Street Takeover Crack Down & Simsbury Champs' Visit
April 19, 2024
*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*
Our work at the Capitol is intensifying as we work against the clock to pass as many beneficial bills as possible. The House unanimously passed a proposal cracking down on street takeovers. I'll break down how this bill will protect our community and hopefully deter this illegal activity.
The basketball champs were in the House Chamber this week, and I'm not just talking about the UConn Huskies! I was grateful to recognize the Simsbury High girls' team for their amazing season. Look below to see pictures and video from their visit!
Mark your calendars tomorrow, April 20 for Simsbury Community Cleanup Day! Please keep scrolling to find out how you can make our neighborhoods cleaner for everyone including animals.
Here are the sections in this week's email:
Cracking Down on Street Takeovers
Celebrating our Simsbury Basketball Champions!
UConn Champs Visit House Chamber
Mark Your Calendars for Clean Up Day - April 20
Puppies at the Capitol
Passports to Connecticut Libraries
Hometown Heroes Nominations Wanted
Simsbury Teen Photo Challenge
Community Events
Cracking Down on Street Takeovers
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives took bipartisan and unanimous action to help cities and towns improve safety as we voted 148-0 to pass House Bill 5413 to control street takeovers, which have proven to be a concern for many of our residents.
Street takeovers have become a local and national issue since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cannot become the new normal. These takeovers by the illegal use of all-terrain and other type of vehicles, pose a significant threat to public safety, endangering participants, innocent bystanders, and law enforcement officials.
HB 5413 seeks to provide more tools to municipalities to combat street takeovers, including:
Allowing cities and towns to destroy ATVs, dirt bikes, and motorcycles seized and forfeited for violating a municipal ordinance
Authorizing municipalities to adopt ordinances that penalize street takeovers and impose fines as well as the seizure of vehicles
Changing and tightening penalties for violating state law on street takeovers, including permanent driver's license revocation for a third violation of the statute
I am glad my bipartisan vote provides additional tools and increased penalties to cities and towns to help deter street takeovers, which create public safety hazards for drivers, pedestrians, and others.
The bill now moves to the Senate.
Celebrating our Simsbury Basketball Champions!
I had the pleasure of welcoming our champions, the Simsbury High School girls' basketball team, to the House Chamber this week! The team made history by winning its first state championship! Our girls and coaching staff displayed incredible effort, teamwork, and discipline on and off the court this season. The state title is a true testament to their tireless dedication. Congratulations to the entire team!
We recognized Simsbury High School's championship girls' basketball team in the House Chamber!
UConn Champs Visit House Chamber
The champs were back in the spotlight as we celebrated UConn's second consecutive national title in the House Chamber. We recognized all the players and coaches and gave them a well-deserved ovation. We love the Huskies and hope to do this all over again for a third time next spring!
The House also passed a bill on the same day that would make the HUSKY our official state dog!
Mark Your Calendars for Clean Up Day - April 20
Join your friends and neighbors as they clean up Simsbury's neighborhoods, parks, and trails on Saturday, April 20. Stop by the Town Hall parking lot (933 Hopmeadow Street) at 8:30 A.M. for gloves and trash bags before heading out to clean up. You can put the trash bags in a dumpster, generously donated by Paine's Inc., at Town Hall by 11:30 A.M. Even if you don’t sign up in advance, please join us if it turns out you’re available!
Puppies were at the Capitol on Thursday, and all of us made sure to pet and hold some of these adorable animals! The Connecticut Humane Society brought the puppies to show what creatures are affected by bills like Goldie's Act, which is national legislation protecting animals that are clearly suffering physical and psychological harm.
The Connecticut Humane Society says some of the puppies at the Capitol will go up for adoption. CLICK HERE for more information on that.
Passports to Connecticut Libraries
Stop by your local library for an awesome campaign called Passport to Connecticut Libraries, which encourages everyone to read! Begin your journey by picking up a library passport at one of 150 participating libraries. Make sure to get it stamped before visiting other libraries and doing the same thing there. Each participant will receive a small gift at each new library.
You can grab your passport at Simsbury Public Library on Hopmeadow Street.CLICK HERE for a full list of participating libraries.
The campaign runs from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 30. The Connecticut Library Association will offer two adults and two children a $200 Visa gift card.
Hometown Heroes Nominations Wanted
The Town of Simsbury is seeking nominations for recipients of this year’s Hometown Hero Awards. Since 1986, Simsbury designates and recognizes outstanding individuals for their service to the community.
All nominees must meet the following criteria:
A person who is a resident, or who is active in the Simsbury community, or who lived in Simsbury during the time period that is under consideration;
That the acts and services which are recognized have a real and perceived benefit to the Town of Simsbury; and that
A nominee may not be a member of Town staff, nor a sitting elected official, or have benefited economically from his/her endeavors on behalf of the Town. Provided however that no nominee shall excluded from consideration when the qualities and activities under consideration are outside the scope of their official duties.
Do you want your kids to take part in a photo challenge with prizes? The Simsbury Public Library & the Simsbury Camera Club are co-sponsoring this fun contest, which is designed to get kids interested in photography!
CLICK HERE if you have and further questions about the photo challenge.
Community Events
Do you know someone in grades 2-5? Would they enjoy music, dance, and history from the colonial era? This program will be one of interactive fun facilitated by an amazing woman who is a colonial era expert and reenactor. This event will be held Saturday, April 20 at 10:00 A.M. at the Simsbury Historical Society.
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Drive will take place Saturday, April 20 from 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. at Farmington High School. This event is open to residents of Simsbury. Proof of residency will be required. Please remain in your vehicle at this collection. Staff will guide you as to where to go and how to dispose of the items you bring. CLICK HERE to learn what items will be accepted.
Please stop by the Tarriffville Room in Simsbury Public Library to get an overview of the invasive plant issue. Starting with definitions, organizers will go on to legislative updates, followed by the origins of invasive plants, and identifying characteristics and life cycles of some species commonly encountered in Connecticut. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 P.M. CLICK HERE to learn more!
