Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs down to this past weekend’s weather, which featured some of the most pleasant temperatures Connecticut is likely to see all year. Such a happening would normally generate an enthusiastic thumbs up, but with social distancing practices in place, many people were forced to spend the beautiful weather either inside or otherwise away from people. It’s a sign of how far we have to go to get past the pandemic and how much more difficult the road could get as people grow tired of quarantining.

Thumbs up to news that Connecticut’s prison population is at its lowest level in 27 years. Arrests are down significantly, meaning fewer people are coming into the prison system, and releases have also increased. In addition, the number of people held on pretrial bond has decreased since the beginning of March. The Department of Correction has faced criticism over the danger faced by inmates over COVID-19 because there is little to no opportunity for social distancing in prison, and there is still much more work to do to keep people safe.

Thumbs down to what Gov. Ned Lamont called “sobering” budget numbers that project state revenues would decline $7 billion between now and mid-2023. Lamont has made stabilizing the budget the top priority of his administration and has built up a strong reserve fund and resisted spending it on short-term needs. But no one could have predicted the coronavirus, and the initial budgetary remedies, which include canceling some planned tax cuts, will be just the beginning of what will be a difficult process. Another round of state employee givebacks and a possible gasoline tax hike are also possibilities.

Thumbs down to news that the Bridgewater Fair, a Connecticut staple every August that kicks off fair season, has been canceled for 2020. That’s no knock on organizers for making the difficult decision to call off the annual gathering that attracts tens of thousands of people. Even months in advance, it’s impossible to know whether such an event could be safe, and with the amount of planning it requires, cancelation is likely to only option that made sense. But it’s yet another sign that the deprivation from coronavirus quarantines is nowhere near over.

Thumbs down to wedding venues that are charging rescheduling fees to couples who must postpone their celebrations because of the coronavirus pandemic. State Rep. Kim Rose, D-Milford, said Monday she has heard of some venues refusing to return deposits or charging 20 to 30 percent to reschedule or cancel wedding dates this year. This is wrong when couples are only following orders to maintain social distancing.