NEWS (185)
HARTFORD, Connecticut – On Wednesday afternoon, Connecticut’s Investment Advisory Council (IAC) convened their first meeting of 2024 at the State Office Building in Hartford. State Treasurer Erick Russell opened the meeting by announcing more than $1.1 billion in investment commitments in the private credit and real estate portfolios of the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (CRPTF).
In private credit, the Treasurer committed $125 million to ICG North America Credit Partners Fund III LP and $200 million to ICG Liquid Credit Strategies, including ICG Global Loan Fund and ICG Global Total Credit Fund.
Treasurer Russell also announced two European credit investment commitments. He will direct €150 million to ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund II SCSp and €150 million to a customized co-investment program. This equates to approximately $328 million total, at the current exchange rate.
In the state’s real estate portfolio, Treasurer Russell announced his decision to commit $125 million to Penzance DC Real Estate Fund III LP, $200 million to Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund V LP, and $125 million to Homestead Capital USA Farmland Fund IV, LP.
These investment decisions were based on input and feedback the Treasurer received during the November 2023 meeting of the IAC.
“I’m pleased to kick off 2024 with this slate of investment commitments,” said Treasurer Russell. “These European opportunities, in particular, represent prudent diversification of our private credit portfolio. I’m grateful to the IAC for their collaboration and input in these decisions.”
Also in Wednesday’s meeting, the IAC received several updates from the Treasurer’s investment team. These included an update on Global Equity positioning and outlook, the currency overlay strategy for the Public Markets, a review of the Short-Term Investment Fund (STIF), and a presentation of the CRPTF rebalancing process.
Additionally, Principal Investment Officers Mark Evans and Denise Stake provided an overview of the recommended pacing plans for the Private Equity, Private Credit, Real Estate, and Infrastructure/Natural Resource Asset Classes.
The IAC is comprised of volunteer members who are responsible for providing advice to the State Treasurer on performance benchmarks, investment and shareholder policy, and institutional investment procedures for the CRPTF. It includes both ex-officio members and members who are appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. To learn more about the IAC, visit portal.ct.gov/OTT/About-the-Treasury/Advisory-Council.
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Governor Ned Lamont today announced the establishment of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences, which seeks to grow Connecticut’s outdoor recreation economy by creating partnerships with the private sector. Coinciding with establishing this new office, DEEP is launching a request for information (RFI) as an initial step to expand services and amenities in state parks through partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and other private sector entities.
The first task for this new office will be to facilitate the RFI process to establish partnerships with organizations that share our values for both conservation and outdoor recreation, and ultimately result in enhanced outdoor experiences in state parks.
Governor Lamont and DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes made the announcement at the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in West Cornwall, a family-operated outdoor recreation business currently operating through a partnership with Connecticut State Parks.
“Connecticut’s state parks are among the best in the country and provide the setting for many memorable outdoor recreation experiences,” Governor Lamont said. “Our private partners help facilitate those experiences, whether it be a great day of skiing at Mohawk, tubing with family and friends on the Farmington River, or taking a ride on the Essex Steam Train. There are so many wonderful ways to experience the outdoors in our state, and with this new office and RFI, we look forward to discovering new ways to play in the outdoors in our beautiful state.”
Demand for outdoor recreation has spiked since the COVID-10 pandemic, with state park visitation increasing from just under 10 million in 2019, to an estimated 17 million in 2022. DEEP has embraced these higher visitor levels and the opportunities to connect park visitors with other Connecticut tourist destinations, with the launch of a new, interactive state parks website, ctparks.com. Connecticut’s $4.6 billion outdoor recreation economy also has demonstrated robust growth each year since the pandemic, expanding by 20% in 2021 and then by another 11% in 2022. This is the second largest in New England, supporting almost 46,000 jobs.
Thanks to the Passport to the Parks program, DEEP is able to maintain parks services and operations without charging Connecticut residents a fee to park at popular park destinations. The recent increase in public demand for outdoor recreation at state parks coincides with a historic investment in state park facilities and services. Since 2022, the Lamont administration and the legislature have committed $80 million in capital investments as part of the Restore CT State Parks initiative. This initiative is funding repairs and improvements at more than 40 park locations, from renovations of Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury, to site improvements at Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam.
Against this backdrop of increased visitation, a growing outdoor economy, and a once-in-a-generation level of capital investment in park facilities, DEEP is launching a RFI to solicit ideas and concepts from strategic partners – businesses, nonprofits, and other interested stakeholders – about new or expanded partnerships DEEP could pursue to elevate the outdoor recreation experience in state parks, create new tourism destinations, and provide equitable access to the outdoors.
“Through this new office and initiative, we are elevating the outdoor recreation experience in our parks, creating new tourism destinations, and building on the Lamont administration’s commitment to providing equitable access to the outdoors,” Commissioner Dykes said. “I encourage private sector organizations who share our values for both outdoor recreation and conservation to submit partnership concepts. We’re eager to hear ideas from nonprofits and businesses about ways they could partner with us to provide expanded services and amenities for state park visitors, that reflect our values for both outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation. We want to hear from our visitors about the kinds of experiences you’d like to see result from these partnerships.”
“The initial steps established by DEEP’s RFI are bold, smart, and innovative,” Anthony Anthony, Connecticut’s chief marketing officer, said. “These kinds of partnerships with the private sector have long been encouraged by the Lamont administration, and this one in particular will build sustainable development of the tourism industry. More importantly, it will expand access to our state parks, which are some of Connecticut’s finest and most visited tourist destinations. It’s a win-win for everyone — tourists and residents alike, private industry, and our economy.”
This RFI will seek to add to DEEP’s successful partnerships, which includes canoe and kayak rentals through Clarke Outdoors at Burr Pond State Park; the Essex Steam Train, an iconic regional tourism destination in Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park; Farmington River Tubing, which provides a safe, enjoyable experience in Satan’s Kingdom State Park; and the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area.
Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals are invited to apply to the RFI, which can be found on the website for DEEP’s Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences at portal.ct.gov/DEEP-parks-partnerships.
The RFI seeks to:
- Elevate outdoor recreation and visitor experiences: DEEP is interested in exploring partnerships to provide services that elevate the public’s experience in Connecticut State Parks. Potential services could include boat or bike rentals, events, locally sourced farmers’ markets held in parks, guided experiences, “glamping,” rafting or tubing, skiing, biking, marinas or boat shares, food and beverage, and other outdoor recreation partnerships concepts.
- Expand tourism destinations: State parks are one of Connecticut’s largest tourism attractions, and DEEP seeks to build on our success through partnerships that expand sustainable tourism opportunities and support local economic development.
- Provide equitable and sustainable access to the outdoors: DEEP seeks to establish partnerships that provide all visitors with equitable opportunities to participate in outdoor recreation experiences, such as universal, adaptive, and ADA-compliant equipment rental, experiences, and education.
“With today’s announcement of the new Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences, Governor Lamont is demonstrating great leadership in recognizing the relationship between outdoor recreation and public health, economic development, and state competitiveness,” Chris Perkins, vice president of programs for Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, said. “Connecticut is joining 20 other states around the country who have created dedicated offices and positions to advance the outdoor recreation economy. At a time when the outdoor recreation economy has reached $1.1 trillion in economic impact nationwide and $4.6 billion in Connecticut, we couldn’t be more excited to support the new office’s work.”
“We’re thrilled to support Governor Lamont’s vision for the future of outdoor recreation here in Connecticut,” Neil Johnson, store manager for REI Co-op in Milford, said. The outdoor retailer has three locations in the state and operates a wide range of educational experiences and programs. “Whether you prefer to explore the waters of the Long Island Sound or traipse our extensive segment of the Appalachian Trail, the $4.6 billion outdoor recreation industry provides health, economic and social benefits to everyone in our state. We look forward to working with this new office as we strive to make time outside more accessible for all.”
“Excited is an understatement,” Mick Ferraro, secretary of the Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance, said. “The new Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences will be a game-changer for promoting outdoor recreation in Connecticut and embodies Governor Lamont’s initiative to ‘Make It Here.’ With outdoor recreation contributing more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy, this office is poised to impact the health of our state in a multitude of ways. We look forward to collaborating with the new office to continue increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, supporting economic development, and stewarding Connecticut’s natural resources.”
“I applaud DEEP for their innovation in establishing an office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences to partner with the private sector to enhance outdoor recreation in state parks,” Ryan Snide, president of Friends of Connecticut State Parks, said. “I encourage our various Friends groups to consider and share the RFI with the organizations that they think would be best fit for their local state parks.”
To learn more about the new Office of Outdoor Industry or to submit a proposal through the RFI, visit portal.ct.gov/DEEP-parks-partnerships.
Today my daughter @isabellastrahan joined @robinrobertsgma and myself for an interview about the journey she has been going through on @goodmorningamerica. ❤️❤️❤️
I love you Isabella and I’m always by your side. To all sending love, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
📸 ABC/Heidi Gutman
Formulario en Español: https://forms.gle/Z3hzHzaboDCZUdDPA
Community Navigators will play an important role in providing leadership and engaging New Haven residents in the Vision 2034 planning process. Community Navigators will be involved in engagement across all plan topics, strategizing on how to reach populations often excluded by traditional outreach methods, acting as liaison to those groups/individuals, and trained to host and facilitate public input meetings using a facilitation toolkit. Please fill out this form if you are interested in serving as a Community Navigator. City Plan will select approximately 10 Community Navigators. Priority will be given to applicants based on availability for meeting dates through 2025, geographic representation, ability to engage communities not otherwise represented, and lived experience or professional expertise with major plan topics. Applications must be received by January 28, 2024
What is the Vision 2034 Plan?
New Haven’s Vision 2034 Comprehensive Plan (required by state statute every 10 years) will be a blueprint of the city's vision for the future, and a policy guide for achieving planning goals. It will serve as a decision-making guide for residents, community leaders, and government officials in matters relating to land use, housing, transportation, sustainability, economic development, neighborhood planning, public investments, and capital improvement programs. You can review the City's current Plan, Vision 2025, here.
About Community Navigators
Who should apply: New Haven residents who are involved with and connected to their community and want to assist with direct outreach and engagement of residents on plan topics. Candidates must be willing to work flexible hours, including weekends, and evenings. This is a part-time, temporary position.
Time Commitment: 2-5 hours per week from late January 2024 through September 2025 Compensation: Compensated at an hourly rate ($25/hour) Meeting Dates/Times: Scheduled based on cohort availability. Outreach and engagement will be independently scheduled. Accessibility: Meetings will be held downtown in a wheelchair accessible room with a hybrid (Zoom) option. Bus passes are available. Translation/interpretation services are available for meetings. Masking policy will be communicated prior to the meeting based on Covid-19 rates. If you have an accessibility request, including a request related to Covid-19 testing or masking, please inform the City Plan Department.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesTo perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and ability required.
- Cultivates a welcoming and respectful environment while facilitating community conversations.
- Must be available to work at least 2-5 hours per week as assigned for hands-on programs, and virtual programs as needed.
- Maintain registration, attendance, record keeping, and program evaluations; and communicate with site coordinators about schedule or program changes.
- Participates in required training.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Community facilitation experience.
- Bilingual/bicultural, preferred but not required.
- Experience working with groups of multicultural and under-represented backgrounds.
- Knowledge of diverse communities and ability to facilitate youth and adults of diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
- Have daily access to dependable transportation
- Ability to work flexible hours, including during and weekends if needed
- Effective, active listening skills as well as excellent written and oral communication skills
- Organizational and problem solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills with community
- Knowledge of and/or demonstrate the ability to learn and implement Operating Systems (i.e. Windows); Office suites (i.e. Microsoft Office, Google Docs); Presentation Software (i.e. PowerPoint, Keynote); Spreadsheets (i.e. Excel, Google Spreadsheets); Communication and Collaboration tools (i.e. Remind, Zoom, Skype); Student Information Systems (i.e. Naviance, PowerSchool); or any other technology deemed relevant for this position
There will be many other ways to get involved in the Comprehensive Plan process including topical co-creation teams, informational meetings, focus groups, and pop up events. Sign up for our Department newsletter to learn about opportunities to get involved: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/UuUwN
Vision 2034 Kickoff Meeting Thursday Jan 11
Vision 2034 Launch Meeting
January 11, 2024 | 5:30pm-7pm
Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School BRAMS Hall (across the parking lot from the main school building)
150 Kimberly Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519
Note: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Open House from 5:30pm-6:15pm followed by a brief presentation and Q&A. Spanish and ASL interpretation will be provided.
Hybrid Option
Join us on Zoom for the presentation and Q&A at 6:15pm.
https://newhavenct.zoom.us/j/87374987745?pwd=1lzEbT01wKV8P18ADU1tGmaUSf3ymg.1
Click link Open for Vision 2034 Community
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Mother Emanuel AME Church
Charleston, South Carolina
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. I rest my case. (Laughter and applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, please. Thank you.
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you.
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It’s going to go to my head. (Laughter.)
Please. Thank you. Jim —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you!
THE PRESIDENT: — you know — just say one thing about what Jim has been talking about that confuses me about our Republican friends sometimes — the MAGA Republicans. No, I mean this — I’m being sincere.
Every one of the things that Jim mentioned saves the American taxpayer billions of dollars. Realize if you have a prescription drug from any major drug company in America, I can take you to Toronto, Canada; London; Rome; any major capital in the world and buy the same exact drug for sometimes half the price that you get here.
Look, folks, when the federal government, through Medicare, doesn’t have to pay out as much money, it means taxpayers pay less money, because you fund the federal government — (applause) — you fund Medicare.
Go down every one of these things — it always confused me. They talk about being rational; it’s just about excess profit.
But any rate, I don’t want to get off on that. I’ll get carried away. (Laughter.) I don’t quite get these guys.
Thank you, Jim, for your friendship and, above all, for your — your fellowship. And, Bishop Green, thank you for those kind words. I mean that sincerely. And thank you, Reverend Manning, for — for, you know — the shepherd of this house — to allow me to stand at this podium once again. And to all the faithful of Mother Emanuel and distinguished guests.
I was talking downstairs. I — I’ve spent more time in the Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, than I have — than most people I know, Black or white, have spent in that church. (Laughter.) Because that’s where I started — no, I’m serious. It started with the Civil Rights Movement. I used to go to 7:30 mass, then I’d go to 10 o’clock cl- — 10 o’clock service with the reverend who was then running the church, who’s now the bishop. She’s the bishop. And I’m told your bishop had been there before, in South Africa, because that’s where he is right now.
The point is that I’ve been blessed to worship here before as well. You know — you know, it’s — at moments of joy and — great joy and moments of great pain, in moments of unbearable loss.
On June 17th, 2015, the beautiful souls, five survivors — and five survivors invited a stranger into this church to pray with them. The word of God was pierced by bullets in hate and rage, propelled by not just gunpowder but by a poison — a poison that’s for too long haunted this nation.
What is that poison? White supremacy. (Applause.) Oh, it is; it’s a poison. Throughout our history, it’s ripped this nation apart. This has no place in America. Not today, tomorrow, or ever.
From that day, this nation saw this congregation, this community demonstrate one of the greatest acts of strength I have ever seen — I mean it sincerely, from the bottom of my — the act of forgiveness, the act of grace. It was, as President Obama sang from here, “Amazing Grace.”
It changed hearts. You did something that may not have happened but for your courage. You brought down the Confederate flag in South Carolina. (Applause.) You brought it down. No — you did. (Applause.)
And you helped the nation heal. You showed what America can overcome, what we can be when we want to be something.
I’m deeply humbled to speak from this same pulpit my friend — and he was a friend — Reverend Pinckney spoke from.
We all miss him, none more than his family and this congregation. But just as all the families of the Emanuel Nine miss the pieces of their soul that they lost that day, we also have been together at moments of unbearable loss for my family.
Two days after the service of Reverend — Reverend Pinckney, my son and I — my surviving son and I came back. My family worshiped with you here Sunday service to show our solidarity. But my family also needed to be healed. We didn’t even realize how badly.
Just 22 days before, we had buried my son, Beau, a veteran who was exposed and died because of those burn pits in Iraq for a year. We were — we — we were in more pain than we knew. We came here to offer comfort and received comfort from you. No, I’m serious.
As I listened in the pews, spent time with the families, visited Reverend Pinckney’s office, visited the memorial for the victims outside, I grew stronger. My son, my family grew stronger.
We prayed together. We grieved together. We found hope together, for real — for real. And now it reminds me that, through our pain, each of us — each of us must find purpose.
For me, that purpose was to live a life worthy of my son Beau. And I mean it sincerely. For you, that purpose is for the lives worthy of loved ones lost — to make them proud.
So many of you were there for us during that loss, including my dear friend Jim and Emily Clyburn. Ms. Emily, I miss. People of deep faith. Jim, a great public servant and the best friend you could ever have.
Jim, I’m thinking of Emily today — and we talked about it downstairs a little bit. I know you do every single, solitary day. She was special. And that bond you shared was something to behold.
As many of you know, Jim is a teacher and a student of history. He knows the power of history. He knows the power of truth and the power of lies. He knows what happens when people are allowed to whitewash history, erase history, bury history.
He knows what the Bible teaches. We shall know the truth, and the truth shall set us free. (Applause.)
But the truth — the truth is under assault in America. As a consequence, so is our freedom, our democracy, our very country because, without the truth, there is no light. Without light, there’s no path from this darkness.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: If you really care about the lives lost here, then you should honor the lives lost and call for a ceasefire in Palestine!
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Ceasefire now! Ceasefire now! Ceasefire now!
THE PRESIDENT: That’s all right. That’s all right.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Will you call for a ceasefire?
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Ceasefire now! Ceasefire now! Ceasefire now!
(Cross-talk.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Look, folks, I understand their — I understand their passion. And I’ve been quietly working — I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza. I’ve been using all that I can to do that. (Applause.)
But I understand the passion.
Look, folks, after the Civil —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: You’re an understanding person. You’re an understanding person.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: They don’t realize that. You’re a good man.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.)
Look, after the Civil War, the defeated Confederates couldn’t accept the verdict of the war: They had lost. So, they say — they embraced what’s known as the Lost Cause, a self-serving lie that the Civil War was not about slavery but about states’ rights. And they’ve called that the noble cause.
That was a lie, a lie that had — not just a lie but it had terrible consequences. It brought on Jim Crow.
So, let me be clear for those who don’t seem to know: Slavery was the cause of the Civil War. (Applause.) There is no negotiation about that.
Now — now we’re living in an era of a second lost cause. Once again, there are some in this country trying — trying to turn a loss into a lie — a lie, which if allowed to live, will once again bring terrible damage to this country. This time, the lie is about the 2020 election, the election which you made your voices heard and your power known.
Just two days ago, we marked the third anniversary of the dark — one of the darkest days in American history: January the 6th. The day in which insurrectionists stormed the United States Capitol, trying for the first time in American history to stop the peaceful transfer of power in the country.
We all saw with our own eyes the truth of what happened. That violent mob was whipped up by lies from a defeated former President — smashing windows, smearing blood on statues, ransacking offices. Outside, insurrectionists erected gallows, chanting “Hang Mike Pence.” Inside, they hunted for Nancy Pelosi, chanting “Where’s Nancy?”
We saw something on January 6th we’d never seen before, even during the Civil War. Insurrectionists waving Confederate flags inside the halls of Congress built by enslaved Americans. A mob attacked and called Black officers, Black veterans defending the nation those vile of racist names.
And yet, an extreme movement of America, the MAGA Republicans, led by a defeated President, is trying to steal history now. They tried to steal an election. Now they’re trying to steal history, telling us that violent mob was, and I quote, “a peaceful protest.”
That that insurrection — those insurrectionists were — these are his words — “patriots.” That there was, quote, “a lot of love that day.” In fact, the rest of the nation and the world saw a lot of hate and violence.
For hours, the defeated former President sat in the private dining room off of my — off of the Oval Office and did nothing, nothing, n- — absolutely nothing. His actions were among the worst derelictions of duty by any president in American history. (Applause.) An attempt — an attempt to overturn a free and fair election by force and violence.
Let me say what others cannot. We must reject political violence in America. Always — not sometimes, always. It’s never appropriate.
The violence of January 6th was an extension of an old playbook from the — from the threats and violence and intimidation.
In Atlanta, Georgia, two brave Black women, mother and daughter — Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss — (applause) — they had their lives upended just doing their jobs — menacing calls, death threats, forcing them to literally flee their homes.
Those pushing the Big Lie have a conspiracy theory among conspiracy theories that outweighs them all that there’s what — and — and — but here is the fact. There is where we don’t have facts — their whole theory has no facts, has no proof, has no evidence. That’s why, time and again, they lost in every court of law that challenged the results — 60 losses in courts of America.
There’s one thing they don’t have. They don’t have respect for the 81 million people who voted the other way — voted for my candidacy — (applause) — and voted to end the presidency.
In their world, these Americans, including you, don’t count. But that’s not the real world. That’s not democracy. That’s not America. In America, we all count. In America, we witness to serve all those who, in fact, participate. And losers are taught to concede when they lose. And he’s a loser. (Applause.)
And then, we all came together to put the country before ourselves.
The lies that led to January 6th are part of a broader attack on the truth America today that we all have seen before. The same movement that, throughout the mob at the United States Capitol, isn’t just trying to rewrite history of January 6th, they’re trying to determine to erase history and your future: banning books; denying your right to vote and have it counted; destroying diversity, equality, inclusion all across America; harboring hate and replacing hope with anger and resentment and a dangerous view of America.
That narrow view of America, a zero-sum view of America that says, “If you win, I lose. If you succeed, it must be I failed. If you get ahead, I fall behind.” And maybe worst of all, “If I hold you down, I lift myself up.”
That’s not new in America. Every stride forward has often been met with ferocious backlashes from those who fear the progress, from those who exploit that fear for their own personal gain, from those who traffic in lies told for profit and power.
But here in Charleston, you know the power of truth. Less than a mile from here was once a port where almost half of all enslaved Africans were trafficked to North America and forced on our shores.
And now you have a world-class museum there to tell the truth about the original sin. (Applause.) And it matters.
And I want to thank former Mayor Jim [Joe] Riley for his leadership, who saw to it the museum was built, and for all of you who made that happen.
And with your help, I made Juneteenth the first federal holiday since Dr. Martin Luther King Day. (Applause.)
(The President picks up a handheld microphone.) This works?
Why? Because the truth matters. The truth matters.
With your help, we established the national monument — monument in honor of Mamie and Emmett Till because we heard Mrs. Till’s call — the mother of a 14-year-old son who was lynched and whose body was mutilated, but the mother insisted on an open casket at his funeral because she said, “Let the world see what I saw.” (Applause.)
The truth matters. It always matters. We can’t just to learn — choose to learn what we want to know and not what we should know. We should know the good, the bad, the truth of who we are.
That’s what great nations do, and we’re a great nation — the greatest of all nations.
We’re not perfect. But at our best, we learn from our past and we look to the future. A nation continuously striving to be a more perfect union.
I’m here to speak to another truth. It’s because of this congregation and the Black community of South Carolina and — not exaggeration — and Jim Clyburn that I stand here today as your president — (applause) — because of all of you. That’s a fact. That’s a fact. And I owe you.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: And I’ve done my best to honor your trust. That means rejecting the small, narrow, cramped view of America as well as lifting up a bigger and broader view of America that holds that “If you do well, I do well. We all do well.” (Applause.)
We all do well if every race and background in small towns and big cities is doing better; when our freedoms are protected and we deny hate as a safe harbor; where everyone has a fair shot at a life of dignity and opportunity; and where our democracy works for everybody.
That benefits everybody. I don’t get these guys. Everybody does better, even those folks who disagree with us.
I’m keeping my commitment to you. That’s the America we’re building together. Instead of erasing history, we’re making history. (Applause.)
It starts — and it starts with an administration I committed to — I said my administration would look like America and taps into our full talents and strengths as a nation — starting with our incredible Vice President,
Kamala Harris. (Applause.)
When we came to office, the country was in a depth of a candem- — pandemic which we lost over a million 200,000 people, so we moved heaven and earth to get the country vaccinated, saving countless lives.
With the economy on the brink, we spent — we sent $1,400 checks into the pockets of people who are hurting badly, keep them going.
I said we’d invest in all of America –- all of America –and we are. The results are clear: over 14 million new jobs, record economic growth, the lowest inflation rate of any major economy in the world. But we have more to do. (Applause.)
And we see this progress for all Americans.
We have the lowest Black unemployment rate recorded in a long, long time. More Black Americans have health insurance than ever, bringing peace of mind and dignity to their lives.
I remember when I was a kid. We lived in a three-bedroom house with four kids and a — and a grandpop living with us. And my headboard in my room was up against — it was a little split-level home. It was a — we weren’t poor. We were — anyway, we weren’t — we sure weren’t wealth- — wealthy.
And I remember really, one night, hearing my dad was restless, because the headboard was along my headboard, on the other side of the wall. And I asked my mom the next morning, I said, “What’s the matter with Dad?” She said, “Honey, his employer just told him they’re dropping health insurance.”
What that does is deprives a man and a woman of their dignity. How do you look at your child and say, “I can’t cover you. I can’t take care of you.”
And now, as Jim pointed out at one point — I won’t go into it like I was going to because he said it better — instead of about an average of $400 a month for insulin for seniors with diabetes, we’re now paying $35 a month. And, by the way, they’re still making a profit three times. It costs $10 to make it.
And I’ve been trying to take on — as a couple of you in the audience know from my entire career — Big Pharma. Finally beat them. Finally, finally, finally. (Applause.)
We’re going to go back and make sure that Medicare can no- — negotiate prices for everybody, not just for seniors. Again, it saves the American taxpayers billions of dollars not having to pay Pharma for these things.
You know, we’re growing back — Black wealth, and we have a lot more to do. The racial wealth gap is the smallest it’s been in 20 — 20 years under my watch. More Black small businesses starting up than in decades in the ultimate act — opening a new business, the ultimate act of ho- — act of hope.
We’re taking on housing discrimination in many ways. So, a home owned by — today, a home owned by a Black family on one side of a highway, built by the same builder on the other side of the highway and a white guy living in it, the white guy’s home is valued more than the Black guy’s.
No, I know you know it. But guess what? That’s how you build generational wealth, when you build your home.
Kamala and I are leading the charge — mainly Kamala — to protect the freedom to vote and that vote — that be counted. Defending your freedom to choose. We’re keeping our commitment of providing incredible opportunities, making historic investments in HBCUs: $7 billion — (applause) — $7 billion.
They’re just as good as other universities, just only that they don’t have the — the billionaire contributors, so they can’t put the laboratories together to get the contracts to be the ones that design new aircraft carrier decks, be the ones to design what’s changing — it’s changing.
Providing people a real shot by reducing the burden of student debt — Jim went into it; I won’t go into it as I was going to — $132 billion [million], 3.6 million people — a significant percentage of those students are African American students — despite our friends on the other side of the table, the Supreme Court did [doing] everything we [they] can to stop me.
Replacing every lead pipe in America. You know how many — (applause) — not just some. Every single lead pipe in America is going to be taken out and replaced with a (inaudible.) (Applause.)
Why? Because in mostly poor neighborhoods, that’s where those lead pipes are. And that’s why kids end up with brain damage because of the lead. There’s so m- — I’m not going to go into it.
But, look, you can turn on a faucet for your child and doesn’t get sick from drinking water in their — coming into the home.
Delivering high-speed Internet that’s affordable for everybody — everybody so you don’t have to sit in the McDonald’s parking lot for your child to do their homework.
Producing clean energy so you can finally breathe clean air without leaving home. (Applause.)
Look, I understand it. When we moved from Scranton — I was raised in Claymont, Delaware. More major refineries than any place, including Houston, Texas, and just across the border in Chester. Not a joke.
I grew up with asthma, and most of us did, because of the prevailing winds. We’d go — my mom would drive us to school in the morning when I was young — grade school — turn on — when there was a frost, turn on the windshield wipers, there would be an oil slick on the wiper. Because guess what? It’s all the fenceline communities who get hurt.
Not on my watch. It’s changing.
We know there’s more to do: making child care and elder care more affordable, which would save American taxpayers billions of dollars along the way.
Early in my administration, we were out — we — we cut child poverty in half — child pov- — Black child poverty in half by getting families checks every month through the Child Care Tax Credit. And the other side had — went ahead and blocked it. But we’re going to get it back.
This — look, this fight isn’t ov- — over. We’re going to come back. Because no child in America should ever go to bed hungry, period, period, period, period. (Applause.)
After the historic movement for justice in the summer of 2020, I signed the most significant police reform executive order in history. We didn’t get the law passed, but guess what? I did it by executive order, a significant part of it. But now Congress has to step up and ask and get it — do what I did and make it the law of the land.
Just a few days ago, the defeated former President was asked about the recent shooting in Iowa. Did you hear this one? I’m — it’s hard to believe. You know what his response was, all those kids dead? We “have to get over it,” end of quote.
I promise you — (the President makes the sign of the cross).
We “have to get over it.” My response is: We have to stop it — (applause) — so your children, your family, your friends can leave your home, walk the streets, go to stores, go to the grocery store, and go to church, to be safe from gun violence. There’s no excuse for this carnage.
We have to ban assault weapons. I did it once before, and I’m going to come back again and do it. (Applause.) Ban high-capacity magazines. We have to pass a universal background checks. It doesn’t violate the Second Amendment. It’s common sense, and it saves lives. (Applause.)
I’m determined to continue to deliver on equal justice under the law. I made a commitment to you to nominate the first Black woman — and Jim has already talked about it — on the Supreme Court. And, by the way, she’s smarter than the rest of these guys. (Laughter and applause.) Whoa.
Her name is Ketanji Brown Jackson. Well, guess what? She knows what she’s doing.
And, by the way, as Jim pointed out, more Black women have been appointed to the federal circuit courts than every other president in American history has appointed — every single, solitary one counted. And we’re going to keep going. (Applause.)
Look, I want to make it clear: You all made this possible because of your voice. Your voice was heard in shaping your destiny. That’s democracy.
And I’m proud to have led the effort to make sure your voice, the South Carolina voice, will always be heard, because now you’re first in the primary. (Applause.)
Look, our North Star as a nation is the very idea of an American [America] — an idea.
At once the most simple and most powerful idea in the history of the world — that’s not hyperbole — a fact. The idea is this: We’re all created in the image of God equally. We deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. That covet- — it’s a covenant we made with each other, a covenant we’ve never fully lived up to but n- — we never fully walked away from, either.
And faith and history teach us that however dark the night, joy cometh in the morning. (Applause.) And that joy comes with commands from scripture: “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy mind, all thy soul,” and “Love your neighbor as thyself.” (Applause.) Not so easy. It’s hard. But in those commands is the essence of the gospel and the essence of the American promise.
And in my life, I’ve tried to live my faith. And I’ve many times failed. But I’ve learned, as many of you might have learned in your path as well, we’re all — we’re all imperfect beings. We don’t know where fate will take us or when. But we can do our best to seek a life of light, hope, love, and justice and truth.
Folks, let me close with this. Denmark Vesey arrived in Charleston enslaved — one of too many — too many from a distant shores, wrenched from painful — on a painful journey, not to a promised land but to a land that promised to deprive them of freedom.
But even though they arrived in the land where the life and rife of [a land that would be rife with] pain and persecution, they still believed they had promise, and the Black Church kept them moving.
They had faith. They found scripture. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.
Vesey had his kind of faith. He became a carpenter and a movement leader concerned with the least among us. That’s why he helped found this very church 200 years ago. Only 40 years after the elect- — Declaration of Independence, in this church, your church now, the Black Church has some — come to symbolize the faith and this purpose, to bear witness to those who are suffering, to bring the good news of a future to come, to follow its mission to be the light in the pathway of darkness.
That’s patriotism. That’s patriotism. To love something so much you make it better, no matter the struggle. A patriotism that inspired generation before us to believe that in America we can do and be anything we want to be.
In our time, there’s still the old ghost of new gov- — gar- — in new garments. And we all need to rise to meet the moment, and the moment is now.
Folks, my fellow Americans, this is a time of choosing, so let us choose the truth. Let us choose America. I know — I know we can do it together. And as the gospel song sings, “We’ve come too far from where we started. Nobody told me the road would be easy.” (Applause.) “I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me.”
My fellow Americans, I don’t think the good Lord brought us this far to leave us behind.
May God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Today, we hit a major milestone in lowering costs and ensuring all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care: a record-breaking 20 million Americans have enrolled in health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. With six days left to still get covered, 8 million more Americans have signed up for ACA coverage than when I took office.
The Affordable Care Act is more popular than ever, and Affordable Care Act coverage is more affordable than ever. Thanks to efforts by my Administration, millions of Americans are saving hundreds or thousands of dollars each year on health insurance premiums, and most people who shop for coverage at HealthCare.gov can find a plan for $10 a month or less.
We must build upon this progress and make these lower health care premiums permanent. But extreme Republicans have blocked these efforts at every turn. Their plan would raise costs for millions of people, especially older Americans and small business owners who rely on the marketplace for their coverage, by repealing the improvements I signed into law. In fact, they want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, just as my predecessor tried and failed to do, which would strip these 20 million people of their coverage, end Medicaid coverage for millions more, and return to the days when insurance companies had free reign to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions and charge women more than men.
That would be a catastrophe for families who would face skyrocketing health care costs. I won’t let it happen on my watch. As too many Americans know: access to quality, affordable health care can mean the difference between life and death, and hope and fear. That’s why I will continue fighting to bring down health care and prescription drug costs. I encourage Americans to visit HealthCare.gov before January 16th to sign up for health coverage this year.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather, Flood Watch and High Wind Warning for our region, beginning tonight, Tuesday, January 9th and continuing through most of tomorrow, Wednesday, January 10th. As with most major rainstorms, there is the possibility that low lying areas and roadways in the city could become flooded and dangerous for residents. In addition, powerful wind gusts of up to 60 mph are forecasted – particularly during the late night and very early morning hours -- that could down tree limbs and branches.
A few quick safety tips for everyone:
· Drive with caution as visibility will be reduced and hydroplaning can occur without warning.
· Do not drive through flooded roadways – instead turn around and choose a different route.
· Ensure your vehicle is not parked in a low-lying area.
· Remove leaves away from storm drains to reduce the possibility of flooding and secure any lawn furniture.
· Charge your cell phone and other important devices.
· Check in on your family, friends and neighbors.
If your home loses power, contact your utility company directly. To report any down trees or limbs, call the city’s Emergency Operations Center at 203-946-8221. For any life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.
Thanks for your cooperation and stay safe!
Hola, soy el alcalde Justin Elicker con un mensaje importante para los residentes de New Haven sobre lluvias intensas, vientos fuertes y posibles inundaciones en nuestra área.
El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional ha emitido una alerta de clima peligroso, alerta de inundaciones y vientos fuertes para nuestra región, a partir de esta noche, martes 9 de enero, y continuará hasta la mayor parte de mañana, miércoles, 10 de enero. Como ocurre con la mayoría de las tormentas importantes, existe la posibilidad de que las áreas bajas y las carreteras de la ciudad se inunden y sean peligrosas para los residentes. Además, se pronostican poderosas ráfagas de viento de hasta 60 mph, particularmente durante las últimas horas de la noche y muy temprano en la mañana, que podrían derribar ramas y ramas de los árboles.
Algunos consejos rápidos de seguridad para todos:
• Conduzca con precaución ya que la visibilidad se reducirá y se puede producir hidroplaneo sin previo aviso.
• No conduzca por carreteras inundadas; en lugar de eso, dé la vuelta y elija una ruta diferente.
• Asegúrese de que su vehículo no esté estacionado en un área baja.
• Retire las hojas de los desagües pluviales para reducir la posibilidad de inundaciones y asegure los muebles de jardín.
• Cargue su teléfono celular y otros dispositivos importantes.
• Controle a su familia, amigos y vecinos.
· ¡Gracias por su cooperación y manténgase a salvo!
Si su casa se queda sin electricidad, comuníquese directamente con su compañía de servicios públicos. Para informar sobre la caída de árboles o ramas, llame al Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia de la ciudad al 203-946-8221. Para cualquier emergencia que ponga en peligro la vida, llame al 9-1-1.
¡Gracias por su cooperación y manténgase a salvo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Okay, thank you. Well, good afternoon, everyone. It is good to be back in Atlanta and here at the Gathering Spot, where I have spent some time over the years, but, in particular, to be with the leaders who are in this room to have a continuing conversation — a conversation that many of us have been having for years — around the significance of fighting for basic and fundamental freedoms, the promise of our country, and in particular the right to vote and having access to the ballot and ensuring that access in times where there are, I believe, intentional, full-on attempts to make it more difficult for people to vote so that they will not vote.
When we look at the state of Georgia, in many ways, it is ground zero on this issue, both in terms of Georgia’s history of fighting for the right of people to express their dreams and goals for their country through the exercise of their right to vote. Georgia, of course, the home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the home of John Lewis, of Andy Young, and, of course, many of the leaders who are at this table.
Yet we have seen in the state of Georgia, by example of what is happening in the country, anti-voter laws — laws that have limited drop boxes, have made it illegal to even provide food and water to people standing in line often for hours.
You know, I say the hypocrisy of abounds when one considers what happened to “love thy neighbor” and the concept of just expressing that kind of kindness for people who are standing and sacrificing their time away from other obligations to exercise their civic duty.
We have seen attacks on election workers. I just, before coming into this room, spent some time with election workers who have been working here in Georgia. And the stories that I’ve heard here and in other parts of our country are so troubling.
These are folks who, again, feel a sense of duty to their community, love our country, and volunteer their time, in most cases, to serve, to do the outreach with their neighbors, to — to let everyone know that we’re all in this together. And yet, we have seen, through efforts that are about harassment and intimidation, in many attempts, a plan to deter people from even doing that work of volunteering to serve at the polls.
Many of us have been voting for as long as we were legally able, and, I can tell you, poll workers and the election workers are some of the nicest people you’ve ever met. (Laughter.)
They’re paying attention to what’s happening in the community. They care about the community. Yet, these very people with that character and nature are being intimidated and harassed.
So, we’re here to have a conversation about all of this — about how we’ve seen politicians intentionally draw unfair maps. And I think we all agree voters should be picking their politicians; their politicians shouldn’t be picking the voters.
And — and then, of course, what we’ve seen in terms of mass challenges, where extremist groups are challenging the eligibility of hundreds of voters, and, again, what that is intended to do to bog up the system in a way that creates deterrence, slows down the process that we should all want and require, which is free and fair elections. And, of course, again, the voter intimidation.
And of — this is not only in — in Georgia. We have seen this assault nationally. Over 300 anti-voter bills were introduced last year. And then, of course, just three days ago, we commemorated January 6th.
The President gave an extraordinary speech that outlined what this means to our democracy, to fundamental freedoms, and what we have seen in terms of the — the images that were about a brutal attack on the United States Capitol to undo the will of the voters and the American people in a free and fair election.
So, this is a big issue. And the President and I have been doing our work as an administration, for example, before when — before we got in office, Vote.gov — which many of you have been reminding folks exists and is there to help them — there were only two languages available: English and Spanish. We have now extended that to 17 languages, which includes Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Navajo. (Applause.) Yes.
Before we came into office, federal workers were guaranteed paid time off only to vote. Since we came in office, paid time off to vote is still in place and paid time off to serve as a poll worker. And the federal government, of course, is the largest employer in the country in terms of public employer. And so, this is a big matter in terms of allowing people to, again, exercise their civic duty and their sense of duty without having to sacrifice their — their ability to put food on the table to do it.
And all of that to say the President I will continue to fight on these issues, including to urge and to compel, as best as we can, Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
And in particular, I want to thank Representative Lucy McBath, who is here — there — (laughter) — here, right there; we were together earlier — and Representative Nikea — Nikema Williams for the work that you are each doing in the United States Congress to fight for all of these rights.
And I have seen you all when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off in the halls of the United States Congress fighting every day on behalf of the people of Georgia and the people in our country.
So, all of that to say that we have a lot of work yet to do. And the attacks are clear. The — there is, I believe, a full-on intent to attack fundamental freedoms and rights in our country — not only the freedom to have access to the ballot, the freedom for — for people to make decisions about their own body, for women to make decisions about their own body, the freedom of people to love who they love openly and with pride, the freedom of people to — to be safe from gun violence.
There is so much right now that is challenging us as a country. But when I look at the leaders at this table, I know that we are prepared to meet these challenges and to do so in a way that we will work together — continue to work together to build coalitions and to remind people of what is at stake and, most of all, to remind them that on the issue of voting, their vote does matter. It is an expression of their voice. And these are the voices that lead to good outcomes when they have the ability to have access to the ballot.
And so, with that, I want to thank everyone here. And — and I also want to thank you because in the midst of, in Georgia, the challenges that have taken place, you sent the first Black man to the United States Senate from the state of Georgia and — and elected the first Jewish man to the United States Senate from the state of Georgia. (Applause.)
And so, we are inspired by what you’ve been doing here on the ground, because we know in spite of the obstacles, the people have expressed their desire and will to participate in the future of their country and their government.
And so, with that, I thank you all for being here. I look forward to our conversation. And I thank the press. Thank you.
Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as key leaders in his Administration:
- Jennifer D. Gavito, Nominee to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Libya
- Vanesa Soledad Simon, Nominee for Member of the National Council on the Arts
Also today, the White House will begin renominating candidates whose nominations were returned to the President at the end of the first session of the 118th Congress. Today’s transmission to the Senate will include 25 renominations. The White House will continue transmitting renominations to the Senate in the coming weeks and hopes the Senate will take action expeditiously.
Jennifer D. Gavito, Nominee to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Libya
Jennifer Gavito is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. She most recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq, Iran, Press and Public Diplomacy. Prior to assuming that position, she served as the Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in London and, before that, she was the U.S. Consul General in Munich, Germany. Gavito, a specialist on the Middle East, served previously as Deputy Principal Officer of the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai; Director for Syria and Lebanon on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House; Deputy Director of the Maghreb Affairs Office in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; Libya Desk Officer; and as head of the Economic/Commercial section at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Among her other assignments, Gavito was Chief of the Political Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem and the Foreign Affairs Policy Advisor to the U.S. Africa Command’s Director for Plans and Policies (J5). Gavito earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from American University, Washington, D.C.
Vanesa Soledad Simon, Nominee for Member of the National Council on the Arts
Vanesa Soledad Simon is an entrepreneur and artist who has innovated ways to use the arts in health for herself and others. She is the Founder and Program Director of Healing Through the Arts, which she piloted in 2017. This program works with an array of organizations to bring varied art modalities to communities facing health, environmental and historic traumas. It promotes the use of the arts in non-clinical ways to process stress for wellbeing and encourages participants to develop a creative practice in a supportive environment. Mariposa Arts, Simon’s company, utilizes strategic partnerships at the organizational, sponsor and community level with an entrepreneurial approach to community building that is human-centered and promotes belonging.
Simon holds a Creative Catalyst Certificate, is a Certified Zentangle Instructor, holds a Trauma-Informed Teaching Artist certification and training for instructing Adults as Beginners from Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation, has been trained in Creative Aging facilitation practices through Lifetime Arts, and is a Certified Facilitator for Open Studio Project method.
As an artist, she has participated in exhibitions throughout Argentina, Barcelona, and New York City with an artist collective from Argentina and has exhibited locally in Delaware.
