Mayor Simmons Releases Transition Policy Committee Reports

STAMFORD, CT — Since mid-November when Mayor Caroline Simmons announced her transition team, a number of committees made up of experts, advocates, practitioners and residents have been working on and compiling options for the new administration to consider in the first 100 days and beyond.

Input from the public was recorded through an online survey and a virtual town hall event.

On Monday, Simmons released the transition policy committee reports, which cover:

• Affordability & Housing
• Citizen Services
• Economic Development
• Education
• Equity & Inclusion
• Infrastructure & Environmental Resiliency
• Public Health
• Public Safety
• Veteran Affairs
• Workforce Development

On November 10th, I announced my transition policy committees, which were comprised of experts, advocates, practitioners, and residents who listened to the public and compiled policies for my administration to consider in my first 100 days and beyond. pic.twitter.com/TJAHNifkWr
— Caroline Simmons (@MayorCarolineCT) January 10, 2022

I look forward to working with my administration, the Board of Representatives, Board of Finance, Board of Education, and other key city leaders on these critical issues.

To read the policy reports, click here: https://t.co/nFrzMDw1X8.
— Caroline Simmons (@MayorCarolineCT) January 10, 2022

Perhaps the most pressing issue facing the city right now is public health, as the COVID-19 pandemic reaches levels previously unseen in Connecticut.

Along with COVID-19, the Public Health Committee on the transition team noted that Simmons' administration should focus on "mental health and substance abuse, chronic diseases, and health access and health equity."

With regard to COVID-19, within a year, the committee suggests that Simmons:

• Continue funding for people who are uninsured to access free COVID-19 testing and COVID-19-related health care services
• Achieve 95 percent vaccination and booster rates for all eligible people
• Create a multidisciplinary team that can aggregate and document learning from the pandemic experience into one "playbook" that can help inform other public health strategies

Some of the short-term goals within Simmons' first 100 days include securing funding to sustain the Vaccine Equity Partnership work, and increasing testing capacity and vaccination percentages, with a focus on people residing within high SVI (social vulnerability index) census tracts, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, seniors, and children.

To read all of the policy reports, click here.