Geraldo Reyes Jr

Times are tough right now for many families in our district. The unemployment rate in our neighborhoods is around 20%, and the cost of living has increased exponentially since the end of the pandemic. Please read below to learn more about the skyrocketing cost of basic needs in our state.

If you are looking for a job, beware of scammers. The Connecticut Department of Labor is seeing an uptick in criminals trying to steal money and valuable information from people who are searching for new employment. I'll break down how you can avoid becoming a victim.

You will find the following sections below:

• Skyrocketing Cost of Basic Needs
• Beware of Phishing Scheme Targeting Job Seekers
• Colleagued Honored for His Leadership

If you are struggling financially right now, you are not alone. Costs have gone up dramatically in the past three years. Operation Fuel released a new study showing a growing number of individuals and families in Connecticut, including Waterbury, struggle to pay off their basic needs. The main takeaways are:

• 424,000 Connecticut households cannot afford home energy costs
• The affordability gap increased 37% (from $440 million to $608 million)
• Housing, transportation, and housing costs have increased during the past three years
• Water rates have risen faster than inflation and other utility costs in the past 20 years

The study also shows the residents of cities such as ours are disproportionately affected by the higher prices. Affordability is a huge problem in many portions of our state, but it’s magnified in our district. According to Operation Fuel, the combined burden of transportation, housing, water, and other utilities in our district is 79% of household income, which is well above the 45% affordability threshold.

Absent additional federal funding, we need to have a legislative discussion in Connecticut to ensure people get what they need in terms of energy and heat assistance. We must do everything in our power to provide relief on their bills. No one should be living in the cold.

Operation Fuel’s Winter/Spring energy assistance program is scheduled to open on January 8, 2024. Water assistance is available year-round, as funding allows.

If you’re looking for a new job, beware of scammers trying to get your personal information. According to the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL), criminals are asking victims for banking, credit card, and social security information while pretending to work at the state’s job bank, CTHires.

If you are in any of the following scenarios while applying for a job, hang up immediately:

• You’re asked to pay a fee to apply or to be considered
• You’re asked for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card details to complete your application
• You’re told to give up valuable information or you’ll lose a job opportunity

Contact the American Job Center in Waterbury by CLICKING HERE and visit the CTDOL fraud watch page if you think you may be a victim of this or other scams.

I joined a large group of Latino lawmakers from across our nation at the annual National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) Annual Summit. The event offered an opportunity for us to come together in Philadelphia while looking ahead to our goals in 2024.

Congratulations to my friend, Representative Juan Candelaria of New Haven, who was elected as President-Elect of NHCSL in December 2025. It was such an honor to be there as Connecticut House Democrats continue to shine on the national stage.