Best Most Awesome Superlatives 2017

It’s a new era. This calls for new categories and a new format.

Here it is: 2017, judged.

Killing It

The Resistance: When life hands you a shitshow, make lemonade?

On a national and local level, we have witnessed people affirming humanity in a time when behaving badly is rewarded. There have been numerous rallies and marches calling for inclusivity and speaking against fascism. Hartford stood by immigrants in our community. People even gathered in airports to support immigrants, refugees, and Muslims. The Connecticut State Capitol lawn overflowed with an estimated 10,000 activists supporting women’s rights. A smaller contingent marched and rallied for reproductive rights on a much colder day. The community called out the Trump administration’s backlash against science by gathering in the rain, holding signs that read “Science. Because you can’t just make shit up!” In April, when people might have preferred to mark the tax deadline by hitting the bar, folks showed up to demand Trump release his tax returns.

In all of this, we have seen displays of creativity, resilience, and hope.

Coffee Returns to Capitol Avenue: Since La Paloma Sabanera closed a few years ago, there has been a lack of independent coffee shops in Frog Hollow. That might not matter to people living in the West End or Downtown, or for those who have their very own espresso machines. Good for Story and Soil Coffee for taking the risk of opening shop here. Double good for them for being open every day of the week including Sundays, including on Sundays that happen to be Christmas Eve. In case you were wondering how dead it was on that Sunday that was also Christmas Eve…it wasn’t. The place was hoppin’.

Honorable Coffee Mention: In just a few years we went without a single independent coffee shop to now three in downtown, including Spectra Wired Cafe, a sprawling space with outlets and reliable WiFi everywhere.

More Outdoors Things: There is nothing dictating that we must spend the cold stretch of the year indoors with our blankets and Netflix. In recent months we have seen an intentional, controlled fire outside in Bushnell Park; another one is planned for early January. There was an attempt to revive the Christmas caroling outside of the Hartford Times building. People showed up for that. The Art Sled Derby, going into its sixth year, continues to draw people out of their homes and onto the snowy lawn of Elizabeth Park around Valentine’s Day. Connecticut has seasons. We should embrace this.

Return of Sherry: Sherry DeGenova will be returning to Hartford as an Animal Control Officer. This is one of those places where we do see a return on our investment. Those who have needed her assistance in the past can attest to her no-nonsense attitude and passion for the job. Now, can we please rethink the policies that put her out of the job despite being the go-to person in that position?

Elimination of Mandatory Parking Minimums: Applause, applause, applause. Give this Streetsblog post a read to get up to speed. Basically, the excessive parking in downtown Hartford was costing us $50 million per year in lost tax revenue.

Not So Much

Sexual Harassment in City Hall: Had it not been for the #MeToo campaign and massive attention paid to the repeated disgusting behaviors of those with fame and power on a national level, one has to wonder if the recent condemnation of the City Council president would have ever come to be, what with the way City Hall has previously dealt with accusations. And then, there is the other set of accusations. We can and should demand more of those working for us.

All the Grumbling About Panhandling: Not a new thing this year, but all patience for this kind of whining has left my body.

All the Grumbling About Parking: If it is such a struggle to park, should that person be operating a potential death machine in the first place? The obsession with “free” (subsidized) and convenient parking is outmoded and unbecoming, and thankfully, is being challenged by residents and the City.