It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses in Bridgeport, CT gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Bridgeport, CT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive,”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend.”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years”
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive, respectful, and cheerful. This was the first step in getting outside assistance for our Mom and we were so impressed with how thorough the care was - the first helper checked to see that her home was safe and that she knew how to use her cell phone. We'd highly recommend using their in home care.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend. We all thought she was wonderful!! I think her biggest strength is that she sees the work, needs little/to no direction, offers to take things out of our hands, and is a true-go-getter. For Billie, this type of help is great since she feels like she can take some time to rest and trust all is okay. Mary works hard and is also very patient. I really think Mary is a natural dealing with elderly. She is patient and kind! Anyway, what I wanted to ask is if Mary can be the consistent caregiver for the weekends. The other 4 caregivers that I have met are also very nice. We would like Mary as much as possible as she is punctual, and as I mentioned before, sees what needs doing. She is focused on what she can do to help. She doesnt just sit there next to Bill, she has eyes in the back of her head and goes the extra mile. Anything that needs to get done, she says no wait, let me do it if she hasnt already initiated it herself. She seems to have endless energy and never complained. I just felt compelled to drop you a this note to let you know how impressed we were with her. Thanks”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant to have someone come into her home to help care for her, but she is very, very pleased with Betsy. Not only does she have someone to keep her company and meet her physical needs—her kitchen is looking cleaner than I have seen it in a while. Thank you again. Your kind manner was reassuring to my mother and to me, and you have made the process of caring for my mother at home easy, and provided me with much needed relief so that I can actually return to work with a calm mind.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would do their very best to take care of you in your time of need. I will recommended this facility to family and friends. I want to thank you so much for the exceptional care you took of my dad. I hold your agency in the highest regard and you have my deepest appreciation.”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years old. She refused to leave her home. Susan Oderwald took wonderful care of her. She found caregivers for her who treated her with kid gloves and she herself went above and beyond by getting papers signed, visiting her in the hospital and fetching things for her. I don't know what I would have done without her, since I live 3,000 miles away. I highly recommend her, her services and her staff of caregivers.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Joseph's Steakhouse or visit Marina Park Historic District, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Bridgeport, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Bridgeport, CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Bridgeport, CT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
BRIDGEPORT, CT — When the new Residence Inn by Marriott at Steelpointe Harbor opens for business, it will end a five-year drought of Connecticut’s largest city lacking a hotel.On Wednesday, the True North Hotel Group, in partnership with RCI Group, broke ground on the project, with Gov. Ned Lamont, DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, legislative representatives, Bridgeport regional leaders and company officials on hand.“Today marks another major step forward for Steelpointe Harb...
BRIDGEPORT, CT — When the new Residence Inn by Marriott at Steelpointe Harbor opens for business, it will end a five-year drought of Connecticut’s largest city lacking a hotel.
On Wednesday, the True North Hotel Group, in partnership with RCI Group, broke ground on the project, with Gov. Ned Lamont, DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, legislative representatives, Bridgeport regional leaders and company officials on hand.
“Today marks another major step forward for Steelpointe Harbor and for Bridgeport,” said developer Bobby Christoph Jr., president of RCI Group. “From the beginning, our vision has been to create a dynamic waterfront destination that brings jobs, investment, and vitality back to the city. This new Residence Inn by Marriott reflects our long-term commitment to Bridgeport’s growth and to Connecticut’s economic future.”
The 6-story hotel will feature 142 rooms with views of Steelpointe Marina, direct access to I-95, MetroNorth and Amtrak and pickleball courts. Construction on the project is expected to take 18-20 months. The City of Bridgeport has been without a hotel since the closing of the former Holiday Inn downtown in 2022.
True North Hotel Group Executive Vice President Chris Harlow said his company was excited to bring its hospitality expertise to Connecticut. He said the all-suite hotel would provide a modern, comfortable stay with unique amenities “all within walking distance of Bridgeport’s growing waterfront district.”
Ganim cited the groundbreaking as an opportunity to create more economic growth, local jobs and development.
“As we continue our work to revitalize our waterfront with local partners, I’m proud to say that we’re not only revamping this space for Bridgeport residents to enjoy, but we are also opening ourselves to more tourism,” he said. “The development of the new Residence Inn by Marriott is a true testament to Bridgeport heading in the right direction while we continuously find ways to create new amenities for residents and visitors.”
Lamont agreed.
“This hotel will bring much-needed lodging to the Bridgeport region for travelers’ work and leisure activities, and will enhance our efforts to grow the economic vitality of our state’s largest city,” he said.
BRIDGEPORT — A federal jury Wednesday convicted Kostantinos "Kosta" Diamantis, former head of the state office that oversees about a half-billion dollars in school construction projects annually, on 21 public corruption charges.The jury found Diamantis guilty on all 21 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to investigators.The verdicts were read aloud by U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill at 11 a.m. He then asked each of the 12 jurors if they agreed, culminating their 10 hours of deliberatio...
BRIDGEPORT — A federal jury Wednesday convicted Kostantinos "Kosta" Diamantis, former head of the state office that oversees about a half-billion dollars in school construction projects annually, on 21 public corruption charges.
The jury found Diamantis guilty on all 21 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to investigators.
The verdicts were read aloud by U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill at 11 a.m. He then asked each of the 12 jurors if they agreed, culminating their 10 hours of deliberations over more than two days.
Diamantis, 69, watched the jury with a seemingly bemused half-smile as the verdicts were read. During the trial, he testified in his own defense and said the tens of thousands of dollars he took from two contractors, mostly in cash that he failed to report to the IRS, was for networking, introducing subcontractors to other companies and providing legal assistance outside the scope of the state job from which he was fired in October 2021.
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Underhill scheduled sentencing for Jan. 14. Diamantis remains free on bond.
He also will face additional public corruption charges in a trial set for early next year, with federal prosecutors claiming that Diamantis, a lawyer and former state lawmaker, quashed a state audit of an eye care practice that was engaged in health care fraud when he was employed in the governor's budget department, the Office of Policy and Management.
"It was a clean sweep, I was just hoping it would go the other way," Diamantis said on the elevator ride down to the ground floor of the courthouse after the verdicts were read Wednesday. He left by a side door before 11:30 a.m. and drove off in a white pickup truck, dodging a throng of more than a dozen reporters and photographers.
Prosecutors declined to comment after the verdict, walking past reporters and TV crews without reacting.
Norman Pattis, Diamantis' defense lawyer, said he believed his client could face between 10 and 12 years at sentencing.
But he told reporters outside the courthouse that there could be "several" possible avenues for appeal, including an "anomaly" in Underhill's instructions to the jury.
Pattis also called the government's reliance on laws governing interstate commerce on several of the charges "a stretch." Charges included claims that Diamantis interfered with commerce by threat or violence by extorting executives at the two companies central to the case.
Gov. Ned Lamont, who was speaking in Bridgeport on Wednesday less than a mile from the courthouse, said he thought "justice was delivered," adding that Diamantis breached the public trust and was found guilty by his peers.
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, called the verdict "yet another example of corruption in state government that erodes public trust in those who profess to be public servants."
"The cost to taxpayers can be quantified; the cost to Connecticut’s collective psyche will compound for years to come," Candelora added.
Senate Minority Leader Stephen G. Harding, R-Brookfield, called the trial's outcome "corruption at the highest level of Connecticut government," and went on to say there was a "culture of corruption" and "lack of oversight and accountability" in state government.
In a statement, Lamont noted school construction oversight had been returned to the state Department of Administrative Services, and said "several proactive steps were taken to ensure accountability and restore public trust in the administration of school construction grants."
"My administration will continue to work to close gaps, improve oversight, and uphold the highest ethical standards across all state operations," the governor's statement said.
In his testimony, Diamantis said that he had acted as a lawyer and consultant in his spare time, for a masonry company and a project-administration firm that worked on multimillion-dollar school construction projects in Hartford and Tolland in the years before he was fired. The jury agreed with federal prosecutors that it was an abuse of his office as a public official.
In the end, the jury believed three executives from the two companies who already had pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case. During Monday's summations, Pattis,said that one of the executives from Acranom Masonry of Middlefield, a former brother-in-law of Diamantis, used claims that Diamantis was aggressively seeking payments to convince his boss that they could lose work if they didn’t pay Diamantis tens of thousands of dollars.
But prosecutors said that even though Diamantis did not have the authority to pull contractors off jobs, the fact that they did not know that did not make the threats any less illegal.
Another executive, Antonietta Roy, owner of Construction Advocacy Professionals, said she felt “fear” that she might not keep contracts, so she hired Diamantis’ daughter for a part-time administrative job at $45 per hour, gave her $1,000 bonuses when she won contracts and gave Kosta Diamantis $4,500 in checks and cash.
Pattis and Diamantis, who took the witness stand in his own defense, said that he was supportive of Roy because a woman-owned construction manager could win contracts under minority hiring rules. When an emergency rebuild of Birch Grove Primary School in Tolland was announced in 2018, Diamantis suggested CAP, Acranom and the Bristol-based D’Amato Construction win the emergency contract that did not need an open bidding process.
The nine-day trial was marked by testimony from John Duffy, the former brother-in-law of Diamantis, who confirmed that a series of text messages with Diamantis and Salvatore Monarca were over payments, referring to them as “birdies and pars.” The payments were also referred to as “birthday cards” in dozens of texts projected on screens by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Francis and David Novick.
Staff Writers Brian Lockhart and Paul Hughes contributed to this story.
Ken Dixon has covered government and politics from the State Capitol since 1994, spanning the administrations of five governors. A graduate of Ohio University, Dixon has won multiple awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He’s been recognized for both columns and reporting by the National Press Club. His reporting has been honored by the National Society of Professional Journalists, and he has won numerous awards for both columns and reporting by the Connecticut Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2019 he was inducted into the Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame.
Kosta Diamantis, a former state representative and Connecticut's former deputy budget director, was found guilty Wednesday on all counts in a case involving soliciting bribes in return for approving school construction contract bids.Diamantis, who faced 21 federal charges, showed little reaction as the verdict was read, and was trailed by local and state media.“I stand by my testimony,” Diamantis said.Diamantis later left through a side entrance of the Brien McMahon Federal Building and was driven away in a w...
Kosta Diamantis, a former state representative and Connecticut's former deputy budget director, was found guilty Wednesday on all counts in a case involving soliciting bribes in return for approving school construction contract bids.
Diamantis, who faced 21 federal charges, showed little reaction as the verdict was read, and was trailed by local and state media.
“I stand by my testimony,” Diamantis said.
Diamantis later left through a side entrance of the Brien McMahon Federal Building and was driven away in a white pick up truck. He faces years in federal prison. His attorney, Norm Pattis, said he plans to appeal the conviction.
“Mr. Diamantis is facing a catastrophic sentence, he'll be lucky to get out of this for less than 10-to-12 years,” Pattis said.
The conviction comes after years of controversy stemming from Diamantis’ arrest over accusations he solicited bribes totaling thousands of dollars, in return for obtaining contracts for building contractors who wished to work on school construction projects.
Jurors listened as witnesses testified about Diamantis’ requests for money citing financial troubles, and defense testimony from Diamantis who said he had been collecting consulting fees.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence including text messages from Diamantis to other witnesses that showed Diamantis asking for money, attempting to speak in code.
Diamantis would later ask them to delete the messages, which they failed to do.
Jurors convicted Diamantis just days after deliberations began. Gov. Ned Lamont issued a statement Wednesday immediately after the verdict was announced.
“Public service is a public trust,” Lamont said. "The conviction of Mr. Diamantis is a stark reminder that when that trust is violated, there are consequences. Our state places a great deal of trust in our government and that trust is harmed by rogue, bad actors like this.”
Lamont said the state has taken measures to ensure accountability including returning school construction oversight to the Department of Administrative Services.
While Diamantis has been found guilty, he faces a separate trial in federal court over similar charges, which is expected to start next year.
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Bridgeport Public Schools officials are being asked to explain how they plan to better serve children with special needs to resolve a legal complaint to the state filed by the Center for Children’s Advocacy.The complaint, which was filed in June, alleged that the school district violated the rights of special education students by failing to provide them with an adequate education, including access to teachers who were certified to teach special education and speech and language services critical to their development.Brid...
Bridgeport Public Schools officials are being asked to explain how they plan to better serve children with special needs to resolve a legal complaint to the state filed by the Center for Children’s Advocacy.
The complaint, which was filed in June, alleged that the school district violated the rights of special education students by failing to provide them with an adequate education, including access to teachers who were certified to teach special education and speech and language services critical to their development.
Bridgeport schools are now required to provide state officials with a plan for how they will provide children with the educational services that were missed. The district must also contact parents of children identified by CCA and the state as having been denied services to get sign-off on those plans. Finally, the school district must appoint a staff member to manage implementation, with monthly reports on progress to state officials.
The complaint is the fourth that CCA has filed against the school district since 2013.
“What became clear to us at CCA is that the staffing shortage was a real, significant safety concern,” said Ilana Ofgang, an attorney for CCA. “For my clients, there was not academic progress, there was not access to free and appropriate public education, but before we could even approach advocating for those to be in place, there were major safety concerns because there was not enough staff.”
The students in question have individualized education programs, or IEPs, “that recommend they be in self-contained classrooms receiving specialized instruction and supervision by a certified special education teacher, which means a teacher with very, very particular set of training and skills,” Ofgang said.
Shortages of such educators, along with the support of paraeducators, resulted in an environment that ultimately resulted in bodily harm in some cases, like a child who was allowed to hit her head against a wall over 250 times without intervention, according to CCA.
The resolution, released on Oct. 14 by the State Department of Education, mandates a series of required actions that must be taken before the year is over, with some actions requiring an earlier deadline of mid-November.
Laura Tillman is CT Mirror’s Human Services Reporter. She shares responsibility for covering housing, child protection, mental health and addiction, developmental disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Laura began her career in journalism at the Brownsville Herald in 2007, covering the U.S.–Mexico border, and worked as a statehouse reporter for the Associated Press in Mississippi. She was most recently a producer of the national security podcast “In the Room with Peter Bergen” and is the author of two nonfiction books: The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts (2016) and The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo Garcia (2023), which was just awarded the 2024 James Beard Award for literary writing. Her freelance work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Laura holds a degree in International Studies from Vassar College and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Goucher College.
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BRIDGEPORT — At least 50% of existing tenants at the Park City Place apartments downtown would qualify to remain in the building once the new owner transitions it from market-rate to more affordable, one- and two-bedroom housing.And the other residents living there can remain until their leases expire."When the unit naturally turns over, then we'll convert it to an affordable unit," explained Renee Dobos, chief executive officer of the Connecticut Housing Partners. "We don't want anyone to have any fear we'...
BRIDGEPORT — At least 50% of existing tenants at the Park City Place apartments downtown would qualify to remain in the building once the new owner transitions it from market-rate to more affordable, one- and two-bedroom housing.
And the other residents living there can remain until their leases expire.
"When the unit naturally turns over, then we'll convert it to an affordable unit," explained Renee Dobos, chief executive officer of the Connecticut Housing Partners. "We don't want anyone to have any fear we're kicking them out."
The nonprofit's effort to buy the 97-unit Holiday Inn hotel-turned-apartment-complex came to a conclusion last week with a finalized purchase. The state's housing department provided Dobos' organization a $22 million loan for the acquisition.
Dobos is also hoping to open a grocery store in the vacant first floor, a portion of which will be occupied by Connecticut Housing Partners' offices, which are relocating from Trumbull.
"We were in Bridgeport a few years ago," Dobos said. "We're just busting at the seams here (in Trumbull) and just need more, better office space. (And) I think it's more professional looking. ... It really will speak to the work we do and the girth of our organization and importance of our work."
She credited local developer John Guedes as "the inspiration" for the Park City Place deal because earlier this year he had indicated to the state a willingness to sell. The 1980s-era hotel closed in early 2022 and Guedes' purchased it soon afterward for residential use. He reopened it as Park City Place in late 2023.
"So the housing commissioner (Seila Mosquera-Bruno) and I in January did a walk through of the building," Dobos recalled. "Then a couple weeks later the commissioner called and said, 'What do you think? Do you want the building?' And I said, 'Absolutely.'"
It will be the largest development in the nonprofit's real estate portfolio, which includes other properties in Bridgeport, Trumbull, Wilton, Norwalk and Stamford.
Guedes this week said he knows Mosquera-Bruno well and the topic of a possible sale had come up in "off the cuff" conversations. He previously stated his willingness to let go of the Holiday Inn site to free up capital for another downtown project he is pursuing — the possible renovation of the old Davidson's building a short distance away. The city recently sought redevelopment proposals.
Dobos said investing in the newly renovated hotel makes strategic sense for the state because it adds affordable units to the market "at probably half the cost it would take to build, and a faster timeline. If we built, it would probably take three years."
Mosquera-Bruno in a statement called Park City Place "another example of leveraging whatever tools we have available to make fast and creative decisions in order to help our Connecticut residents get access to the housing they need."
And Dobos noted the apartments are "in excellent condition" and Guedes' company, Primrose, "did a lovely job" updating the ex-hotel.
"It won't need any attention from us at all," she said.
As for new monthly rents under Connecticut Housing Partners, there will be a range depending on individual tenant income and whether it is 80%, 60%, 50% or 30% of the area's median income, or, according to Dobos, around $71,600, $53,700, $44,750 or $26,850. So, she continued, for a one-bedroom unit, the rents could run approximately between $720 and $1,900.
The state housing department refers to it as "middle income" housing.
"It's approximately 95% occupied," Dobos said. "We've completed a preliminary analysis the best we could with information we could obtain from Primrose. We believe at least half of the residents would qualify at 80% median income and below."
When he first took over the Holiday Inn, Guedes had insisted downtown needed more market-rate apartments to bolster businesses there.
Asked what she would say to any critics who see her organization's purchase of his building as a setback for the neighborhood, Dobos said, "My response is that we need housing for all people of all incomes."
She said the surrounding suburban "bedroom communities ... are really pushing back on putting affordable housing" in those towns.
"The workforce has to live somewhere," Dobos continued, adding as a small nonprofit she cannot afford the legal challenges it might require to overcome such obstacles.
"I have to go where I can build and be successful," she said.
And, Dobos emphasized, Connecticut Housing Partners takes good care of its real estate and passersby would not be able to distinguish its developments from market rate.
As for her plans for a first-floor grocery store, the downtown has not had one since the extremely short-lived Ripka's that lasted six months in 2014.
Dobos believes the former hotel's vacant first-floor restaurant and bar space with commercial kitchen, trash compactor room and loading dock, is a good spot. Guedes had similar hopes but was unable to reactive it.
And ideally, Dobos said, the tenant would offer reasonable prices, like the locally-owned Gala Foods, and not be some high-priced, high-end establishment that her residents could not afford.
"I just think it would get great foot traffic," Dobos said. "I think the facility is perfect for it, but time will tell."
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