Dear Neighbors,

I hope you're well and staying warm.

The 2026 legislative session started on February 4th, with the Governor presenting his State of the State address (which you can watch here).

In preparation for the session, many organizations are putting together their legislative priorities. I attended the Western CT Council of Governments’ (WestCOG) legislative briefing and they identified several areas of focus for the upcoming session, including:

Strengthening municipal fiscal stability
Sustained investment in transportation and congestion relief
Expanding affordability of housing across the income spectrum
Emphasizing water protection and waste reduction

These issues impact all of us and I urge you to stay engaged in the legislative process.

Elder Justice Forum with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong:

It was a great pleasure to welcome Connecticut’s Attorney General William Tong for a discussion on elder justice.

Connecticut’s population is aging. It’s the 7th oldest state in the nation. Roughly 16% of the state’s population is age 65 or older. And here in Greenwich, 17% of our population is 65 or older and many are on fixed incomes.

There’s a large population that’s at risk of being abused financially, emotionally and physically. In fact, according to the Coalition for Elder Justice in CT, the annual loss by victims of financial abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion and approximately 1 in 10 older adults are abused each year.

Attorney General Tong discussed common scams, including Grandparents, Home Improvement, and Romance scams, where people are using deception to extract money from older adults.

He also talked about financial and physical elder abuse. Please watch this public service announcement that the Attorney General created: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGvUu9NbFJ8.

If you have been the victim or know a victim of a scam or elder abuse, please call 1-860-808-5555.

GCTV recorded the event and the video is available for viewing here.

Update on the Westchester Airport Intermunicipal Airport Master Plan Task Force

In my previous newsletter, I mentioned the Intermunicipal Airport Master Plan Task Force that was created to make recommendations on the Airport's Master Plan.

The Westchester Airport Advisory Board will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, February 11 at 7pm on the Second Floor Conference Room at Westchester Airport. I urge residents to attend and submit comment.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me at: Rachel.Khanna@greenwichct.gov or (203) 622-7706.

Best Regards,

Video: Stay Involved in Local Government

In previous videos, I've mentioned how important it is to participate in government, especially by testifying on legislation. Legislators rely on their constituents’ experiences to know what policies matter to them. The same applies to local government. Here's some information on how to stay involved and engaged.

YWCA Women Who Inspire Awards

It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Greenwich YWCA with a Woman Who Inspires Award, especially alongside such extraordinary women whose work strengthens our entire community.

Upcoming Events:

Medicare and Medicaid in the Current Era: What CT can do to prepare

I am thrilled to host a discussion with Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon on the important topic of Medicare and Medicaid in the current era.

Women's Business Development Council Ignite Grant

The Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) is excited to announce the next round of their Ignite Grant Program, which opened February 3, 2026.The deadline to apply is March 18, 2026.

The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses grow. The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in the state of Connecticut who have been in business for 2 or more years and have revenues between $25K and $2 million. Since the start of the program, WBDC has distributed 469 grants of over $4.3 million to women-owned businesses in Connecticut. For additional information and more details on the program, please visit WBDC's website.

The Wallace Center

Check out these great offerings from Greenwich's Wallace Center

Rescheduled: Abilis Workshop: Supporting Your Young Child's Development

Abilis, the nonprofit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families throughout Fairfield County, is offering a very special program for parents entitled, “Supporting Your Young Child’s Development: A Parent Workshop,” to be held on Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at The Cohen Abilis Advancement Center in Stamford, Connecticut. This workshop offers parents and caregivers practical guidance and trusted information as they navigate developmental concerns, new diagnoses and key transitions for young children with developmental disabilities. The workshop is free and open to the public with advance registration; on-site babysitting is provided for $25. Those interested can register at abilis.us/workshop.

Make Waves T-Shirt Contest for Fairfield County Middle and High School Students

AARP Community Challenge Grant Opportunity

AARP CT is inviting eligible local nonprofit organizations and government entities to apply for the 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant program. Now in its tenth year, this initiative funds quick-action projects that make communities more livable by enhancing public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connectivity, and more. Since its inception 32 grants have been made in Connecticut. Applications are due by March 4. Learn more & apply at:

https://states.aarp.org/connecticut/aarp-connecticut-now-accepting-2026-community-challenge-grant-applications