Page 11 - Ct Viewpoints News Today

Return Connecticut to a risk-based vaccination plan Yehyun Kim :: ctmirror.org Joan Pennington, 73, gets the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at her home. "Its gratifying," Pennington said. I read with disappointment Gov. Ned Lamont’s decision to abandon the CDC’s risk-based roll-out of Connecticut’s pending COVID-19 vaccination stockpile.  As a 59-year old woman who enjoys the creature comforts that come with white privilege (including excellent health insurance), I denounce Governor Lamo...

TCI will create a fourth gasoline tax With all due respect, Governor, TCI is a tax. The Transportation Climate Initiative, or TCI, calls for a proposed emissions fee on gasoline to help battle climate change. On the surface, supporters say it is a small price to pay to help save the planet; and if you truly believe that this is the case, then you should consider voting for it. Despite the administration’s efforts to go out of their way to not call TCI a tax, the simple truth is that it will o...

Let’s keep telehealth when the pandemic ends A telemedicine consultation Accessing mental health services can be difficult. For example, in 2019, a middle-aged mother with a history of trauma and alcohol use missed three appointments in a row with her psychiatrist.  She was nearly discharged from treatment for “lack of interest.” What happened? Steven Madonick, MD In fact, she could not travel to her appointments because she could not afford to repair her car and her trauma symptoms prev...

Assisted suicide lobby spreads falsehoods to promote systemic ableism Proponents of assisted suicide repeatedly spread falsehoods to promote their lethal and ableist agenda.  The February 8 op-ed, “Aid in dying is not assisted suicide” is no exception. Suicide is defined as the act of taking one’s life intentionally.  The person who intentionally ingests a prescribed lethal overdose more closely fits the dictionary definition of suicide than the despondent person who jumps off a bridge....

Monthly CT VIEWPOINTS -- opinions from around Connecticut Right to counsel is just as much a racial justice issue as a housing policy issue Yehyun Kim :: ctmirror.org Protestors stand with signs asking to stop eviction in front of an apartment building in North End, Hartford. People from different parts of Connecticut gathered after hearing that a family with two children is going to be evicted in the cold during the pandemic. Despite the state and fe...

We need justice, not politics The Connecticut Supreme Court building. The administration of justice should not be political. Prosecutors must be guided by the evidence in a case and the applicable law, not by partisan, political considerations. Political pressure should never sway a prosecutor’s decision-making. Department of Criminal Justice Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. Political independence of the United States Department of Justice took center stage at last month’s c...

Students need more resources, fewer officers Tenille Bonilla Last year, in a huge win for justice advocates, organizers and communities across the state, the Connecticut legislature passed a widely contested police accountability bill, which among other things changed legal protections for officers who have committed wrongdoings and included measures intended to prevent abuses of power before they occur. Though it still needs to be fully implemented, the bill is a huge step forward towards hold...

Housing is a human right Nonprofit Accountability Group is a queer- and trans-led group based in Hartford that is dedicated to creating racial equity by directing resources to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and disabled children and families. NAG was founded in 2020 as an organization with a transformative approach to implementing nonprofit accountability by creating relationships within the community, nonprofits, and their funders. We believe that drinking water is essential, Bl...

A new guide for schools: How to work with families this spring Yehyun Kim :: CTMirror In-school teaching and learning continues to take place across the state thanks to the implementation of effective mitigation strategies. With months of remote and hybrid learning to go, families and educators continue to adapt and innovate to meet the moment. Since August, we’ve spoken with hundreds of parents, caregivers, family support groups, educators, and students across Connecticut and the country abo...

As a university professor and a lifespan developmental psychologist, I tend to approach my work from a developmental perspective. This means I aim to foster a lifelong love of learning and to help others find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as confidence in their ability to reach their goals. My approach to higher education is shaped by my desire to provide the best possible education for my students. This is why the recent Board of Regents’ proposed changes at the four state universi...