Civil rights

A Filipino-American in Connecticut

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Friday was April 13, 2018 — an ordinary day, but my work schedule allowed me to take the commuter train to New York City to pick up my newly issued Filipino passport. Here in Connecticut, as a veteran and now dual citizen, there is one more fight to ensure that the Connecticut Veterans Memorial in Hartford finally recognizes and chisels in the “Philippine-American War” in honor and memory of those who sacrificed their lives in that forgotten, conflict-soaked war long ago at the dawn of the American Century.
Public Safety

Universal background checks — Congress, what are you waiting for?

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Universal background checks should be federal law at this juncture of our nation’s history. The fact that universal background checks are not mandated can reasonably be described as a failure of representative democracy. In the wake of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, Fla.), it’s reasonable to ask – could a universal background check system have prevented the entire incident?
Candidate statement

What the Parkland shootings should mean to Connecticut

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What does the tragic shooting at the Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2018 mean for Connecticut? After Connecticut suffered the tragedy of the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown on Dec. 14, 2012, Connecticut tightened up its gun control laws to the tightest among the 50 states. The recommendation to ban bump stocks that can turn a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic weapon is welcome. To require more people to have background checks is also welcome. But this is not what the Parkland School shooting means for Connecticut.
Health Care

A critique: Connecticut Magazine 2018 Best Doctors issue.

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Connecticut magazine recently published its April edition of 2018 Best Doctors: 779 doctors were named in 78 medical, pediatric, surgical and other specialties. … Mixed into the listing of best doctors were many advertisements for medical/surgical individuals and groups totaling 12 glossy photographs — none featuring clinicians practicing primary care. Overall, three times as many sub-specialists were named as “Best Doctors” as those practicing primary care. Sadly, in Connecticut there are twice as many sub-specialists practicing as primary care physicians.
Transportation

Saving money riding Metro-North

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Whether you’re a daily commuter, an occasional day-tripper or have friends visiting from out of town, everyone can save money when you go into NYC on Metro-North by following this time-tested advice:…

Candidate statement

Connecticut’s next governor must have the character to lead

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Republican delegates and voters will have a choice on who will lead us in the fall election. We have a tremendous opportunity to chart a new course for Connecticut, one that will move our state in the right direction. Delegates should want to know who won’t shy away from our Republican values and who can carry the fight to the Democrats and hold them accountable for their failed policies that have led Connecticut down the road to ruin. We need to choose a nominee who can win and will govern effectively, unafraid to upend the status quo and bring bold ideas that will lead us into the future.
Criminal and civil justice

Promoting the health of incarcerated women and their children

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Imagine giving birth. Lower back searing with pain; muscles internally twisting and seizing with each contraction; hips feel like they’re being slowly dislocated; body rocking to distract from the pain.

Now imagine all of this but in a prison cell, with metal shackles cutting into your body and questionable medical care that may heighten, rather than calm, your anxiety. For many, the word “torture” comes to mind and, for many, it would be unthinkable that this type of treatment is occurring in Connecticut — but it is.
Media

Facebook and the power to influence millions of voters

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The recent testimony of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is being portrayed as the response of our political class to invasions of user privacy. But this is really about the political classes’ realization that Facebook has the power to organize voters and skew elections based on the preferences of Zuckerberg and his minions.

Labor issues

Equal Pay Day ignores some statistical truths

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Equal Pay Day arrived for women this week. According to gender rights advocates, a woman must add to her 2017 income almost three and a half months of work in 2018 to make as much as a white man made in 2017. In other words, a woman in Connecticut only makes 79 percent of what a white man makes in income. Black and Latina women are even more disadvantaged. Black women make only 58 percent, and Latina women come in last at 47 percent. For some inexplicable reason black men don’t seem to be counted.
Budget/Economy/Taxes

Medicare Savings Program cuts are harming low-income seniors

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I am writing to express my concerns over the funding of the Medicare Savings Program here in the state of Connecticut. I am a social worker. I work with low-income seniors all across the state of Connecticut and this issue is extremely important to my clients. I am writing to inform you of what the cuts to the Medicare Savings Plan will do to many low- income seniors across the state.