So, why did General Electric really forsake Connecticut for Boston? At a forum at Yale University”™s School of Management, a GE executive blamed the state”™s transportation infrastructure as being more than inadequate ”“ and Gov. Dannel Malloy, who was part of the forum”™s panel, agreed.
According to a New Haven Register report on last night”™s forum, Ann Klee, GE”™s vice president for Boston development and operations, had nothing positive to say about Connecticut”™s transportation environment. “The airports here suck,” said Klee. “Transportation is huge for us. We need to get to work, but we also need to get our people around the world … We need to be in a place where we could attract top talent. Our employees walk to work or take public transportation in Boston. That wouldn”™t work in Connecticut.”
Klee received a nod of approval from Malloy, who claimed that Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway could be considered as “either a parking lot or a museum.” Malloy added that the highways were a “big drag on the state”™s economy” while insisting that he was committed to improving the situation.
“Connecticut didn”™t become the problem state that it is overnight,” he said. “And we”™re not going to find a solution overnight. But if you deny progress as it”™s being made, you discourage more from being attempted.”
But state House Republican Minority Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby), who also participated in the forum, reminded the governor that the state”™s coffers did not support his vision. “We don”™t have the money,” Klarides said. “I wish we did. What we have to do is prioritize, just like people do their home budgets.”
