Best of 2019

After living for over nine years in the historic and beautiful Black Rock section of Bridgeport, my wife, Mary, and I are leaving the Constitution State. We are saddened to do so because we love our home, our neighborhood, our neighbors, and the state. However, like an increasing number of people, the time has come to cut our losses and move closer to family. In addition, it is not clear that current state and local leaders have the willingness and ability to make the tough choices needed to create a better future in Connecticut, especially in connection with unfunded retirement obligations.

Lately, it seems that every other week, Connecticut’s news audience is treated to a new essay by a disaffected resident planning on quitting the Nutmeg State for good. This genre seems particularly robust among writers who are white, well-off, and somewhere in the neighborhood of retirement age.

My family is not part of the Title IX discrimination complaint filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of three high school girls track athletes in Connecticut, yet I’ve observed in person what has been unfolding at multiple track events over the past two indoor track seasons in 2018 and 2019. ADF has outlined how far the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), the state high school sports governing body, has allowed things to stray from the mission of Title IX.

Connecticut officials claimed last month that the Hartford Line has been a “resounding success.” Examination of the facts on the ground, however, shows that the service, while a welcome addition to the lacking repertoire of “Knowledge Corridor” mobility options, leaves much to be desired. It’s time we change that by learning from others.