Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs down to data collected by Hearst Connecticut Media that reveals the state still has a long way to go to diversify many of its most successful companies Of the 13 Connecticut companies on the 2020 Fortune 500 list, none have a board of directors that is not dominated by men. Stamford-based Synchrony and Norwalk-based Frontier Communications are the only companies among the 13 with chairwomen. These boards remain dominated by white men, but several of the firms are taking steps toward diversifying leadership. We look forward to offering a thumbs up in the future to successful reforms that result in boards that reflect the community.
Thumbs up to the advancement of a bill that would reduce the cost of making copies of government documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill in question would cap fees that governments can charge for copying most public documents at 15 cents a page, as well as prohibit them from charging someone to copy records themselves using a cell phone or camera. Opponents had raised objections over its potential about its fiscal impact on towns, which is a legitimate concern. But access to public documents, including affordable means to make copies of them, ought to be central to local governments’ mission.
Thumbs down to what already looks like an active tick season in Connecticut. Thanks in part to warming weather, the state has seen an increase in tick reports over last year, with the recent addition of new species to the region also contributing to worries. Effects from tick-borne diseases run the gamut from mild to debilitating, making typical outdoor activities a potentially fraught situation. Experts urge caution and to make sure people and pets are regularly checked for ticks, but this appears to be rite of the season that is probably unavoidable.
Thumbs up to the so-called “trusted messengers” who have been tasked with boosting the numbers in communities where vaccination rates are lagging. The more than 500 people who are going door-to-door and organizing pop-up clinics still face a formidable task to bring the state closer to the desired goal of 85 percent to achieve herd immunity. Connecticut is at about 46 percent, so these are the people who are truly rolling up their sleeves to get the job done.