INNER-CITY NEWS

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

Lamont Proposes Borrowing TollNAACP Vote Approaches Financial JusticeMore a Key Focus at As 2016 Convention New Haven, Bridgeport

INNER-CITYNEWS

Volume 27 . No. 2373 Volume 21 No. 2194

New Haven

“DMC”

Black History

Helen Eugenia Hagan

Color Struck?

13

Projects

“Transit Equity”

Pushed

Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:

Ignore Ignore“Tough “ToughOn OnCrime” Crime”

Snow in July?

Commemorating our past

starts with cementing our present-day legacy

FOLLOW US ON

ALLAN APPEL PHOTO Mark and Laverne Oliver, after the 30-minute project round.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

“Love” Sought In Demands For Change

by SAM GURWITT

New Haven I ndependent

Almost two weeks after her daughter had been cast as a slave in a class play, Carmen Parker stood with 100 other people to demand, among other fixes, a student to teacher pipeline and a central reporting system.

Parker is the mother of a fifth-grader at the West Woods School in Hamden.

Two weeks ago, her daughter came home from school and told her that her class was going to put on a play. It was about slavery, and she had been cast as Enslaved African 2.

The story has prompted soul-searching in a town with changing racial demographics in its schools. The story has also now been reported in both national and international news publications.

Monday night, Parker and about 100 Hamden residents and Yale students showed up for a public input session at Hamden’s Legislative Council. They presented demands to the council: • Hire more minority teachers, specifically using a pipeline program that would put minority high school students on track to become teachers in the Hamden school district.

• Create a central reporting system where residents can report problems which the town or Board of Education addresses immediately.

• Fire West Woods Principal Dan Levy.

• Pass a resolution explicitly denouncing racism in Hamden and acknowledging Parker and the work she has done to bring attention to the issue.

• Create a better system of checks and balances to hold people accountable for what they do.

• Make an explicitly anti-racist curriculum.

While a Black Lives Matter flag hung between the navy and air force flags in the rotunda of town hall, Parker held a press conference before the meeting outside on the steps of the building. She and the other people who had shown up to support her then filed into the building for the 7 p.m. meeting.

As Hamden residents and a solid row of Yale students sitting in the front of the room watched with rapt attention, Parker, standing with her husband Josh, implored the council and the audience to operate out of love.

“What does love look like from those who make mistakes, big and small?” she asked, rhetorically. “Love looks like accountability and willingness to drop defensiveness when we have wronged someone else.”

Earlier that day, she and her husband had met with their daughter’s teacher, who returned to her class Monday after being placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

SAM GURWITT PHOTO Josh and Carmen Parker: Teacher apologized. Fire the principal.

Teacher, Family Work Together “She looked us in the eye. She owned her mistake without excuse. She apologized for every wrongdoing without reference to whether or not it was intention-

al. She looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’m sorry. I love your daughter. I will do everything in my power to make this right.’ She brainstorms ideas with my daughter of ways to make sure my child

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could let her know if she was still getting bullied,” Parker said.

“For the first time, I feel safe with my daughter back in that classroom because that teacher, through love, is willing to learn and grow.”

The teacher was the only person in the system who looked out for her daughter, Parker said.

Last week, her daughter came home and broke into tears because she had been bullied by other students who supposedly told her that her parents had gotten their teacher fired. After the play was introduced to students Jan. 21, the class was told the next day that it was no longer going to happen because a parent had complained. After that, the class did not receive any more explanation about the play until Jan. 30, when district administrators explained to the class why the play was wrong and what was happening with their teacher.

Next, Parker turned her question around. She asked what love looks like on the part of the victim.

“Love the teacher who made a mistake,” she said. “If you see her on the street don’t harass her. If you see her in the classroom, don’t harass her. Show her the beauty of minority cultures by exposing her to the most powerful thing we have to unite people against discrimination, and that is love.”

Calling The Cops When Parker arrived at West Woods this past Thursday morning for a meeting with Superintendent Jody Goeler, she was greeted by police. Goeler later said he had requested one or two police officers because people were planning to show up outside the school, and he wanted to make sure school grounds were secure.

“To Jody Goeler and the local mother who posted on Facebook that she called the cops too, shame on you for failing to support love in front of the whole world,” Parker continued. “The point is that nothing beyond a single phone call to leadership should ever have been necessary as the best and only way to protect a minority child from your irresponsibility and protect our children from white supremacist indoctrination.”

Still, she said, “Who are we as minority mothers? We are strong, we are proud.

We have withstood having our children sold as slaves from beneath us. We have had our families detained at border stations without us. We have had our sons and daughters murdered by police without due cause because they fear us, and yet I still dare you to love each other, Hamden.”

Earlier on Monday, Parker appeared on WNHH Radio’s Urban Talk Radio with host Shafiq Abdussabur to talk about her background, and about why she had de-

cided to move to Hamden and send her daughter to public school. Parker is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale.

Hamden Action Now activist Rhonda Caldwell delivered the list of demands Monday night once Parker and another Hamden parent had spoken.

Other parents, former Hamden students, and a teacher also spoke. Hamden High School chemistry Teacher Kat BowerPhipps told the council that teachers need the support of Hamden’s elected leaders. She said the district has focused on diversity training in its professional development in the last year, but that the trainings need to be more sustained, and need to happen in smaller groups, to be successful.

“We need to get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable,” she said of the difficult conversations teachers need to have regularly. “Because if we’re not uncomfortable, change will not happen.”

Council President Mick McGarry said that some of the demands the council might be able to assist in. He said he likes the idea of a reporting system, and he said it might be possible to create one for the whole town, and not just for the Board of Education. A council resolution, however, might be tricky, he said.

He said the council is not supposed to impinge on the business of the Board of Education.

Hamden Public Schools Human Resource Director Gary Highsmith has been working on a program that would groom Hamden high school students to become teachers. The program would work with Southern Connecticut State University to provide students a way of learning about teaching careers so that, presumably, they will return to teach in the district once they graduate from college.

About an hour and a half before the meeting, Mayor Curt Leng released a statement announcing the creation of a “Hamden Equity and Inclusivity Taskforce.”

Hamden is very diverse, the statement begins, but that doesn’t mean Hamden “is mystically shielded from the institutional and implicit bias that is a very real issue which exists across our state and across our country.”

“I have deep compassion for any resident that experience any occurrence that is hurtful in any way,” the statement said.

I am even more deeply concerned when any such issue involves children.”

“We will work, not just talk, to address issues of bias, racism, inequity, inclusivity and related challenges,” the statement read. In order to do so, the statement announced the creation of a task force that will include representation from a number of local organizations, as well as from the community.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Public Health Delays Raising Aid-In-Dying, Pregnancy Center Legislation

by Christine Stuart HARTFORD, CT — The Public Health Committee decided again Monday to postpone a vote on whether to raise a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives and another that would seek to regulate pregnancy center advertising.

Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, who co-chairs the Public Health Committee, said they held the aid-in-dying bill because they want a chance to have a discussion with all the members of the committee. At least two members were absent Monday due to illness.

After a 12-hour public hearing on the issue last year, the committee decided not to vote and send the bill to the House.

Asked if the committee would be able to tackle aid-in-dying along with legislation to repeal the religious exemptions for childhood vaccines in a short session, Steinberg said he didn’t “realize there was a limit to weighty issues that you could take on.”

“This committee always feels like it’s doing its best for the public good, for the public health,” Steinberg said. “And I’m not so sure taking a year off on things that ought to be done is necessarily the right course for the Public Health Committee.”

He said public sentiment on aid-in-dying has been changing slowly over the years and last year might have been a tipping point. Last year was the first year the Connecticut State Medical Society adopted a position of “engaged neutrality,” which means it’s leaving it up to its member physicians.

“Opinions change over time,” Steinberg said.

“We see that with so many issues.”

Tim Appleton, campaign manager for Compassion & Choices in Connecticut, said he will respect the committee process and defer to the chairs about the best path forward.

That being said “your zip code should not define a person’s end of life journey,” Appleton said. “With the passage of legislation in New Jersey and Maine, more and more people in the region now have a way to access aid-indying.”

Eight states and Washington D.C. have aid-indying laws.

Similar aid-in-dying bills have failed to survive the committee process in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019.

Steinberg said he doesn’t know if he’s optimistic it will pass this year, but holding a public hearing will allow lawmakers to “shine a spotlight on it and get more people educated on what we’re really talking about.”

The other bill the committee postponed Monday was one that would regulate advertising done by so-called crisis pregnancy centers.

IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH,

BOSCOV’S HONORS

VISIONARIES IN HUMANITY

Dr. Patricia Bath

Rosa Parks

CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE

George Washington Carver

Rep. Jonathan Steinberg

These pregnancy centers, which are sometimes faith-based, provide pregnancy-related services and support, but do not offer abortions or emergency contraception. Critics of the centers say women believe they are getting a full spectrum of reproductive care when that’s not the case.

A bill passed the committee last year and got a vote in the House, but it was never called in the Senate.

Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, said it’s his understanding that members of the committee would rather not deal with these two issues this year.

Wolfgang, whose organization opposes both concepts, said even members who support them are not interested in tackling them this year.

Chris Healy, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, said he’s ready to defeat the aid-in-dying legislation again if it’s raised.

“We are ready to oppose it and defeat this horrible policy that does nothing but promote a culture of death in our state,” Healy said.

As far as pregnancy centers are concerned, Healy said there have been no complaints for deceptive advertising filed against them. He said he doesn’t understand what’s wrong with people wanting to promote bringing a child into this world.

Both aid-in-dying and advertising of pregnancy centers may appear on the Public Health Committee’s agenda Friday, Feb. 14.

Booker T. Washington

Barack Obama Dr. Shirley Jackson

In part 2 of our 4-part series, we salute some of the pioneers in the humanities.

From the advances in education by Booker T. Washington, to the inventions of George Washington Carver, Dr. Patricia Bath and Dr. Shirley Jackson, to the pivotal role Rosa Parks played in the civil rights movement, to Barack Obama becoming our country’s first black president, Boscov’s celebrates courageous African American humanitarians everywhere for their accomplishments and all the contributions that they have made in education, science, technology and beyond.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

-MAYOR GANIM PRAISES AFFORDABLE CAR LOAN PROGRAM FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS-

Nutmeg Partners with City of Bridgeport, SMBE for Working Wheels Initiative

The City of Bridgeport and the Small and Minority Business Enterprise is partnering with Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union to help low income families afford the cars they need to get back and forth to work. Mayor Joe Ganim made the announcement about the Working Wheels program at a press conference on November 19, 2019 at the Margaret Morton Government Center in Bridgeport.

Joining Mayor Ganim was Fred Gee, Director of the Small and Minority Business Enterprise, representatives from Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union, including President & CEO John Holt, Vice President of Lending Dana Clark, Chief Engagement Officer Lisa Asadourian, and Business Consultant Orlando Marquez, along with City Council and community members.

Nutmeg member Tara Maxwell shared her personal experience with Working Wheels after struggles that included losing her apartment, job, car, and ultimately being homeless for three months. When she did get back on her feet, she had to rely on rental cars to drive herself to and from her two jobs. “With a low credit score I was worried about ever owning

a car, until I found Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union. They help you every step of the way.” She explained that today she drives a 2015 Chrysler thanks to the unique auto loan program.

Mayor Ganim says this partnership is welcome since 82% of people in the area rely on automobiles to get to work. “We don’t have the type of public transportation in Connecticut that you see in other parts of the country. With no subways or metros, people need cars.”

Nutmeg’s Working Wheels program is designed specifically for low-income families and allows them to borrow up to $10,000 to purchase a reliable vehicle. The program also includes a required financial education component to stress the importance of proper financial management and maintenance. Interested candidates can find out more at www.nutmegstatefcu.org or by calling 860.513.5000.

About Nutmeg Chartered in 1936 and headquartered in Rocky Hill, Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in the Hartford, New Haven, Middlesex or Tolland Counties as

Publisher / CEO Babz Rawls Ivy

Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs Babz@penfieldcomm.com

Advertising/Sales Team Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne / John Thomas, III

Editorial Team Staff Writers

Christian Lewis/Current Affairs Anthony Scott/Sports

Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics

Contributing Writers David Asbery / Tanisha Asbery

Jerry Craft / Cartoons / Barbara Fair

Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur Michelle Turner / Smita Shrestha William Spivey / Kam Williams

From left: Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim joins John Holt, President and CEO of Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union and Fred Gee, Director of Small and Minority Business Enterprise (back row) to announce the Working Wheels car ownership program offered by Nutmeg, along with Tara Maxwell, Working Wheels Recipient, and Dana Clark, Vice President of Lending at Nutmeg State FCU. Photo courtesy of Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union. well as the cities of Shelton, Stratford and Bridgeport, Connecticut. They offer members a friendly banking environment and take pride in educating con-

sumers about the advantages of joining a credit union. Visit them at www.nutmegstatefcu.org for more information.

City’s Outside Legal Tab Nears $200K For Lead Paint Fight

by THOMAS BREEN

New Haven I ndependent

The city wracked up another nearly $80,000 in outside counsel costs over the past six months fighting a lead poisoning class action lawsuit, bringing the total public tab for private attorney fees in recent lead-related lawsuits to almost $200,000—so far.

Mayoral spokesperson Gage Frank and Assistant Corporation Counsel Catherine LaMarr provided the Independent with that update as to how much the city has spent on outside legal help with Nyriel Smith v. City of New Haven.

LaMarr said that the city’s latest invoice

John P. Thomas

Legal aid attorney Amy Marx and city-hired outside counsel Andrew Cohen in court on Thursday.

from the local law firm Winnick, Ruben, Hoffnung, Peabody and Mendel LLC totaled $39,278. That invoice was submitted to the city on Jan. 17.

LeMarr said that another private law firm that the previous mayoral administration had hired to represent the city on this case, the Boston-based firm Barclay Damon LP (which recently acquired LeClairRyan), estimates that the city owes them around $39,000. That firm has yet to submit an invoice for that work to the city, LeMarr said.

These new fees come on top of the Con’t on page 23

ya l e i n st i t u t e o f sa c r e d m u s i c joins the

inner city news

Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee

Contributors At-Large

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass New Haven Independent www.newhavenindependent.org

Memberships

National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.

Celebrating the legacy of Dr. King. ― Embracing a vision of Greater New Haven as a place of opportunity for all. cfgnh.org

in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans to the cultural and spiritual life of New Haven and the world.

#GNHOpportunity

DONT LET THEM COUNT YOU OUT! e v e n t l i st i n g s at ism.yale.edu

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

West Haven Black Heritage Committee Gets Ready for Black History Month

Cele Celebrating Celebra

BLACK

Members of the West Haven Black Heritage Committee and other activists gather on the steps of City Hall with a new banner to commemorate Black History Month, which begins on February 1st.

The banner includes six images of historical black figures in the United States. They are Madam CJ Walker,

Olympian Jessie Owens, Congresswoman and first female and black presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm, former President Barack Obama, Harriet Tubman and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “The City’s Black Heritage Celebration will be held on Thursday, February 27th at 11:00 in the Harriet North Community

Room, second floor, West Haven City Hall.” Said Committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins. “At that ceremony the West Haven’s African-American Citizen of the Year will be honored, along with two highly accomplished black West Haven High School seniors. The names will be announced in the next two weeks.” he said.

HISTORY MONTH

Pictured are: Front row L to R: Banner Designer Kyle Kearson, Councilwoman Robbin Hamilton, D-5, Councilwoman Trenee McGee, D-7, Kathy Tucker, Denis Wright, Committee Chairman Commissioner Steven R. Mullins. Back Row L to R: Mark Lee, Stanley Chambers, Michelle Mays, Jeffrey Moreno, Mackie McMillan, Commissioner Christopher Suggs.Photograph Credit: Kathy Chambers

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

13 Projects Ranked In Fair Haven Vote

by ALLAN APPEL

New Haven I ndependent

Mark Oliver faced an array of choices when he joined neighbors in a complicated ranked-choice voting process of deciding how to spend $20,000 to improve Fair Haven.

Oliver was one of 31 members at the Fair Haven Community Management Team (FHCMT) assembled at the Fair Haven library branch Thursday night.

Seventeen of the members, including Oliver, are eligible to vote on how to spend $20,000 in the $20,000 that city government’s Livable City Initiative (LCI) grants each neighborhood community management team to spend through the Neighborhood Public Improvement Program (NPIP).

(Members were eligible to vote if they attended a minimum five monthly meetings over the last year.)

Thursday night was the group’s regular meeting and the last chance to hear from candidates for the money and pose questions to them. Now, over the next week, the 17 will pick their top choices and rank them in order in an online poll.

The voters had 30 minutes to review 13 submitted proposals.

The FHCMT is one of the management teams around the city racing to settle on projects and then spend the allocated funds. If the money is not spent by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, the money is forfeited.

Fair Haven Community Management Team members David Weinreb, Lee Cruz, and Darlene Casella.

The 13 submitted projects ranged from beautification to fitness classes to supporting Arte’s Saturday arts academy.

They’d been posted online. But Oliver, like most of the participants, had not spent a lot of time reviewing them.

So the proposals’ proponents arrayed themselves around the library’s basement community room politely hawking their ideas as Oliver and other voters roamed from station to station to talk to the proposers on the way to ranking their choices.

The Independent followed along as Oliver made his way through the possibilities.

“Man, so many ideas. I don’t know!”

Oliver declared as he set out.

“When I invite people into the area,” said Oliver, who with his wife Laverne is a longtime James Street homeowner, “the streets aren’t kept up.” That makes a bad false impression of Fair Haven, he added.

As he took a ranked-choice voting sheet in his hand, Oliver said he was inclined to

Questions about your bill?

Yale New Haven Hospital is pleased to offer patients and their families financial counseling regarding their hospital bills or the availability of financial assistance, including free care funds.

By appointment, patients can speak one-on-one with a financial counselor during regular business hours. For your convenience, extended hours are available once a month.

Date: Tuesday, February 18 Time: 5 - 7 pm Location: Children’s Hospital, 1 Park St., 1st Floor, Admitting Parking available (handicapped accessible) An appointment is necessary. Please call 203-688-2046.

Spanish-speaking counselors available.

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vote for projects that beautify the neighborhood.

That included Project #1, proposed by Susan Regan, to have local artists paint and decorate the overpass at Middletown Avenue and Front Street, one of the gateways to Fair Haven. Pricetag for this project; $10,000, not including lighting.

Oliver looked down the sheet and read about local developer Fereshteh Bekhrad’s proposal for “physical enhancement/improvement at the intersection of Ferry Street and Grand Avenue.”

He liked that one. “Make Grand Avenue grand,” he said. Proposed pricetag: $10$14,000.

Moving to the corner of the room, Oliver heard the pitch of Dan Kinsman, a music teacher at the Fair Haven School.

The New Haven Chamber Orchestra, an adult group, has been practicing Tuesday night at the school for years. There’s interaction with the kids. The request was to support a free concert open to the public, from conductor costs to flyers and insurance. The ask: $2,168.

Oliver was intrigued, “I used to play [the trumpet] in church,” he said. He asked Kinsman what kind of music the concert would feature. The answear: classical.

The encounter reminded Oliver that his trumpet was in need of some TLC. “My horn is home stuck,” is how he put it.

Kinsman has a friend who does that kind of work. “You want a phone number?” he asked.

Kinsmen gave him the number of a friend who runs Backyard Brass, a brass instrument repair company. “It’s called Backyard Brass,” Kinsman told Oliver, because you get into the place by going through the repair guy’s back yard.

“To tell the truth,” Oliver said, “I want to get back to it.”

Time was ticking away when Lee Cruz called out to Oliver, who was passing his station, “Support Riverfest.” The pitch: Support local history, get people to come Con’t on page 16

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

February is Black History: Black Codeswww.History.com

Black codes were restrictive laws designed to limit the freedom of African Americans and ensure their availability as a cheap labor force after slavery was abolished during the Civil War. Though the Union victory had given some 4 million slaves their freedom, the question of freed blacks’ status in the postwar South was still very much unresolved. Under black codes, many states required blacks to sign yearly labor contracts; if they refused, they risked being arrested, fined and forced into unpaid labor. Outrage over black codes helped undermine support for President Andrew Johnson and the Republican Party.

Reconstruction Begins When President Abraham Lincoln announced the impending passage of the Emancipation Proclamation in early 1863, the stakes of the Civil War shifted dramatically. A Union victory would mean no less than revolution in the South, where the “peculiar institution” of slavery had dominated economic, political and social life in the antebellum years.

In April 1865, as the war drew to a close, Lincoln shocked many by proposing limited suffrage for African Americans in the South. He was assassinated days later, however, and his successor Andrew Johnson would be the one to preside over the beginning of Reconstruction.

Did you know? In the years following Reconstruction, the South reestablished many of the provisions of the black codes in the form of the so-called “Jim Crow laws.” These remained firmly in place for almost a century, but were finally abolished with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Johnson, a former senator from Tennessee who had remained loyal to the Union during the war, was a firm supporter of states’ rights and believed the federal government had no say in issues such as voting requirements at the state level.

Under his Reconstruction policies, which began in May 1865, the former Confederate states were required to uphold the abolition of slavery (made official by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution), swear loyalty to the Union and pay off their war debt. Beyond those limitations, the states and their ruling class—traditionally dominated by white planters—were given a relatively free hand in rebuilding their own governments.

left before the end of the contract, they would be forced to forfeit earlier wages and were subject to arrest.

In South Carolina, a law prohibited blacks from holding any occupation other than farmer or servant unless they paid an annual tax of $10 to $100. This provision hit free blacks already living in Charleston and former slave artisans especially hard.

In both states, blacks were given heavy penalties for vagrancy, including forced plantation labor in some cases.

Passage of the Black Codes Even as former slaves fought to assert their independence and gain economic autonomy during the earliest years of Reconstruction, white landowners acted to control the labor force through a system similar to the one that had existed during slavery.

To that end, in late 1865, Mississippi and South Carolina enacted the first black codes. Mississippi’s law required blacks to have written evidence of employment for the coming year each January; if they

Limits on Black Freedom Under Johnson’s Reconstruction policies, nearly all the southern states would enact their own black codes in 1865 and

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1866. While the codes granted certain freedoms to African Americans—including the right to buy and own property, marry, make contracts and testify in court (only in cases involving people of their own race)—their primary purpose was to restrict blacks’ labor and activity.

Some states limited the type of property that blacks could own, while virtually all the former Confederate states passed strict vagrancy and labor contract laws, as well as so-called “antienticement” measures designed to punish anyone who offered higher wages to a black laborer already under contract.

Blacks who broke labor contracts were subject to arrest, beating and forced labor, and apprenticeship laws forced many minors (either orphans or those whose parents were deemed unable to support them by a judge) into unpaid labor for white planters.

Passed by a political system in which blacks effectively had no voice, the black codes were enforced by all-white police and state militia forces—often made up of Confederate veterans of the Civil War— across the South.

Impact of the Black Codes The restrictive nature of the codes and widespread black resistance to their enforcement enraged many in the North, who argued that the codes violated the fundamental principles of free labor ideology.

After passing the Civil Rights Act (over Johnson’s veto), Republicans in Congress effectively took control of Reconstruction.

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 required southern states to ratify the 14th Amendment—which granted “equal protection” of the Constitution to former slaves—and enact universal male suffrage before they could rejoin the Union.

The 15th Amendment, adopted in 1870, guaranteed that a citizen’s right to vote would not be denied “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

During this period of Radical Reconstruction (1867-1877), blacks won election to southern state governments and even to the U.S. Congress.

As indicated by the passage of the black codes, however, white southerners showed a steadfast commitment to ensuring their supremacy and the survival of plantation agriculture in the postwar years. Support for Reconstruction policies waned after the early 1870s, undermined by the violence of white supremacist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan.

By 1877, when the last federal soldiersleft the South and Reconstruction drew to a close, blacks had seen little improvement in their economic and social status, and the vigorous efforts of white supremacist forces throughout the region had undone the political gains they had made. Discrimination would continue in America with the rise of Jim Crow laws, but would inspire the Civil Rights Movement to come.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Lamont Proposes More Borrowing As Toll Vote Approaches

by Christine Stuart

HARTFORD, CT – Legislation released Thursday shows Gov. Ned Lamont is adding about $300 million more to the 2020 bond package than he initially contemplated under his selfimposed debt diet.

The Lamont administration had been holding back details of the 2020 bond package as they looked to secure votes for the transportation bill, including truck-only tolling. The legislation detailing the package became available online Thursday.

Typically, the General Assembly would have voted on the 2020 bond package at the end of June last year when they passed the budget. However, Lamont held onto the package and used it in his negotiations over transportation funding, since $100 million of the $1.7 billion in general obligation bonds would go toward transportation.

“He broke a promise to achieve a goal,” Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said Thursday.

Fasano said it’s tough to tie specific lawmakers to specific amounts of money in the bond package since some details are still lacking, but he has no doubts the money was “doled out very politically.”

He pointed to $2 million for the town of East Hartford for almost anything re-

lated to economic development or redevelopment. He also pointed to about $25 million in school construction aimed at inner city schools.

There’s another $55 million over the next two years for renovations and improvements at the XL Center in Hartford.

At least $1.4 billion of the borrowing Lamont wants to do is not controversial.

It’s for things like municipal aid, affordable housing, information technology improvements, and support for higher education.

There’s up to $95 million for information technology upgrades, including up to $25 million for the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Authority.

There’s also about $22 million over two years for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.

There’s money for water treatment and for remediation of lead in school drinking water, and $40 million over two years for the Judicial Department.

The governor still has the authority to control how much of this borrowing goes out the door, however, because he is the head of the state Bond Commission.

The commission allocates the funding. If the General Assembly doesn’t approve truck-only tolls, then Lamont could claw back some of the planned borrowing.

Chris McClure, a spokesman for the Office of Policy and Management, said

Fasano’s accusations about the bond authorizations are “baseless.”

“The simple truth is that Senator Fasano has a history of opposing the use of bond funds in our distressed and urban centers and questions investments in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, but he has no problem seeking and celebrating the use of funds in his district for high school football field improvements or trolley museums,” McClure said. “The Senator Fasano prism of capital projects is based on a simple calloused calculus that projects outside of his district, like remediating toxic brownfields, are not worth the state’s investment, but soliciting a train station in his district is worthwhile.”

Will the General Assembly actually approve Lamont’s truck-only toll proposal?

Fasano said he’s certain lawmakers who needed to be persuaded to vote for a transportation package already knew what was in the bond package.

But will there be a vote?

“It seems like the only two people really pushing this is A to Z and the governor,” Fasano said referring to House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz and Lamont.

Calling it the “elephant in the room” Lamont pleaded Wednesday with state lawmakers to call a vote on his “truck toll” plan.

However, following Lamont’s speech

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D-1534 | April 2019

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CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE

Gov. Ned Lamont

to the joint session, Senate President Martin Looney said a vote may be delayed again until at least the week of Feb. 18 after the President’s Day holiday.

But it’s just a matter of scheduling.

“We’re comfortable where we’re at as a group and we’re going to move forward,” Aresimowicz said.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Housing Authority Bridges Digital Divide

ban Development (HUD) put together the program in an effort to bridge the Over 100 public-housing tenants are re- digital divide in public housing. ceiving two years of free internet service “Our way of getting information, our and free tablets in return for a promise way of sharing information has increas— to attend classes on how to use them ingly become through the internet,” to improve their lives.

HANH President Karen DuBois-Walton That transaction unfolded Wednesday told the crowd Wednesday evening. She evening at an event at the Cornell Scott said young residents have been a key Hill Health Center outpost in West Rock focus of her agency’s digital inclusion at 122 Wilmot Rd. efforts: “We want to make sure they Over 120 residents of public-housing have everything they need to succeed in developments showed up to register for school.” the program, under which T-Mobile is DuBois-Walton noted that under the providing the tablets and the housing program HANH is getting money to authority is providing two years of free cover costs of training, transportation service. The residents committed to at- and materials. tending digital literacy training and fiLatoya McCrea, HANH’s director of nancial counseling and budget and credit community and economic development, counseling sessions in return. Residents said the program has been in the works can also apply to become “digital ambas- for over a year. She outlined some of sadors” who receive training to assist in the programs for the tenants, including the educational learning for other resi- formation of a senior technology club in dents in their program classes. which older residents will receive conThe Housing Authority of New Haven sultation on how to get online, set up (HANH, aka Elm City Communities) or- an email account, pay rent and contact ganized the initiative as part of a federal their children through their tablets and program called ConnectHome Nation. phones. HANH Teacher-in-Residence The U.S. Department of Housing of Ur- Shanquetta Johnson will PM incorporate Lyman_InnerCity_5.472x5.1.qxp_Layout 1 1/10/20 12:10 Page 2the

by HELENA CHEN CARLSON New Haven I ndependent

tablets and teaching in an after-school program she runs, guiding students on how to keep up with homework online.

Patricia Rodriguez (pictured), who has been a tenant at Crawford Manor for the past five years, said this initiative will be particularly beneficial for senior residents.

Residents who do not know how to pay rent online have an increased likelihood of becoming victims of robbery when they handle their rent money in stores, Rodriguez said. “Seniors are easily preyed on. They’re fumbling through their bags, bringing their purse out. So I think this technology is great for seniors.”

As president of the Tenants Residents Council (TRC) at Crawford Manor, Rodriguez passed out brochures and flyers to urge her neighbors to attend Wednesday night’s kick-off session.

“We are getting free transportation to bring them there and home—they looked at every aspect of what would make a person not be able to come and they got it all covered,” Rodriguez said. “I really appreciate that.”

TREVOR HURLBUT PHOTO Tenants check out virtual reality at kickoff session.

Brian Culbertson XX Tour Friday, April 3 • 8 pm Over the course of a 20-album career, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Brian Culbertson has charted his own unique path. In addition to performing much of his new album, the setlist for this new tour includes cuts from Culbertson’s hit-filled songbook, along with a segment showcasing songs from Winter Stories, an acoustic album released last fall.

Reserved seating $45 General Public $35 Faculty/Staff, Active Alumni (limit 2) $30 SCSU students with valid ID (limit 2) - plus handling charge -

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10

“Transit Equity” Pushed THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

by ALLAN APPEL

New Haven I ndependent

On her 107th birthday the spirit of the late civil rights hero Rosa Parks had a commemorative seat on a New Haven/ CT Transit bus and took a spin around the Green The memory of the activist whose refusal to sit in the back of a city bus helped spark the civil rights movement was invoked to make the point that in the third decade of the 21st century, the issue is no longer where you get a seat on a bus — but whether the bus takes you where you need to go.

That argument — that transit rights are civil rights, tied to job and educational and economic opportunity — formed the heart of an event Tuesday marking Transit Equity Day in New Haven.

About 40 people gathered on the Green for New Haven’s version of a national event to put pressure on legislators who, in the case of Connecticut, are about to vote on Gov. Ned Lamont’s transportation funding package.

Speaker after speaker, including Mayor Justin Elicker, who made a brief appearance before heading to Hartford (in an electric vehicle), addressed the “intersectionality” of the issue of equal access to public transit and how it promotes a healthier, more democratic city.

“I’m a bike rider, a bus rider, and I drive.

In each I interact with other people. The least interactive is in the car. The most is on bus and bike. That’s better for the city,” Elicker said.

New Haven State Rep. Roland Lemar, who co-chairs the the legislature’s Transportation Committee, recently said on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program that he is committed this year to

Disability rights activist Elaine Kolb and Hamden legislator and cyclist Justin Farmer arrive at the Green

land New Haven $23 million to fix our broken bus system, and other improve-

ments for cycling and pedestrian safety.

Event organizer Melinda Tuhus read

racial kiss between Captain James T. Kirk and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. According to the plot, the kiss was forced by the telekinetic powers of outside forces.

humanizing him in the eyes of the Senate. Many believe that her words swayed the Senate to acquittal.

aloud a note of support that Lemar, derailed in Hartford by legislative business, had sent.

“It’s not about getting a seat on the bus,” said Dottie Green, a civil rights activist who works on preserving Rosa Parks’s legacy. “It’s where that bus takes you.”

She pronounced unjust a state bus system that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for car-less families of incarcerated people to visit their relatives in small towns around the state that have no transit connections. “Transit equity means being able to go where you need and want to go,” she said.

“If you’re like me, you get a little nauseous when you hear a deadly crash involving a pedestrian or cyclist referred to as an ‘accident,’” said Elm City Cycling’s Aaron Goode.

“I’m here to tell you that from a ... transit equity perspective there is no such thing as an accident. Every cyclist or pedestrian death is a preventable tragedy, through better infrastructure, better education, and better enforcement ... Five pedestrians slaughtered in one month last summer? Not an accident!”

Goode called for implementation of the city’s Safe Streets program along with vigorous enforcement that’s about “taking dangerous and distracted driving recidivists off the road. Zero tolerance for drunk driving and zero tolerance for distracted driving.”

Hamden Legislative Council member Justin Farmer said he bikes from ten to 15 miles a day to get to meetings and see constituents.

“I’m concerned about the last mile,” he said. That is, how he makes connections, for example to the train. “Amtrak doesn’t

allow bikes on rush hour [trains] on the Hartford line,” he said. He bemoaned that he often finds himself at a bus connection where the bike rack is full.

Ben Martin, of 350 CT, said he trained into New Haven for Tuesday morning’s rally. Now he had to wait three hours to get the next train back to Wallingford.

“What’s important to know is that the state’s transit plan doesn’t highlight trains, but highways and airports. Gov. Lamont and the legislature need to do a better job supporting transit, in words and deeds. Keep riding!” he charged.

“I might be the only person here who has been arrested trying to get on a bus,” said disability activist Elaine Kolb.

Those arrests, she said later, occurred not in New Haven but in Washington D.C. and San Francisco.

“Civil rights includes people with disabilities getting on the bus. We do not want charity,” she declared and then led the crowd in a song of her own composing. The refrain: “We will ride with the strength of truth and justice on our side.”

After the rally concluded, Kolb was one of a dozen people who boarded a specially commissioned CT Transit bus for a brief ride around the Green and the downtown area. During the ride Kolb and Farmer swapped stories about the special challenges of people with disabilities on public transit.

Others were more pensive as they sat surrounding Rosa Parks’ seat, empty except for a long-stemmed white flower, wondering if this is indeed the year when, instead of speeches, city residents will see more dedicated bus lanes and hubs, more sensible routes and schedules, better and more frequent service.

appointed as a municipal judge for the city of Jackson in 1981, he was promoted to circuit judge and by 1985 he was sworn in to his new position as Supreme Court Justice

appeared in ad campaigns for baby formula companies like Gerber and PET and even made the cover of Ebony Magazine.

After being exploited by the doctor that delivered them, they were eventually adopted by a nurse and her husband at the age of 22.

Those are your four little known Black history facts! Use this month to educate those around you about the amazing advancements Black people have made in history.

Lisa Evans is a 26-year old faith and lifestyle blogger from Cleveland, OH. Lisa’s goal is to become a journalist, speaker, and author motivating women across the world.

4 Little Known Black History Facts

by Lisa Evans, BlackDoctor.org

Happy Black History Month! February is not only considered a month of love, but it’s a time of celebration for Black people around the world. We all know of many notable Black historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman, but there are many other events and figures that have made Black history across the country.

Here are just a few: 1. American TV’s First Interracial Kiss Classic sci-fi tv show, Star Trek, shocked America in 1968 when the episode titled “Plato’s Stepchildren” featured an inter-

2. Cheryl Mills, The First Black Woman To Speak During An Impeachment Trial During President Bill Clinton’s explosive impeachment trial in 1999, Cheryl Mills, a young attorney at the time, became not only the first woman to address the U.S. Senate, but the first Black person in history to do so. Cheryl’s opening statements made note of President Clinton’s mistakes while also mentioning Clinton’s support of minorities and women among other things, essentially

3. Reuben V. Anderson, The First Black Supreme Court Justice In Mississippi In 1985, Reuben V. Anderson made history as he was sworn in as Mississippi’s first Black Supreme Court Justice. After attending Tougaloo College and earning his undergraduate degree, Reuben attended Ole Miss Law School and graduated in 1967.

He moved on to work with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on a number of significant cases such as desegregation and voter rights matters. In 1976, Reuben was

11

4. The Fultz Quadruplets The Fultz Quadruplets, Mary Louise, Mary Ann, Mary Alice, and Mary Catherine, were the first Black identical quadruplet babies born in the United States in 1946. The Quads were born in what was referred to as “the basement”, which was the Blacks-only wing of the North Carolina hospital.

News of the birth spread quickly and The Quads quickly rose to fame. They

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Lunarfest, Banishing Fear, Dances In The Year Of The Rat

Shawn Murray, The Arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

The lions, white and gold with thick patches of red, danced down Whitney Avenue. Hundreds of small hands appeared ready with hongbao, celebratory red envelopes filled with money. Kids were hoisted onto shoulders to soak in the action. At the end of the street, YaleChina Director David Youtz presented two huge cards printed in Mandarin with translation. “Jia,” read one. “You,” read the other.

The words, which translate roughly to “be strong,” were a message of solidarity from New Haven to its sister city Changsha, to the Wuhan Province, and to China more broadly. As China battles stigma, sickness, and widespread panic around Coronavirus, they came right on time.

Saturday morning, a call for unity and tolerance defined New Haven’s ninth annual Lunarfest as lions, dragons, and musicians danced in the Year of the Rat. The Lunar New Year celebration is organized by the Yale-China Association with support from the New Haven Museum, City of New Haven, Town Green Special Services District, Long Wharf Theatre and others.

Despite blisteringly cold winds, hundreds attended the parade and several satellite events at the New Haven Museum, Neighborhood Music School, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, Yale-China Association and nearby Yale University buildings.

Imagine.

The parade began Saturday morning, as representatives of Yale-China joined city officials, arts leaders, and members of the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute for a propulsive procession down Whitney Avenue. Somewhere close to Grove Street, a suite of bright dragons winked out, back for a second year with the student artists who had decorated them.

Attendees assembled on the sides of Whitney Avenue, cheering as drums and cymbals broke over the street.

The lions shimmied forward, moving in time with the instruments. Every few steps, they stopped to pick up hongbao, red envelopes that often come with a

Inform.

Invest.

monetary gift inside. Stepping off the sidewalks, parents ushered their children towards the animals. Some were delighted to find out they could pet them; a few shrunk back in fear or surprise.

There was no age limit on the hongbao festivities: plenty of adults hopped in on the action too.

As the lions made their way toward Hong Kong Market and Great Wall restaurant—through which they often dance to bless the businesses—they settled at Youtz’ feet for a moment. Speaking to the crowd, he described the parade and celebrations as “a fun and vibrant splash of color in the middle of February.”

Inspire.

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2/12/2020 10:37:36 AM

He noted that he wanted to “share aspects of China” with different communities, in order to make all New Havers more familiar with the customs and culture of the vast country.

Then he took a more serious tone, directing eyes to the black and red text that offered a message of strength for Chinese neighbors, friends, students and family in New Haven and in China.

He held up one of the cards and led the crowd in the cheers of “jiayou!” voices rising in the cold air.

He wasn’t the only one to do so. Newlyelected Mayor Justin Elicker, who spent time living in Hong Kong and Taiwan as a foreign service officer, delivered some of his opening remarks in fluent Mandarin. As he switched to English (“I’m so excited I just got through that!”), he spoke on the importance of events that bring New Haveners together to recognize their similarities and appreciate their differences.

He also urged attendees not to give in to the fear-mongering and misinformation around Coronavirus, which has left families separated, hospitalized, quarantined and reeling from loss at what is supposed to be a celebratory time of the year.

“I just love any event in our city where we have a bunch of different people getting together,” he said. “If you look at

what’s going on in Washington, there’s a lot of division. I support any event where people come together and realize we have more in common than we think.”

When speakers had finished, the lions danced once more, this time circling a pole until one started climbing. When he reached the top, Elicker lifted a pole with a head of lettuce to his mouth. The leaves rained down on the street.

While the parade ended around 11 a.m., the festivities lasted for much of the day.

Inside the Ely Center, visitors wandered through Hong Kong In Poor Images, pausing before images of Hong Kong that were grainy and distorted. At the New Haven Museum, families practiced calligraphy and packed into the lecture hall upstairs to watch and learn the art of tai chi.

At Yale-China’s Temple Street headquarters, viewers spent time with the work of the painter Stephen Lowe, who created sweeping landscapes and intimate vignettes before his death in the 1970s. Many, shrouded in mist and fog, displayed the Chinese countryside in striking fashion.

To find out more about the Yale-China Association, visit them at their website www.yalechina.org photos by Shawn Murray

New Haven Black History:

Helen Eugenia Hagan

Helen Eugenia Hagan (January 10, 1891 - March 6, 1964) was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to John A. and Mary Estella Neal Hagan. The Hagans were a musical family.

As a young girl, she moved to New Haven, Connecticut. By age 9, she began playing organ for the Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church. Around 1910, Ms. Hagan became the first African American female to attend the Yale School of Music. In 1912, she became the first African American female graduate of that school. She gave a performance of her own Piano Concerto in C Minor with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra at her graduation.

Following her graduation, Ms. Hagan toured the United States as a pianist from 1914 to 1918 and then subsequently held teaching positions. It is reported that she became the first black pianist to perform a solo recital at a New York Venue in 1921. Ms. Hagan taught at Bishop College in Texas and Tennessee State University. In 2016, a dedicated group of New Haveners dedicated to preserving Ms. Hagan’s legacy raised money to purchase a headstone for her unmarked grave at Evergreen Cemetery.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Lyman_InnerCity_5.472x5.1.qxp_Layout 1 1/10/20 12:11 PM Page 4

Boney James Saturday, May 9 8 pm It’s been 25 years since saxophonist and composer Boney James released his debut recording, Trust. James released his 16th album, Honestly, in 2017. If you sense a direct line between those two titles, you’ve already come a long way toward understanding what motivates this four-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum-selling musician.

Reserved seating $40 General Public $35 Faculty/Staff, Active Alumni (limit 2) $30 SCSU students with valid ID (limit 2) - plus handling charge -

lymancenter.org 203-392-6154

SouthernCT.edu

13

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Tap Jam Gets Into Its Own Rhythm

by Jamiah Green, Arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

Click, clack, clickity-clack-clack.

The rhythm echoed between a tap shoe and the wooden floor. Then it bounced to another. Attached to the shoes, bodies sprang into motion with twirls, steps, and quick second “en pointes.” No words were spoken. They didn’t need to be.

Sunday, that was the scene—and resounding sound—as dancer Alexis Robbins held her February “Tap Jam With Live Music” at the Whitneyville Cultural Commons in Hamden. The second of its kind in the space, the event featured musicians Isabella Mendes Lira on vocals and keys, Flavio Lira on bass, and Jocelyn Pleasant on drums.

Robbins said the event was meant to fuse social networking, dancing, and eating potluck-style. People could come and go, sit and listen to the music, eat, watch the tap dancers, and jump into dancing as they felt like it (Robbins is adamant that everyone can and should try tap, but she won’t pester).

Throughout the night, a series of jazz improvisations scored jams, percussive information trades and tap warm ups that brought everyone together.

“My main goal is to really make a space for tap dance to happen,” said Robbins, who runs the company kamrDANCE and teaches tap lessons in town. “Tap dance in particular is an American art form, an African-American art form, and it’s superrelated to jazz.”

“There’s this super, heavy jazz scene here in New Haven, and they don’t seem to be connecting to dancers the why that they should be,” she continued. “And I’m hoping to open that connection up.”

As music floated over the commons, the room began to fill with attendees who had come from different corners of the city, united in their taste for tap. Robbins drew attendees into a circle in the center of the space. Across the circle, there were dancers who had come with tap shoes and those sporting boots and sneakers instead.

No matter, Robbins said: tap shoes aren’t necessary for rhythm tap.

Robbins waited for chatter to fall to a hush. Then she ran through a few basic steps of tap dance, slow and steady as others followed along.

Foot, clap, foot, clap-clap; heel, toe, clap, clap. Wisps of jazz rose up from the instruments at one side of the room. Attendees tried the steps one by one, getting nods and murmurs of encouragement from their fellow tappers. A few took time to master the steps, a new physical language that sometimes seemed hard to translate.

Holly Gilligan, one of the attendees, said she came to the event ready to move to the music. A transplant dietitian at Yale New Haven Hospital by day, Gilligan has also danced tap for 15 years. She praised the event as giving dancers—seasoned and otherwise—the space and time to move.

“It’s so much fun,” she said, adding that she came to focus on technique. “Everyone should try it, you normally start off with learning the basics, and you will have

such a great time.”

As Gilligan worked on honing her skills and “making sure that all my sounds are correct,” some attendees came to try tap for the first time. Ciara (she requested that only her first name be used) said she was invited to the event by a friend, and ended up enjoying herself.

“Tap dancing is something that’s out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I’ve never done it before. I thought that the warm up was really fun, it was really successful and easy for everybody. It was a great icebreaker, and it helped everybody feel comfortable.”

Rolanda Mitchell and Victoria McEvoy have been studying tap with Robbins for close to a year. Last fall, they participated in her “Generations of Rhythm” project at City-Wide Open Studios. Mitchell said courtesy of Alexis Robbins, who is pictured at the front. she was having fun at the event, which take the form on.

He’s been tap dancing since he was in his gave her a chance to flex her tap muscles “I love the noise of percussion that tap 20s. outside of class. dance gives, I love the high energy that tap “Depending on what context is used, While dance isn’t new for her—she dance gives, and for me, it’s like therapy it’s mostly the sound of my shoes hitting learned African dance in college, and be- when I tap,” she said. “I love everything, the floor, and the feel of finding a rhythm came hooked—she was excited to have a except maybe the struggle of being a be- without having to think about it anymore,” space to practice what she’s learned in the ginner at something and trying to get good he said. past year. at it.”

He added that he loves the history of tap, “It’s new, and it’s challenging and fun “It’s like, I want to be good now, I want which blends together different styles of to watch,” she said. “It would be nice if it to dance now, I want my feet to do what dance. could reach more younger people, so that my brain is trying to tell me to do now,” “It’s about the foot relationship to the they could learn that form of dance.” she added. “But I can see that I’m making earth in sound and rhythm,” he said. “You McEvoy, a clinical instructor at the Yale progress and I’m happy with that.” know you can make a lot of music with School of Nursing, started taking tap last Whitneyville Cultural Commons Co-Di- one thing.” year after lusting after the art form for rector Robert Sheiman said he was excited For more information about upcoming decades. When she was younger, she ex- to host the event—both as a chance for the events and tap dance lessons, check out plained, her family couldn’t afford tap les- community to come together and because kamrDANCE’s website www.kamrdance. sons. Now that she’s older, she’s able to he has some dance experience of hisPM own.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Cultural Equity Plan Inches Forward Fair Haven Con’t from page

munity-oriented nonprofit Hester Street.

“It’s an amazing model,” she said, adding that she’s been talking directly to the organization. “It puts people first. It puts people at the center of the planning process, and also it moves the government voice. They tell us to take a step back for a minute, so that the process can be done fairly and justly. We have a lot of options.”

As the process gets started, Jefferson also plans to draft a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement for the division, which currently oversees the Mayor’s Cultural Vitality Grant Program, coordinates and produces cultural events (in the past several years, these have been concentrated largely downtown), and coordinates public art projects in the city’s schools and new buildings through New Haven’s percent for public art program.

“For a long time, this office has not had a clear identity,” she said. “People do not know what this office really does. So we really have to define that, and we have to figure out what that’s going to look like.”

To make the process run smoothly, Jefferson said she will also need volunteers from the commission, some of whom may sit on a potential cultural equity plan working group. She suggested that members of the commission who are interested get in touch with her in these early stages of the process.

Aleta Staton, who chairs the commission, praised the community-focused approach. She recalled a commission meeting with the city’s Board of Alders several months ago, during which alders noticed that there was an arts-heavy tilt to the division’s work. Going forward, Staton said, part of the planning process may be redefining what that looks like.

“Whether it is so or not, the perception is there,” she said. “And so, we need to honor what the perception is and figure out how to also highlight what we do that also honors culture as well as the arts.”

Lucy Gellman, Editor, The Arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

It might take New Haven ten months to get a cultural equity plan on the books.

That’s by design—because the community will be driving it.

Cultural Affairs Director Adriane Jefferson made that announcement Monday night, at a monthly meeting of the Cultural Affairs Commission at City Hall.

As she begins her second week in Mayor Justin Elicker’s new administration, she said that the Division of Arts, Culture & Tourism will be prioritizing a comprehensive, multi-year cultural equity plan outlined in the Mayor’s Transition Report.

“This will be a very open process,” she said. “When you do a cultural equity planning process, it should engage the community to its fullest capacity.”

Monday, Jefferson outlined a timeline that will prioritize community input, from stops at community management teams and neighborhood meetings to discussions led by “artists and creatives from the community” who will be compensated for their work.

She noted the importance of cultural asset mapping and neighborhood-specific engagement, as well as research into how the city has done arts and cultural funding and implementation in the past.

In other words, “anything that you can think of that will engage everyone that is a resident of the city of New Haven.”

“When it’s done well, you’re looking at a 10-month process,” she said. “It does take time. It’s not going to take 100 days.

But within the first 100 days, what we can do is begin the process.”

To facilitate the process, the city will be hiring a cultural planning consultant on a contract basis. In the past week, Jefferson has spoken to ten potential candidates for the position. This and next week, she will be sitting down with several of them for more in-depth interviews.

After the consultant has come on, there will be a first round of community input meetings and one-on-one artist interviews, during which Jefferson stressed the need “to make sure that artists have a seat at the table.”

The division will then draft a plan, source community input on the draft, and bring a revision before the city’s Board of Alders. Once it is approved, the division will roll out a timeline for implementation and adoption of programs. If ten months seems like a long time, Jefferson said, consider the importance of hearing from all New Haveners.

During her first week, Jefferson has also looked at what New Haven might learn from cultural plans in Boston, Providence, and New York City. She praised New York’s community-oriented approach, for which the city hired the com-

Jefferson took the advice in stride.

“New Haven is a melting pot of different types of people and communities,” she said. “We need to be reflective and very cognizant of that when we’re doing this plan. But we need to be sure that we’re acknowledging systems that exist, and that certain communities have not had access for a very long time.”

While there is a budget for the planning process, both Jefferson and Elicker said they do not yet have a specific amount.

The Cultural Affairs Commission is looking for two new members from the community. Interested community members should contact Kim Futrell at kfutrell@newhavenct.gov. photos: Lucy Gellman

16

down and they will come back to Fair Haven.

Oliver didn’t know much about the annual event at the Fair Haven Marina.

Cruz, speaking fast, said, “local bands, Bregamos [theater company] drummers.

And if you’re old enough, beer tasting.”

Cruz sought to convince Oliver to rank Riverfest high on his list of choices. The pricetag, mainly for bands, performers, sound system, and activities for little kids: $4,255.

An agreeable guy, Oliver thanked Cruz and said, “I’m going to visit a few more.”

“Come back. Come back,” Cruz goodhumoredly called out. “Make us number one.”

Next stop was Jacqueline Maisonpierre, who heads New Haven Farms. Her request: $4,125 that would pay three Fair Haven kids to work as interns this summer at $11 per hour.

“Vote for New Haven Farms,” she called out, as Oliver stood right in front of her.

“I’ve actually purchased from you,” he said. He told Maisonpierre that he’s a gardener himself, behind the house. “And it’s an excellent idea. I think eventually America is going to go back to individual farming. Who knows what a good strawberry tastes like anymore!”

Nearby New Haven Farms’ modest display, Ivette Altieri, who has been running zumba classes in the area for several years, was asking for support to bring back free fitness sessions for adults, kids, families and seniors.

Oliver asked her how local people will learn about the classes if the funding is provided. Because the room was so noisy with pitches and chatter, your reporter did not hear the answer.

She had not totaled up the full costs for the project, but among the items on the online budget description was a portable Bluetooth speaker with wheels, because Altieri’s has given out. Cost: $190.

“Library is closing in ten minutes,” a voice over the loudspeaker called out.

Oliver found Laverne, who had been making the project rounds on her own.

He said he was still inclined to rank first projects that beautified the neighborhood. But he and Laverne planned to discuss the options and do more research on their own during the coming week.

The ranked choice voting is to take place online and to conclude in a week.

“You start with the people who get the most votes, and you go down [the list] until you run out of money,” Lee Cruz informed people.

Other projects not mentioned include support groups to improve quality of life for Fair Haven women; a project to bring tango performance to Fair Haven; more of JoAnn Moran’s storm drain and cross walk art done with local school kids and science teachers; and a $2,500 request for a fund to provide snow removal for seniors unable to do it themselves.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Pols Urge Fellow Millennials To Step Up

by ALLAN APPEL

New Haven I ndependent

Young African-American elected officials issued a call to young professionals of color to get involved early in the political process as they assume leadership roles in civic society.

They issued that call Wednesday night in the community room of the Ives Main Library Wednesday night. Two dozen people gathered to hear Mayor Justin Elicker and local African-American office-holders talk about their journeys into government service.

The panel spoke of how the promotion of voting and democracy early on in peoples’ lives is the best way to have minority voices represented at the tables of policy and power.

The event was sponsored by Urban League of Southern Connecticut’s Young Professionals (ULSCYP) , a membership organization for adults 21 to 41 years old. The group’s stated mission is to enable African-Americans and

other minority groups to secure and sustain economic self-reliance and parity.

The group currently has about 25 members, according to its president, Ratasha Smith. Wednesday’s event was aimed at increasing that number and the organization’s profile.

Both the NAACP and the Urban League are longstanding civil rights organizations. The former focuses more on broad-based grassroots political action to improve people’s lives, while the latter tends to pursue the same goals through work “in the board room,” in politics and the professions, Smith said.

Upper Westville Alder Darryl Brackeen, recently back from door-knocking in Iowa; Hamden Councilman Justin Farmer; and newly elected West Haven Council member Trenee McGee participated in the panel.

Brackeen and McGee both grew up in activist, pro-labor, community-involved families, with parents or grandparents as role models. Young people of color who

don’t grow up in the environment often end up not understanding even how the mechanics of voting works, let alone its power to affect their lives, the speakers agreed.

Teachers can sometimes fill the gap or add to what people learn at home.

Farmer’s political science professor at Southern Connecticut State University required him to work in a political campaign in order to write his paper and finish his course, for instance. Farmer, after demurring, did, and that changed his life, leading to his own successful campaign for office.

Likewise, Brackeen credited much loved and recently deceased Hillhouse High School teacher Jack Paulishen with being his mentor in politics while he was a high school student, taking the class to Washington and imbuing students with an appreciation for the value of civic life.

Entering politics is akin to advancing the pursuit of justice, Brackeen said during the panel discussions. It’s about bridging

ALLAN APPEL PHOTO Two young African-American professionals meet up: New Haven artist Kyle

Kearson and Hamden legislator Justin Farmer.

gaps of all kinds.

How do you get audiences, especially young people involved? Brackeen’s answer: Always have a cause, he said. Millenials respond to causes.

McGee, whose grandmother was the first African-American woman to run for alder in Bridgeport, said West Ha-

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Hillhouse Eases Down The Road

by BRIAN SLATTERY

New Haven I ndependent

On Tuesday evening, the students in the Academic Theatre Company at James Hillhouse High School were airborne.

They were doing a strenuous warm-up for their rehearsal of The Wiz — which will be playing at Hillhouse High School from March 19 to March 22 — and learning to sing and fly at the same time.

“My hope is that you will all be able to open up those lungs and sing while you’re dancing,” said choreographer Cheyenne Santello, “because ‘Ease On Down the Road’ is not easy.”

They moved on to practicing their routine for “Brand New Way.” As soon as director Ty Scurry called for action, the room lit up, the students falling into raucous line. They started in on their steps.

“Why is nobody singing?” Scurry said, cajoling them. Their voices rose all at once. “We learned this song vocally,” Scurry added, “so what I need you to do is start singing out.” It was a question of getting the students in shape, of getting them more comfortable with the material. The tone in Scurry’s voice conveyed that he knew they would get there, with practice.

“Energy was great — just don’t forget to control it,” Santello said.

“Can we run it again?” said Aveion

Downs, playing Scarecrow. He spoke for the room. They were eager, ready to get it right.

The Academic Theatre Company is the brainchild of Ty Scurry, its director of dramatic arts, who is currently working toward his bachelor of arts in theater education starting at Gateway with plans to transfer to Southern Connecticut State University. A graduate of Wilbur Cross High School, Scurry distinguished himself as an actor while he was a student there, appearing in multiple productions of its drama club.

“My senior year at Cross, I was helping the band at Hillhouse,” he said, and he realized that high school didn’t have a drama club. As a student, he had watched Wilbur Cross teacher Salvatore DeLucia build up that school’s drama club and thought he might try something similar at Hillhouse. He connected with teacher Tim Kane, who agreed to be the drama club’s faculty advisor. Last April he put together a proposal and a budget and submitted it to the school’s administration.

“It didn’t take a lot,” Scurry said. Kane was “on board” from the start, and “the administration really wants this to happen.”

Scurry picked The Wiz for the Academic Theatre Company’s first show because “I

wanted a show the students could connect with,” he said. The Wiz fit the bill not only because of its general familiarity — the show has remained in the popular imagination since its successful Broadway run in 1975, in no small part thanks to the 1978 film version starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson — but because “a lot of the characters, they’ve seen on the block,” Scurry said. The students also hear the music, a mix of R&B and gospel, “on the daily.” Plus, Scurry added, “it’s ridiculously fun.”

Auditions for The Wiz began in October, with the cast decided the day before Halloween. The first rehearsals began in November and have been going three days a week from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

“It has been a journey because there’s no theater class” at Hillhouse, Scurry said. In the beginning, he said, “I was not only giving stage directions, but teaching what a stage direction is. It was a little extra, but it’s worth it.”

On Tuesday evening, Scurry took much of the cast into the hallway to work with them on individual parts.

Meanwhile, Santello kept working with the four principals — Downs as Scarecrow, Victoria Kirkland as Dorothy, Shawn Danny Sufra as Tinman, and Jack Marchand as Lion — on their dance routines. When to spin. When to strike a SINGLE TICKETS ONLY $12.00

Sufra, Marchand, Kirkland, Downs.

pose. When to move as a cohesive unit, and when to bounce off one another.

Soon, the routine was clicking. The students began moving as one, clearly enjoying themselves and entertaining the others who had returned from the hallway to reconvene at the end of rehearsal.

Scurry and Santello both had notes for the members of the Academic Theatre Company, about bringing up their energy level even more, but also channelling

and focusing it. There were still more lines to memorize, too — but enough time to do it, as well.

“This is a train,” Scurry said. “It has left the station and it is moving at a good pace.” The trick was to keep up that pace, and not move too fast or too slow.

“You are really good,” Scurry said. “I’m very proud. Thank you for being here, and thank you for being dedicated. Let’s Con’t on page 26

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Rep. Waters: Impeached President, Illegitimate Acquittal Trump’s conviction was bipartisan, his acquittal was partisan

By Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Committee on Financial Services Today’s illegitimate acquittal is fitting for a dishonorable, unpatriotic, dangerous, illegitimate, and impeached president. Anyone who lends any credence to the idea that this unlawful outcome serves as a credible exoneration of Donald Trump is an enemy to the rule of law and the Constitution.

The founders of this country never imagined that our democracy would be confronted with a corrupt president who would be aided and abetted in the coverup of his crimes by a coequal branch of government. Despite the fact that the House Managers presented an ironclad set of facts that Donald Trump did in fact abuse his power and obstruct Congressional investigations of his crimes, the Senate has utterly failed to do its job. This was not a credible trial. No witnesses were called. No evidentiary documents were presented. The jurors abandoned impartiality and openly colluded with the guilty defendant. The

presiding justice remained silent in the face of unprecedented attacks on judicial norms.

I applaud the courage of the 48 Senators – 45 Democrats, 2 Independents, and 1 Republican – who put their careers on the line to protect and defend our nation from the most dangerous president our country has ever known.

Each and every Trump-party elected official who betrayed their oath of office and protected the deplorable interests of a conman over the interests of this country is a national disgrace who should be voted out of office without delay.

The American people can rest assured that this fight is not over, and all is not lost. The Democratic House majority will continue to provide a check on this president. Each House committee chair will continue to conduct proper oversight of this administration. We will continue to fight in the courts and demand that our lawful subpoenas be upheld.

Donald Trump has been impeached.

His conviction was bipartisan. His acquittal was partisan. This is the legacy of Donald Trump, now and forever. His presidency is an utter failure and disgrace, and history will record it as such.

In November, the American people can and will do what insufferable and pathetic Trump-party Republican Senators didn’t have the courage to do: remove him from office once and for all.”

Con’t from page

Pols Urge Fellow Millennials

ven has a systemic prejudice against the concerns and interests of young people.

“Tones of youthfulness scare people in power,” she said.

The antidote: Registering people to vote and explaining to them just how voting takes place. She said her grandmother did that precisely for her when McGee cast her first vote ever, for President Obama. She said the same thing needs to be done for young people in West Haven.

“As a millennial politician, you always feel there’s a meeting before or after where the real decisions are being made and you’ve been seated at the kiddie table,” said Brackeen.

“We need to get to the polls,” added Farmer, because that’s the way “we reflect our stories.”

Smith said the data indicates 18 to 24-year-olds don’t vote in the numbers they should. McGee noted that while over 100 University of New Haven students are registered to vote only a handful show up at the polls. “We need boots on the ground, going from door to door,” she said.

Farmer said he has been responding to that need in part by his bringing candi-

dates for office in Hamden to Hamden High School. He also cited the importance of keeping all events with young people, “fun,” as far from stuffy as possible.

Brackeen, whose wife and two little daughters were attending the meeting (although at ages 2 and 3 they are still too little to be considered young professionals), agreed.

His perspective was that of a young family man. “Married millennials vote what their causes are—student loans, climate, taxes, livability. We showed that in 2008.”

All three young politicians agreed on another sine qua non for a successful event to attract young people: “Free food helps,” as Brackeen put it.

As the event broke up, Kyle Kearson, a young sculptor whose day job is at the Yale Center of British Art, said he had been impressed with what he heard.

He previously had known of the Urban League, but not particularly of its young professionals’ division. “I’m inspired by the focus on youth engagement,” he said. “I’m definitely going to become a member.”

Annual Speaker Series

The Annual Speaker Series features corporate innovators, entrepreneurs, Quinnipiac University alumni, public and private sector support organizations and experts who focus on financing entrepreneurial startups. Sessions are held on Wednesdays from noon–1 p.m. at the People’s United Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SB-109) on Quinnipiac’s Mount Carmel Campus in Hamden, unless noted otherwise below.

Feb. 12

Michael Reynolds Vice President of Ideation & Innovation Strategy Stanley Black & Decker

Feb. 19

David Lehman Commissioner Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development

Feb. 26

Caroline Smith and Margaret Lee Founders Collab

March 4

April 1

Onyeka Obiocha Managing Director, Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale Yale University

April 8 | 10 a.m.

QU Entrepreneurship Capital Summit Rodney Sampson Founder Opportunity Hub Steve Grossman President and CEO Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

Jeff Tengel President People’s United Bank Special time: 3 p.m.

Robert Greene President and CEO National Association of Investment Companies

March 18

Shawn Wooden Connecticut State Treasurer

Will Ginsberg President and Chief Executive Officer Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

March 25

Blair Decker Vice President, Supply Chain, Materials and Strategic Sourcing General Dynamics/ Electric Boat

19

April 15

George Llado Chief Information Officer Alexion Pharmaceuticals

April 22

Garrett Sheehan President and Chief Executive Officer Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce

April 29

Mary Howard Executive Director ABCT Donna Lecky Co-Founder and Managing Director iHaven and HealthVenture

LEARN MORE

Anthony Price Founder LootScout Location: Rocky Top Student Center (RTSC-316) at Quinnipiac’s York Hill Campus

qu.edu/innovation

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

WALLINGFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY Waiting List Opening Announcement WALLINGFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY

Job Announcement FIREFIGHTER / EMT / PARAMEDIC

Waiting List Opening Announcement

NOTICE

The Wallingford Housing Authority will accept 300 pre-applications for its Housing Choice The Wallingford Housing Authority will accept 300 pre-applications for its Housing Choice Voucher Voucher (Section 8) Program waiting list through a computer generated lottery. The HCV (Section 8) Program waiting list through a computer generated lottery. The HCV program provides program provides rental subsidy households who meet the Department Housing and(HUD) rental subsidy to households whotomeet the Department of Housing and UrbanofDevelopment VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Urban Development eligibility guidelines. eligibility guidelines.(HUD) 2019 IncomeINC, Limit: household income cannot exceed the for each household HOME onTotal behalf of Columbus House and theannual New Havenlimit Housing Authority, 2019 Income Limit: Total household income cannot exceed the income annual income limit for size: each is household size:pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develaccepting Household 1 2 Frank3Street, New 4 Haven.

5 Maximum 6 income 7 limitations 8 apopment located at 108 Size: ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y Income $40,400 $54,500 (approximately $58,550 $62,600100) $66,600 25, 2016 $35,350 and ending when $45,450 sufficient$50,450 pre-applications have Limit: been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon re-

quest by callingwill HOME INC at online 203-562-4663 during 16th, those2020 hours.

Completed prePre-Applications be available beginning March at 9:00AM ET until

2020 9:00AMStreet, ET untilThird Pre-Applications will be available online beginning March 16th,visit applications must be returned to access HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange March 20th, 2020 at 11:59PM. To the form, please theatfollowing website: th , 2020 at 11:59PM. To access the form, please visit the following website: March 20 Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. https://www.waitlistcheck.com/CT3008

The application process is now open and closes on February 12, 2020.

Eligible candidates are directed to contact CTFire@iosolutions.com to register and to answer any questions regarding the exam process.

ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT The West Haven Fire Department is a progressive Class II Department providing fire suppression, fire rescue, hazardous materials intervention/protection, emergency medical care and mutual aid, responding to more than 6500 calls per year. The WHFD/ Center District has four twelve-person platoons, which rotate four 24/72 hour shifts. The department offers a competitive salary/benefit package including subsidized health and dental benefits, annual health and fitness program and a retirement plan. Under the terms of the Union Contract.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Certifications: (All current at time of Employment Offering)

https://www.waitlistcheck.com/CT3008

QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT

NOTICIA

You will need names, social security numbers, birthdates and income information for every household

member who will be listed the application.

Please be advised you information cannot submitfor more than one You will need names, socialonsecurity numbers, birthdates and that income every pre-application for who the same or itthe willapplication. be disqualifiPlease ed. household member willhousehold be listed on be advised that you cannot VALENTINA VIVIENDAS DEsame ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES submit more than oneMACRI pre-application for the household or it will be disqualified.

Please be advised that no pre-applications will be accepted before March 16, 2020 or by hand delivery/ fax HOME orbe e-mail.

Thethat online pre-application form be accessed by using any16, personal Please advised no pre-applications willcan be accepted before March 2020 computer, or by handlaptop, INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está smart phone tablet.

Applicants are encouraged to visitform a local for computer access any to submit delivery/ fax or orpre-solicitudes e-mail.

The online pre-application can be dormitorio accessed by aceptando para estudios y apartamentos delibrary un en using este desarrollo a pre-application. personal computer, laptop, smart phone or tablet. Applicants are encouraged to visit a local

ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos

library for computer access to submit a pre-application.

Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 Street a.m.-5offers p.m.free comenzando MartesThey 25 Themáximos.

Wallingford Public library is located at 200 North Main computer access. canWallingford be reached 203-265-6754 are openatfrom MondayFriday. julio, 2016 at hasta cuando se and han recibido suficientes (aproximadamente The Public library is located 2009:30AM-9:00PM Northpre-solicitudes Main Street offers free computer100)

en They las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes por correo a petición access. can be reached at 203-265-6754 and are openserán from enviadas 9:30AM-9:00PM MondayIf you require a reasonable accommodation, please notify the office and you will be advised on how to Friday. llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse proceed with your request.

a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .

If you require a reasonable accommodation, please notify the office and you will be advised on how to proceed with your request.

The Wallingford Housing Authority does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or familial status.

NEW HAVEN

WALLINGFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY Waiting List Opening Announcement WALLINGFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY

242-258 Fairmont Lista de apertura The Wallingford Housing Authority doesde notespera discriminate on theAve basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or familial status.

The Wallingford Housing Authority will accept 300 pre-applications its Housing Choice 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 for level , 1BA La Autoridad de Vivienda de Wallingford aceptará 300 solicitudes previas para su lista de espera del

Voucher (Section 8) Program waiting list through a computer generated lottery. The HCV Programa Valesapartments, de Elección de new Vivienda (Sección 8) new a través de una close lotería generada porI-95 computaAlldenew appliances, carpet, to I-91 & program subsidy to households who the que Department of Housing dora. Elprovides programarental HCV ofrece subsidio de alquiler a losmeet hogares cumplen con las pautasand de elegihighways, near bus stop & shopping center Urban Development (HUD) bilidad del Departamento deeligibility Vivienda yguidelines.

Desarrollo Urbano (HUD).

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

Límite de ingresos de 2019: ingreso total del hogar no puede exceder el límite de ingreso 2019 Income Limit: Total elhousehold income cannot exceed the annual income limitanual for para cadahousehold tamaño desize: hogar: each CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Household 1 2 a 10 month3program designed 4 5 in the intellectual 6 7 8 Certificate Program.

This is to assist formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30Size: 3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Income $35,350 $40,400 $50,450 $58,550 (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop$45,450 Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor$54,500 of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B.$62,600 Church 64$66,600 Brewster Limit: St. New Haven, CT Las solicitudes previas estarán disponibles a partir del 16 de marzo de 2020 hasta el 20 de marzo de Pre-Applications willalbe availablevisite online beginningsitio March 16th, 2020 at 9:00AM ET until 2020. Para acceder formulario, el siguiente web:https://www.waitlistcheck.com/CT3008

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

National Registry Certification for EMT/Paramedic Passing score of on Written Exam Passing score on Oral Exam (Pass/Fail) CPAT or WHFD Physical Agility Exam (Pass/Fail) – (re-test may be required prior to hire date) Medical Examination (Pass/Fail) High School Diploma/GED Extensive Background Check (Pass Fail) Psychological Exam Fire (Pass/Fail) Valid Driver’s License Completion of the Firefighter Recruit Academy (Pass/Fail) One-year Probationary period upon date of Graduation (Pass/Fail) Veterans - DD 214 Must be eighteen years of age by date of exam.

Invitation ** Candidates shall be certifi ed to asBid: a Nationally Certified EMT/Paramedic prior to date of hire. ** nd Notice 2 The West Haven Fire Department reserves the right to amend the order of hire to meet staffing requirements.

The West Haven Fire Department is an equal opportunity employer.

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Saybrook, CT Construction Seeking(4toOld employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for Buildings, 17 Units)

a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call Exempt or & Not Prevailing Rate Project (860)Tax 621-1720 send resume Wage to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

NEW HAVEN POLICE NOW HIRING

March 20th, 2020 at 11:59PM. To access the form, please visit the following website:

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Necesitará nombres, números de seguro social, fechas de nacimiento e información de ingresos para cada miembro del hogar que figurará en la solicitud. Tenga en cuenta que no puede enviar más de una https://www.waitlistcheck.com/CT3008 solicitud previa para el mismo hogar será Housing descalificado.

Sealed bids are invited byo the Authority of the Town of Seymour

You will need names, social security numbers, birthdates and income information for every until 3:00 onwill August 2, 2016 atdel its16be office at that 282020 Smith Tenga en member cuenta pm que no seTuesday, aceptarán previas antes de marzo de porStreet, entrega household who be listedsolicitudes on the application.

Please advised you ocannot manual / fax o correo electrónico.

Se puede acceder al formulario de solicitud previa en línea submit more than one pre-application for the same household or it will be disqualified.

Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacementutilizando at the

cualquier computadora personal, computadora portátil, teléfono inteligente o tableta. Se recomienda a Gardens Assisted Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. losSmithfield solicitantes visiten una bibliotecaLiving local acceder abefore la computadora presentar solicitud Please be advisedque that no pre-applications will para be accepted March 16,y 2020 or byuna hand previa. fax or e-mail. The online pre-application form can be accessed by using any delivery/

personal computer, laptop, smart phone or tablet.

Applicants areAuthority encouraged Office to visit a28 local pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Smith La A biblioteca pública de Wallingford ubicada en 200 North Main Street y ofrece acceso gratuito library for computer access to submit aestá pre-application. a computadoras.

PuedenCT comunicarse ellos 203-265-6754 yJuly están20, abiertos de 9:30 a.m. a 9:00 Street Seymour, at 10:00conam, onal Wednesday, 2016.

p.m. de lunes a viernes.

The Wallingford Public library is located at 200 North Main Street offers free computer access. They can be reached at 203-265-6754 and are open from 9:30AM-9:00PM MondaySi Bidding necesita unadocuments acomodaciónare razonable, notifique a lathe oficina y se le informará cómo proceder available from Seymour Housingsobre Authority OfFriday. con su solicitud.

fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

If you require a reasonable accommodation, please notify the office and you will be advised on how de to Vivienda proceed de with your request.

“La Autoridad la Ciudad de Wallingford no discrimina en las base de raza, color, origen

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.

nacional, religión, sexo, edad, incapacidad o estado familiar”.

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 a Policy Development Coordinator Project documents available via ftp link below: position. http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com instructions for this position is available HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses at: Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 https://www.jobapscloud.com/ AA/EEO EMPLOYER CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= 200109&R2=1581MP&R3=002

Apply online at Policeapp.com Or Visit our Social Media Pages For More Information New Haven Police Department Recruitment Team

20

Nhpdrecruitment

NHPDrecruitment

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

DELIVERY PERSON

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Contact: Tom Dunay

NOTICE

NEEDED

Phone: 243-2300 HOME INC, on behalf of860Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develWomen Minority Applicants are New encouraged to apply income limitations apopment & located at 108 Frank Street, Haven. Maximum rmative Action/ Opportunity Employer ply.Affi Pre-applications willEqual be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME Reclaiming, INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preGarrity Asphalt Inc seeks: applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing Haven, CTbe06510. andFloor, cleanNew driving record, willing to travel throughout the North-

Part Time Delivery Needed

east & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

NOTICIA

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300

One/Two Day a Week,

Must Have your Own Vehicle

Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/deEqual Opportunity Employer HOME INC, en nombre la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está

If Interested call

aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipjulio,Must 2016have hastaacuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes ment.

CDL License, clean driving record, capable of(aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas operating heavydeequipment; be willing to travel throughout the por correo a petición llamando&a NY. HOME 203-562-4663 horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse Northeast We INC offeralexcellent hourlydurante rate &esas excellent benefits a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .

Union Company seeks:

(203) 387-0354

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

HELP WANTED:

NEW HAVEN

KMK1907 Insulation Inc. Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473

POLICE OFFICER

Competitive examinations will be held for the position of Police Officer in the Clinton, Guilford, Hamden, Orange, Seymour and West Haven Departments.

Candidates may register for the testing process at www.policeapp.com/southcentral.

Application deadline is Friday, February 14, 2020.

The physical performance, written and oral board exams will be administered by the South Central Criminal Justice Administration.

THE DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATING IN THIS RECRUITMENT DRIVE ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS.

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Labor Relations Specialist, a Leadership Associate and a Secretary 2 position.

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions for these positions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp ?R1=200124&R2=5256MP&R3=001 https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp ?R1=200122&R2=5989VR&R3=001 https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp ?R1=200127&R2=7539CA&R3=001 The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Mechanical Insulator position.

Constuction Laborer SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Invitation to Bid: Large CT guardrail company Insulation company offering good pay 242-258 Fairmont Ave 2nd Notice looking for Laborer/Driver with valid CT CDL Class Looking for a Laborer with experience in Crane/Pile Driving operations. We and benefits. Please mail resume to above address.

A license2BR and able to get a medical card.

Must be Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA will consider those with no prior experience. Required skills/qualifications inable to pass a drug test and physical. CompensaMAIL ONLY All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 clude:CTOTC 105 OSHA10 hour Certification, Valid Drivers License, Must be Old Saybrook, tion based on experience. Email resume to dmasThis company is an Affirmative Action/ highways, near bus stop & shopping center to lift over 50 pounds, Minimum age of 18, Must Provide personal transpor(4 Buildings,able 17 Units) tracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F Equal Opportunity Employer. tation to and from the jobsite.

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Please contact: Eric Bombaci Bombaci Construction CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition,8605754519 Site-work, CastBombaciconst@aol.com CertificateEngineer Program. This is–a 10 month program designed to assistWater in the intellectual formation of Candidates Junior The Town of Wallingford’s Division is seeking a responsible and skilled individual to prepare and

WATER

Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30maintain permanent utility location records. Requires an associate’s degree or equivalent in civil engineeringin-place plus twoConcrete, (2) yearsAsphalt of 3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, progressively experience in the utilityU.F.W.B. field, Church or an equivalent (203) 996-4517 responsible Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D.water/sewer Pastor of Pitts Chapel 64 Brewster combination of education and qualify expeExp. F/T Lay Out person for structural Steel and Misc. Shop. rience substituting on a year-for-year basis.

Salary: $59,594 $76,209 annually. plus an excellent fringe benefi t package.

Apply: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

St. New Haven, CT Send resume: hherbert@gwfabrication.com Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford,This CT contract 06492. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Closing date will be March 10, 2020 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Project documents Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. (FHI) is seeking an experienced Project Manager for our Community Engagement Serviceavailable via ftp link below: until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Invitation for Bids Team. Candidates should demonstrate their ability to lead project teams, supervise and http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage develop staff, provide excellent Seymour, 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at theconcurrently, and conduct business develclient serviceCT with innovative and strategic solutions, manage multiple projects McConaughy Terrace Sanitary and Storm Sewer Improvements Smithfield Gardens Assisted Livingdeveloping Facility, 26and Smith Street Seymour. opment.

Responsibilities will include implementing strategic outreach plans meaningfully and @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com Fax or to Email Questions & Bidsinclude to: Dawn Lang

Engagement Project Sealed bids are invited Community by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour Manager

facilitate communication with stakeholders and the general public on transportation and community projects, HCC encouragesplanning the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Construction utilizing a wide variety of tools and techniques including publicOffice meetings, printed materials, socialHaynes media, website,Company, press 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority 28 Smith Communities is currently seeking Bids for McConaughy Terrace releases, and PowerPoint presentations.

Additionally, the20, candidate AA/EEO EMPLOYER Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 2016. must possess excellent oral and written communicaSanitary and Storm Sewer Improvements. A complete copy of tion skills. Experience with major transportation infrastructure projects is preferred.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Of-

Minimum degree: Bachelor's degree in business/consulting environment, city/regional/urban planning, civil engineering, 28 fiSmith Street, Seymour, CTyears 06483of(203) 888-4579. orfice, related eld with a minimum of 10 experience.

Candidates with a valid driver's license preferred. Salary commensurate with level of experience. Send resume to communityengagement@fhiplan.com or Elizabeth Marchion, 416 The Housing reserves theFitzgerald right to accept or rejectInc. anyisoranallEEO/AA bids, to /VEV/Disabled employer.

Asylum Street, Authority Hartford, CT 06103. & Halliday,

reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.

21

the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway beginning on

Monday, January 6, 2020 at 3:00PM.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

POLICE OFFICER NOTICE

Competitive examinations will be held for the position of Police Officer in the Clinton, Guilford, Hamden, Orange, Seymour and West Haven Departments.

VALENTINA MACRI APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Candidates may register for RENTAL the testingHOUSING process at PREwww.policeapp.com/southcentral.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority,

Application deadline isforFriday, 14,apartments 2020. at this develis accepting pre-applications studio andFebruary one-bedroom

opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apTheply. physical performance, written and oral from board9AM exams be administered by the South Pre-applications will be available TOwill 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y Central Criminal 25, 2016 andJustice endingAdministration. when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon reTHE DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATING IN THIS RECRUITMENT DRIVE ARE quest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preEQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS. applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES NOTICIA Invitation for Bids

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Carting, Rubbish, & Recycling Removal Services

The Housing oflathe City ofHouse NewyHaven d/b/a Elm City Communities HOME INC, Authority en nombre de Columbus de la New Haven Housing Authority, está is currently seeking Bidspara forestudios carting,y apartamentos rubbish, & de recycling removal services. aceptando pre-solicitudes un dormitorio en este desarrolloA ubicado copy en la calle 109requirements Frank Street, New Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos complete of the mayHaven. be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gatejulio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) way beginning on HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición en las oficinas de Monday, February 3, 2020 at 3:00PM llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .

CITY OF MILFORDSeeking qualified condidates to fill numerous vacancies to include,Public Works Office & Administator Operations Manager, Information Technology Manager, and more. For information and detailed application instructions, visit WWW. ci.milford.ct.us Click on SERVICES, JOBS and JOB TITLE.

NEW HAVEN ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 1 level , 1BA Invitation for3BR, Bids

Fire System, Fire Pump Vestibule Upgrades at George AllAlarm new apartments, new &appliances, new carpet, closeCrawford to I-91 Manor & I-95

highways, near bus stop & shopping center

The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is curPet under Interested contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 rently seeking Bids40lb for allowed.

Fire Alarm System,parties Fire Pump & Vestibule Upgrades at George Crawford Manor. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s beginning Certificateon Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’sWednesday, Ministry needs.

The cost22, is $125.

Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30January 2020 at 3:00PM. 3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

Electric Utility System Operator/Dispatcher

Operates electric distribution substation and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for an electric utility serving 25,000 customers. Coordinates electric system switching and places equipment in and out of service during Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour routine and emergency operations. Requires HS diploma/GED with 2 years exuntil 3:00 pmoperation on Tuesday, August 2,SCADA 2016 atequipment its office at 28 Smith Street, perience in the of Distribution and/or switchboards Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk and Replacement at the used in the distribution of electricity.

ExperienceRepairs and training may be substituted onSmithfield a year for year basis.

Must maintain valid system operation Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Streetcertification Seymour. from Connecticut Valley Exchange (CONVEX) or other approved agency or be able to A obtain the conference same withinwill 90 days of hire. posses and maintain a valid State pre-bid be held at theMust Housing Authority Office 28 Smith of CT driver’s license. $ 34.63 - $ 41.15 per hour plus an excellent fringe benStreet Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. efit package. Apply to: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date Bidding documents are EOE. available from the Seymour Housing Authority Ofwill be February 18, 2020.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Exp. F/T Lay Out person for structural Steel and Misc. Shop.

The Housing reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to SendAuthority resume: hherbert@gwfabrication.com reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.

HELP WANTED: Large CT guardrail company

looking for Laborer/Driver with valid CT CDL Class A license and able to get a medical card. Must be able to pass a drug test and physical. Compensation based on experience. Email resume to dmastracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F

Equipment Operator Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Equipment Operator for Heavy and Highway Construction.

10 hour OSHA certificate required. CDL license a plus but not required.

Please call PJF Construction Corp.@ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

Laborer Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Construction Laborer for Heavy and Highway Construction.

10 hour OSHA certificate required.

Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

Civil Engineer

Diversified Technology Consultants (DTC) is a multi-disciple engineering and environmental consulting firm. DTC is a leader in servicing governmental clients for four decades. DTC prides itself as having worked on a wide variety of project types. From schools and senior centers to town halls and universities, our diverse portfolio provides extensive experience to our communities.

As DTC enters its forth decade, we are seeking an energetic, organized and proactive professional in our Civil Engineering Department. The successful candidate(s) will work closely with our technical staff in support of DTC’s strategic goals and objectives.

This is an entry level position located in our Hamden, Connecticut office.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation of plans, specifications, supporting documents, and permit applications for private and municipal projects.

• Assist in preparation of calculations such as storm drainage, water supply & wastewater collection, cost estimates, and earthwork quantities.

• Perform design and drafting using AutoCAD Civil 3D. MicroStation experience is beneficial but not required.

Qualifications:

• Graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.

• Engineer in training certificate preferred.

CDL Driver Help Wanted: Immediate opening for CDL Driver for Heavy and Highway Construction.

10 hour OSHA certificate and clean CDL license required.

Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

Project Manager/Project Supervisor

For Further information or to apply send resumes to ellen. nelson@teamdtc.com DTC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

DTC is a Drug Free Work Place.

Individuals with Disabilities, Minorities and Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Town of Bloomfield

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE Director of Public Works & Facilities

Help Wanted: Immediate opening for a Project Manager/ProjOld Saybrook, CT ect Supervisor for Heavy and Highway Construction. Previous (4 Buildings, 17 Units) experience on CTDOT projects required.

Salary Range: $96,755 - $149,345 Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE. Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998.

We are an equal opportunity employer M/F Details New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, For Site-work, Cast- go to www.bloomfieldct.gov Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Casework, The Housing Authority of the City ofResidential Bridgeport Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Request for Proposal (RFP) Painting Services Agency Wide Bid Extended, Due Date: 138-AM-20-S August 5, 2016 Solicitation Number: Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 The Housing Authority of documents the City ofavailable Bridgeport d/b/a Project via ftp link Park below:City Communities (PCC)http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage is currently seeking proposal from qualified contractors for Painting Ser-

vices Agency Wide. Solicitation package will be available on February 10, 2020 to obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycomFax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com munities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Pre-proposal conference will be Company, conducted on February 20, 2020, at 150 Highland Haynes Construction 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 @ 10:00 a.m. Although attendance is not mandaAA/EEO EMPLOYER tory, submitting a proposal without attending the pre-proposal conference may not be in the best interest of the Offeror. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than February 27, 2020 @ 3:00 p.m.

Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www.parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed, or hand delivered by March 11, 2020 @ 3:00 p.m., to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Director of Procurement, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Late proposals will not be accepted.

22

Attention Drivers

We have concrete mixer and triaxle dump driver openings.

Minimum 2 years experience.

Must have a valid CDL Clean driving record.

Excellent pay and benefits.

Apply M–F from 9-4 at 24 Industrial Drive Waterford, CT 860-444-9600 Applications available at

https://www.kobyluckinc.com/careers An Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020 Con’t from page 04

$200K For

$118,477 that the city paid Winnick attorneys Andrew Cohen and Nancy Mendel between June 11, 2018, and June 26 for their work providing legal counsel to the city not just in the class action suit, but also in two other legal aid lead poisoning suits: Elijah Hall v. City of New Haven and Tray Jemar Mims v. City of New Haven. Cohen’s work cost the city $300 per hour while Mendel’s cost $226 per hour.

In all three of the cases, different state housing court judges have consistently sided with legal aid in ordering the city to follow local legal requirements for providing inspections and enforcing lead hazard abatement for residences housing children six years old and under who test as having an elevated blood lead level above 5 micrograms per deciliter. The judges have upbraided the city for its arguments and alleged defiance of the law.

Cohen showed up alongside new Corporation Counsel Pat King Thursday afternoon in the third-floor housing court at 121 Elm St. for a scheduling update in the case with Superior Court Judge Claudia Baio.

He, King, and legal aid attorney Amy Marx spent roughly 40 minutes talking privately in the judge’s chambers before a brief public appearance during which Baio lauded the city, city-hired attorney, and legal aid for striving to settle the class action lawsuit.

The previous mayoral administration continued fighting the case up until thenMayor Harp’s last days in office. Current Mayor Justin Elicker campaigned on and has signaled throughout his first weeks in office that he intends to try to resolve, rather than keep fighting, the case.

Outside Counsel End In Sight Elicker confirmed that intention in a phone interview Thursday afternoon.

“We’re hoping to be able to settle the case,” he said.

The mayor was asked why Cohen was in court again representing the city alongside the city’s top staff lawyer.

“Because we’re in a transition and we have a new corporation counsel, we used outside counsel today that has expertise in litigation and who is familiar with the case in an effort to tie things up,” he responded.

“We do not intend to use outside counsel moving on, presuming that we’re able to settle on this case.”

The judge set a new court date of March 5 for both parties to return before her to continue arguing their sides of the case—if, that is, they haven’t settled the matter entirely by then.

Both Cohen and Marx said they hope to have the case resolved by that date.

NEW HAVEN’S GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY RADIO STATION! www.newhavenindependent.org

JOE UGLY IN THE MORNING Weekdays 6-9 a.m.

THE TOM FICKLIN SHOW Mondays 10 a.m.

MAYOR MONDAY!

MERCY QUAYE

Mondays 11 a.m.

Mondays 1 p.m.

“THE SHOW”

“DJ REL”

MICHELLE TURNER Tuesdays 9 a.m.

“WERK IT OUT”

ELVERT EDEN Tuesdays at 2 p.m.

MORNINGS WITH MUBARAKAH

“JAZZ HAVEN”

Wednesdays 9 a.m.

Wednesdays 2 p.m.

STANLEY WELCH

“TALK-SIP”

LOVEBABZ LOVETALK

Thursdays 1 p.m.

Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.

ALISA BOWENSMERCADO

FRIDAY PUNDITS Fridays 11 a.m.

23

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

Former NAACP Chief and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Kweisi Mfume Wins Primary for Cummings Seat

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor

RACE AND CHILD TRAFFICKING IN CONNECTICUT February 19, 2020 • 10 am - 12 pm LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING ROOM 2D Of the 210 children referred to the Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families in 2018 for high-risk or confirmed human trafficking,

73% WERE CHILDREN OF COLOR. Race plays a role in every part of the exploitation of children; and in effort to combat human trafficking, our conversations and solutions must be racially inclusive.

Presenters include

Rep. Jillian Gilchrest • Rep. Robyn Porter • Babz Rawls-Ivy Erin Williamson, Love146 • Yvette Young, The Village Sponsored by

Please contact Megan Auretta at megan.auretta@uconn.edu with any questions related to this event.

Former NAACP President and fiveterm Congressman Kweisi Mfume won big in a Democratic primary contest to replace the late Congressman Elijah Cummings who passed away on October 17, 2019 at the age of 68.

Mfume’s primary challenger in Maryland’s seventh congressional district was Cummings’ widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings. But the contest was not close. The general election will be held on April 28, 2020. Mfume, 71, will be expected to win easily in a heavily Democratic district that includes parts of Baltimore.

Mfume won by a decisive margin winning 43 percent of the vote to Maya Cummings’ 17 percent. Over 28,000 voted for Mfume as Cummings received over 11,000 votes in a field of 12 candidates.

Mfume left the U.S. House in 1996 to lead the NAACP and stayed in the position until 2004.

“I accept your nomination as the Democratic nominee to Congress! Experience matters,” said Mfume from his victory part on the night of February 4.

“This is for him. This is for him!” added Mfume. The two had been friends for 42 years and Mfume delivered a moving eulogy to Elijah Cummings at his funeral last year.

The winner of the Republican primary was Kimberly Klacik, whose produced a video of trash in West Baltimore last

summer. The video prompted Trump to call Cummings’s district a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.” Klacik is a member of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee in Baltimore.

“Thank you to the voters of Maryland’s 7th Congressional District for your consideration and to the other candidates for your valiant and inspiring races. I also thank my team, including the hardworking volunteers who dedicated many hours to the campaign. Putting my hat in the ring was a faith walk, a journey I am still on. I deeply appreciate the well wishes and encouragement and look forward to what comes next,” wrote Maya Rockeymoore Cummings on facebook the morning after her electoral loss to Mfume.

Cummings can challenge Mfume again on April 28. It is likely that Mfume will be favored to win given his strong pri-

mary showing.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke Three generations of Maryland’s 7th District Congressmen (Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, 1996 to present; former Congressman Parren J. Mitchell, 1971 to 1987; and former Congressman Kweisi Mfume, 1987 to 1996) attend the ceremony officially designating the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 6101 Liberty Road in Baltimore, Maryland, as the U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell Post Office. (January 2007) (Photo: Office of Congresssman Elijah Cummings / Wikimedia Commo

Celebrating the legacy of Dr. King. ―

Spring Luncheon featured speaker

Brittany Packnett Cunningham A leader whose “voice is going to be making a difference for years to come” - President Barack Obama

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Stamford Marriott

Embracing a vision of Greater New Haven as a place of opportunity for all. cfgnh.org

#GNHOpportunity

Visit ppsne.org/Luncheon 24

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1/17/2020 7:32:36 PM

#MAKE FLORENCE FAMOUS

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER

Saturday, March 14th Tickets on sale Friday at 10:00am only at

DVOŘÁK & PRICE

TICKETMASTER.COM | MOHEGANSUN.COM

Thursday, March 5 | 7:30pm | Woolsey Hall

SINCE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT PASSED IN 1965, WE’VE NEEDED 5 AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT IT

Florence Price, the first African American female composer to have a symphonic work performed by a major national orchestra, is often compared musically to Dvořák, who also employed sweeping melodies and sampled African American and Native American music. This aesthetically beautiful concert will reexamine our classical music roots.

PRICE Symphony No. 1 ROSSINI William Tell Overture DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto Featuring: Alasdair Neale music director | Oliver Herbert cello

Voting was and still is our super power. It keeps people and neighborhoods from being ignored.

We celebrate the people who not only got knocked down, but who kept getting up. Join AARP as we continue the journey to protect and empower all races and ages in all communities.

Tickets on Sale Now! (203)787-4282 | NewHavenSymphony.org

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY Learn more at aarp.org/blackcommunity

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

COMMENTARY:

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

The Impeachment Was Really Just Senators and Lawyers Talking

By Roger Caldwell, NNPA Newswire Contributor

The impeachment is completed, and President Donald Trump has been acquitted. After millions of dollars, thousands of lies, and 17 witnesses in the House, President Trump will be let off and cleared of any wrongdoing. He has been declared not guilty and proved innocent of the articles of impeachment.

The American rule of law and the system has not worked again. President Trump lost the popular election by almost 3 million votes, but with the Electoral College (the American System), he is the President of the United States.

Indeed, this appears unfair, but what can the citizens do?

It seems the impeachment was a circus, and everyone knew the president was going to be acquitted. “What we’re doing is watching, Trump’s most furious opponents lashing out at him as they have done over and over again since the president’s inauguration. These efforts haven’t worked before and they aren’t going to work now, and their refusal to face that fact doesn’t speak especially well for them,” says Damon Linker, of Yahoo News.

The American system on many different levels is broken. President Trump and his cronies break the law, and the Republicans continue to act as if everything is great. When the president has been documented by the media for lying 15,000 times, the system is broken.

When different Republicans agree that our president has been caught breaking the law, the system is broken.

“There is an underlying truth glimmering in claims of a broken system. Laws, rules, and norms are made through a political process, and the decision about how to apply them will always be a matter of judgment, which means it will be a matter of politics too,” says Damon Linker.

The impeachment is politics at its highest level, and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell was in control once the articles of impeachment left the House of Representatives. Most of the bills in 2020 are partisan, and the members of each party vote together in lockstep. This is the new reality in the Senate and the House, and no one can make a decision that is good for the country.

Politics has always been about whom is the most articulate, and factual, but the impeachment appeared to be more about

talking, and the facts were not important.

America heard from 17 witnesses in the House impeachment inquiry, and Democrats in the House are proud of their accomplishment. The House managers had 24 hours to make their case, even though everyone understood what was going to be the outcome in the Senate.

Talk is cheap and our elected officials

and their lawyers are paid well for their expertise. There are two America’s in the country, and they are virtually split down the middle. Many citizens believe that the president has gotten stronger, as a result of the impeachment.

An impeachment is always a dark period in the history of America. Many Republicans think the impeachment

was absolute nonsense, but over 70% of Americans wanted a credible trial, with witnesses, and facts. Sen. Mitch McConnell understood how to use his power, and there was only mindless conformity in his party, and the Senate.

President Trump will take a winners leap around the country with his tweets.

He will call the impeachment proceedings a distraction and a waste of taxpayers’ time and money. But, House Managers and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, did a great job proving their case, and they addressed the corruption in the White House.

The Democrats will say the Republicans are not telling the truth, and they broke the law. President Trump has been acquitted, and the only Republican Senator who stood for with truth was Senator Mitt Romney.

After three years of the embarrassment with the Trump administration, there will be no legal remedy to get President Trump removed from office. Our president will only be removed from office at the ballot box. The system may be broken on many different levels, but your vote will remove the President from office. GO out and VOTE.

OP-ED: Commemorating our past, starts with cementing our present-day legacy

By Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP

We find ourselves at the beginning of a new Black History Month (BHM) in a distinctive decade during one of the most polarizing times of our lives. Our collective journey to this moment has undoubtedly been challenging. Still, we’ve been victorious on many fronts to advance our culture, agendas, and narrative on a national platform.

As we come off the heels of celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who died for acting on his convictions of an equal America, we enter into a critical season of ensuring our vote and voice count. As a people, not long separated from the bondage of slavery, we were once only counted as 3/5 of a person. Without question, the lingering effects of being valued as less than a whole person still exist today through racist ideologies, discriminatory politics, and inequitable policies.

Combating these ills begins with ensuring we fully engage without pause in the 2020 Census, which starts on April 1, 2020. The Census is a cornerstone of American democracy, which is built on the backs of our ancestors. The data collected is used to determine representation in the United States Congress and planning for the future of all communities across the country. $882 billion will be allocated annually in federal funds

to state, local, and tribal governments.

Programs and services at risk include schools, hospitals, community centers, roads, transportation, and public safety departments. Marginalized communities will suffer if residents go uncounted.

All communities must participate, but specifically, communities of color, as our neighborhoods are often the most overlooked. Our interest, as a people and culture, is tied directly to being counted in the 2020 Census. It would be a disservice to our neighborhood and our chil-

dren if we opted to not engage in the 2020 Census.

At a time when our rights, explicitly voting rights, are under attack, and public officials are more concerned about remaining in power than uplifting societies most vulnerable, we must take every step to protect our households and communities. In 2020, preserving our democracy starts with being counted and voting in the presidential primary. At the least, these two activities send a message that we are paying attention and are actively

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involved in the trajectory of this nation.

Further, it allows us to wield political and social power in a system that historically has shut us out. 2020 is the first year that the Census will be online.

The obstacles put in place by those that wish to see us disenfranchised – from the Census to the ballot box – only prolong the inevitable changing tide and sentiment of this country. We, the people, have the power and ability to create the change we want to see. It starts with becoming civically engaged and demanding those in power act in our interest by creating policies that bring about fair and equal access to the ballot box and beyond.

In December of last year, the NAACP, along with other plaintiffs, won a critical appeals court ruling, which reinstated our federal suit challenging the federal government’s inadequate plans for conducting the 2020 Census after the district court erroneously dismissed it. This ruling will help aid efforts to ensure that the 2020 Census properly counts all people, including historically undercounted communities of color, who are at risk of being missed under the Census Bureau’s current plans.

This month is not only about commemorating our history but cementing and shaping our present-day legacy for future generations. The dream didn’t die with Martin, nor did the fight. It is every one of our responsibilities to bring

about the change we wish to see. Each day, fueled by our supporters, we at the NAACP are working to make the modern-day civil rights movement possible, carrying on the vision of those that came before and creating space for generations that are to come. Together, people of color can move to the forefront and ensure we are counted and heard. If you wish to volunteer with us and help get the word out about the Census, sign up here. The 2020 Census is the first year that the form will be able to be completed online.

Visit 2020census.gov to find out more.

Con’t from page 18

Hillhouse Eases Down

make sure we’re connecting as a family. Before you leave, I want you to hug someone and tell them something good they did today.”

As the students quickly reassembled Kane’s classroom to get it ready for the morning, Scurry was waiting at the door to say goodbye to each of them.

“I feel everybody should have a chance to explore something they love and explore the arts,” he said. “As long as they’re having fun and they’re doing what they love, to me, that’s all that matters.”

Academic Theatre Company’s production of The Wiz runs at James Hillhouse High School from March 19 to March 22. Tickets will go on sale on Feb. 14.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

February 12, 2020 - February 18, 2020

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