Press Releases

November 17, 2009 

LAWMAKERS & ADVOCATES FORM COALITION TO CLOSE STATE’S ACHIEVEMENT GAP
Campaign LEARN stresses urgency of implementing effective solutions to close gap

Lawmakers from the Connecticut General Assembly’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, led by State Representatives Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) and Gary Holder-Winfield (D-New Haven), today announced the creation of Campaign LEARN (the Campaign for Leadership in Education, Achievement, and Reform Now), a group that lawmakers, education advocates and equal rights organizations plan to use to stress the urgency of implementing effective solutions to address the current achievement gap between children of color and their peers.

The 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress scores revealed that Connecticut’s achievement gap at all levels, in all subjects, for all disadvantaged groups, was among the largest in the nation.  In the fourth grade, for example, Connecticut’s African-American students were found to be 3.0 grade levels behind white students.  By eighth grade, this gap widened to 4.4 grade levels.  This means that that the average African-American eighth-grader performed math on the level of a white student half-way through the third grade.

“Improving educational opportunity and performance is an ongoing challenge, and it is important that we keep moving forward each year,” said McCrory, who works at the Hartford Adult Education Center and is a member of the legislature's Higher Education Committee. “It is critical that we welcome and remain open to ideas that have real potential in closing the achievement gap.”

The gap between Connecticut’s Latino and white students on the eighth grade math test is slightly smaller (3.9 grade levels), but still large enough to make it the worst in the nation.  In no grade level or subject area was Connecticut’s socio-economic, racial or ethnic achievement gap better than sixth worst in the nation.

Campaign LEARN partners will sponsor a series of education town hall meetings throughout Connecticut during the next few months to discuss how to most effectively close the persistent racial and ethnic achievement gap.  The lawmakers intend on using the information obtained at these forums to create legislation for the 2010 session of the General Assembly.

Campaign LEARN partners include a host of advocacy organizations that see access to quality education as a civil rights issue.

“The Connecticut Black Alliance for Educational Options is pleased to be at the forefront in launching this campaign because it provides an unprecedented opportunity to build bridges between the parents and children most impacted by the worst racial and ethnic achievement gap in the nation and the emerging champions of education reform in the state legislature who are committed to closing this gap once and for all,” said Danielle K. Smith, State Director of the CT BAEO.  “There could be no more opportune moment in history to take action in fulfilling the promise of equality in education and Connecticut is ripe for an important breakthrough.  Campaign LEARN partners understand that parents and community members have an important role to play in making change happen and we are committed to building and sustaining the public need to educate all of Connecticut’s children at a high level.”

“Campaign LEARN promises to be exactly the kind of grassroots advocacy movement that Connecticut has been waiting for,” said Michael Sharpe, President of the Connecticut Charter School Network.  “This campaign is greatly needed and the fact that the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus have made the achievement gap a priority is a very important step in the right direction.  We applaud CT BAEO for taking the lead in convening this coalition and we’re happy to be a part of this effort.”

“It’s no secret that Connecticut has the largest achievement gap in the nation and that this gap disproportionately impacts Black and Latino children in our state.  But it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Ron Jarrett, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships of ConnCAN.  “When we focus on doing what works for kids, there is no limit to the progress that we can achieve.  ConnCAN is pleased to be working in collaboration with state partners on Campaign LEARN.  We believe that this campaign will be tremendously important for the education reform movement as a whole.”

Upcoming Campaign LEARN Events:

• Hartford Education Town Hall Meeting, November 19, 2009, 6-8 p.m., Legislative Office Building, Room 2C
• Danbury Education Town Hall Meeting, December 10, 2009, 6-8 p.m., Danbury Middle School
• New Haven Education Roundtable: “The New Politics of Education Reform-Real Change for Communities of Color,” Yale Law School Auditorium, January 23, 2010, 5-7 p.m.

Partners in Campaign LEARN include the General Assembly’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, the Connecticut Black Alliance for Educational Options (CT BAEO), the State of Black Connecticut Alliance (SBCT), the Connecticut Commission on Children, the African American Affairs Commission (AAAC), the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches, the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), and the Connecticut Charter Schools Network.

November 5, 2009

REP. McCRORY HONORED BY CT NAACP
Named as one of top 100 Influential Blacks in State

State Representative Douglas McCrory of Hartford has been named one of the top 100 Influential Blacks in the state by the Connecticut NAACP. McCrory will be recognized at the group’s upcoming 44th Annual State Convention at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods which is being held this weekend, November 6-7.

“It is always an honor to be recognized for your work, particularly by an organization that I have so much respect for,” said McCrory, a vice principal in the Hartford public school system. “Frankly, without the success of the NAACP mission, people such as myself would not even have the opportunity to help bring about positive change.”   

As a lawmaker, McCrory tends to focus on education and housing issues on behalf of his constituency in Hartford. He also is known for speaking out against economic and racial disparities. In recent years, McCrory has advocated for the appointment of more minority court judges by the governor and has also helped pass anti-racial profiling laws.

“Representative McCrory is the type of person that can be counted on to use his influence for the greater good of our society and to set a fine example for others to follow,” said Connecticut NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile.

The NAACP is currently celebrating 100 years of service to the African-American community.  Founded in 1909, it is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization and continues to be a premier advocate for equal rights and justice.

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. He serves on the Appropriations, Education and Higher Education Committees.

September 14, 2009 

SERVICES FOR CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS SPARED BUDGET AX 

State Representative Douglas McCrory, who represents Hartford in the Connecticut General Assembly, was able to secure funding in the recently adopted state budget for a successful program that provides services for children who have parents in prison.

Governor Rell had proposed eliminating the Department of Correction’s Children of Incarcerated Parents program, but McCrory worked with legislative leaders to put $1.4 million in the General Assembly’s budget to continue the program through the 2011 fiscal year.

“When a parent commits a crime and is sent to prison, innocent children suffer and become part of a new at-risk population,” said McCrory, who co-chairs the legislature’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Judicial and Corrections. “As a civilized society we have a responsibility to reach out to these children, and this is a proven way to reduce future delinquency and saves taxpayers in the long run.”   

Program services include counseling, peer support groups and mentoring. Goals of the program include reducing recidivism by helping families maintain ties during incarceration and assisting with family reunification through re-entry planning.            

The Connecticut Commission on Children estimates over 17,000 state kids have incarcerated parents, which can often lead to social isolation, aggressive behavior and poor school performance. About half of children with parents in prison are under age 10 according to a national estimate.

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. He serves on the Appropriations, Education and Higher Education Committees.

May 28, 2009

REP. McCRORY BACKS RAISING SCHOOL DROP OUT AGE

State Representative Douglas McCrory, who represents Hartford in the Connecticut General Assembly, helped lead passage of a bill in the House of Representatives that raises the age students are allowed to drop out of school from 16 to 17.

McCrory backed the change in state law because he believes dropping out at 16 is not sufficient for surviving in today’s economy. In particular, he finds the disproportionate number of drop outs in the African American, Latino and urban communities as a principle reason for the state’s swollen achievement gap.

“Dropping out at 16 is simply not an adequate standard, and having a law on the books that allows kids to do that sends a wrong message,” said McCrory, a vice-principal in the Hartford school system and member of the Legislature’s Higher Education Committee. “If we are going to advance the needs of generations coming after us, then this is one important change we can make that will have a positive impact.”

The proposed change was approved by a vote of 130-16 in the House.  Students who have reached the age of 17 and wish to withdraw will need the permission of a parent or guardian. If the legislation becomes law, it will take effect on July 1, 2010.

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. In addition to serving on the Higher Education Committee, McCrory also sits on the Appropriations and Education Committees.

May 15, 2009 

REP. McCRORY NAMED TO U.S. – CANADA PANEL

State Representative Douglas McCrory, who represents Hartford in the Connecticut General Assembly, has been appointed by Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) to serve on the Council of State Governments’ (CSG) Northeastern States Eastern Canadian Provinces Committee.

The Eastern Canadian Provinces Committee seeks to promote dialogue between state and provincial elected officials, as well as federal counterparts, to enhance cooperation on issues of mutual concern, particularly the effective management of the shared border. Committee members represent 10 eastern region states and six eastern Canadian provinces.
“We all live in a global economy where international relations impact our lives every day whether we realize it or not,” McCrory said. “Canada is Connecticut’s closest international neighbor and more state residents are doing business and visiting there so it makes sense to have a forum to deal with our many shared interests.”

Created in 2002, the Committee’s original primary focus was on security issues. While continuing to focus on border security, the Committee has expanded its mission to a range of challenges and opportunities facing the region. These include economic development, infrastructure improvements, maritime port facilities and prospects for the growth of short sea shipping.

“Rep. McCrory’s state legislative experience will allow him to represent Connecticut well as he undertakes this new challenge,” Speaker Donovan said. “I am confident Doug’s work on this committee will not only benefit our state, but help ensure the continued wonderful cooperation we share with our Canadian neighbors.”

Established in 1933, the Council of State Governments is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that provides information, research, and training to state officials in all 50 states and U.S. territories to promote region-wide initiatives, facilitate inter-branch cooperation, advocate on state-federal issues, and educate policymakers and the public on regional priorities and trends.

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. He serves on the Appropriations, Education and Higher Education Committees.

April 29, 2009

REP. McCRORY ANNOUNCES STATE GRANT FOR HARTFORD BUILDING WORK

State Representative Douglas McCrory, who represents Hartford, in the Connecticut General Assembly, announced that a $500,000 grant has been approved by the State Bond Commission for renovation work at the Rev. Collin Bennett Building on Albany Avenue, which will serve as the future home of the Capitol Region Conference of  Churches.  

“This grant will allow the Capitol Region Conference of Churches (CRCC) to enhance and expand the wonderful community work they undertake every day throughout the Hartford area, and I’m happy to support them,” said McCrory noting that the Bennett Building has been a longstanding institution in the community. “This project is a great example of how government can partner with organizations that are ready, willing and able to help uplift our friends and neighbors.”     

McCrory helped secure the state grant while working with CRCC President & CEO Rev. Shelly Copeland. Rev. Copeland was appointed by Governor Jodi Rell to serve as the State of  Connecticut’s director of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and she also serves as a chief advisor to Mayor Eddie Perez for the Hartford Office of Faith Based Services.

The Conference of Churches, founded 107 years ago, pursues a mission to achieve social justice for all people through faith-based leadership, education, advocacy and partnerships. “Through the engagement of our volunteer network, we work to empower people living in poverty and distressed neighborhoods through education and economic development,” says Copeland.

For example, the CRCC’s programs include the Fatherhood Support Program: a holistic case management program which supports and re-engages non-custodial fathers in the lives of their children so they can economically provide for their families; and the young entrepreneurs program which helps young adults gain the skills needed to sustain themselves through micro enterprises.

April 14, 2009

REP. McCRORY CALLS FOR MENTORING
PROGRAM FOR MINORITY MALES

State Representative Douglas McCrory, who represents Hartford, in the Connecticut General Assembly, is sponsoring legislation that would create a mentoring program for minority males that focuses on academics and job training.

McCrory’s proposal calls upon the state departments of education and higher education to establish mentoring services in high schools and colleges through a network of teachers.    

“We have all heard great stories from young people about how a mentor helped them find their way,” said McCrory, a vice-principal in the Hartford school system and member of the Legislature’s Higher Education Committee where the bill was approved on a unanimous vote 17-0. “Mentoring has a long history of success and the potential benefits for young minority males in particular are numerous.”     

According to the non-profit Urban Institute, less than 50% of African-American and Hispanic males graduate high school versus over 70% for white males. A 2003 U.S. Department of Justice study estimated the odds of a black male born in 1991 going to prison at 33%. 

Funding for the legislation is limited to current state budget appropriations and potential federal grants that could be secured by administrators. SB633 is currently awaiting action by the state senate. 

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. In addition to serving on the Higher Education Committee, McCrory also sits on the Appropriations and Education Committees.

March 20, 2009

REP. McCRORY HOSTS INMATE RE-ENTRY FORUM TUESDAY

State Representative Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) will host an informational forum Tuesday, March 24 beginning at 1:00 p.m. that will focus on re-entry programs and services available for inmates as they return to the community.

The event will be held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford and will feature testimony from inmates participating in support programs, lawmakers and members of the public.

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. He is a member of the Higher Education, Appropriations and Education Committees. 

February 9, 2009

REP. McCRORY HONORED BY URBAN LEAGUE

State Representative Douglas McCrory, who represents Hartford, in the Connecticut General Assembly, was named a Community Service Award Honoree by the Urban League of Greater Hartford at their 2009 Black History Awards celebration event held February 7. February is annually celebrated as National Black History month.

“It’s always nice to be recognized for working for what you believe in, frankly though it is the Urban League that deserves credit for inspiring people to lift themselves up and be the best they can be,” said McCrory, a vice principal in the Hartford school system. 

Believing in the importance of strong role models and education as the keys to positive development, McCrory helped found the Benjamin E. Mays Institute, which emphasizes positive self-esteem through the use of a curriculum infused with African American history and themes. McCrory attended the University of Hartford on a basketball and academic scholarship, and since has shared his love for the sport with young people through the non-profit Sons of Thunder Coalition.

“More than ever before we live in a world of diversity and challenge, where what we earn is a function of what we learn,” said Urban League President James E. Willingham Sr.

Founded in 1964, the non-profit Urban League of Greater Hartford is one of the largest direct social service agencies in New England. With a mission of promoting self sufficiency and empowerment of people in the Connecticut capital region, Urban League support focuses on education, employment training and behavioral health services, particularly for youth.

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. He serves on the Appropriations, Education and Higher Education Committees.

January 29, 2009

REP. McCRORY WANTS TOWNS TO OFFER COLLEGE AID
Bond sales could provide funding for municipal scholarships

State Representative Douglas McCrory, who represents Hartford, in the Connecticut General Assembly, is sponsoring legislation that would allow towns to fund college scholarship programs by selling municipal bonds.

McCrory’s proposal (HB 5227), currently under consideration by the legislature’s Higher Education Committee of which he is a member, would enable towns to fund scholarships for residents attending Connecticut public colleges and universities.

“Everyone agrees on the important role higher education plays in future success, yet thousands of aspiring students cannot afford to go to college,” said McCrory, a vice-principal in the Hartford school system. “Our system is set up where each town provides educational opportunity thorough high school, so why not give towns a tool to help kids in their community reach their ultimate potential?”

McCrory believes municipal scholarships should be based on economic need and merit, and could be tied to criteria such as requiring students to reside or work in their hometown following college or performing volunteer community service locally.   

According to the state Department of Higher Education, over the last decade, the number of low income students who cannot afford to contribute anything toward their college education has increased by 218%. “There are tens of thousands of families who have no means to send a child to college, and that trend has to change for us to make progress as a society,” McCrory said.

Rep. McCrory is serving his third term in the state legislature representing Hartford’s 7th Assembly District. In addition to serving on the Higher Education Committee, McCrory also sits on the Appropriations and Education Committees.

April 15, 2008

MCCRORY: BASKETBALL MEANT EVERYTHING

By PAUL DOYLE
Courant Staff Writer

In the grainy black-and-white photo, Charles Smith stands beneath a hoop with one hand above his head and a finger tugging on a basketball net.

To the right is Doug McCrory, hands behind his back, wearing knee-high white socks and classic '80s thigh-high basketball shorts. It's April 1984 and McCrory stands with members of the Class L Courant All-State basketball team.

Smith, who would go on to the University of Pittsburgh and the NBA, is the face that jumps off the page in The Courant's first winter All-State section. But 24 years later, it's McCrory who is still a notable presence in his hometown.

A state representative from Hartford, McCrory still lives in the North End neighborhood where he grew up. He has been a teacher and is a school administrator in the city, but there are still those who remember him as a star at South Catholic and a member of The Courant's first All-State boys basketball team.

"I was really happy," McCrory said from his office in Hartford. "Back in those times, I guess basketball meant everything."

That All-State section was sprinkled with recognizable names. The Division I hockey team included Enfield's Craig Janney and Cheshire's Brian Leetch, both of whom starred at Boston College and in the NHL. Leetch might be the best U.S.-born player in NHL history.

The Class M boys basketball team featured St. Paul-Bristol's Steve Pikiell, who went on to play at UConn and is now coach at Stony Brook. The Class LL girls basketball team had Bristol Eastern's Chryssandra Watts, a two-time member of the U.S. Olympic handball team.

And then there's Smith, who spent nine years in the NBA after being selected third overall in the 1988 draft.

McCrory remembers standing next to Smith for the photo shoot. At almost 6 feet 10, Smith had the NBA in his future. McCrory's immediate plans were more grounded — to play for a Division I college, earn a degree and work in the insurance industry in his home city.

"That was it," McCrory said. "There was no pro ambition. I just wanted to play in college."

McCrory went to Holy Cross for a year before transferring to the University of Hartford, living on a campus that was within walking distance of his North End neighborhood. He was one of four captains in the 1987-88 season. After receiving an MBA, he spent a year working for CIGNA.

Then he became a teacher. And after 11 years of teaching, he moved into school administration.

"When I got into the classroom, I saw there was a need for more young men as role models in the schools," McCrory said. "I knew the kids had some of the same dreams I had. I wanted to teach them how to get there."

How did McCrory get from South Catholic to the state Capitol? Basketball was a big part of his journey.

He played for Joe Reilly, whom he calls the greatest coach in Connecticut high school basketball history. Reilly, a former Marine, taught his players to be disciplined and serious, traits that McCrory carried into adulthood.

"A lot of things we learned on the court matriculated into our lives," McCrory said. "Basketball for us provided structure. After school, we knew what we were going to do. We were going to practice during the season. And if it wasn't the season, we were going to play ball. So it kept us off the streets. It kept us in touch with adults. We were always around adults who cared about us."

McCrory is a vice principal at Bulkeley and is co-chairman of the design team for an all-boys school that will open in Hartford this year. His goal is to get more of Hartford's kids to think about college, just as he did as a freshman at South Catholic.

It was what he learned from Reilly as a freshman that opened McCrory's mind to future possibilities.

"He gave us a road map," McCrory said. "So by the time I finished my freshman year of high school, I knew I was going to college. I knew I was going to college on a basketball scholarship. The program was in place to do it. People who went through there before had done it. I knew I was just as talented as them, so I figured if I listened to what [Reilly] said, I was going to go to college."

McCrory won't say basketball was his only road to college because he grew up in a stable home. But he is the only person in his family with a college degree and understands the odds he overcame.

"It would have been a little more difficult for me to be as successful as I am today," McCrory said. "Basketball was certainly important."

Contact Paul Doyle at pdoyle@courant.com.

Copyright © 2008, The Hartford Courant

June 28, 2007

STATE BUDGET INCLUDES HISTORIC INVESTMENTS
IN EDUCATION & HEALTHCARE WITH NO NEW TAXES

State Representative Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) said the state budget approved by the Legislature makes historic long term investments in local education and healthcare with no increase in state taxes.

Under the two-year budget, the Hartford delegation was instrumental in obtaining over $232 million of state funding for the City of Hartford.  This is a $12 million increase from last year.  In particular, the Hartford education grants swell to $209 million for the upcoming fiscal year with further increases scheduled for 2009. Other town aid is also earmarked for road repairs and lost tax revenues from hosting state property.

“I am very pleased to see the entire General Assembly committed to the betterment of our Education and Healthcare system in CT.”  Rep. McCrory said.  “These particular entities were the big winners in the budget.  I am also pleased to say that we were on the same page in regards to gun violence.  I co-sponsored a bill that will aid in the reduction of the number of illegal guns on our streets.  Given the ongoing violence that occurs in our cities, I believe this is a step in the right direction.  Keeping our families healthy, educating our children and protecting society will continue to be my main focus.”

Almost a $400 million increase in healthcare funding is aimed at increasing coverage and access for the uninsured, mainly for children through the existing state HUSKY program. Automatic enrollment for newborns, expanded eligibility, school-based health clinics and higher Medicaid reimbursement for doctors form the cornerstone of the plan.

“This will help transform healthcare access and delivery, and set more people, particularly children, on a path toward healthy living,” said Rep. McCrory. “By capturing kids early, the health outcomes and taxpayer savings will be enormous.”

Rep. McCrory expressed disappointment that the Governor vetoed a legislative tax plan earlier this month that would have created a progressive income tax structure with tax cuts for the middle class and working poor as well as a $1,000 property tax credit on the state income tax.

“I strongly believe a progressive tax is a fairer way to go and with a budget surplus we should be giving tax cuts to those who need it most,” said Rep. McCrory. “Unfortunately, the Governor and legislative Republicans fought us on our tax cuts, but a budget with no tax increase is still a win.”

Much of the current state budget surplus of about $1 billion is being used to help pay down long term debt, pay off bonds and increase the balance in the state’s ‘rainy day’ reserve fund. “We used surplus funds in a prudent way that benefits taxpayers in the long term by reducing debt and hedging against possible future deficits that may occur,” said.

May 15, 2007

STATE REP. MCCRORY RECEIVES “FRIEND OF THE FAMILY AWARD”
FROM CONNECTICUT FAMILY RESOURCE ALLIANCE

State Representative Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) was awarded with the Connecticut Family Resource Alliance 2007 Friend of the Family Award and named “Friend of the Year” by the organization.

“It is an honor to receive such an award from an organization that recognizes the need to enhance the development of children and families at a time when many parents are struggling to make a living and raise their children in a secure environment,” Rep. McCrory said.  “I thank the Family Resource Center for acknowledging my passion to better the lives of children through education and look forward to working with them in the future.”

The Connecticut Family Resource Alliance is a state wide, non-profit group comprised of 62 state-funded Family Resource Centers.  They promote comprehensive, integrated community-based systems of family support and child development services located in public school buildings.  They provide quality child care, positive youth development, teen pregnancy prevention programs, family support, and child care services administered by school or community-based agencies collaborating with schools.

State Representative Douglas McCrory represents Hartford’s 7th District.  He is currently the Vice Chair of the Banks Committee and a member of the Appropriations and Education Committees.

May 15, 2007

REPRESENTATIVES GREEN, McCRORY, MAJORITY LEADER DONOVAN
AND SPEAKER AMANN HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
ON JAMES TILLMAN’S PLANNED COMPENSATION BILL

Representatives Ken Green (D-Hartford), Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan (D-Meriden) and Speaker of the House James A. Amann (D-Milford) met in the Speaker’s office this afternoon with James Tillman to discuss the proposed House bill which will pay Mr. Tillman $5 million in compensation for his wrongful arrest and imprisonment.

“Connecticut’s General Assembly has made a courageous decision to award Mr. Tillman $5 million for his wrongful incarceration,” Rep. Green said. “As we debate and approve this legislation today I am proud to have been part of this historic vote. Mr. Tillman has stood strong, determined and humble in this entire ordeal and I admire his fortitude. In the near future he should be able to assess his life circumstances and move forward to try and capture some of what was taken away from him for 18 years.”

Tillman was arrested and sentenced to 45 years in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in Hartford in 1988. However, last summer DNA testing showed that Tillman was not the attacker.

“Throughout history there have been landmark decisions or legislation that have impacted society,” Rep. McCrory said. “These actions are remembered for years to come. Whether it’s Plessey vs. Ferguson, Emmett Teel, Brown vs. The Board of Education, the 1965 Civil Rights Act or, in our own state, Sheff vs. O’Neil. When someone is stabbed in the back for years, it’s not just important to remove the blade, but we have to rehabilitate the wound. By providing this individual and his family the $5 million in compensation, this will begin the healing process.”

“I appreciate all the support I have received from so many people,” Mr. Tillman said. “Everyone has been very understanding of my circumstances and I am grateful for their efforts to provide me with fair compensation. I am humbled by all that is being done on my behalf.”

Following the press conference, the lawmakers plan to bring the compensation bill to the floor for a vote. Additionally, Rep. Green has urged that the government take a better look at the way it handles future cases of wrongful incarceration.

“Let us in this state, re-examine our criminal justice system so that we don’t have to be here in this situation again,” said Rep. Green. “Unfortunately, I am not confident that this will be the last time. My sincere apologies go to Mr. Tillman and his family and it is my hope that s justice is done here today by awarding Mr. Tillman $5 million.”

May 8, 2007

REPS. FELTMAN AND McCRORY ANNOUNCE STATE FUNDING
FOR YOUTH ANTI VIOLENCE PROGRAM

State Reps. Art Feltman (D- Hartford) and Douglas McCrory (D- Hartford) held a press conference  at the Bowles Park Boys and Girls Club in Hartford,  to announce state funding on hand to initiate a new anti violence and youth leadership  program in the Blue Hills and South End neighborhoods in Hartford.

“Amidst the shootings, our adolescents need adult support to grow into responsibility,” said Rep. Feltman.  “We must appeal to their basic goodness.”

The $150,000 grant will be equally shared between Blue Hills and the South End, with the objective of organizing youth to identify problems in our communities that need attention. “It is critical to develop community spirit and youth responsibility for the quality of life in these neighborhoods,” Rep. Feltman stated.

 “It is very important for young people to have the necessary tools that will help develop their skills.  It is also important to provide job opportunities which will prepare them to maintain future employment in their adult life.  I fully support this program and will continue to help guide and serve our youth towards a better future,” said Rep. McCrory.

Joining Reps. Feltman and McCrory at the press conference were board members, youth participating in the program and members of the Hartford legislative delegation.

State Rep. Feltman, youth from the Bowles Boys and Girls Club and Rep. McCrory.

May 3, 2007

REP. MCCRORY SUPPORTS CT PARDON TEAM

Rep. Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) will host a Pardon Informational Forum on Thursday, May 10, 2007 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Hartford Public Library on 500 Main Street.

In collaboration with the Connecticut Pardon Team, Inc., Rep. McCrory would like to present information on the procedures involved in gaining a pardon for individuals looking to better and improve their way of life.  Rep. McCrory believes a second chance for someone with a criminal record is warranted giving the current status of society.  People who have made mistakes in their past continue to pay for them over and over again even though their debt to society has been repaid (i.e. imprisonment). 

“It’s a Catch-22 situation.  Getting a job and acquiring an education go hand in hand.  You need an education to get a well paying job but you also need money to pay for the necessary education. Rep. McCrory said.  “In our society, once an individual has a criminal record, it is very difficult to find a job let alone a job that supports today’s living expenses.  There are many people who have paid for their past discrepancies and deserve a chance to move forward and better their lives without the stigma of their past.”

The Connecticut Pardon Team, Inc. is a Norwich, CT based non-profit organization that provides the necessary tools for those who:  were formerly convicted of a crime; have successfully completed parole/probation; have remained conviction-free for at least 5 years and have made significant steps towards rebuilding their lives.  There is no charge for the consultation but registration is required.  For more information contact the Hartford Public Library at 695-6354 or the Connecticut Pardon Team toll-free 1-866-251-3810 or visit their website www.connecticutpardonteam.org by May 3, 2007.

Rep. McCrory is also a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1030 An Act Providing Technical Assistance To Persons Seeking Pardons.  This bill provides workshops and forums to persons seeking pardons.  His hope is to afford those who seek a second chance get that chance to better their lives and their position in society.

February 21, 2007

REPS. GREEN AND MCCRORY SEEKS RESTITUTION
FOR JAMES TILLMAN

State Representatives Kenneth P. Green (D-Bloomfield, Hartford) and Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) held a press conference today announcing House Bill 6673: An Act Compensating James C. Tillman for His Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration, which will grant Tillman $5 million as recompense for 18 years of incarceration for a sexual assault crime he did not commit.

“Mr. Tillman lost his prime years while incarcerated for a crime he did not commit,” Rep. Green said.  “Mr. Tillman had faith in the judicial system and pleaded not guilty as he should have.  The state’s evidence was questionable, and efforts by his defense team to dispute the evidence fell on deaf ears.  The criminal justice system made a grave mistake and I think that a reasonable atonement for this miscarriage of justice is $5 million; to subject Mr. Tillman to another “legal process” to make claim is unthinkable.  How can a person who went through a system believing it to be fair can now be asked to go through that same system for equity?  Mr. Tillman did not commit a crime so let’s not commit another injustice by withholding a fair and reasonable compensation package.”

“The state of Connecticut used all its power, will and authority to prosecute this individual and gave him 45 years,” Rep. McCrory said.  “They [state] threw the book at an innocent man.  So let’s try to bring justice to this situation.  We should do this with the same vigor, determination, and commitment that the state did to prosecute him.  Now is the time to try to even the score by providing him a mere $5 million settlement.  How much would someone have to pay to spend 18 years in prison for a rape crime that they did not commit in order to feel whole again?”

Mr. Tillman was incarcerated for over 18 years until June 6, 2006, when new DNA results confirmed that he was not the perpetrator of the crime.  The convictions were vacated and the chargers were dismissed without objection by the state of Connecticut on July 11, 2006.  In response to this, Governor M. Jodi Rell, in her budget address, apologized to Mr. Tillman and offered a tax-free lump sum of $500,000 for his wrongful conviction and incarceration. 

Mr. Tillman’s attorney is suing the State of Connecticut for $5 million as adequate compensation for 18 years of loss of his liberty and enjoyment of life, maltreatment and physical violence by other inmates against suspected rapists, mental anguish and suffering severe indignity. 

If the legislation passes, Mr. Tillman has agreed to waive any and all legal claims that he has against the State of Connecticut and any of its agents.  This includes a medical malpractice claim against the University of Connecticut Health Center, a claim against the Health Services Department Laboratory and personnel for negligence in conducting forensic testing and in the testimony presented in the trial, and for claims against police officers of the City of Hartford for violation of his civil rights.

Rep. Green is serving his seventh term in the Connecticut General Assembly.  He is House Chair of the Select Committee on Housing and serves on the Judiciary and Finance Committees.

Rep. McCrory is serving his second term in the Connecticut General Assembly.  He is Vice Chair of the Banks Committee and serves on the Appropriations and Education Committees.

February 1, 2007

REP. MCCRORY SUPPORTS JUNIOR DOCTORS’ ACADEMY AT UCONN

State Representative Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) will be the guest speaker at the UCONN Health Center’s Department of Health sponsored JUMPSTART and Junior Doctors academy programs on April 27, 2007. Two of these programs are in correlation with Health Career Discovery Program, Pre College Enrichment Program, Medical/Dental Preparatory program and the Research Fellowship Program.

Giving underrepresented minority youths a chance to succeed in the health professions is something Representative McCrory feels is extremely important. Rep. McCrory says that “It’s good for children to see doctors of color and eventually aspire to be like them”. Only 3% of nurses in Connecticut are people of color, this is a trend that needs to be changed”.

Since 1996 these programs have helped to pave the way for underrepresented youth in the health professions, and assist in preparation for college in order to enroll in medical, dental or other health professions. These programs are created to increase the enrollment and retention of underrepresented youths of Hartford who are involved in the health professions. The program begins in middle school and continues through to the college level.  Some of the areas that are in this program are Hartford, Buckley, and Weaver High Schools.

Representative McCrory is the Vice Principal at Mark Twain Elementary School in Hartford.  He is an advocate for the education and advancement of minority youth.  He is presently serving his second term in the Connecticut General Assembly.  He is the Vice Chair of the Banks Committee, and serves on the Appropriations and Education Committees.

January 8, 2007

REP. MCCRORY ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Named to Appropriations, Education, and Vice Chair of Banks

State Representative Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) announced today that he will serve as Vice Chair of the Banks Committee, and a member of Appropriations and Education Committees.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to serve on each of those committees,” said Rep. McCrory.  “It’s going to be a great experience to have some influence on the issues facing Connecticut.  I feel good to be able to represent the people of Hartford and the state of Connecticut.”

Rep. McCrory was sworn in for a second term in the Connecticut General Assembly. He is a Vice Principal at Mark Twain Elementary School in Hartford.

March 16, 2006

REP. MCCRORY WORKS TO IMPROVE ACHIEVEMENTS
AMONG BLACK AND HISPANIC MALES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

State Representative Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) recently testified before the Education Committee public hearing regarding House Bill 5762: An Act Concerning a Study to Enhance the Achievements of Black and Hispanic Male Students in Public Schools. The purpose of this legislation is to require the Department of Education to study ways to reduce the high school drop-out and suspension and incarceration rates of Black and Hispanic students.

“Our education department and public schools are among the best in the nation,” said Rep. McCrory. “It is troubling that our young minority male students are consistently unsuccessful despite the desperate desires of their parents, teachers and those who care about them. This is why I believe we need to study new ways to support and enable their success.”

The following are statistics that supports the need for this study:

• African-American males perform significantly poorer in the academic areas on the CMT and CAPT when compared to White males.

• Approximately 40 – 60 percent of African-American males perform below the proficient level in the different academic areas as compared to only 10 – 25 percent of White males.

• White males perform at the advanced level at rates that are 5 – 10 times greater than that of African-American males.

• About 76% of the African-American males in the 12th grade graduated from high school in the 2004-2005 academic year as compared to 91% of White males.

• African-American males dropout from the 12th grade at rates that are more than twice that of White males. Consequently, African-American males under the age of 22 account for 28% of males in adult education secondary completion programs whereas they only account for 14% of males in the public schools.

• With respect to expulsion and suspensions, African American males are expelled at four times the rate of their White counterparts; receive out-of-school suspensions for reportable offenses at five times the rate of their White counterparts and receive in-school suspensions for reportable offenses at twice the rate of their White counterparts.

According to DOE statistics, Blacks are approximately 12% of the general population of youths under 16 years, but they are 30% of the juvenile justice population. During 2003, African Americans were represented in the juvenile justice system 2.5 times their presence in the general population. Hispanic youth (male and female) represent 21% of the juvenile justice population although they make up only 15% of the general population.

Rep. McCrory further states, “It is my belief that this study would only increase the chances for our young minority students to succeed academically and further their chances to succeed in life. Let us stand by our commitment to all citizens of Connecticut and make equal education a reality.”

Rep. McCrory is serving his first term in the Connecticut General Assembly. He presently serves on the Select Committee on Children, and Appropriations and Banks Committees.

December 15, 2005

MCCRORY SECURES FUNDING FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG
RECOVERY CENTER IN HARTFORD

State Representatives Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford), Marie Kirkley-Bey (D-Hartford), and Kenneth P. Green (D-Hartford) announced the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center on Coventry Street is slated to receive $250,000 in funding for improvements. The State Bond Commission recently approved the funding during a meeting on Friday, December 9th at the Legislative Office Building.

“With the changes in mental services by the state, I am happy that these funds have been approved for the center,” said Rep. McCrory. “Our city has been striving for more attention in this area. By creating safer environments for residents and employees alike, they will have an increased opportunity to provide people with the necessary services to improve their situation.”

The funding allocated will allow for window and roof improvements at 56 Coventry Street in Hartford.

“There are many people who have benefited from the therapeutic, community and professional support of ADRC and I am encouraged that this funding will continue to provide people with the services they need,” said Rep. Green. “The entire region will gain from this financial award.”

“ADRC has provided invaluable services to those individuals battling addiction in the Greater Hartford region for over 25 years,” said Rep. Kirkley-Bey. “This additional funding will allow ADRC to continue their good work in our community."

November 16, 2005

HOUSE PASSES MEASURES TO HELP MEDICARE PART D PARTICIPANTS

State Representatives Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) is pleased to announce House passage of a bill that will cover the costs of the new federal Medicare Part D drug program through June 30, 2006. The bill covers the co-pays of those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (the dually eligible) and the costs of co-pays for ConnPACE members. The bill was approved by a vote of 135 to zero.

“I am encouraged by the fact that the state has chosen to restore coverage to residents on Medicare/Medicaid and ConnPACE who, because of the changes brought by the new federal program, were to experience increased costs and reduced benefits,” Rep McCrory added. “The bill does a good job of holding our most vulnerable residents harmless from added burdens as the program is implemented, and I am pleased to support it.”

The bill sets aside a fund for the Department of Social Services to cover costs with formularies for ConnPACE and the dually eligible beginning January 1, 2006. One million dollars is also allocated for counseling and enrollment assistance.

“This is a program that will help seniors as they enter the era of Medicare Part D,” said Rep. McCrory. “It makes a difference to help the seniors understand the program and to ensure them that they will not be left behind.”

Problems with Medicare’s new prescription drug program include: (1) forcing seniors and the disabled to choose between 44 to 54 competing private drug plans and 16 Medicare managed care options to find one that best covers their medications at a reasonable cost; (2) out-of-pocket expenses for drugs not on formularies; (3) a $3,600 coverage gap; (4) increased costs for ConnPace members; and (5) new co-pays for the dually eligible.

Rep. Douglas McCrory is serving his first term in the Connecticut General Assembly. He is a member of the Select Committee on Children, and serves on the Appropriations and Banks Committees.

April 19, 2005

REP. MCCRORY APPOINTED TO
REGIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS

Hartford, CT -- Speaker of the House James A. Amann (D-Milford) has appointed State Representative Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford) to the Council of State Governments’ Eastern Regional Conference for 2005 and 2006.

“I am honored that Speaker Amann has appointed me to this prestigious post. The Council of State Governments has a long history of leadership among state policy makers and I am proud to be a part of that tradition,” Rep. McCrory said.

“I am confident you will work successfully with other state leaders to put the best ideas and solutions into practice,” Speaker Amann said in a letter to Rep. McCrory.

Established in 1933, the Council of State Government’s Eastern Regional Conference is a public, non-partisan, non-profit organization that provides information, research, and training to state officials in all 50 states and U.S. territories.  The organization facilitates the exchange of ideas among state policy makers, business leaders and the academic community in their 15 member jurisdictions, which include the ten northeastern states, from Maine to Delaware, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the international associate members, the Eastern Canadian Provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The Council’s areas of focus include agriculture, criminal justice, economic development, energy and environment, fiscal affairs and transportation.

Rep. McCrory represents the 7^th Assembly District. He is a member of the Appropriations and Banks Committees, and the Select Committee on Children.

April 4, 2005

MARCH MADNESS

By Douglas McCrory

March Madness - a time when folks sit glued to TV sets at watering holes, dorm rooms and living rooms, watching the battle for basketball's best. It's a time when young sportsmen and women, many of them from urban areas, use their moment in the spotlight to nab a ticket out of the poverty they were born into.

But at the same time, while student athletes are running to the basketball courts and away from the life they have known, other students are up at all hours cramming for science tests in the hopes of making it into medical school. Others are burning the midnight oil readying themselves for Law School Admission Tests (LSATs). Others still are at the homes of fractured families, getting real-life experience for their careers in social work and other occupations.

For these students, the insanity may be trying to figure out how to pay for the cost of higher education like medical or law school. In 2002, the average tuition and fees at public and private US medical schools were $14,577 and $30,960, representing increases of 528% and 345% respectively from just two decades earlier. Law school at UConn ranges from more than $16,000 to $33,000 annually. And while universities spend hundreds of millions of dollars spanning the globe for the best jump shooter, a mere fraction of that is spent on academic scholarships for urban youth. The message? Athletic prowess might get you breakfast at the Four Seasons, but a beautiful mind might not even get you a couple of meals at the campus cafeteria.

Supporting athletics and collegiate sports isn't a bad idea. But a little balance can't hurt, either. Too many of our kids share the view of Notorious B.I.G.: “If I wasn't in the rap game, I'd probably have a (kilo) knee deep in the crack game/Either you're slingin' crack rock or you got a wicked jump-shot/It's hard bein’ young from the slums/... Not knowin' where your meal's coming' from.”

If we don't want kids to think the only way out of the ghetto is through sports, rap or the block, then we have to put our money where our mouth is. We need to use the same financial enthusiasm we show for our athletes towards our future doctors and lawyers, executives and administrators. Because of the success of athletic programs, colleges and universities have been able to raise millions of dollars for their general funds and endowments. Not putting more of those funds into academic scholarships for youth from lower socio-economic backgrounds is more than disproportionate. It is, well, madness.