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Friday, November 9, 2018

ENFIELD COURT DROPS ALL CHARGES AGAINST HARTFORD OFFICER GUZIE

All charges against Hartford Police Officer James Guzie, who was arrested August 1, 2018 by East Windsor Police on Domestic Violence charges , have been dropped.

Officer Guzie has been restored to full duty as a Hartford Police Officer and is expected to return to work in the next week.

Charges against his ex-wife Sonia Marie Guzie are still pending according to Judicial records.

JUDGE DELIVERS TEMPORARY BLOW TO HARTFORD'S CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCE

I think most people knew it was coming, but Superior Court Judge Jane Scholl issued a temporary injunction ordering the City of Hartford to allow at least two convenience stores shut down after hours by the recently enacted ordinance ordinance to reopen immediately.

The main argument by the plaintiff's seemed to be that the Hartford Police Department , specifically a single zone Lieutenant, should not be the deciding authority as to who is allowed open and who is forced to close

The two stores , owned by NMD, LLC had filed a lawsuit against the City of Hartford claiming damages by the arbitrary closing during late night hours. Apparently Judge Scholl agreed and issued the injunction yesterday.

The City was ordered to allow the stores to open overnight hours immediately.

It is most likely other convenience stores across the City affected by the ordinance will be seeking similar relief until the case is finally determined to be lawful or not.

YOU CAN VIEW THE ENTIRE CASE FILE HERE

Sunday, November 4, 2018

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE RELEASES KAVANAUGH INVESTIGATION REPORT

The US SenateJudiciary Committee has released the Kavanaugh Investigation . Here is the link to read the report. Some very interesting reading..

  https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018-11-02%20Kavanaugh%20Report.pdf

DON'T FORGET THE BALLOT QUESTIONS TUESDAY

QUESTION 1-

H.J.R. 100: Resolution Approving a State Constitutional Amendment to Protect Transportation Funds Ballot Question  Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to ensure (1) that all moneys contained in the Special Transportation Fund be used solely for transportation purposes, including the payment of debts of the state incurred for transportation purposes, and (2) that sources of funds deposited in the Special Transportation Fund be deposited in said fund so long as such sources are authorized by statute to be collected or received by the state?

Explanatory Text On July 25, 2018, the GAE Committee met and approved the explanatory text that appears below.

Content and Purpose of the Proposed Amendment. If this amendment is approved, it would impose constitutional protections on state transportation funding. These protections, commonly referred to as the “transportation lockbox,” are currently established only in the Connecticut General Statutes. Specifically, this constitutional amendment, like the statutory lockbox, would do the following:
1. preserve the state’s Special Transportation Fund (STF) as a permanent fund;
2. require that the fund be used exclusively for transportation purposes, which include paying transportation-related debt; and
3. require that any funding sources directed to the STF by law continue to be directed there, as long as the law authorizes the state to collect or receive them. 

2018-R-0230 September 12, 2018 Page 3 of 4

Background: The STF. By law, the STF is a dedicated fund primarily used to finance state highway and public transportation projects as well as operate the Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Transportation. The law directs a number of revenue sources to the fund, such as (1) state fuel taxes, (2) most transportation-related fees and motor vehicle-related fines, and (3) a portion of state sales and use taxes. STF resources are pledged to secure bonds for transportation projects and must be used first to pay debt service on these bonds. 


 QUESTION 2

S.J.R. 35: Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the State Constitution to Protect Real Property Held or Controlled by the State  Ballot Question Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to require (1) a public hearing and the enactment of legislation limited in subject matter to the transfer, sale or disposition of state-owned or state controlled real property or interests in real property in order for the General Assembly to require a state agency to sell, transfer or dispose of any real property or interest in real property that is under the custody or control of the agency, and (2) if such property is under the custody or control of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, that such enactment of legislation be passed by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of each house of the General Assembly?

Explanatory Text On July 25, 2018, the GAE Committee met and approved the explanatory text that appears below.

Content and Purpose of the Proposed Amendment. If this amendment is approved, it would limit the General Assembly’s ability to pass legislation that requires a state agency to transfer (sell or otherwise convey) any state real property (land or buildings) or property interest to non-state entities. It does this by imposing the following conditions:
1. a legislative committee must first hold a public hearing to allow for public comment on the property transfer; and
2. the legislation must address only the property under consideration. 

In addition, for property that belongs to the state Department of Agriculture or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the legislation must pass by at least two-thirds of the membership of the state House of Representatives and of the state Senate. 
2018-R-0230 September 12, 2018 Page 4 of 4

Further Explanation. The Connecticut General Statutes establish various procedures that state agencies must follow to transfer state real property. Alternatively, the General Assembly may transfer property through legislation, known as “conveyance bills,” without subjecting the transfers to the statutory procedures. The constitutional amendment would prohibit the General Assembly from transferring property by passing these types of bills, unless the above conditions were met. The amendment would not apply to transfers made by state agencies under the statutory procedures