Submitted by State Sen. Norm Needleman
(October 21, 2023) — The following is a legislative update sent by the office of State Sen. Norm Needleman, D-33rd District:
Connecticut Is The Third-Safest State In AmericaWith the release of new statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, crime data from 107 Connecticut police departments representing 98% of the state’s population found that violent crime in the state, including homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, dropped 11% from 2021 to 2022, standing at less than half of the national violent crime rate. Under this data, Connecticut ranked as the third-safest state in America in 2022, with only Maine and New Hampshire coming in with a lower tally. South Carolina, Texas and Arizona, comparatively, were significantly above the national average.Local police departments reported an 11% decline in burglaries, their lowest level in at least 37 years; motor vehicle thefts fell 7.2% and stood 30% below the national average; property crimes dropped 1.6% and larceny rates were effectively flat.
Social Security To Rise 3.2% In 2024From 2023 to 2024, Social Security recipients will receive a 3.2% increase in benefits in a cost-of-living adjustment. This means the average recipient will receive about $59 more per month, according to the Social Security Administration. Respiratory Virus Dashboard ActiveConnecticut’s respiratory disease dashboard, which provides information for flu, COVID and RSV activity in the state, is now active. This dashboard provides information on flu, COVID and RSV illnesses provided to the state, including active cases tracked and hospitalizations. This is the best available resource to track prevalence of infectious diseases in the state, though data will be somewhat incomplete as case totals will be under total infections statewide. The dashboard typically remains active from October to May, the most prominent periods of infection in the year.Youth Scholarship Opportunity Through CCMThe Connecticut Conference of Municipalities is offering a $1,000 scholarship opportunity to all Connecticut middle and high school students. The contest can be operated by students working independently or in groups of up to three; one middle school and one high school project will each receive a $1,000 prize. They must create entries centered on the question “What is Cool about Local Government?” and can create essays, poems, photos, videos, painting, multimedia projects or any other medium they prefer. The deadline is Friday, October 27, 2023. for more information, click here.Connecticut: Make It HereThe state’s new marketing campaign, logo and website advertising the strength of Connecticut is now out, and it reads “Connecticut: Make It Here.” This campaign is designed to foster continued economic growth and instill greater pride in state residents, reflecting the state’s strong manufacturing industry creating submarines, its economic backbone with countless companies, its strong quality of life, natural and artistic strengths and, of course, the best pizza in the country. This new campaign is designed to inspire more pride in Connecticut; while a majority of residents believe Connecticut is a great place to live, work and play, not as many are “proud” of the state or would recommend it to others. For more information, visit www.CTmakeithere.com.
Drug Take Back DayDrug Take Back Day will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a number of collection sites participating around our community. This event is intended to ensure expired and unwanted prescription drugs and unwanted over-the-counter drugs are removed from our communities, preserving public safety. Killingworth Pharmacy will be among the drop-off locations. Find out more at the website: www.dea.gov/takebackday.
