Chris Polansky
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chrispolansky.bsky.social
Chris Polansky
@chrispolansky.bsky.social
15K followers 1.5K following 2.1K posts
Public radio reporter in Connecticut. One-time Bart Harley Jarvis of the Oklahoma press corps. CUNY grad. Replacement-level infielder for the Hartford Dark Twains Sandlot Baseball Club. he/him
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Reposted by Chris Polansky
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Great excuse to post this
A screengrab of a New York Mets telecast depicting catcher John Buck with a Twisted Tea fact: JOHN BUCK ONCE RESCUED 2 ELDERLY WOMEN FROM A SMOKING VEHICLE THAT FLIPPED OVER AND HIT A TREE. BUCK SAID THE WOMEN WERE "PRETTY LUCKY."
February 12, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
remembersomeguys.bsky.social
John Buck
Catcher
Debut: 2004 - Retired: 2014
PIT - ANA - SEA - TOR - NYM - KCR - FLA
John Buck at baseball-reference.com
Career stats of John Buck
baseball-reference.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:50 AM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
#NutmegSky
sludge.bsky.social Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 8h
NEWS: Hartford, Connecticut says it will "immediately" terminate ICE's long-running parking contract with the city.

A constituent raised concerns with the ICE contract in the past two weeks, said Cristian Corza-Godinez, Hartford's deputy chief of staff.

Full story: readsludge.com/2026/02/11/t...
Paragraph from Sludge story, Feb. 11, 2026: "The City of Hartford, Connecticut is also moving to end an ICE contract with the Hartford Parking Authority (HPA) that has been in place for a decade, according to Cristian Corza-Godinez, deputy chief of staff of Hartford, who spoke with Sludge." ... “The contract was brought to our attention about two weeks ago through a constituent submission on our city website,” Corza-Godinez told Sludge. “Once we learned of the contract, we immediately moved to cancel it.”
February 11, 2026 at 11:52 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Interesting story out of Ledyard from The Day of New London:

Ledyard town councilors silently - and with provocative posts - protest ICE

"F--- ICE, and f--- off if you support ICE. P.S. if your life sucks, it’s not because of immigrants. It’s because you suck.”

theday.com/news/847751/...
Democratic Councilor Jessica Bruhle earlier this month took to Facebook to rail against ICE and the Trump administration. “I wish I could say this more nicely, but I quite frankly am out of f----s to give,” she wrote in a private post later screenshot and shared. “F--- ICE. If you support ICE and this blatant fascist administration that is shredding our constitutional rights, please delete me and never speak to me again. I literally don’t give a flying f---.” Bruhle, the top voter-getter in the most recent council election, went on to accuse Trump’s administration of “willfully murdering people who were not breaking laws.” “and EVEN IF THEY WERE BREAKING LAWS, DUE PROCESS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL F------ RIGHT,” she wrote. “So anyway, F--- ICE, and f--- off if you support ICE. P.S. if your life sucks, it’s not because of immigrants. It’s because you suck.” On Wednesday, Bruhle, 36, stood by her comments. “It wasn’t a public post, but I’m a millennial, so I know anything on the internet is going to be made public,” she said. “I’m not known for being silent, and I’m disgusted by these atrocities carried out by ICE against citizens and immigrants.”
February 11, 2026 at 9:42 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
The post-snow dog-shit-everywhere-on-the-sidewalks situation is out of control. Why would you think the presence of snow obviates your responsibility to pick up after your dog
February 11, 2026 at 8:42 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has christened 16 snowplows with new names based on public voting:
Plowsaurus Rex The Big Leplowski Snow‑Be‑Gone Kenobi Blizzard & The Beast Off To See the Blizzard Truck Norris Austin Plowers Sled Zeppelin Oh, Snow You Didn’t Snow Diggity Clear‑A‑Pathra The Saltfather Catch My Drift Slush Puppy Grateful Sled Plowabunga “Our annual Snowplow Naming Contest continues to be a fun way to connect with the public while highlighting the critical role CTDOT crews play in winter safety,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “While these snowplow names add a little fun to the winter, the work behind them is serious.” There are approximately 650 CTDOT plow trucks and equipment clearing state roads and highways during inclement weather. Some of the CTDOT snow fighting equipment includes single axle plows with 9.5 feet of plowable width, triaxle single wing plows with 17 feet of plowable width, and tandem axle tow plows with 26 feet of plowable width. A variety of different plows will be named.
February 11, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Connecticut House Republicans praise Democratic U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro as "Connecticut's voice of reason" for her stance against abolishing ICE.
Facebook post by Connecticut House Republicans: "Just when you think the world hasn't flipped on its head...Rosa DeLauro is Connecticut's voice of reason. #ice #immigration #ct #connecticut #safety"
February 11, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
markfollman.bsky.social
Pam Bondi has nothing more to say about why she hired a Jan. 6 insurrectionist who was indicted on multiple charges and yelled for the killing of police officers defending the Capitol
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h
NEGUSE: AG Bondi, that man works for you now, right? The man in that video from J6 yelling 'kill them!' at cops. His name is Jared Wise.

BONDI: He does work for us, yes. I believe he was pardoned

NEGUSE: And you expect hard-working police officers to believe you take law enforcement seriously?
February 11, 2026 at 6:41 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Connecticut U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, ranking member on the Appropriations Cmte, introduced a bill today to fully fund DHS except for ICE, CBP and Noem's office.

"ICE cannot be abolished, but I will not provide a single dime of funding until we see radical changes in how it operates."
DeLauro Introduces Government Funding Bill
Today, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) introduced a bill to fully fund every agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except Immigration and Customs ...
democrats-appropriations.house.gov
February 11, 2026 at 6:32 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Marc Maron, who I had never met or seen before, asked me “hey man, how’ve you been?” in the bathroom at Union Hall
snackeru.bsky.social snackerü @snackeru.bsky.social · 14h
what is YOUR most mundane celebrity encounter?

I walked past Alex Trebek at the MSP airport. Our eyes met, and the look he gave me said, "Don't you dare try to talk to me." So, I just kept walking.
elrubino.bsky.social Larry Rubinow @elrubino.bsky.social · 15h
what is YOUR most mundane celebrity encounter?

Fighting with Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss over some on-sale towels at the old Broadway department store in Century City, circa 1980. (I won. No blows were landed.)
February 11, 2026 at 4:56 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
New Haven, Connecticut, Mayor Justin Elicker is directing the pride flag be raised on the city green in response to the Trump administrations’s take-down of the pride flag at Stonewall in NYC
"The Stonewall National Monument commemorates the courageous, difficult and ongoing journey of our LGBTQ residents towards greater inclusion and equality in our society. President Trump's directive to remove the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument is that latest example of his and his administration's assault on LGBTQ rights and attempts to erase and harm our LGBTQ neighbors," said Mayor Elicker. "In New Haven, we know our city and country are at its best when all our residents' rights are fully protected and all our residents are fully included and celebrated. New Haven is a proudly a welcoming and inclusive city and the Pride flag proudly flies high on the New Haven Green."
February 11, 2026 at 4:02 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Connecticut House Republicans praise Democratic U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro as "Connecticut's voice of reason" for her stance against abolishing ICE.
Facebook post by Connecticut House Republicans: "Just when you think the world hasn't flipped on its head...Rosa DeLauro is Connecticut's voice of reason. #ice #immigration #ct #connecticut #safety"
February 11, 2026 at 3:50 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
"Connecticut could lose more than a million dollars in federal funding intended to bring more electric vehicle charging stations to the state."

from my colleague Áine Pennello:

www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-02...
Lost spark? Feds expected to pull back funds for EV charging in CT
The rescission could derail the state’s plan to bring more EV chargers into urban and rural communities where they're already hard to find.
www.ctpublic.org
February 11, 2026 at 3:43 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Hartford City Councilman (thread):
rsgat.bsky.social Josh Michtom @rsgat.bsky.social · 16h
It would be good to tie this very real problem and this useful step by City Council to the fact that last year, some Council members proposed rolling back the city's program to extend its bike lane network, after illegally suspending bike lane parking enforcement for a year.
Hartford may hit the brakes on bike lanes. Cyclists are in uproar
The Hartford City Council is weighing a proposal to rethink existing bike lanes in the city, and consider restricting them to provide space for more parking.
www.ctpublic.org
February 11, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
chrispolansky.bsky.social
“My 14-year-old son is gone. I am standing before you to support this resolution because what happened to my son wasn’t just a tragedy, it was a wake-up call.”

“We need more than just reminders to slow down. We need a street that forces people to slow down.”

www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-02...
After teen’s death, Hartford residents call on city council to meaningfully address traffic violence
It comes after the hit-and-run death of a 14-year-old on Christmas.
www.ctpublic.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
chrispolansky.bsky.social
"Traffic violence is not accidental. It is structural. It is the result of policy decisions, infrastructure, design, enforcement gaps and delayed action."

"When we know the patterns, then it is no longer tragedy. It becomes negligence."
After teen’s death, Hartford residents call on city council to meaningfully address traffic violence
It comes after the hit-and-run death of a 14-year-old on Christmas.
www.ctpublic.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
myddling.bsky.social
Say what you will about @chrispolansky.bsky.social.

But he’s got one heck of a dog.
Black and white god being a good boy and looking into your soul.
February 11, 2026 at 12:59 AM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
This reminds me of my quixotic mission when I covered Oklahoma to get fellow reporters and the public to refer to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma as “SCOOK” (rhymes with “spook”)
triplingual.myatproto.social Trip Kirkpatrick @triplingual.myatproto.social · 1d
It cannot be overemphasized that CT has an higher education finance support program called "Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program", that should be pronounced "see slurp".

#NutmegSky
February 11, 2026 at 1:13 AM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
The thing I miss most about my years in New York is not having to have had a car. What do you mean a guy hit my car in a strip mall parking lot and took off and now I have to deal with the damage? Sounds unfair
February 11, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
watson16.bsky.social
Hey Chris, now follow up with an article that actually explains how abolishing ice is a myth & why. Considering it would take congressional legislation & Dems are the minority, it isn't going to happen. Here's a good start to educate yourself & then your readers.
factually.co/fact-checks/...
Can ICE be abolished as easy as people claim
Executive summary Abolishing ICE is politically and legally possible but far from easy: it would require congressional legislation, a clear plan to reass...
factually.co
February 10, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
wintersong.bsky.social
There's a delightful gay romance novella with the premise that two guys both go to the zoo for one of these events and it turns out they are paying to feed salmon to bears in the name of the same ex-boyfriend.

"Two Dead Fish Named Kevin" by @gallagherwitt.bsky.social
chrispolansky.bsky.social Chris Polansky @chrispolansky.bsky.social · 1d
Live your life in such a way that none of your exes pay the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk to name a condemned cockroach after you then feed it to a monitor lizard

www.maritimeaquarium.org/love-bites
Love Bites: The Maritime Aquarium Invites You to Get Sweet Revenge This Valentine’s Day (Norwalk, CT) — Has love been a little fishy lately? Still haunted by a creepy-crawly ex who squirmed off with your heart? This Valentine’s Day, The Maritime Aquarium is inviting the broken-hearted, the happily single, and anyone with a sense of humor to turn heartbreak into something revenge-worthy with Love Bites, a playful fundraiser celebrating catharsis, conservation, and delicious poetic justice. With Love Bites, participants can symbolically name a veggie, cockroach, or fish after an ex (or anyone else who deserves a good-natured nibble). Their chosen “bite” will then be fed to one of the Aquarium’s resident animals. It’s simple. Choose your bite. Make a donation. And o‑fish‑ally say goodbye. Every Love Bites donation comes with a special thank‑you video featuring the animal enjoying its snack — a perfect keepsake, closure moment, or humorous valentine to share with friends. Choose Your Donation (and Bite): $5 — Veggie: Fed to our sea turtle Lefty. (A little crunch for a gentle release.) $10 — Cockroach: Served to Peewee, our monitor. (For exes who crawled out of your life and into this lizard’s lunch.) $15 — Fish: Delivered to our seal Sono. (A splashy farewell to that one that got away.)
February 10, 2026 at 8:38 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Live your life in such a way that none of your exes pay the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk to name a condemned cockroach after you then feed it to a monitor lizard

www.maritimeaquarium.org/love-bites
Love Bites: The Maritime Aquarium Invites You to Get Sweet Revenge This Valentine’s Day (Norwalk, CT) — Has love been a little fishy lately? Still haunted by a creepy-crawly ex who squirmed off with your heart? This Valentine’s Day, The Maritime Aquarium is inviting the broken-hearted, the happily single, and anyone with a sense of humor to turn heartbreak into something revenge-worthy with Love Bites, a playful fundraiser celebrating catharsis, conservation, and delicious poetic justice. With Love Bites, participants can symbolically name a veggie, cockroach, or fish after an ex (or anyone else who deserves a good-natured nibble). Their chosen “bite” will then be fed to one of the Aquarium’s resident animals. It’s simple. Choose your bite. Make a donation. And o‑fish‑ally say goodbye. Every Love Bites donation comes with a special thank‑you video featuring the animal enjoying its snack — a perfect keepsake, closure moment, or humorous valentine to share with friends. Choose Your Donation (and Bite): $5 — Veggie: Fed to our sea turtle Lefty. (A little crunch for a gentle release.) $10 — Cockroach: Served to Peewee, our monitor. (For exes who crawled out of your life and into this lizard’s lunch.) $15 — Fish: Delivered to our seal Sono. (A splashy farewell to that one that got away.)
February 10, 2026 at 8:24 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is among the governors on this statement:

"If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year."
Joint Statement from Democratic Governors on Not Attending White House Events In response to reports that Donald Trump is not inviting all governors to the annual bipartisan White House events, DGA Chair Governor Andy Beshear, DGA Vice Chair Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Governor Tony Evers, Governor Maura Healey, Governor Kathy Hochul, Governor Laura Kelly, Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor Dan McKee, Governor Wes Moore, Governor Matt Meyer, Governor Janet Mills, Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor Jared Polis, Governor JB Pritzker, Governor Josh Shapiro, Governor Mikie Sherrill, and Governor Tim Walz released the following statement: “Democratic governors have a long record of working across the aisle to deliver results and we remain committed to this effort. But it’s disappointing this administration doesn’t seem to share the same goal. At every turn, President Trump is creating chaos and division, and it is the American people who are hurting as a result. “If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year. Democratic governors remain united and will never stop fighting to protect and make life better for people in our states."
February 10, 2026 at 8:17 PM
chrispolansky.bsky.social
The wonderful @nhnewts.bsky.social, who I very narrowly missed going yard off of last season, are now on Bluesky
chrispolansky.bsky.social Chris Polansky @chrispolansky.bsky.social · Aug 25
What could have been 😔
February 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Chris Polansky
petitephd.bsky.social
You know it's really baseball season when we get a crushing Mets injury update right from the jump
timbritton.bsky.social Tim Britton (he/him) @timbritton.bsky.social · 1d
David Stearns opens his first spring presser with some news:

--Francisco Lindor will be evaluated Wednesday for a left stress reaction in his left hamate bone. If he requires surgery, it would be a six-week recovery that pushes a return right around Opening Day.
February 10, 2026 at 7:10 PM