PASSERO, COLLINS TO AIR THOUGHTS ON PORT AUTHORITY, STATE PIER ON ‘WHERE WE LIVE’

New London Mayor Michael Passero and The Day columnist David Collins are scheduled guests today on an edition of Connecticut Public Radio’s “Where We Live” about the Connecticut Port Authority.

The show airs from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and also will feature John Henshaw, executive director of the port authority.

Passero last week signed a host community agreement between the city and Danish offshore wind company Ørsted and utility company Eversource to use State Pier in New London as a hub for the offshore wind industry. Ørsted and Eversource entered into an agreement with the state and port authority in 2020 for $157 million in upgrades at the pier in support of planned offshore wind farms.

Collins has reported extensively on issues within the Connecticut Port Authority, and says corruption runs deep within the quasi-public agency.

On Feb. 19, the authority sought opinions from the Connecticut Office of State Ethics in response to questions and a challenge issued by The Day Editorial Board about whether certain activities constitute a conflict of interest. On Feb. 25, Attorney General William Tong announced an investigation into the port authority is underway based on whistleblower complaints made in 2019.