My father was an attorney-entrepreneur-musician who built and refurbished a part of downtown Simsbury in the mid 1950’s thru the mid-1970’s. My four brothers and I spent over a dozen years each working as painters, gardeners, carpenter’s apprentices, masons and as gophers for workmen on those properties built by our father. Although all buildings sold more than 40 years ago, each time I drive by this area or visit the stores, nothing but fond memories come to mind.
I completed my primary and secondary school years in Simsbury. Later in life, my three children did the same. We have been shaped by this state, and wouldn’t have it any other way. But as my wife and I start looking towards downsizing — as many do once retired — staying in Connecticut is proving to be a less likely option for us.
One of my brothers decided to leave Connecticut in the late 1980’s for a better opportunity in Albany, NY. From there, he bypassed moving back to Connecticut and moved instead to the greater Boston, MA area, where he has resided since. Several years later, two more of my brothers also left the state. Finally in 2013, when my father died, the last brother left for New Hampshire. None of the three have any plans to return.
The departure of my brothers, the tragic death of my mother and the passing of my father were personal life changes, but the changes that took place under Gov. Dannel Malloy’s administration, plus the Connecticut legislature tax and the state’s spending policies, were the backdrop that just couldn’t go ignored.
For the last 30 years bipartisan political and governmental incompetence, missed opportunities, lack of vision and political patronage have plagued the state. The focus has remained on raising income for the state, with little thought given to finding ways to reduce state expenses, streamline operations, attract and retain businesses or focus on listening to the actual needs of residents.
My youngest child graduates from college in May. She has already been offered, and accepted, a job in Washington, D.C. Like the rest of her siblings, job prospects seemed to be better elsewhere.
I retired in 2011 and have remained very involved with former colleagues, friends and family as well as volunteering and taking advantage of all that this beautiful state offers. From hiking to kayaking to golf to music, Connecticut really does have it all when it comes to lifestyle activities. But these last eight years have also seen many friends deciding to leave the state for financial reasons, job prospects or to be closer to their children and grandchildren who left years before. Mirroring the migration of friends, my former company United Technologies Corp. headquarters will be moving to Massachusetts. When that happens, no Connecticut-based company that I have worked for will be headquartered here any longer. Meanwhile our state government continues to appear preoccupied with prioritizing the political class, raising taxes and fiddling around while the state doesn’t grow. This isn’t a state plan — it’s a reactionary government.
Why have our employment levels not rebounded from the recession of 2008? Why have so many good-paying jobs disappeared — with additional ones still leaving — only to be replaced by low-wage jobs? The dismal regime of Gov. Malloy seemed to set us back in so many ways including the aforementioned job loss, multiple forms of tax increases, new burdens added to the business community and reduced transparency. Gov. Ned Lamont seems to have admirable intentions. Unfortunately, he also appears to be woefully unprepared and incapable of leading the state forward.
Within the next few years, none of the fourth generation and most likely none of the third generation of my family who were born or raised here will call Connecticut their home. One-hundred years of family residency appears to be ending, but it’s not without a great deal of sadness.
Christopher Rice is a retired United Technologies Corp. executive and lifelong resident of Connecticut.
