Rebecca Martinez

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. May your day be filled with warmth and moments of gratitude, surrounded by friends and loved ones - and good food.

I joined Foodshare in Farmington this week to help distribute food to families in need. In just one day, 154 people came through the line — a reminder of how vital these programs are for our communities.

I encourage everyone to learn more about the Mobile Food Pantry schedule here, and if you’re able, to support your local food pantries and Foodshare. Together, we can make sure no one in our community goes without.

This morning, I released the following statement on the proposed alignment of the Farmington Canal Trail

As your State Representative, I stand with the residents of Hemmingway Street in strong opposition to the current proposed alignment of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. This plan would place a public path directly through their front yard. This is not a minor right-of-way issue. It’s a fundamental question of respect for people’s homes and voices. The residents of Hemmingway have said no—and I support them.

I’ve spoken with CTDOT, and my understanding is that nothing is set in stone yet. That’s why it’s so important for residents to speak up now, before final decisions are made. Please consider attending the upcoming public information meeting on Thursday, November 20 at 5pm at the Plainville High School Auditorium (47 Holcomb Way). The open house begins at 5pm, and the formal presentation begins at 7pm. Your voice matters, and your feedback can help send this plan back to the drawing board.

This week the State House and Senate met for a special session to pass a number of critical bills, ranging from a bill addressing Connecticut's housing crisis, a bill that sets money aside to keep vital federal programs afloat, and more.

All Connecticut SNAP recipients have access to their FULL November benefits on their EBT cards.

Despite the Trump administration’s continued efforts to take food away from our neighbors, CT is backfilling SNAP benefits to ensure funding is available. We refuse to let Republicans in Washington play games with food assistance.

To check your card balance, visit MyDSS.ct.gov or call 1-888-328-2666.

Election Day is behind us - congratulations to all of you who were elected. Thank you for stepping up to serve. Public service, especially at the local level, takes courage, commitment, and a deep belief in community. Your leadership matters.

I look forward to working with all of you - Democrats and Republicans alike - to champion our communities and help move the State of Connecticut forward. I'm committed to working together to strengthen our towns and build a brighter future for Connecticut.

As the federal government shutdown continues, many Connecticut residents are facing uncertainty. United Way of Connecticut’s 211 has published a new resource to help. Click here to take a look at the resource that outlines the current status of federal programs and provides direct links to state and community resources for those affected.

211 is not directly impacted by the federal government shutdown and continues to operate 24/7/365. It’s never been more important to connect residents with trained contact specialists who provide personalized, confidential assistance for basic needs. In many cases, a single call results in multiple new referrals and supports, drawn from their up-to-date database of more than 40,000 community resources.