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Color Struck? Garden Grows A Gun Violence Response

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

City Plans Covid Vaccine Clinic For High Schoolers During April Recess by THOMAS BREEN New Haven I ndependent

When public schools close for April recess later this month, the city plans to open a Covid-19 mass vaccination clinic at Career High School in the Hill with the explicit goal of providing shots for eligible New Haven youth. City Health Director Maritza Bond detailed those plans Wednesday night during a six-hour public budget hearing and departmental workshop hosted by the aldermanic Finance Committee on Zoom and YouTube Live. Wednesday night’s public meeting marked the second opportunity in as many days for the Finance Committee alders to take a department-by-department look at Mayor Justin Elicker’s two proposed Fiscal Year 2021-2022 (FY22) general fund budgets—a $589.1 million “crisis” version and a $606.2 million “forward together” budget. During her turn at the virtual mic, Bond told the alders that the city health department plans to open a new, temporary vaccination clinic at Career High School at 140 Legion Ave. between April 12 and April 16. That’s when New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) is closed for a weeklong April recess. Bond said the city plans to seize that opportunity of New Haven students out of class during the day, and try to get those who are 16 or older to come to Career for a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Bond told the Independent that the site should be open from roughly 10 a.m. to

3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday that week. The city anticipates being able to vaccinate upwards of 500 people per day. While the site is open to the general population, Bond said, the health department will limit shots to New Haven residents only—and will prioritize shots for New Haven high school students. She said that any student who is 16 or 17 needs to provide the city with parental consent before getting a shot at the Career clinic. The city plans to partner with local “youth influencers” who will get vaccinated that week, and publicize their experience to try to encourage other fellow eligible New Haven teens to get their shots. Do young New Haveners need to make an appointment before showing up at the Career clinic? East Rock Alder Anna Festa asked. “We’re encouraging appointments, but we are going to have a timeframe for walkups, too,” Bond replied. “We’re not going to turn anyone away.” Bond said this new Career High School clinic is one part of a broader youth vaccination campaign the city is about to launch, now that all Connecticut residents 16 and older are eligible to get vaccinated as of Thursday, per the governor’s statewide vaccine rollout plan. Festa also asked about what happened on March 20, when the city ran a popup vaccination clinic at Career High School— and then put out the word midday that there were roughly 400 vaccination slots

open and available and in need of patients interested in getting a shot. “That clinic was dedicated for Board of Education staff and support staff,” Bond replied. “There were about 100 slots for people who were able to get a second dose elsewhere, and then forgot to cancel. “We technically had a fully scheduled clinic. Then we found out too late” that so many people would not be coming because they had already gotten their second shots. Fortunately, she said, when the city put out the word on social media and reached out to alders and other community partners, all available slots were quickly filled. “We were able to achieve 340 vaccinations” that day, she said. See below for information on where and how to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated. • New Haven Health Department: Call 203-946-5950 • Yale New Haven Health System: Visit the website or call 833-ASK-YNHH • Cornell Scott Hill Health Center: Visit the website or call 203-503-3000 • Fair Haven Community Health Care: Visit the website or call 203-871-4179 • Walgreens (436 Whalley Ave., 88 York St., or 87 Foxon St.): Visit the website or call (203) 777-8001 for 436 Whalley Ave. ; (203) 752-9893 for 88 York St.; or (203) 469-3016 for 87 Foxon St. • Walmart (315 Foxon Blvd.) Visit the website .

NEW HAVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT PHOTO Health Director Bond with Hill Alder Ron Hurt, at

Career High School popup clinic on March 20.

Montessori Pilots Anti-Prejudice Program by EMILY HAYS

New Haven I ndependent

Every month over the past school year, each pre-K through sixth grade student at Elm City Montessori School (ECMS) has read the same book. One month the book may teach how to navigate being the odd one out at school; the next month it might guide students to question gender stereotypes. The reading is part of an initiative at the school called One Book, One School, the only one of its kind in New Haven’s public school system. “Books are starter packets for starting conversations with our families and learners. Books are so relatable,” said ECMS Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism Director Amelia Sherwood. Sherwood shared these strategies at a virtual workshop on the school’s “One Book, One School” initiative on Wednesday evening. School families, leaders from other montessori schools and parents from other New Haven Public Schools filled the online audience. The One Book, One School initiative began three years ago, as the logical next

LUCY GELLMAN FILE PHOTO Amelia Sherwood reads a children’s book aloud at a Juneteenth cel-

ebration this summer.

step after ECMS hosted trainings for the teachers and other school adults on undoing racism.

Undoing racism, affirming student differences—these are fundamental goals for what education in America should be,

according to Principal Julia Webb. “This is just the work we’re doing. This is non-negotiable,” Webb said. “It is as essential as reading on grade level and complicated math work.” Sherwood’s role as anti-bias, anti-racism director is unique among New Haven Public Schools. Elm City Montessori is already unusual as a charter school within the public school district. Setting aside a salary for an anti-bias, anti-racism coordinator further sets the school apart. Every book in the One Book, One School program so far—except one—is authored by a Black or Indigenous writer, or another writer of color. Sherwood and Webb avoid books with any kinds of stereotypes or harmful messages. The school’s teachers talk with students after the reading and do related activities. After a book on gender stereotypes, they spoke about their own favorite colors and activities and practiced identifying stereotypes. Parents occasionally question the content in one or two of the books. School staff try to welcome them into a dialogue about it, while maintaining that teaching about

self-love, racism and history are core to the school’s mission. Those on the call remembered how important certain books were to their growing sense of identity as a child. Terri Laue spoke about how she identified with the main character in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables” as a queer child. One Quinnipiac Real World Math STEM School parent, listed as “Liz,” asked why such a cool program is not available to other New Haven Public Schools students. Executive Director Eliza Halsey offered to help prep Liz for any advocacy she wanted to do as a parent. Halsey was one of the parents who first campaigned to create Elm City Montessori. “You have a critical voice,” Halsey said. The New Haven Public Schools Board of Education adopted a policy on race and equity in November. The document set the existing priorities of many teachers, administrators and other staff into an explicit district-wide policy that covers what gets taught, who gets school dollars Con’t on page 08

2 Top Cops Retire

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

More than four decades of New Haven policing experience is leaving the police department this month, with the retirement of two top cops who have clocked more than 20 years each on the job. One of them, Assistant Chief Herb Sharp, served his last day in the role on Wednesday. This was Sharp’s second retirement. He first stepped down in 2016. Then-Chief Otoniel Reyes pulled him out of retirement in 2019 to serve as assistant chief. He oversaw administration, including training, recruitment, and internal affairs Chief Renee Dominguez said Thursday there are no current plans to replace Sharp. That leaves one assistant chief in place, Karl Jacobson. The department started hiring up to as many as four assistant chiefs at a time in response to a recommendation by a policing expert group in the wake of a 2007 corruption scandal. As of last month, there were three. But before 2007, the department traditionally had just one assistant. Capt. Anthony Duff is also retiring. His retirement was announced Thursday at the department’s weekly Compstat data-

sharing meeting. Duff’s last day is April 14. Duff currently serves as the department’s public information officer. Dominguez said she is in the process of seeing who’s interested in the position.

A popular former Dixwell district manager and archetypal community cop, Duff was shot and almost killed when responding to a shooting on Oct. 12, 2019. The department, and the city, rallied behind him.

City Primed To Overhaul Zoning by THOMAS BREEN New Haven I ndependent

No more tinkering around the edges. It’s time to start overhauling the city’s entire, half-century-old zoning code. City Plan Director Aïcha Woods issued that call to land-use-reform arms when describing one of the top priorities for her department in the year—and years—to come. That discussion took place during a sixhour public budget hearing and departmental workshop hosted by the aldermanic Finance Committee on Zoom and YouTube Live. The public meeting marked the second opportunity in as many days for the Finance Committee alders to take a department-bydepartment look at Mayor Justin Elicker’s two proposed Fiscal Year 2021-2022 (FY22) general fund budgets—a $589.1 million “crisis” version and a $606.2 million “forward together” budget. “This year has really shown us that we really have an imperative to look at some of our rulebooks and really make sure that they’re aligned with equity, affordable housing, climate, and environmental justice,” Woods said. “Our comprehensive plan has always held those values, but we haven’t really updated our zoning ordinances since the ‘60s. It’s time to kind of rethink the whole thing. That is really going to be our major focus over the next couple years.” The city’s zoning code—like zoning codes across the state and country—determines where certain types of buildings

can be built (e.g. single-family homes in a residential district, factories in an industrial district) as well as “bulk regulations” like how tall a building can be, how much of a front or backyard it must have, how much on-site parking there must be, etc… The City Plan Department, the Livable City Initiative, the City Plan Commission, the alders, the mayor, and other local public officials have spoken in recent years about the need to update the city’s land use laws to promote dense, walkable, affordable, environmentally sustainable, mixed-use developments. The city succeeded in pushing through that kind of rezoning pilot on Whalley Avenue right before the pandemic hit. Dixwell and Wooster Square residents critical of the city’s proposals and outreach process stopped such a contemporaneous “commercial corridor” rezoning effort from taking place in their neighborhoods at that time, too. During the ongoing pandemic and in the wake of last summer’s nationwide racial justice uprisings, zoning reformers have found new energy to push for comprehensive land-use rewrites in suburbs like Woodbridge and in proposed statewide legislation. Those rezoning efforts have sought to open up exclusive parts of the state to more racially and economically diverse populations by everything from making it easier to build multi-family housing in single-family-dominated areas, to scrapping parking minimums, to legalizing accessory dwelling units.

At the budget workshop, held this past Wednesday night, City Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli directed the alders to the City Plan Department’s proposed capital budget as evidence of the city’s seriousness about prioritizing land use reform as a tool for broader social and economic change. “One of our capital asks specifically relates to the zoning code, and really starting over with our zoning code, to produce a clearer, fairer, and more opportunities for people to build and create some opportunities here.” The department’s proposed capital budget—that is, money the city borrows every two years to help achieve long-term, usually infrastructure-related projects—includes $500,000 for “on-call planning.” “On-call services are needed to augment City Plan Department staff as the workload exceeds staff capacity and technical capabilities to perform the work in tight timeframes,” that part of the budget book reads. It goes on to describe the top on-call planning priority as “City Wide Comprehensive Zoning Code Amendments.” “Funds to be used for outside planning and legal services to update the New Haven Zoning Code,” the budget reads. “Research and code amendments to include affordable housing as well as furthering updates to BA for commercial corridors, village districts and coastal management zone. This zoning update will include and consolidate various green ordinances in accordance with climate framework. All zoning amendments shall focus on equity and address health

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

Elicker, DuBois-Walton Raise $190K So Far by THOMAS BREEN New Haven I ndependent

$69,652 in three-plus weeks, from over 400 donors. $120,000 in two-plus months, from more than 600 donors. Karen DuBois-Walton Tuesday reported raising the former amount so far through her exploratory committee for a run for mayor. Incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker reported raising the latter amount. DuBois-Walton and Elicker both released those figures midday Tuesday in separate campaign email press releases about their first-quarter fundraising efforts, racing to spin the narrative in the opening rounds of an expected Democratic mayoral campaign. The first quarter ended on March 31. Candidates race to raise as much as possible by that deadline to present totals that signal momentum in their quests. Neither political figure is required to officially file their first quarter fundraising paperwork with the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) until April 10. Tuesday’s announcements nevertheless offered messaging around what those numbers should look like when made public later this week. They also indicate the seriousness with which DuBois-Walton, who announced the formation of her exploratory committee in early March and who has yet to form an official candidate committee, appears to be considering a real challenge to the first-term incumbent mayor. DuBois-Walton has not held many public campaign events since announcing her exploratory committee on March 8. That has led some New Haveners to won-

THOMAS BREEN PHOTOS DuBois-Walton, Elicker: Mayoral campaign fundraising has begun.

der whether or not she actually plans on mounting an official challenge to Elicker. DuBois-Walton’s email release Tuesday states that DuBois-Walton “has been strategically working behind the scenes meeting with small groups of constituents to listen to community concerns and engage residents on a personal level.” She told the Independent by email later on Tuesday that she expects to decide by the end of April whether or not she will form a candidate committee and mount an official challenge to Elicker. Elicker announced the launch of his reelection campaign in late January. He has already filed his official candidate committee paperwork, and his campaign has sent out regular email fundraising

requests and updates over the past two months. “We’re so honored and proud to receive this kind of widespread support while still exploring a run,” DuBois-Walton is quoted as saying in her press release. “This level of excitement and engagement shows just how ready New Haven is for new leadership. As I continue to explore a run for Mayor, we’ll continue to work to ensure that folks all across this city get a chance to express what they’re looking for from their city’s government and commit to identify new ways to ensure our city’s leadership works for and with the community it serves.” In his campaign’s email, Elicker thanked his supporters for their Q1 donations and

for helping “put this campaign in a very strong position out of the gate.” “This is going to be a long campaign,” he wrote in Tuesday’s email, “and we’ve got a lot of work to do in the coming weeks and months, but you stepped up and built a strong foundation.” The Breakdown, So Far DuBois-Walton’s email press release states that her exploratory committee raised $69,652 from more than 400 donors. Elicker’s states that his candidate committee raised “more than $120,000” from “more than 600 individuals.” DuBois-Walton’s email states that 36 percent of her donations came from New Haven residents, including from all 30 city wards, and that 83 percent of donations came from Connecticut. Elicker’s email states that more than 70 percent of his campaign donations came from New Haven residents. DuBois-Walton’s email states that the average donation to her exploratory committee was $171.98, that 17 percent of donations were less than $50, and that the maximum individual donation amount was $375. That individual-donation cap falls within the $390 maximum allowed by candidates interested in receiving matching public financing grants through the city’s Democracy Fund. Elicker has already committed to participating in the city’s public financing program, as he did in 2019. He said in his campaign email he expects to receive another roughly $40,000 in matching funds through the city’s clean elections program as part of his Q1 fundraising.

The assistant principal has been running Brennan Rogers School this week after the principal was based on leave pending an investigation into an alleged use of a racial slur. According to multiple people familiar with the incident, Principal Laura Roblee was placed on leave as of Monday at the West Rock pre-K-8 school campus after two teachers reported she had used the slur in a conversation a few weeks ago. The context the alleged slur is not clear, nor other circumstances about the episode. New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Iline Tracey refused to confirm, deny or talk about the incident when contacted Thursday by the Independent. She said she will not discuss a “personnel matter.” Tracey also has not discussed the situation with Board of Education members — which raised hackles with board mem-

bers when they subsequently learned of the leave. “The administration has a duty to not only protect their employee’s privacy, but to acknowledge and support the community at large, as this is triggering and traumatic,” said Board of Education member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur. “If this rumor is true, as a board member, I am appalled that a school leader would commit this offense, and also offended that the community has not been made aware of this. Keeping racism behind a closed door does nothing. It must be snuffed out and properly dealt with. Protecting the offender does nothing for healing the wounds.” Board member Darnell Goldson said he learned the news through “unofficial” sources in the school system and still hasn’t received an official account from Tracey or her administration. He criticized the lack of transparency, which he said leads to the spreading of rumors and speculation in the community. “Board

EMILY HAYS PRE-PANDEMIC FILE PHOTO Board member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur: This is not the path to healing.

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Principal Placed On Leave Pending Probe by EMILY HAYS & PAUL BASS

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members, especially with something that serious, should be informed. We shouldn’t be hearing this from someone other than the superintendent. There are parents who know about it.” Update: Tracey responded to the transparency complaints in an email message Friday to board members. She wrote: “Please note that I am not at liberty to share personnel matters that would becloud the minds of Board members who may eventually be involved in any process towards the end. It remains a personnel matter. I have to abide by labor laws as the superintendent of the district.” Reached by cell phone, Roblee declined to comment. She referred a reporter to School Administrators Association of New Haven President Sequella H. Coleman. Coleman too declined comment on a “personnel matter.” One person in the school system with direct knowledge of the case and with the Con’t on page 08

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

Survivors Rally For HOPE On Partner Violence by EMILY HAYS

New Haven I ndependent

Robyn Porter didn’t fully realize that she was in a dangerous relationship until her friend pointed that fact out for her. On Monday, a domestic violence prevention rally on the Green highlighted just how big of a role friends and family can play in helping their loved ones free themselves from threatening partners. Roughly 40 people showed up to the downtown event, organized by local healthcare providers and counselors from the HOPE Family Justice Center as a call to action to end domestic violence homicide in the wake of a recent spike in intimate partner violence in New Haven. “It was hard for me to hear, because I had to accept that I was in trouble,” Porter said on Monday about her own past experience with domestic violence. “I started telling a few people. I want us to be those few people.” Porter, who represents parts of Newhallville and Hamden in the state House of Representatives, spoke at an event calling for an end to the kind of domestic violence New Haven saw in the recent deaths of Alessia Mesquita and Dwaneia Alexandria Turner. About one in four women and one in 10 men have faced sexual assault, physical abuse, stalking or another form of intimate partner violence over the course of their lifetimes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mothers & Others For Justice had a strong showing at the rally.

As a member of the Connecticut General Assembly, Porter has helped pass laws to protect victims of domestic violence. At Monday’s rally to end domestic violence, she spoke not as a legislator, but as a domestic violence survivor. She told her roughly 40-person audience about sneaking out of her home to call her friends, because her abuser had control over her phone. One of her friends, a survivor of domestic violence herself, recognized the late-night calls from phone

booths as a sign of intimate partner violence and said so. The conversation prompted Porter to recognize her situation and make a safety plan for how she would leave the relationship. She felt deep shame and fear but was able to tell a few people about what she was experiencing. She encouraged those listening to her speech to reach out to their friends and family—as well as their legislators to learn how they can support further legal

changes. “There’s a lot more to do. I’m so tired of these vigils,” Porter said. More Severe Crises The Covid-19 pandemic has made already dangerous situations of domestic violence more dangerous. The calls to the New Haven Police Department related to domestic violence are more severe than before the pandemic, Acting Chief Renee Dominguez said on Monday. Situations of physical abuse

have sometimes escalated to choking or other threats to the victim’s life by the time the police department gets called in. Dominguez told the audience at the rally that this is because victims are more socially isolated during the pandemic. There is no one noticing that the victim has not showed up to work or has not brought their child to school. This is why community members and friends like Porter’s can play such a crucial role, Dominguez said. Economic independence is another key way to prevent domestic violence. Survivors can have a hard time leaving their relationship if they don’t know where to go or are having trouble finding stable housing. Elm City Communities CEO Karen DuBois-Walton reminded survivors that they can jump to the top of the housing authority’s waitlist. Once receiving a housing voucher or a unit, they can also transfer to another location if they do not feel safe where they are. The housing authority processes about 150 applications a year from those experiencing domestic violence, DuBois-Walton said. Like DuBois-Walton and Dominguez, most speakers at the rally focused on the prevalence of domestic violence and the resources available to survivors. Yale New Haven Hospital emergency physician Karen Jubanyik spoke about how intimate partner violence can affect those in heterosexual and same sex rela-

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

Garden Grows A Gun Violence Response by MAYA MCFADDEN New Haven I ndependent

A near-complete Valley Street healing garden dedicated to victims of gun violence was prayed over and declared as sacred ground of “peace and justice” for families to heal. A line-up of 11 New Haven clergy participated in the day of prayer held Saturday at the New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence scheduled to officially open this summer. The garden has taken shape off Valley Street in the shadow of West Rock. The project, originally proposed in 2017, is spearheaded by three women who each lost a child of their own to gun violence: Marlene Miller Pratt, Celeste Robinson Fulcher, and Pamela Jaynez. The trio met in a local survivors-of-homicide group and joined forces to bring Miller Pratt’s vision to life. The Saturday gathering was hosted in response to the recent acts of gun violence in Atlanta and Colorado, said Rev. Shelley Emery Holness, who is working with the organizing team to offer spiritual consulting to families at the park once open. A group of about 30 community members made up of clergy, alders, and family members of homicide victims gathered for a walk through of the park and a prayer vigil. The park includes a tree of life, Magnitude Walkway, The Lost Generation sculpture, wall of quotes, and a lecture hall-style sitting area. When one enters the garden The Lost Generation sculpture can be seen from the entrance. The sculpture displays a family unit at the start of the pathway of hundreds of victims of gun violence from 1976 to 2021. As one walks down the path the sculpture’s family shape becomes distorted and breaks apart. This represents the impact of gun violence on a family said Miller Pratt. Though at the end of the pathway the family shape is restored showing that families “can get through it,” she said. The team got help from the New Haven Police Department to gather most of the victims’ names while others were submitted by family members. Soon families of the victims will be able to visit the park to see their child, spouse, parent, or siblings name in “positive light” rather than just at the cemetery. “It’s like their lives are now in a museum and will never be lost,” said Robinson Fulcher. The organizing group agreed that the park is meant to be a place of healing for families and an “awakening” for community members who will see the hundreds of New Haven victims lost to gun violence. The names of victims lost in 2021 were recently added to the Magnitude Walkway, with more than 700 names total. “We have come now God asking you for

understanding, asking you for guidance, asking you for mercy and grace to abstain and uphold us during these difficult times. We ask you now to shed some light on these families,” said Senior Pastor James Burgess of First Church of God. “We realize that it takes all of us to come together to uphold one another. We’re praying for change in this community. Change in our state. Change in our government. Our land needs to be healed.” The organizers said they hope the park can also be used as an outdoor classroom for schools to use for field trips teaching about social justice, mentoring programs, and a meeting place for organizations working to end violence. For the lead organizing mothers, the park is a dream come true that will ensure their kids are never forgotten. Miller Pratt said one victim’s family member didn’t have the money to bury their brother. Now, thanks to the park, they can see him name engraved in a brick on the pathway. Some of the pathway’s years range from having one name to dozens. Miller Pratt’s hope is that “even those that committed murder will come here and choose justice,” she said. A wall of quotes from family members circles the park’s sitting area for families to engage in a “trivia-like” search for a statement that applies to their memory of their child. “You feel sadness while seeing all the names. Then it makes us smile to be able to think about the story of our kids,” Miller Pratt said. The final steps until the park is completed is to plant flowers and grass. The park will be dedicated to the city with a ribbon cutting scheduled for June 12. “I’m asking now, dear God, that in some way or form, that you would allow the laws of the land to change. That politicians will do more for those who are capable of walking out of a store with a gun and the needless act of pulling that trigger to take someone’s life,” said Senior Pastor Cicely Little of New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church. “But, dear God. I’m also asking now that you put block watch back in the communities, especially in the Black community, so that we won’t shut or close our eyes and our ears to what’s going on around us. But, dear God, that when we see something we’ll be brave enough to say something, dear God, instead of saying, ‘It’s not my child. I don’t need to be concerned about that.’ But, dear god, I’m asking that you change the hearts and the minds of your people.” Throughout the planning and construction steps, the organizers received helping hands and support for community members, Westville Alder Richard Furlow, and the New Haven Fire Department (NHFD). Miller Pratt invited Mayor Justin Elicker

MAYA MCFADDEN PHOTOS

Leading moms Pamela Jaynez, Celeste Robinson Fulcher, Marlene Miller Pratt at Saturday’s gathering. Con’t from page

City Primed To Overhaul Zoning

Jaynez, Miller Pratt, Leslie Gay, Robinson Fulcher, and Damonne Jones.

to the Saturday gathering. He said he was most struck by the range of ages of the victims. The youngest being an infant who hasn’t aged to her first birthday. (The park proposal was originally supported by the city under former Mayor Toni Harp’s administration.) Elicker said he bears responsibility for all of the names listed and not listed for 2020 and 2021 as mayor. “It’s a reflection of our society that here are so many names there and they continue to build,” he said. “But this path is not infinite either.” Elicker said the city must do better with investing in youth and

education to help combat gun violence. A next-door neighbor named Tom dedicates time weekly to cleaning up trash surrounding the park area, said Miller Pratt. The team of moms is looking into having a bridge build across the neighboring West River to connect to the trail or baseball park. “It should all be connected. Parents with kids at the park can come here and reflect or you can go for a walk on the trail after paying your respects here. A bridge would make it complete,” Miller Pratt said.

and racial inequity as well as climate justice.” Similarly, rezoning initiatives appear throughout the City Plan Department’s list of stated goals for the coming fiscal year in the budget book. Those include: • Draft and adopt comprehensive city wide Zoning reform in accordance with implementation of Comprehensive Plan; • Adopt City Wide Inclusionary Zoning and affordable housing strategy; • City Wide Green Ordinance with study of Eco District or Net Zero District Pilot at Long Wharf or LEED for Cities; • Continue Commercial Corridor Zoning and Affordable Housing zoning updates Will those capital funds for zoning reform really be enough to “comprehensively update city zoning?” Westville Alder and Finance Committee Chair Adam Marchand asked. “It would be good for a strong start,” Woods said. It should allow the city to start the citywide zoning reform planning process, leverage local dollars to get larger state and federal grants, and begin an intensive community outreach campaign. “There’s tremendous community engagement that needs to be done for an effort like that,” she said. “That’s where a lot of the resources have to go up front, just in the community engagement.” Then, once that community engagement occurs, we’ll have a good idea of what kind of funding is needed for an actual citywide zoning code rewrite? Marchand asked. That’s right, Woods replied.

Covid Pitch Sounds An Alarm THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

by MAYA MCFADDEN New Haven I ndependent

After listening to Leslie Douglas-Churchwell talk in depth about the severity of getting infected with Covid-19, I thought: Maybe I should get the vaccine after all. Maybe. As of Thursday, I am eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine. But I’m not in a rush. Like many other young people, especially people of color, I have some hesitation. I need to be convinced. Douglas-Churchwell, a Yale School of Medicine assistant professor, joined a group of other experts Wednesday night in an effort to convince people like me to overcome our hesitation, take the shot, and help the community “conquer Covid.” It was one of a host of local efforts to target Black and brown New Haveners, who have been hardest by Covid-19 and sometimes have expressed the most reluctance to get vaccinated. The online panel discussion was hosted by the New Haven Chapter of the Links Inc. As I watched it, I could not help but think about what my own decision now that Connecticut has made individuals 16+ eligible to get the vaccine. Douglas-Churchwell’s detailed explanation of what some hospitalized Covid infected patients do and don’t survive scared me. As a young Black woman I felt more at ease while hearing from a panel of four dis-

tinguished doctors of color. The Wednesday discussion ranged from conversations about the severe effects of Covid and clinical trials and studies for the vaccines to getting Covid while pregnant and what it means to be immunocompromised. Unite Us Community Engagement Manager Kathy Townsend moderated the panel. The panel included Douglas-Churchwell, YSM Chair of Internal Medicine Gary Desir, women’s health Dr. Cynthia McCraven, and YSM Assistant Professor Deborah Dyett Desir. In response to a question asking about the effects of Covid on the body, DouglasChurchwell described shortness of breath as a worrisome symptom. If a patient is hospitalized for low oxygen levels, it can have a long-lasting effect on vital organs like ones liver, kidneys, and heart, she said. Douglas-Churchwell added that severe Covid infections increase some individuals’ risk for respiratory problems, pneumonia, blood and artery clots, strokes, congestive heart failure, loss of blood circulation, and multi-organ system failure. This made me think about how for the past year, I have primarily heard conversations about Covid infections that are either mild or result in death. I wondered: What about the grey areas? Mild symptoms like a fever, chills, headaches, and fatigue often make people think less of the virus and not take it as seriously. And then the idea of death seemed too far-fetched for me as a young

MAYA MCFADDEN PHOTO Public heath nurse Judith Medor gives Harper first Moderna dose at a popup clinic held at Newhallville’s First Calvary Baptist Church.

adult with no preexisting health concerns. Gary Desir reported that at this point in the pandemic, if one is hospitalized for a severe Covid infection, there is a 10 percent chance the infection will cause death. Since the vaccine rollout began, Desir added, hospitalizations of young adults and pregnant women have shot up. Of 137 hospitalized Covid patients at Yale New Haven Hospital, 45 are in the intensive care unit (ICU), he said. The idea of being placed on a ventilator or going through oxygen therapy terrifies me. But the issue wasn’t

directly affecting me, so I didn’t think too much about it. I felt that I was being proactive enough that I wouldn’t have to get vaccinated when it came time to. Some years I take the flu shot; but some years I don’t. I have never gotten the flu in all of my 22 years of living. However the panel caused me to think more realistically about really avoiding a severe infection, hospitalization, or death. “The vaccine is not deadly, but Covid is definitely deadly,” Douglas-Churchwell said.

Gary Desir reported that the flu vaccine is 40 percent effective, while the Covid vaccine 95 percent effective. The Covid vaccines were created with modern methods making those that are Food Drug Administration-approved safe, he said. This made me think about the many times I have gotten the flu shot and trusted it without any second thoughts. Since the start of the vaccine rollout, I have witnessed several friends and family members get vaccinated. Honestly, this left me more appreciative than motivated to do it myself. During the pandemic I have been influenced by conversations about minorities’ well-found mistrust of the medical establishment. This made me realize that I personally don’t go to the doctor often. Being a Black woman has led to a personal conclusion that doctors are often not my first solution to my medical concerns. I concluded that based on several experiences when doctors didn’t take my concerns seriously or show empathy. Before Wednesday night’s panel discussion I had no urgency to decide whether to get vaccinated or not. Afterwards, I decided to take the question seriously. I haven’t made up my mind, but I am leaning toward it. I sent a preliminary email to Fair Haven Health Center. I haven’t heard back yet; if I do, I’m probably 90 percent of the way following through.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

INTERVIEW:

Dr. Alexa Canady teaches us to remain calm in the face of obstacles

By Kandis Knight, Rollingout.com

Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, Dr. Alexa Canady is the first African American woman in the United States to become a neurosurgeon. Dr. Canady went on to receive her Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, as well as her medical doctorate. She also graduated cum laude in medical school. Dr. Canady did her internship at Yale New Haven Hospital and went on to train in neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota. Canady, spoke with rolling out about overcoming obstacles in her path of the way to establishing her impressive career. What was it like being inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame? It was kind of a surprise. And it was great. I mean, it’s always nice for people to recognize your work. A few years later, my mother was also inducted for her work. We’re the only mother-daughter pair in the Women’s Hall of Fame. How did you deal with the challenges as an African American woman in this field?

Well, I think the first thing is that you have to believe that you can do it. I think the first thing is that you have to recognize that the people around you may not be supportive of your goal. I try to tell students that the world that you live in, is a different world than the one your parents lived in. And so what’s possible for you may be different than what’s possible for them, and we have to recognize that change. What do you do in your downtime? I read the newspapers every morning. That’s my start. I read four newspapers every morning. And that’s kind of my quiet private time. When you see a parent-child dynamic, what are your observations about the relationship between that mother or parent and child? You have parents who are just good. And you can recognize that right away, you will have other parents who let their anxiety overtake them. You know, I saw a lot

of seriously ill children. The concerns of a dying child are very different than their parents. They’re thinking, can I go back to school next week? Not am I going to be alive in a month? And you need to understand what people are concerned about and listen to it, and respond to that and the anxiety. How did you overcome obstacles?

Well, I think you have to always sit and go through it in your head, not obsess over it. Sometimes you can identify something in the process. It wasn’t right, the communication wasn’t right. The choice you made … to pass was the wrong one. And you can just try to hone your skills so that the next time you do it better, and then you have to put it away. You have to put it away. If you obsess on it, then you’re not doing anybody any good. The post Dr. Alexa Canady teaches us to remain calm in the face of obstacles appeared first on Rolling Out.

Dr. Alexa Canady (Photo credit: Brian Lanker)

Tanzania Makes History With First-Ever Woman President been seen in public since February 27, sparking rumors that he contracted COVID-19. Under Tanzania’s constitution, Hassan will serve the remaining years of Magufuli’s second five-year term that will end in 2025. Hassan, who is born in Zanzibar and a mother of four children, has years of experience in public service. She once became a project manager for the UN’s World Food Programme, took a seat in Zanzibar’s House of Representatives, and served as local government minister for youth employment, women and children and for tourism and trade investment and also became a Minister of State for Union Affairs. In 2015, Hassan was chosen by Magufuli as his running mate for her passion

By BlackNews.com

Tanzania — Tanzania’s vice president, 61-year old Samia Suluhu Hassan, was recently sworn in as the country’s president following the sudden death of John Magufuli, making her the first female president in the history of the East African country. “It’s not a good day for me to talk to you because I have a wound in my heart,” Hassan said in her maiden speech on March 19. “Today I have taken an oath different from the rest that I have taken in my career. Those were taken in happiness. Today I took the highest oath of office in mourning.” Magufuli died on March 17 at the age of 61 from the heart disease that plagued him for a decade. Prior to that, he hadn’t

Principal Placed On Leave Con’t from page 04

school said Roblee has worked hard in her job. “I was surprised to learn about” the allegation, this person said. “Laura is very sensitive to our kids. She goes the extra mile. She doesn’t strike me as someone who goes around storming the U.S. Capitol with a racist mob. We should all withhold judgment until the investigation is complete.” Board member Jackson-McArthur connected the silence about this incident to a different incident that took place at the March 8 board meeting, also involving the alleged use of a slur.

“The blind eye approach that has been seen recently in our board meetings, when an administrator used an indigenous slur, needs to stop,” Jackson-McArthur said. Jackson-McArthur was the first to point out at the March 8 meeting that district Chief Financial Officer Phillip Penn had used the phrase “off the reservation.” The phrase originated within other hateful rhetoric in the 19th century as a way to differentiate Native Americans who were “peaceable” under U.S. government control and those who were not.

After a few board members agreed with Jackson-McArthur, Penn apologized for using the phrase in ignorance and promised to accept any consequences for his actions. No other administrators commented. The New Haven Board of Education adopted a formal policy on race and equity in the fall and have trained some employees in the subject this spring. JacksonMcArthur guided the policy, which covers everything from curricula to school contractors, to approval.

and intelligence, according to reports. She then became the first female vice president in the country. Now, analysts say Hassan’s leadership will most likely be tested on her response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which was openly dismissed by Magufuli who urged the citizens not to wear masks and denounced the vaccines as a Western conspiracy. Hassan, who has been known for her gentleness as opposed to her predecessor, has also shown support to women and girls ever since and inspires them to reach their dreams. “I may look polite, and do not shout when speaking, but the most important thing is that everyone understands what I say and things get done as I say,” Hassan said in a speech last year.

Con’t from page 02

Anti-Prejudice Program

and more. Since then, the district trained administrators, staff and even board members in having “courageous conversations” on race and equity, as developed by Glenn Singleton. A subset of this group went through professional development on how to watch school attendance, graduation rates and test scores to decrease inequities between racial groups. The district has also put together a group called Students Organized Against Racism (SOAR). The 80 teachers and students in the group are learning how to be anti-racist leaders. Ivelise Velazquez currently leads the

district’s race and equity programs as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, and assessment. No other school in the district has a similar position to Sherwood’s. Velazquez explained that the goal is to get every school staff member involved in race and equity. Sometimes, when one person is assigned to focus on equity, others stay uninvolved. Sherwood’s perspective was that she came at all of her jobs at Elm City Montessori from an anti-bias and anti-racism lens. It became clear at a certain point that those tasks needed more time and attention dedicated to them, so the school created the position Sherwood now fills.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

The Seven Last Words of George Floyd

By John Thomas III, Editor, The Christian Recorder The commemoration of Good Friday is a solemn and holy event for Christians. We cannot get to the resurrection of Jesus Christ without traversing through the crucifixion, death, and burial of God’s only begotten son. One of the dividing lines among Christian traditions is the context of Jesus’s Passion and death. When we separate Jesus from His worldly environment and circumstances—being persecuted as a Jewish teacher by a foreign empire and betrayed by compatriots who were threatened by His message and witness—we lose sight that Jesus, both fully God and man, was gruesomely murdered. This year’s Good Friday is especially poignant for African Americans it comes in the middle of the trial of Derek Chauvin for the gruesome murder of George Floyd. The 9 minutes and 29 seconds that turned the collective stomach of the world have been seared into our shared consciousness and the legacy of this watershed moment is still playing out. In the same way that we cannot allow our faith to be sanitized, we cannot allow the death of Mr. Floyd to be stripped of the circumstances of institutional racism, poverty, and White Supremacy that led to his brutal death at the hands of one who was charged to serve and protect. It is customary on Good Friday to commemorate the seven last words/sayings of Jesus Christ in solemn worship. In that spirit today, I encourage us to reflect upon the seven last words of George Floyd based upon the police bodycam transcript. 1) Mama, mama, mama! “When George Floyd called for his mother, he was calling for all of us,” said a friend of mine who is the mother of a young Black son. When Jesus was dying on the cross, He looked to His mother, Mary commending her to John’s care. We can only imagine how Mary felt to see the life slowly leaving her son’s body. In his last moments, Mr. Floyd cried out for the woman who brought him into this world as he realized he was being ripped out of it. 2) Please, man. When Jesus was on the cross, He appealed to His tormentors to quench His thirst. Mr. Floyd appealed to the humanity of his tormentor to save his life. He was already on the ground and restrained. He was not a threat. This plea echoes the signs of the 1960s strikes when working-class Black people asserted their dignity by simply saying, “I am a Man!” It also echoes the appeal of Sojourner Truth for persons to see and value her humanity by saying, “Ain’t I a Woman?” In the eyes of his murderer, however, Mr. Floyd was not a citizen—much less, a human being. 3) You’re going to kill me, man! Mr. Floyd told his murderer that he was dying and pleaded with him to stop. As the trial goes on, we are hearing the damning testimony of persons who all say they

know they witnessed a murder. An assassination perpetrated by White Supremacy at the hands of the police. How many times have we heard deadly force being justified because of a perceived threat or a need to stand one’s ground? 4) I can’t believe this. Mr. Floyd’s disbelief that a transaction with an alleged counterfeit bill could cost him his life at the hands of someone who he had worked with. The shock from emergency personnel who clearly saw the signs of distress yet were not allowed to render assistance. The horror of rookie police officers out on their training patrol witnessing a superior crushing the life out of a restrained suspect. We all cannot believe the cruel brutality of White Supremacy—yet it plays before our collective eyes daily with its deadly consequences. 5) Tell my kids, I love them. Mr. Floyd had a life before he became a martyr, a slogan, and a t-shirt image. He was a friend, a son, and a father. Behind every victim of racism is collateral damage—grieving children, a heartbroken community, the lost potential of what could and should have been. Even though his death has become a symbol of the cost of institutional racism for Black people, Mr. Floyd was a real man with real people who mourn him and were robbed of his presence in their lives. 6) I’m dead. Between 1920 and 1938, the New York branch of the NAACP hung a flag outside of its office emblazoned with the words, “Another man was lynched today.” In 2015, the flag was revived and updated to say, “Another man was lynched by police today.” Jesus’s death was a public lynching complete with a gambling show. The world has borne witness to Mr. Floyd’s lynching—many anguished, others cheering, and some nonchalant—in the same way that the spectators watched Jesus hang His head on Golgotha as the sun set. 7) I can’t breathe! The most well-known phrase that embodies how White Supremacy has strangled the life out of Black people globally through the trans-Atlantic slave trade (Maafa), colonialism, apartheid, segregation, and a litany of other terms associated with White Supremacy and anti-Blackness. It was first seared into our memories when we watched Eric Garner have the life choked out of him. On May 25, 2020, over 600 years of global anti-Blackness were distilled into a single moment when a white cop literally ripped the spirit out of a Black man. We remember that Jesus committed His spirit to God as his lungs collapsed from the crucifixion. Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Tamir Rice, Freddy Gray, Philando Castille, Bothan Jean Janisha Fonville, Mr. George Perry Floyd, Jr., and Jesus. Today as we commemorate one who paid the ultimate price for our eternal salvation, we must also remember those who daily pay the price of the legacy of the brutal and inveterate violence of White Supremacy. Our prayer to make it “on Earth as it is in Heaven” is only as good as the witness and daily steps we take to make sure that Jesus, George Floyd, and so many others have not died in vain. Amen.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

National Museum of African American Music Opens in Nashville By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

From the hymns of slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries to hip-hop artists’ powerful message in the 20th and 21st centuries, African American artists have created and influenced generations of music lovers. When Elvis Presley sang “Hound Dog,” he knew he had to pay homage to the African American Blues Legend Big Mama Thornton, who did it first – and better. “A lot of people seem to think I started this business,” Elvis famously remarked. “But rock ‘n’ roll was here a long time before I came along. Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people. Let’s face it: I can’t sing like Fats Domino can. I know that.” From rock and roll to blues, jazz, and hip-hop, music is as much the African American way of life as the afro was Black people’s style in the 1970s. Finally honoring that history, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) has opened in Nashville, Tenn. According to a news release, it’s the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. The 56,000-square-foot institution contains more than 1,500 artifacts, objects, memorabilia, and clothing from Black artists. Complete with state-of-the-art technology, the museum contains seven galleries. Each is designed to share a different narrative and a unique perspective on Black music and history. “NMAAM is complete,” NMAAM President and CEO H. Beecher Hicks III

declared in a news release. On Feb. 23, Hicks appeared on the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s “Let It Be Known, Breaking News” broadcast to share insights on the new mixed-use downtown development at Fifth and Broadway. “We have been preparing for this day for more than 20 years, but this museum has actually been more than 400 years in the making,” Hicks remarked. “We look forward to welcoming music lovers from around the world to this magnificent cultural experience.” Because of Covid-19, a limited number of visitors currently are allowed inside the museum. Masks or face coverings are required for

entrance, and guests are requested to remain socially distant, officials said. Once the pandemic ends, tickets will be made available for purchase on the museum’s website for designated timeslots that allow for new tours to start every 30 minutes, museum officials determined. Displays at the museum include interactive exhibits and such iconic items as “Lucille,” the guitar played by B.B. King, and a kimono worn by Alicia Keys. Captured in a film overview at the museum’s “Roots Theater,” are the traditions of West and Central African cultures before slavery. The Rivers of Rhythm Pathways, the “central spine of the museum experience that features touch panel interactives and

an animated timeline that links American history and American music history,” officials described on the museum’s website. A “Wade in the Water” gallery may prove popular among visitors as it explores African hymns. The gallery connects African cultures’ religious music and later African American spirituals and hymns, including highlighting Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Caesar, Thomas Dorsey, and others. The “Love Supreme” gallery dives deep into the history of jazz and explores the careers of legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and others. The “One Nation Under a Grove” gallery relays Motown Records and Soul

Train’s stories, while “The Message” gallery explains the origins of hip hop. “We hope visitors will enjoy learning about the expansive roster of groundbreaking artists who have influenced some of today’s biggest hit-makers,” said Allen Schrott, senior director of Music Products for TiVo/Xperi, a museum partner. For more details about the museum, visit http://www.nmaam.org. [The guitar] will be placed temporarily in the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville, where visitors can view this smashed guitar – with its neck and fretboard still intact – for themselves.

Black People Are Not Sell Outs Just Because They’ve Sold Their Companies By Dante Lee, BlackNews.com

Nationwide — In 2001, Bob Johnson sold BET to Viacom for $3 billion. Earlier this year, Jay-Z sold his company, Tidal, to Square, a financial services company co-founded by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for $297 million. Timbaland and Swizz Beatz also sold their Verzuz platform to Triller Network for an undisclosed amount, but no doubt it was for millions of dollars. And all of them were labeled as “sell-outs” by various individuals in the Black community. Apparently, if a Black-owned company is bought out by another company that is not Black-owned, the owners are automatically classified as “sell-outs”. In other words, they have betrayed their own community. However, this makes no sense at all, and it doesn’t even apply in every single case. For example, in 2004, when Russell Simmons sold his Phat Farm and Baby Phat fashion brands to the Kellwood Company

for $140 million, no one said anything. It happened again in 2007 when Jay-Z sold the rights to his Rocawear fashion brand to Iconix Brand Group for $204

million. Not a peep from anybody. Even in 2016 when Sean “Diddy” Combs sold a majority stake of his Sean John fashion brand to Global Brands

Group Holding Ltd, he was never labeled a “sell-out”. This isn’t new though. The truth is that

highly successful Black entrepreneurs have long been cashing in their chips, and rightfully so. They are, in fact, entrepreneurs, and their goal from the very beginning was to make money. That’s exactly what Berry Gordy did in 1988 when he sold Motown Records to MCA and Boston Ventures for $61 million. And it’s exactly what Oprah Winfrey did when she sold most of her Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) shares to Discovery Inc. for more than $36 million in stock. So why has it been different in some cases? Why is Bob Johnson a sell-out? Why is Jay-Z a sell-out for selling Tidal, but not for selling Rocawear? And why are Timbaland and Swizz Beatz being labeled as sell-outs? That’s just it. It doesn’t make sense, and it never has. Dante Lee is a PR mastermind and marketing genius with more than 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur. Follow him at Facebook.com/DanteLee

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

Kwame Dawes and the Poetry Foundation Reintroduce American Life in Poetry

CHICAGO, — Award-winning poet, author, and editor Kwame Dawes, PhD, today published his first weekly column as American Life in Poetry editor, in partnership with the Poetry Foundation and University of Nebraska Lincoln, and relaunches a new and engaging website to connect people to poetry through interests, geography, and representation. Dawes carries the column forward after founding editor and curator, Ted Kooser, retired after 15 years as project creator and editor. The first poem featured is “They Dance Through Granelli’s” by Pat Emile – an homage to the recently retired editorial assistant of the project for 15 years. Dawes seeks to maintain and expand the original vision for the column by continuing to reach readers through local news media outlets, as well as subscribers to the newsletter that publishes weekly on Mondays. “This column is rooted in the everyday, the broad sense of Americanness that eschews elitism and that embraces a democratic sense of lives that make sense to a vast cross section of the population,” Dawes said. “I welcome readers who can engage in a wide section of American life, can find poetry that speaks to various aspects of American existence, and that somehow embraces the full range of this

America.” Along with a completely refreshed visual statement, the website features increased browsing and discovery capabilities, new photography, and an increased social media presence. Front and center allows users the ability to browse past columns by theme and region. “The site allows for readers to dig deeper into what they may see in the newsletter or on social media,” Dawes said. “We want readers to stay on the site for awhile and get comfortable with poetry, or to find new ways to engage with poems whether that’s through a love of sports or geography.” Dawes hopes new readers will connect with American Life in Poetry by finding columns that are approachable and speak to their interests, particularly for new poetry readers. With over 60 different themes that can be combined while searching, users can find a poem that speaks to gardening and unrequited love from the archive which includes more than 800 poems. Dawes is the author of twenty-two books of poetry and numerous other books of fiction, criticism, and essays. His collection, Nebraska was published in 2020. He is George W. Holmes University Professor of English, Glenna Luschei Editor

of Prarie Schooner at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and also teaches the Pacific MFA Program. He is director of the African Poetry Book Fund and Artistic Director of the Calabash International Literary Festival. Dawes is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. His awards include an Emmy, National Press Club Joan Friedenberg Award for Online Journalism, the Forward Poetry Prize, the Musgrave Silver Medal for contribution to the Arts in Jamaica, the Governor’s Award for service to the arts in South Carolina, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Windham Campbell Prize for Poetry. In 2009 he was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors. About the Poetry Foundation The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in American culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs.

Award-winning poet, author, and editor Kwame Dawes, PhD

! Celebration "#"$% &'()*++ 100th Anniversary

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH 2021

reported that they drank in the past month. In 2019, 25.8 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month; 6.3 percent reported that they engaged in heavy alcohol use in the past month. Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. About 95,000 Americans die from alcoholrelated causes each year.

What is Alcohol Awareness Month?

Alcohol Awareness Month is a national public health awareness campaign sponsored by the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). It takes place every April. Alcohol Awareness Month was developed in order to increase awareness and understanding of the causes and treatment of one of our nation’s top public health problems: alcoholism. Established in 1987, alcohol awareness month allows communities to focus on spreading awareness and reducing the stigma associated with alcohol addiction. Observance of this awareness campaign also highlights the need for education on the dangers of unsafe alcohol consumptions.

Who is Alcohol Awareness Month For? Anyone can participate in Alcohol Awareness Month initiatives and everyone benefits from learning more about public health awareness campaigns. As noted above alcohol use is very prevalent in our nation. The effects of alcohol and alcohol use disorders reach everyone. Organizations such as schools, healthcare facilities, general practitioners, community coalitions, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, substance abuse treatment organizations and more can participate in alcohol awareness month campaigns. Individuals such as youth or parents can also participate in these initiatives. According to NCADD, local, state, and national events can be held to educate people about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism, particularly among our youth. Parents can play a very important role in giving kids a better understanding of the impact that alcohol can have on their lives.

Why is Alcohol Awareness Month Important? Alcohol is the most used substance by youth and adults in the United States. According to the National Institute of Health’s 2020 Monitoring the Future Survey, 55.3% of high school seniors used alcohol in the past year. Results of the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), demonstrated that 85.6 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime; 69.5 percent reported that they drank in the past year; 54.9 percent

Miss Maine is a Black Woman for the First Time in History By BlackNews.com

Portland, ME — Carolyn Brady made history in 2019 when she became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Maine. She is now using her platform to support and promote Black-owned businesses especially during Black History Month. “I think if we have the opportunity to choose where we put our dollar and we can invest in a way that gives back in the long term that’s a really important thing to do,” Brady told News Center Maine. To help lessen the revenue gap between people of different races, started an initiative to support Black-owned businesses. She also encourages others to do the same as she shares her experiences on Instagram. During Black History Month, she dedicated herself to “buying black,” including at Rwanda Bean. It is a coffee company founded by Mike Mwenedata 8 years ago that gives back 50% of profits to coffee farmers in Rwanda for every cup of coffee purchased. “As an immigrant American, I think we are really focused on how commerce and how our progress relates to future generations as well as our past,” she said. Follow her on Instagram at @MissAmericaME

Carolyn Brady 12

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

AARP Analysis Finds Nearly 11 percent of Black Older Adults Lack Health Insurance Study shows Nongroup Health Insurance was Unaffordable for Nearly Half of Adults Aged 50-64 in 2019

WASHINGTON – A new analysis from AARP’s Public Policy Institute finds that nearly half of older adults purchasing health insurance through the nongroup health insurance market faced unaffordable health coverage in 2019, compared to only 30 percent of younger adults. As a result, a growing share of older adults remained uninsured: 9 percent of all 50–64-year-olds, more than half of all older adults who don’t have access to jobbased or public health coverage. Prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), about one in five Black older adults was uninsured. That declined after the ACA was passed but has leveled off in recent years; 10.8 percent of Black older adults did not have health insurance in 2019. Lack of affordable coverage is one reason why many adults ages 50-64 remain uninsured. AARP’s analysis found that in 2019, a 64-year-old earning slightly above the threshold to be eligible for premium subsidies under the ACA faced an average premium that was nearly 30 percent of their income. Two recent policy changes could help older adults purchase affordable coverage.

A provision of the American Rescue Act caps the amount an individual pays for health insurance in the marketplace at 8.5 percent of income for two years. This provision goes into effect April 1, overlapping with a special enrollment period that allows people to purchase health insurance through the nongroup market until August 15. “While the Affordable Care Act has greatly reduced the number of older adults who are uninsured, coverage has remained unaffordable for far too many people aged 50-64, including many from multicultural communities,” said Edna Kane-Williams, Chief Diversity Officer of AARP. “We want to make sure that the millions of currently uninsured older adults know that new subsidies are available to them beginning April 1.” AARP will conduct an informational campaign beginning April 1 to let older adults know about the special enrollment period and new subsidies that could greatly reduce the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans. They can visit http://www.AARP.org/ ACA for more information about how to get health insurance during this period.

“Getting vaccinated protects you, your family, and your community.” Dr. Reginald J. Eadie, President and CEO Trinity Health Of New England

ct.gov/covidvaccine 13

GET THE

FACTS ON THE

VAX

Jackie Robinson THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

Black History of Health: By Jasmine Browley, BlackDoctor.org

Famous for his kind and cool demeanor in the face of cruel racial insults while playing for the MLB, Jackie Robinson cemented himself as not only a sports icon but a moral leader. He’s an enduring baseball and a civil rights icon, as well as a clear example for how times have changed for people with diabetes since his passing in 1972 at age 53. Although it’s well reported that he died of a heart attack, it’s not common knowledge that his heart problems derived from complications with diabetes. In fact, his diabetes remains so shrouded in mystery that there isn’t even solid confirmation of which type he had listed in his official record of death. Even in his autobiography I Never Had it Made, Robinson doesn’t mention his diabetes, even after almost losing his eyesight to the disease. “Why does it matter that Jackie Robinson had diabetes?” Hirsch says, “Because perceptions matter and Robinson could have blunted some of the misperceptions that existed during his life and to some extent still remain: that the disease only affects people who are old or overweight, or that the discovery of insulin has either cured it or at least made it not that serious.” The lack of acknowledgment could be attributed to lack of information about the disease at the time of his diagnosis, but now, it’s time to shed more light on the condition and use the icon as an example to raise awareness around type 2 diabetes, especially when it continues to disproportionately plague the Black community. What is type 2 diabetes? According to the Mayo Clinic, type 2 diabetes is an impairment in the way the body regulates and uses sugar (glucose) as a fuel. This long-term (chronic) condition results in too much sugar circulating in the bloodstream. Eventually, high blood sugar levels can lead to disorders of the circulatory, nervous, and immune systems. In type 2 diabetes, there are primarily two interrelated problems at work. Your pancreas does not produce enough insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — and cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar. Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, but both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can begin during childhood and adulthood. Type 2 is more common in older adults, but the increase in the number of children with obesity

has led to more cases of type 2 diabetes in younger people. What are the causes of diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is primarily the result of two interrelated problems:

Cells in muscle, fat, and the liver become resistant to insulin. Because these cells don’t interact in a normal way with insulin, they don’t take in enough sugar. The pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to manage blood sugar levels. Exactly why this happens is unknown, but being overweight and inactive are key contributing factors. What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes? The American Diabetes Association reports that signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can be living with type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. When signs and symptoms are present, they may include: Increased thirst Frequent urination Increased hunger Unintended weight loss Fatigue Blurred vision Slow-healing sores Frequent infections Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck Although there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, losing weight, eating well, and exercising can help you manage the disease. BDO’s Black History of Health series is designed to show the correlation between the health of historical black figures and Black Americans today. Many of the health disparities we currently experience have been in our community for centuries. This series is meant to bring these conditions to the forefront and provide blacks with preventative and management steps to reduce these disparities and improve the overall health of the Black American community. It’s time to change the narrative. Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

333 Sherman Ave. | New Haven, Connecticut 06511 (203) 777.6925 ext.226 T | www.nhsofnewhaven.org

Purchase a new home in Guilford! Affordably Priced at $180,000-260,000

The Green Planet Company’s Great Hill Cottage Community

1,300 - 1,700 SQ FT COTTAGES 2-3 BEDROOMS, 2 FULL BATHS NET ZERO ENERGY READY

374 State Street, Guilford CT If you are interested in purchasing one of these homes - sign up for one of these virtual sessions

Homes will be sold to families at or below 80% and 100% of the area median income

Find out about eligibility and the application process.

! 15

March 30th, 6-8PM April 6th, 6-8PM April 10th, 10-12PM

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Listing: Commercial Driver

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory Immediate opening for a Class A part time driver for a petroleum training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT and asphalt company for deliveries for nights and weekends. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Previous experience required. Competitive wage, 401(k). Send VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Contact: Tom Dunay resume to: Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437. Phone: 243-2300 HOME INC, on behalf of860Columbus House and the New Haven HousingHR Authority,

NOTICE

is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develEmail: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com ********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer********** opment& located at 108 Frank Street, Haven. Maximum Women Minority Applicants are New encouraged to apply income limitations apply.Affi Pre-applications willEqual be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y rmative Action/ Opportunity Employer

Listing: Dispatcher

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 INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preGarrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Incoffices seeks: applications must be returned to HOME INC’s at 171 Orange Street,fast Third Extremely paced petroleum company needs a full time Reclaimer Operators Floor, New Haven,and CTMilling 06510.Operators with current licensing (which includes on call and weekend coverage) detail orientand clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northed experienced Dispatcher. A strong logistics background east & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

NOTICIA

and a minimum of one year previous petroleum experience required. Send resume to:

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES Email: rick.touHR Manager, P.O. Box 388, Guilford, CT. 06437

signant@garrityasphalt.com HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply ********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer********** aceptando pre-solicitudes estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo Affirmative Action/ para Equal Opportunity Employer

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 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en lasTrailer oficinasDriver de HOME INC. & Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas correo Materials a petición LLC, a quarry and paving contractor, has posiTractor for Heavy Highway Construction Equip- por Galasso llamando HOME INCLicense, al 203-562-4663 duranterecord, esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán ment. Must ahave a CDL clean driving capable of tions openremitirse for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking a las oficinas de equipment; HOME INCbe enwilling 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, , CT 06510 operating heavy to travel throughout theNew Haven candidates for 1) .Quality Control (experienced preferred), 2) Office Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Clerks, 3) Truck/Scalehouse Dispatcher (experience and computer knowledge preferred) and 4) Equipment Operators and Laborers and a Grading Foreman. NO PHONE CALLS. Please mail resume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials LLC, PO Box 1776, East Granby, 06026.

HELP WANTED:

Union Company seeks:

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer 242-258 Fairmont Ave

NEW HAVEN

360 Management Group Co. está aceptando solicitudes a partir del 5 de abril del 2021 para su Lista de espera del grupo IV (Fairmont Heights & Ruoppolo Manor) Ubicados en vecindarios revitalizados, nuestros apartamentos cuentan con eficiencia, 1 y 2 habitaciones, todas con un cómodo acceso al transporte, excelentes escuelas y comodidades. Las características de la comunidad incluyen mantenimiento de emergencia las 24 horas, actividades para residentes y servicios de apoyo. Las familias que califican para la asistencia de la Sección 8 no pagarán más del 30% de sus ingresos anuales ajustados en alquiler. Dirección: Fairmont Heights 480 Ferry Street. New Haven, CT Ruoppolo Manor 70-72 Fairmont Ave. New Haven, CT

REQUERIMIENTOS: Las ganancias del hogar deben ser de entre el 0 y el 60% del ingreso medio del área (AMI) al momento en el que el nombre del solicitante sea seleccionado en la lista de espera. Consulte la tabla a continuación para conocer los requisitos específicos de ingresos y composición familiar. La posición en la lista de espera se basará en la fecha y la hora en que se reciba la solicitud para brindar acceso justo se harán adaptaciones para las solicitudes recibidas por correo o entregada en mano. Las solicitudes recibidas por correo o entregada en mano serán marcadas con la fecha y la hora que se reciban. La lista de espera se actualizará según sea necesario para garantizar que todos los solicitantes y la información del solicitante esté actualizada y sea oportuna. Para actualizar su solicitud en línea, siga las instrucciones a continuación:

# de personas en el hogar

Maximo

$43,140

$49,260

$55,440

$61,560

$66,540

$71,460

$76,380

ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT ATTENTION TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENnd DER IDENTITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, VETERAN OR DISABILITY STATUS.

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

ELECTRIC UTILITY ELECTRICIAN

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center Pet under 40lb allowed. parties contact Maria @with 860-985-8258 Electric utility is seeking a highlyInterested skilled maintenance electrician extensive substa-

tion experience to maintain and repair transmission and distribution class switchgear, buswork, lightning arrestors, protective relays, insulators, switches power transformers, data CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s circuits, controls and other related components. beinathe high school/trade school graduCertificate Program. This is a 10 month program designedMust to assist intellectual formation of Candidates response the Church’s Ministry in needs. cost is $125.and Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30ateinand have 4to years’ experience the The maintenance operation of electric utility substa3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. tions and/or utility grade protection andDavis, control systems. Completion of aChurch recognized four (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. 64 Brewster (4)St. year maintenance electrician apprenticeship program may substitute for the experience New Haven, CT requirement. Two (2) years of college-level education or advanced training in related field may substitute for two (2) years of the experience requirement. Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the State of Connecticut and be able to obtain with 6 months of hire a valid Protective Switching and Tagging Procedure certification from CONVEX or other approved agency. Wage rate: $37.78 to $41.67 hourly plus an excellent Sealed bids are invited bydate thewill Housing of theDepartment Town of Seymour fringe benefi t package. Closing be MayAuthority 3, 2021. Apply: of Human Resources, Town 45 South 2, Main Street, CTSmith 06492.Street, Appliuntil 3:00 pmofonWallingford, Tuesday, August 2016 at itsWallingford, office at 28 cations will beCT mailed upon for the Department of Human Resources or may be Seymour, 06483 forrequest Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: (203) 294-2080 Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. / Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. MAINTENANCE MECHANIC. FT. Bristol Housing Authority is seeking documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority twoBidding (2) energetic individuals who have experience maintaining properties. Skills inOfthe fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. areas of building repair incl. plumbing, electricity, HVAC, carpentry and mechanical equipment repair helpful. Wage for this position is determined by the Bargaining Unit Contract. Excellent benefits.reserves Send resume and to references April any 10, or 2021 Mitzy The Housing Authority the right accept orbyreject all to bids, to Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Housing Authority, 164 Jerome Avenue, Bristol, reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any CT 06010. The Bristol Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer.

informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.

Invitation to Aplicaciones Bid: se pueden someter o actualizadas: 2 Notice• En línea a https://ecc.myhousing.com/

Si requiere una acomodación razonable y quiere recibir una aplicación por SAYEBROOKE•correo VILLAGE por favor llamar al 475-355-7289 o envié una petición por escrito

Town of Bloomfield

Old Saybrook, CTatención: Waitlist Coordinator, Elm City Communities, PO BOX 1912, con

Haven CT 06509 Maintainer II - Driver (4 Buildings, 17New Units)

Exemptted & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Full-time,Tax benefi $27.94 hourly Si usted necesita acomodación razonable para completar su aplicación llame al

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastPre-employment drug testing. 203-498-8800 ext. 1507 For details and how to apply go to Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in-place Concrete, www.bloomfi solicitudes estarán disponibles Flooring, Painting,eldct.org Division 10 Specialties,Las Appliances, Residential Casework,el 5 de abril del 2021. La lista de espera AA/EOE permanecerá abierta. Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Town of Bloomfield

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 State of Connecticut Zoning Enforcement Officer Anticipated Full-time, benefi ted Start: August 15, 2016 Office of Policy and Management Project documents available via ftp link below: $38.03 hourly http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Pre-employment drug testing. Chief Administrative Officer and an Executive Secretary position. For details and how to apply go to www. Faxbloomfi or Email eldct.org Questions &AA/EOE Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372Further dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and

QSR

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businessesinstructions are available at: application Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= STEEL CORPORATION AA/EEO EMPLOYER 210317&R2=0447MP&R3=001

APPLY NOW!

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

and https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= 200317&R2=3594SE&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.

THE INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS -July April , 2021 - April 2021 INNER-CITY 27,07 2016 - August 02,13, 2016

Fire Chief NOTICE

The Town of Wallingford, CT is seeking a highly qualified manager with strong administrative and leadership skills to direct all aspects of a municipal fire department including Emergency Medical Services. The department is made up of 56 paid firefighters and offi cers, 16 EMT’s andRENTAL 56 Vol. FFs. Must have bachelor’s degreeAVAILABLE in fire services VALENTINA MACRI HOUSING PRE-aAPPLICATIONS management, public administration or the equivalent from a recognized college or university plus 10 on years of progressively fire New services experience HOME INC, behalf of Columbus responsible House and the Haven Housingincluding Authority,at least 5 years at the rank of Captain or higher or an equivalent combination of educais accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develtion and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must have a valid opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apdriver’s license. Salary: $117,933 - $150,898 annually plus an excellent fringe benefit ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South 25, Street, 2016 and ending when pre-applications 100) have Main Wallingford, CT sufficient 06492. Application forms(approximately may be downloaded from been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied rethe Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: 203-294-2080, Fax:upon 203-294questThe by closing calling HOME INC 203-562-4663 those form/resume hours. Completed pre2084. date will beatthat date the 50thduring application is received, must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third or applications April 19, 2021, whichever occurs first. EOE

Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Listing: Director of Logistics NOTICIA Petroleum company hasVIVIENDAS an immediate need for PRE-SOLICITUDES a full time DirectorDISPONIBLES of Logistics for VALENTINA MACRI DE ALQUILER a fast paced environment, schedule includes weekends and night coverage. Must be detail oriented, have a strong and a minimum of twoAuthority, year previous HOME INC, en nombre de lalogistics Columbusbackground House y de la New Haven Housing está petroleum Management a plus. resume en to:este HRdesarrollo Manager, aceptandoexperience. pre-solicitudes para estudiosexperience y apartamentos de Send un dormitorio P.O. Box 388, 06437. ubicado en laGuilford, calle 109CT. Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos

máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer********** julio,********An 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición 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 .

Construction

DELIVERY PERSON

NEEDED

Part Time Delivery Needed One/Two Day a Week,

Must Have your Own Vehicle If Interested call

(203) 387-0354

Town of Bloomfield Finance Director Full Time - Benefited $96,755 to $149,345 Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website – www.bloomfieldct.org

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

APPLY NOW!

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.

NEW HAVEN

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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

242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

CITY OF BRIDGEPORT

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

CONNECTICUT

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s TheProgram. City of Bridgeport, Connecticut is now accepting resumes for formation the position of Certificate This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 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

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

St. New Haven, CT

Salary: $134,340.00 - $147,771.00 (salary for this position is established per Bridgeport Municipal Ordinance 2.36, salary of selected candidate will be determined by the Mayor). This summary provides a brief overview of the benefits available to regular full-time municipal employees; depending on the employee group some of these benefits may include: retirement pension administered by CMERS (Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System), health insurance Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour (medical, dental, vision, prescription), life, disability, paid leave, paid holidays, 457(b) deferred until 3:00 plan pm (employee on Tuesday, 2016 at its office 28ts.Smith Street, compensation paid),August and other 2, voluntary employee paid at benefi

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

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

To Apply: Please mail, deliver or email a resume, a cover letter, three (3) professional references, Gardens Assisted Facility, SmithBridgeport, Street Seymour. to Smithfield the Civil Service Commission office,Living Room 106, 45 Lyon26 Terrace, CT 06604 or by email to COB.Jobs@bridgeportct.gov.

AResumes pre-bidmust conference will be at the Housing Authority 28 2021. Smith be submitted or held postmarked no later than Friday,Office April 23, (Any/all changes to CT this at deadline be Wednesday, at the discretion the 2016. City of Bridgeport). Street Seymour, 10:00 shall am, on Julyof20, An Equal Opportunity Employer MF/AA/DIS

April 5, 2021 for its RAD Group IV (Fairmont Heights & Ruoppolo Manor) waitlist Located in revitalized neighborhoods, our newly renovated apartments feature efficiency, 1 and 2 bedrooms all with convenient access to public transportation and great schools and amenities. Community features include 24-hour emergency maintenance, resident activities, and supportive services. Families who qualify for Section 8 assistance will pay no more than 30% of their adjusted annual income for rent. Locations: Ruoppolo Manor 480 Ferry Street. New Haven, CT Fairmont Heights 70-72 Fairmont Ave. New Haven, CT

REQUIREMENTS: Earnings must be between 0-60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) at the time the applicant is drawn from the waitlist. Please see the table below for specific income and household requirements. Placement on the waitlist will be based on the date and time the application is received with accommodations made for applications received by mail or hand delivery to give fair access. Applications will be date and time stamped as they are received. The waiting list will be updated as needed to ensure that all applicants and applicant information is current and timely. To update your online application please follow the instructions below:

# of people in household Maximum

1 $43,140

2 $49,260

3 $55,440

4 $61,560

5 $66,540

6 $71,460

7 $76,380

Invitation to Bid: Applications can be submitted or updated: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE FIREFIGHTER

• Online at https://ecc.myhousing.com/ • If you require a reasonable accommodation and would like to receive an Old Saybrook, CT application by mail, please call 475-355-7289 or (4 Buildings, 17 Units) send a written request to Attention: Waitlist Coordinator, Elm City Communities, PO Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509 Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

City of Bristol $53,964/yr.

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastIf you need a reasonable Requires valid CPATConcrete, Cert in-place Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, accommodation to complete the application call 203-498-8800 ext. 1507 issued on or after June 1, 2020, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, written & oral tests. Registration Mechanical, Electrical, PlumbingApplications and Fire Protection. will be available April 5, 2021. The waitlist will information & apply online: This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. remain open. www.bristolct.gov

DEADLINE: May 2021 Due Date: August 5, 2016 Bid 1, Extended, EOE

THE GLENDOWER GROUP

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Project documents available via ftp link below: Town of Bloomfield http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Invitation for Bids Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com Architectural Design for 34 Level Street Police Dispatcher HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses

Haynes Construction ted Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 Full Time - Benefi The Glendower Group is currently seeking Proposals for Architectural Design for 34 Level Street. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from $27.80 hourly AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfFor further information and contact: fice, 28 Smith Street,CIVIL Seymour, CTCOMMISSION 06483 (203)OFFICE 888-4579. SERVICE

Pre-employment drug testing. For details and how to apply go to www. bloomfieldct.org AA/EOE

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

45 LYON TERRACE, ROOM# 106

The 360 Management Group Co. is accepting applications as of

Glendower’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, March 8, 2021 at 3:00PM.

THE INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS July - April , 2021 - April 2021 INNER-CITY 27, 07 2016 - August 02,13, 2016

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

Essex Townhouse Fencing Improvements and Basement Abatement

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.

NOTICE

Invitation for Bids

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for Essex Townhouse fencing improveHOME on behalf of Columbus Housecopy and the New Haven Housing Authority, ments andINC, basement abatement. A complete of the requirement may be obtained is accepting for studio and one-bedroom at this develfrom Elm Citypre-applications Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal apartments https://newhavenhousing. opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apcobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have Monday, March 29, 2021 at 3:00PM. been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids NOTICIA

Landscaping Services at McConaughy Terrace

APPLY NOW!

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DELIVERY PERSON

NEEDED

Part Time Delivery Needed One/Two Day a Week,

Must Have your Own Vehicle If Interested call

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

(203) 387-0354

máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Monday, Marchsuficientes 29, 2021 at 3:00PM. julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición 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 .

Seeking qualified condidates to fill numerous vacancies to include, Benefits & Pension Coordinator and more. For information and detailed application instructions, visit www.ci.milford.ct.us

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for landscaping services at McConaughy complete of theHouse requirement may be obtained Elm está City HOMETerrace. INC, enAnombre de lacopy Columbus y de la New Haven Housing from Authority, Communities’ Vendor Collaboration https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesysaceptando pre-solicitudes para estudiosPortal y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo tems.com/gateway beginning onStreet, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos ubicado en la calle 109 Frank

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP COMPANY Request for Proposals

Legal Services for Nonpayment Summary Process 360 Management Group is currently seeking proposals for legal services for nonpayment summary process. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.529, BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA Monday, March 2021 at 3:00PM.

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids

Robert T. Wolfe Building Upgrade

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Elm City Communities is currently bids forofRobert T. Wolfe (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijahseeking Davis, D.D. Pastor Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B.Building Church 64Upgrade. Brewster

A St. complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ New Haven, CT Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

SEYMOUR AUTHORITY Monday, HOUSING March 29, 2021 at 3:00PM. Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, FOOD August SERVICE 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the ELEMENTARY CAFÉ MANAGER- Wallingford Board of Education-Food Service Division is seeking a qualified individual to coordinate activities of the other Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. food-

service employees within the facility. Position requires a High School Diploma or G.E.D. In addition, must have experience in food service and a sanitation certification from an A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Officepreferred. 28 Smith approved Department of Education source. School food service experience Supervisory experienceCT alsoat preferred. Wages (hourly)July plus20, an excellent Street Seymour, 10:00 am, on $16.78 Wednesday, 2016. fringe benefit package. Applications may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon Bidding are of available from theorSeymour Housing Authority Ofrequest fromdocuments the Department Human Resources may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. The closing date will be the date the 50th application fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. or resume is received or April 7, 2021 whichever occurs first. EOE

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

CITY OF MILFORD Click on SERVICES, JOBS and JOB TITLE.

Town of Bloomfield

THE GLENDOWER GROUP Request for Proposals

Co-Sponsor for the Redevelopment of 34 Level Street The Glendower Group is currently seeking proposals for Co-Sponsor for the Redevelopment of 34 Level Street. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Glendower’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 3:00PM.

CT Certified Police Officer Town of Greenwich

The Greenwich Police Department, acting without fear or favor, strives to provide superior law enforcement and public services in cooperation with its community. The Greenwich Police Department will actively promote an environment that encourages independent judgment and allows its employees to attain the highest levels of professional achievement.

Candidates must fulfill several requirements, including: * Possess at least 2 years of experience as a Connecticut POST Certified Police Officer or Connecticut State Trooper * Be a U.S. Citizen * Be at least 21 years of age

To view detailed information and apply online visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/greenwichct $23.40/hourly (benefited) Current Salary Range: $69,701 - $86,427, plus benefits, including generous Defined Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE. Retirement Plan. The Town of Greenwich is dedicated to Diversity & Invitation toContribution Bid: For Details go to www.bloomfieldct.gov Equal Opportunity Employment; Town of Greenwich, HR Dept., 101 Field Point Rd, 2nd Notice Greenwich, CT 06830. Close Date 4:00 PM 5/10/21.

Custodian

CITY OF MILFORD Old Saybrook, CT 360 MANAGEMENT GROUP SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Seeking qualified condidates to fill 17 Units) (4 Buildings, numerous vacancies to include, Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Deputy Assessor, Mechanic Sewer Invitation for Bid Line, Public Health Nurse and New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastLandscaping Services more. For information and detailed in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, application instructions, visit www. 360 Management Group is currently seeking bids for landscaping services. A complete Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management’s Vendor Collaboraci.milford.ct.us Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. tion Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Click on SERVICES, JOBS and This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. JOB TITLE. Monday, March 22, 2021 at 3:00PM.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

FIREFIGHTER Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 New Mansfield Elementary School - Mansfield, CT documents available via ftp link below: City ofProject Bristol

O&G Industries is looking for DAS-certified minorities (must be pre-qualified http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

$53,964/yr.

by DAS if work is over $500,000) to bid the above-referenced project as a subRequires valid CPAT Cert contractordawnlang@haynesconstruction.com or supplier of material. Project will bid to the Town of Mansfield on Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 issued or after 1, 2020, 13,& 2021. Aside Requirements: 25% SBE Subcontractors &/or SupHCCon encourages theJune participation of all Veteran,April S/W/MBE Section 3 Set Certified Businesses pliers; 6.25% MBE Subcontractors &/or Suppliers. Mansfield based certified written & oral tests. Registration Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 businesses are encouraged to participate. information & apply online: AA/EEO EMPLOYER

www.bristolct.gov

DEADLINE: May 1, 2021 EOE

Please e-mail Mark Carroll markcarroll@ogind.com for more information and to gain access to the plans.

O&G is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer seeking all subcontractors/suppliers/vendors - MBE/WBE/SBE/DBE/Veterans/Disabled.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

We all have

DREAMS. Let Job Corps help you achieve yours. Now enrolling! Tuition-free career training High school diploma programs College credit opportunities Housing, meals and medical care provided

For more information, visit jobcorps.gov or call (800) 733-JOBS [5627] New Haven County - Jesselica Rodriguez – Rodriguez.Jesselica@JobCorps.org !"#$%&'(")*+,$*-+#".&/$*0(1,)2*3*4&//2*0(,,&"*5*Conner.Kelly@JobCorps.org Waterbury and Surrounding Areas – Abdul Shabazz – Shabazz.Abdul@JobCorps.org

CAREERS BEGIN HERE

Job Corps is a U.S. Department of Labor Equal Opportunity Employer Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY telephone number is (877) 889-5627.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 07, 2021 - April 13, 2021

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3/31/21 12:23 AM