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10/13/2024 09:50 AMPress Release, Paul Crisci for Senate
On Wednesday October 2, Paul Crisci's “Pizza with Paul” event welcomed over 100 community members, offering a platform for residents to speak openly, ask questions, and share their concerns.
This informal yet engaging community dialogue was lauded by local radio personality Vinnie Penn, who commented, “What a night! A fantastic turnout, and I personally loved seeing folks who had submitted questions via Facebook show up not only to see them read, but to engage Paul, and even myself, further on their subject of choice. People who care about their community, who are fed up, from Democrats to Republicans, discussing everything from crime to Paul’s stance on abortion. I was honored to be a part of it.”
The event provided a unique space for residents to voice their frustrations, particularly about the rise in crime. One resident, who had been the victim of a hit-and-run, spoke out about how she was left with permanent injuries from the incident—her life forever changed. She expressed her deep frustration that reckless juvenile crime, like the one that left her injured, is often ignored by political leaders. She stressed that while crime is rising, the official statistics frequently fail to reflect the true scale, especially when it involves juveniles who are often unreported in crime incidents.
East Haven residents also raised concerns about the growing flood of illegal fentanyl-laced pills hitting their streets. At the event, one resident highlighted the recent seizure of hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills by police in a drug bust, which were destined for our neighborhood and beyond. Crisci was asked how he would tackle this alarming problem while supporting law enforcement to ensure community safety.
In response to the strong turnout, Crisci remarked, "This evening demonstrated that there is not enough community engagement from our current leadership. Many voters here felt like they didn’t have an avenue to express the issues they face every day, and I’m proud to provide that platform as a candidate for State Senate.”
Crisci also addressed the skyrocketing cost of living in Connecticut, specifically focusing on the state's high energy bills. He said, “If I were at the table, I would’ve sounded the alarm much earlier. The public should’ve been aware of this pending obligation. Instead, the legislature swept it under the rug. Connecticut received billions in COVID relief dollars, intended for covering things like the public benefits charge, yet my opponent voted to give that money to special interests. It should have been used to protect residents from rising energy costs.”
The success of the event not only encouraged civic engagement but also fostered community collaboration, with neighbors meeting and exchanging ideas on how to improve their shared experiences in the district. Crisci concluded the evening by promising, “When elected, I will absolutely continue this forum—not just during election years, but throughout the legislative session. I’ll hold regular video announcements, a revolving ‘State of the State’ address, to keep this community informed. We must seal the disconnect between constituents and their leaders in Hartford.”
Paul Crisci is a candidate for State Senate District 12, representing East Haven, Branford, North Branford, Guilford, Madison, Durham, Killingworth, and Middlefield communities.