Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs down to the dramatic spike in calls to Connecticut’s problem-gambling hotline since the launch of online and sports betting last fall. Diana Goode, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, says she was “blindsided” by the volume of calls. “We don’t have the resources to keep up with this, especially nights and weekends,” Goode said. When discounting nuisance calls, the council has seen a 126 percent increase in the number of people reaching out for help. We can’t offer a thumbs up to the $17.5 million the state has collected in revenues from online gambling, as it has clearly come at a personal cost for many residents.
Thumbs down to so-called “institutional investors” that are contributing to the unsustainable Connecticut housing market. University of Connecticut School of Business finance professor Jeffrey Cohen described these as large companies that scoop up available housing. The result is higher prices and no chance for the typical family to compete. There are a lot of other contributing factors, but such corporate greed can lead to an increase in the homeless population. It’s a dark version of trickle-down economics.
Thumbs down to yet another rise in COVID cases. With masks off and nearly all restrictions a thing of the past, the coronavirus remains with us, and positivity rates have been creeping back up again in recent weeks. As if to highlight the dangers, many top state officials, including the governor and lieutenant governor, have tested positive for COVID in recent weeks, though fortunately none have reported being seriously ill. It’s yet another sign that vaccinations work, and boosters increase safety. For people who are still holding out against getting the shot, it’s not too late.
Thumbs up, and down, to a new era in college sports. Ever since the NCAA rescinded the rule that required college athletes to sit out a season when transferring between schools, many players have taken up new opportunities to find a better situation for themselves. That’s a good thing from the players’ perspective — there’s no reason they should be treated differently than any student who transfers from one college to another. It’s tougher for fans, who sometimes have to get used to an entirely new team from one year to another. The UConn men’s basketball team, for one, is experiencing a major makeover. It’s just one more step in the professionalization of major college sports.
Thumbs up to a small sign of relief when it comes to transportation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cited a decline in the prices of used cars for the second straight month. While the 3.8 percent decrease would typically be even more welcome, U.S. prices remain 35 percent higher than they were in March 2021. It was another trickle-down effect, as a shortage in parts led to a reduction in the inventory of new vehicles. This spring, the stock of used vehicles appears to be rising.