Channel 3’s Hallie Jackson just asked me why I changed the name of my blog to “The Hartfordite.” First of all, “Digital Dennis” had run its course. I was never a big fan of the name, created by a former Channel 3 staffer who was a fan of illiteration. Now that I’m over 40 and any guy who is in my age bracket can totally get this: digital conjures up memories of a dreaded yet necessary exam. Case closed on that name.
I wanted a title that sounded like a magazine. My blog will have news on it, along with my thoughts and ramblings on everything from cars to sports to television to pretty much everything. “The Nutmegger” didn’t do anything for me, and “The Connecticutter,” or whatever we call ourselves sounds silly. Hence, “The Hartfordite.”
First, I live in Hartford so it describes me. Secondly, it applies to tens of thousands of people….not just people who live in your capital city, but all the suburbanites too. Tens of thousands of people, maybe more have Hartford on their birth certificates. A future president of the U.S. might be going to Glastonbury High School right now, but it in the history books it will say he or she was born in Hartford. That person is a Hartfordite.
Anyway…enjoy reading “The Hartfordite” and I look forward to hearing from you.
Categories: Uncategorized
Dennis House blog 
I know I have at times said some rough things about Hartford, but I guess I really shouldn’t. There are some wonderful places still there. Yes, I will always admit that I was born in Mt. Sania Hospital before it merged or bought up by St. Francis. I remember walking to the Finast Supermarket near Blue Hills Ave when I was a kid. The Firehouse was on Blue Hills Ave as was Society for Savings where I opened up my very first bank account (hmmm wonder what ever happened to that money??).
I was always proud to say I was born in Hartford and that I walked along Blue Hills Ave – one way to the stores, the other way on the start to go to Sarah J. Rawson Elementry School that older brothers and I went (at different times).
I remember when Kenny Park had a little zoo there. I loved going there. I will always have those memories. I even have a toy box that was made for me when I was three years old when we added on to our house, I still have that wooden toy box (have to get a way to get that here yet).
I have all those memories, but I have to admit I was in the cemetary on Coventry and Waverly and it was in such a sad state. I ended up calling the people who are to take care of the grounds, and she was nice enough to explain that the person who is supposed to check it, was away for the week. Also she had been there the week before and had to call for a garbarge truck due to there was a mattress and shingles from a house there.
I know there are going to be places in every town in which they aren’t like they were when I was a kid, but you should have heard me bragging about Hartford when I lived in New York. I always said and still say Hartford was my home, the other places I lived were ‘stop overs’.
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Yes, I know I’m replying to my own note. I got all ‘hopped’ up about talking about Hartford, I meant to tell you I like the new name of your Blog. For some reason I couldn’t see you calling it “Digital Dennis”, just didn’t seem like you. Then you said your age,,, ok, so I’m 11 years up on you.
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I think it’s a cool name and much better reflects you! Good idea! Merry Christmas,
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Finally… a gubernatorial candidate with real experience and civic leadership success.
What would you do about the social service entitlements that are draining the sdtate budget?
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I cannot think of a better topic then commenting on the staggering amount of job-losses here in Connecticut? Dennis addressed this matter on Sunday’s (3/14/10) “FACE THE STATE”. For one, I was inspired enough to contribute.
Where Michigan seemingly held the position as leading loser, it appears we in CT hold the post now. Lucky us! It’s very sad, but yet, predictable.
Job loss in Connecticut and the nation itself must be addressed. But until there is an understanding as to “why” jobs have left the US (and CT,) there is absolutely no reason to accept that any new jobs, any new training, etc., are going to benefit us.
There are many contributing factors contributing to the job loss, including our commerce and trade laws which are actually riddles written as laws. Try reading the many “articles” and “clauses” which have been entered into our Constitution concerning trade policies. There you find a serious part of the reasoning for job losses. When our laws legally permit 90% of US companies to be placed offshore, then such laws deserve re-examining. Having 10% of your company based here cannot possibly be considered corporate US citizenship, void of foreign company taxes and tariffs . Plug the hole in the bucket first, then refill it!
But this is part of the overall problem.
Putting anything in a holed bucket has a guarantee. It will always drain out again. But then there is the small matter concerning US taxes, specific to us, Connecticut state taxes. Combined, they are the perfect storm which have eroded our economy. both regionally, state-wide, and nationally.
There are many factors driving businesses away from CT, including the fact that this state has established for itself a very high cost of living, escalating property values, and very high property taxes. These are serious factors driving away people and businesses. And then there’s that minor matter called the “Connecticut income tax”. Bravo! Why are businesses leaving CT? It isn’t “rocket surgery!”
Combined, all these taxes are part of a short-term thinking (STT) problem. These taxes are forcing people and businesses to either leave or stay away from CT. And as more leave, the tax base shrinks, so plan on seeing the rates climb higher for those whom stay! STT…the problem has begun to feed off itself. The consequence however, is those long-term damages that are not on the radar of those who are charged with monitoring it.
Does Connecticut want a middle class? Under the present plan, the MC is vanishing. Where does Connecticut want to be in the next decade? Will CT become entirely a NYC suburb? Does the state even have a business plan…or does each new administration rewrite their own? I’d add this to the STT. Things to make you go hmmmm.
Connecticut is suffering from many many years of STT (short-term thinking) and divorcing itself of anything resembling change. Connecticut never did like change, which is positively presented in the many beautiful old homes, towns, and communities. But are we fossilized?With lack of jobs and hiring, as well as escalating taxes, CT residents are being squeezed from top and the bottom. This said, there are those who are taking full advantage of the mistakes being made from within. For one, coastal CT residents can no longer afford their own multi-generation-owned family homes. New York and Fairfield County are moving north, but as the wealthy absorb the best properties (along with major property taxes) so too will this eventually affect most local businesses. Though they pay property taxes, these owners are not necessarily year-round residents. Many head for the “warm climes” during off-season. Small and large businesses, groceries, gasoline, etc., rely on year-round residents, but under the existing STT-plan, who will support these businesses? As this occurs, so goes our liberties. When businesses leave, we too lose our choices. If they’re still here, you’ll just shop at just Walmart and learn to like it.
As we cease producing US products, we lose our jobs. As our state government remains unwilling to address the fallout from escalating tax matters, they too add to the problem, not any solution. The STT.
City governments have placed them selves in a short-term solution mode, where property taxes are paid, Realtors make commissions, but property values are falsely raised and the overall economy continues to sink. Then no one benefits, including Realtors. There’s no check & balance without good paying jobs to offset this “lets all sink together scenario”.
In the Southeastern region of CT, all this is justifiably causing serious panic, yet where are the solutions? Phizer pulled a fast one now their New London 700,00 sq.ft. facility sits empty. We turn to our representatives, we write, I write,…and they don’t even answer messages (or do so with a form letter.) This is “representative” of one thing. The most major problem. We The People, not we the corporation.
All does not need to be doom & gloom, but one thing is obvious. We must change our understanding of what leadership really is. We need some vision and some positive achievable directives. Lets begin by keeping the negative types out of the room…and open a a series of town hall-type forums. One thing we have, is experience. Lets listen to some!
Here’s several examples of what “might” work, but if you’re a negative nay-sayer, stop here. We have enough negativity to power the nation.
1) I am a product developer whom, finds solutions where none existed. I conceive and develop new consumer products and my 30 year career was shipped to China. I’m unable and unwilling to default and myself, along with my business partner, have over fifty years of experience working in and for Fortune 500’s. We would love to base our operation, our new product and manufacturing, here in New England (vs. China.) But it’s not looking good. Not one state (CT, RI, MA) provides incentives to do so, not one! STT. The taxes are all extreme, the rents are so high, the employment taxes are above 35%, etc. So why would any start-up come here to CT? We know too, that China will not honor our proprietary rights, patents or not, and our products will be knocked-off. We would like to be here, producing our products and creating jobs, but CT, RI, MA, you’re STT.
Instead of opening a door to “SMALL BUSINESSES”, CT holds the door shut. There’s no debate. STT! The state prefers BIG businesses for reasons that can only be imagined. CT fails to grasp that it’s small businesses that pay the majority taxes, but it’s CT politicians that refuse to change. Drop the short-term thinking! Open the door! Bring small businesses into the fold. Provide for us solid reasons to set up where WE need to be, vs. limiting us to where it’s better for the state to put us. Look regionally. Look at how Southeastern CT is a ghost town (except for Foxwoods.) Reduce our tax rates, help us find VC (vestment capital,) seed money, help us route, allow us to grow and the benefits will spread. We want to hire people, so help us…or keep doing what you’ve been doing: ignore us and ignore the problem.
2) Here in Southern CT, is a defense contractor that has the best engineers, best electricians, best welders, best assemblers, best contractors. Where is written then…that this extremely well put together work force can only design, craft, and assemble…submarines? Used as offensive or defensive means, we can do better. We need these subs, we need government contracts, we need to keep these workers…working! But here’s a suggestion that is a win-win for virtually everyone:
The US needs to harness alternative energy. EB products are developed to use the oceans. There exists out there [in the oceans], wind, solar, tidal, currants, and wave actions. This is “global energy” and it is eternal and yet totally unharnessed. So harness it! Diversify EB. Create a division and facility that can design, engineer, weld, bend piping, all to create global alternative energy gererators. A company, a producer of not just “boomers” but also peaceful products. Grow the EB work force to build these generators. Use Hamilton Substrate for it’s knowledge of wind turbine technologies. Use Pratt & Whitney tool deigners and contractors! Create jobs. Grow this company or create divisions across the state which would utilize the expertise from these other defense contractors. Create a CT-based “energy development company” that isn’t going to be moved by government contracts to Newport News, VA! Create a separate EB, but utilize what they have and expand it into the needs of not just the US, but the world. EB knows nuclear power, electric power, building things, and building things that survive the elements. So why not utilize the engineering and know-how at EB and charge them to develop non-govt. contract products, not susceptible to the whims of Washington and the Pentagon? In the world market these products can be sold to those countries that can also harness the energy for their needs. Imagine the benefits? Imagine the new jobs? Imagine how Southern CT, all of CT, could become a leader in something so positive while rebuilding our sinking economy?
If we do not get together some of our best minds, the best ideas, and gather concepts that have the potential for providing a good future for ourselves, we deserve what we’re getting [short-term, restricted thinking, with no sense that anything has reason to be better.] It’s time we also cut loose the enablers. Those who need to feel that they are necessary to us and without them we’re in trouble. We are in trouble, because we’ve listened, believed, and backed them. They suffer from STT and we have nothing to show for offering them our support. I’ll keep government contracts coming in if you vote for me? Becoming beholding to such STT has kept us frozen in their need to control our future. We must cut loose. We lead someone with the ability to lead to create some manner of an on-going forum, where out-of-the-box thinking is welcomed and could lead to the robust future we can make happen. DJ
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I just finished watching “Face The State” with Dr. WIlliam Petit. I truly admire someone who live through such a horrific nightmare and be able to turn around and use that pain to try to make social change. While we can still see the raw emotion in his eyes, we also see determination and resolve to affect and improve the lives of others. While it would be understandable for him to disappear and live his life in solitude, he made a choice to reach out and help others in the name of his beautiful family. Dr. Petit is a courageous man who lives his life with dignity and fortitude. He should serve as a model to others who spend all their energy complaining about the cards they have been dealt in life and use their difficulties as excuses for apathy or negative behavior. I wish him all the best in the future and will keep him and his family in my thoughts and prayers.
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Dennis, you wrote, “I was never a big fan of the name, created by a former Channel 3 staffer who was a fan of illiteration.” Well, I can’t quite tell how YOU feel about the subject, but your site does officially have illiteration!
-Ken
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the good thing about wooden toys is that they are biodegradable and is organic too :
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