Robin Comey

I hope this message finds you and your family well. In this update, you'll find a recap of our recent community forum, highlights from our Fourth of July celebrations, and other important news from the State Capitol and around our community.

There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Around Town
• Student Loan Changes
• CT Career Paths Guide
• Elder Justice Hotline
• Lemon Law Program
• Community Events

Last week, First Selectman Josh Brooks and I joined Attorney General William Tong at Cedar Woods Retirement Community to talk with residents about fraud prevention and scam awareness.

It was a great turnout, residents were engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and were eager to learn how to better protect themselves and their neighbors.

Since AG Tong is famous for "Tong's Tastings" (his social media series highlighting local Connecticut favorites as he travels the state) I couldn't resist bringing pastries from G Café for a taste test of our own. I'll be sharing the video on my social media soon, so stay tuned!

This past July 4th weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the Pardee-Morris House, tucked along Lighthouse Road in New Haven’s Morris Cove. There’s something fitting about spending Independence Day weekend at a site so tied to our region’s Revolutionary War history.

The original house was built by Amos Morris, whose home was burned by British troops during their raid on New Haven on July 5, 1779, as they marched toward the city. It was later rebuilt and expanded by the Morris family, and in 1918 was bequeathed to the New Haven Colony Historical Society (today’s New Haven Museum) by descendant William S. Pardee, which is how it came to be known as the Pardee-Morris House.

The visit was made even more memorable by a group of Revolutionary War reenactors on site, who brought 1779 vividly back to life. It’s one thing to read about this history, it’s another to stand in front of the very house that survived a British raid while talking with folks in full colonial dress.

If you haven’t visited, the Pardee-Morris House is open seasonally on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and it’s well worth the trip.

As of July 1, sweeping federal changes to the student loan system have affected roughly half a million Connecticut residents with student debt, narrowing repayment options, increasing monthly payments for many borrowers, and limiting affordable pathways to higher education.

Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan are receiving notices to choose a new repayment plan within 90 days.
 
Anyone who does not choose will be automatically moved into the standard repayment plan, which could mean a sharply higher monthly bill. Two long-standing affordable options, Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE), will be phased out entirely by July 1, 2028.
 
And, the Grad PLUS program, which lets students borrow up to the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Graduate borrowing for unsubsidized loans is now capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 over a lifetime. Students in certain professional fields have a higher cap.
 
Still, the practical effect for many will be a turn toward riskier private loans that carry fewer protections and are not available to everyone.

No borrower should navigate these changes alone. Connecticut is one of a limited number of states with a dedicated Student Loan Ombudsperson, Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, housed at the state Department of Banking and backed by independent statutory authority under state law.

The Ombudsperson’s office can receive and work to resolve complaints against student loan servicers, whether the loan is federal or private. It can help borrowers understand and choose among repayment options and answer questions about switching plans or consolidating.
 
The Office can also step in to address problems such as misapplied payments, incorrect interest calculations, servicer changes, and errors in payment history or credit reporting, and it can connect borrowers to educational resources and help them navigate the transition off SAVE and into a new plan.

Borrowers can call the Office at 860-240-8170 or 800-831-7225, and press option 2 or:

• Email: banking.complaints@ct.gov
• File a complaint online: portal.ct.gov/DOB/Consumer/Consumer-Complaints/Student-Loan-Servicer
Borrowers can also file complaints with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at 855-411-2372.

Connecticut also puts real dollars back in borrowers’ pockets through the Student Loan Reimbursement Program (SLRP), administered by the state Office of Higher Education. Residents can apply for or learn more about the Student Loan Reimbursement Program via:

• Website: portal.ct.gov/ohe (apply through the CT Scholars portal)
• Email: OHE.SLRP@ct.gov

The Connecticut Department of Labor has released its latest resource guide, 2025 Connecticut Career Paths, providing tools, strategies, and insights to help individuals explore career opportunities and make informed decisions.

Published by the Department's Office of Research in partnership with the Connecticut Career Resource Network (CCRN), the guide serves as a valuable resource for students, career explorers, and job seekers across Connecticut.

Designed as a quick-reference resource, the guide includes locations and contact information for American Job Centers, the Department of Labor's job bank, career and educational resources, and key government programs. It also features articles on apprenticeships, student success planning, resume design basics, and other career development topics.

In addition, the guide provides detailed information on more than 360 occupations in Connecticut, including job descriptions, current employment figures, projected annual openings, salary ranges, required education and training, and the essential skills employers are seeking.

Click here to access the guide.

Questions about the guide may be directed to the Office of Research at ccrn@ct.gov.

The Elder Justice Hotline is a resource to help older adults in Connecticut seek information, assistance, and justice.

Click here for more information on the assistance provided or call 1-860-808-5555 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Lemon Law program returned a record $8.1M to owners of defective vehicles in 2025.

Last year, the Lemon Law Program received 165 applications, 24 of which were deemed ineligible with 141 cases leading to arbitration hearings. The hearings resulted in 13 no-action decisions, 15 cash-and-keep settlements, and 113 decisions to refund or replace the vehicle. The largest refund totaled $204,000. Refunds and replacement vehicles are provided by the vehicle manufacturers.

The Lemon Law program helps owners of defective vehicles that are at or under 2 years old with a mileage of 24,000 or less.

To be eligible for arbitration, a vehicle must meet all five requirements:

1. A new motor vehicle registered as a passenger car, combination (passenger and commercial) or motorcycle purchased or leased in Connecticut
2. Does not conform to the manufacturer’s express warranty
3. Has a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, safety, or value of the motor vehicle after a reasonable number of repair attempts. The law presumes “reasonable” as four attempts
4. The vehicle has manufacturer's defects that occurred during the eligibility period of the first 2 years from the original owner's delivery date or during the first 24,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
5. The vehicle could not be immediately repaired and was returned to the consumer with the defect OR the defect was brought to the attention of the dealer, and the dealer determined it was not a defect, or the mechanic was unable to verify the issue

The Lemon Law program does not cover defects caused by a consumer’s abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification of the vehicle. In addition, the program does not cover defects that are not covered under the manufacturer’s express warranty.