Kathy Evans of West Hartford now works with the Denver police as a clinical social worker. She rides with police and responds to calls where often her expertise is more valuable than the traditional tools of a police officer. Each workday morning at 6 a.m., Katharine “Kathy” Evans turns out for roll call at the […]
Tom Condon
Tom writes about urban and regional issues for CT Mirror, including planning, transportation, land use, development and historic preservation. These were among his areas of interest in a 45-year career as a reporter, columnist and editorial writer for The Hartford Courant. Tom has won dozens of journalism and civic awards, and was elected to the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2016. He is a native of New London, a graduate of The University of Notre Dame and the University of Connecticut School of Law, and is a Vietnam veteran.
Posted inCities & Towns, Economic Development
Can opportunity zones revive struggling neighborhoods?
The federal tax incentive draws private investment to distressed neighborhoods, but there are problems with the program.
Posted inEconomic Development
Minority businesses: Wounded by COVID, but key to inclusive revival
Tia Woods had been the coordinator of a dance program. It closed but left her with space in East Hartford. She had a business idea: Woods, who is Black, knew many minority artisans needed space to show and sell their products. So in February 2019, she created what she called a “modern consignment boutique” called […]
Posted inCities & Towns
Inclusive Growth: Is regional activity the state’s last option?
Regionalizing services could bring big cost savings, but Connecticut has historically maintained obstacles to greater cooperation between municipalities.
Posted inCities & Towns
Innovative program helps Lawrence, MA, get off the mat
A program that helps connect parents with jobs and skill-building is helping revitalize a historic mill town.
Posted inEconomic Development
How infrastructure improvements can aid inclusive revival
Inclusive infrastructure is an economic and quality-of-life win for everyone.
Posted inCities & Towns
Cities need ‘a better deal’ as Connecticut digs out of pandemic slump
COVID-19 has worsened already stark racial disparities in Connecticut. Inclusive growth could help ease them.
Posted inHealth
‘Slow streets’ slow to catch on in Connecticut
Some towns and cities here are experimenting with them, however.
Posted inEducation
Online or in person, no easy course for colleges in the fall
Financial stress and uncertainty are facing both students and college officials as they anticipate reopening.
Posted inHealth, Money
Other sectors may be struggling, but package stores are thriving
Business is much better, one liquor store owner says, but for all the wrong reasons.
Posted inTransportation
Will the coronavirus kill the state’s transit comeback?
After decades of building gleaming new highways, which enabled great mobility but eventually induced serious congestion, sprawl and pollution, Connecticut rediscovered transit. The state added or upgraded bus and rail service, with innovations such as CTFastrak and the Hartford Line, and people hopped aboard. Ridership was breaking records almost every year in the last decade […]
Posted inTransportation
State sees dramatic drop in traffic as residents ‘stay safe, stay home’
The coronavirus shutdown has brought a precipitous drop in highway traffic — and a couple unanticipated benefits.
Posted inNews
Best of 2019: City Revival — Did We Learn From the Urban Renewal Era?
Many Connecticut cities are seeing a 21st century renewal. Are they getting it right — or at least better — this time?
Posted inNews
Best of 2019: Reviving cities must include the excluded
Inclusive growth calls on cities to revive themselves so that all residents benefit, which has been challenging here in Connecticut and elsewhere.
Posted inCities & Towns, News
Louisville: Lessons from a regional city
As Connecticut struggles to shore up its cities, it might look to Louisville — where leaders created a thriving regional city.