By CHRIS POWELL Last week Governor Lamont and state legislators congratulated themselves for reaching a compromise on the housing legislation the governor vetoed in June over concerns that it would have weakened municipal zoning too much. The new legislation aims to get municipalities and state government working together to set housing goals, tinkers with zoningContinue reading “Report on state’s homeless mocks new housing legislation”
Author Archives: cxpowell
State government endures three more scandals in a week
By CHRIS POWELL According to records obtained by the Connecticut Mirror and published last week, state government officials knew two years ago that state Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, was steering state anti-poverty and community development grants to his girlfriend. But those officials and their superiors apparently failed to recognize and act on the conflict of interest andContinue reading “State government endures three more scandals in a week”
Can the Democrats ever deliver ‘a city we can afford’?
By CHRIS POWELL Maybe the most effective slogan for Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for mayor of New York City was “A city we can afford.” Indeed, New York long has been famous for being horribly expensive, part of why people often said, “It’s a nice place to visit but you wouldn’t want to live here.” TantrumContinue reading “Can the Democrats ever deliver ‘a city we can afford’?”
Tantrum by Democrats isn’t worth hobbling government
By CHRIS POWELL Food subsidies for the poor and disabled are being used as political weapons by both Democrats and President Trump. Democrats in Congress have shut down much of the federal government, including food subsidies, by withholding the votes needed for ordinary appropriations to pass the Senate. The Democrats seek to force the RepublicanContinue reading “Tantrum by Democrats isn’t worth hobbling government”
‘Nip’ bottle fees don’t recover their cost in litter and drunken driving
By CHRIS POWELL Next time you come upon empty and discarded “nip” bottles — the tiny plastic containers of liquor sold in abundance at Connecticut’s liquor stores but neither returnable for deposits nor recyclable — Larry Cafero wants you to be thankful. Connecticut’s contradictory ideals: local control vs. equality Corrupt ex-official’s trial evokes musical comedyContinue reading “‘Nip’ bottle fees don’t recover their cost in litter and drunken driving”
Connecticut’s contradictory ideals: local control vs. equality
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”
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!”
Chris Powell column 