Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to positive signs on controlling the coronavirus in Connecticut, even as cases spike in other parts of the country. Connecticut and New York were hit hard early by the pandemic, and the death toll locally has been unbearably high. But for a variety of reasons Connecticut has seen declining numbers of cases and hospitalizations in recent months. That needs to continue, which will be harder as the economy continues to reopen and people begin to congregate more freely. All of which highlights again the need for caution, wearing masks, keeping a reasonable distance away from each other and using common sense.

Thumbs down to a report that shows more properties are at risk of flood damage than official reports may indicate. The nonprofit First Street Foundation recently announced a new analysis of properties across the nation, calculating risks of flooding using revised models. It found that more than 46,000 state properties are greater risk of flooding than the latest federal estimates suggest, with Bridgeport leading coastal communities with more than 5,800 exposed parcels. The threat of climate change is real, though it’s taken something of a back burner during the global pandemic. But the danger is not going away, and flooding is only one indicator of the difficulties in years to come.

Thumbs down to high water demand during the pandemic resulting in a call for a voluntary 20 percent reduction in usage in parts of the state. As the head of the water company Aquarion pointed out, it’s important to try to participate in this endeavor because it could affect water pressure when emergencies such as home fires occur. Aquarion’s customers are in southwestern Connecticut, but it’s unfortunately important for everything to try to help. Despite the weekend rainstorms, we’ve had a string of hot days and can’t be sure what’s in store this summer.

Thumbs up to UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma for his unique take on the school’s athletics budget deficit. In a Monday appearance on a morning radio program, Auriemma likened the issue to a shell game, where the state charges UConn teams rent to play at facilities like Hartford’s XL Center and the football team’s Rentschler Field in East Hartford. The money stays in the state and helps the local economy, but makes the athletics department look like it doesn’t know what it’s doing, he said, when in fact the situation is not nearly as dire as it’s made out to be. It’s a perspective one doesn’t often hear, but it comes from someone who ought to know what he’s talking about.