasoline, heating oil, and electricity
Other

What is the most serious problem facing our neighborhood? Please check all that apply.

Things are fine as they are
Quality of our children's education
Lack of affordable housing
Lack of sense of security

Drug abuse
Traffic congestion
Homelessness
Other

The Budget: State Spending.

We adopted a budget in June, 2011 that is tough, balanced, honest, and fair. It begins to address structural deficiencies while preserving the safety net for those that need it most. While I am optimistic the recovery is steadily improving, it is also important to be prepared for similar challenges down the road. With the state budgetary constraints and economic difficulties in mind, which of these programs would you cut a lot, cut a little, or try to protect. Please check one box for each program.

  cut a lot cut a little protect
Aid to Businesses
Aid to Families with Children
Aid to the Disabled
Aid to the Mentally Ill
or Developmentally Disabled
Aid to Municipalities
Buses and Railroads
Crime Victim Services
Public Schools
Drug Abuse Prevention Education
Drug Abuse Rehabilitation
Health Care Assistance for Seniors
  cut a lot cut a little protect
Open Space Land Purchases
Prescription Drugs for Seniors
Prescription Drugs for Families
Protecting the Environment
Prisons
Rental Assistance for Families
Rental Assistance for Seniors
Roads, Bridges and Highways
The State Courts
State Universities
The State Police
Veterans' Services
Name:
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Address:
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