Declarations

Complex Investigation

“They’re going to treat it as suspicious until they find out it isn’t.”

—Norwich, Connecticut Police Capt. Timothy Menard, commenting on the investigation into a massive fire at an apartment complex in the town. The blaze leveled a 12-building, 120-unit complex and left 155 people homeless – although no one was seriously injured.

Getting Back in the Lead

“The systems designed to address and prevent childhood lead poisoning are, at best, fragmented and inadequate and, at worst, ripe for negligence and fraud.”

—Report by the New Jersey Public Advocate’s Office, which found numerous problems with the way the Garden State screens, remediates and follows up on lead poisoning cases. The report found lead paint remains a serious danger in the state, especially for the youngest and poorest residents of urban areas with old housing — even in cases where a home has already undergone lead remediation. Gov. Jon S. Corzine recently signed an executive order strengthening lead poison prevention measures.

Flood of Concern

“We’re not through it yet. Our first focus is on making sure people are safe. After the water levels have dropped, we will move forward quickly with cleanup and recovery efforts.”

—Maine Gov. John Baldacci, commenting on the flooding at Fort Kent, Maine by the St. John River. More than 100 homes flooded when the river crested in early May.

Ballooning With Pride

“I’m just glad to finally do something useful through ballooning.”

—Dave Knoblock, a hot-air balloon pilot from Montgomery, Alabama, one of three pilots to participate in a University of Alabama research program in which balloonists dropped payloads of scrap lumber and wooden shutters to help researchers analyze the radar signatures caused by tornado and hurricane debris.

Unfunded Mandates

“Bear in mind, all of these regulatory efforts must be funded — at the expense of the states and at the expense of Main Street insurance agents.”

—Kenneth R. Auerbach, president-elect of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, commenting on a recent string of legislative proposals that would federalize insurance company charters and industry regulation. The comments came during a recent meeting of the Maine Insurance Agents Association.