I hope you and your family have been staying warm and healthy during these winter months.
Now that session is underway, I have been hard at work attending dozens of hours of legislative forums, agency budget reviews, and public hearings.
As a soldier and lawmaker, I hear the work “heroism” used very often, but I would like to take a moment to reflect on some of the people who I believe best uphold the meaning of the word.
Our unsung heroes: our teachers, our nurses, our nursing assistants, our social workers, guidance counselors, and so many others. Those who work long hours and late nights keeping our community moving. To me, they represent the true meaning of the word heroism.
As always, I write this message with our community foremost in my mind. Below you will find information about the local events I have attended, funding we have brought back to the community, and observances and programs that I hope will be useful to you and your family.
VETERANS CORNER
A few days ago, we had the grand opening of the Stamford Veterans Resource Center!
I was so proud to stand with all of the veterans, military families, activists, and government officials who made this day possible.
As a soldier, veteran, and lawmaker I have advocated for more personnel and funding to engage and support my fellow veterans and their issues. This center is the start of those efforts, and I am so proud to see our government taking a step forward in serving our men and women in uniform.
The Veterans Resource Center is a place where veterans will have better access to government resources, programs, and community support services, as well as the opportunity to engage with other veterans and community partners in Stamford. The center will be open weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm and is located on the second floor of the Old Town Hall at 175 Atlantic Street.
Last Wednesday, we listened to the Governor's Budget Address - his official announcement of his legislative proposals for the session. He will prioritize...
A balanced budget.
Tax cuts targeting middle class families, childcare affordability.
The manufacturing pipeline, and education reform. In his address, he stated that the best education reform is a "great teacher in a classroom, and CT has the greatest teachers."
School meals for all through the end of this school year.
Support employers offering education debt relief to keep CT trained college grads IN CT!
Workforce housing investments.
Increased commitment to the "time to own program," down payment assistance and more to middle income families.
Investing in reduced travel times and our transportation infrastructure - rail, roads and highway.
Maximizing federal money (particularly around transportation).
Energy investments, including nuclear, wind, and hydro. Plus investing in energy efficiency programs.
Reducing healthcare debt and costs for care, prescriptions and more.
Last week, I was proud to stand with Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy, and Congressman Jim Himes at the Government Center to highlight the over $5 million in federal funding the City received for congressionally directed spending projects.
In the recent Appropriations bill passed by Congress, the City of Stamford received:
$3 million for constructing a new Ferguson Library East Side Branch
$2 million to upgrade City streetlights to energy-saving LED streetlights
$250,000 for training equipment for a regional police academy
Each of these projects were submitted because they will provide critical investments in key priority areas that my administration is focused on - infrastructure and sustainability, public safety, and improving quality of life.
I would like to thank our federal delegation for their continued support, Alice Knapp: CEO of the Ferguson Library, and Assistant Chief of Police Richard Conklin for seeing the implementation of this funding on the ground level.
TEEN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the dangers and warning signs of dating violence to help protect our youth.
Data shows 26% of high school students in Connecticut have experienced verbally or emotionally abusive relationships, 9% have experienced physical abuse, and 11% have experienced sexual abuse. At the same time, 82% of parents nationwide are unaware that teen dating violence is an issue.
We must continue educating parents, guardians, community leaders, and friends on understanding what constitutes dating violence and what we can do to protect our young people against this kind of abuse. 58% of parents cannot correctly identify all the warning signs of dating violence. Please click here to learn more about dating violence early warnings.
Healthy relationships are built on trust, independence, honesty, and kindness. Teaching our youth to value and seek out healthy relationships is of paramount importance not only to their physical and emotional well-being, but also to their development. See here for ten signs of a healthy relationship.
All adolescents can experience dating violence. However, young women and trans and gender non-conforming youth are at a disproportionality higher risk of experiencing this kind of abuse. Click here for more information and resources on dating violence in LGBTQ+ relationships.
If you believe your teen or one of their friends is in danger – help is available. Individuals and families can contact CT Safe Connect from anywhere 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, to receive a thorough assessment of needs, emotional support, safety planning and options. Contact them by calling or texting (888) 774-2900, send a confidential email to safeconnect@ctcadv.org or use their web chat. All services are confidential, safe, free, and voluntary.
Find more information and useful resources on this issue below.
Interval House offers a large range of resources on teen dating violence. Resources are available in both English and Spanish. CT.gov has a large range of resources covering teen dating violence and domestic abuse, as well as relevant legislation. Click here to read President Joe Biden's proclamation on Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Juneteenth is American history - it's time we treat it that way. The passing of Juneteenth as a state holiday was one of the most powerful and emotional discussions on the House floor.
The effective date of the legislation as approved by the General Assembly was October 1, 2022, meaning that the first time Juneteenth Independence Day is legally recognized as a state holiday in Connecticut will be THIS YEAR on June 19, 2023!!
BOOK DISTRIBUTION FOR STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Thanks to funding from the Connecticut General Assembly, Stamford Public Schools will be able to provide every K-3 school in Stamford with books that center Black and Latino American stories. An event to celebrate the distribution of these books will be held in the Roxbury Elementary School auditorium on Friday, February 24.
Members of the Stamford delegation and school officials will be in attendance. Additionally, local Stamford authors will participate in a read aloud for the 2nd and 3rd grade students. The event is set to begin at 9:30 am.
Please see the flyer for more information.
If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at hubert.delany@cga.ct.gov
