The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Jan 24, 2009

Meriden/Local/State: calls for wage freezes. We’ve addressed this in part, and it certainly is an issue with public employees. It seems very difficult to take the sort of steps to control expenses that are available to private employers. No surprise that the head of the chamber – any chamber – is ready to call for freezes, as is the head of CBIA. Binding arbitration is anathema to business groups. Trouble is that there’s a lot of class anxiety in this situation which hasn’t been worked out well. Since in the legislature we have a union man in the speaker’s chair – Chris Donovan – we have a fantastic opportunity, given the economy, to take some steps. As a union man, Donovan is unlikely to do anything that is particularly unfair to the whole concept of unionism. As a representative of all the people, he needs to step up to the plate and control expenses.

Southington: Getting kids with some special physical needs onto skis seems like a good way to combine fun with help.

State: It seems like a darn good idea to me for the Knights of Columbus to suggest a national summit to mobilize volunteers.

Meriden: I wouldn’t care to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I could wish it were someone other than Joe Lieberman delivering the grant to the South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department.