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To Seniors, The Kids’ Living Ain’t Easy

by Jeremy Lent | Jul 20, 2010 12:15 pm

(7) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Politics, The Hill, Campaign 2010

Ned Lamont serenaded New Haven seniors with a a 1935 Gershwin chestnut, then fielded questions—about how to help kids in 2010.

That was the scene as Lamont and running mate Mary Glassman Tuesday brought their campaigns for the Democratic nominations for governor and lieutenant governor to New Haven’s Tower One/Tower East senior living facility.

Lamont displayed a side not often seen on the campaign trail—his musical side. He played a version of “Summertime” for the seniors. Click on the play arrow for a listen.

Lamont and Glassman also fielded questions. Rather than prescription drug costs or nursing care, the questions ended up having to do with young people.

The first audience question was about how they would keep guns out of Connecticut schools.

Lamont suggested installing school metal detectors and setting up a police buyback program for illegal guns. (A similar program has been tried in New Haven.)

The next question dealt with youth drug problems: Would the candidates support before- and after-school programs that would help prevent dealing? Glassman said that she and Lamont would help fund those programs, and she also stressed that parents need to keep a tab on their kids.

Next, Tower One/Tower East resident Terry Berger raised concerns about Connecticut’s public transportation system. Why were the trains in New York so much nicer than those in Connecticut? she asked. Lamont said that he would work to get more funding for the train system.

Finally, Pete Goodman, a Tower One/Tower East resident and Lamont campaigner, asked about a specifically senior citizen issue: How would the candidates make sure that nursing homes and hospices remain well-funded and don’t overburden younger taxpayers?

Glassman spoke briefly about funding programs that would allow seniors to remain in their own homes if they chose to.

Jeremy Lent Photo After the event, Lamont (at right in photo) and Glassman (at left) finally were asked—by a reporter—to expand on their ideas for helping senior citizens.

Glassman spoke more about the need to fund home-care nursing programs.

“We should try to give seniors a choice between staying at home or going into a nursing home,” Glassman said. “Connecticut doesn’t currently go after federal funding for home-care programs.” She pointed out that these programs could save money for the state by reducing nursing care costs.

Lamont gave a similar message: Bring down the cost of living (for instance, by lowering property debt and transportation costs) to allow more seniors to viably live at home.

Meanwhile, discussion among the lingering audience members continued to focus on sprightlier issues.

“Lamont needs to agree to debate [Dan] Malloy,” said tenant Terry Berger, referring to Lamont’s contender for the Democratic nomination. (Read about that here.) “We [as voters] need to be able to comparison shop.”

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posted by: mikepc45 on July 20, 2010  2:25pm

Sounds like Lamont is a fund guy. Tax and spend. No balanced budget, not tax cuts, no holding people accountable for their actions.
Buy guns back, great I am in the market for Gold Cup 1911 and Bersa 380 thunder, can he cut me a deal?

posted by: Joe on July 20, 2010  3:47pm

Oy! Lamont, stick to making millions.

posted by: Jonathan Hopkins on July 20, 2010  9:56pm

mikepc45,
Buying back guns is cheaper than imprisoning someone and treating some one else in a hospital.
It certainly will not solve the underlying issue of violence, but it is a good idea that should be implemented while the larger social problems are being addressed.

posted by: CTBullMoose on July 20, 2010  10:32pm

Mikepc45, have you ever seen the budget?  Have you every read through the entire document, digested its contents, learned its intricacies?  Balancing it isn’t a 45 minute ordeal, it takes professional budget analysts weeks to put it together and days to assess the impacts of a certain proposal. 

And, if I’m not mistaken, it’s Dan Malloy that’s calling for more taxes.  Ned’s said quite the opposite: show taxpayers what their money is being spent on and demonstrating fiscal restraint (management cuts, IT upgrades, reduction of silo agencies). 

What a novel idea….a governor who actually explains what’s happening in state government and why.

posted by: Jeffery on July 20, 2010  11:39pm

Terry, honey, I loved you when you lived here and I love you still. Keep holding peoples toes to the fire. You are absolutely on the “money” by calling out “Ned” about debating Mr. Malloy.
“Ned” is trying to skate past the issues, thinking money CAN buy him love.
Tell your friends to smell the coffee.

posted by: robn on July 21, 2010  8:27pm

Gershwin? My vote isn’t that cheap Mr Lamont. Learn a few Cole Porter tunes though…then we’re talkin!

Seriously though…time for a debate.

posted by: Steve Rodgers on July 22, 2010  5:21pm

I went to a small business owners Breakfast to hear Ned speak his last time around on the Trail. It sounds like he had years of professional lessons and I wish he had had a piano to entertain us the morning I went to hear him speak.

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