How can Gazans escape? Only by removing Hamas

By Chris Powell Residents of densely populated Gaza, governed by the terrorist organization Hamas, are asking where they can go to escape the Israeli bombardment that was launched in response to this week’s devastating and barbaric missile and ground attack by Hamas on Israel. The question is pathetic, for its answer is obvious, even ifContinue reading “How can Gazans escape? Only by removing Hamas”

Trooper scandal deepens; and the ‘banned’ books scam

By Chris Powell Announcing last week the retirement of his state police commissioner, James C. Rovella, and deputy commissioner, Col. Stavros Mellekas, Governor Lamont prompted speculation that the festering scandal over fake traffic tickets may turn out to be far more extensive than has been indicated. The governor explained the departures as a matter ofContinue reading “Trooper scandal deepens; and the ‘banned’ books scam”

Who’s protecting Connecticut from cannibal and molester?

By Chris Powell Either most elected officials in Connecticut don’t read the newspapers, which remain the primary sources of state news, or they’re indifferent to the increasing negligence in state government. Two shocking developments in recent days seem to have passed without prompting alarm from anyone in authority. First Connecticut’s Hearst newspapers reported that the state PsychiatricContinue reading “Who’s protecting Connecticut from cannibal and molester?”

Is Bridgeport too demoralized to be bothered by corruption?

By Chris Powell Patriotism may be the last refuge of a scoundrel, but these days racism may be the first. Responding the other day to the latest absentee ballot scandal in Bridgeport, supporters of Mayor Joe Ganim held a rally to charge that the scandal’s central figure, Wanda Geter-Pataky, a City Hall employee and vice chairwoman ofContinue reading “Is Bridgeport too demoralized to be bothered by corruption?”

Our child neglect culture is underwritten by government

By Chris Powell Why did a 2-year-old boy fall to his death through a window of his third-floor apartment in Hartford in July? A long report by the Connecticut Mirror the other day attempted to answer that question. It attributed the boy’s death to “generational poverty” and, more so, to government’s failure to make sure theContinue reading “Our child neglect culture is underwritten by government”

Racial racket pays off; and juries get careless

By Chris Powell With complaints of racism, sexism, and age discrimination, former state Public Health Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell has cadged another $200,000 out of Connecticut’s taxpayers. That’s what Governor Lamont’s administration has agreed to pay her to withdraw her federal lawsuit over her firing three years ago at the onset of the virus epidemic.Continue reading “Racial racket pays off; and juries get careless”

Connecticut’s minimum wage increase signifies failure, not success

By Chris Powell Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase by 4.6% to $15.69 on Jan. 1, the first annual increase required by a recent state law tying the minimum wage to the federal government’s employment cost index, a gauge of inflation. Governor Lamont celebrated the increase the other day. “This is a fair, modest increase,” theContinue reading “Connecticut’s minimum wage increase signifies failure, not success”

Who really wants to know if Connecticut’s students learn?

By Chris Powell Connecticut tests its public school students for academic proficiency each year in Grades 3 through 8 and again in Grade 11 but not when they are about to graduate from high school. So why not? The short answer from the state Education Department is that a proficiency test for high school seniorsContinue reading “Who really wants to know if Connecticut’s students learn?”

Misappropriating flagpoles and electric utility rates

By Chris Powell Misappropriation of government flagpoles for political purposes continues in Connecticut. Torrington Mayor Elinor C. Carbone has approved a request to fly a Christian flag at City Hall for two weeks. It’s part of a national campaign to urge people to go to church, particularly Christian churches. This has commandeered the government forContinue reading “Misappropriating flagpoles and electric utility rates”

City-operated supermarkets? And UConn condones rape

By Chris Powell Hartford’s century-long descent from a prosperous hub of industry and finance to a repository of poverty can be measured in several ways, but an especially telling one was publicized the other day as the City Council decided to hire a consultant to consider having city government operate a supermarket in the city,Continue reading “City-operated supermarkets? And UConn condones rape”