As June 9 approaches and the end of the legislative session nears, members of the Recovery for All coalition—which includes CEA—gathered at the State Capitol and Legislative Office Building to send the governor and lawmakers a message: invest fully and equitably in Connecticut’s communities.
“We are nearing the end of session, and while we’re working with dozens of champions for education and equity among our state senators and representatives, we continue to make noise outside the Capitol as budget negotiations move forward,” said CEA President Jeff Leake, noting that the budget could be called as early as this weekend.
Recovery for All is a statewide coalition of nearly 50 community organizations, labor unions, and faith groups united in a long-term mission to eliminate Connecticut’s extreme racial and economic inequalities.
On June 3—with the adjournment of the 2021 Connecticut General Assembly less than a week away—coalition members organized a “Hold the Line for a Recovery for All” picket line at the driveway entrances to the State Capitol and Legislative Office Building, where lawmakers enter.
“Over the last several months, we’ve marched in the streets, testified at the legislature, and amplified our message in the press,” said Leake. “Teachers and community leaders are passionate about ensuring that students, families, and communities have the resources they need to succeed, and CEA members have been a vital force in this movement. Right now we’re leading the fight for progressive revenue reform so that the state can invest meaningfully in its communities. Through our united efforts, we have shifted the discussion about the state budget. Now the governor and legislative leadership are negotiating the state budget, and our coalition’s demands are the heart of the debate.”
