Dear Neighbors,
The 2019 legislative session has come to a close. We passed a balanced budget on time without income or broad based sales tax increases or cuts to municipal aid. Though imperfect, this budget funded the Care4Kids program, increased access to Husky A and the Medicare Savings Program, and preserved tax exemptions on pensions and social security income among many other provisions that protect Connecticut’s working families.
We passed hundreds of pieces of legislation, including requiring the Board of Regents to develop a plan for a debt free community college program, settling an agreement to fund local hospitals, creating a Paid Family Medical Leave program, gradually increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and many others that move our city and state in the right direction.
I appreciated hearing from you during this session about the issues that matter to you and encourage you to continue reaching out. Please don’t hesitate to contact me by email, phone or social media. It is such an honor to continue to serve our community.
Sincerely,
United States Census 2020
Every 10 years, the United States performs a census to estimate the population of our country, states, and cities. This is an extremely important undertaking that will greatly affect the amount of funding that Connecticut receives from the federal government and that Waterbury receives from the state. Our city is one of the most undercounted in the state and therefore we miss out on millions of dollars in funding each year; dollars that fund community services, education, and non-profit organizations. Answering the Census questionnaire is safe, private, and necessary for the continued improvement and development of our city. Regardless of your citizenship status or voter registration, if you live here you are a resident of the state of Connecticut and city of Waterbury and every resident counts.
Cada 10 años, los Estados Unidos realiza un censo para estimar la población de nuestro país, estados y ciudades. Esta es una tarea extremadamente importante que afectará en gran medida la cantidad de fondos que Connecticut recibe del gobierno federal y que Waterbury recibe del estado. Nuestra ciudad es una de las menos contadas en el estado y, por lo tanto, perdemos millones de dólares en fondos cada año; dólares que financian servicios comunitarios, educación y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. El responder el cuestionario del Censo es seguro, privado y necesario para la mejora y el desarrollo de nuestra ciudad. Independientemente de su estado de ciudadanía o registro de votante, si vive aquí es residente del estado de Connecticut y de la ciudad de Waterbury y cada residente cuenta.
Increased Education Funding
In this year’s budget, we were able to secure an increase of $6,819,388 in each of the next two years for Waterbury education funding, the largest increase of any municipality in the state. The Waterbury schools will receive $143,020,652 in FY ’20 and $149,840,041 in FY ’21.
African-American & Black and Puerto Rican & Latino Studies
Under PA 19-12, all public school districts must include African-American and Black studies and Puerto Rican and Latino studies in their curriculum beginning with the 2021-22 school year and offer a Black and Latino studies high school course in the 2022-23 school year. Now more than ever, it is imperative that our children learn about and intellectually discuss the diversity of cultures and people that make our state and country great.
Minority Teacher Recruitment
I was a major proponent of PA 19-74 which will facilitate minority teacher recruitment and retention across the state. This bill requires the implementation of strategies to ensure local and regional boards of education hire and employ at least 250 new minority teachers and administrators each year. A more diverse faculty will help to expose children to a broader and richer cultural learning experience. This is a positive step toward making our public schools a place where all students, regardless of cultural background, feel welcomed, valued and can focus on learning.
Plastic Bag Legislation
Our urban and minority communities are consistently disproportionately affected by litter and recycling costs in this state. This year we passed a 10¢ fee on most single-use plastic bags with a complete ban set to take effect in 2021. This two year sunset ban on plastic is a crucial first step forward in the fight against the pollution that plagues our cities and towards a cleaner future. Connecticut’s economic and cultural future lies in green and renewable initiatives and I have made it a priority for next session to ban single-use plastic straws and Styrofoam containers as well.
Youth Violence Prevention Funding
This year’s budget included over $1.9 million in Youth Violence Initiative grants to reduce gang violence and provide funding to local community agencies and programs. Waterbury community organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Club, Hispanic Coalition, WOW Center, Rivera Memorial Foundation, and many more, will receive funding to help in our city’s fight against crime and violence.