FW: Vigil at New Haven Mosque - 6:30pm, Thursday
The Rev. Cass L. Shaw
Please attend if you can, and spread the word!!
Cass
Cass L. Shaw
President & CEO
The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, Inc.
1718 Capitol Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604
“As communities of faith and partners in service
We create and sustain a more just, healthy, and vibrant society”
From: Matt McDermott [mailto:matt...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 11:57 AM
To: Matt McDermott
Cc: Ilana Ofgang; Kristen Estabrook
Subject: Vigil at New Haven Mosque - 6:30pm, Thursday
CONECT Clergy, Leaders & Allies,
A number of you have reached out to see how you could support the Diyanet Mosque in New Haven (and broader Muslim community) that was the victim of an arson attack on Sunday, so I wanted to share that there will be a Vigil tomorrow, Thursday, May 16th at 6:30pm at the Diyanet Mosque at 531 Middletown Ave. in New Haven.
Please come out in solidarity and spread the word to your congregations and communities.
Thanks,
Matt
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Matt McDermott
CONECT - Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut
Follow us: @CONECT_CT
Like us: CONECT.IAF
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Matt McDermott <matt...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 14, 2019 at 10:21 PM
Subject: CONECT Op-Ed on Bport Arrests, Updates on Clean Slate, Parity, & Congregational Security & Blanchfield/Prosnit Tribute
To: Matt McDermott <matt...@gmail.com>
Cc: Kristen Estabrook <kristen....@gmail.com>, Ilana Ofgang <iof...@gmail.com>
CONECT Clergy, Leaders & Allies:
Stick with me here because there is a LOT of important stuff to share:
- Today's CT Post ran an Op-Ed by Rev. Cass Shaw & Rev. Anthony Bennett calling for badly needed leadership at the Bridgeport Police Department after last week's arrest of 11 peaceful protestors and a reporter. Please read & share: https://www.ctpost.com/opinion/article/Leadership-desperately-needed-in-Bridgeport-13840977.php
Legislative Updates & "Crunch Time" Calls / Emails Needed:
- Clean Slate -- SB 691 -- we are making headway in finding support for our Clean Slate bill (to allow for automatic expungement of misdemeanor criminal records for people who complete their sentence and remain crime free), but we need your help in making calls and sending emails to your State Senators and Representatives -- see a suggested email or phone call template below.
- Mental Health Parity -- HB 7125 -- a bill CONECT has been supporting as part of the CT Parity Coalition would require insurance companies to report more data to demonstrate that they comply with state and federal laws that already require insurance coverage for physical healthcare and mental healtcare be treated equally. This bill just passed out of the Appropriations Committee and is now on the House Floor. Again, we need your help in making calls and sending emails to your State Senators and Representatives -- see a suggested email or phone call template below.
- Congregational Security -- SB 876 -- today religious leaders from many faiths and legislators from both parties stood together to lament the apparent arson at a New Haven mosque over the weekend in the midst of Ramadan and to call for $5 million to be included in the Bonding Bill (SB 876) this year to assist congregations of all faiths with capital improvements to enhance their buildings' security in light of so many recent attacks around the world on houses of worship. Please call your legislators and ask that they support the inclusion of these funds for this important purpose.
Last, but not least -- Mark your calendars and get your tickets for an important celebration:
- Come out on Tuesday evening, May 28th, to join in our Tribute Dinner for Rabbi Jim Prosnit & Fr. David Blanchfield as they each retire after decades of tireless service and leadership. Both were founding Clergy leaders in CONECT! Find the details and tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blanchfield-prosnit-retirement-tribute-tickets-61261101604
All your support and action is hugely appreciated -- and do let us know what you hear back when you call or email your legislators.
thanks,
Matt
SEND EMAILS TO YOUR LEGISLATORS, AS MANY AS YOU CAN, LISTED AT:
If you don't know who your legislators are you can find them at:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp
FOR CLEAN SLATE, SB 691, IN THE CT LEGISLATURE!
SUGGESTED EMAIL (Copy & Paste into the Contact form.)
I urge you to pass SB 691, the Clean Slate legislation bill. SB 691 would make Connecticut a nationwide leader in reducing the housing, employment, and higher education barriers of reentry upon release from incarceration by automatically expunging the criminal records of individuals who were formerly incarcerated and have not returned to crime 3 years after the completion of their sentence for most misdemeanors. The bill also offers a better application process and standard for expunging C, D and E felony records 5 years after the completion of an individual’s sentence for those felonies. The changes to the law do not expunge criminal convictions for domestic violence or sex crimes and do not expunge criminal convictions for serious felonies such as rape or murder. Black people in Connecticut are more than 9 times more likely to be incarcerated than white people, and Latino people are 4 times more likely. As such, Clean Slate is one step toward undoing the destructive impact our criminal justice system has on the lives of people of color and low-income people, even after they’ve served theirtime. Clean Slate will also lift Connecticut economically by more fully employing thousands and adding to our economic well-being as a state. Clean Slate Legislation will offer hope and a promise that, if you remain crime free, you have a clear path towards expunging your record either automatically for most misdemeanors or via a better application process for most lower level felonies.
FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PARITY, HB 7125
HB 7125 is now on the House Floor
SUGGESTED EMAIL (Copy & Paste into the Contact form.)
I urge you to pass HB 7125, the Health Insurance Parity bill. Currently, Connecticut legislation requires that insurance providers follow the regulations set forth in the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). These regulations require equal insurance coverage for behavioral healthcare and physical healthcare. However, these regulations are not always well activated by insurance carriers in Connecticut or nationally.
HB 7125 would establish reporting requirements for insurers to demonstrate how they design and apply their managed care tactics, so regulators can determine if there is compliance with the law and specifies how state insurance departments can implement parity and then report on their activities. Passing this legislation is an important step towards ensuring that Connecticut’s consumer rights are protected.
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Matt McDermott
CONECT - Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut
Follow us: @CONECT_CT
Like us: CONECT.IAF