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| Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of January 19.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the play button to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter. |
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The storms and snow squalls that have passed through in the last week have re-arranged my schedule several times, switching Hartford days to remote meetings one day, and putting me back in my car on the way to Hartford when I’d planned to be home the next. It’s hard to imagine that, not so long ago, there was really no such thing as a remote meeting. There continue to be many such 20-minute meetings, with advocates for children, biotech, the film industry, solid waste reform, and the uses of artificial intelligence to name just a few.
Several recent meetings have focused on agricultural issues, focusing on ways to help support investment in our local farms and farm wineries, among other issues, and have served as a reminder of the many different kinds of agricultural ventures we have in the Northwest Corner. Late last year, I was honored by the Working Land Alliance with their 2023 Legislative Champion Award, “for outstanding achievement in advancing farmland preservation and climate-smart agriculture in the State of Connecticut.” I was unable to attend the ceremony, so today they stopped by to deliver the award to me, and thank me for my “fierce cooperation” – an expression they use often and which I think could serve as a good goal for all of us. |
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The House Democrats held our annual Issues Caucus this week, an opportunity to bounce ideas off one another (in even more rapid fire than my meetings with advocates) and for all committee chairs to present their top priorities. The tone gets set by the initial presentation, which is from me and the House Chair of Appropriations, on the context for our budget and what to expect. Earlier this week we received the January “consensus revenues,” which are projections for revenue and expenditures that the legislature and the executive branch agree on three times a year. The bottom line is that we continue to be stable, with no major revenue swings from the projections we built the biennium budget on in June of 2023. That’s good news, but it also means that we have little wiggle room for big new policies that are costly, given the financial constraints we created for ourselves. Those constraints have vastly improved the state’s fiscal health and created room in the budget by reducing our fiscal costs, and I’m grateful they have wide support.
The cold will continue this weekend, so be careful and prepared when you’re out. It’s also a good excuse for a cup of hot cocoa at home, so why not take advantage? |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- Connecticut's Severe Cold Weather Protocol is in Effect. Click here.
- Reminder: Operation Fuel Application Period Now Open. Click here.
- CT Interagency Council on Homelessness. Click here.
- CT Partnership in Parks Initiative. Click here.
- CT Launches New Portal for Jobseekers. Click here.
- Upcoming Events. Click here.
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| With brutally cold temperatures impacting Connecticut, the state’s severe cold weather protocol has been activated through noon on Monday, January 22, 2024. Shelters and warming centers are available. Anyone in need of shelter is strongly urged to call 2-1-1 to get connected to these resources. |
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| Reminder - Operation Fuel's energy assistance program opened this week for the Winter/Spring season. Applications will be accepted until March 1 unless available funds run out before that date. You can find more details and apply at operationfuel.org/gethelp |
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Last week the Governor established a panel of agency heads within his administration that will be known as the Connecticut Interagency Council on Homelessness and will be responsible for collaborating on a multi-agency approach that strengthen the state’s homelessness prevention and response efforts.
The Council will be tasked with focusing on these three main goals:
The governor is tasking the group with focusing its work on three main goals:
- Strengthening current programs: The council will apply specific knowledge of individual programming to unite policies across state agencies in a way that considers the whole individual – from refining recommendations on improving health and human services for people experiencing homelessness to strengthening housing stability and creating more affordable housing across the state.
- Improving the effectiveness of the homelessness response system: Perspectives of all state agencies will be considered in sharing and planning new approaches to help connect people experiencing homelessness to services more effectively. This includes immediate assistance for people experiencing homelessness, such as support for emergency shelters and investments in housing stability.
- Meeting the demands of housing: The council will collaborate on maximizing the use of funding for housing assistance, increasing the supply of permanent supportive housing, improving the effectiveness of rapid rehousing, and evaluating and finding solutions for expanded access to safe and affordable housing for all with an interagency approach of tailoring support to each individual’s specific needs.
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DEEP is seeking to build upon successful partnerships in Connecticut State Parks – such as the Essex Steam Train, Farmington River Tubing, and Mohawk Mountain Ski Area – by inviting businesses, non-profits, and other private sector stakeholders to submit concepts to an RFI, which is intentionally broad to encourage innovative, creative concepts that meet the following goals:
- Elevate outdoor recreation and visitor experience
- Expand tourism destinations
- Provide equitable and sustainable access to the outdoors
If you are interested in participating in the conversation you can attend the upcoming webinar or submit written comments. For a more details you can review the public notice here.
Link to public webinar:
Tuesday, February 6, 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 AM EST. Please register in advance here.
Written comments:
Submit written comments to deep.partnershipsinparks@ct.gov by Friday, February 16, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST. Please include “Parks RFI Comment” in the subject line. After this deadline, DEEP will post the comments to its website. |
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Connecticut has launched its new jobs portal, jobs.ct.gov, which is aimed at assisting state residents — and those seeking to move here — in the process of finding a job.
Jobs.ct.gov joins health.ct.gov and business.ct.gov as the next service category in Connecticut's ongoing journey toward an all-digital state government that streamlines and improves access to services and resources. Some of the resources available through jobs.ct.gov include:
- Powerful job search tools
- Job search tips and personal help
- Free and low-cost training, certificate, and classroom programs
- Resources to help employers hire, train, and retain employees
All of the resources are Connecticut-specific and focus on connecting jobseekers with the variety of employment and workforce development opportunities.
The strong and steady statewide economy continues to add jobs, but employers in some industries still face workforce shortages, and jobs.ct.gov will be a valuable resource to them. This portal also importantly provides employers with information to reach greater numbers of skilled jobseekers from diverse backgrounds, which is critical to a more equitable Connecticut economy. |
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| Call for Exhibit Applications
The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is calling all artists! If you are interested in showing your work at their location, they are currently accepting applications to exhibit for the 2025 calendar year. The application deadline is January 31, 2024. For questions or more information email info@judyblackpark.org. If you are ready to apply you can follow this link. |
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| Optime Pastor – Shepherd, Maker of Good Virtue
The Crescendo Vocal Ensemble and instrumentalists will present a concert of early motets on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 3 pm at Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT (parking through Dugway Rd. entrance). A brief reception with the performers will be offered after the concert. Please visit Crescendo’s website: www.crescendomusic.org for online ticket purchases, more details, and other season concerts, or call 860.435.4866. Tickets will also be sold at the door 45 minutes before the performance. A limited number of tickets is offered to community members for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Request your free ticket by sending an email to crescendo@crescendomusic.org.
CT Arts Awards
One of our very own up in the Northwest Corner is being honored at the CT Arts Awards next week. Stephanie Ingrassia of Washington will be recognized as an Arts Hero January 24 at Infinity Hall in Hartford at 6:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. |
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Salisbury’s Jumpfest is February 2, 3 and 4.
You may think the rains erased all the snow around here, given all the brown outside our windows now. But it's white over at Satre Hill in Salisbury thanks to their state-of-the-art snow guns.
If you have never seen ski jumping live, you have never truly witnessed the sport. Standing amidst the ringing cowbells, with crowds cheering on their favorites, hearing skis slapping against the landing hill as these brave jumpers soar up to 200 feet through the air at speeds up to 50 miles an hour, is something you must experience.
And don’t miss the Human Dog Sled Race. We only know of a half dozen places or so in the country crazy enough to host it- Dartmouth, NH; Lowell, MA; Michigan Tech U.; Lake Okoboji, Iowa; Lake Geneva, Wisconsin….and Salisbury, CT.
Proceeds from Jumpfest fund SWSA youth skiing programs.
Please check jumpfest.org for program changes and schedule updates. |
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| It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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| Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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