|
|
|
|
| Dear Neighbor,
Fall is officially here! New laws take effect shortly afterward and this year is no different. Beginning Tuesday, October 1st new laws will take effect I have included some of them below and the link to all of them is included, too. South Norwalk Elementary School and The Carver Center will benefit from $6 Million in Community Investment Funds. You can find the details below. I am proud to have worked with fellow lawmakers from the Norwalk delegation to help secure these funds.
I also want to bring the CT DOT's new Move Over law campaign to your attention. I included a video describing the importance of slowing down and moving over when coming up on vehicles on the shoulder or in breakdown lanes. There's more information and reminders below. Just keep scrolling!
Have a great weekend,
Travis
|
|
| Several new laws that were passed during the 2024 legislative session will go into effect on Tuesday, October 1st. |
|
| New laws include increasing safety for home health care aides who are on the front lines of direct contact with clients, giving the elderly population more options for choosing nursing homes and preventing discrimination for those under mental health care.
The internet is a great informational resource, but can also be misused by thieves, bullies, predators, scam artists, and other criminals. To protect privacy, online services will be prohibited from collecting personal data without approval from those under 18, and those 13 years of age and younger only with parental consent.
Animal rights were on the radar with the banning of dog races and gifting of live animals at fairs, and increased penalties for hurting or killing a police dog. Also, the Siberian Husky will officially be the state dog on October 1!
Additionally, to help facilitate voting access for eligible voters, we included a question on the ballot in our next election that will allow voters to choose whether to implement a law for no-excuse absentee ballots. With that in mind, the integrity of our electoral system is central to voter trust and participation in elections and to help safeguard that confidence we extended the time violations of state election laws can be referred to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for investigation.
There are several new laws in addition to the above – please follow the link below for the full list and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
|
|
| Thank you for your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings. Public input and feedback had a direct influence on these new laws. I encourage you to continue sharing your views and make your voice heard. |
|
| Some good news to share!
The Community Investment Fund (CIF) is awarding $2.5 million to help with the construction of a roundabout at the South Norwalk Elementary School. The roundabout will moderate traffic speeds and provide better safety for pedestrian traffic destined for the school. The City of Norwalk is building the new South Norwalk Elementary School at 1 Meadow Street Extension, immediately adjacent to The school is currently under construction and plans to open in Fall 2025. |
|
| Tecton Archives
The CIF is also awarding $3.5 million to the Carver Center to help with renovations to expand the center, make it ADA accessible, and provide security upgrades. CIF funds will be used to renovate and bring the center up to code by enlarging the footprint to accommodate an elevator, a separate code-compliant egress, and a new secure entrance. Also, bathrooms will be renovated, modernized, and brought up to code compliance. |
|
| Norwalk Patch
Both of these projects will enhance safety, accessibility, and security for our residents. I am optimistic that these improvements will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, families, and community members. I fully support the positive impact they will bring to South Norwalk. |
|
| Have you seen the new public service announcement raising awareness about the state’s Move Over Law? The "Real Lives" campaign stresses why it’s important to protect anyone who is on the side of the road by following the law. The Connecticut Department of Transportation launched ads on TV, radio, social media, and at gas stations. Take a look below. |
|
Connecticut’s Move Over Law requires drivers to slow down and move over for any vehicle stopped on the side of highways and side roads. Between 2017 and 2021, 16 people died in roadside crashes in Connecticut with 13 of them happening after dark.
The “Real Lives” campaign aims to educate the public on the following key points of Connecticut's Move Over Law:
- Move Over: When approaching a stopped vehicle on the roadside, if you are on a highway with two or more lanes in one direction, safely move over one lane.
- Slow Down: If it is not safe to move over, drivers must slow down to a reasonable speed below the posted limit and proceed with caution.
- All Vehicles: The law applies to any stopped vehicle on the roadside, not just emergency or service vehicles.
Penalties: Violators of the law may face fines, with penalties increasing significantly if a crash results in injury or death.
|
|
| Hispanic Heritage Month runs through October 15th!
You can participate in this month's celebration by encouraging your child to participate in the 17th annual Hispanic Heritage Student Essay Contest for a chance to win a $3,000 scholarship or an iPad. Middle and high school students in Norwalk are asked to write how they connect with Hispanic culture in 500 words or less. |
|
| Participants can select a person, cultural experience, celebration, or tradition that has touched them in a meaningful way and explain why that connection is important. Optimum and Univision Foundation are sponsoring the competition and will accept essays through October 31. There will be a celebratory event for the winners in December.
The official contest rules can be found HERE. |
|
| It’s Banned Books Week, and as we celebrate the freedom to read, let’s stand up for intellectual freedom and the importance of diverse voices in literature. Together, we can ensure that every story is heard and every reader has the right to explore new ideas. |
|
| The annual, free, family-friendly Touch-a-Truck and Open House Event is scheduled for Saturday, September 28th at the Norwalk Public Works Operation Center, 15 South Main Street, from 9 a.m. to noon. |
|
| (photo credit: X)
This event provides the community an opportunity to participate in a fun-filled day that includes exploring the city's vehicles and learning about the services Norwalk provides. Community services, Police, Fire, Health and Traffic, Mobility and Parking, are among the departments that will be represented at the event.
*Please consider bringing non-perishable items and kid-friendly snacks for the Open Door Shelter, an organization I am fond of and fully support. |
|
| We have an important general election coming up on November 5th! The early voting period in Connecticut begins October 21-31, and Nov 1-3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29th and 31st. Please see the flyers below for more details. |
|
| The Community Room at City Hall, 125 East Avenue, is the early voting location in Norwalk.
As always, feel free to call me at 1-800-842-8267 or email me at Travis.Simms@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns. Also, please like my official Facebook Page for regular updates.
Sincerely,
Travis Simms
State Representative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
