Friday September 29, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Keith Golgot and John Iannuzzi)
In the news tonight: local elected officials urge override of Malloy veto; Tougher Connecticut Hate Crime Law in Effect October 1; Cuomo proposes fentanyl be added to State’s controlled substance list; and, a modest budget proposal for Riverhead
--------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
Local elected officials across Connecticut are urging the General Assembly to override Democratic Governor Malloy’s budget veto because they say the executive order will have dire consequences for their communities. Malloy vetoed that budget on Thursday.
Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, a Democrat, said the budget that passed was not a Republican budget. He said it was simply a budget.
North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda, a Republican, said that without any budget deal on the horizon they are looking at a supplementary tax bill, a “decimation of services” at the municipal level, and a reduction in education funding or borrowing from the rainy day fund, which will likely lower the bond rating.
---------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
A law imposing tougher sentences on hate crimes takes effect October 1. The change to the hate crime statutes includes enhancing penalties in some cases. It also imposes fines for certain hate crimes, including deprivation of rights; desecration of property; cross burning; and intimidation based on bigotry or bias.
It enhances the penalties for desecration of a house of religious worship; increases the penalty for first- and second degree threatening, when the threat affects a house of worship or a religiously affiliated community or day care center. It also increases the penalty for third-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias from a misdemeanor to a class E felony.
Legislators said the law is necessary to respond to the increase in hate crimes directed against African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, transgender women and others across the country and in Connecticut.
---------------------------------------------
Governor Cuomo has proposed that eleven forms of fentanyl, a powerful and deadly opioid, should be added to New York State’s controlled substance list to boost enforcement. Also insurance companies should be forced to reimburse first responders for higher doses of the anti-overdose drug naloxone.
Cuomo, speaking at the State Police barracks in East Farmingdale, urged state legislators to make fentanyl analogues Schedule I drugs. This would bring more and stricter penalties, and put it on the same level as heroin, and in agreement with federal law.
Cuomo said as little as three milligrams of the drug can be fatal, compared to 30 milligrams of heroin.
In New York State, fentanyl is currently a Schedule II drug, which makes it a felony to sell it on the street and a crime to use it without a prescription.
---------------------------------------------
The Riverhead Times Review reports:
For the first time in two years, Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter’s budget won’t exceed the state-mandated tax cap. The town’s 2018 spending plan calls for a 2.46 percent increase to next year’s tax levy, a yearly increase per average household of about $45 for a property with an assessed value of $50,000.
New York’s tax cap law requires municipalities to limit increases in money raised through property taxes to either 2 percent, or the rate of inflation determined by the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. The state has set the 2018 tax cap at 1.84 percent. But, since the cap also has a variety of exemptions, the 2018 tax cap for Riverhead Town is 2.76 percent.
Supervisor Walter says the modest increase will allow the town to hire a full-time police officer and code enforcement officer.
Anticipated revenue from the proposed $40 million sale of town land to Luminati Aerospace in Calverton would not be included in the 2018 budget.
=======
Thursday September 28, 2017 Thursday, September 28, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Nadine Dumser, Ramzi Babouder-Matta, and Mike Merli)
In the news tonight: Connecticut teachers again at odds with Governor Malloy; Connecticut Senate Republicans prepare for a possible veto override of their budget; new bill would mandate prostate cancer screening coverage for New York residents; and, a federal appeals court in New York takes up discrimination case
---------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
Yesterday, Governor Malloy again found himself at odds with teachers in Connecticut when he said he didn’t believe they would mind contributing two percent more to their pensions. He said the Republican budget, which he plans to veto, fails by violating the underlying trust of teachers and depositing the additional two percent contribution into the general fund, instead of the teacher retirement account.
Malloy said they haven’t had a discussion about increasing teachers’ contribution: “[B]ut I haven’t heard from teachers that they’re opposed to it. I haven’t heard from their association that they’re opposed to having their teachers pay an additional two percent.” The Connecticut Education Association (or CEA), the largest teacher’s union in the state, said Malloy’s claims are not true.
CEA President Sheila Cohen said the association opposed a similar teacher tax when it was proposed briefly by House Democrats at the end of June. Cohen also said the association opposes Malloy’s proposed shift of teacher retirement responsibility from the state to towns. She said the proposed reduction of state responsibility will unfairly increase local property taxes and result in further cuts to school budgets.
---------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
Senate Republican President Len Fasano (North Haven) is hoping that when Governor Dannel Malloy vetoes the budget, the General Assembly will find the votes for an override.
The House would need 101 votes and the Senate 24 votes to override a gubernatorial veto. That means if every Republican voted to override the veto they would need 29 Democratic legislators in the House and six Democratic legislators in the Senate to join them.
It’s uncertain if the five Democratic legislators in the House and the three in the Senate who voted in favor of the Republican budget more than a week ago would hold firm and join Republicans in overriding a governor from their own party.
---------------------------------------------
The Albany Times Union reports:
State legislation introduced last week would mandate that insurers cover in full prostate cancer screenings for men who are middle-aged and older, in the same vein as a state mandate for breast cancer screening coverage.
Proposed by State Senators Jim Tedisco, Republican of Glenville, and Kemp Hannon, Republican of Long Island, and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Democrat of Manhattan, the bill would bar insurers from charging an annual deductible or co-pay for prostate cancer screenings for men 40 and older with a family history of such cancer, and also men 50 and over regardless of whether they show symptoms of cancer.
Tedisco said that this vital public health legislation will remove obstacles for prostate cancer screening. He also claims that the bill will save taxpayers money by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and burdensome medical expenses through early detection and treatment.
---------------------------------------------
Public News Service Reports:
A federal appeals court in New York on Tuesday took up the question of whether the Civil Rights Act protects from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
When Donald Zarda was fired for being gay, he sued, claiming that violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex. Federal courts in New York denied the claim, but the full panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to hear the case. The U.S. Justice Department is arguing against Zarda's claim, saying the law doesn't cover sexual orientation.
A federal appeals court in Chicago ruled Title VII does protect gay employees in April. Attorney Gregory Nevins of Lambda Legal said he believes a ruling in New York for Zarda could bring the issue to the Supreme Court.
Zarda died in an accident in 2014, but the lawsuit continues on behalf of his estate.
=========
Wednesday September 27, 2017 (Thanks to today’s volunteers, Liz Becker, Keith Golgot and John Iannuzzi)
In the news tonight: S&P says default in Hartford a certainty; lowers bond rating; Connecticut environmentalists criticize both party's budget proposals; Brookhaven eyes cash for trash offer to curb illegal dumping; and, Suffolk police agencies get half million dollars for protective gear
---------------------------------------------
The Hartford Courant reports:
Standard & Poors has declared a default appears to be a virtual certainty in Hartford, therefore the agency has again lowered the city’s credit rating. The bond rating in Connecticut’s Capital has been knocked down for the second time in two weeks. Currently the city’s rating is CC, a four-notch plummet from B minus.
Hartford expects to be short $7 million in cash in November and another $39 million in December. S&P says the city needs a cash infusion of at least $40 million in additional assistance from the legislature this fall to avoid the possibility of bankruptcy.
Hartford’s largest bond insurer, Assured Guaranty, made a proposal to Mayor Luke Bronin to refinance the city’s debt. But the mayor said he would resist any plan that burdens the city for years to come.
---------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
Clean energy advocates and environmentalists say both parties have made the wrong decisions in raiding environmental funds in their budget proposals.
The Republican budget raids funds tied to clean air and renewable energy initiatives. The Democratic budget proposal, which didn’t pass either chamber, would have raided a fund to help homeowners improve their energy efficiency.
Chris Phelps, of Environment Connecticut, said: “Raiding these funds digs a deeper economic hole for Connecticut”. He said those programs would strengthen the economy and help families and businesses.
House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, a Derby Republican, said instead of cutting funding for families who have children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, they cut funding for energy initiatives. She said she thinks all the energy funds are wonderful, but when she has to make a choice she’s going to fund the social services. Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy has promised to veto the Republican budget.
---------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Brookhaven town council members will vote Thursday on creating a reward program that provides a financial incentive for residents to report illegal dumping. On Monday, Brookhaven announced it removed 63 tons of construction and household debris from Toppings Path, a popular trail for hikers and mountain bikers in Ridge.
If the program is approved, Brookhaven would fine builders and contractors a maximum of $2,000 for dumping. Residents would receive up to half of the fine amount if their claim proves true.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward Romaine said the rewards would be paid by the fines. Much of the dumping in Brookhaven isn’t from residents, but from contractors doing business in the town, he said.
Illegal dump sites have also been discovered in Coram, Manorville, Moriches and Holtsville.
---------------------------------------------
New York has provided almost $500,000 for Suffolk law enforcement agencies to buy body armor and other equipment that would protect officers in terrorist and active-shooter attacks. Suffolk County police is one of 15 county agencies benefiting from an overall $10 million grant distributed by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The county police department plans to use its $240,000 allocation to buy 156 bullet-resistant vests that can withstand some shrapnel from explosives; 156 ballistic helmets; and 60 patrol rifles. Fourteen agencies in Suffolk will share the rest of the state grant, including the County Sheriff’s Office and town and village police departments.
Some of the equipment purchased was to be on display Wednesday at a meeting of the Chiefs of Police Association of Suffolk County in Riverhead.It was not known Tuesday whether the equipment are military-grade items that many police departments across the nation have purchased.
=======
Tuesday September 26, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Trace Alford and Melinda Tuhus)
In the news tonight: Connecticut’s murder rate drops, violent crime rises; judge gives last-minute stay to Connecticut Ecuadorean couple; Suffolk legislature hears action plan on toxic algae; Suffolk County Senator wants permanent property tax cap
------------------------------------------
After a Monday morning demonstration outside immigration court in Hartford, a judge gave a last-minute extension to an undocumented Ecuadorean husband and wife who had been ordered to fly back on Friday to Ecuador, a country they haven't seen in a quarter century. Three dozen of their supporters blocked the doors to the federal building just before the judge issued his ruling.
WPKN’s Melinda Tuhus reports:
The two U.S.-born sons of Giaconda and Franklin Ramos thanked supporters, who numbered over a hundred. The elder son, Jayson, spoke out before being arrested.
“We are here today in solidarity with my family that is going to be torn apart, from me, in less than five days. My liberty, my justice, my freedom has already been compromised. My life has been compromised; my family is my life. I’m here today to bring to light and to arouse the consciousness of the community at large. Right now, this attack on our community – not just immigrants – is something we should not stand for.”
Another immigrant waiting to get into the building for her citizenship interview said she was sympathetic. She said separating families who have lived in the U.S. for decades is un-American and that the country is better than that.
Melinda Tuhus, WPKN News.
------------------------------------------
The CT Mirror reports:
Connecticut’s violent crime rate increased slightly from 2015 to 2016 while the murder rate fell to its lowest point in decades, according to FBI data released Monday. The state’s violent crime rate was 227 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national rate of 397 per 100,000.
In 2016, there were 78 murders in Connecticut, down from 115 the previous year. That’s the lowest number of murders since 1969. Bridgeport and Hartford both saw the fewest murders in a decade in 2016. Property crimes also fell slightly last year, as did burglaries and larcenies.
------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
A panel of scientists and experts on Monday presented recommendations for lowering toxic algae in Long Island waters to the Suffolk County Environment, Planning and Agriculture Committee.
According to the Harmful Algae Bloom Action Plan, reducing nitrogen and phosphorous levels in area ground and surface waters is the highest priority. Elevated levels of nitrogen from septic systems, storm water runoff, fertilizers and other human activities often generate algae blooms.
Suffolk’s Division of Environmental Quality Director Walter Dawydiak says the full legislature does not need to act on the action plan and its recommendations, though many of the efforts require funding.
In large amounts, harmful algae can block sunlight, lead to low oxygen levels and harm waterways and aquatic life. Harmful algae has been found in Long Island waters since 1951.
------------------------------------------
Albany Times Union reports:
Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, a Suffolk County Republican, said his “pro-taxpayer, pro-business” agenda includes pushing Governor Cuomo and the Legislature to make the property tax cap permanent.
Flanagan unveiled his proposal Sunday evening at the Business Council of New York’s annual meeting.
In a release Monday, Flanagan called the tax cap the signature initiative of the Senate Republican Conference whose members pushed for passage in 2011. He added, “Since then: it has saved taxpayers a whopping $41 billion.”
======
Monday September 25, 2017 (Thanks to today’s volunteers, Lee Yuen Lew and Neil Tolhurst.)
In the news tonight: local elected officials urge override of Malloy veto; Tougher Connecticut Hate Crime Law in Effect October 1; Cuomo proposes fentanyl be added to State’s controlled substance list; and, a modest budget proposal for Riverhead
--------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
Local elected officials across Connecticut are urging the General Assembly to override Democratic Governor Malloy’s budget veto because they say the executive order will have dire consequences for their communities. Malloy vetoed that budget on Thursday.
Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, a Democrat, said the budget that passed was not a Republican budget. He said it was simply a budget.
North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda, a Republican, said that without any budget deal on the horizon they are looking at a supplementary tax bill, a “decimation of services” at the municipal level, and a reduction in education funding or borrowing from the rainy day fund, which will likely lower the bond rating.
---------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
A law imposing tougher sentences on hate crimes takes effect October 1. The change to the hate crime statutes includes enhancing penalties in some cases. It also imposes fines for certain hate crimes, including deprivation of rights; desecration of property; cross burning; and intimidation based on bigotry or bias.
It enhances the penalties for desecration of a house of religious worship; increases the penalty for first- and second degree threatening, when the threat affects a house of worship or a religiously affiliated community or day care center. It also increases the penalty for third-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias from a misdemeanor to a class E felony.
Legislators said the law is necessary to respond to the increase in hate crimes directed against African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, transgender women and others across the country and in Connecticut.
---------------------------------------------
Governor Cuomo has proposed that eleven forms of fentanyl, a powerful and deadly opioid, should be added to New York State’s controlled substance list to boost enforcement. Also insurance companies should be forced to reimburse first responders for higher doses of the anti-overdose drug naloxone.
Cuomo, speaking at the State Police barracks in East Farmingdale, urged state legislators to make fentanyl analogues Schedule I drugs. This would bring more and stricter penalties, and put it on the same level as heroin, and in agreement with federal law.
Cuomo said as little as three milligrams of the drug can be fatal, compared to 30 milligrams of heroin.
In New York State, fentanyl is currently a Schedule II drug, which makes it a felony to sell it on the street and a crime to use it without a prescription.
---------------------------------------------
The Riverhead Times Review reports:
For the first time in two years, Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter’s budget won’t exceed the state-mandated tax cap. The town’s 2018 spending plan calls for a 2.46 percent increase to next year’s tax levy, a yearly increase per average household of about $45 for a property with an assessed value of $50,000.
New York’s tax cap law requires municipalities to limit increases in money raised through property taxes to either 2 percent, or the rate of inflation determined by the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. The state has set the 2018 tax cap at 1.84 percent. But, since the cap also has a variety of exemptions, the 2018 tax cap for Riverhead Town is 2.76 percent.
Supervisor Walter says the modest increase will allow the town to hire a full-time police officer and code enforcement officer.
Anticipated revenue from the proposed $40 million sale of town land to Luminati Aerospace in Calverton would not be included in the 2018 budget.
=======
Thursday September 28, 2017 Thursday, September 28, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Nadine Dumser, Ramzi Babouder-Matta, and Mike Merli)
In the news tonight: Connecticut teachers again at odds with Governor Malloy; Connecticut Senate Republicans prepare for a possible veto override of their budget; new bill would mandate prostate cancer screening coverage for New York residents; and, a federal appeals court in New York takes up discrimination case
---------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
Yesterday, Governor Malloy again found himself at odds with teachers in Connecticut when he said he didn’t believe they would mind contributing two percent more to their pensions. He said the Republican budget, which he plans to veto, fails by violating the underlying trust of teachers and depositing the additional two percent contribution into the general fund, instead of the teacher retirement account.
Malloy said they haven’t had a discussion about increasing teachers’ contribution: “[B]ut I haven’t heard from teachers that they’re opposed to it. I haven’t heard from their association that they’re opposed to having their teachers pay an additional two percent.” The Connecticut Education Association (or CEA), the largest teacher’s union in the state, said Malloy’s claims are not true.
CEA President Sheila Cohen said the association opposed a similar teacher tax when it was proposed briefly by House Democrats at the end of June. Cohen also said the association opposes Malloy’s proposed shift of teacher retirement responsibility from the state to towns. She said the proposed reduction of state responsibility will unfairly increase local property taxes and result in further cuts to school budgets.
---------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
Senate Republican President Len Fasano (North Haven) is hoping that when Governor Dannel Malloy vetoes the budget, the General Assembly will find the votes for an override.
The House would need 101 votes and the Senate 24 votes to override a gubernatorial veto. That means if every Republican voted to override the veto they would need 29 Democratic legislators in the House and six Democratic legislators in the Senate to join them.
It’s uncertain if the five Democratic legislators in the House and the three in the Senate who voted in favor of the Republican budget more than a week ago would hold firm and join Republicans in overriding a governor from their own party.
---------------------------------------------
The Albany Times Union reports:
State legislation introduced last week would mandate that insurers cover in full prostate cancer screenings for men who are middle-aged and older, in the same vein as a state mandate for breast cancer screening coverage.
Proposed by State Senators Jim Tedisco, Republican of Glenville, and Kemp Hannon, Republican of Long Island, and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Democrat of Manhattan, the bill would bar insurers from charging an annual deductible or co-pay for prostate cancer screenings for men 40 and older with a family history of such cancer, and also men 50 and over regardless of whether they show symptoms of cancer.
Tedisco said that this vital public health legislation will remove obstacles for prostate cancer screening. He also claims that the bill will save taxpayers money by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and burdensome medical expenses through early detection and treatment.
---------------------------------------------
Public News Service Reports:
A federal appeals court in New York on Tuesday took up the question of whether the Civil Rights Act protects from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
When Donald Zarda was fired for being gay, he sued, claiming that violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex. Federal courts in New York denied the claim, but the full panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to hear the case. The U.S. Justice Department is arguing against Zarda's claim, saying the law doesn't cover sexual orientation.
A federal appeals court in Chicago ruled Title VII does protect gay employees in April. Attorney Gregory Nevins of Lambda Legal said he believes a ruling in New York for Zarda could bring the issue to the Supreme Court.
Zarda died in an accident in 2014, but the lawsuit continues on behalf of his estate.
=========
Wednesday September 27, 2017 (Thanks to today’s volunteers, Liz Becker, Keith Golgot and John Iannuzzi)
In the news tonight: S&P says default in Hartford a certainty; lowers bond rating; Connecticut environmentalists criticize both party's budget proposals; Brookhaven eyes cash for trash offer to curb illegal dumping; and, Suffolk police agencies get half million dollars for protective gear
---------------------------------------------
The Hartford Courant reports:
Standard & Poors has declared a default appears to be a virtual certainty in Hartford, therefore the agency has again lowered the city’s credit rating. The bond rating in Connecticut’s Capital has been knocked down for the second time in two weeks. Currently the city’s rating is CC, a four-notch plummet from B minus.
Hartford expects to be short $7 million in cash in November and another $39 million in December. S&P says the city needs a cash infusion of at least $40 million in additional assistance from the legislature this fall to avoid the possibility of bankruptcy.
Hartford’s largest bond insurer, Assured Guaranty, made a proposal to Mayor Luke Bronin to refinance the city’s debt. But the mayor said he would resist any plan that burdens the city for years to come.
---------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
Clean energy advocates and environmentalists say both parties have made the wrong decisions in raiding environmental funds in their budget proposals.
The Republican budget raids funds tied to clean air and renewable energy initiatives. The Democratic budget proposal, which didn’t pass either chamber, would have raided a fund to help homeowners improve their energy efficiency.
Chris Phelps, of Environment Connecticut, said: “Raiding these funds digs a deeper economic hole for Connecticut”. He said those programs would strengthen the economy and help families and businesses.
House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, a Derby Republican, said instead of cutting funding for families who have children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, they cut funding for energy initiatives. She said she thinks all the energy funds are wonderful, but when she has to make a choice she’s going to fund the social services. Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy has promised to veto the Republican budget.
---------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Brookhaven town council members will vote Thursday on creating a reward program that provides a financial incentive for residents to report illegal dumping. On Monday, Brookhaven announced it removed 63 tons of construction and household debris from Toppings Path, a popular trail for hikers and mountain bikers in Ridge.
If the program is approved, Brookhaven would fine builders and contractors a maximum of $2,000 for dumping. Residents would receive up to half of the fine amount if their claim proves true.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward Romaine said the rewards would be paid by the fines. Much of the dumping in Brookhaven isn’t from residents, but from contractors doing business in the town, he said.
Illegal dump sites have also been discovered in Coram, Manorville, Moriches and Holtsville.
---------------------------------------------
New York has provided almost $500,000 for Suffolk law enforcement agencies to buy body armor and other equipment that would protect officers in terrorist and active-shooter attacks. Suffolk County police is one of 15 county agencies benefiting from an overall $10 million grant distributed by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The county police department plans to use its $240,000 allocation to buy 156 bullet-resistant vests that can withstand some shrapnel from explosives; 156 ballistic helmets; and 60 patrol rifles. Fourteen agencies in Suffolk will share the rest of the state grant, including the County Sheriff’s Office and town and village police departments.
Some of the equipment purchased was to be on display Wednesday at a meeting of the Chiefs of Police Association of Suffolk County in Riverhead.It was not known Tuesday whether the equipment are military-grade items that many police departments across the nation have purchased.
=======
Tuesday September 26, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Trace Alford and Melinda Tuhus)
In the news tonight: Connecticut’s murder rate drops, violent crime rises; judge gives last-minute stay to Connecticut Ecuadorean couple; Suffolk legislature hears action plan on toxic algae; Suffolk County Senator wants permanent property tax cap
------------------------------------------
After a Monday morning demonstration outside immigration court in Hartford, a judge gave a last-minute extension to an undocumented Ecuadorean husband and wife who had been ordered to fly back on Friday to Ecuador, a country they haven't seen in a quarter century. Three dozen of their supporters blocked the doors to the federal building just before the judge issued his ruling.
WPKN’s Melinda Tuhus reports:
The two U.S.-born sons of Giaconda and Franklin Ramos thanked supporters, who numbered over a hundred. The elder son, Jayson, spoke out before being arrested.
“We are here today in solidarity with my family that is going to be torn apart, from me, in less than five days. My liberty, my justice, my freedom has already been compromised. My life has been compromised; my family is my life. I’m here today to bring to light and to arouse the consciousness of the community at large. Right now, this attack on our community – not just immigrants – is something we should not stand for.”
Another immigrant waiting to get into the building for her citizenship interview said she was sympathetic. She said separating families who have lived in the U.S. for decades is un-American and that the country is better than that.
Melinda Tuhus, WPKN News.
------------------------------------------
The CT Mirror reports:
Connecticut’s violent crime rate increased slightly from 2015 to 2016 while the murder rate fell to its lowest point in decades, according to FBI data released Monday. The state’s violent crime rate was 227 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national rate of 397 per 100,000.
In 2016, there were 78 murders in Connecticut, down from 115 the previous year. That’s the lowest number of murders since 1969. Bridgeport and Hartford both saw the fewest murders in a decade in 2016. Property crimes also fell slightly last year, as did burglaries and larcenies.
------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
A panel of scientists and experts on Monday presented recommendations for lowering toxic algae in Long Island waters to the Suffolk County Environment, Planning and Agriculture Committee.
According to the Harmful Algae Bloom Action Plan, reducing nitrogen and phosphorous levels in area ground and surface waters is the highest priority. Elevated levels of nitrogen from septic systems, storm water runoff, fertilizers and other human activities often generate algae blooms.
Suffolk’s Division of Environmental Quality Director Walter Dawydiak says the full legislature does not need to act on the action plan and its recommendations, though many of the efforts require funding.
In large amounts, harmful algae can block sunlight, lead to low oxygen levels and harm waterways and aquatic life. Harmful algae has been found in Long Island waters since 1951.
------------------------------------------
Albany Times Union reports:
Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, a Suffolk County Republican, said his “pro-taxpayer, pro-business” agenda includes pushing Governor Cuomo and the Legislature to make the property tax cap permanent.
Flanagan unveiled his proposal Sunday evening at the Business Council of New York’s annual meeting.
In a release Monday, Flanagan called the tax cap the signature initiative of the Senate Republican Conference whose members pushed for passage in 2011. He added, “Since then: it has saved taxpayers a whopping $41 billion.”
======
Monday September 25, 2017 (Thanks to today’s volunteers, Lee Yuen Lew and Neil Tolhurst.)
In the news tonight: deadline looms to get federal Medicaid funds; Rosa De Lauro faces competition from the left; Latino workers bilked out of wages at Long Island diner; and, Friday is car-free day on Long Island.
------------------------------------------
The Connecticut Post reports:
This week, legislative leaders and Governor Malloy face their biggest deadline yet to finally reach a compromise budget deal for the fiscal year that began July 1.
At stake is a potential loss of more than a billion dollars in local aid. Dozens of the state’s wealthier towns could miss out on the first of a scheduled four payments for local schools.
After a summer of failed negotiations and then a surprise Republican budget that Malloy has vowed to veto, state legislators said it’s time for lawmakers and the governor to end the state’s historic stalemate. Bipartisan talks with the Democratic governor and Republican legislators begin Tuesday.
If there isn’t an imminent compromise on an entire new budget deal, a special one-day session may be called late in the week to assure that $70 million in federal Medicaid reimbursement funding flows to state hospitals, beating an Oct. 1 deadline.
------------------------------------------
The New Haven Independent reports:
After 27 years as New Haven’s most formidable elected officeholder, Rosa DeLauro is facing her first challenge from an experienced pol within her own party — who seeks to outflank her on the left on health care. Bryan Anderson plans to make that challenge official Tuesday by announcing his candidacy for the 2018 Democratic nomination for Third U.S. Congressional District representative.
DeLauro has held the seat for 14 two-year terms, facing no viable challenges from Republicans or Democrats in her reelection campaigns. Anderson, who’s 62 is a former New Haven city alderman and housing authority executive director, is an African American who identifies with the LGBT community.
Anderson described a candidacy with an issues focus on “Medicare for All” single-payer health care, removal of American troops from Afghanistan, and job creation. He plans to make his Tuesday campaign announcement on the steps of City Hall in Milford, where he currently serves as an alderman.
------------------------------------------
The East End Beacon reports:
The owner and manager of the Princess Diner in Southampton have been arrested and indicted on charges that they bilked 13 restaurant workers of more than $82,000 in wages from August to December of 2016.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office announced Tuesday that Princess Diner owner Richard Bivona and manager John Kalogeras were also “allegedly scheming to defraud those workers by continually lying to them about eventually receiving full compensation.”
The two men are each charged with separate counts of harassment for allegedly intimidating and threatening workers and their families when the workers asked to be paid.
After receiving a complaint, the grassroots Latina immigrant women’s rights organization SEPA Mujer helped organize Princess Diner workers to come forward and report the practices going on in their workplace. Workers constantly faced racism and harassment, including sexual harassment, according to SEPA Mujer.
------------------------------------------
The East Hampton Star reports:
In conjunction with the fifth annual Car Free Day, drivers on Long Island are being asked to go car-free and use mass transit, bicycle, or telecommute on Friday.
People in more than 2,400 cities and 51 countries take part in Car Free Day. The idea is to reduce traffic, conserve energy, reduce harmful emissions, improve fitness, reduce parking problems, and save money.
In 2016, just over 4,000 Long Islanders pledged to be car-free or "car lite". This saved an estimated 84,000 miles of driving and 42 tons of CO2 emissions. Participants are eligible to win raffle prizes including commuter bikes, gift cards, transit passes, and theater tickets.
Details are on line at carfreedayli.com
=========
Friday September 22, 2017 (Thanks to today’s volunteers, Keith Galgot and John Iannuzzi)In the news tonight: opponents rally to urge Malloy veto of Republican budget; Access Health CT to offer plans with higher rates IF Affordable Care Act survives; New York State Bar Association supports yes vote on constitutional convention; and, Drinking Water Quality Council to Meet on Long Island
------------------------------------------
Labor groups and advocates for Connecticut’s cities rallied Thursday outside the Capitol, urging Governor Malloy to veto a Republican-crafted budget they argued would hurt workers and students.
The estimated crowd of 100 also charged that the budget, which cleared the House and Senate late last week with support from nine Democratic legislators, would push the City of Hartford into fiscal insolvency.
The Republican plan would unilaterally reduce state employee pension benefits after mid-2027 and reap some of the savings now, reducing pension contributions by $321 million across this fiscal year and next. Malloy and union leaders have said they believe this is legally risky, would almost certainly be challenged in court, and constitutes bad faith bargaining on the state’s part, just months after unionized workers agreed to major concessions.
House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, a Derby Republican, repeated her call Thursday for the governor to sign the budget. She said: “We can use this Republican, bipartisan budget as the basis to move forward and resolve whatever outstanding issues that are identified.”
------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
Assuming the Affordable Care Act still exists in a few weeks, Access Health CT officials are making several changes intended to help consumers find the right health insurance plan. Open enrollment has been extended by a week. It begins Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 22.
More certified brokers will be available this year to help consumers navigate plan options. Also, 10 additional enrollment centers will be open, where consumers can get free, in-person help during the open enrollment period. Enrollment fairs also will take place in communities statewide.
Like last year, consumers will have two plans from which to choose. But state insurance regulators have approved premium rate hikes for Anthem and ConnectiCare averaging about 32 and 28 percent, respectively.
------------------------------------------
The Albany Times Union Reports:
Barriers to local decisions could change if voters approve a constitutional convention that would reopen some of the rules regarding local control in New York State. Currently, many municipalities across the state cannot regulate the speed on their roads without state approval.
Bar Association President Sharon Stern Gerstman says: “The Constitution is broken and voters have a chance in November to fix it.” A constitutional convention could also allow an amendment mandating a right to clean air and water, as well as one guaranteeing reproductive rights.
Yet Gerstman concedes opposition in the State’s Capitol will be strong as unions and other opponents tend to be one-issue groups whose members fear a convention could open the door for changes to programs they want to protect such as public employee pensions.
------------------------------------------
According to Newsday the new state Drinking Water Quality Council will hold its first public meeting October 2 in Stony Brook. Chief among its tasks is examining the probable carcinogen 1,4-dioxane and making recommendations to the health commissioner as to safe levels in drinking water.
The man-made chemical is not regulated federally but has been found in trace amounts throughout Long Island’s groundwater supply.
Results of a national survey of drinking water supplies released last year showed that the highest detection in the nation of 1,4-dioxane was found in a Hicksville Water District well, which was subsequently taken offline. The council will also focus on perfluorinated compounds which are commonly used in firefighting foams.
Contamination from these chemicals prompted the state to add Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach and the Suffolk County fire training academy in Yaphank to the state Superfund list.
========
Thursday September 21, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Nadine Dumser, Ramzi Babouder-Matta, and Mike Merli)
In the news tonight: partisan criticism continues in Connecticut budget crisis; bipartisan group of Attorneys General expand opioid investigation; tropical storm watch discontinued for Suffolk County; and, applications open for New York State hemp growing pilot program.
------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
Yesterday, Governor Malloy criticized the way the Republican budget would distribute state education funds to Connecticut’s cities and towns, calling it “one hot mess.”
During a 20-minute press conference at East Hartford Middle School, the governor said he believes they should direct support to municipalities that are struggling the most.
Malloy said the Republican proposal “shifts critical aid away from those who need it the most. And directs it to those school systems that are in a far better position to handle their challenges.” Malloy said education funding should be a priority in any budget proposal.
The Connecticut Governor’s comments were the latest in his criticism of the Republican budget proposal. On Tuesday, Governor Malloy sent Republican legislative leaders a letter criticizing their changes to the state employee pension system.
A few hours after Malloy’s press conference, Republican legislative leaders gathered at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to call on Malloy to sign the budget. The budget passed the Senate 21-15 with three Democratic legislators voting in favor and 77-73 in the House with five Democratic legislators voting in favor. That comes to 98 Republicans and eight Democrats.
------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen took a significant step Tuesday to move forward an investigation over whether drug-makers sought to increase profits by misrepresenting the dangers of prescription opioids and ignoring public health risks.
Jepsen and 38 attorneys general from across the country demanded information and documents from pharmaceutical manufacturers Endo International plc; Janssen Pharmaceuticals; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited / Cephalon Incorporated; and Allergan Inc. The attorneys general are also seeking documents and information about distribution practices from AmerisourceBergen; Cardinal Health; and McKesson. Those three companies control 90 percent of the opioid distribution in the country.
The number of state’s top lawyers participating, and the bipartisanship it brings, represents a dramatic expansion and coordination of the investigations into the nationwide opioid epidemic. The 39 attorneys general participating in the overall multistate investigations are organized into subgroups focusing on manufacturers and distributors. Connecticut is taking a leadership in the subgroup focusing on opioid distributors and is also participating with respect to the investigation of manufacturers.
The investigation follows a lawsuit by the City of Waterbury against 11 pharmaceutical companies.
------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Although a tropical storm watch was discontinued on Wednesday, swells from the once powerful hurricane Jose have caused dangerous surf and rip currents along the coast of Long Island. Jones Beach State Park remained closed because Jose caused the worst flooding there since superstorm Sandy. Low-lying areas were being pumped out, and bulldozers dug troughs through the sand so the ocean could flow back down the beach. Work crews continued pumping through the night to clear the park of water.
The Village of Lindenhurst was still bracing for high water. One road remained under several inches of water, as it bubbled from a drain blocks away from where the road dead-ends with the Great South Bay. The water was expected to rise a foot and a half higher than usual during high tide later Wednesday night. Minor flooding was also reported in Bay Shore, Mastic Beach, and Islip.
While the Atlantic washed over the Jones Beach State Park boardwalk and into buildings, electrical and telephone systems were spared, thanks to upgrades after Sandy.
------------------------------------------
The Albany Times Union reports:
Farmers, businesses, universities and research groups can now apply to grow and process industrial hemp through a state pilot program. To apply, people must fill out an application form, which can be found online and submit it along with a $500 non-refundable application fee to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Earlier this year, the program was expanded to include private entities. There are more than 20 participants growing industrial hemp on about 2,000 acres in New York.
In a statement, Governor Andrew Cuomo said “Industrial hemp has the potential to become an economic engine not just in New York, but across the country and with this effort, we can lead the way in this emerging industry.”
Applications are open through November 22nd.
=========
Wednesday September 20, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Keith Galgot and John Iannuzzi)
In the news tonight: Connecticut’s landmark clean elections program in jeopardy; Bridgeport City Council approves theater redevelopment deal; Cuomo supports single-payer health care; and, East Enders split on $2-million option to curb airport noise
------------------------------------------
Connecticut lawmakers are considering repealing the state’s Citizens Election Program, angering social action groups.
WPKN’s John Iannuzzi has more:
The bipartisan 2005 law that created the Citizens Election Program is considered a positive legacy of former Governor Jodi Rell, but now lawmakers in Hartford are saying the public funding should be repealed, because politicians can easily run races for a fraction of the awards currently given under the CEP.
Bridgeport Generation Now is among a growing list of groups blasting the pending Republican budget, which would terminate the public financing system for statewide races.
Callie Heilmann is the organization’s president: “The legislators up in Hartford, only 12 years after this program was passed, looking to defund it is really frustrating. In 2017, I think that we can all agree on is that we need more engagement, we need more robust participation, and public corruption is the thing that allows people to opt out of democracy.”
Under the guidelines of the program, after qualifying, all of a candidate’s money comes from the CEP Fund instead of raising money from private interests, allowing candidates more time spent with actual voters in their districts.
For WPKN News, I’m John Iannuzzi
------------------------------------------
Connecticut Post reports:
Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim’s redevelopment deal for the downtown theaters passed Monday, but critics said the developer dodged having to hire unionized construction workers.
City Council approved a deal allowing New York City-based Exact Capital to renovate the Poli Palace and Majestic theaters and an adjacent motel, and build new residential towers. The contract, however, does not include a Project Labor Agreement, or PLA, requiring the developer to hire union members and pay prevailing wages and benefits to nonunion tradespeople.
Instead, the contract requires “union and nonunion shops an opportunity to bid” and that the company “make reasonable efforts” to ensure a “reasonable number of Bridgeport residents” get work.
------------------------------------------
Albany Time-Union reports:
On Monday, Governor Cuomo signaled support of single-payer health care at both federal and state levels. But single-payer may face a roadblock from Republicans who are weighing another effort to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act.
The Democratic-controlled New York Assembly has passed single-payer legislation repeatedly in recent years. The GOP-held state Senate has not taken up the issue.
Cuomo seemed open to single-payer on the state level, assuming that federal health care funding funneled to the state is maintained. According to Assembly sponsor Dick Gottfried’s bill, a New York City Democrat, any revenue proposal would need to account for ending of local payments for Medicaid.
------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
East End residents are split on whether East Hampton Town officials should proceed with a $2 million, last-resort process to curb airport noise.
At Tuesday’s East Hampton Town Board work session, residents expressed mixed views about applying to impose local restrictions at the airport using a Part 161 study after consultants showed the Federal Aviation Administration process could take up to three years.
Some of the 50 residents suggested ways to make an effective case to the FAA, while several opponents pushed for closing the airport. East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said the town board is considering the study and does not favor closing the airport.
=======
Tuesday September 19, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Trace Alford and Thomas Byrne.)
In the news tonight: MGM Bridgeport plan stokes casino expansion debate; Altice rolls out “Economy Internet” in Connecticut, nation; New York governor issues new credit reporting regulation; and, Riverhead Republican chair steps down citing health reasons
--------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut Post reports: Bridgeport and New Haven mayors joined officials from entertainment company MGM on Monday in a groundbreaking ceremony for a $675-million casino on Bridgeport’s waterfront.
The proposed casino would occupy 100,000 square feet with 2,000 slot machines and 160 gaming tables. Officials anticipate the casino would generate up to $316 million in annual taxes to the state and provide up to 2000 jobs. However, several legal and political issues need to be resolved before construction begins.
Mohegan and Mashantucket Native American tribes, which operate the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos, respectively, have exclusive casino operating agreements with the state and dismissed the groundbreaking ceremony as a “pipe dream.”
Governor Malloy said the new casino is “highly speculative and would violate our agreement with the tribal nations,” but said he would review MGM’s proposal. Other state officials have brought up concerns about increased traffic on I-95 and the “human costs” associated with gambling.
--------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut Post reports:
After testing in Norwalk, $15-a-month broadband service Altice will expand across its Optimum territories in Connecticut and nationally.
This “Economy Internet” is available for new subscribers who also qualify for the National School Lunch Program for students or Supplemental Security Income for seniors.
The service includes a free home WiFi router, email service, and no caps on data. Download speeds are up to 30 megabits per second.
--------------------------------------------------------
Albany Times-Union reports:
Governor Cuomo's administration on Monday proposed a new rule requiring credit reporting agencies to register with the state. This comes in the wake of the recent Equifax data breach that compromised personal information of roughly 143 million American consumers.
The regulation from state Department of Financial Services would mandate consumer credit reporting agencies register with the state and re-register annually. The DFS superintendent would have the authority to deny a registration renewal if the applicant, its members or top executives are “not trustworthy and competent to act as or in connection with a consumer credit reporting agency.”
Cybersecurity regulations, which cover banks, insurance companies and other financial services institutions, already mandate that any DFS-regulated institution have a cybersecurity program designed to protect consumers' private data, a chief information security officer and other safety controls.
--------------------------------------------------------
Riverhead Local reports:
For the third local election cycle in a row, Riverhead Republicans will be under new leadership. Party chairman Remy Bell announced late last week that he will step aside, citing health reasons for his decision not to seek another term.
The town Republican committee will elect new leadership at is biennial re-organizational meeting Wednesday night. Committee treasurer Tammy Robinkoff is running for the post unopposed.
This will mark the sixth time in 10 years the Republican committee elects a new leader. Bell took over in the midst of a contentious local election season in 2015.
=======
Monday September 18, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers)
In the news tonight: Malloy expected to veto Republican budget; New Haven’s healthcare desert is no more; DoD won’t pay for fix to groundwater near Long Island military airport; and, Servant to East End Hispanic Community Honored
--------------------------------------------------------
The Legislature approved a budget Saturday morning, but Governor Malloy has pledged to veto it. The Senate voted 21-15 Friday afternoon for the Republican package and the House followed up with a 77-72 vote.
The $40.7 billion budget includes $270 million in savings and limits state borrowing to $1.3 billion a year. It is expected to eliminate a $5.1 billion budget deficit over two years.
It would fund education and municipal aid at around current levels. It includes no tax increases and calls for spending caps and makes spending reductions across government. It also repeals the mill rate cap on motor vehicles, eliminates hospital property taxes and alters health insurance and pension plans. It eliminates cost of living increases, and increases contributions to retirement plans. It provides a way to break union contracts.
It reworks the Educational Cost Sharing formula and creates a new sliding scale for special education.
--------------------------------------------------------
The New Haven Independent reports:
Starting next week, residents at West Rock’s public-housing developments won’t have to take two buses to see a doctor. They’ll be able to walk down the street to a new outpost of the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center at Wilmot Crossing, in the heart of an isolated cluster of public-housing developments.
The facility was created with a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. It will offer primary care, behavioral health, and dental services. Other services will be offered “as dictated and informed by our patients,” according to Hill Health CEO Michael Taylor.
The West Rock neighborhood has been a health care desert, as it had been a food desert before a grocery was added to the community. The center will be open for business starting this week.
--------------------------------------------------------
The Suffolk County Health Department and the Suffolk County Water Authority have spent more than $5 million over the past year to ensure safe drinking water for neighbors of the Air National Guard base at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton. According to the East End Beacon, the U.S. Department of Defense had given assurance the money would be repaid.
The contaminants perfluoro-octanoic acid and perfluoro-octanesulfonic acid, used in firefighting foam, were found at high levels in wells surrounding the airport in the summer of 2016. Gabreski Airport was named a New York State Superfund site in September of 2016, subject to superfund laws that require the party responsible for the contamination pay for the cleanup.
Long-term exposure to the substances in high concentrations can lead to cancer, liver damage, immune disorders and other diseases, according to the EPA.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer held a press conference Sept. 8 blasting the Department of Defense for delaying payment. But on September 14, a spokesman for the Department of Defense announced that DoD will not reimburse the local agencies.
--------------------------------------------------------
Sister Margaret Smyth helps immigrant families at the North Fork Hispanic Apostolate she founded in Riverhead 20 years ago.
Last Saturday night she was honored for her 60 years as a nun at the Spanish mass at St. Agnes Church in Greenport.
In 2014 Sister Margaret told WPKN’s Hazel Kahan why she became a nun and how she prepared for her work.
Sister Margaret audio [interview text will be added shortly]
=======
Friday September 15, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteer Trace Alford)
In the news
tonight: Committee adopts budget, Connecticut legislature doesn’t pass
it; Fairfield County commuters have longer ride; Huntington,
Longwood districts balk at troopers in schools; group wants East End
second-home owners to vote local
------------------------------------------------------
CT NewsJunkie reports:
After months of missed deadlines, Connecticut’s Finance,
Revenue and Bonding Committee adopted a two-year revenue package Thursday. It establishes
a cellphone tax, reduces a popular middle-class tax credit, creates a statewide
property tax on seasonal homes and increases taxes on hotels and hospitals.
However, the House failed to come to a vote. House Speaker
Joe Aresimowicz said they were making changes to the budget documents up to 11
p.m. Thursday. The House will reconvene Friday afternoon to pass the budget
after the Senate, which is expected to debate a budget at noon.
A successful vote on Friday would avoid the spending cuts
pending on October 1 when Governor Malloy’s executive order goes into effect. Malloy
released a statement Thursday in support of the revenue package adopted by the
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut Post reports:
According to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census
Bureau, more than 15 percent of commuters in Fairfield County spend an hour or
more getting to work, and at least another hour going home. This could be
changing: urban planners and others who track trends say younger workers are
choosing lifestyles that don’t include cars.
Stratford town planner Jay Habansky says: “The car is not
nearly an important a possession as it was for older generations.” The city is
pushing forward with Transit-Oriented Developments, which are high-density
apartment or condominium projects built within easy walking and biking distance
to railroad stations.
Early this year, Governor Malloy said he was an advocate of
adding another lane in each direction to I-95. The state Bond Commission in February allocated $1 million to
develop a strategy for adding lanes.
------------------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Longwood and Huntington school officials told residents
Thursday that they hadn’t been consulted in advance about a state program to
send state troopers into their schools. Governor Cuomo announced Wednesday he
was dispatching state troopers to 10 Suffolk County schools with “the highest
incidents of gang-related activity.”
Officials in some districts said they welcomed the move. But
in letters to parents and residents, Longwood and Huntington officials disputed
Cuomo’s assessment and sought to reassure parents about the safety of their
schools. Cuomo administration officials said law enforcement agencies had
recommended the schools, and would not elaborate on the selection process.
According to the governor’s office, the state would be
working with Suffolk Police, superintendents and principals on implementing the
program.
------------------------------------------------------
The Suffolk Times reports:
Political activists have started a grassroots effort to
persuade second-home owners across the North Fork to register to vote there
rather than at their primary residences.
Organizers say the goal is to shift a predominantly
Republican area toward the Democratic side, increase public engagement in
elections, and educate second-home owners about their right to vote in local
elections.
New York State permits people to vote in a district where
they own a second home, although voting can’t be split between two locations.
======
Thursday September 14, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Ramzi Babouder-Matta and Mike Merli)In the news tonight:
Connecticut Democratic lawmakers hope cellphone tax ideas will stick; Connecticut posts back-to-back job losses two months in a row; New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sends Gang Prevention Troopers to Suffolk Schools;
and, New York State just made it easier for teachers to get certified.
----------------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
In lieu of a broad based increase in the sales tax, Connecticut Democratic legislative leaders were working on finalizing a budget yesterday that will include a monthly tax on cellphone bills and certain real estate transactions. The situation regarding what revenues will be included in the package was so fluid that the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee postponed a vote on the revenue package until 11 this morning.
The cellphone tax was first raised late Tuesday as a way to make up for the revenue lost through the elimination of a sales tax increase. And lobbyists for the wireless phone industry were working hard to kill it.
The amount of revenue the tax could generate at $1 per line, per month is around $43.2 million.
Democrats need 76 votes in the House and 18 votes in the Senate to pass what’s expected to be one large budget package that includes all the implementation language.
----------------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
For the second month in a row, Connecticut lost payroll jobs, according to preliminary numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor.
In August, the state lost 3,900 jobs, which follows a revised job loss of 1,100 jobs in July. Private sector employment in August dropped by 3,700 jobs and the government lost 200 jobs last month. That means Connecticut’s private sector, which had finally recovered 102 percent of the jobs lost in the Great Recession, has dropped back down to 96.7 percent.
Overall, Connecticut has recovered 78.1 percent of the jobs it lost in the recession. It means Connecticut is 26,100 jobs away from attaining full job recovery. The government supersector has lost a total of 22,400 positions since the recession began in March 2008.
----------------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that 10 state troopers will immediately be deployed to 10 of the “highest-risk” schools in Suffolk County to stop gangs from recruiting students.
Cuomo said the Gang Prevention Unit would educate teachers on how to identify early signs of gang activity and serve as a resource for students and parents seeking help. The Governor said: “I want MS-13 to know the pressure is not going to ease. ” Police have attributed 17 slayings to the gang in Suffolk since Jan. 1, 2016.
Immigration and civil liberty advocates condemned Cuomo’s announcement. The advocacy group, Make the Road New York called it “Cuomo’s new deportation force .... that will ultimately make all youth and communities less safe.”
Irma Solis, of the New York Civil Liberties Union in Suffolk County said: “Flimsy allegations of gang involvement by Suffolk County schools and police have led to kids being detained and placed at risk of deportation without investigation.”
----------------------------------------------------
The Albany Times-Union reports:
The New York state Board of Regents approved measures on Tuesday to ease the certification process for prospective teachers. The Regents made several changes to the state’s teacher certification process as educators and advocates statewide debate how to get more people into the teaching field while still ensuring candidates are well-trained and effective in the craft.
Among the changes approved is a lower pass score for the edTPA, an exam developed by Stanford University that measures a candidate’s planning, instruction and testing abilities in specific subjects. The Regents also expanded safety net options for candidates who don’t pass the edTPA exam.
Following a 45-day public comment period, the Regents are expected to formally adopt the changes at their December meeting.
=======
Wednesday September 13, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Liz Becker and Keith Galgot)
In the news tonight: New Haven’s Alexion will move headquarters to Boston; Connecticut DMV looks offsite for driver’s license renewals; algae blooms hit Long Island bays; and, newcomer wins GOP primary for Suffolk sheriff
----------------------------------------------------
Connecticut Post reports:
On Tuesday, Alexion Pharmaceuticals announced it will relocate its headquarters from New Haven to Boston by the middle of next year and cut 20 percent of its global workforce. The company will maintain a research and development center in New Haven with about 450 employees.
The cuts amount to about 600 positions and the closure of a Smithfield, Rhode Island manufacturing facility. Alexion expects to save about $270 million annually and reinvest $100 million a year into research and development.
The move comes despite $26 million in economic development aid from Connecticut meant to jump-start the state's biotechnology sector. The company will refund that money, with interest and penalties.
Alexion is the latest of several major companies to leave Connecticut, including insurer Aetna Inc., which will move to New York City next year, and General Electric, which moved to Boston last year.
----------------------------------------------------
Hartford Courant reports:
Earlier this week, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles issued a public solicitation for a business, or businesses, to enter a state contract to renew licenses in Fairfield and New Haven counties.
This comes after a contract dispute last January with AAA Northeast that ended driver’s license renewal services at eight AAA locations in those two counties. Now, more than 150,000 customers a year would have to go to a DMV branch. Some DMV branches, particularly Bridgeport and Hamden, have had two- or three-hour waits. AAA Allied continues its services in Hartford, Middlesex, and New London counties.
To qualify for the new contract, a business must have at least two existing locations in New Haven and/or Fairfield counties where it would conduct DMV transactions for at least 24 hours a week.
Deadline for submissions is October 16. The DMV expects to complete contract negotiations by January.
----------------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Different forms of harmful algae bloom has struck every major bay or estuary in Nassau and Suffolk counties in the past four months, according to Long Island Clean Water Partnership’s recent water-quality assessment.
Stony Brook School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences professor Chris Gobler said the main culprit is nitrogen pollution fed by antiquated wastewater systems. Temperature changes can also affect the blooms. Depending on their type, the blooms can harm shellfish, finfish, eelgrass, small animals and humans.
Group for the East End president Bob DeLuca said the key to reversing the trend of nitrogen-polluted waters include state investment in clean-water programs and Suffolk County’s drive to expand use of advanced septic systems.
----------------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
In his first run for office, Stony Brook University assistant police chief Larry Zacarese pulled off a resounding upset victory over veteran state Senator Phil Boyle in the Republican primary for Suffolk County sheriff Tuesday.
Boyle, a three-term senator and the Republicans’ designated candidate, still has the Conservative and Independence Party lines. He conceded the Republican line shortly after 10 p.m.
Zacarese, a former NYPD officer and sergeant, had hammered Boyle for his lack of direct law enforcement experience.
The sheriff runs the county jails in Riverhead and Yaphank with about 900 correction officers, and oversees 250 sheriff’s deputies.
======
Tuesday September 12, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Trace Alford, John Iannuzzi, and Melinda Tuhus)
In the news tonight: Sales Tax Out of Connecticut Budget Negotiations; Senator Blumenthal holds Immigration Issues Hearing in New Haven; use of anti-overdose drug increasing on Long Island; and, Sewers Proposed for Westhampton Beach
----------------------------------------------------
Connecticut Democratic legislative leaders made a decision Sunday to negotiate a final two-year budget deal with Governor Malloy. Republican legislative leaders said they were not invited to the meeting and only learned about it through the news media. A meeting with Republican legislative leaders scheduled for today was essentially canceled when it became clear Democrats were headed for a partisan budget.
Democratic leaders accuse Republicans of “walking away” and ending bipartisan budget negotiations.In a joint statement, Senate President Martin Looney of New Haven, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk, both Democrats said: “We have always suspected that Republicans would find some excuse to walk out on bipartisan budget talks.”
Senate President, Republican Len Fasano, of North Haven, said Democrats never wanted a bipartisan budget deal and that Democrats wanted to make it seem like bipartisanship was happening so they could “maybe steal some of our ideas.”
Republicans were expected to release their latest budget proposal earlier today. A final product is expected to be called for a vote on September 14.
----------------------------------------------------
A New Haven church was packed on Monday for a hearing on immigration issues called by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. Immigrants from many countries -- including South Korea, Albania and Brazil – told heartbreaking stories of their fears of being separated from their families.
WPKN's Melinda Tuhus has more.
Speakers addressed many issues, but Blumenthal said his main purpose in calling the hearing was to build support for passing the DREAM Act allowing undocumented young people brought to this country by their parents to get on a path to citizenship.
One of the speakers was Eric Cruz Lopez, who said he speaks of "coming to the U.S." not "being brought here through no fault of [his] own."
“Because I will not stand here and let my families be blamed, and let my parent and my mother be blamed for the decision to come to this country. If they go down, I'll go down with them. (Applause) I don't believe I will rise above my own conditions if my parents do not come up with me, if the rest of my community does not come up with me.”
He fits the mold of a high-achieving student, but he asked that supporters also fight for those who are school drop-outs, those who have made mistakes, for parents, and for workers who all deserve a pathway to citizenship.
Melinda Tuhus, WPKN News
----------------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Use of Naloxone, the lifesaving drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, spiked in 2016 on Long Island. Narcan, the brand name version of the drug was given at least 769 times in Suffolk County last year by emergency responders. According to a quarterly report on opioids compiled by New York State, that number in 2015 was 598.
These numbers come as more statistics prove the drug epidemic is still a major problem for Long Island. Revised numbers in Suffolk have pushed the 2016 death toll on Long Island to 524. 329 of those fatalities occurred in Suffolk County.
As the drug problem has escalated, so has the popularity of the antidote (which is administered through a shot or nasal spray). Local leaders are pushing for increased availability of the drug.
Narcan is now available in libraries, schools, and first responders also carry it when present at entertainment venues.
----------------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
Westhampton Beach is considering creating the village’s first sewer district, which they say could provide economic and environmental benefits for the village. The Village Board held public informational presentations on the proposal at its regular meeting on Sept. 5.
Village officials say the sewers would allow businesses to expand, new ones to open and for apartments above existing stores to be rented. The sewer system would connect to county-owned facilities at Francis Gabreski Airport.
A report commissioned by the Village concluded that high levels of nitrogen in the ground water under the village are flowing into coastal waters and contributing to brown tides and poor conditions for fish populations and eelgrass. The report says a sewer system would help mitigate these conditions.
The board will hold a public hearing on the proposal next month at Village Hall.
======
Monday September 11, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Gretchen Swanson, Neil Tolhurst and Danniella Tompos)
In the news tonight: Malloy's “last, best budget offer”; environmentalists say Connecticut energy plan falls short; Long Island fishermen frustrated by state shutdown on fluke; and, New York unions fight proposed reduction in workers compensation
-------------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
Governor Malloy made his “last, best budget offer” to legislative leaders Friday. The two-year, $41 billion proposal increases general sales tax from 6.35 percent to 6.5 percent; and for restaurants and bars, increases sales tax to 7 percent.
These changes would increase revenue by $87 million in 2018 and $133 million in 2019. The proposal also affects the hospital tax; and the distribution of municipal and education aid.
Malloy’s largest concession was instead of asking cities and towns to fund pensions for retired educators, asking them to pay only the employer share for current employees. The governor said he will sign this budget, his sixth proposal since February, if the General Assembly can pass it.
Assembly members are against significant cuts to municipal aid, and criticized the deal as just another tax hike. Malloy said: “The standoff...has inflicted more harm than should be tolerated.”
-------------------------------------------------
According to the Connecticut Post:
Twenty-four environmental groups are objecting to the state’s latest energy strategy, saying a draft plan fails to encourage solar power, continues support for costly gas pipelines and will not meet long-term carbon reduction goals. The opposition to Connecticut's proposed Comprehensive Energy Strategy is a blow to Gov. Malloy and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP.
A DEEP spokesman said the agency believes its emerging energy strategy will benefit consumers, businesses, and the environment. The environmentalists had eight specific objections, ranging from too much reliance on natural gas to hindering solar development. One point of contention is shared solar, which involves building arrays large enough to power an entire community.
A state pilot program begun this year has been widely criticized because it generates only a fraction of the power states such as Massachusetts are already producing.
DEEP will issue a final energy plan after a 60-day comment period ends Sept. 25.
-------------------------------------------------
The Riverhead News-Review reports:
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (or DEC) temporarily closed down commercial fluke fishing last Wednesday, as fishermen have reached their quota limits. The closure is frustrating news for local commercial fishermen and vendors, who said the DEC told them early in the season that fluke fishing would be open from April to November.
The fluke closure follows a month-long shutdown of black sea bass fishing. It does not apply to recreational fishing.
Commercial fluke fishing is set at a daily limit of 50 pounds per day, compared with higher quotas in the last few years — from 140 pounds, then 70 pounds, according to local fishermen.
They met with Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin of Shirley Friday morning in Mattituck “to discuss the dire need for reforms to improve Long Island’s fishing economy” according to the Congressman's press release.
-------------------------------------------------
The New York Daily News reports:
Union officials claim proposed Workers Compensation Board rules would drastically reduce payments to workers who’ve suffered diminished use of an arm or leg. They would also place increased requirements on injured workers to show their future earning capacity would be diminished and make it harder for workers to contest their awards.
The proposed regulations are the result of legislation approved in April that required the Workers Compensation Board to modernize its guidelines to reflect advances in medical technologies that get workers back on the job faster than in prior years. Opponents say the regulations would make it harder for workers to obtain independent medical examinations to bolster their claims and make it possible for the board to deny claims if an injured worker refused to cooperate with an insurance company’s request for an independent examination.
========
Friday September 8, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Trace Alford, John Iannuzzi, and Melinda Tuhus)
In the news
tonight: climate activists rally in New Haven; renewed efforts to lessen Fairfield schools’ racial divide; New
York education leaders want charter school teacher proposal scrapped; Suffolk County’s Route 25 among
highest in pedestrian, bike crashes
---------------------------------------------
Climate activists attended a rally in New Haven just before
the final public hearing on the state’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy, which many
present say is flawed.,
WPKN’s Melinda Tuhus has more:
The rally was held outside the auditorium on the grounds of
the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Anne Hulick is Connecticut
director of Clean Water Action, and also a nurse. “Climate change is the
number one public health threat of our time. We are experiencing extreme heat
days; we are experiencing more poor air quality days; we are experiencing
extreme weather events. All of these are affecting our health.”
Inside the auditorium, many of the first speakers
represented family-run oil heating businesses who testified against a proposed
tax on heating oil and propane. They criticized the state’s energy strategy for
favoring natural gas over oil. Many of the other speakers also opposed fracked
gas, saying expanding its use would lock Connecticut in to dirty fuel for the
next 30 years, when what’s needed is an immediate conversion to renewable
energy.
Melinda Tuhus, WPKN News.
---------------------------------------------
Connecticut Post reports:
The racial gap between Fairfield’s
McKinley School and the district’s 10 other elementary schools is widening,
despite efforts to reduce the divide. Putting a preschool in Greenfield Hill or
offering empty seats to students in neighboring Bridgeport thus far has failed.
This week the State Board of Education approved a multiyear
plan that relies on school expansions, turning McKinley into a magnet school, and
ultimately redistricting nearly 800 students.
In Connecticut, no school can have a minority population 25
percent points greater than the district as a whole. The gap now hovers around
the 30-point mark — McKinley with a 53.2 percent minority population and the
district at 23.2 percent.
---------------------------------------------
The Albany Times-Union reports:
The state's top education officials issued a letter Thursday
strongly urging the State University of New York to withdraw a proposal they argue
would negatively impact students and reduce the number of effective teachers.
In July, SUNY's charter schools committee introduced the
proposal that would allow SUNY-authorized charter schools to bypass the state's
teacher certification requirements and develop their own.
Prospective teachers would not have to pass the state's
teacher certification exams nor complete any student teaching. They would,
however, need at least 30 hours of classroom experience. Eighty-one semester
hours currently are required.
Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia and Board of Regents
Chancellor Betty Rosa say: “Not only would this be detrimental to students, it
would be in direct conflict with state education law.”
---------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
A Tri-State Transportation Campaign study found Suffolk
County’s State Route 25 is among roads on Long Island with the most vehicular
accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Route 25, also known as Middle Country Road, Jericho
Turnpike or Front Street, had 224 crashes from 2014 to 2016, resulting in nine
fatalities and 206 injuries to pedestrians or bicyclists.
Route 25 is classified as an arterial roadway with a high
volume of traffic and includes residential and commercial stretches.
The study also calculated crashes per mile of road to account
for road length. Among roads on Long Island with the most crashes, Route 110 had
9.7 crashes per mile.
=======
Thursday September 7, 2017
(Thanks to WPKN volunteers Nadine Dumser, Liz Becker, and Mike Merli)
In the news tonight: Connecticut joins lawsuit to block
Trump from ending DACA; Hartford Mayor warns Governor Malloy of bankruptcy; New
York school funding advocates appeal earlier decision; and, water contaminated
at Hampton Bays Fire House.
---------------------------------------------
The Connecticut Mirror reports:
Yesterday, Connecticut joined 14 other states and the
District of Columbia in a lawsuit that would invalidate President Trump’s move
to end protections from deportation for immigrant youths. The lawsuit also
seeks to keep federal agencies from using personal information about applicants
for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (or DACA) program to deport the
youths, who call themselves “dreamers.”
On Tuesday, Trump announced a phase-out of the program,
which has protected from deportation and provided work permits to about 800,000
youths brought to this country as children by their undocumented parents or
came with families who overstayed visas.The president said no new applications
would be accepted for the program, which provided eligible youths with two-year
renewable, provisional legal status.
All existing DACA recipients would be protected until
their two-year provisional legal status expires, and those whose permits are
facing “near-term expiration” would be allowed to re-apply for renewal until
October 5.
---------------------------------------------
Connecticut News Junkie reports:
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin has told
legislative leaders and Governor Malloy that the city will file for Chapter 9
bankruptcy protection if there is no state budget in 60 days.
In the letter to lawmakers and Malloy,
Bronin said: “If the State fails to enact a budget and continues to operate
under the Governor’s current executive order, the City of Hartford will be
unable to meet its financial obligations in approximately sixty days.” He said
the “extraordinary measures” other towns are contemplating in response to the
state budget stalemate – such as dipping into reserves or laying off employees
– are measures Hartford has already taken.
Hartford has already hired an
international law firm, Greenberg Traurig, that specializes in restructuring
debt. As such, and within the same time frame, Wall Street has downgraded the
city’s bonds to “junk” status.
Bronin and the city of Hartford would
need Governor Malloy’s permission to file for bankruptcy. The last Connecticut
city to seek bankruptcy protection was Bridgeport in 1991. A federal judge
denied the city’s petition.
---------------------------------------------
The Albany Times Union reports:
Even though it’s been a decade since the state legislature
changed school aid formulas for New York’s urban districts, funding advocates
have continued their legal battles to get more money for needy schools.
On Tuesday, lawyers for a group of small, impoverished
upstate city school districts appealed the dismissal of their case a year ago
in a lower court. Plaintiff lawyers contend that the changes instituted by the
2007 settlement of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity suit haven’t done enough to
help student achievement, and these districts are still suffering from
reductions made in the wake of the 2008 financial crash.
The districts pursuing the lawsuit are Utica, Jamestown,
Niagara Falls, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Port Jervis, and Mount Vernon.
Although New York spends more than any other state on
education, representatives of small city districts argue that they need more
support to reach the academic standards that are achieved in wealthier suburban
areas.
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
A
Hampton Bays Fire District parcel on Montauk Highway may be added to the state
Superfund list after contamination from perfluorinated compounds was discovered
in May. The local water district took two drinking water wells out of service.
It
is the third firefighting or training site on Long Island in the past 14 months
to come under state Department of Environmental Conservation scrutiny.
The
DEC notified the fire department in July that it was listing the 2-acre
property, where the firehouse is located, as a potential hazardous waste site.
The fire department said it had used or stored fire suppression foam.
Martin Brand, DEC’s deputy
commissioner of remediation and materials management, said: “We hope it’s not a source, but obviously there is something out there
that is contributing PFOS/PFOA to the local wells and we need to find out where
it is coming from.”
========
Wednesday
September 6, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers Liz Becker, Danniella Campos and
Keith Golgot)
In the news tonight: Malloy offers big compromise to end budget gridlock; proven crime
reduction program goes unfunded; Poll Says Majority of
NY-voters-support-keeping Confederate statues; and, New York job statistics
show gains downstate, losses upstate
---------------------------------------------
The CT Mirror reports:
Governor Dannel Malloy has offered a major compromise to
end the state budget standoff, scaling back his proposed shift of teacher
pension costs to cities and towns by half.
Malloy told
The Mirror on Tuesday he would accept their contributing only the costs
tied to present-day teachers. The massive-and-rapidly growing unfunded
liability would remain the state’s responsibility.The governor said Tuesday he
would accept communities paying the “normal cost,” an actuarial term referring to the
full amount that must be set aside annually to cover the future pensions of
present-day teachers.
The Center
for Retirement Research at Boston College found that the benefits provided to
retired teachers are not more generous than those in most states.
How much the
state can address this issue in a
single year, in one budget, is the question.
---------------------------------------------
As reported by CT News
Junkie:
Project Longevity is a
program that’s been reducing violent crime in Connecticut’s urban areas for
five years, but without a two-year budget in place there’s no state funding for
five people working on the program. But they continue to work “without pay or
assurance they will receive retroactive remuneration.” according to the U.S.
Attorney’s office which participates in the program.
In New Haven, Bridgeport,
and Hartford — the cities where Project Longevity is active — gun-related
homicides fell more than 50 percent from 2011 to 2016.
The cost to run the program
is around $850,000 a year. Based on the results of a Yale University
evaluation, economic savings from reduced medical, law enforcement, and
criminal justice costs in New Haven alone amount to approximately $7 million
annually.
---------------------------------------------
The Albany Times-Union
reports:
Many
New York voters believe Confederate memorials should stay up, according to a
Siena College poll. Fifty-nine percent of voters statewide say Confederate
monuments should be kept, while thirty-five percent say they should be removed.
Voters
that support maintaining such statues agree that, as Siena phrased it:
"…for some, they are a source of pride and a celebration of our
culture." While Republicans endorse keeping the statues, Democrats want
removal because — as Siena phrased it: "…for some, they represent slavery
and segregation." Majorities
of voters in every region of the state support maintaining such statues.
Almost
half of voters statewide say self-identified white nationalists and neo-Nazis
should not be given permits to hold rallies in the United States. The majority
of voters statewide say President Donald Trump failed at handling the
Charlottesville protests and at making race relations better. Overall, 66
percent of all New York voters polled have an unfavorable view of the
president.
---------------------------------------------
A report from state
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the workforce is at its highest since before
the Great Recession. DiNapoli’s report says 9.1 million people were employed in
2016, the highest number since 2008.
But the growth is only
happening in New York City and Long Island. New York City saw an increase of
about 4 percent and Long Island an increase of 1 per cent in the labor force
between 2011 and 2016. Employment in
upstate areas was either level or in decline.
The state’s unemployment rate
last year was also slightly lower than the rest of the nation at 4.8
percent. While unemployment is an
indication of the number of people who are actively looking for a job, an
overall decline in the labor force signifies people either moving within or out
of New York; those who have aged out of the workforce, or people who stopped
working entirely.
=======
Tuesday September 5, 2017 (Thanks
to WPKN volunteers Trace Alford, Thomas Byrne, John Iannuzzi, and
Melinda Tuhus)
In the news
tonight: rally in Hartford on raising
minimum wage; Connecticut communities join opioid lawsuit; weather, lack
of flowers hurt North Fork’s honey yield; and, Peconic Bay to build, expand in Riverhead
---------------------------------------------
About 200 low-wage workers and supporters rallied at a
McDonald’s early Labor Day morning, then marched two miles to raise their
demands outside a church downtown.
WPKN’s Melinda Tuhus was there:
Hartford resident Angel Candelario was making 10.10 an hour
– the state minimum wage – for 20 hours a week at Burger King. He said when
management learned he was supporting the movement, his hours were cut to 10 a
week. But it’s not just about winning a 50 percent increase in pay to 15
dollars an hour, he says.
“Our movement is called Fight for 15 and a Union. If they
say, okay, Connecticut, here’s 15 dollars, but still we don’t have a union, the
management still has the right to take the hours from you. So we want that
union because the union’s gonna guarantee us safety. The union’s gonna treat us
like a family, the union’s gonna pay attention to our hours; the union’s gonna
make sure that once we sign that dotted line to get a job, we gonna get 30
hours, nothing less but better.”
One of the speakers at the rally was a member of 32 BJ, an
affiliate of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which has
provided major support to the Fight for 15. She said she now makes more than 15
dollars an hour, along with health care and other benefits. According to
federal statistics, 17.5 percent of Connecticut's workers are in unions, which
is about 60 percent higher than the national average of 10.7 percent.
Melinda Tuhus, WPKN News.
---------------------------------------------
CT News Junkie reports:
Dozens of Connecticut
municipalities are taking 11 pharmaceutical companies and three doctors to
court. Leaders from Waterbury, Bridgeport, Bristol, and Milford all agree the
pharmaceutical companies knew with prolonged use, opioids posed a severe risk
of significant side effects and addiction.
More than 20 communities are considering joining the
lawsuit, which was filed in Waterbury Superior Court.
The suit states that Waterbury has incurred annual costs in
the millions for opioid prescriptions, which are manufactured by the defendants,
as well as payment for the treatment of addiction to these drugs.
---------------------------------------------
The Suffolk Times reports:
A lack of forage, combined with the wet,
cold spring, has led to less honey this season on the North Fork.
According to Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Suffolk County entomologist Daniel Gilrein, Long Island doesn’t have many
large flowering areas that provide consistent supplies of nectar and pollen. Long
Island is increasingly losing flowery areas to residential development and
deer. Green lawns are like food deserts to bees because they do not have enough
flowers.
While honeybees are important, all native
bees need help. Beekeepers and entomologists recommend planting a variety of
flowers. And maybe let some weeds grow as well—like dandelions and clovers.
---------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
A Long Island-based medical provider is expanding in
Riverhead. In addition to constructing a $60-million critical care tower,
Peconic Bay Medical Center will expand into the former offices of Suffolk
County National Bank.
According to hospital president and CEO Andrew Mitchell, the
additional 60,000 square feet will be for ambulatory services, such as thoracic
surgery and neurosurgery. He did not give details as to costs or projected job
figures.
The construction and expansion will take about two years to
complete.
=======
Monday
September 4, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteers
Gretchen Swanson and Neil Tolhurst)
In the news tonight: unions tell Ganim “Include us
in Bridgeport theater project”; New Haven's water quality questioned; energy
service company duped New York customers, will pay $800,000 in refunds; and, Can Fishing and Wind Farms co-exist off Long
Island?
---------------------------------------------
In 2005, Joe Ganim asked organized labor for help returning him to
Bridgeport City Hall. Now the construction trades Ganim to ensure they are not
left out of a large downtown construction project.
Tuesday the City Council plans to hold a 7 p.m. public hearing at
Geraldine Johnson School on an $410 million proposed agreement with New
York-based Exact Capital. The Ganim administration chose Exact to renovate
Majestic and Poli Palace theaters on Main Street, the Savoy Hotel next door,
and envisions residential towers with 844 units of housing.
The deal with City Hall does not currently include a Project Labor
Agreement (PLA) to guarantee hiring union members at prevailing wages and
benefits and provide the same for any non- union workers also employed. Regional
labor leaders want city officials to require Exact Capital comply with a PLA. Without
a PLA, a developer could turn to the underground economy — people exploiting
undocumented workers and paying people off the books.
---------------------------------------------
New Haven Independent
reports:
Environmentalists are
criticizing New Haven’s water utility for leaving two classes of carcinogenic
chemicals in public drinking water. Regional Water Authority or RWA responded
that advocates are misconstruing the science, wrongly scaring readers into
thinking that trace amounts, far below legal limits set by the Environmental
Protection Agency, are likely to cause harm.
The exchange occurred when
Environmental Working Group or EWG published its national water-safety
database, listing chemicals found in public drinking water supplies. EWG warned
New Haven about hexavalent chromium, which enters water by erosion from rock
deposits and dispersal by industrial activity; and also about disinfectant
by-products known as trihalomethanes that come from adding chlorine to the
water.
EWG’s senior scientist said:
“We often see utilities saying because it’s legal, it’s safe. We’re really
calling that into question.”
Connecticut’s chapter of
Clean Water Action is ramping up its advocacy around these chemicals.
---------------------------------------------
Newsday reports:
More than a dozen Montauk
fishermen have met with state officials to mark off vital fishing areas on a
map that will help determine the best places for the hundreds of offshore wind
turbines anticipated for the waters off Long Island.
Led by the Long Island
Commercial Fishing Association, the group are determined to preserve their
fishing grounds in areas planned for wind-energy farms. The fishermen say that
windmill construction and operation will make fishing difficult.
Chuck Mallinson, a
lobsterman and trap fisherman from Montauk, said: “I think once the windmills
are in, we can fish around them. but they’re going to put us out of business
for at least a year while they build them.”
New York State’s offshore
wind plan foresees some 240 wind turbines in New York and surrounding waters. A
Norwegian energy company has won a federal lease and begun planning for around
100 turbines in the New York Bight, around 15 miles south of Long Beach. More
sites will be proposed.
---------------------------------------------
As reported by the Albany
Times-Union:
An energy service company
that duped New York customers with false promises of savings will pay $800,000
in refunds under a settlement with the state attorney general's office. The
company, Energy Plus is licensed to sell electric service in eight states,
including New York and Connecticut.
Attorney
General Eric Schneiderman said the agreement announced Wednesday with Energy
Plus is part of a wider investigation into energy service companies that
purchase electric and gas energy on an open market and sell it to New York
consumers.
A
notice on the company's website Wednesday said it is "temporarily not
enrolling new customers in Connecticut or New York."
The
attorney general's office said Energy Plus lured customers by promising them
savings on their utility costs and then "fleeced them with much higher
bills; failed to disclose material terms such as conditions for receiving cash
back; and implied that cancellations could be processed immediately."
========
Friday September 1, 2017 (Thanks to WPKN volunteer Melinda Tuhus)In the news tonight: Rally for Meriden couple facing deportation; Access Health CT plans face huge rate hike without subsidies; report shows opinion affects climate change teaching in New York; and, Suffolk County Legislature to vote on salary freezes
---------------------------------------------
About three dozen supporters of another family facing deportation gathered Thursday morning outside the federal building in Hartford.
WPKN’s Melinda Tuhus has more:
Franklin and Giaconda Ramos came to Meriden 24 years ago. They have two sons, 17 and 24, both U.S. citizens. They had to appear at the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, Thursday morning with the plane tickets they are supposed to use to fly back to Ecuador in 30 days.
Their elder son, Jason, had applied to sponsor his parents for green cards in 2013, and won preliminary approval, but the second phase of the process was not completed before they got deportation orders. They have no criminal record and have paid taxes since 1995.
Jason Ramos explained what their home means to his family: “Home is not just a house. A home is where you gather people, where you gather memories, where you gather the good and bad times. It’s some place where you should feel safe, somewhere you should feel welcome. And Connecticut – United States – has been that home for my parents.”
The family’s attorney said he hopes ICE will sign onto a motion to reopen the green card process, which would allow them to stay.
Melinda Tuhus, WPKN News.
---------------------------------------------
The CT Mirror reports: Access Health CT’s two insurers say they would need to increase premiums if the Trump administration stops out-of-pocket subsidy program.
ConnectiCare would raise its popular “silver” plan premiums by nearly 48 percent, and Anthem would up its by about 39 percent. Both also requested increases on their “gold” and “bronze” plans.
The Connecticut Insurance Department recently asked insurers to re-file rates based on the possible cancelation of Affordable Care Act cost-sharing reduction payments.
The department is reviewing the rate hike requests, and will make a decision before September 15, which is also the insurers’ deadline to decide whether they will offer plans on the exchange.
---------------------------------------------
The Albany Times-Union reports:
Seventy percent of school board members statewide support teaching the subject of climate change in public schools, according to a new survey. But the state School Boards Association warned that the current teaching on the subject might be too dependent on a teacher's own views.
Results of a NYSSBA survey released Thursday show that 16 percent of school board members oppose climate change being taught in public schools, while 14 percent were unsure. Of those in support or unsure, 86 percent were in favor of teaching about human contributions to climate change, and 5 percent opposed.
The survey results were baked into the association’s report detailing how climate change teaching can be shaped and best practices.
---------------------------------------------
The Suffolk Times reports:
Legislation to freeze automatic raises for Suffolk County elected officials passed committee Wednesday. The Legislature will vote on the bill September 6. If approved, the pay freeze would be in effect for four years.
In a press release, North Fork Legislator Al Krupski said the Legislature has received automatic pay increases of four percent, or the percent of increase in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less, since 1986.
Krupski, the bill’s co-sponsor, said county legislators can decline the raise, and several have the past few years.
The county faces a $160-million budget deficit.
=======