Yankee Institute Blog
TCI proponents plan September push
Proponents for the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) plan to use a special legislative session in September to implement the program in Connecticut, according to a key supporter. Legislative leaders haven’t yet announced formal plans for a special session....
The Fitch Files: Landlords see troubling future after eviction moratorium
**This is the third article in our series on the eviction moratorium. Read the first and second installments by following the links** Jennifer owns a multi-family house in Bristol in which she lives on the second-floor apartment and rents out the bottom and top floor...
The Fitch Files: Connecticut’s eviction moratorium prompts constitutional questions. “I’ve never felt more hated by my government.”
**This is the second story in a series on Connecticut’s eviction moratorium. Read the first story here and the third story here** A Facebook post on March 30 of 2021 by David Haberfeld went viral and gained the attention of television news media across the...
The Fitch Files: As eviction moratorium ends, property owners reckon with losses. “I’ll never buy property in Connecticut again”
**This is the first of a three-part series looking at the eviction moratorium’s effect on rental property owners. Read the second installment here and the third installment here** When Alvin Blount, a 56-year-old postal worker from Naugatuck, and his wife...
Former State Contracting Standards Board member hit with ethics fine over trying to procure state purchase of personal protective equipment
The Connecticut Office of State Ethics fined former State Contracting Standards Board member Robert Sember $2,500 after he attempted to use his position to get the Department of Administrative Services to purchase personal protective equipment from his client during...
Connecticut manufacturer faces difficulty in hiring as extended unemployment benefits disrupt job market
A Waterbury-based manufacturer of plastic medical devices says that for the first time they are having difficulty finding workers to fill the low-skill positions necessary to fulfill their orders and keep the business running. President of Forum Plastics Mark Polinsky...
Auditors find ethics violation at state university over hiring of student photographer
Connecticut’s Auditors of Public Accounts found an ethics violation at Central Connecticut State University when they discovered a family member of a university employee had been paid $3,800 to take photographs. “During our investigation, we identified two instances...
Analysis: SEBAC teleworking lawsuit just political sleight-of-hand
State unions filed an injunction in Hartford Superior Court against Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration, fighting what they perceive as a grave injustice perpetrated by the governor through his mandate that employees return to the office and are only allowed...
General Assembly extends Lamont’s emergency powers for another two months
The Connecticut Senate and House of Representatives both voted to extend Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency executive powers through September, although several Democrats broke ranks and voted with Republicans against the extension. Republicans argued that Connecticut’s low...
Restaurant owner closes Fairfield location after struggling to find workers, blames extended unemployment benefits
After eight months of trying to hire staff, the owner of the small sandwich and burger joint Blue Cactus Grill closed his location in Fairfield with a message for Connecticut lawmakers: “We hope the state is happy with the decision to extend unemployment and...