Hartford Courant -- January 4, 2022

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VOLUME CLXXXVI CCOOUURRAANNTT..CCOOMM TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2022
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT
Hospital cases highest since May 2020
Health commissioner the virus is — and how vulnerable Thursday. Connecticut also he would institute a statewide expanded PCR testing sites — in
unvaccinated residents are to it. reported a 21.5% daily test positiv- mask mandate, Lamont declined, order to keep workers, teachers
sounds alarm about
“The unvaccinated have reason ity rate on Monday, representing saying that he believed Connecti- and students safe. Demand for
the unvaccinated to be scared,” Department of Public an all-time high since widespread cut residents were “overwhelm- testing has surged across the state
Health commissioner Dr. Manisha testing began. ingly” wearing masks. during the end-of-year holidays.
Juthani warned on Monday during “There is rampant community “I don’t want to put a lot of “It is absolutely essential for us
By Eliza Fawcett a press conference at Stamford spread,” said Gov. Ned Lamont, counter-pressures on and [have] to ramp up capacity,” he said.
Hartford Courant Hospital. But for those who have who also appeared in Stamford. rebellion and people fighting back Lamont said he believed that
been vaccinated and boosted, the Given the current COVID-19 against it,” he said. the bottleneck in COVID-19 test-
COVID-19 hospitalizations in virus often runs a mild course, she surge, Juthani urged mitigation State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fair- ing capacity would ease within a
Connecticut soared to their high- noted. measures like wearing face masks field, who also spoke at the week or two.
est level since early May 2020 on Hospitalizations in Connecti- and staying at home as much as Stamford event, called for more “We can’t have everybody rush
Monday, signaling just how trans- cut rose to 1,452 on Monday, an possible, including by teleworking. widespread COVID-19 testing
missible the omicron variant of increase of 301 patients since Yet when asked about whether — both at-home rapid tests and Turn to Virus, Page 2
CORONAVIRUS
IN SCHOOLS
Unions
demand
free tests
and masks
Leaders want N95s for
all in K-12 schools as
they cope with surge
By Seamus McAvoy
Hartford Courant
As COVID-19 slammed school
districts across Connecticut
Monday, a coalition of the state’s
largest labor unions called on state
leaders for more resources and to
enforce several rigorous safety
protocols in K-12 schools, includ-
ing free testing, temperature
screening students before entry,
and mandated use of N95 masks.
The coalition, comprised of
Wethersfield employee Erica Texeira distributes two of 1,300 at-home COVID-19 test kits Monday morning at a Wethersfield High School drive-thru site. the state’s largest labor unions
MARK MIRKO PHOTOS/HARTFORD COURANT representing over 60,000 public
education employees in Connecti-
cut, wants the state to provide,
Demand outweighs
distribute and require N95 masks
be worn by everyone in schools.
Leaders are also calling for cost-
free access to testing at schools,
and to end the “unsuccessful
practice” of requiring teach-
supply for test kits ers to instruct both in class and
to students who are learning
remotely.
Their demands come on a day
when school districts wrestled
with lean numbers among faculty
and staff after the holiday break.
Call-outs forced some schools to
Long lines form as communities hand out hundreds of thousands delay opening and others to cancel
classes entirely.
“Up to 60% of my members
By Don Stacom | Hartford Courant don’t have access to [N95] masks,
A and more than 70% have reported
fter a frustrating holiday week- not having access to testing,”
end of emergency emails, texts, said Kate Dias, president of the
traffic plans and impromptu staff Connecticut Education Associa-
schedules, Connecticut commu- tion. “I think we can all agree that
nities began hurriedly handing that’s not the work space we want
out crateloads of COVID-19 to be in. That doesn’t feel safe, that
self-tests that disappeared in doesn’t feel responsible.’’
minutes. On Monday, the Ansonia Public
In Rocky Hill on Monday, residents who were Schools announced that schools
eager — or nearly desperate — to get free at-home will be closed for the remainder of
test kits lined up at dawn for a giveaway that didn’t the week, with 25% of the district’s
start until 9 a.m. staff out with COVID-19.
By 9:20, workers had handed out 625 kits — or Enfield Superintendent Chris-
more than 30 a minute. topher Drezek was prompted
“I can’t imagine we’ll have any left over after to close his schools on Monday
today,” Mayor Lisa Marotta said Monday morn- after 20% of bus drivers reported
ing after standing in the cold to help distribute test they’d be absent. In Hartford more
kits to a long procession of drivers lined up at Elm than 11% of employees (393 out of
3,380) were absent, while about
Turn to Tests, Page 2
With a long line of cars extending down Wolcott Hill Road, a Wethersfield employee Turn to Schools, Page 3
INSIDE: Hartford requiring that masks be worn gives the OK for a resident to enter the drive-thru distribution site at Wethersfield
while indoors this month. Page 6 High School on Monday.
Sunday New York
Times crossword
Connecticut restaurants feeling déjà vu puzzle on Page 7
The New York Times crossword
puzzle appears on Page 7 in
today’s paper. It did not run in
Omicron presents an someone who has it,” said Mike
Sunday’s paper because of a
Harden, owner of four Lobstercraft
all-too-familiar struggle production problem.
locations. “This is our off-season
for state’s eateries, bars so we have a skeleton crew. Losing
Opinion .........................News, 11
even one person is hard. And we
Obits ......................News, 14-18
By Susan Dunne lost one in West Hartford. She has
Lottery ...........................News, 2
and Daniela Altimari to quarantine for five days and be off
Classified ..............News, 12-13
Hartford Courant the schedule for seven.” Puzzles .....News 7; Living 3,5
In his coronavirus briefing
Comics ....................Living, 4-5
With COVID-19 positivity rates last Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont
rising to the highest levels since announced that over the previous
the pandemic began, driven by the week, an average of 3,919 virus cases
highly contagious but apparently were reported daily, a seven-day
milder omicron variant, Connecticut positivity rate of 9.83%. This was the
restaurateurs are bracing for a diffi- highest average since testing began
cult winter, preserving consumer in spring 2020, when the pandemic
confidence and keeping doors open began.
Bartender Matt Schneider makes a cocktail at Max’s Oyster Bar in with a staff reduced by infection.
West Hartford on Tuesday. JESSICA HILL/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT “Everyone I know has it or knows Turn to Restaurants, Page 3
2 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022
FROM PAGE ONE
Tests of state-supplied at-home kits on But though the city didn’t have to Virus
Monday were packed with lined-up bring in union staff for the holiday Hartford HealthCare
from Page 1 residents. weekend, the last-minute logistics from Page 1 chief clinical officer Dr. Ajay
“People in the cars were telling me created some pressure, she said. Kumar said during a press
Ridge Park. they thought they’d been exposed “We had police measuring the the gate for the tests at the call Monday that he did not
Rocky Hill’s emergency manage- over the holidays. Then there are parking lot over the weekend to map exact same time,” he said. “I know the exact number of
ment staff had initially anticipated people calling me saying they need out where to put the lanes, we had just urge a little bit of common staff out due to COVID-19,
separate sessions over several days, to be tested but there just isn’t any people writing a traffic plan,” she said. sense here.” but stressed that none of the
but the Black Friday-volume of way to get into a testing site any time The state government kept chang- health system’s services have
demand in the first hour crushed soon,” Marotta said. ing the logistics so late on Friday that Cases and been significantly affected due
that idea: By 10:50 the town had given In Wethersfield, all 1,300 kits Stewart, Fire Chief Raul Ortiz and to staffing issues or shortages.
away its entire supply of 1,500. were handed out within 90 minutes Lt. Josh Stoddard, the fire depart- positivity rate “Right now, we are doing
The state’s 169 towns each cobbled Monday morning. A long line of cars ment’s shift commander, had to do OK,” he said.
together their own way of handing snaked along streets near Wethers- freight transportation on New Year’s Connecticut reported 23,678 Still, Hartford HealthCare
out the estimated 426,000 test kits field High School, where town work- Eve night. new COVID-19 cases Monday announced changes to its visi-
that arrived in Connecticut on New ers handed out kits. “The state messed this up from the out of 110,017 tests adminis- tation policy Monday, stip-
Year’s Eve. A few drivers complained of beginning by promising something tered, for a daily positivity rate ulating that each patient can
A handful of smaller towns pulled motorists cutting into the line, but they couldn’t deliver on, and it kept of 21.5%. The state’s seven-day only have one visitor per day
in volunteers or staff on overtime the event went peacefully. being frustrating,” she said. positivity rate now stands at during normal visiting hours.
Sunday to give away their share In New Britain, about 50 city The state emergency manage- 19.53%, by far the highest it has Exceptions would be made for
at first-come, first-serve drive-up workers and volunteers will run ment office told New Britain on been at any time over the past patients with disabilities, those
distributions. a distribution in the New Britain Friday that it could pick up its share 18 months. in labor and delivery areas, and
Norwich, South Windsor, Stadium parking lot Tuesday to hand of test kits — about 5,500 — after the All eight Connecticut coun- under other circumstances,
Wethersfield and many others out about 4,500 test kits. weekend. But Friday afternoon, a ties — along with nearly the including compassionate visi-
waited until Monday, with some — Unlike communities that had to new message arrived saying the city rest of the country — are tation at end-of-life.
such as Farmington and Southington call in department heads and senior would have to get its supply at 9 p.m. currently recording “high”
— scheduling Monday night hours to staff during the holiday weekend to on New Year’s Eve. levels of COVID-19 transmis- Deaths
reach commuters. arrange distributions over the week- The city’s shipment was a small sion as defined by the federal
New Britain, Ellington, Avon, Bris- end or Monday, New Britain had part of the statewide allotment Centers for Disease Control The 83 deaths Connecticut
tol, Enfield, Manchester and others been targeting a Tuesday giveaway of tests delivered to the Siracusa and Prevention. With this reported Thursday bring its
won’t start until Tuesday. since early last week. warehouse in New Britain, where level of transmission, the CDC total during the pandemic to
Still others, including East Hart- “We didn’t have to have staff work- communities from around Connecti- advises people to wear a mask 9,160.
ford, Middletown and Canton, ing, we didn’t have to spend overtime cut had to pick up there shares. in public indoor settings. As COVID-19 cases and
concluded there just wasn’t enough — our plans weren’t impacted,” said “Chief Ortiz and I went in our hospitalizations have surged
supply to justify a large-scale give- Mayor Erin Stewart, who announced city vehicles at 8:45 that night to the Hospitalizations in Connecticut over recent
away. Instead, they’ll target the last week that she wouldn’t try to Siracusa warehouse — the National weeks, deaths have risen but
elderly and other vulnerable popu- distribute tests before the New Guard was looking bleary-eyed, driv- As of Thursday, Connecti- still remain far below the levels
lations and deliver kits there. Year’s weekend. ing fork lifts around trying to get the cut has 1,452 patients hospi- recorded last winter.
“It is simply neither efficient nor Gov Ned Lamont’s administra- last pallets out,” she said. talized with COVID-19, up 301 The United States has now
equitable to distribute 3,500 test kits tion had initially promised 500,000 With Lt. Stoddard, they loaded since Thursday and the most recorded 826,678 COVID-19
to 48,000 residents at a mass distri- kits — each containing two tests — up their SUVs and got the National the state has seen since May 5, deaths, according to the Coro-
bution site on a first-come, first- would be available by the middle of Guard to agree to wait until firefight- 2020 — less than two months navirus Resource Center at
served basis,” Middletown Mayor last week. The goal was to get them ers could arrive with a box truck into the start of the pandemic. Johns Hopkins University.
Ben Florsheim said in a statement out to residents before the holiday Saturday morning to get the rest. Of the patients hospitalized
Monday afternoon. weekend of travel and socializing, so “That’s how we spent New Year’s with COVID-19, 999 (68.8%) Vaccinations
Instead, city agencies and commu- that about a third of the state could Eve, loading test kits,” she said. “We are not fully vaccinated,
nity groups will get kits to congregate undergo a test before going back to weren’t the only ones. We saw the according to the state. As of Monday, 88.6% of all
living facilities providing specialized work or school Monday. emergency management director The surge in COVID-19 Connecticut residents and
care, senior housing complexes, But the plan fell through. The state from Brookfield there at 9, getting hospitalizations — which have 95% of those 12 and older had
essential workforce staff and city couldn’t have tests on hand until his town’s kits. nearly quadrupled since early received at least one COVID-
firefighters, police and school staff. New Year’s Eve morning, and even New Britain will set aside 1,000 December — is showing no 19 vaccine dose, while 74.6%
“The kits are being distributed to then ended up 70,000 to 100,000 kits for residents of senior hous- signs of abating, Juthani said. of all residents and 83.6% of
maximize their effectiveness and short of its target number. ing complexes and for the disabled, “I am very concerned,” she those 12 and older were fully
to prevent residents from having to That left mayors and first select- and will hand out the rest on Tues- said. “I am very concerned vaccinated, according to the
wait for hours in line, only to leave men to abruptly postpone the large- day starting at 8 a.m. at New Britain about our hospital staff, I am CDC.
empty-handed,” Florsheim said. scale distributions they’d planned; Stadium. concerned about nurses and Additionally, about 41.6%
The demand for tests that’s been residents who didn’t get that word “We’ll have four lanes, we’ll have doctors that have been work- of fully vaccinated Connecti-
building since a week before Christ- were frustrated when they showed the police motorcade unit on motor- ing on the front lines.” cut residents 18 or older have
mas hasn’t relented: Drive-up, no up at empty parking lots. cycles ready to go up and down the At Stamford Hospital, about received a booster dose.
appointment test sites are routinely Stewart said Monday that she’s line to get information to drivers,” 140 of 3,700 employees are The CDC warns that booster
getting three- and four-hour long satisfied with her decision to wait Stewart said. “We’ll have our police currently out due to COVID- shots are sometimes misclas-
lines. until Tuesday. She said that even Explorers, we’ll have the cadets from 19, according to Kathleen sified as first doses, likely
On Monday, a search on CVS and early last week, she was reluctant the academy. We’ll have our public Silard, Stamford Health’s pres- inflating the reported number
Walgreen’s websites reported no to schedule a giveaway of tests that health nurses handing the kits out.” ident and chief executive offi- of first-dose coverage and
available pharmacy tests for their 40 she hadn’t even seen yet. Tuesday As with all other towns, New Brit- cer. She noted that most have understating the true number
outlets closest to Farmington. And was the soonest date possible, since ain will require proof of residency. mild illnesses and are return- of people who have received
drug stores continue selling out of the New Britain Stadium parking “And we’re going to have a strict ing to work fairly quickly, and boosters.
at-home kits nearly as soon as they’re lot is empty then — but used all day one-per-car limit. We want to get that the health system has
put on shelves. Monday for COVID-19 no-appoint- these to as many households as we been able to find replacement Eliza Fawcett can be reached
All of that meant the giveaways ment testing. can,” she said. workers. at [email protected].
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Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022 3
FROM PAGE ONE
Man gets 4 years in prison for thefts, police chase
By Edmund H. Mahony owners have left, keys, fobs stolen vehicles. These are much of the time since turn- next morning, a Westerly over another car, sending the
Hartford Courant and valuables. serious crimes with danger- ing 18 in jail. police officer spotted the driver to the hospital.
In some cases, according ous and potential deadly In a memo to the court Porsche speeding through The collision caused
A young, chronic car thief to information presented in outcomes.” asking for leniency, Guarni- town but couldn’t catch it. A the hood of the Porsche to
who led a police chase across court, Mulkern and other Mulkern was sentenced eri said Mulkern began steal- second officer saw it blow- pop up, obscuring Mulk-
two states, injuring at least thieves find more cars in a Monday by U.S. District ing cars and abusing drugs ing through stoplights and ern’s view. The police and
one other driver in multiple single night than they are Judge Kari A. Dooley for as the result of an horrific tried and failed to stop it. prosecutors said Mulkern
crashes, was sentenced to able to drive away, so they interstate transportation of childhood; his mother is The same thing happened managed to drive onto I-95,
four years in prison Monday take the key fobs and plot a stolen car and a succes- drug dependent, he was across the border in Stoning- in spite of the damage, and
in federal court. locations on cellphone map sion of police pursuits that abandoned by his father ton, where an officer clocked exit in Bridgeport. Federal
Christopher Mulkern, 22, applications in order to began in Westport on Dec. 1, and watched his stepfather the Porsche at 86 mph on authorities said Mulkern
of Stratford had been steal- return. Once they have the 2020 and went east to West- abuse others in his family. Route 1 before speeding onto stopped on Gregory Street,
ing high-end cars since he cars, prosecutors said the erly, R.I., before return- According to court filings, a highway on-ramp. where he and Cordero tried,
was 18. With the exception thieves “sell, trade or pawn” ing to Bridgeport, where it some time during the after- The Porsche showed up but failed, to take off in a
of the stiff sentences he has anything of value found in ended in another theft and noon of Dec. 1, 2020, Mulk- in Milford at about 4 a.m., stolen Audi they had stashed
been given, the account by the cars, and then rent or sell two collisions, one of which ern and associate Edwin when a police officer said nearby.
prosecutors of Mulkern’s the cars to others for use in flipped a passing automobile Cordero stole a 2018 Porsche he saw the occupants trying “Mr. Mulkern and Mr.
thefts and police pursuits new crimes. and injured the driver. Panamera from a driveway to steal a 2018 Dodge Chal- Cordero opened the Audi
is typical of a wave of thefts “The recent explo- When he was charged in Westport. The owner had lenger on Sea Flower Road. doors with Mr. Mulk-
that has provoked debate in sion of car thefts domi- with federal crimes for the left her keys, credit cards, The Porsche struck a parked ern attempting to get into
the courts and the legisla- nates Connecticut news,” Dec. 1 offenses, Mulkern a diamond bracelet and Volkswagen while fleeing. the driver’s seat and Mr.
ture about youth crime and federal prosecutors wrote was on state probation for remote control garage door At 7 p.m., the police in Cordero getting in the front
juvenile justice reform in in a memo describing the an earlier car theft and had opener in the car. The owner Stratford tried to box in passenger seat,” prosecu-
Connecticut and elsewhere. phenomenon of youth car five similar or related cases notified the local police and stop the Porsche after a tors wrote in a memo filed
The U.S. Attorney’s office theft. “While property theft, pending against him in Strat- department, which broad- traffic camera spotted it on with the court. “Mr. Mulk-
said Mulkern, his friends in and of itself, is concerning, ford, Westport and Darien. cast the missing Porsche Stratford Avenue. Police said ern grabbed onto the steer-
and associates, have engaged it is what frequently accom- Evidence seized during his over a police computer Mulkern, who was driving, ing wheel and attempted to
for years in what they call panies the thefts that is truly arrest with an associate network. escaped by ramming the car press the ignition button,
“car-checking,” “jigging,” disturbing: hit-and-run inju- linked him to thefts from Later in the day, authori- in front of him and driving however a Stratford officer
and “jugging” — prowling ries and deaths; homeown- Mystic to Wappinger’s Falls, ties said the two decided to down a sidewalk. They said deployed his department-is-
affluent beach communi- ers being shot at; high-speed N.Y. According to the prose- take a ride in the Porsche to Mulkern raced through a red sued Taser on Mr. Mulk-
ties, usually, after midnight, pursuits with police; and cution and Mulkern’s lawyer, the Rhode Island beaches. light into an intersection, ern. Mr. Mulkern was then
for luxury cars in which the gang-related violence using Cody Guarnieri, he has spent Shortly after midnight the where he struck and rolled arrested.”
Restaurants lenging now is dealing with
employees who are getting
from Page 1 COVID or they’ve been in
contact with someone who
In addition, hospital- has COVID,” St. Juste said.
ization levels are at their “Some people have had to
highest since January 2021, work double shifts because
and demand for testing has other people aren’t able to
spiked. come in because of COVID.”
Dr. Ulysses Wu, an infec- The relentlessness of the
tious disease specialist at pandemic has hurt restau-
Hartford HealthCare, said rants in other ways. St.
the rise in cases is due to Juste said he had hoped to
“waning immunity; it’s begin dining room service
due to colder weather, by now, but the seemingly
people cohorting indoors; never-ending waves of vari-
it’s due to social behaviors ants have forced him to put
where people are gathering off those plans. “COVID is
because they’re just tired, stopping a lot of things for
they’re just fatigued from us,” he said. “It crushes our
COVID.” goals every time.”
Members of the dining Deivone Tanksley, owner
industry, which has suffered of My Wife Didn’t Cook in
a catastrophic downturn New Britain, said he, too, is
since March 2020, feel an “waiting for this to pass over
unsettling sense of déjà so we can grow our business
vu, with a new virus spike again.”
putting another crimp in Tanksley said so far he has
their longed-for recovery. managed, but “it’s definitely
“We had our whole been tough.”
crew tested instead of just Still, he is grateful, given
the people [the infected the waves of closures that
worker] may have been in Restaurant staff wear masks at Max’s Oyster Bar in West Hartford. Scott Smith, chief operating officer of Max Restaurant Group, have hit the restaurant
contact with. We put every- which has eight locations in the Hartford area, said customer confidence is not an issue amid the omicron surge but keeping industry. “It’s me and my
one back to work after they staff healthy has presented some challenges. JESSICA HILL PHOTOS/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT wife and a few staff plugging
tested negative. So we are up away,” Tanksley said. “We’ve
and running,” Harden said. Hartford area, said customer managed to hold on.”
“We’ve had to double down confidence is not an issue — Kurt Kruczek owns two
on gloves and hand washing, “We have plenty of reserva- restaurants in Farming-
and everyone is in masks.” tions and demand for New ton, the upscale Fork and
Gina Luari, who owns Year’s Eve” — but keeping Fire and Naples Pizza and
three The Place 2 Be loca- staff healthy has presented employs a total of about 55
tions in Hartford and West some challenges. people. Kruczek said he has
Hartford, said, “Right now “We have a few restau- not seen the type of sharp
more and more employees rants that have been hit drop-off in business that
are getting sick.” She said hard, and those clusters occurred during the early
she wants all her workers to seemed to have come from weeks of the pandemic.
get tested. It’s proving to be social gatherings outside of “Maybe that’s because
a difficult task. work,” Smith said. “We put they don’t think omicron
“The waits to get tested all of our employees back is as powerful, or maybe
are taking days now instead in masks 10 days ago, and it they’re just COVID-tired,”
of hours, so it’s depleting our seems to have stopped the he said.
workforce by the day,” Luari spread in the restaurants. But he has seen a jump
said. “We made the deci- We have also been extremely in takeout orders in the
sion this morning to imple- diligent at keeping people past week, as diners opt
ment a company-wide mask out of the restaurant that to hunker down at home
order for our employees have any symptoms.” instead of dining out.
even though the towns that Perkatory Coffee Roast- Harden, of Lobstercraft, said
we’re in don’t require it, just ers, which has four locations, he also has seen an uptick in
to be safe and slow down any announced on Facebook delivery and pickup.
transmission but to also give on Christmas Day that it “There are less people
our customers confidence.” had to temporarily close its who want to stick around.
Pointing to the infection Middletown, Branford and Restaurant staff wear masks at Max’s Oyster Bar in West Hartford. They’re just shifting to
upsurge, Luari is anticipat- West Hartford stores. taking it home or taking it
ing a difficult winter. “This new variant is By Tuesday morning, the through his circle, he is brac- opened Bro’s Dough in Hart- to work,” Harden said. “We
“I think going into Janu- spreading quickly and we shop posted that Middle- ing for more cases. ford five months into the do a big lunch business from
ary, customer confidence have had multiple exposures town, Southington and “It’s hitting everybody,” pandemic, said he’s had two the businesses around West
will once again begin to in these cafes, so we will not Branford were open for McDonald said. “My cousin of his seven employees fall ill Hartford. That’s turned into
drastically decline and we’re be reopening until all our business, with West Hart- has it right now. His whole with the virus in recent days. a lot of deliveries. That’s OK.
going to see less and less staff is tested,” the shop ford opening Wednesday. family is vaccinated and “The first couple of waves We’re ready for that.”
people going out, especially announced online. “Going Michael McDonald, who boosted, and two of them we were good, but this time
since the outdoor dining is forward, all of the Perka- owns Stix and Stones Cafe got it. it’s catching up to us,” St. Susan Dunne can be
not an option for us at two tory crew will be masked, and floral shop in Storrs, has “This is going through and Juste said. His restaurant reached at sdunne@cou
out of three locations,” she and customers are encour- dodged the omicron surge so hitting everybody, whether serves up thin-crust pizzas rant.com.
said. aged to do the same. This is far. His florist was out earlier you’re vaccinated or not. But and wraps to go, so anxiety
Scott Smith, COO of Max a huge bummer, and we’re in December, sidelined by at least it’s mild in most cases about in-person dining has Daniela Altimari can be
Restaurant Group, which working as quickly as we can the delta variant. But given so I guess it’s OK.” not hurt business. reached at daltimari@
has eight locations in the to reopen, safely.” the path omicron is tearing Walden St. Juste, who “The thing that’s chal- courant.com.
Schools screening can help detect ered 3.2 million N35 masks a district spokesperson, both students and faculty that exposure to COVID-19
symptoms among nonver- to municipalities since last and distributed them on are handled. had knocked out one quarter
from Page 1 bal students, or students Friday. Monday. They call for an end to of the district’s staff.
with disabilities who cannot “We remain committed The union coalition wants “the unsuccessful prac- The district attempted
8% of teachers and about wear masks. to keeping schools open and these masks to be mandated tice” of dual teaching, or to open “with considerable
12% of students missed The coalition also wants safe for all students, faculty within schools for students, the practice where teach- staffing issues,” but DiBacco
school in Glastonbury. cost-free access to testing, and staff,’’ said Max Reiss, faculty and staff who are ers instruct both in-person was prompted to close
“I anticipate that at N95 masks and vaccinations spokesman for Lamont. able to wear them. students and those partici- schools through Friday.
any given moment, either available on school grounds. Glastonbury Public “We really don’t know pating virtually. The days will be made up at
one building or the entire While masks are required in Schools is scheduled to pick our schools are safe unless “[A teacher] cannot be the end of the school year,
district won’t make it,” schools, they aren’t always up 2,500 test kits on Tues- we have testing and specific, present in multiple places at he said, because Connecti-
said Enfield Superinten- N95 masks. The N95 masks day, according to Dr. Alan B. strict safety protocols like the same time,” Yordon said. cut does not allow remote
dent Christopher Drezek. are viewed by public health Bookman, superintendent masks in place,” said Mary Coalition leaders said learning as an alternative to
“We’re not immune to the experts to be more effec- of schools. He hopes it’ll Yordon, president of the the updated school guid- in-person.
things that happen around tive than single-layer cloth be enough to get through a Norwalk Federation of ance from the state Depart- Both Stratford and Ston-
the country.” masks at preventing the difficult January. Teachers and a vice pres- ment of Public Health, ington also closed schools
With faculty and staff transmission of the corona- “It sounds like we’re ident with the American which reduced the quar- Monday and Tuesday due
nervous over workplace virus. getting a great deal of tests, Federation of Teachers in antine period to five days, to the COVID-19 surge.
safety amid record-high Gov. Ned Lamont has but when you have a school Connecticut. will help students and staff New Haven Public Schools
levels of COVID-19, the insisted the state is “scour- system of 6,000 kids, you “If we don’t have masks, if return to the classroom scraped by with 18% of bus
coalition wants all students ing the globe” for more test- can go through tests pretty we don’t have the elements more quickly. drivers calling out sick, with
to be screened for high body ing kits for residents and for quickly like that,” Brookman in place, then we need to But staff absentees are help from drivers in neigh-
temperatures before enter- school districts, even after said. come up with another plan,” still prevalent, and in some boring districts.
ing the school. an agreement to obtain a The Hartford Public Yordon said. cases debilitating. Joseph
Stacie Harris Byrdsong, shipment 500,000 test kits Schools received 5,000 of Once in classes, educators DiBacco, superintendent Seamus McAvoy may be
president of AFSCME Local fell through amid a surge in the masks from the state also want to see changes to of Ansonia Public Schools, reached at smcavoy@cou
3194, said the temperature demand. The state has deliv- on Sunday, according to the way absences among wrote in a letter to families rant.com
4 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022
FDA allows boosters for more teens
Recommendation About 13.5 million 12- to
17-year-olds — just over
covers Pfizer dose
half that age group — have
for youths 12 to 15 received two Pfizer shots,
according to the CDC.
By Lauran Neergaard For families hoping
Associated Press to keep their children as
protected as possible, the
The U.S. is expand- booster age limit raised
ing COVID-19 boosters as questions.
it confronts the omicron The older teens, 16- and
surge, with the Food and 17-year-olds, became eligible
Drug Administration allow- for boosters in early Decem-
ing extra Pfizer shots for ber. But original vaccina-
children as young as 12. tions opened for the younger
Boosters already are teens, those 12 to 15, back in
recommended for everyone May. That means those first
16 and older, and federal in line in the spring, poten-
regulators on Monday tially millions, are about as
decided they’re also many months past their last
warranted for 12- to 15-year- dose as the older teens.
olds once enough time has As for even younger chil-
passed since their last dose. dren, kid-size doses for 5- to
But the move, coming 11-year-olds rolled out more
as classes restart after the recently, in November — and
holidays, isn’t the final step. experts say healthy young-
A panel to the Centers for sters should be protected
Disease Control and Preven- after their second dose for a
tion is expected to decide while. But the FDA also said
later this week whether to Monday that if children that
recommend boosters for the young have severely weak-
younger teens with a final ened immune systems, they
decision by Dr. Rochelle will be allowed a third dose
Walensky, the CDC’s direc- Cale Haynes, 12, receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine last August at Carey Junior High School in Cheyenne, 28 days after their second.
tor. Wyoming. RACHEL WOOLF/THE NEW YORK TIMES That’s the same third-dose
The FDA also said every- timing already recom-
one 12 and older who’s The FDA based its latest who get either the Pfizer or CDC’s own advisory panel cinated. mended for immune-com-
eligible for a Pfizer booster booster decision largely on Moderna vaccines. The vast is sure to closely weigh how Pediatrician and global promised teens and adults.
can get one as early as five real-world data from Israel majority of cases are mild much benefit this age group health expert Dr. Philip Pfizer is studying its
months after their last dose that found no new safety — far milder than the heart is likely to get before backing Landrigan of Boston College vaccine, in even smaller
rather than six months. concerns when 6,300 12- inflammation caused by the extra shot. welcomed the FDA’s deci- doses, for children younger
FDA vaccine chief Dr. to 15-year-olds got a Pfizer COVID-19 — and they seem Vaccines still offer strong sions, but stressed that than 5.
Peter Marks said even booster five months after to peak in older teens, the 16- protection against seri- the main need is to get the What about timing of
though serious illness is their second dose. and 17-year-olds. ous illness from any type unvaccinated their first boosters for adults who got
uncommon in younger Likewise, the FDA said Marks said the side effect of COVID-19. But health shots. the Moderna or Johnson &
teens, a booster will help even more data from Israel occurs in about 1 in 10,000 authorities are urging every- “It is among unvacci- Johnson vaccines?
them avoid that risk — while showed no problems with men and boys ages 16 to 30 one who’s eligible to get a nated people that most of The FDA said it didn’t
also helping reduce the giving anyone eligible for after their second shot — but booster dose for their best the severe illness and death have any new data from
spread of omicron or any a Pfizer booster that extra that a third dose appears less chance at avoiding milder from COVID will occur in Moderna to back a timing
other coronavirus mutant. dose a month sooner than risky, by about a third. That’s breakthrough infections coming weeks,” he said in an change and people who’d
“Hopefully, this will be the six months that until probably because more from the highly contagious email. “Many thousands of already had two Moderna
not just a call for people to now has been U.S. policy. time has passed before the omicron mutant. lives could be saved if people shots should continue to
go get their booster shot,” The chief safety question booster than between the Children tend to suffer could persuade themselves wait six months for a booster.
but for the tens of millions of for younger teens is a rare first two shots, he said. less serious illness from to get vaccinated.” As for people who originally
unvaccinated Americans to side effect called myocar- While the FDA didn’t COVID-19 than adults. But The vaccine made by got the single-dose J&J shot,
rethink that choice, Marks ditis, a type of heart inflam- consult its independent child hospitalizations are Pfizer and its partner BioN- the U.S. already recom-
said. “It’s not too late to start mation seen mostly in scientific advisers before rising during the omicron Tech is the only U.S. option mends another dose of any
to get vaccinated.” younger men and teen boys making that decision, the wave — most of them unvac- for children of any age. vaccine two months later.
Attacks highlight reach
of Iranian-allied militias
Strikes mark 2nd America from a deal aimed dom, acknowledged the
at limiting Tehran’s nuclear attack hours later, saying
anniversary of US
program. As talks continue the Houthis had commit-
killing of general in Vienna to try to resusci- ted an act of “armed piracy”
tate the accord, Iran remains involving the vessel. The
By Jon Gambrell able to apply pressure from coalition asserted the ship
Associated Press outside of the negotiations carried medical equipment
even as it is squeezed by from a dismantled Saudi
DUBAI, United Arab sanctions and a shadow war field hospital in the distant
Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi with Israel. island of Socotra, without
rebels seized a ship in the The taking of the Emirati offering evidence.
Red Sea, armed drones ship Rwabee marks the “The militia must
targeted Baghdad’s interna- latest assault in the Red Sea, promptly release the ship
tional airport and hackers a crucial route for interna- or the coalition forces will
hit a major Israeli newspa- tional trade and energy ship- undertake all necessary
per Monday — a string of ments. The Iranian-backed measures and procedures
assaults that showed the Houthis acknowledged to handle this violation,
reach of Iran-allied militias the seizure off the coast of including the use of force if
on the second anniversary Hodeida, a long-contested necessary,” Brig. Gen. Turki
of America’s killing of a top prize of the grinding war in al-Malki said in a statement.
Iranian general. Yemen between the rebels The Houthis later aired
All three coincided with a and a Saudi-led coalition footage from the Rwabee A security official inspects the wreckage of a drone Monday at Baghdad airport in Iraq. Two
massive memorial in Tehran that includes the United on their Al-Masirah satel- armed drones were shot down, a U.S.-led coalition official said, an attack that coincides with
for Qassem Soleimani, the Arab Emirates. lite news channel. It showed the anniversary of the 2020 U.S. killing of a top Iranian general. INTERNATIONAL COALITION
general killed by a U.S. drone First word of the military-style inflatable
strike in 2020 in Iraq. Iran’s Rwabee’s seizure came rafts, trucks and other vehi- ferred the weapons onto of Dimona. The facility is gence chief in late December
hard-line President Ebra- from the British military’s cles on the vessel, a land- the ship. home to decades-old under- publicly acknowledged his
him Raisi demanded former United Kingdom Maritime ing craft that lowers a ramp No group immediately ground laboratories that country was involved in
President Donald Trump be Trade Operations, which to allow equipment to roll claimed responsibility for reprocess spent rods from Soleimani’s killing. The U.S.
“prosecuted and killed.” only said an attack targeted on and off. One brief clip the hacking of the Jerusalem a nuclear reactor to obtain drone killed the general as
“If not, I’m telling all an unnamed vessel around showed what appeared to be Post’s website. The hackers weapons-grade plutonium he was leaving Baghdad’s
American leaders, don’t midnight. The coordinates it a collection of rifles inside a replaced the Post’s homep- for Israel’s nuclear bomb international airport.
doubt that the hand of offered corresponded to the container. age with an image depicting program. In Iraq on Monday, troops
revenge will come out of Rwabee, which has rarely “It is completely obvious a missile coming from a fist Under its policy of nuclear shot down two so-called
the sleeves of ummah,” given its location via track- today that the information bearing a ring long associ- ambiguity, Israel neither suicide drones at that same
Raisi said, referring to the ing data in recent months that this ship was carrying a ated with Soleimani. confirms nor denies having airport, American and Iraqi
worldwide community of unlike most commercial civilian field hospital is not The image also depicted atomic weapons. officials said. No group
Muslims. traffic in the region, accord- correct,” said Yahia Sarei, an exploding target used The English-language claimed the attack, though
Monday’s events high- ing to the website Marine- a Houthi military spokes- during a recent Iranian mili- newspaper acknowledged one of the drones’ wings
light tensions in the Middle Traffic.com. man. “This is clearly military tary drill that was designed being a target of hackers and had the words “Soleima-
East, which has been roiled A statement from the equipment.” to look like the Shimon Peres later restored its site. ni’s revenge” painted on
by Trump’s 2018 decision Saudi-led coalition, carried Saudi state television Negev Nuclear Research The hack came after Isra- it in Arabic. No injuries or
to unilaterally withdraw by state media in the king- alleged the Houthis trans- Center near the Israeli city el’s former military intelli- damage were reported.
Schumer says Senate to vote on filibuster rules changes
By Lisa Mascaro consider” the rules changes ration — they will be the new private negotiations. who largely stands by exist-
Associated Press by Jan. 17, on or before norm.” Two Democratic hold- ing rules but is also under
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, The election and voting outs — Sens. Joe Manchin enormous political pres-
WASHINGTON — Days as the Democrats seek to rights package has been of West Virginia and Kyrsten sure to break the logjam on
before the anniversary of overcome Republican oppo- stalled in the evenly split Sinema of Arizona — have the voting legislation.
the Jan. 6 attack on the Capi- sition to their elections law 50-50 Senate, blocked by a tried to warn their party off How the Senate rules
tol, Majority Leader Chuck package. GOP-led filibuster and leav- changes to the Senate rules. would be changed remains
Schumer announced the “Let me be clear: Janu- ing Democrats unable to Manchin and Sinema under discussion.
Senate will vote on filibus- ary 6th was a symptom of a mount the 60-vote threshold have said that if and when Voting rights advocates
ter rules changes to advance broader illness — an effort needed to advance it toward Republicans take majority warn that Republican-led
stalled voting legislation that to delegitimize our elec- passage. control of the chamber, they states are passing elec-
Democrats say is needed to tion process,” Schumer Democrats have been could use the lower voting tion legislation and trying
protect democracy. wrote, “and the Senate must unable to agree among threshold to advance bills to install elections officials
In a letter Monday to advance systemic democ- themselves over poten- Democrats oppose. loyal to former President
Sen. Chuck Schumer says colleagues, Schumer, D-N.Y., racy reforms to repair our tial changes to the Senate President Joe Biden has Donald Trump in ways that
filibuster rules changes will said the Senate “must republic or else the events of rules to reduce the 60-vote waded cautiously into the could subvert future elec-
get a vote by Jan. 17. AP 2021 evolve” and will “debate and that day will not be an aber- hurdle, despite months of debate — a former senator tions.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022 5
WORLD & NATION
Former CEO found guilty
of fraud and conspiracy
By Michael Liedtke
Associated Press
SAN JOSE, Calif. —
Former Theranos CEO
Elizabeth Holmes was
convicted on four counts
of fraud and conspiracy
Monday, ending a lengthy
trial that has captivated Sili-
con Valley.
The jury of eight men and
four women took 50 hours
Then-President Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump and son Donald Trump Jr. make their way to to reach a verdict, convict-
Air Force One last January. The three have been subpoenaed. MANDEL NGAN/GETTY-AFP ing her of three counts of
wire fraud and one count of
NY prosecutor subpoenas conspiracy to commit wire
fraud. She was found not
guilty on four other counts.
Trump, 2 children in probe On the three remaining
charges, the jury was dead-
locked.
Each count carries a
By Michael R. Sisak the value of assets — inflat- attorney’s office. maximum sentence of Elizabeth Holmes, center, leaves court earlier Monday with her
Associated Press ing them to gain favorable James’ office went to 20 years in prison, terms partner, Billy Evans, and her parents. NICK OTTO/GETTY-AFP
loan terms or minimizing court last year to enforce a that are likely to be served
NEW YORK — The them to reap tax savings. subpoena on Eric Trump, a concurrently. Holmes is calm during the verdict Holmes would be the most
office of New York’s attor- The Trumps have indi- Trump Organization execu- expected to appeal. She reading. notable female executive
ney general confirmed for cated they will fight the tive, and a judge forced him could now face up to 20 After the judge left the to serve time since Martha
the first time Monday that subpoenas and are expected to testify after his lawyers years in prison. courtroom to meet with Stewart did in 2004 after
it had subpoenaed former to file court papers through canceled a previously The former entrepre- jurors individually, Holmes lying to investigators about
President Donald Trump their lawyers seeking to scheduled deposition. neur, who had bowed her got up to hug her partner a stock sale.
and his two eldest children, have them thrown out. A The same judge, Arthur head several times before and her parents before leav- And Theranos, which
Ivanka and Donald Trump similar fight played out Engoron, has ruled in the the jury was polled by the ing with her lawyers. dissolved in 2018, is likely to
Jr., demanding their testi- last year after James’ office past to enforce subpoenas judge, remained seated The verdict stands out for stand as a warning to other
mony in an investigation subpoenaed the testimony stemming from the Trump and expressed no visible its rarity. Silicon Valley startups that
into the family’s business of Trump son Eric Trump. probe, including forcing emotion as the verdicts Few technology exec- stretch the truth to score
practices. Trump sued James in Trump’s company and a were read. utives are charged with funding and business deals.
In a court filing, lawyers federal court last month, law firm it hired to turn Her partner, Billy Evans, fraud and even fewer are
for Attorney General Leti- seeking to put an end to her over records related to a showed agitation in earlier convicted. The New York Times
tia James said they are seek- investigation. Trump, in the Trump-owned estate north moments but appeared If sentenced to prison, contributed.
ing the Trumps’ testimony lawsuit, claimed that James of Manhattan.
and documents as part of a had violated his consti- Although the civil inves-
yearslong civil probe involv- tutional rights in a “thin- tigation is separate from the
Get more out of your
ing matters including “the ly-veiled effort to publicly district attorney’s criminal
valuation of properties malign Trump and his asso- investigation, James’ office subscription by setting
owned or controlled” by ciates.” has been involved in both.
Trump and his company. A state court judge who Last year, then-District up your digital account
Monday’s filing was the handled that dispute agreed Attorney Cyrus Vance
first public disclosure that Monday to entertain argu- Jr. gained access to the •Morearticlesthanwhat’sinprint
investigators scrutinizing ments over the recent real estate mogul’s tax •BreakingNewsalertswiththe
the former president’s deal- subpoenas. records after a multiyear mobileapp
ings were also seeking infor- Messages seeking fight that twice went to •Unlimitedaccesstoourwebsite
mation from Ivanka Trump comment were left with the U.S. Supreme Court. •eNewspaper,adigitalreplicaof
and Donald Trump Jr., both Trumps’ lawyers and the He also brought tax fraud thepaperemaileddaily
who have been executives Trump Organization. charges in July against the
It’seasytostartyour
in his family’s Trump Orga- In the past, the Repub- Trump Organization and
nization. lican ex-president has CFO Allen Weisselberg. onlineaccess!
James, a Democrat, has decried James’ investi- He pleaded not guilty to Visit: go-activate.com
spent more than two years gation as part of a “witch charges alleging he and the
looking at whether the hunt” along with a parallel company evaded taxes on
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6 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022
CONNECTICUT
COURANT.COM/CONNECTICUT
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT
City of Hartford reinstates mask mandate
Plans to give out 9,000 “We all hope that the omicron relevant medical conditions, those now is to support Hartford Public which includes:
surge will soon peak and that under 2, people who are eating or Schools teaching staff, along with „ 3,500 kits for staff of the Hartford
at-home test kits, masks we’ll see case rates fall, but with drinking and, in some cases, those staff and students at City of Hart- Public Schools, Early Learning
the current numbers, we’ve got to in private offices. ford Early Learning Centers and Centers, and the Hartford Family
By Christine Dempsey do whatever we can, even at the Bronin also announced that, the Family Child Care Network,” Child Care Network;
Hartford Courant margins,” said Mayor Luke Bronin after giving out 8,000 at-home Bronin said. „ 2,200 kits for staff and residents
said. “In putting this indoor mask test kits last week, the city will give The city also will provide kits to of the Hartford Housing Authority
The city of Hartford will again requirement back in place right out 9,000 more, starting Monday. the Hartford Housing Authority and of elderly assisted living facil-
require people to wear masks now, we’re thinking first and fore- In addition, Hartford will give for distribution to staff and each of ities and housing developments
while indoors this month as most about those frontline workers away thousands of N95 and KN95 their households, to those living in with home-bound seniors;
COVID-19 cases surge due to the who have no choice but to inter- masks. The kits will be delivered elderly housing and to city employ- „ 2,750 kits for city employees
omicron variant, the city said late act with the public at large, and to targeted groups based on need. ees who provide essential, in-per- providing essential in-person
Monday morning. who deserve whatever additional “We received approximately son public services, he said, “to public services, and for Hartford
The mask mandate was protection we can give them.” 9,000 new at-home test kits from help ensure continuity of govern- Public Library employees;
announced at the same time the The mandate is only for the the state on Sunday, and following ment services during the surge.” „ 500 kits for the staff and guests
capital city unveiled its plan to month of January. There are our public distribution of 8,000 test The city laid out its allocation
distribute at-home tests and masks. exceptions for people who have kits last week, our priority right plan for the at-home test kits, Turn to Masks, Page 7
Ruling
Lawmakers, local officials press
permits
Lamont for statewide mask rule
appeals on
telework
Governor indicates

he remains hesitant to
institute another edict Union state workers can
do so if required at office
By Daniela Altimari
more than once a week
Hartford Courant
With COVID-19 cases and By Christopher Keating
hospitalization hitting record Hartford Courant
levels, some Democratic state
lawmakers and local officials are HARTFORD — Thousands of
pressing Gov. Ned Lamont to rein- unionized state employees can
state a statewide indoor mask now appeal being required to
mandate regardless of vaccina- work in the office more than one
tion status. day a week under a ruling by a
State Rep. Eleni Kavros state arbitrator.
DeGraw, who is a Democrat The ruling comes after initial
like Lamont, said she has been clashes with Gov. Ned Lamont’s
contacted by dozens of constitu- administration over a policy
ents over the past few days. that has become more import-
“I started getting requests for ant for workers during the
masking indoors as early as Dec. ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
20,’’ said Kavros DeGraw, whose For decades, state employ-
district includes Avon and Canton. ees routinely worked in office
“People were starting to get buildings in Hartford and other
nervous.” She said she conveyed Gov. Ned Lamont announces the arrival of 426,000 at-home COVID-19 tests and N95 masks at the state nearby communities, but that
those concerns to Lamont’s office. commodities warehouse in New Britain on Friday. CLOE POISSON/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT changed quickly when the
Martin Looney, a New Haven pandemic began spreading in
Democrat and president pro past two years, face-coverings, like “At this point, we are tired of in public environments such as March 2020.
tempore of the Connecti- vaccines, have become a political this pandemic,’’ she said. “We are grocery stores, shopping malls Lamont and the unions had
cut Senate, said he, too, would flash point; mask requirements tired of testing, we are tired of and other retail establishments, reached an earlier agreement that
welcome a statewide mask are viewed by some as a symbol wearing masks but we can’t let due to asymptomatic folks not was announced in early August,
mandate. of government encroachment our guard down just yet. To me having on masks. Public health but that was only temporary as
since fridy 3,197,606 mask into the lives of citizens and some this is not political, this is a public experts in our state are clearly and the two sides looked toward a
“The more that can be done on a Connecticut Republicans have health situation that has to be urgently appealing to the gover- permanent policy.
statewide level, the less conflicting rebelled against mask rules. mitigated.” nor that an indoor mask mandate The detailed, 37-page arbitra-
standards there will be,’’ Looney Asked about masking at a Eight states — California, will curb the spread of omicron. tion award essentially says that
said. “This is something where we press conference in Stamford on Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New I hope that Governor Lamont, “any denial or modification of a
need as much uniformity as possi- Monday, Lamont suggested he is Mexico, New York, Oregon and who I support, will listen to these telework application that would
ble and where the state needs to wary of instituting another edict Washington — plus Washing- experts and reinstate a temporary, result in a member being required
take the lead. You can’t have 169 requiring unvaccinated people ton D.C. and Puerto Rico require common sense and enforceable to be at the work site more than
different standards.’’ wear face coverings indoors masks in indoor public places, statewide mask mandate, empow- one day per week is appealable,’’
“Everyone,” Looney added, because of the potential pushback. regardless of vaccination status. ering all of us to be guardians of the union coalition said.
“should wear a mask everywhere “I don’t want to put a lot of Connecticut requires the unvac- Connecticut’s most susceptible State employees can request
indoors, except inside your own counter-pressures on and rebel- cinated to wear masks indoors, citizens,” Parente said. work-at-home schedules that
home.” lion and people fighting back though the order does not specify A series of executive orders has they believe are “consistent
Lamont has steadfastly resisted against it,’’ Lamont said. “I prefer whether they need a booster shot. given the governor broad author- with job duties and operational
calls for a masking mandate for that everybody wear the mask Municipalities have the author- ity to set pandemic policies with- needs,’’ says the ruling by arbi-
all, even as Connecticut’s daily when you’re indoors. We’re ity to set their own masking rules out legislative approval. Those trator Michael R. Ricci. “All such
COVID-19 test positivity rate getting N95 masks available to and several have instituted their orders expire on Feb.15, one week requests shall be reviewed and
climbed to 21.5% and several anybody, no questions asked. I own mandates, including the city into the legislative session. granted, denied, or modification
municipalities, including Stam- think we’re on the right track right of Hartford, which on Monday House Speaker Matt Ritter, a suggested in accordance with the
ford and Hartford, brought back now.” began requiring masks in all Democrat from Hartford, said he procedures and standards of this
the requirement. Both Lamont and Public indoor public places for at least expects the legislature to debate policy, except that the determi-
Public health officials say N95 Health Commissioner Dr. Mani- the month of January. issues such as masking require- nation of an agency to refuse to
masks--along with vaccines and sha Juthani have emphasized the But some local leaders say that ments when lawmakers recon- grant telework above an amount
booster shots--are one of the best importance of masking. Lamont approach leads to confusion and vene. Lamont, he said, is unlikely that would provide one day per
ways to stop the spread of the said he believed Connecticut resi- hurts the vulnerable. to request another extension of his workweek at the worksite shall
virus, even the highly contagious dents were “overwhelmingly” “At present we have a patch- executive authority. not be subject to arbitration
omicron variant that’s driving the wearing masks. work of regulations, leaving Ritter said he has “no prob- under this policy.”
current spike in cases in Connecti- Kavros DeGraw, who serves Connecticut’s mayors, local public lem” with a statewide masking The arbitrator accepted the
cut. on the legislature’s public health health departments and individ- mandate. union’s last, best offer on the issue.
Since last Friday the Lamont committee, said some of her ual school districts to grapple with “There’s a growing body of State employees handle a wide
administration has distributed constituents are frustrated by this unprecedented global health people saying it’s something we range of jobs, and many of them
3.2 million masks to municipali- the lack of statewide guidance on crisis,’’ said Michelle Parente, should do, at least for a few weeks — such as state troopers on high-
ties, schools and first responders. masking at a time when test kits a Democratic member of the to get through this bump,’’ he said. ways, correction officers in the
Indoor masking rules were remain in short supply and anxi- Milford Board of Aldermen. “It’s up to the executive branch prisons, child-protection social
quickly put in place in the early ety about a lack of remote options “Epidemiologists have indi- [now] but it will fall on the legis- workers visiting families, and
days of the pandemic. But over the for school is rising. cated that the virus is spreading lature’s lap” after Feb. 15. transportation department driv-
ers clearing the snow — cannot do
their work at home.
Teleworking increased sharply
State Sen. Haskell not seeking reelection in March 2020 when the state
Capitol was closed and Lamont
told executive branch employees
that they should work at home if
Rising Democratic star Haskell said, “I’m not closing any they could.
doors for the future.’’ Lamont started negotiating
from Fairfield County
With one more year left in his with the State Employee Bargain-
to focus on law school state Senate term, Haskell said ing Agent Coalition, known as
he will be working hard during SEBAC, as initial the shutdown
By Christopher Keating the upcoming legislative session restrictions around the state
Hartford Courant that begins on Feb. 9 and then were eased. Under his emergency
will campaign vigorously for his powers at the time, Lamont had
HARTFORD — State Sen. successor in the important 2022 sweeping authority. Many of
Will Haskell, a rising star in the political cycle. those restrictions, however, have
Connecticut Democratic Party, Haskell burst onto the state since been removed, and Lamont
stunned colleagues Monday by political scene at the age of 22 is currently operating with
saying he will not seek reelection in November 2018 with a major reduced emergency powers that
in order to attend law school full upset of Republican Sen. Toni are scheduled to expire on Feb. 15.
time. Boucher of Wilton in a once-heav- The Lamont administration
Haskell is stepping down ily Republican district in lower and union officials have been
because he plans to attend Ford- Fairfield County. The district trying to get along as they seek
ham or New York University, includes the affluent towns of long-term labor peace, and they
which would require him to Westport, Weston, Wilton, New have avoided overheated rhetoric
spend long hours in Manhattan Canaan, and Ridgefield. Repub- that was often more common in
in pursuit of his law career. licans had held the seat since the past. Administration officials
Haskell, 25, said he is not the 1970s, but the region has Sen. Will Haskell, Gov. Ned Lamont, and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz did not immediately respond for
ruling out a return to politics in gradually changed to the point stand together as a ribbon-cutting is held to celebrate the new exit 29 off- comment Monday.
Connecticut. When asked if he that Democrat Hillary Clinton ramp to the Charter Oak Bridge and I-84 East in May in Hartford. Haskell, a
would run for Congress if Green- close ally of Lamont, stunned colleagues Monday by announcing he will not Christopher Keating can be
wich Democrat Jim Himes retires, Turn to Haskell, Page 7 seek reelection. COURANT FILE PHOTO reached at [email protected]
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022 7
CONNECTICUT
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT
Haskell
contemplated even before
Protocol for schools updated
from Page 6 running for office.
“Finances are definitely
defeated Donald Trump part of the decision,’’ he
in the district in 2016 by 22 said in an interview. “If
By Seamus McAvoy consider quarantining for but should continue to wear atic cases among students percentage points. I’m ever going to go to law
Hartford Courant five days from activities a mask around others for an and staff. In a political year when school, now feels like the
outside of school where the additional five days. Contact tracing becomes Republicans already believe time to do it.’’
The Connecticut Depart- virus could be transmitted. Unvaccinated or partially less effective when commu- they have national momen- A Westport resident,
ment of Public Health last The department recom- vaccinated students with nity transmission levels are tum going into the mid-term Haskell became a close
Friday released new guid- mends getting tested either symptoms, if also notified of high, as they now are in elections, Haskell’s depar- political ally of Gov. Ned
ance for school districts at a testing site or with an a close contact with COVID- Connecticut, the depart- ture represents a chance Lamont, a fellow Fairfield
regarding how long at-home rapid test or a lab 19, must isolate for a mini- ment noted, and the risk for Republicans to regain a County Democrat.
students should quaran- test. mum of five days regardless of in-school exposure is long-held seat that has been “My constituents took
tine, when to test and when The guidelines are more of test results. relatively low when robust held briefly — four years — a chance on me when I
to return to school. strict for unvaccinated These students can safety and mitigation strat- by a Democrat. The scenario was just 22, having freshly
The guidelines also or partially vaccinated return to regular activities egies are followed. is similar to the Republicans’ graduated from college,”
give schools the option to students. The department after six days if symptoms They also highlight the recapture of the 36th Senate Haskell said. “And since
discontinue contact tracing is now recommending that significantly improve. current wave of testing district seat that had been then, I’ve worked tirelessly
and instead focus on detect- these students stay home If they are not notified of demand and shortened held by Greenwich Repub- in Hartford and at home to
ing symptomatic students from school and quarantine a known close contact with isolation guidelines from the licans for decades by L. Scott live up to their trust.’’
and staff. for five days after their last COVID-19, unvaccinated CDC, which “make it likely Frantz, William Nicker- He admits it was a major,
The department’s update exposure to COVID-19. or partially vaccinated that many students would be son, Mike Morano, Bennie bittersweet decision that
follows new guidance Like fully vaccinated students should follow outside of their quarantine Benvenuto and others. was not easy.
released by the Centers students, these students the same guidance as fully period by the time contact The seat was captured “I really love this job,’’
for Disease Control and should also test for COVID- vaccinated students. tracing could be completed.” briefly by Senator Alex Haskell said in an inter-
Prevention, which short- 19 after five days and wear a Kasser, but then Repub- view. “When I ran for
ened the recommended mask around others for 10 What if my child tests What should schools do licans won it back after office, I didn’t do it because
isolation period for vacci- days. positive, but doesn’t have if they don’t contact trace? Kasser stepped down for I thought I was the only or
nated and unvaccinated any symptoms? Schools should continue personal reasons. Green- the best person to represent
individuals to five days. What if my child develops The Centers for Disease to enforce universal mask- wich Republican Ryan Fazio this community. I thought
Here’s what you need to symptoms? Control and Prevention ing inside of schools, barring won a special election in it was time for a change. ...
know. This also depends on recommends that people medical exceptions, the August and is serving out the Hopefully, one day, I’d love
vaccination status. isolate for five days after a department recommends. remainder of Kasser’s term. to return to politics.’’
What should my child Fully vaccinated students positive test, regardless of Periods of unmasking State Republican chair- Haskell is also leaving
do if they are exposed to should isolate at home whether or not they have inside school, like lunch man Ben Proto said he to be closer to his fian-
COVID-19? immediately after symp- symptoms and regardless periods, should be brief and believed the Republicans cee, Katie Cion, a recent
Fully vaccinated students toms develop and access a of vaccination status. physically distanced. had a good chance in the Harvard Law School grad-
who have a close contact test. If negative, they can Schools should also district, but the chances uate and civil rights attor-
with a known COVID-19 return to regular activities What about contact trac- continue to keep parents have now improved. ney who will be moving to
case can continue going to 24 hours after symptoms ing? and guardians of students, “Much like Alex Kasser New York City. Cion and
school for in-person learn- significantly improve. The Department of as well as staff, appraised of did a favor for the folks Haskell were laboratory
ing if they are asymptom- If positive, students Public Health is recom- the positive cases within the in the 36th district, Will partners in their physics
atic, the Department of should isolate for a mini- mending that schools school population. Haskell did a favor for the class in high school in 2014
Public Health recommends. mum of five days. They can discontinue contact tracing folks in the 26th district,’’ and have maintained a
They should continue to return to regular activities for cases that occur inside Seamus McAvoy may be Proto said Monday. long-distance relationship.
wear a mask around others as early as day six so long school, and focus instead reached at smcavoy@ Even with full-time “I hope my constituents
for 10 days, and should as symptoms are improved, on identifying symptom- courant.com hours, state legislators don’t see this as goodbye, but
are technically part-time more, see you later,’’ he said.
employees with a salary of
Masks temporary mask mandate. announced when the ship- in a better direction. $28,000 per year. Haskell Christopher Keating can
“We are all eager to put ments are received. “We’ve said from the very will now be entering a be reached at ckeating@
from Page 6 COVID behind us,” she “Test kits and masks are beginning that we would profession that he has courant.com
said. “Putting a temporary valuable tools in our ongoing follow the data, that we
at city senior centers; indoor mask mandate back fight against COVID-19, but would respond to the trends
„ 2,000 kits to be held in in place for January will the very best thing everyone that we see,” Bronin said at a
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
reserve pending future help to control the spread can do to protect themselves November press conference.
allocations. of the omicron variant and and others from COVID is to Now, the extremely Julio Concepcion is the executive director of the Hartford
In addition to at-home to protect the most vulnera- get vaccinated or boosted,” contagious omicron variant Chamber of Commerce. He was incorrectly identified in a
test kits, the city also will ble members of our commu- Bronin said. “If you have not has boosted the state’s posi- story on Page 1 of Monday’s paper.
distribute thousands of nity.” yet done so, go out and get tivity rate to the highest of
KN95 and N95 masks to the Another shipment of test your vaccine today.” the pandemic — 21.5%, state
same organizations. The kits designated specifically The city put in place a officials said Monday.
city purchased the masks, for students is expected mask mandate in August as
according to a release. later in the week from the delta variant spread, but Christine Dempsey may
City Councilwoman Maly the state, the mayor said. lifted it in November when be reached at cdempsey@
Rosado said she supports the An allocation plan will be the numbers began to trend courant.com.
courant.com/advertiser • 860-525-2525
Due to a technical error,this crossword did not publish on Sunday Jan 2,2022.
NewYorkTimesCrossword
PESTCONTROL
ByChRiSTiNAivERSON/EDiTEDByWiLLShORTz
ChristinaIverson,ofAmes,Iowa,isacrosswordconstructorwithtwoyoungchildren.Shehasbeenmakingpuzzles
forTheTimessince2019.Christinasayssheaimstomakepuzzlesthatarefunandaccessible.“Itrymyhardestto
stayawayfromobscurelanguage—andsqueezeindadjokeswheneverIcan.”ThisisherfourthSundayand10th
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HOME.MADE.
Every Sunday get the inside story on the local real estate scene.
Discover the latest trends in home and apartment design,
Home of the Week and the latest real estate transactions across
thestate. Whether buying, selling, upsizing or downsizing,
CTHome & RealEstate has it all under one roof.
CTHOME &REALESTATE
8 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Biden: More competition Telecoms
spurn call
can help ease food costs
to delay 5G
But industry groups say pandemic, labor, energy bills driving prices higher rollout plan
By Josh Boak and Darlene Superville to ensure fair competition and protect ing meat prices higher, not the corporate
Associated Press consumers. Meat prices have climbed 16% structure of the industry.
from a year ago, with beef prices up 20.9%. Bradley said the administration is prac- Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden The president said the higher prices have ticing politics instead of economics and
met virtually with independent farmers been the subject of frustration at his own “government intervention would likely WASHINGTON — Verizon and AT&T
and ranchers Monday to discuss initiatives kitchen table. He said his wife, Jill, was further constrain supply and push prices have rejected a request by the U.S. govern-
to reduce food prices by increasing compe- talking Sunday with her sister and a friend even higher.” ment to delay the rollout of next-generation
tition within the meat industry, part of a about a pound of hamburger meat costing Mike Brown, president of the National wireless technology.
broader effort to show his administration $5 a pound, compared with less than $4 Chicken Council, said, “This looks like a A joint letter from the telecommunica-
is trying to combat inflation. before the pandemic. solution in search of a problem.” He said the tions giants to U.S. Transportation Secretary
“Capitalism without competition isn’t The administration is targeting meat administration is using the food industry as Pete Buttigieg and Steve Dickson, head of
capitalism — it’s exploitation,” Biden said. processing plants, which can shape the a “scapegoat for the significant challenges the Federal Aviation Administration, sought
Higher-than-expected inflation has prices paid to farmers and charged to facing our economy.” to dismiss concerns brought by U.S. airlines
thwarted Biden’s agenda, hurt his public consumers. The White House issued a fact The Justice Department and the Agricul- that a new 5G wireless service could harm
approval rating, become fodder for Repub- sheet saying that the top four companies ture Department will launch a joint effort aviation.
lican attacks and prompted Sen. Joe control 85% of the beef market. In poultry, to make it easier to report anti-competitive But Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon
Manchin, D-W.Va., to cite higher prices as the biggest four processing firms control actions to the government. The adminis- Communications, and John Stankey, CEO
a reason to sideline the Democratic presi- 54% of the market. And for pork, the figure tration will also seek to improve the trans- of AT&T, also wrote in the letter sent Sunday
dent’s tax, social and economic programs. is 70% for the four biggest firms. parency of the cattle market, with Biden that they were willing to accept some tempo-
In November, consumer prices rose 6.8% Many industry groups are pushing back saying, “A free market isn’t truly free with- rary measures over the next six months to
over the prior 12 months — a 39-year high. against the administration’s planned over- out transparency around prices.” limit the service around certain airport
On food costs, Biden is building off a July sight of the food industry. The effort is an attempt to regain control runways.
executive order that directed the Agricul- Neil Bradley, executive vice president of the economic narrative. Inflation and Airlines had asked the Federal Commu-
ture Department to more aggressively look and chief policy officer at the U.S. Cham- waves of coronavirus outbreak have damp- nications Commission to delay this week’s
at possible violations of the 1921 Packers ber of Commerce, said the coronavirus and ened people’s opinions about the economy scheduled 5G rollout, saying the service, set
and Stockyards Act, which was designed higher costs for energy and labor are driv- despite strong growth over the past year. to launch Wednesday, could interfere with
electronics that pilots rely on.
Airlines for America, a trade group for
large U.S. passenger and cargo carriers,
said in an emergency filing that the FCC
has failed to adequately consider the harm
that 5G service could do to the industry.
The group wants more time for the FCC
and the FAA, which regulates airlines, to
resolve issues around aviation safety. Those
are related to a type of 5G service that relies
on chunks of radio spectrum called C-Band,
which wireless carriers spent billions of
dollars to buy up last year.
AT&T and Verizon previously agreed to
a one-month delay in 5G, which provides
faster speeds when mobile devices connect
to their networks. But the telecommu-
nications executives said further delays
requested by the government would harm
their customers.
BUSINESS BRIEFING
Turkey inflation
hits 19-year high
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s yearly infla-
tion climbed by the fastest pace in 19 years,
jumping to 36.08% in December, official data
showed Monday.
The Turkish Statistical Institute said the
consumer price index increased by 13.58%
in December from the previous month. The
Red Dirt Sungrown in Guthrie, Oklahoma, above, produces about 125 pounds of cannabis each week. BRETT DEERING/THE NEW YORK TIMES yearly increase in food prices was 43.8%, the
data showed.
The yearly inflation rate was the high-
Okla. cannabis market booms
est since September 2002. President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party came to power
two months later.
Inflation has been rising in the country
while the Turkish lira has been slumping to
Staunchly conservative state homa’s nearly 4 million residents have one, sentencing reforms, has eased pressures record lows after the central bank — under
by far the most of any state. on the state’s prisons. pressure from Erdogan — cut a key interest
emerges as a highly unlikely
Fueled by low barriers for entry and a But critics assert that growers in Okla- rate by 5 percentage points in September.
place for marijuana to thrive fairly hands-off approach by state officials, homa are producing far more marijuana
weed entrepreneurs have poured in. It than can possibly be sold in the state and
By Simon Romero costs just $2,500 to get started, compared are feeding illicit markets around the U.S.
The New York Times to $100,000 or more across the state line Growers can produce cannabis for as Tesla deliveries
in Arkansas. And Oklahoma, a state that little as $100 a pound, and then turn around
KEOTA, Okla. — Across Oklahoma, a has long had a tough-on-crime stance, has and sell that for between $3,500 to $4,000 a
up 87% in 2021
staunchly conservative state with a history no cap on how many dispensaries can sell pound in California or New York, said Mark
of drawing people in search of wealth from marijuana, the number of cannabis farms or Woodward, a spokesman for the Oklahoma
the land, a new kind of crop is taking over. how much each farm can produce. Bureau of Narcotics.
Next door to a church in the tiny town That growth has pitted legacy ranch- Eyeing such violations, authorities AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla delivered a record
of Keota, the smell of marijuana drifts ers and farmers against this new breed of carried out a series of raids last year, shut- 936,000 vehicles last year, up 87% from its
through the air at the G & C Dispensary. growers. Groups representing ranchers, ting down nearly 80 farms starting in April. 2020 delivery count, the company said.
Strains go for $3 a gram, about a quarter of farmers, sheriffs and crop dusters recently Some growers have groused that the The Austin-based electric vehicle
the price in other states. Down the road, an joined forces to call for a moratorium on ever-expanding supply has made canna- company announced its fourth-quarter
indoor-farming operation is situated in a new licenses. They cited climbing prices for bis prices plunge by about half in the last production and delivery results Sunday.
residential area near mobile homes, one of land, illicit farms and strains on rural water six months, to as low as $800 a pound for The carmaker said it delivered 308,600
about 40 in the town of 500 residents. and electricity supplies. some strains. vehicles in the final quarter of 2021, which
Since the state legalized medical mari- Signs of the explosive growth are hard to Tara Tischauer, co-owner of Red Dirt is also a record for the company and thou-
juana in 2018, Oklahoma has become one miss. There are now towns with far more Sungrown in Guthrie said falling prices sands more cars than Wall Street analysts
of the easiest places to launch a weed busi- dispensaries than food stores. And canna- have reduced her revenue by about expected.
ness. The state now boasts more retail bis operations now outnumber wheat and one-third in 2021. Still, her operation Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives
cannabis stores than Colorado, Oregon and cotton farms. The industry has also created employs 25 people and steadily produces said the numbers are “jaw-dropping” given
Washington combined. thousands of jobs in a state that remains about 125 pounds of cannabis a week. the global chip shortage affecting the auto-
The growth is remarkable given that the among the poorest in the country. Support- “A few years ago I thought Oklahoma motive industry. Ives said the production
state has not legalized recreational use of ers of the industry also argue that the less would have been the last state in the coun- increase was likely boosted by growing
marijuana. But with lax rules on who can punitive approach to possession of mari- try to get cannabis going,” she said. “If we demand from car buyers in China, as well
obtain a medical card, about 10% of Okla- juana and other drugs, along with other can’t succeed, it’s our own fault.” as broader enthusiasm for electric vehicles.
Thousands of US flights canceled — again Constructionspending
Novemberconstructionspendinginthe
U.S.rose04%fromOctober.
Associated Press a winter storm Monday that was expected to spike again to new highs. CONSTRUCTIONSPENDING
to bring as much as 10 inches of snow for Over the weekend, about 5,400 U.S. Intrillionsofdollars,seasonallyadjusted
A winter storm hitting the mid-Atlan- the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia flights were canceled — nearly 12% of all
November2021:$1.62trillion
tic combined with the pandemic to further and central Maryland. scheduled flights — and more than 9,000
2.0
frustrate air travelers whose return flights With the spread of the omicron vari- worldwide, according to FlightAware.
home from the holidays were canceled or ant, the seven-day rolling average for Many of the cancellations were made hours
delayed in the first few days of the new year. daily new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. or even a day in advance. Airlines believe 1.5
More than 2,600 U.S. flights and more has tripled over the past two weeks and they have a better chance to keep lighter
than 4,100 worldwide were grounded topped 400,000 Sunday, according to Johns schedules on track when there are disrup-
Monday, according to tracking service Hopkins University. tions such as snow or thunderstorms. 1.0
FlightAware. Another 8,500 flights were The toll of grounded flights in the U.S. Airlines are paying bonuses to encourage
delayed, including 3,100 in the United was in the few hundreds per day the week pilots and flight attendants to pick up flights
States. before Christmas, then soared past 1,000 left empty by co-workers with COVID-19. 0.5
Travelers could take hope from an a day. United will pay pilots triple their usual
improving weather forecast. Airlines For several days, airlines and their wages for picking up open flights through
canceled fewer than 300 U.S. flights sched- passengers lucked out with mostly favor- most of January. Spirit Airlines reached a NOV. NOV.
uled for Tuesday. able weather, but a storm that hit the deal with the union to pay flight attendants 2020 2021
SOURCE:U.S.CensusBureau TNS
First, however, they had to contend with Midwest on Saturday caused cancellations double through Tuesday.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022 9
BUSINESS
Former Aetna CEO to be Popular Apple AirTags used
as a high-tech stalking tool?
co-leader of Connecticut
hedge fund Bridgewater By Ryan Mac security.”
and Kashmir Hill Police could ask Apple to
The New York Times provide information about
the owner of the AirTag,
On a Sunday night in potentially identifying the
By Stephen Singer September, Ashley Estrada culprit. But some of the
Hartford Courant was at a friend’s home in people who spoke with
Los Angeles when she The Times were unable to
Bridgewater Associ- received a strange notifica- find the AirTags they were
ates, the world’s largest tion on her iPhone: “AirTag notified of and said police
hedge fund, announced Detected Near You.” do not always take reports
Monday that Mark Berto- An AirTag is a 1.26-inch of the notifications on their
lini, former chief executive disc with location-track- phones seriously.
officer of Aetna before it ing capabilities that Apple Estrada, who got the
was purchased in 2018 by started selling last year as a notification while in Los
CVS Health Corp., is the way “to keep track of your Apple AirTags are devices Angeles, eventually found
new co-CEO. stuff.” that can track locations. the quarter-sized tracker
The Westport-based Estrada, 24, didn’t own CARLOS JARAMILLO/ lodged in a space behind
hedge fund, with assets one, nor did the friends THE NEW YORK TIMES the license plate of her 2020
under management of about she was with. The notifi- Dodge Charger. She posted
$150 billion, said Bertolini, cation on her phone said may lead to charges, West a video of her ordeal on
who is co-chair of Bridge- the AirTag had first been Seneca police said. TikTok, which went viral.
water’s Operating Board of spotted with her four And in Canada, a local Estrada said she was told
Directors, and Deputy CEO Aetna chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini speaks at the Fortune hours earlier. A map of the police department said by a Los Angeles police
Nir Bar Dea, a retired major Global Forum in 2015 in San Francisco. JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY AirTag’s history showed that it had investigated five dispatcher that her situa-
and a platoon leader in the the path Estrada had incidents of thieves placing tion was a nonemergency
Israeli Defense Forces, begin cer, and Bertolini share an quarters and operations in driven across the city while AirTags on “high-end vehi- and that if she wanted to
as co-CEOs immediately. outlook that’s critical of Wilton and Norwalk. running errands. cles so they can later locate file a report she’d have to
They succeed David conventional health care Bridgewater has so far “I felt so violated,” she and steal them.” bring the device with her to
H. McCormick, an under and economics. been forgiven $10.8 million said. Researchers believe the station in the morning.
secretary of the Treasury Bertolini, 65, has of a $17 million loan, with Estrada is not alone. AirTags, which are She didn’t want to wait and
in the administration of promoted his vision of a a balance of about $6,2 In recent months, people equipped with Bluetooth disposed of it after taking
President George W. Bush. modest and local health million, said a spokesman have posted on TikTok, technology, could be reveal- several photos.
He is considering a run for care systems rooted in for the state Department of Reddit and Twitter about ing a more widespread A spokesperson for the
the U.S. Senate seat in Penn- communities using “smaller Economic and Community finding AirTags on their problem of tech-enabled Los Angeles police told
sylvania being vacated by and smaller governance Development. The hedge cars and in their belongings. tracking. They emit a digital The Times that the depart-
Republican Pat Toomey, models.” He has said social fund received $5 million in There is concern that the signal that can be detected ment had not heard of
who is retiring. and economic systems have grants and was allocated up devices may be abetting a by devices running Apple’s cases in which an AirTag
“Through this Co-CEO gotten too big for govern- to $30 million in Urban and new form of stalking, which mobile operating system. had been used to track a
model, we are getting a ment to manage. Industrial Site Reinvest- privacy groups predicted Those devices then report person or a vehicle. But
powerful combination of He negotiated the $69 ment Tax Credits that must could happen when Apple where an AirTag was last Estrada said that after she
Nir, a well-respected inter- billion acquisition of Aetna, be earned over 10 years. introduced the devices in seen. Unlike similar track- posted her TikTok video,
nal leader who has worked a presence in Hartford since It has so far earned $12 April. ing products from compet- an Apple employee, acting
closely with Dave, manage- 1853. He was thwarted a few million in credits. The New York Times itors such as Tile, Apple on their own, contacted
ment, and the (chief infor- years earlier when a federal Malloy defended the aid, spoke with seven women added features meant to her. The employee was able
mation officers) for six judge blocked his bid to buy saying Bridgewater had who believe they were prevent abuse, including to connect the AirTag to a
years, and Mark, who has Humana Inc. for $37 billion. been seeking a possible new tracked with AirTags, notifications like the one woman whose address was
enormous experience and Dalio, 72, told an audience headquarters in Westches- including a 17-year-old Estrada received and auto- in central Los Angeles.
is a globally respected and at the Greenwich Economic ter County, N.Y. whose mother placed one matic beeping. (Tile plans to In June, after concerns
proven CEO,” founder Ray Forum in November 2019 McCormick has yet to on her car to stay apprised release a feature to prevent about stalking were raised,
Dalio and other executives that capitalism needs to be officially declare his candi- of her whereabouts. the tracking of people this Apple pushed an update to
said in a statement posted fixed and does not work for dacy, but he has aired at Some authorities have year, a spokesperson for AirTags to cause them to
on its website. the “average person.” least two TV commercials begun to take a closer that company said.) start beeping within a day
Bridgewater said Berto- Bridgewater and then- in Pennsylvania, bought look at the threat posed by Apple does not disclose of being away from their
lini led Aetna’s transition Gov. Dannel P. Malloy faced a house in Pittsburgh and AirTags. The West Seneca sales figures, but the $29 linked devices, down from
from a “traditional health criticism in 2016 when the held closed-door meetings Police Department in New AirTags have proved popu- three days.
insurance company to a hedge fund received $22 with party officials and York recently warned its lar, selling out consistently A person who doesn’t
consumer-oriented health million in forgivable state donors, according to Asso- community of the track- since their unveiling. own an iPhone might have
care company focused on loans and grants to create ciated Press. He has lived in ing potential of the devices An Apple spokesperson, a harder time detecting an
delivering holistic, inte- 750 jobs and keep the 1,402 Connecticut since 2009. after an AirTag was found Alex Kirschner, said in a unwanted AirTag. AirTags
grated care in local commu- positions it then had. The on a car bumper. Apple statement that the company aren’t compatible with
nities.” money was to be used to Stephen Singer can be complied with a subpoena takes customer safety “very Android smartphones. Last
Dalio, Bridgewater’s renovate and expand the reached at ssinger@cou- for information about the seriously” and is “commit- month, Apple released an
co-chief investment offi- firm’s Westport head- rant.com. AirTag in the case, which ted to AirTag’s privacy and Android app that can scan
MARKET RUNDOWN
p Tupesday,January4,2022 q
DOW 10-YRT-BOND GOLD
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10 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 4, 2022
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