Thumbs up to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for his moral leadership in flying the flag of Haiti at the Governor’s Residence in Hartford. The flag represents solidarity for Haitian-Americans who President Donald Trump crudely disparaged in remarks at the White House last week. As Malloy rightly said, with the U.S. a nation of immigrants, “We should celebrate this diversity, not denigrate and shame it.”
Thumbs down to the fight that got out of control at a freshman boys basketball game in Stamford between Trinity Catholic and Norwalk high schools. Norwalk coach Tom Keyes, who was charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault, complained that “Every time we come here, there’s always an issue. There’s never security here. I did nothing.” The Trinity athletic director said officials are considering banning spectators from the junior varsity and varsity games. That’s not a solution. That security is needed at a freshman basketball game is the real problem that needs to be addressed.
Thumbs up to TEAM Westport and its chairman Harold Bailey Jr. for coming up with another timely and provocative topic for the annual Teen Diversity Essay Contest. This year teens who are Westport residents or attend Staples High School are asked to consider what is “appropriate protest” in light of some NFL players “taking a knee” during the national anthem. “Describe your understanding of what it means to be a patriot, what kinds of behavior you thing would be unpatriotic, and what forms of protest against discriminatory laws, customs, or patterns of behavior you would consider legitimate,” the essay prompt states. The topic is valuable for encouraging students to think critically, to explore and then explain their values.
Thumbs down to the state Department of Transportation for even suggesting to shut down weekend passenger train service on the Danbury branch of Metro-North, as well as the Waterbury and New Canaan lines. The DOT also is considering reducing off-peak service, along with raising fares, to compensate for a shortage in the Special Transportation Fund. Eliminating weekend service would be detrimental to the health of the communities along the line from Danbury, through Bethel, Redding and Ridgefield to Norwalk. The state should be looking for ways to boost ridership, not remove access to mass transportation.
Thumbs up to John Sciarretta, a former Ridgefield resident, for creating an Instagram account called The Mental Minute Project that encourages people to share their stories of how they cope with mental illness. Within weeks, nearly 100 videos were posted from at least 21 states and six countries — an indication of the need and value of a place where people can talk about their struggles. Such a project can go far in lifting any stigma with mental health disorders and relieving isolation.
Thumbs up to Madonna Badger for using her lawsuit against Stamford to require the city to notify the state fire marshal whenever a house fire results in a death, and to do the same before demolishing a structure involved in a fatal fire. Badger lost her three daughters and parents in a 2011 fire. Hopefully, other communities will take notice that these mandates — along with one requiring reflective markers to be placed on hydrants — are common sense.
Thumbs up to the Stamford Board of Representatives following the suggestion of the state’s first transgender lawmaker and deleting “he/she” and “his/ her” from its rules of order. Under the proposal of new Rep. Raven Matherne, the board will now use specific titles, such as president and clerk. The movement shouldn’t end there. It’s just an example of modifications that should be addressed throughout the city, and beyond.