Connecticut Politics: Corruption Is Our Currency

 Politics is an art. In Connecticut, politics seems to be a way to enhance one's power and wealth. Increasingly, it is a profession that when one enters it, one never leaves it. It also is a profession where one can gain and develop great wealth over short periods of time while those in oversight either screw-up repeatedly or look the other way, all at your expense. It is a very closed circle where new ideas are shunned in many ways regardless of whether the ideas would be a great improvement for the status quo. Generally in politics, failed social and economic policies are embraced without any regard for the actual costs to the Taxpayers who must fund this horrific form of governance. And in Connecticut, all of that is significantly worse.

In Connecticut, it is evident that corruption runs rampantly and does not seem to end any time soon. It also seems that Republicans involved in corruption seem to get caught at all costs  and Democrats avoid any punishment for their alleged violations, that are brazen in their disregard for the rule of law. But for those on the political side, they really do not care. They see the takings from you accruing to their benefit as allowing them to serve you better. And regardless of your outcry towards this they will do the same thing over and over, provided they get re-elected for the next cycle, which is the sole reason for their "service", you, be damned.

 

The sordid political history of political corruption in Connecticut goes back decades, to John Mandanici in Bridgeport and John Rowland in the state house, and John Rowland after the state house. But sadly, none of these lessons were learned by subsequent participants. Currently, Bridgeport has a convicted felon serving the city again after jail time and supposed repayment of what he stole from the city, Mayor Joe Ganim. Trying to find evidence that Mayor Joe Ganim repaid the city for his pilfering is virtually nonexistent. That is just the way it is. He will obtain a city taxpayer funded pension if and when he ever retires and also had the audacity to run for Governor of Connecticut. Bridgeport also had/has massive voter fraud that I have written about in the past that in the opinion of many will never be resolved. The closest operating assistant to Mayor Joe Ganim is the Nationally Known Wanda the Ballot Stuffer who has done whatever Mayor Joe Ganim has commanded her to do. The Republican Party is virtually unknown in the city. But all of this is a shrug-your-shoulders accepted way of life in the corrupt Connecticut cesspool.

But why stop there? Connecticut Democrat State Senator Doug McCrory still holds his prominent paid State Senate seat as the corruption he is tied to between  the “Blue Hills Civic Association”, other myriad “nonprofit” organizations, and the should-be-abolished Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development reflect the alleged steering of money to his close associates. The “Blue Hills Civic Association” was poorly run with corrective audit findings being basically disregarded. This failed Democrat-led Association failed to report a $300,000 cyber theft, and over $1,700,000 in funds was apparently funneled to so called “consultants” that are associated with the Democrat State Senator. Absent any cry whatsoever in the political universe for just restitution and the impounding of assets, and appreciative and grateful of an FBI investigation and a Federal Grand Jury, Connecticut taxpayers await eagerly some sort of response as to how and when they will be paid back for this rip-off. 

 However, the inarguable Gold Standard in Connecticut Corruption is Democrat Governor Ned Lamont and his intrepid sidekick spouse and de-facto Lieutenant Governor Ann H. Lamont. Team Lamont leads the state in unanswered corruption questions. My colleague Tony De Angelo and I have been asking repeatedly for information on the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development dealings and audits as they relate to his family's hedge fund profits and other concerns/affiliations. Also how much did his family's hedge fund profit from Infosys Limited, Digital Currency Group and its affiliates, "ADVANCECT", Boston Consulting Group, UNITE US (CT), Mt. Sinai Genomics, "Thermo Fisher Scientific", "Sema 4", " Core Informatics", "Ocrulus", "Urjanet", "1life Healthcare", "Galileo Health", "Castlight Health", "Paladina Health", "4-CT", and "VillageMD"“The Horsebarn Hill Investment Fund”, McKinsey, “CT Next”, and the Tidal River Fund, to name a few?  Since we know there are Lamont family investments in the state pension, where might they be resident in the “Baby Bonds” portfolio or the UCONN Foundation? What family transactions take place in the secret Cayman Islands where no one can see them? Where are the Governor's tax returns and why hasn't he made them public in this election year or in any year since he has been in office? Why haven't these grey areas been researched as well as the alleged irregularities of former Republican candidate for Governor Mayor Erin Stewart? Is it because this is all planned Connecticut Democrat Political theater to preempt the above-mentioned questions on the Governor? It is evident what former disgraced Republican Governor John Rowland did years back, although entirely wrong, pales in comparison to what the Lamonts have done for years with no political criticism whatsoever.

 

And hope sprigs eternal! For at least six years, many citizens have hoped that the Connecticut Republican Party would aggressively police and fix any internal failings it may have and champion a full-throttle assault against serial Democrat corruption. But many of these same citizens were shocked and saddened this week when the ostensible champion of the Republican Connecticut Comeback was seen to have a glass jaw and to be totally unready for higher office. Former Republican candidate for Governor Erin Stewart has stepped out of the race for Governor. Many voters are very disappointed in her candidacy and how poorly she handled it. Many voters were amazed at her arrogance, vulgarity, carelessness, flippant attitude, and self-indulgence. Many voters never thought that she had issues with the misuse of city funds and Amazon procurement cards. Questions abound over what happened. Why all of a sudden in an election year, as Stewart was running for Governor, did these alleged problems come about? Wasn't she vetted as a candidate? Why wasn't Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto made known of her issues or was he and chose to avoid them at all costs to preserve his legacy? How did her city audits not see any of these problems, but a hired Democrat Mayor's audit uncovered everything? And how was this abusive situation never an issue in any New Britain Mayor's election? What did Democrat Mayor Bobby Sanchez know and why didn't he make this a campaign issue? And how did Erin Stewart not believe these purchases and her partial pension would become campaign issues? It is the same sad, sordid, sick, and abusive situation regardless of political party in Connecticut. In private industry, firings would be automatic and departments would be eliminated. In Connecticut, pensions are preserved and rewarded at all costs to Taxpayers, and abusive politicians are anointed as “victims,” deserving of a reinstatement to office so that they can do it all over again.

  

But now due to the reach of social media, radio, online newspapers, and blogs, truthful information is finally circulating where the humble citizen of Connecticut is realizing that he or she has been screwed and tattooed by the formerly imperious political class. And the game is indeed over. Both parties really need to come clean in this election. Voters are fast realizing that Connecticut's Democrat elected officials have a great deal of baggage and corruption that they are embracing. It is time call all of them out from the Murphy/Blumenthal Comedy Hour, to the ranting and raving incoherent gibberish of a very old Rosa DeLauro, to the Connecticut Republican Party never being serious and focused about getting the delusional Rosa out of office, to the never ending/hidden corruption of the Ned Lamont Administration and the cesspool of supposed Republican Party leadership that could end up costing the party even greater losses in November.  Connecticut has a putrefied government and political party system in which voters can see this rot much more clearly in this election than ever before. 

If there ever could be a vote of no confidence in Connecticut's government, it is happening now and will not stop until this political septic tank in finally pumped out once and for all. Once again, God save the once-Great State Of Connecticut.

Connecticut Community Fund 2030: Funding a Community That You Ain't In

The week of March 9. 2026 was a monumental week in the sordid annals of Connecticut history. In this week, scores of disenfranchised and justifiably disaffected Connecticut citizens descended on the Connecticut State Legislature fighting for their very lives in matters of education, medical freedom, and matters of personal self-defense in front of a largely uncaring and supercilious legislature who in many ways could not care less about them. Meanwhile, state Republicans caucused and called conferences supporting the efforts of these dear people. However, when all the dust settled one equally sickening issue remained: The government of the state of Connecticut continues to take your money and throw it into the street. And the arrogance and disdain from the political class towards the unwashed masses regarding this issue continually reaches steroidal proportions. 

And in this latest fiscal boondoggle, no politician comes out a winner. But you, the taxpayer, continually come out the loser.

Therefore, welcome to the “Connecticut Community Fund 2030”.

What is the Connecticut Community Fund 2030? 

Depending on what you want it to be, it is yet another bureaucratic dive for your wallet that creates even more economic misery for you, the Connecticut Taxpayer. The supposed purpose of the  "Community Investment Fund 2030 (CIF) is a Connecticut state-run program established in 2021 (codified in CGS § 32-285a) designed to foster economic and community development in historically underserved and distressed municipalities."  (https://portal.ct.gov/communityinvestmentfund/about-the-fund). This fund started in 2021 and works through the should-be-abolished and failed Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to give free money to  throw to his or her district like a gouty ward heeler. 

This fund is a bipartisan project. At the onset, it was intended to be funded for a mere $767 million dollars in its lifespan with a series of aspirational and/or questionable projects that you did not vote on, and regardless of how you may feel about it. But no one really gives a tinker’s dam about what you may think. And so what? Are we not supposed to pay attention to $767 million dollars to Connecticut taxpayers?  Especially since no amount of Taxpayer’s monies thrown any of the state's nonprofits/historically distressed communities and never-ending stream of "nonprofits" ever solves any of the massive social and economic problems of the state.

Here is some of the projects the Connecticut Community Fund has funded so far (https://portal.ct.gov/communityinvestmentfund/about-the-fund?language=en_US) : 

INTERNATIONAL HARTFORD - $1,137,514

The request of CIF funds is towards the construction of a year-round public food truck court for ethnic food vendors. The project will renovate an existing 5,500 square foot property at 681 Wethersfield Avenue. The facility will have both outdoor patios and indoor dining, a breakfast café with free community Wi-Fi, a community performance space for activities and programming, a lounge with music as well as outdoor musical concerts, a co-working kitchen space, cold and dry storage, graywater, and grease disposal – all in one environment, increasing efficiency for food truck operations.

CITY OF BRIDGEPORT - $3,500,000

“Civic Block” CIF funds will aid the completion of the East End development known as Civic Block. Funds will be used to complete construction to create 35,000 ft2 of retail space, including a grocery store in a neighborhood that is currently a food desert.

This project is interesting as there continues not to be much progress on the project. Does anyone have an accounting of money spent to date? Does anyone realize how much money has been given freely to Bridgeport to solve the never-ending years of fiscal theft, fiscal negligence, fiscal ineptness, and fiscal lies of all of their supposed economic development? Does anyone in Bridgeport feel they will benefit from a grocery store? 

Moreover, is there any starvation, scurvy, or beriberi taking place in this Bridgeport “food desert” to date?

TOWN OF HAMDEN - $5,400,000

“Arts & Cultural Center / Middle School Demolition”

This CIF award will enable the re-development of a former middle school that currently stands as a blighted, vacant structure within an Environmental Justice Block Group. CIF grant funds will go towards demolition and abatement of the structure, and community planning activities for the creation of a Community Campus on the site. 

Hamden, formerly a highly desirable town, now has a large theft and crime problem. Instead of worrying about "Environmental justice" maybe Hamden should worry about "Justice for victims of Hamden's never ending crime problem"? 

Or possibly how about some property tax relief or Kevlar shields for the bullet-ducking Hamden taxpayers?

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, New London $ 2,020,096

New London Relocation PPSNE health centers promote the availability of high-quality family planning and reproductive services. PPSNE proposes to use CIF funds to renovate and expand the property at 467 Ocean Avenue in New London to become the new home of PPSNE’s New London health center. 

Connecticut is now such an economic wasteland that abortion is now considered to be a community and economic development activity.

YWCA Hartford Region, Inc., Hartford $ 1,500,000

Center for Racial Justice & Gender Equity YWCA is committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA proposes HVAC system enhancements as part of renovating its 50-year-old Hartford building to establish The Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity. 

Hartford has a a serious theft and crime problem. Instead of worrying about "Racial justice" maybe Hartford should worry about "Justice for victims of Hartford's never ending crime problem"? But "Racial Justice" of course is a much higher priority than resident safety.

Make no mistake in that Connecticut is a hotly divided state between the aggressors and enablers vs. the aggrieved and besieged. But when it comes to pork-filled and quasi-useless-feed-the-monkey type spending, both sides of the aisle unify to incinerate your tax money in the street while they are calling for financial policing and ending waste, fraud, and abuse. My friend and colleague Tony De Angelo did a great job of explaining this very thing on the March 12 edition of THIRTY WITH TONY TRUE NORTH THIRTY WITH TONY MARCH 12 2026

But nothing ever seems to change in the Grand Nutmeg State, The list is endless for what is being spent on top of the $28 billion dollars yearly in the Connecticut State Budget. Kindly consider that the state has $100-150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities before this latest jaunt into Community Investment. But no one in this history of Connecticut politics past or present ever seems to get that. The formula for insolvency and failure continues:  Keep throwing money out the window to a should-be-abolished agency with the result always leaving Connecticut at the bottom of the country in most economic categories. This unmitigated fiscal horror should make every Connecticut Taxpayer's blood boil. And the same pattern is repeated, year after year. 

But in fairness to Republicans let us never ever forget the root cause of the fiscal destruction of the state. The Connecticut Community Fund 2030  is another pure overreach of a never-ending money-wasting Democrat Party ruling authority eliminating local decision-making and facilitating a socialist command top-down planning regime. And in typical Connecticut fashion, there is no transparency whatsoever with respect to this fund and in accuracy, no member of the Board has advocated for your right to the same. Of course, this usual behavioral pattern continues as the state is facing at a federal investigation of Democrat State Senator Doug McCrory and the misuse of $750,000 in funds for the now bankrupt Blue Hills Civic Association. But with business as usual, McCrory is still Deputy President Pro Tempore, Chair: Education Committee, and Vice Chair: Public health; Government Oversight. But again, what is stealing $750,000 of Connecticut Taxpayers monies given the amount that has been stolen and wasted for the past 35 years? Its just a mere bag of shells.

Omnipotent one-party Democrat rule facilitating and enabling the same, and state government with no transparency has consequences. I am confident that down the road there will be even more committees, commissions, and politically appointed- highly paid incompetent-economically illiterate state employees who will talk incoherent economic gibberish while still we see the same horrific economic results. The waste and theft of Connecticut Taxpayers monies needs to stop today. Hopefully, the current federal investigation into State Senator McCrory will lead to many more investigations into Connecticut State Government's corruption. For we simply cannot have enough of them. The dear and hardworking citizens of Connecticut that have been aggrieved and harmed by Connecticut, deserve nothing less. There are no winners here whatsoever, only losers. And the losers here are the poor taxpaying citizens of Connecticut.