Connecticut students, educators, and taxpayers deserve better than the broken status quo at our Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU).
A pattern of entitlement among unaccountable administrators, wasteful spending, and mismanagement have led to the prospect of disastrous cutbacks for students and faculty. Where is the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR), the entity tasked with oversight of the CSCU system? Why did it take years of inaction for Gov. Ned Lamont to finally call for an outside audit of the CSCU system and its chancellor Terrence Cheng? How can we know taxpayer funds aren’t continuing to be misused?
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Heather Somers Credit: Heather Somers.comGetting answers for taxpayers, implementing concrete reforms, including real oversight, and holding those responsible accountable must be a priority for the legislature in the upcoming legislative session starting in January.
For years, those tasked with oversight of this unaccountable body, especially the Board of Regents, have sat idly by while Cheng was treated to cushy perks and treated taxpayer dollars meant for education like a personal piggy bank.
In addition to Cheng’s generous salary of $403,000, his compensation also includes a brand-new car and a separate $25,000 “housing and entertainment” allowance. Cheng has continued to live primarily in New York and makes a 90-minute commute to Hartford. That alone should not be problematic, many Connecticut residents commute to New York and vice versa.
But unlike those thousands of hardworking Connecticut citizens, Cheng used state college system funds to pay a chauffeur to drive him on his commute. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Reporters have uncovered a pattern of skirting spending rules and reporting requirements — from misusing his state car, frequently blowing past a $50 per-person cap with expensive meals, charging alcohol to his expense account, and keeping insufficient records.
The complete abdication of responsibility for those charged with overseeing the state college system is even more unacceptable now that educators and students face significant budget cuts – a direct consequence of years of tolerance for mismanagement and waste.
The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems found in a recently released report that CSCU, “has consistently fallen short in addressing its dire fiscal situation, suggesting sweeping reforms in order for the system’s long-term sustainability.”
This is on top of tuition increases in recent years. Chancellor Cheng and his complicit Board of Regents recently approved a 5% tuition price hike for students, the recipients of the bill for their inaction and failure.
The complete lack of accountability within the CSCU system goes deeper than fiscal management. Other reports have revealed that state college administrators spent time and resources looking for loopholes to let them extend grants, internships, and paid opportunities to illegal immigrants without disclosing their citizen status. While hardworking Connecticut citizens are being squeezed by inflation and one of the highest tax burdens in the nation, unaccountable administrators were trying to turn education dollars into new taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants.
The Board of Regents has been either incompetent, inattentive, or both. They have not acted nearly swiftly enough or aggressively enough to bring scrutiny and accountability to the CSCU system.
For this reason, the Board of Regents itself may need to be audited — in addition to the legislature exercising full accountability for the CSCU system itself in the upcoming session.
We must know how those tasked with overseeing our state colleges and approving tuition increases are allocating resources and making budgetary and management decisions. And we must know why it took so long, and ultimately for others to start asking questions, for the out-of-control situation to come to light. The legislature should consider whether structural reforms need to be made at a higher level — to how an unaccountable body of political appointees are left to oversee such an important institution of education in our state.
The misuse of taxpayer funds and ideologically charged behavior of those tasked with working for the taxpayers follows a pattern I’ve worked to expose and reform across various quasi-public boards and government agencies.
When I realized the Board of Pardons and Paroles was engaged in a reckless spree of commutations that included a number of violent criminals, I led the charge to expose them that forced the governor to replace the board chair. Now I’m leading the push to structurally reform the parole board to uphold public safety and protect victims.
Before that, I led the crackdown on mismanagement at the Port Authority. I demanded a public hearing to disinfect the mess with sunlight and wrote legislation to strengthen the independent watchdog office that reviews and vets contracts. I also helped expose abuse at Whiting Forensic Hospital and corruption at the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC), resulting in jail time for those responsible.
Real reform is always achievable. But it requires relentless leadership that cuts through the noise to deliver results and put our citizens and taxpayers before business as usual in Hartford.
As I have in the past, I will be ready to hold Hartford accountable to taxpayers. This time, to work with my fellow legislators, educators, students, and others to ensure taxpayer funds meant for educating the next generation are spent for that purpose, not lavish perks for unaccountable administrators or ideological pet projects.
Heather Somers represents the 18th District of Connecticut in the State Senate.
NEW BRITAIN, CT — Stanley Black & Decker on Thursday said it has decided to close its manufacturing facility in New Britain.
Debora Raymond, vice president of external communications for the manufacturer, said the decision is a result of a “structural decline in demand for single-sided tape measures.”
The New Britain facility predominantly makes these products, according to Raymond.
“These products are quickly becoming obsolete in the markets we serve,” Raymond said, via an emailed statement Thursday.
The decision is expected to impact approximately 300 employees, according to Raymond.
“We are focused on supporting impacted employees through this transition, including providing options for employment at other facilities, severance, and job placement support services for both salaried and hourly employees,” Raymond said.
As of Thursday at 4:30 p.m., no Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice had been filed with the state Department of Labor.
The company’s corporate headquarters remains at 1000 Stanley Dr., New Britain.
Gov. Ned Lamont released the following statement on the decision:
“Although Stanley has made the decision to discontinue operations for manufacturing outdated products, a change in workforce opportunities is difficult for employees, their families, and any community.,” Lamont said. “However, I am hopeful that these skilled workers will be repurposed with the help of Stanley Black & Decker, a company that will still proudly be headquartered here in Connecticut. My administration is working closely with local and state leaders to support affected workers and to reimagine the factory site so it can continue to create opportunity and strengthen New Britain’s economic future.”
New Britain Mayor Bobby Sanchez said he is “deeply disappointed” the company will be closing its Myrtle Street operations.
“For generations, Stanley Works has been part of the fabric of our city, providing good-paying jobs, supporting families, and helping build New Britain’s proud reputation as the ‘Hardware City,’” Sanchez said.
According to the mayor, his office’s immediate focus is on helping affected workers and their families. The mayor has been in contact with Lamont’s office, and they will be working closely to make sure employees have access to job placement services, retraining opportunities and support, Sanchez said.
“We will continue aggressively pursuing economic development opportunities and attracting businesses that are looking for a true community partner, a city ready to collaborate, innovate and grow alongside them,” Sanchez said. “New Britain has reinvented itself before, and we will do so again.”
Stanley Black & Decker, founded in 1843, operates manufacturing facilities worldwide, according to its website. It reports having 43,500 employees globally, and makes an array of products, such as power tools and equipment, hand tools, and fasteners.
Newly released police video shows former WWE executive Vince McMahon ram his luxury sports car into the rear end of another vehicle on a Connecticut highway last summer as he was being followed by a state trooper.
McMahon, now 80, was driving his 2024 Bentley Continental GT at more than 100 mph on the Merritt Parkway when he crashed in the town of Westport, according to state police.
A trooper’s dashcam video shows McMahon accelerating away, then braking too late to avoid crashing into the back of a BMW. The Bentley then swerves into a guardrail and careens back across the highway, creating a cloud of dirt and car parts.
“Why were you driving all over 100 mph?” state police Detective Maxwell Robins asked McMahon after catching up to the wrecked Bentley, which can cost over $300,000.
“I got my granddaughter’s birthday” McMahon replied, explaining he was on his way to see her. The encounter was recorded on police bodycam video.
No one was seriously injured in the July 24 crash, which happened the same day that WWE legend Hulk Hogan died of a heart attack in Florida.
Besides damage to the rear of the BMW, another vehicle driving on the opposite side of the parkway was struck by flying debris. The driver of that third car happened to be wearing a WWE shirt, according to the police video.
McMahon was cited for reckless driving and following too closely. A state judge in October allowed McMahon to enter a pretrial probation program that will result in the charges being erased from his record next October if he successfully completes the program. He was also ordered to make a $1,000 charitable contribution.
McMahon’s lawyer, Mark Sherman, said the crash was just an accident.
“Not every car accident is a crime,” Sherman said. “Vince’s primary concern during this case was for the other drivers and is appreciative that the court saw this more of an accident than a crime that needed to be prosecuted.”
State police said Robins was trying to catch up to McMahon on the parkway and clock his speed before pulling him over. They said the incident was not a pursuit, which happens when police chase someone trying to flee officers. They also said it did not appear McMahon was trying to escape — though in the video the detective suggests otherwise.
“I’m trying to catch up to you and you keep taking off,” Robins says.
“No, no no. I’m not trying to outrun you,” McMahon says.
An accident information summary provided to the media shortly after the crash did not mention that a trooper was following McMahon.
The Associated Press obtained the videos Wednesday through a public records request. They were first obtained by The Sun newspaper.
The trooper’s bodycam video also shows him asking McMahon whether he was looking at his phone when the crash happened. McMahon said he was not and adds that he hadn’t driven his car in a long time.
After Robins tells McMahon that his car is fast, McMahon replies, “Yeah, too (expletive) fast.”
The videos also show McMahon talking to the driver he rear-ended. Barbara Doran, of New York City, told the AP last summer that McMahon expressed his concern for her and was glad she was OK. She said she was heading to a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard at the time of the crash.
After McMahon was given the traffic summons, he shook hands with Robins and another trooper and they wished him well.
McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, in 2024, a day after a former WWE employee filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him. McMahon has denied the allegations. The lawsuit remains pending.
McMahon bought what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1982 and transformed it from a regional wrestling company into a worldwide phenomenon. Besides running the company with his wife, Linda, who is now the U.S. education secretary, he also performed at WWE events as himself.
The New Haven Pride Center will close for 30 days starting Thursday, as leaders reassess the organization’s finances and its long-term business model.
Board members said the temporary shutdown will allow the nonprofit to stop accruing expenses and get better insight into a $250,000 IRS debt discovered in 2022 that has weighed heavily on the center’s operations.
According to board co-chair Hope Chavez, the debt was found four years ago. The board let the executive director go and began paying the back taxes. The payments have been ongoing, but Chavez said there’s no clarity on how much has been paid toward principal versus interest, making it hard to map out a payoff.
Chavez said the organization has an attorney to help obtain more details from the government, and that the debt has hurt its ability to generate income during an already challenging time.
“It all depends on the political climate — whether corporate sponsors feel like they can sponsor you, whether funders feel like they need to redirect elsewhere,” she said.
The 30-day furlough will include a pause in services. In the meantime, staff members are compiling a list of alternative LGBTQ-affirming resources in the Greater New Haven area to support community members.
Laura Boccadoro, who has worked at the center for more than six years, joined at what she says was a dark time.
“I was in and out of rehab dealing with drug abuse, and the center found me,” she said. “I grew up here, honestly.”
She said the organization has offered vital services, such as a clothing closet and a food pantry, and programs that she is helping clients find through partner organizations.
“There are so many LGBTQ-specific or affirming spaces that have food pantries, clothing closets, healthcare — all those kinds of things,” Boccadoro said.
Chavez highlighted partnerships with groups including AIDS Project New Haven, Anchor Health Initiative, and Q Plus, as well as other grassroots community organizations that will offer assistance during the pause.
Boccadoro emphasized that the staff’s focus remains on serving the community as effectively as possible.
“Our job at the end of the day is to impact the community in the best possible way that we can,” Boccadoro said.
The Board hopes a clearer financial picture and a restructured business model will position the center to reopen stronger and more stable.
“We want to ensure that our community has the care and supportive services that we’ve been providing,” Chavez said.
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