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Volume 23, Number 4
ARESIMOWICZ LEAVES THE ARENA
Thursday, January 28, 2021
New state senator: Growing wealth gap a significant issue By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
Rick Lopes started his new position as a state senator representing the 6th District earlier this month with plans to put a spotlight on issues that affect wealth inequality.
House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, a lifelong Berlin resident, addresses the Connecticut legislature on opening day of the 2019 session. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
“My focus has always been a representation of underrepresented populations – marginalized and disadvantaged people who have
limited access to healthcare, quality education and economic opportunities in our country,” said Lopes, who represents Berlin, New Britain and parts of Farmington. The Democratic lawmaker said he supports a tax system that addresses socioeconomic disparities by raising tax rates on the wealthy. See Lopes, A4
A look back, and down the road By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
Joe Aresimowicz is ready to begin a new chapter. Elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 2004, Aresimowicz became a powerful figure in Hartford. The Democrat was elected Majority Leader in 2013 and became Speaker of the House in 2017. Aresimowicz was honored by a variety of groups during his time at the Capitol, including the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, the New England Secondary School Consortium, the American Legion, the Con-
necticut State Firefighters Association, the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, the Alliance of Connecticut YMCAs, the Connecticut State Medical Society and the Connecticut River Salmon Association. But Aresimowicz opted not to run for reelection in 2020, and this month his tenure as state representative of the 30th District came to an end. The longtime lawmaker said he wanted to maintain the tradition of serving only two terms as House speaker and expressed pride in passing the gavel to Matthew Ritter, his 38-year-old successor.
State Sen. Rick Lopes, pictured, represents Berlin, New Britain and parts of Farmington at the Capitol.
See Aresimowicz, A6
Photo courtesy of House Democrats
Vaccine mix-up leads some local teachers to sign up early Miscommunication from the state Department of Public Health to school districts’ human resource officials forced teachers in about seven districts to cancel coronavirus vaccine appointments. “It was like someone gave them a gift then they took it away,” said Brian Benigni,
superintendent of Berlin Public Schools. “They were absolutely looking forward to getting the vaccines.” Benigni said the mixup occurred when the human resources office received an email from the state allowing local officials to upload school personnel for vaccine appointments.
The HR department uploaded the roster and teachers and others began receiving emails to schedule appointments. The district has about 400 employees, Benigni said. The state quickly sent a follow up email stating that only school nurses were eligible, not the entire staff and
advised those with appointments to cancel them. State officials later said don’t cancel the appointments, but many appointments were rejected when the school employees arrived at the clinic. Others were not and the employee was vaccinated ahead of schedule.
”I don’t know how it’s working in the system. We’re disseminating the information,” Benigni said. “It’s not like we were trying to cut the line. I know we’re not alone. It was done inadvertently.” — Record-Journal report