By CHRIS POWELL Will Connecticut ever realize that two of what it professes to be its highest ideals of public policy, local control and equality of opportunity, are contradictions? State government was reminded of this again the other day by another report from the Equable Institute, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve government employee pensions. Connecticut’sContinue reading “Connecticut’s contradictory ideals: local control vs. equality”
Author Archives: cxpowell
Most child neglect in Connecticut involves public-schooled children
By CHRIS POWELL Abuse of children who are purportedly being home-schooled in Connecticut is an issue again. The case of a boy allegedly kept prisoner by his stepmother in his room in Waterbury for 20 years, which broke in February, has just been followed by the case of an 11-year-old girl who was allegedly killedContinue reading “Most child neglect in Connecticut involves public-schooled children”
Corrupt ex-official’s trial evokes musical comedy
By CHRIS POWELL At his federal trial this month was Konstantinos Diamantis, who once doubled as deputy state budget director and chief of state government’s school construction office, really trying to defend himself against bribery and extortion charges, or was he actually auditioning for a revival of the Broadway musical “Fiorello”? Hamden’s leaders come outContinue reading “Corrupt ex-official’s trial evokes musical comedy”
Hamden’s leaders come out in support of open borders
By CHRIS POWELL This month’s immigration raid at a car wash in Hamden in which seven or eight people were arrested sparked hysteria from Mayor Lauren Garrett, state legislators, municipal officials, and clergy. At a press conference they declared they don’t want immigration law enforced in town. ‘This is what democracy looks like’? God helpContinue reading “Hamden’s leaders come out in support of open borders”
‘This is what democracy looks like’? God help us!
By CHRIS POWELL Participants at last Saturday’s “No Kings” rally at the state Capitol chanted smugly, “This is what democracy looks like.” Many were dressed in Halloween costumes. Mayor feigns dismay about employee’s reinstatement Church schools might save some city kids — is that bad? Romance of rail travel won’t ever pay the bills in ConnecticutContinue reading “‘This is what democracy looks like’? God help us!”
Mayor feigns dismay about city employee’s reinstatement
By CHRIS POWELL In 2023 computer hackers stole $6 million from the New Haven school system and city government fired the system’s information technology director over it. Eventually a little more than $5 million was recovered, and the other day an arbiter ruled that the theft wasn’t the fault of the information technology director andContinue reading “Mayor feigns dismay about city employee’s reinstatement”
Church schools might save some city kids — is that bad?
By CHRIS POWELL Correlation is not necessarily causation, but it can give some hints, and the decline of education in Connecticut and particularly in its cities has correlated with the decline in Catholic schools and the decline in Catholicism and religion generally. Of course the church has had grave faults but it has excelled withContinue reading “Church schools might save some city kids — is that bad?”
Romance of rail travel won’t ever pay the bills in Connecticut
By CHRIS POWELL Within living memory one could go almost anywhere in Connecticut by train or at least take a train to a station near one’s destination. Traveling from north to south across the state by train was much quicker than traveling east to west, the topography presenting more obstacles to east-west railroads. But itContinue reading “Romance of rail travel won’t ever pay the bills in Connecticut”
Does Connecticut need a governor who is more than a nice guy?
By CHRIS POWELL Polls have found that Governor Lamont is well liked, and it’s hard to recall any incident during his 6½ years as governor when he got really nasty in public. But a recent poll showed ambivalence about whether he should seek a third term next year. How much do illegals cost? And limitContinue reading “Does Connecticut need a governor who is more than a nice guy?”
How much do illegals cost? And limit state treasurer’s power
By CHRIS POWELL The open borders catastrophe the Biden administration inflicted on the United States has caused enormous pain — to the legal residents who have been victims of crime committed by illegal immigrants as well as to the illegal immigrants themselves, millions of whom now face overdue enforcement of immigration law and possible deportation. Continue reading “How much do illegals cost? And limit state treasurer’s power”
Chris Powell column 