|
|
|
|
| To all who are observing Holy Week, I hope this season offers you comfort, meaning, and a chance to pause and reflect. May it be a time of renewal, hope, and quiet strength. |
|
In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about significant construction the Gold Star Bridge, bills addressing affordability, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
|
|
|
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced significant construction taking place on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in the coming days that will temporarily impact your drive. Please click here for a video on the construction or read below for the full DOT announcement:
CTDOT is announcing that a major traffic shift on the I-95 southbound Gold Star Memorial Bridge will be implemented the week of April 6, 2026.
In preparation for the work on northbound Gold Star Bridge, CTDOT is announcing that the southbound Gold Star Memorial Bridge will shift into a new traffic alignment. This new traffic alignment will reduce the five (5) southbound travel lanes to three (3) southbound travel lanes.
Steel barrier will be placed on the southbound bridge to split traffic into two (2) directions. Two (2) northbound travel lanes will be established behind the steel barrier on the southbound Gold Star Bridge. A traffic crossover will be built to allow northbound I-95 traffic to cross over onto the southbound bridge and travel in northbound direction. A crossover is a temporary traffic setup that shifts vehicles from their normal side of the roadway to the opposite side so traffic can continue moving safely while construction is going on.
This work is necessary to reduce traffic volumes on the northbound Gold Star Bridge for construction purposes. Once the work is completed on the southbound Gold Star Bridge, concrete barrier will be placed on the northbound Gold Star Bridge for reconstruction and traffic purposes.
|
|
 |
| You can click this photo to watch an overview of the project! |
|
| As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I was in Hartford this week as we voted out of committee our budget revisions for FY27. |
|
|
I am proud to share that in the draft budget, our region was awarded dollars for free school breakfast, restored funding to our local magnet schools, microtransit, Shoreline East, workforce development to help fill the need at Electric Boat, and BorrowIT CT, which is a cooperative program among public libraries in Connecticut that allows a resident of any town in the state who holds a valid borrower card issued by their home library to use that card to borrow materials from any of the 191 public libraries participating in the program.
The budget package will head to negotiations with legislative leadership and the Governor's office. I will continue to advocate with them to pass the Appropriations Committee's recommendations and these important items remain in the final budget!
|
|
|
Affordability remains a major challenge in our state. Alongside proposals to increase Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding and ease pressure on local property taxes, several other bills are focused on tackling the broader financial strains that families face every day.
- Senate Bill 1: An Act Concerning Affordability includes several proposals aimed at lowering everyday costs, including eliminating the sales tax on clothing and shoes under $100, school supplies such as backpacks, and certain grab-and-go grocery items like sandwiches and coffee purchased from supermarkets. It also creates a caregiver tax credit for eligible expenses incurred while caring for a homebound family member. And for many seniors, its full exemption of Social Security benefits from state tax is one of the most significant proposals this session.
- Senate Bill 513: An Act Concerning Structural Efficiency in the Collection of State Revenue would allow employees to elect having the employer pay their payroll taxes, helping to reduce employees’ federal taxable income, while employees receive a refundable credit on their state taxes. The goal is to lower overall tax liability for working residents.
- House Bill 5114: An Act Establishing a Refundable Credit Against the Personal Income Tax for a Portion of Annual Rent Payments Made by a Taxpayer for a Primary Residence in the State would provide renters with a property tax credit of up to $2,500 per year, recognizing that renters also feel the strain of Connecticut’s high cost of living and deserve meaningful relief.
- House Bill 5538: An Act Concerning a Study of State Finance Policies is part of a broader effort to make Connecticut more competitive with neighboring states and create an environment where businesses can grow and succeed here.
Together, these proposals reflect a focused effort to ease the financial pressures facing Connecticut families, from lowering everyday costs and providing tax relief, to supporting seniors, caregivers, renters, and working residents.
|
|
The Passport to Connecticut Libraries program is back will take place from now–April 30.
Visit your local library to pick up your official program passport along with a list of participating libraries across the state. Then the adventure begins - explore as many libraries as you can throughout April!
Visit at least five different participating libraries and collect stamps from those locations (only official participating libraries count, be sure to check your list). Then, once you’re done, be sure to return your completed passport by May 11 to be entered into a prize drawing.
With nearly 200 public libraries in Connecticut—plus school, college, museum, and even church libraries—there’s an incredible variety to discover. Each library offers something unique, and this program is a fun way to experience all the amazing things libraries across the state have to offer.
So grab your passport and start exploring, your next favorite library might be just around the corner!
|
|
Sincerely,
Dan Gaiewski
State Representative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
