A Message from the “Rich Knows Bethel” Campaign
To Bethel Voters, Special Election Day, Tuesday, February 7th , is almost here. The “Rich Knows Bethel” Campaign, its campaign manager and, most importantly Rich Straiton, would like to th...
BETHEL DEMOCRATS: “Good for Bethel”
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee (BDTC) is the official local organization of the Connecticut Democratic Party in the town of Bethel. We are a group elected to represent Bethel’s Democrats, and we endeavor to improve our town through community engagement and political involvement. We aim to be a progressive voice for the town of Bethel, and will always support what is in the best interest of the entire community and all its people.
Around Town
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
News from the BDTC and opinion pieces from our members and candidates.
- February 5, 2023
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Bethel Democrats
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee works to promote Bethel's Democrats for public office in Bethel
Current law in CT makes it difficult for prosecutors to charge perpetrators of intimate partner killings with murder, even when there is a pattern of abuse leading up to the killing by claiming that they acted in the “heat of passion”.
Avoiding a murder charge often means pleading down to a lesser manslaughter charge, meaning these violent killers will often serve sentences shorter than the length of time they had been abusing their victims. This goes against our principles of justice and public policy.
This needs to change.
Read my op-ed here: www.courant.com/2023/05/19/raghib-allie-brennan-in-ct-domestic-violence-and-intimate-partner-murd...
Avoiding a murder charge often means pleading down to a lesser manslaughter charge, meaning these violent killers will often serve sentences shorter than the length of time they had been abusing their victims. This goes against our principles of justice and public policy.
This needs to change.
Read my op-ed here: www.courant.com/2023/05/19/raghib-allie-brennan-in-ct-domestic-violence-and-intimate-partner-murd...
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced last week that Bethel will be joining 15 other municipalities in receiving grant funds ($42,000) to implement innovative pilot programs to collect residential food scraps and reduce trash.
The state has a shortfall in disposal capacity with an estimated 40% of Connecticut’s waste being shipped out of state for disposal, mostly to landfills. Twenty-two percent of what we throw away are heavy food scraps that, when diverted from the waste stream, help to reduce the costs of disposal as municipalities pay by weight. Food scraps can be recycled and converted for other uses, such as compost, energy, and animal feed.
These new pilot programs will be implementing food scrap collection for residents at their town Transfer Stations and encouraging residents to “cut their trash in half” by trying to increase the amount of food scraps diverted the waste stream. Residents will also be able to separate household food scraps and drop off at their local Transfer Station.
The state has a shortfall in disposal capacity with an estimated 40% of Connecticut’s waste being shipped out of state for disposal, mostly to landfills. Twenty-two percent of what we throw away are heavy food scraps that, when diverted from the waste stream, help to reduce the costs of disposal as municipalities pay by weight. Food scraps can be recycled and converted for other uses, such as compost, energy, and animal feed.
These new pilot programs will be implementing food scrap collection for residents at their town Transfer Stations and encouraging residents to “cut their trash in half” by trying to increase the amount of food scraps diverted the waste stream. Residents will also be able to separate household food scraps and drop off at their local Transfer Station.
Early voting clears the House!Last year, Connecticut voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on early voting, and we are answering the call. Last night, the House of Representatives approved H.B. 5004, a measure that will allow early voting in our state beginning in 2024.
The bill will require municipalities to operate at least one polling location for 14 days prior to a November general election, seven days ahead of an August primary election, and four days for a special election or presidential primary. Voters will be permitted to register to vote on early voting days except those ahead of primary elections.
This legislation modernizes the state's elections and allows for more convenience and fairness in the process, reflecting the realities of hectic modern-day life.
Passage of this bill takes Connecticut one step closer to joining 46 other states in offering early in-person voting and improving access to the ballot box for all eligible Connecticut voters.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
The bill will require municipalities to operate at least one polling location for 14 days prior to a November general election, seven days ahead of an August primary election, and four days for a special election or presidential primary. Voters will be permitted to register to vote on early voting days except those ahead of primary elections.
This legislation modernizes the state's elections and allows for more convenience and fairness in the process, reflecting the realities of hectic modern-day life.
Passage of this bill takes Connecticut one step closer to joining 46 other states in offering early in-person voting and improving access to the ballot box for all eligible Connecticut voters.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
Training - Forming a Local Slate & All About Caucuses · Connecticut Democrats
www.mobilize.us
Join CT Dems Vice Chair Jimmy Tickey, DTC Chairs from every Congressional District, and leaders of our constituent caucuses for a free, informative training session via Zoom. We'll talk about forming ...
The polls are open! Please don’t forget to vote today in the annual budget referendum. Voting takes place at your usual location. Please check with the registrars or the town clerk’s office if you have any questions.
Last week, the Energy and Technology Committee took a step towards our second overhaul of electric utility accountability and regulation in three years with a bipartisan committee vote on Senate Bill 7 aimed at cutting consumer costs.
The legislation I helped pass, which contains two dozen sections, next heads to the state Senate. This bill would allow state regulators to consider the state's consumers, economy, and inflation when considering future rate hikes; strengthen the ability of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority's (PURA) to require more rigorous rate hearings; and that customers get more consideration. Some utility legal fees, executive pay hikes, lobbying efforts, and charitable contributions would also be prohibited from inclusion in utility rate increases. This bill is still evolving and I look forward to helping get it across the finish line.
In 2020, I helped pass the “Take Back Our Grid Act”. Among other things, it directed PURA to establish performance-based regulation that is tied to specific goals and metrics, not simply the cost of providing service. Senate Bill 7 is an extension of the 2020 bill to add more tools in the toolbox for our regulatory authority.
Connecticut has limited authority over the electric rates charged by Eversource and United Illuminating, regulating only the cost of distributing electricity to homes and businesses, not the source of its supply. More than half of consumers’ bills are the cost of generating electricity, which is set by a competitive market.
I will continue to keep you updated on the progress of Senate Bill 7.
The legislation I helped pass, which contains two dozen sections, next heads to the state Senate. This bill would allow state regulators to consider the state's consumers, economy, and inflation when considering future rate hikes; strengthen the ability of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority's (PURA) to require more rigorous rate hearings; and that customers get more consideration. Some utility legal fees, executive pay hikes, lobbying efforts, and charitable contributions would also be prohibited from inclusion in utility rate increases. This bill is still evolving and I look forward to helping get it across the finish line.
In 2020, I helped pass the “Take Back Our Grid Act”. Among other things, it directed PURA to establish performance-based regulation that is tied to specific goals and metrics, not simply the cost of providing service. Senate Bill 7 is an extension of the 2020 bill to add more tools in the toolbox for our regulatory authority.
Connecticut has limited authority over the electric rates charged by Eversource and United Illuminating, regulating only the cost of distributing electricity to homes and businesses, not the source of its supply. More than half of consumers’ bills are the cost of generating electricity, which is set by a competitive market.
I will continue to keep you updated on the progress of Senate Bill 7.
Your town needs you!
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee is looking for volunteers interested in both running for elected office in November, as well as any registered Democrats, who might be interested in joining the town committee itself. 
If you have a passion for service within your community and are looking for ways to make a tangible difference right here at home, please get in touch!
Simply comment below, or send us a direct message. We look forward to hearing from you! 
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee is looking for volunteers interested in both running for elected office in November, as well as any registered Democrats, who might be interested in joining the town committee itself. 
If you have a passion for service within your community and are looking for ways to make a tangible difference right here at home, please get in touch!
Simply comment below, or send us a direct message. We look forward to hearing from you! 
Stop by tonight for a great cause!I'm excited to share that I will be joining Lou Milano of i95 Rock as one of the “celebrity bartenders” at the new Gallo Family Restaurant (116 Newtown Road, Danbury where Outback used to be) on Thursday February 23rd for a fundraiser benefitting the Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund.
The event begins at 6:00 PM and goes until 9:00 PM. All bar tips and 10% of the proceeds will be donated.
The Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization established to create the first memorial in our state to honor all Connecticut residents who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The memorial will be at Rogers Park in Danbury.
The event begins at 6:00 PM and goes until 9:00 PM. All bar tips and 10% of the proceeds will be donated.
The Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization established to create the first memorial in our state to honor all Connecticut residents who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The memorial will be at Rogers Park in Danbury.
Bethel’s voters, at a glance…
3,990
DEMOCRATS
3,152
REPUBLICANS
5,524
UNAFFILIATED or MINOR PARTY
12,666
REGISTERED VOTERS