www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 23, Number 2
Thursday, January 14, 2021
State, local leaders appalled by the events of Jan. 6
FEELING BLUE?
State and local leaders condemned and lamented the mob violence at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The Twitter account representing state senate GOP members called the civil disruption “unacceptable in any circumstance as were all of the violent protests we have seen over the last six months.”
Weather conditions and the pandemic nearly caused Augie Miller’s eye-catching blue light display at 172 Chamberlain Highway to be cancelled this winter. But not quite. See story on Page 15. Aaron Flaum, Record-Journal
Resolution calls for Lamont to discuss spike in car crimes By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
The Town Council passed a resolution last week urging Gov. Ned Lamont to address the ongoing spike in car theft and break-ins.
break-ins has also spiked. Through Nov. 30, police recorded 255 reported cases. Last year during the same time period they recorded 52.
“This resolution is asking for a conversation,” Mayor Mark Kaczynski said. “The Berlin Town Council supports and strongly encourages a meeting with the governor to partner and identify solutions in the best interest of all stakeholders.”
Klett told the council most of the crime is being carried out by groups of juveniles. The resolution called for “meaningful and impactful” juvenile justice reform that would toughen the consequences for juvenile crime and balance the “need to protect youth with the need to protect residents.”
Mayor Mark Kaczynski, left, and the Town Council are calling on Gov. Ned Lamont, right, to address the growing problem of car thefts and break-ins in Berlin. Sixtyfour cars were stolen in town in 2020.
The number of stolen cars in Berlin jumped from 16 in 2019 to 64 during 2020, according to Police Chief John Klett. The number of auto
“The Berlin Town Council is unwilling to wait until someone gets hurt, or a significant incident occurs, to seek accountability for the prob-
lems within the juvenile justice system and other criminal justice reforms that are creating havoc in town,” the resolution states.
“Violence is never the answer. What we see unfolding today in Washington D.C. is putting a black eye on our party and our Republic,” read the Twitter account of the state Republican Party, CT GOP. The top Democrat in the state senate, Bob Duff, called the events in Washington “treasonous,” and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, tweeted: “This is an insurrection. And President Trump bears responsibility.” The mob overpowered police, broke through security lines and rampaged through the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to scatter as they were putting the final, formal touches on Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the Electoral College. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died as a result of the siege. The day after the violent uprising, U.S. Rep. John Larson called on the rioters to be prosecuted.
“After a mob of the President’s supporters stormed the United States Capitol, four were killed, and many of these people simply left the grounds,” said Larson, a Democrat, who represents the 1st District. “Now that the initial chaos has broken, it is clear there must be a thorough investigation to find those who participated in this incursion, prompted by President Trump, and ravaged the Capitol building. They must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT05) stated, “In my nearly 15 years of teaching American history, I could have never found the words to explain this act of sedition to my students. The damage that this President and these rioters have done to our democracy is incomprehensible. The work of repairing the chasms in our electorate and faith in our republic rests squarely on our shoulders.” Republican state senator Henri Martin (R-31) said Jan. 6 was “a sad day for the United States.” "President Trump and his supporters must accept the results of the election and move on. The American people and the judicial process have spoken,” said Martin. “The time for our country to come together is long overdue.” — Citizen report