Steven Stafstrom

After months of negotiation and hearing input from residents across our state, I am happy to pass along great news. On Monday, the House of Representatives passed the $24 billion state budget proposal which provides $600 million in tax relief for working families. The budget cuts taxes more than any other Connecticut state budget in decades.

I am pleased to announce that the Connecticut Department of Transportation has approved a corridor study for Bridgeport's Black Rock neighborhood. The study will focus on Fairfield Avenue/Route 130 and Brewster Street to investigate strategies to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users, and drivers.

Yesterday, the City of Bridgeport received $990,000 in state funding to clean up the former UI Power Plant site at 137 East Main Street! The funding, delivered through the state Department of Economic and Community Development's Brownfield Remediation Program, will be used to construct a proposed multi-family, mixed-use development on the 6.5-acre site.

I am pleased to share with you that $3 million in bonding for the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club in Bridgeport has been included on the Connecticut State Bond Commission's agenda for December 21. The Commission will vote on this proposal and several others during its meeting next Tuesday.

Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani recently announced that COVID-19 vaccines are now available to be administered to Connecticut children ages 5 through 11. The availability of the vaccines for this age group follows the recent recommendations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This session I worked alongside my colleagues to pass a bipartisan budget which did not raise taxes, and focused on putting more money in the pockets of hard-working Connecticut families through increased tax credits.

A milling and resurfacing project on the appropriately 2 mile strip of Fairfield Avenue (Route 130) from the circle in Fairfield through Black Rock to the I-95 Exit 25 ramp is scheduled for Tuesday, July 6, 2021 through Friday, July 30, 2021. Work will be conducted from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday night through Saturday morning.

The past year was very difficult for families across Connecticut as children and parents both navigated remote learning, new childcare demands, and social distancing measures. As our communities re-open, Connecticut has launched several summer enrichment initiatives to provide children with fun and educational opportunities that capitalize on the outstanding resources throughout our state.