10/1/2004 | Governor Rell Spearheads 21-Governor Letter Urging Passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act |
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"The ability of businesses and individuals to obtain property and casualty insurance at reasonable and predictable prices, in order to spread the risk of both routine and catastrophic loss, is critical to economic growth. The capability of the insurance industry to cover the unprecedented financial risk presented by the potential acts of terrorism is essential to obtain financing to build new buildings, operate businesses, or even conduct sporting events."
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9/30/2004 | Governor Rell Orders Tougher Measures to Protect State Property Against Loss and Theft |
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“We cannot be careless with resources paid for out of the taxpayer’s pockets. I am appalled by any waste or loss of state property. Part of restoring people’s faith in government is assuring them that we are good stewards of the money they send us.”
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9/29/2004 | Governor Rell Announces Faster Timetable for Additional Metro-North Train Cars |
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Governor Rell directed DOT Commissioner Stephen Korta to expedite procedures for getting additional MetroNorth cars on the tracks between New Haven and Grand Central Terminal, accelerating the schedule to begin this October instead of late winter 2004 or early spring 2005. “We need to get these cars into service and we need to do it right away,” the Governor said. “These cars must start going out on the rails the minute they are available. Anything less is unacceptable. Not springtime. Not winter. Now. Connecticut residents who rely on the train to go back and forth to New York City expect us to act quickly – and we will.”
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9/29/2004 | Governor Rell Highlights New Laws In Effect Oct. 1 |
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Governor Rell today highlighted three new state laws taking effect October 1, including a measure that tightens restrictions on financial disclosures and gifts to public officials and state employees.
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9/29/2004 | Governor Rell Encourages Gun Owners to Take Advantage of National Firearm Safety Program |
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"Project ChildSafe does not take away the rights of gun owners. Rather, the program encourages gun owners to be more responsible in storing and handling firearms. All it takes for a tragedy to occur is a gun to fall into the wrong hands. Obtaining a gun lock, free of charge, no questions asked and no forms to fill out, is a critical first step in preventing avoidable accidents involving firearms.”
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9/28/2004 | Governor Rell Declares Tax Relief for Hurricane Victims |
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Affected taxpayers include businesses and individuals located in the Disaster Areas; those taxpayers whose tax records are located in the Disaster Areas; and relief workers. “This hurricane season has been an extraordinary trial for Florida and much of the Gulf and Mid-Atlantic Coasts,” Governor Rell said. “People need a chance to get their lives back in some semblance of order before worrying about paperwork and taxes.”
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9/28/2004 | Governor Rell to Hold Open House in Greenwich on Wednesday, October 6th |
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Governor Rell will greet visitors on the first floor of the Greenwich Town Hall on 101 Field Point Road from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.
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9/28/2004 | Governor Rell Writes President Bush: Sikorsky’s VH-92 the ‘Logical Choice’ for Next Marine One |
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“As you make the decision on who should supply the next presidential helicopter, it is important to consider the message your selection sends to Americans and the world. By choosing Sikorsky, you have the opportunity to showcase the product of an American company that has made a commitment to build and fabricate their product here, in the United States, guaranteeing and creating thousands of jobs for Americans.”
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9/28/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $4.9 Million In Open Space Grants |
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The grants awarded will preserve approximately 1,900 acres in the following towns: Branford, Canton, Farmington, Groton, Haddam, Lyme, Manchester, Mansfield, Monroe, Old Saybrook, Southbury, Sprague and Thompson.
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9/24/2004 | Governor Rell Makes Appointments to State Ethics Commission |
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Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced three appointments to the State Ethics Commission: Rosalind Berman, a former state legislator and Freedom of Information Commissioner from New Haven; Tracy L. Rich, executive vice president and general counsel for the Phoenix Companies Inc., and Carol Wallace, chief executive officer of Cooper-Atkins Corp. The appointment of Rich is effective immediately; the other appointments take effect Oct. 1.
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9/23/2004 | Governor Rell Urges New London Leaders to ‘Safeguard the Potential’ of Fort Trumbull |
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Governor M. Jodi Rell today wrote municipal leaders in New London and the head of the New London Development Corporation (NLDC) urging them to act together to ‘safeguard the potential’ of the Fort Trumbull development project and preserve New London as the site of the proposed U.S. Coast Guard Museum.
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9/22/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $500,000 to Help Complete Stamford Courthouse Parking Garage |
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Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the Stamford Courthouse facility would move toward completion with a $500,000 bond issue expected to gain approval when the State Bond Commission meets Thursday.
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9/22/2004 | Governor Rell, Rep. Johnson Announce More Than $600,000 to Upgrade Unemployment Insurance System |
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"Our goal is to make sure that workers who are eligible for benefits get them as easily as possible. The information they receive must be complete and accurate. This grant should result in lower administrative costs and fewer erroneous payments. It should also save employers time and money when it comes to tax and wage reporting."
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9/21/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $500,000 to Rocky Hill for Silas Deane Improvements |
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The improvements will improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety on the Silas Deane Highway. Some of the money will fund façade improvements for existing and new businesses along the highway.
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9/21/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $500,000 to South Windsor for Improvements to I-291 Corridor |
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The funding will help pay for extensions of sanitary and storm sewers, road improvements and new road construction to help support a proposed commercial and corporate office center.
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9/21/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $500,000 to Wethersfield for Highway Improvements |
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The improvements will improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety on the Silas Deane Highway. Some of the money will fund façade improvements for existing and new businesses along the highway
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9/21/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $500,000 to Cromwell for Sewer, Utility Improvements |
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Cromwell is expected to receive $500,000 in funding to help pay for sewer and utility improvements at the site of a proposed industrial park. Needed improvements at the 93-acre site include the extension of sanitary and storm sewers, drainage, road work and new road construction.
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9/21/2004 | Governor Rell Urges President Bush to Appoint Connecticut Submariner, Business Executive to Base Closure Panel |
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“We need a voice on the commission who knows the value of the submarine base. Gary Bennett brings a wealth of experience and judgment to the panel, as well as personal insight into both the military and the civilian worlds. I’m confident the President will give this recommendation serious consideration. I recognize and appreciate the need to consolidate military bases and save money. Closing the Groton submarine base, however, is not in anyone’s best interest – and certainly not in ours. This is a battle we intend to win.”
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9/21/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $266,599 to Improve Emergency Radio Communications |
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“In the period of uncertainty that often follows an emergency, normal communications can be slow to return to normal,” Governor Rell said. “It is then that we most value the services of ham communicators, using Amateur Radio frequencies, not established public-safety communications systems. By training more volunteer communicators, we can free up police for emergency duties.”
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9/21/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $450,000 for Thomaston Purchase of Seth Thomas House |
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“Helping the town of Thomaston purchase the Seth Thomas House will ensure that this piece of Connecticut’s history is preserved and protected. It is important for future generations to understand that ‘Yankee ingenuity’ helped build this nation and the history of Seth Thomas and clock making in Connecticut is an important part of that story.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces Funding To Protect Long Island Sound |
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“Long Island Sound may be the brightest single jewel in Connecticut’s environmental crown,” Governor Rell said. “We have made so much progress in improving water quality and protecting our fisheries. This combination of state and federal money will allow municipalities to maintain that forward momentum, ensuring this and future generations can enjoy the beauty of the Sound.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces More Than $9.7 Million for New Addition at Quinebaug Valley Community College |
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“The proposed addition to the main campus in Danielson will help us meet the increasing demand there for courses and programs,” Governor Rell said. “We owe it to those who are pursing an education to provide the modern and up-to-date setting and equipment they need to succeed.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $1.2 Million for Improvements at Quinebaug Valley Fish Hatchery |
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“By raising trout to stock our lakes and streams, the hatchery is contributing to the outstanding quality of life we enjoy in Connecticut,” the Governor said. “This is an important state service and I want to make certain it continues without interruption.”
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9/20/2004 | Bond Commission Expected to OK Funding for Improvements at Two State Parks |
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“Our parks are year-round symbols of our state, welcoming many thousands of visitors a year. They deserve the attention and investment required to make them as hospitable and accessible as possible."
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces Over $20 Million in Funding to Support Moving Gateway and Long Wharf to Downtown New Haven |
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"These funds are an important component of the plan to move Gateway Community College and Long Wharf Theatre to new locations in downtown New Haven. The city is already well known for its excellence in education and the arts. This project will help the city build on these strengths, generating new excitement and vitality and spurring related downtown housing and commercial development. The benefits of having a theater downtown are well known, and in Bridgeport and Hartford we are now seeing the value of locating our community colleges in the center of the city.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces More Than $1.8 Million to Repair Meriden’s Hanover Pond Dam |
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“It is critical that the Hanover Pond Dam in Meriden, as well as other dams throughout our state, are well-maintained and in safe operating condition,” the Governor said. “This flood protection is a positive step toward promoting economic growth, protecting our environment and improving the quality of life for Meriden residents.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces Funding to Demolish Old East Campus at Manchester Community College |
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“With the opening of an up-to-date Arts, Sciences and Technology Center on the MCC campus in 2003, the college no longer has to use its antiquated buildings for classroom space,” Governor Rell said.
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9/20/2004 | Day Care Center at ECSU to Get Upgrade |
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“All kids need is a chance – for us to surround them with opportunities to learn and then watch them take off. My goal is for every child to have those opportunities. The Child and Family Development Resource Center at Eastern is a model for the type of first-class experience we can offer our youngsters."
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $1.32 Million to Assist Stranded Motorists |
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The new funds will allow those patrols to expand to southeastern Connecticut along I-95 and I-395, to the Waterbury area along I-84 and Route 8, and to southwestern Connecticut along the Merritt Parkway from the New York state line to the Stratford/Milford town line.
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9/20/2004 | Two Camp Rell Projects Up for Bond Commission Vote |
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“We owe a special debt to the men and women of the National Guard, especially at this point in time,” Governor Rell said. “They’ve served our state and nation for many years, often with little or no thanks. Now we are calling on them in an hour of real need. We must provide our troops with the facilities and support they need at Camp Rell.”
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9/20/2004 | Bridgeport to Get Help With Second Phase of Downtown Development Project |
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“We want our cities to be vibrant, attractive and safe places,” Governor Rell said. “Bridgeport and the state’s other urban centers can be major economic engines of the 21st century. Downtown growth, however, needs to be about more than commercial development. We want homes and neighborhoods for people to live in and love. That’s what brings a city to life and keeps it alive.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $300,000 for Small Business Assistance Program for Government Contractors |
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“Supporting the success and growth of small businesses across our state is an important way to create more jobs for Connecticut’s residents,” Governor Rell said. “PTAP can play a key role by helping small businesses understand what it takes to obtain business from government agencies. It’s all about jobs, and providing funding for PTAP will create more jobs.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $734,390 for Repairs at Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia |
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"We must continue to invest in improving both the physical structures as well as the curriculums of our technical schools,” she said. “They are vital to ensuring that Connecticut residents find fulfilling careers that allow them to provide for their families.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $790,470 for Repairs at Bristol Technical Education Center |
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“Our technical schools provide thousands of high school and adult students with valuable academic education and specialized technical training in over 30 professions,” Governor Rell said. “It’s critical that we continue to invest in the upkeep and repair of our schools in addition to improved curriculums. This is the way to maintain our technical schools as a source of pride for our state and as a resource that will help more residents enjoy successful employment and careers.”
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9/20/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $3.175 Million to Improve Access to Future Home of Magnet School |
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“After years of working on this issue, I am delighted that Governor Rell sees the benefits of these access roads on the Rentschler site to allow for the development and access to the magnet school,” said State Representative Melody A. Currey (D-East Hartford). “This is a project that has been near and dear to my heart, and I am glad it is coming to fruition.”
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9/18/2004 | Governor Rell Asks Federal Delegation to Fight for Federal Heating Assistance Money as Winter Nears |
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“These are programs people literally cannot live without and the state cannot support alone,” the Governor said. “The federal government’s role in this safety net is critical.” Under the current funding levels, and given projected energy prices for this coming winter, “the dollars will not be sufficient to maintain the same level of assistance to the 66,300 households expected to be eligible,” the Governor wrote in her Sept. 7 letter.
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9/17/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $500,000 for Connecticut Farms |
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“This funding marks another step forward in protecting Connecticut’s rural character and in protecting the thousands of jobs associated with agriculture. Our efforts to support Connecticut’s farms are an investment in Connecticut’s future that will pay dividends for generations to come.”
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9/17/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $800,000 for InfoLine |
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“This is a matter of common sense. By making the 211 system’s technology more efficient, we can serve more people and better enable Connecticut residents to get rapid assistance when they are seeking social service advice.”
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9/17/2004 | Governor Rell Tours New Haven Harbor Aboard Coast Guard's New Homeland Security Response Boat |
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Governor Rell today toured New Haven Harbor with senior U.S. Coast Guard officials aboard a new, 25-foot Homeland Security Response Boat, and got an update on efforts to protect Connecticut’s ports, waterways and harbors. Today’s tour of the harbor is part of a broader, continuing administration commitment to homeland security.
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9/16/2004 | Governor Rell Announces the Dedication Of Centennial Watershed State Forest |
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“The Centennial Watershed State Forest, in addition to being the state’s largest open space acquisition, also bears the distinction of being the first new state forest designated in more than 30 years.”
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9/15/2004 | Governor Rell and Representative Shays Announce $225,000 to Improve Public Safety in Bridgeport |
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Governor Rell and Representative Shays announced a $225,000 grant for the Bridgeport Police Department’s Weed and Seed Program that will extend the law enforcement initiative into the city’s East End and Eastside neighborhoods.
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9/14/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $321,850 to Train Police in Threat Response |
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Governor Rell said, “This funding is critical to the success of local law enforcement. Officers across the state will receive innovative, specialized training in how best to respond to and prevent domestic threats to our security."
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9/14/2004 | Governor Rell Names Jennifer Smith Turner Deputy Commissioner of DECD |
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“I have asked Jennifer to focus on the growth and nurturing of Connecticut’s small-business community, including minority and women-owned businesses,” Governor Rell said. “Her skills will also be valuable in DECD’s dealings with the critically important areas of housing and community development. She is a bright, articulate woman who will bring leadership and a new level of energy to our job creation efforts.”
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9/14/2004 | Governor Rell Receives Ethics Compliance Audit of State Agencies, Identifies Potential Improvements |
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The Ethics Compliance Audit finds potential for improvements in ethics laws, training, compliance monitoring, and enforcement. The report identifies 14 areas for improvement, ranging from the way ethics policies are communicated to new and existing employees to requirements for keeping the policies of individual agencies up-to-date with changes in state law.
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9/13/2004 | Governor Rell Declares National Preparedness Month |
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Families in Connecticut can take steps to ensure their safety before an emergency occurs. These steps include assembling an emergency supply kit with the basics for survival and developing a family communications plan so each family member knows how to react in a variety of emergency situations. “My administration has made homeland security a priority. But we cannot do it alone. We are calling on the people of Connecticut to do their part in ensuring their families are safe and sound,” Governor Rell said.
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9/13/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $2 Million to Assist Police Responding to People With Behavioral Problems |
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The Governor said police officers in Hartford, New London, Waterbury, and West Haven will be trained during the first year. Gov. Rell said, "Pre-arrest diversion programs can ensure that people who have committed minor offenses and need treatment rather than incarceration are met with compassion. For these programs to succeed you need front-line law enforcement personnel who have the right attitude, enhanced awareness and up-to-date training. Over the next few years we want to be able to say that every department in the state has received this training.”
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9/13/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $2 Million to Assist Police Responding to People With Behavioral Problems |
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The Governor said police officers in Hartford, New London, Waterbury, and West Haven will be trained during the first year. Gov. Rell said, "Pre-arrest diversion programs can ensure that people who have committed minor offenses and need treatment rather than incarceration are met with compassion. For these programs to succeed you need front-line law enforcement personnel who have the right attitude, enhanced awareness and up-to-date training. Over the next few years we want to be able to say that every department in the state has received this training.”
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9/10/2004 | September 11, 2004: Our Renewed Sense of Duty |
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"The 9/11 Living Memorial at Sherwood Island State Park is etched with the names of those lost. This living memorial truly stands the test of time and will continue to help us strengthen our resolve. Together, we should strive for a world in which these horrors of 2001 can never again happen here or anywhere. On behalf of all the citizens of our state, Connecticut families who lost loved ones have our heartfelt thoughts and our hope for the days and years to come."
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9/10/2004 | Official Proclamation from Governor M. Jodi Rell |
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9/10/2004 | Governor Rell Issues Day of Remembrance Proclamation |
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The Governor asked that state residents observe a moment of silence this Saturday at 8:46 a.m.
The Governor also directed that on September 11, Connecticut state flags be flown at half-staff through sundown.
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9/9/2004 | Governor Rell Forms Panel to Search for Connecticut's Homeland Security Commissioner |
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“Connecticut needs an expert to lead this agency – someone who has an in-depth understanding of the practices, procedures, and technologies in homeland security. I am confident that this search committee will recommend a candidate whose priorities for homeland security will match mine and those of the residents of Connecticut.”
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9/9/2004 | Governor Rell Orders Field Testing for Emissions Inspections Program |
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“Field testing the system during this period will allow the state to evaluate the integrity and reliability of the emissions testing system. Following completion of the field testing and a full review of the results, a decision will be made on reinstating full-scale testing for the general public.”
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9/8/2004 | Governor Rell Puts Computer Staff Transfers on Hold; New Commissioner Will Advise on Future Operations |
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Governor Rell today announced that she is suspending the decision by the previous administration to consolidate all state computer personnel as employees of the Department of Information and Technology (DOIT). The Governor’s action puts on hold the transfer of some 350 information and technology employees in various state agencies to the direct management of DOIT. The consolidation had been planned to take effect Oct. 1.
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9/7/2004 | A Blueprint for Restoring Integrity in State Government |
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"Let us consider how America has become the most productive nation on Earth. We did it by playing by the rules and by doing the right thing. Connecticut, the Constitution State, has always been guided by good leadership and good laws. When it comes to our broken contracting process, now is the time for both."
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9/3/2004 | Governor Rell Leading Effort Seeking Review and Reform of BIA Tribal Recognition Process |
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"I will work closely with our delegation to push for a complete review and overhaul of the federal recognition process. We must guarantee that all decisions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs are made in full accord with established laws and regulations. We will also continue our vigorous appeal of the two most recent recognition decisions.”
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9/3/2004 | Governor Rell Announces Major Agreement with Wadsworth Atheneum to Boost Adriaen's Landing |
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The venerable Wadsworth Atheneum will become one of the developers of the residential/retail district at Adriaen’s Landing.
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9/2/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $225,000 to Improve Public Safety in South Norwalk |
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“These funds will not only bolster community policing in South Norwalk, but they will also support empowerment initiatives such as job training, neighborhood restoration, and homeownership programs.”
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9/2/2004 | Governor Rell Contests EPA's Clean Air Ruling |
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Gov. Rell said that the state disagrees with a preliminary ruling by the federal government that New Haven and Fairfield counties violate federal clean air rules. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a proposed ruling in June that the counties had high levels of soot. The two-county region would have to set up stricter air pollution controls by 2008. The ruling “will impose significant administrative burdens on the state without achieving any measurable public health benefit.”
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9/1/2004 | Governor Rell Says Task Force Report "Vital First Step" in Contracting Reform |
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“I can assure the people of Connecticut that this will not be a government report that sits on a shelf gathering dust. Rather, this is our blueprint for action in addressing problems that have long needed to be addressed. This is a very comprehensive report that shakes up the status quo. Not everyone will be happy with every recommendation. But, taken together, the report and its recommendations clearly outline a series of significant steps that could be taken to attain the highest standards of integrity and public confidence in the state’s contracting system.”
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9/1/2004 | Governor Rell Announces $22.8 Million for Substance Abuse Treatment Services |
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“This is the largest competitive federal grant award that the state has ever received to support substance abuse treatment and recovery services. The grant was awarded because the federal government recognizes the tremendous collaboration that has evolved in Connecticut between state government, the faith community, and recovery community groups. It also recognizes that Connecticut is building a recovery-oriented system of care where quality is the highest priority.”
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