Posted inMoney, Politics

Malloy cools rhetoric, but stalemate continues on budget

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy struck a conciliatory tone Tuesday a day after House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey likened his latest budget proposal to “a personal hit list,” conceding legislative leaders have a difficult task building a consensus around deep spending cuts. But the governor remained at odds with the Democratic legislative majority leadership over how to close a $930 million budget gap before the session ends May 4.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

Soft bigotry of low expectations has no place in Connecticut

I have been a certified teacher. I now lead an education advocacy organization. I am a mother of small children. I am a white woman.
To me, the results of a new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, titled “Who believes in me? The effect of student–teacher demographic match on teacher expectations,” feels like a punch in the gut. The study presents stark differences in how African-American teachers versus non-African-American teachers view the potential of students of color.

Posted inHealth

Mental health service cuts go along with layoffs

The 68 layoffs announced last week at the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services were accompanied by plans to close programs serving people who are homeless or getting out of psychiatric hospitals or prison, an intensive team that works with people living in the community who have mental health or substance issues, and a behavioral health program for veterans.