September 25, 2021

State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky: Juvenile Crime and Emergency Order Powers

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When the Connecticut House of Representatives next meets on Monday, September 27th, in a special session to vote on a seventh extension of the Governor’s emergency powers, this time at least until February 2022.

Governor Lamont insists that Connecticut’s public health and civil preparedness emergency declarations be extended. Meanwhile, to our north, Governor Baker and Massachusetts, like our own Governor Lamont and Connecticut, deserves high marks for guiding our states through the COVID emergency.

But there is one very big difference between our states. Baker ended his state’s emergency declarations months ago, deciding to share the load with state lawmakers and returning most state functions to normal operations, in service to the public. In Connecticut, one-man continues to run the show, as the state struggles to fulfill its basic human-services, educational and economic responsibilities to the taxpaying public.

In Massachusetts, all three branches of state government are back working for its citizenry, together, and MA residents with issues can again call a state agency like the Department of Labor or Motor Vehicles, get a person or a call-back and timely resolution. In Connecticut, where some agencies are still working at 40% normal capacity, people with issues can wait months and, sometimes more than a year, for resolutions.

One man’s office cannot keep all the moving parts of a state bureaucracy operating to capacity. Managing a never-ending tapestry of priorities before they themselves become emergencies, takes many hands, requires public input and a clear vision for the future to be continuously and equitably improving.

We must also address other priority issues, like 2021’s public safety emergency. I believe the rise in violent crime and wave of juvenile car thefts is dramatic and warrants special-session consideration as well. Unfortunately, the issue is no being addressed. The Governor’s Office does not have the bandwidth to deal with this, on top all else it’s taken on. You can find out more about this issue at www.StopCarThefts.com.