To Seniors, The Kids’ Living Ain’t Easy

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.

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.”