This Week's News:

Stefanowski Releases Tax Returns

Brown denied request for more votes in second recount of 127th House District primary

A three year shut-off moratorium is modestly extended

It was announced this month that, excluding those who earn less than 60 percent of the state median income or receive government assistance, the moratorium on shutting off power for those who don’t pay their bills has ended.

This was first enacted prior to the pandemic in 2019 when the winter was especially cold and utilities received tremendous pressure from advocate organizations such as Operation Fuel and state officials to keep power on for those customers. That, combined with the COVID-19 timeline, led to a policy that was extended much further than ever anticipated.

Eversource and Avangrid have been working hard to end the policy given what they estimate will be a largely disproportionate impact on rate payers that would ultimately see their power bills go up because of the delinquencies in payment. The state's energy oversight authority, PURA, though disagreed with having those with limited income be able to have their power shut off and this led to the recent decision announced a few days ago.

PURA also expressed concern for how the companies planned to communicate with hardship customers facing disconnection. The message cited a warning that the proposal would only provide high-level information to residential customers without considering their financial or medical status. 

This news comes at a welcome time for those facing extremely high energy costs that need the most assistance but this will likely need to be reevaluated once the deal’s expiration comes in May of 2023.

Municipal Speed Round

This municipal speed round will go through the top municipal stories that broke over the past week.

In Greenwich, a school administrator was caught on camera allegedly admitting to discriminating against Catholics and Conservatives in hiring processes. The official was placed on administrative leave and an investigation has been opened.

Over in Windham, the battle continues to rage as Hartford Healthcare fights to close a labor and delivery unit at Windham Hospital, despite the state's appeal of its application for closure. Arguing their position, Hartford HealthCare stated, “The proposal at its core is about patient safety and the need to close a labor and delivery service that can no longer operate in a safe and consistent manner.” Advocates argue that the center needs to stay open to provide essential maternal care to an under served, rural population.

Heading on down to Woodbridge, a group of attorneys and housing advocates filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the town. They argue that the town violated the state's Fair Housing Act by restricting the number of multi-family units that can be built. Many feel that the results of this lawsuit may have far reaching implications on future state law surrounding zoning and affordable housing.

In a special town meeting, Thomaston voted by nearly a 2 to 1 margin to limit the number of potential recreational marijuana retailers in town to one. Some residents are currently working on a ballot initiative to prohibit the retail sale of marijuana in the town altogether.

We’re on to September

As we ran through the Connecticut primaries this August and saw some eventful outcomes in various races across the state, we are now back to identifying specific races that might bring us some fall fireworks. The beginning of September signals a serious change in attitude for political junkies in Connecticut. Now that the summer is “over” and school is back in session, voters are back from their beach trips and campaigns are ready to attempt to gain their focus. Some of the best campaigns I have seen this year are run by candidates who have already hit thousands of doors. Many times, those that are getting a knock on the door were not home and now that they are back from the busy days of summer, thousands of volunteers will be spread out across the state ready to engage their potential supporters. Here are a few new races we are watching across Connecticut – plus a fun update!

If you are driving through the Norwalk-Darien area, you know whose lawn sign you will see first and often. It's Senator Bob Duff. His team has already hit many of the doors in his 25th Senate district and this year, he is being challenged by a newcomer to politics, Republican Dan Miressi. Duff has been in this seat for a long time and frequently wins by big margins. While Miressi has been active at events and on social media, Duff has a campaign operation in the city and district that runs like a well-oiled machine. 

Find yourself in Wallingford and you will run into Jack Fazzino – and as a former campaign staffer I will say that he has been doing more work than any candidate I have seen in a long time. Fazzino is running against Republican Lou Arata who ran against Rep Cathy Abercrombie last cycle. Rep. Abercrombie has decided not to run again in the 83^rd district which includes parts of Berlin, Meriden, and Cheshire. This could be a tight race but I have been wildly impressed with how much Fazzino has been out there doing work. One of the best one liners in campaigns we have seen? Fazzino’s “RUN BMC,” which translates to RUN Berlin, Meriden, Cheshire.

Finally, a much anticipated Bridgeport update! Councilman Marcus Brown won the full recount of his primary election against State Rep. Jack Hennessy. This was a back-and-forth race and found its way all the way to a court driven recount with results at a final 573-571. But Bridgeport stays in the news with this race as we now have another court fileting via a cross complaint filed by Rep. Hennessy. Yet again, more to come!

September 2: Man Soars Above the Connecticut - Dog Parachuted into Middletown

Silas Markham Brooks, Connecticut’s first documented hot air balloonist, was one of many native Connecticans who pursued a colorful — if unpredictable — career as a consummate showman in the 19th century. Born in Plymouth in 1824, Brooks worked in a local clock-making factory before being hired by P. T. Barnum to help manufacture props and mechanical devices for his many traveling shows and spectacles. After observing Barnum’s success as an entertainer, Brooks left his employ to (literally) take his own show on the road, moving to St. Louis, Missouri where he set up a Barnum-style museum of curiosities and attractions that he would occasionally take on tour around the Midwest.

Hot air balloonists — including John Wise, a minor celebrity at the time — were frequently among the traveling performers Brooks hired to entertain his visitors. When a balloonist scheduled to perform at Brooks’ traveling show in 1853 fell ill, Brooks impulsively decided to try piloting the balloon himself, in what became the first of over 180 catalogued balloon ascensions by the adventurous Connecticut Yankee. Soon, Brooks was advertising himself as “Professor Silas Brooks, the Great American Aeronaut,” and performed balloon-related events throughout the Untied States.

Brooks’ first Connecticut ascent was made in 1854, earning him the title of Connecticut’s first balloonist — but his ascent above the Connecticut River in Middletown on September 2, 1863 was a spectacle to remember. In front of large crowds gathered on the river shore — and a steamship full of tourists who had bought tickets specifically to get an optimal view of the event — Brooks climbed into his hot air balloon basket and proceeded to rise a mile above the Connecticut River, where he hovered for about 40 minutes. In an act that would be unthinkable today — much less, be thought entertaining — Brooks dropped a small dog attached to a parachute out of the basket. To the delight of the crowds of onlookers, the dog safely landed on the ground a few minutes later. Ever the showman, Brooks also showered the crowd below with leaflets promoting himself and various sponsors before beginning his slow descent back to the ground.

Today, visitors can see one of Silas Brooks’ balloon baskets from the 1870s at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, where it is billed as “the oldest surviving American built aircraft.” What became of the parachuted pup is unknown.

To view the full story on the CT Historian's website, click here.