Ned and Bob Agree On Clean Slate, Education Funding

BRIDGEPORT – Each gubernatorial candidates promised CONECT, a collective of church buildings, synagogues, mosques, temples, and civic organizations from New Haven and Fairfield Counties, that they might assist funding for a brand new clear slate legislation and training. 

Earlier this 12 months, the Normal Meeting handed a invoice that’s supposed to assist formerly-incarcerated folks transfer on with their lives and discover employment by robotically clearing data of their previous convictions after between seven and 10 years, relying on the severity of the crime. It covers misdemeanors and a few class D and E felonies.

The invoice was an enormous a part of CONECT’s legislative agenda for 3 years, however as soon as the invoice was signed there wasn’t any funding to assist people truly accomplish the objective. 

“If elected, will you decide to $3 million {dollars} of funding over 4 years (about $750k/12 months) for a Clear Slate Implementation Workplace to forestall people who find themselves eligible for Clear Slate from falling via the cracks?,” a member of the group requested. 

Republican Bob Stefanowski obtained applause from the gang in Bridgeport Sunday when he mentioned “completely and it ought to be extra.” 

Stefanowski, who’s advocating for returning extra of the state’s price range surplus to taxpayers, added: “When anyone has to rise up right here and ask for $3 million to implement clear slate laws there’s one thing incorrect.”

Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, who expressed issues in regards to the laws expunging felony convictions, mentioned he additionally supported the $3 million. 

“We’re going to do no matter it takes to verify clear slate works,” Lamont mentioned. “The reply is sure and I believe we’re already on the way in which to doing that.”

The group additionally wished to know what the 2 would decide to training when COVID funding runs out. 

“If elected, will you to guide the cost in pretty and absolutely funding our faculty programs now – with not less than $250-275 million new {dollars} – to guarantee that we are able to make a seamless transition from federal COVID reduction funding to student-centered investments that may meet the wants of all Connecticut public college college students promised some 45 years in the past?,” a member of the group requested. 

Stefanowski mentioned he would and took a second to remind the group that he grew up on the nook of Dixwell Avenue and Pond Road in New Haven, earlier than transferring to North Haven to get what his mother and father thought could be a greater training. 

He mentioned each child in Connecticut deserves an important training irrespective of the place they reside. 

Realizing he wasn’t precisely chatting with a bunch that votes Republican, Stefanowski requested them to not imagine the “assault adverts.” 

“Typically I get, ‘Nicely, you’re a wealthy white man, how will you get what’s occurring right here?’ The rationale I’m working is as a result of I would like the chance I had for everyone,” he mentioned. 

Then he requested them to take an opportunity on voting for him.

“It’s time for a change. I do know it’s dangerous to take a change,” he added. 

Lamont, who made $54 million final 12 months in keeping with his tax returns, additionally promised to fund training on the ranges requested by the group. 

“I was a trainer at Harding Excessive College. I do know what that inequality is like and it begins with an important trainer,” Lamont mentioned. 

He requested the group to assist his re-election marketing campaign.

“We went via COVID hell during the last two and a half years and we received via it as a result of we labored collectively,” he added.