I was surprised that the Courant published the editorial “The whole state needs our ‘Cap City’ to get back on its feet.” The writer clearly implied that there are decision makers that are OK with Hartford’s supposed decline without citing one example of where that’s happening.
He did make the obvious observation that for Hartford to succeed it needs an increased middle class population, again without citing one suggestion on how to go about doing so. Here are some:
Promote the increase in apartment conversions and see that it happens.
Expand the footprint of local colleges in the city. Include UConn, Trinity, St. Joseph’s, UHart and Capitol CC.
Offer a wide range of entertainment. Have something going on in Hartford almost every day of the week: Sports, theater, music, art and more.
If the slightest bit of research were done beyond reading an editorial, the writer would know all this is going on now. This is the exact reason I sold my colonial in suburbia and moved downtown and haven’t looked back. There are and will be more like me.
Major improvements outside the central business district are underway – DONO (look it up), a new library, refurbished and new homes and more.
The collective ‘we’ have a ways to go, but in many ways, Hartford is better off now than its past heyday of the 80’s (I was there for that too) because so many more people are living downtown.
I would suggest that the writer stay local and get involved with rectifying Branford’s very poor percentage of housing available for lower income households. Much like how Hartford students deserve a top quality education, Branford students need to be exposed to and appreciate that there is a world out there where hard working citizens are barely making ends meet through no fault of their own.
You know what’s best about Hartford, the cultural diversity. As far as foodies go, experiencing Mexican food is not a chain. I have it all here. I have never seen so many happy people in one night as I have during one of the several salsa nights on Pratt Street. Dare I say gospel music in Bushnell Park makes me emotional? It’s just stuff that doesn’t happen in suburbia.
Matthew Jenkelunas, Hartford
