Hartford Mayor: Aetna 'Clearly' Ready To Move Out Of State

HARTFORD, CT — Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin seems convinced that Aetna is not only thinking of leaving Hartford, but the state. Aetna was not so quick to call in the trucks, and neither was the governor.

Bronin said so in a glum statement released on Wednesday. The insurance giant has been a pillar of business in Hartford since 1853. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities click here.)

“Based on multiple conversations with Aetna’s senior leadership, I think it is clear that Aetna decided a long time ago to relocate their corporate headquarters out of Connecticut," he said. "They have said that Aetna remains committed to its Connecticut work force, and that the Hartford campus will continue to be a substantial employment base for thousands of Aetna employees. But losing Aetna’s flag is a hard blow for the state and for the greater Hartford region."

Aetna's potential plans were all the buzz around Hartford Wednesday after former politician-turned-commentator Kevin Rennie wrote in his blog that "New York is far ahead of Boston in the competition for Hartford-based Aetna’s new headquarters ... After 164 years in Hartford, the insurance giant invited proposals from Boston and New York. The city that never sleeps is soon expected to win a public acknowledgement of its victory."

Added Bronin, "As a state, we need to act boldly to change the things that need to change. Across the country, companies are locating in places where they can recruit top talent. We don’t have to be New York or Boston to be competitive, but we have to recognize that strong, fiscally-sound, culturally-vibrant metropolitan areas are key to economic growth. Connecticut has the opportunity to be one of those places, but we need to marshal the full strength of our region and our State to invest in a strong, vibrant Capital City – not at the expense of our suburbs and small towns, but for the sake of Connecticut’s economic future, because we’re all tied together.”

Members of the State House of Representatives from both sides of the political aisle had their share of comments on Wednesday.

"It's hard to keep a business in the state when the state has such an unpredictable tax scheme," Republican Rep. Tim Ackert of Coventry said. "These corporations have money to move, just look at GE going to Boston. So with that money, at some point, the corporations just get sick of the inconsistency. The corporations just want to know what it is going to cost and not be the vehicle to take care of all our fiscal woes."

See also: Boston Bound: GE Makes Its Decision

Greenwich Republican Fred Camillo said it starts from the top.

"The rumor surrounding Aetna and a possible move out of Connecticut is neither surprising nor unexpected," he said. "We have put in place a hostile environment for businesses. I truly believe the only way this stop and reverse course is with a change in legislative and gubernatorial leadership in 2018."

Mansfield Democrat Gregg Haddad said the deal with Aenta is also part of a trend that includes urban renewal and a desire to be close to hubs of culture and business.

"Remember that trend of moving to the suburbs? It's now shifting back to the cities," he said. "Young people want to be near vibrant places. Hartford and New Haven are nice cities, but they are not set up the way Boston, Chicago and Atlanta are. We need to make Hartford more vibrant."

Aetna communications officials said not so fast in an e-mail sent Wednesday.

“We are in negotiations with several states regarding a headquarters relocation, with the goal of broadening our access to innovation and the talent that will fill knowledge economy-type positions," the statement read. "We remain committed to our Connecticut-based employees and the Hartford campus, and hope to have a final resolution by early summer.”

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in a news briefing on Wednesday that the state is prepared to match "every incentive offered by as competing state."

He said Hartford will "never be a New York or a Boston ... and that is fine," while pointing to urban renewal efforts like expanding the University of Connecticut's presence and increasing housing options.

He said he is prepared to offer tax and regulatory incentives and still believes Aetna will maintain a presence in the state. In all, Aetna offers 5,800 jobs, he said. He does expect some change with Aetna leadership, he said.

But the absence of "a direct response" even after many meetings can serve to be ominous, and Malloy said he prefers to hear about Aetna's plans "soon."

Patch file photo