State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) released the following statement after the Bond Commission approved funding for police body cameras […]

The post Senator Hwang Statement Following Bond Commission Approval for Police Body Cameras for Fairfield, Newtown Departments appeared first on Connecticut Senate Republicans.

State Senator Tony Hwang is hosting two Distracted Driving Forums during this year’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month (April) in his […]

State Senator Tony Hwang is hosting two Distracted Driving Forums during this year’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month (April) in his district. The forums will include advocates for social and legal change, regulators from Department of Transportation, and partners from law enforcement. Please find all relevant information below.

To RSVP to the Fairfield forum, click HERE.

To RSVP to the Newtown forum, Click HERE.

State Senator Tony Hwang joined Brad Davis of WDRC 1360 Talk of Connecticut to discuss the controversial exceptions granted to several UConn administrators to accrue excess vacation time. These exceptions have totaled over $200,000 in unused vacation time.

CT-N Video of Informational Press Conference – Hartford, CT  3/21/2019

Watch online:  https://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=16141

Download file: http://ct-n.com/ondemand_download.asp?ID=bhekl

Overlooking the Long Island Sound from Fairfield’s Penfield Pavilion, State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28th), Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), members of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee and Representative Brenda Kupchick (R-Fairfield), Selectman Michael Tetreau participated in the release announcement of the draft Long Island Sound Blue Plan and the commencement of the public comment period.

The event marks the start of the formal 90-day comment period, running through June 21, 2019. Proponents of the plan hoped to give an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the Plan to ensure transparency.

Senator Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), who worked with former Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr.  (D-Branford) in the passage of the Blue Plan legislation in 2015, hosted Monday’s informational press conference and emphasized that, “The Long Island Sound is one of the most important ecological, economic and recreational assets that the State of Connecticut has, and it is critical that we fully understand its spatial bathymetry, ecosystem and impacts of human use to develop a comprehensive “Blue Plan” strategy to maintain and improve the long term health of the Sound.  Please participate and offer your valued thoughts on the Long Island Sound Blue Plan.”

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, who was unable to attend the event, noted, “After three years of background research and preparation, unanimous bipartisan support from the General Assembly and the governor, critical outreach and engagement with stakeholders, ecological experts, and various partners, and countless hours of dedication from Advisory Committee members, the Long Island Sound Blue Plan is completed and ready for public review. We are thankful to Senator Hwang for his leadership on Long Island Sound issues and for the support of so many others in the General Assembly in moving this process forward.”

“The Blue Plan provides an opportunity for all with a stake in the future of Long Island Sound to be heard. We are proud to be part of a process that honors these perspectives, employs the best knowledge and protects what we love—places important for nature and for people. Despite differences, everyone wins in working together for what matters most,” said Nathan Frohling, Director of Connecticut Coastal and Marine Initiatives for The Nature Conservancy.

The Blue Plan, legislation created through Public Act 15-66, is not hard and fast regulation, but rather a roadmap or a guidebook that enables a process by which Connecticut can develop a marine spatial plan to protect Long Island Sound’s natural resources and traditional human uses, while allowing for compatible future use and development. The Blue Plan aims to achieve this goal by creating a series of resources and information that can help planners and applicants, make better coordinated and compatible decisions.

For more information and to provide comments or feedback on the Blue Plan, please contact DEEP.LISBluePlan@ct.gov or visit the Blue Plan website at www.ct.gov/deep/lisblueplan.

On March 20th, 21st and 25th State Senator Tony Hwang, fellow legislators, Officials from DEEP, and members of the Long Island Sound Blue Plan Advisory Committee announced the release of the Draft of the Blue Plan and the opening of a 90-day public comment period.

Members of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee who joined Sen. Hwang for the press conference included Nathan Frohling (Director of Coastal and Marine Initiatives for The Nature Conservancy) and Sylvain De Guise (Driector of Connecticut SeaGrant at UConn). They were also joined by DEEP Interim Deputy Director Betsey Wingfield, Environment Committee Co-Chairs State Senator Christine Cohen (D-12) & State Representative Mike Demicco (D-21), Committee members State Representative Mary Mushinsky (D-85), State Representative Geraldo Reyes (D-75), and State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-136).

The Blue Plan, legislation created through Public Act 15-66, enables a process by which Connecticut can develop a marine spatial plan to protect Long Island Sound’s natural resources and traditional human uses, while allowing for compatible future use and development. The Blue Plan aims to achieve this goal by creating a series of resources and information that can help planners and applicants, make better coordinated and compatible decisions.

The Blue Plan is not hard and fast regulation, but a guiding document that will help all who utilize the Long Island Sound do so more responsibly. Please see the videos below of the Capitol Press conference on March 21st and the local announcement in Fairfield, CT on March 25th.

Click HERE to watch the Capitol Press conference on CT-N

MEDIA ADVISORY

State Senator Tony Hwang, 28th District

(203) 807-8098

CT DEEP AND LEGISLATORS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING RELEASE OF THE COMPLETED DRAFT OF THE LONG ISLAND SOUND BLUE PLAN, COMMENCEMENT OF A 90-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

(FAIRFIELD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency (DEEP) and bipartisan state legislators, Sen. Tony Hwang (R-28th) and Rep. Joe Gresko (D-121st), will hold a press conference at Fairfield’s Penfield Pavilion overlooking the Long Island Sound on Monday, March 25, 2019 at 4:30pm to announce the release of the completed draft of the Long Island Sound “Blue Plan” (www.ct.gov/deep/lisblueplan) and the commencement of a 90-day public comment period.

The Blue Plan, legislation created through Public Act 15-66, enables a process by which Connecticut can develop a marine spatial bathymetry plan to protect Long Island Sound’s natural resources and traditional human uses, while allowing for compatible future use and development. The Blue Plan aims to achieve this goal by creating a series of resources and information that can help planners and applicants, make better coordinated and compatible decisions.

WHO: CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP); Nathan Frohling, Director of Coastal and Marine Initiatives for The Nature Conservancy; additional Long Island Sound Blue Plan Advisory Committee members (invited, please see attached list).

WHAT: Press Conference announcing the release of the completed draft of the Long Island Sound Blue Plan and the commencement of a 90-day public comment period.

WHEN: Monday, March 25, 2019 at 4:30 pm

WHERE: Fairfield’s Penfield Pavilion, 323 Fairfield Beach Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824

#####

From left to right: Sylvain De Guise (Director, Connecticut SeaGrant at UConn), Nathan Frohling (Director, Connecticut Coastal and Marine Initiatives, The Nature Conservancy), Betsey Wingfield (Interim Deputy Commissioner, DEEP), State Representative Mary Mushinsky (D-85), State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28), State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-136), State Senator Christine Cohen (D-12), State Representative Mike Demicco (D-21), State Representative Geraldo Reyes (D-75)

CT-N Video of Informational Press Conference

Watch online:  https://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=16141

Download file: http://ct-n.com/ondemand_download.asp?ID=bhekl

State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28), fellow lawmakers, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and members of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee announced yesterday the release of the draft Long Island Sound Blue Plan and the commencement of the public comment period. To commemorate the release of the Blue Plan, DEEP, Senator Hwang hosted press, legislators, stakeholders, and members of the public at the Legislative Office Building on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

The event marks the start of the formal 90-day comment period, running through June 21, 2019. Proponents of the plan hoped to give an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the Plan to ensure transparency.

Senator Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), who worked with former Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr.  (D-Branford) and former Representatives James Albis (D-East Haven) and Lonnie Reed (D-Branford) in the passage of the Blue Plan legislation in 2015, hosted Thursday’s press conference saying, “The Long Island Sound is one of the most important ecological, economic and recreational assets that the State of Connecticut has, and it is critical that we fully understand its spatial bathymetry, ecosystem and impacts of human use to develop a comprehensive “Blue Plan” strategy to maintain and improve the long term health of the Sound”

“We all recognize the vital importance of Long Island Sound to our economy, environment and quality of life,” said Representative Joe Gresko (D-Stratford). “The Blue plan will protect the Sound for recreational and economic uses while ensuring its overall environmental health for future generations.”

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, who was unable to attend the event, noted, “After three years of background research and preparation, unanimous bipartisan support from the General Assembly and the governor, critical outreach and engagement with stakeholders, ecological experts, and various partners, and countless hours of dedication from Advisory Committee members, the Long Island Sound Blue Plan is completed and ready for public review. We are thankful to Senator Hwang for his leadership on Long Island Sound issues and for the support of so many others in the General Assembly in moving this process forward.”

“The Blue Plan provides an opportunity for all with a stake in the future of Long Island Sound to be heard. We are proud to be part of a process that honors these perspectives, employs the best knowledge and protects what we love—places important for nature and for people. Despite differences, everyone wins in working together for what matters most,” said Nathan Frohling, Director of Connecticut Coastal and Marine Initiatives for The Nature Conservancy.

The Blue Plan, legislation created through Public Act 15-66, is not hard and fast regulation, but rather a roadmap or a guidebook that enables a process by which Connecticut can develop a marine spatial plan to protect Long Island Sound’s natural resources and traditional human uses, while allowing for compatible future use and development. The Blue Plan aims to achieve this goal by creating a series of resources and information that can help planners and applicants, make better coordinated and compatible decisions.

For more information and to provide comments or feedback on the Blue Plan, please contact DEEP.LISBluePlan@ct.gov or visit the Blue Plan website at www.ct.gov/deep/lisblueplan.