Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

 Rep. Chris Caruso, D-Bridgeport, and other opponents to the $20 million girls’ treatment and detention center on Virginia Avenue in Bridgeport, have apparently won the war. Rell has withdrawn the new facility from the March 16 State Bond Commission agenda and is issuing a new request for proposal. Here’s the governor’s news release:

           ” Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that – in view of united legislative opposition from both Bridgeport and Hamden – she has directed the state Department of Public Works to issue a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for a planned secure juvenile treatment center for girls, soliciting offers along three different pathways.

            The treatment center – a home- and school-like facility for girls age 18 and under – would have 16 secure beds and eight beds for girls transitioning from the secure center back to community residential facilities. Governor Rell originally proposed locating the facility on state-owned land in Bridgeport, a plan that drew opposition from Bridgeport-area lawmakers and city officials. The Bridgeport officials suggested instead that the treatment center be placed at the now-closed High Meadows Residential Facility in Hamden – a plan that the Hamden delegation, in turn, also opposed.

            “This treatment center is already long overdue – the state has been without a secure facility for young girls since the Long Lane School in Middletown was closed in 2003,” Governor Rell said. “Sadly for the young girls in need, efforts to site this facility have encountered one obstacle after another. However, I believe that through the RFP process we can quickly identify a community that will welcome the project and move ahead in a timely fashion.

            “My goal with this project has always been to do what is best for the girls who desperately need treatment in a secure location,” Governor Rell said. “I know that, with help, these girls can turn their lives around. By structuring this RFP around three different scenarios, we can entertain a wide range of potential locations and operating plans, which should also help complete this project at the lowest possible cost to Connecticut’s taxpayers.”

            The three construction and operation scenarios outlined in the RFP are:

• A private entity would buy land, build and operate the facility for the state
• A private entity would buy land, build and own the facility, which would be operated by the Department of Children and Families (DCF)
• A municipality would donate land or sell it at nominal cost in exchange for payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) funding, while DCF would build and operate the facility

            The RFP calls for responses within 60 days.

            The treatment center will include classrooms, meeting areas, a dining room and kitchen, sleeping quarters and recreational areas. The RFP stresses that the design should be home- and school-like, noting that the goal is to provide treatment in the least restrictive setting possible.

            The RFP requires that potential locations have direct, easy access to state highways and be located on or near bus routes – so that family members will be able to visit girls who are receiving treatment – and have adequate, on-site parking. These requirements were among Governor Rell’s original reasons for proposing that the facility be located on state-owned land on Virginia Avenue in Bridgeport.”

 Remember Lawrence M. Hurley, Jr. of Shelton, CT, the former state prosecutor who was nabbed for using funds from criminal defendants for his personal use? He’s agreeed to a $2,000 civil fine for violating the Code of Ethics.

 Here’s some of the release from the Office of State Ethics.

“According to the consent order finalized on March 1, 2010 with the Office of State Ethics (OSE), Hurley was employed until February 2007 as a Supervisory Assistant to State’s Attorney in the State’s Attorney’s Office at the Superior Court in Milford.

In that position, he had access to funds paid by criminal defendants, pursuant to court order, that were intended to provide restitution to victims of crimes, or to be used as charitable donations.  Hurley used his access to these funds to divert money meant for crime victims and charities for his own personal use.

Connecticut law prohibits a state employee from using his public office or position to obtain financial gain for himself.

In addition to the $2,000 civil penalty, Hurley may neither hold nor seek state employment for two years.  Further, he may not enter into or seek any state contract for services for a two-year period.”

“The Code of Ethics seeks to prevent public officials from using their positions for personal, financial gain,” said OSE Executive Director, Carol Carson. “State employees must have an acute awareness that public office is for the public’s benefit, not their personal benefit.”

Laura Hoydick, who’s taking over the state rep seat vacated by the newly minted Stratford Mayor John Harkins, will be sworn in Monday at 11 o’clock in Gov. Rell’s office. She’ll bring the GOP House strength back up to 37, compared to the 114 Democrats. She has the next few months to wonder why she ran for election with the state finances in such a gloomy condition.

The General Assembly’s agenda this morning includes a bill to allow dogs to hang out with their people at state-park campgrounds. Another one would limit the length of boats on Candlewood Lake.

Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board Chairman G. Kenneth Bernhard of Westport, who was caught giving campaign contributions against state rules that his board oversees, has quit. “I have had a few days to consider recent events…It is apparent that my service will be a distraction to the important work that the Board does for the people of our state and I cannot permit that to happen,” said the attorney and former member of the state House.

 The CEAB will continue to its investigation into Bernhard’s actions, which included a $100 check to Gov. Jodi Rell’s campaign.

Maybe they need higher standards for entry into the University of Connecticut. Or at least a better version of spell check. The following is a release from some students who want to come to the Capitol to protest tuition hikes, assuming they can read a map. They certainly can’t spell “legislative” or “legislators.”

Here’s the release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UCONN STUDENTS RETURN TO CAPITOL TO DEMAND ANSWERS AND ALSO HOLD FACULTY STUDENT FORUM AT STORRS.

Date: Thursday, March 4^th.

Time: 12pm-3, 6-8pm

Place: State Capitol Legistlative Office Building

UConn students will be returning to the state capitol Thursday to continue the pressure on state legistlators to keep higher education a priority. UConn students hope to continue to engage all members of the CT community in finding solutions to our current fiscal crisis. To that end we will also be hosting a combined Faculty/Student meeting to discuss the current issues surrounding our campaign and develop a cohesive plan to mitigate the looming budget cuts. With so many states facing much worse financial situations, we believe it is imperative that we act now to save higher education in CT.

All members of the Connecticut community are welcome to join us for any part of our day.

For more information or comments please contact:

Jason Ortiz: 860 639 8101  jasonjortiz@gmail.com

Nina Hunter:  860 786 8579 hunter415@gmail.com

Among the bills on the Energy and Technology Committee’s list for public hearing today, is legislation that would allow the state commissioner of Transportation to order all lights on limited-access highwys to be shut off at 1 a.m. It’s an attempt to save on the state’s $50-million annual cost of electricity. Gee, if only the lane markers were bright enough to be seen, maybe drivers could figure out where their lanes would be. If this passes, a little drunken driving, heaven forbid on a snowy night, could go a long way toward more carnage on the interstates.

The AP’s reporting that Rob Simmons’ campaign for GOP Senate nomination lifted some material verbatim from the National Federation of Independent Businesse. It’s called plagiarism. ”Regrettably, in a very small section of the plan, one of our young staffers who helped draft the language made the mistake of borrowing words from another source,” his campaign just said. “Rob Simmons takes this issue seriously, the staffer has been admonished, and the part of the plan in question will be immediately re-worded.” 

 In case you don’t think they’re playing hardball with Greenwich wrestling czarina Linda McMahon, the statement continues: “Linda McMahon is in no position to talk about credibility on jobs given spent last year receiving millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded subsidies designed to create jobs, then turning around and slashing jobs after taking them money, and then receiving millions more from the Wall Street bailout bill she supports.  At least this kid’s mistake didn’t cost taxpayers over $800 billion.