Where We Live

She’s been mayor of Connecticut’s second largest city since 2014. Now, Toni Harp is hoping voters in New Haven will give her a fourth term. 

This hour, Mayor Toni Harp joins us in studio just days after she received the endorsement of the city’s Democratic town committee.

Candidate Justin Elicker is a likely challenger--promising to collect enough signatures to appear on the September ballot. If that happens, will voters in this overwhelmingly Democratic city choose her in the primary? 

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Want a spicy but refreshing mangonada to go with that enchiladas con carne?

Head down to New Haven's Long Wharf Drive where a long line of food trucks serve up an eclectic array of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central, and South American specialities. A little salsa music too.

Long Wharf is one of the city's four recently established food vending districts, a program getting some mixed reviews from street food providers. For $2,500 a year, food trucks get a designated spot each day. At Long Wharf, another $500 gets them hooked up to electricity.

It's good when business is booming. But restrictive when it's not, say some vendors.

This hour, we go inside the somewhat nomadic existence of these roadside chefs. We look at what other communities in Connecticut are doing -- or not doing -- to adapt their permitting and zoning regulations to keep up with what industry researchers say is a nearly $1 billion business in the U.S.

Are you a food truck operator struggling to make ends meet? 

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Fifty years ago, man walked on the moon. But before that happened, millions held their breath at each stage of the Apollo 11 mission, starting with the launch.

This hour we talk about the lasting impact of this historic moment--a feat of engineering, science, and political will.

We also look at the pivotal role Connecticut technology played in spaceflight, and hear how engineers in this state helped make that “one small step” possible.

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In the Farmington Valley, a nonprofit organization aims to break down silos and build bridges in the community through apartment housing. This hour, we learn about Favarh and its unique initiative to build a more integrated living experience for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Plus, at Quinnipiac University, students can apply to live not in a dorm but with residents at a Masonicare assisted living facility. We learn about the Students in Residence program, and we also hear from you. 

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

GUESTS:

• Stephen Morris - Executive Director of Favarh, the Arc of the Farmington Valley 
• Fran Traceski - Father of Lauren Traceski, a Favarh client; President of Favarh's Board of Directors
• Lauren Traceski - Daughter of Fran Traceski and Favarh client
• Laura Mutrie - Clinical Assistant Professor in Social Work at Quinnipiac University
• Victoria Kozar - One of the first students to participate in the Quinnipiac University-Masonicare Students in Residence program

Catie Talarski contributed to this show.

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For weeks, undocumented communities braced themselves for large-scale immigration raids targeting those who live here illegally.

President Trump had announced these roundups would take place across the country over the weekend. This hour, we hear what actually happened. 

We examine immigration policies under the Trump administration. As the president calls for major changes to the asylum-seeking process, we’ll sit down with a law professor to talk about the history of US asylum laws.

How should our country respond to people who want a chance to live safely?

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On July 6, 1944, the circus came to Connecticut's capital city and erupted into flames. Seventy-five years later, the Hartford Circus Fire is recognized as one of the greatest tragedies in American history.

This hour, 88-year-old survivor Harry Lichtenbaum joins us to share his story. We also talk with the author of a book on the fire and learn about efforts to exhume the bodies of its unidentified victims.

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An accident at Bradley International Airport caused tens of thousands of gallons of firefighting foam to leak into the Farmington River in June. That foam contains PFAS, a group of chemicals linked to serious health risks. 

This hour, we take a look at how this accident happened, and what threats it poses to our health and environment. Here in Connecticut, some lawmakers are just learning about the risks of these “forever chemicals”.

We also hear from New Hampshire, where activists have been pushing for action on PFAS water contamination for years. 

Do you enjoy spending time on the Farmington River? Are you worried about the impact of these chemicals on your health?

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When it comes to the future of Connecticut's 12 community colleges, a great deal of uncertainty remains, especially on the issue of consolidation.

Something certain, however, is the nearly $1.3 billion operating budget that was approved by the Board of Regents for the state's college and university system last month.

This hour, the president of that system, Mark Ojakian, joins us in-studio to talk more about the budget and what it means for community colleges specifically.

We also revisit Ojakian’s “Students First” plan to consolidate the state’s community colleges into a single entity. The plan has received mixed reaction.

Where does it stand now? We find out and we want to hear from you.

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During the Arab Spring, young Egyptians took to the streets, calling for the end of dictatorship in their country. It worked: former President Hosni Mubarak would leave. But today, eight years later, Egypt is more repressive than ever.

Connecticut resident Esam Boraey was one of those young Egyptians who led the movement for change, long before the revolution. His decision would eventually force him to flee his country.

This hour we sit down with Boraey to hear how he restarted his life in America, and his hope for Egypt’s future.

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Where does your food come from? Most of us go to the grocery store to buy produce, dairy, and meat. And these items aren’t necessarily local; they may come from hundreds or thousands of miles away.

This hour we hear how more people are getting involved in producing the food they eat. It’s called “modern homesteading.”

We hear from two Connecticut residents who’ve tried this practice. What drove them to pursue homesteading? And what barriers exist for Connecticut residents who want to live off the land? We find out.

And we want to hear from you. Do you want to learn how to be more self-sufficient, but don’t know where to begin?

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