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After a July that was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, we are enjoying a beautiful stretch of weather. I'm sure the heat, humidity, and rain will be back, so make sure to stay hydrated and avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day.
As summer winds down, I’m turning my attention to doing the foundational work for next year’s legislative proposals. I’d love to hear from you if you know of a problem in search of a legislative solution, or you have an idea for future legislation. My best ideas come from helping constituents with every day problems or from constituent expertise in their own fields.
Although session is over, the committees I serve on have continued to be active, and I'll be back at the Capitol on August 10 for further Appropriations Committee public hearings and committee meetings.
In this newsletter, you will learn some important bear safety tips, where kids can go to the museum for free this summer, and our community of champions! You can click on any of these links to jump to that section of the email:
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| WHAT'S YOUR REP BEEN UP TO? |
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I attended a roundtable on affordable housing with Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas to learn more about the housing shortage from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders in our state, including housing agencies, advocacy groups, realtors, developers and regional governments. Simsbury businesses, workforce development, and our community’s economy are all affected by state and country-wide need for housing. The more I learn from all the entities concerned, the more value added I can be in finding solutions.
If you bump into me on my morning walks, I'll usually be listening to affordable housing finance or walkable town podcasts, or you might catch me at the library or coffee shop reading through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority materials on housing finance. Housing has the potential to be one of the top impacts on Simsbury in the next decade, and I'm passionate about being part of a solution that works for Simsbury and our state.
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I was so pleased to join other bike path enthusiasts to celebrate the amazing growth of the East Coast Greenway here in Connecticut. The East Coast Greenway connects 15 states and 450 cities and towns for 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. Bike and multi-use paths are an integral part of creating walkable and ridable towns and improving sustainability as well as our physical and mental health.
As you can see below, the Greenway spans 47 miles along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. Crews are still working on completing certain portions of the path, including right here in Tariffville.
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| It was a gorgeous night for Jazz on the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge! Great music, great atmosphere, and a great evening overall! |
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| JOIN ME FOR A COMMUNITY COFFEE EVENT |
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Please join me on Saturday, August 12 at 10 A.M. at Lions Den Coffee Shop to share your thoughts and ideas as I head into preparation for the 2024 legislative season. What’s important to you? Housing? Healthcare costs? Old growth forests? Bears?!
As your voice in Hartford, it's critical that we connect directly and have conversations about what we can accomplish to make Simsbury an even greater place to live. I always take your priorities into account when crafting policy and advocating for Simsbury at the Capitol. It is a privilege to host these events to promote community participation in our democratic process.
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| It’s important that we all learn everything we can about our resident bears so we can do all we can to reduce the potential for human-bear conflict. Bearwise just released an article breaking down what bears are up to in the summer. |
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| The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding all of us to minimize human-bear interactions by securing trash cans, cleaning dirty grills and not leaving food scraps outdoors. We all have the power to prevent bears from being attracted to our neighborhoods and getting a reward for discovering a new place for a quick meal. |
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During the 2023 Legislative Session, I worked with my colleagues to pass a new two-year state budget that stands up for consumers, including a freeze of scheduled increases on the diesel tax, which helps lower the price of groceries and other commodities while reducing the cost of doing business in Connecticut.
Fuel costs are a significant percentage of expenses not only for the trucking industry, but for all markets that rely on the sale of goods, which makes this a significant cost savings for businesses and consumers alike.
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| Our state budget was crafted with middle-class tax relief and investments that grow our economy, protect our quality of life and make Connecticut more affordable for everyone. |
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| ASSISTANCE FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS |
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| Great news for first-time homeowners! An additional $20 million has been added to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's (CHFA) Time To Own Program. Funding for the program, which offers down payment assistance to low and moderate-income homebuyers in Connecticut, now stands at $80 million, with more than $21.5 million currently available for loan reservations. |
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Eligibility requirements for the program include:
- Meeting financial need specifications
- Qualifying for and receiving a CHFA first mortgage
- Being a current resident of Connecticut
- Demonstrating residency for the most recent three years
This program will have short and long-term effects benefiting our state. Not only will there be a new generation of homeowners, but these residents will begin the process of building inter-generational wealth to pass on to the next generation.
Other benefits of the program include:
- 0% interest rate with no monthly payment required
- 10% of the loan balance forgiven annually until it is fully forgiven on the tenth anniversary
- Financing for up to 20% of a down payment and 5% of closing costs
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| SIMSBURY POLICE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK |
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There is still time to help the Simsbury Police Department as it seeks its second year re-accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA has scheduled the second year review for August 18-26 when a Compliance Service Manager (CSM) from CALEA will review files for compliance, including policy and procedure as well as proofs of compliance.
You can provide your feedback regarding the department’s quality of service as well as any information relevant to the accreditation process by clicking here. All you have to do is hit the "search for agency tab," type Simsbury, and you'll be on your way to helping our local police force! |
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| KIDS GO TO THE MUSEUM FOR FREE! |
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| I'm excited to share that Connecticut Summer at the Museum has returned! This program allows children to get into dozens of museums across the state for free during the summer months. An accompanying adult, who is a Connecticut resident, can also visit participating museums for free. |
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| You have plenty of time to take advantage of the Connecticut Summer at the Museum, which concludes on Monday, September 4th. Below is a list of museums that are participating nearby:
The full list of participating organizations and institutions can be found here. |
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| Congratulations to three of Simsbury's little league teams for going undefeated in district play and sweeping their respective District Championships! It's the first time Simsbury has accomplished that feat in 17 years. |
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| U11 All-Stars show off their championship banners! |
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| The Under 11 All-Stars went on to win the Section 2 Title, and ended the season as one of the top two teams in the state. |
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| The Under 12 All-Stars went 7-0 and won the District 6 Championship! |
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| The Under 10 All-Stars won 14-0 to claim the District 6 Championship! |
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| The banners belonging to all three teams will hang proudly on Field 5 as a reminder of their accomplishments and hopefuly inspire future players! |
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| Speaking of champions, put your hands together for Kate Campolieta of Simsbury who CRUSHED IT on Jeopardy last month! She won the episode that aired on July 4! |
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| Enjoy live music, dancing, and food on Saturday, September 2 from 1 P.M. - 6P.M. at the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center! |
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