INNER-CITY NEWS

History-Making Schools Chief Starts Listening

by PAUL BASS

New Haven’s first-ever Latina schools superintendent greeted Ecuadorian-born student Bryan Panata with an “Hola,” made a Puerto Rican geography connection with Wilbur Cross junior Lunaa Omar, and remarked on how bilingual education has advanced since her childhood days working to learn English in a basement classroom.

Madeline Negrón did that Thursday on the morning after the Board of Education voted unanimously to hire her to succeed retiring Supt. Iline Tracey starting July 1. She began a planned “listening tour” of the city’s 41 public schools by popping in on Lincoln-Bassett Community School and Wilbur Cross, where 65.3 percent of the 1,625 students are Latino. Districtwide, Latinos make up the largest demographic group of students, at an estimated 48 percent and rising.

Students and administrators greeted Negrón at Cross, where her daughter Gabriela graduated last year.

The history-making nature of Negrón’s appointment was not lost on Yale-bound senior Chelsea Coronel, one of the greeters. “I feel excited,” she said. “It’s really nice to see another Latina in a higher position. It makes me feel I can do the same.”

After treating his new boss to a snickerdoodle scone prepared by Cross’s awardwinning student culinary program, new Principal Matthew Brown brought her to two “sheltered content” classrooms that weave English language learning into other subject matters. In the first class, in a bright room on the second floor, Negrón spoke in Spanish with seniors Axel Gonzalez of Guatemala and Jheenly Valeria and Bryan Panata, whose families moved here from Ecuador.

Kate Errico, one of the class’s two teachers, was asked if she had a message for the new superintendent. “Support your teachers,” she responded. And: “We need more teachers.” She and her co-teacher in this class have 15 students, “a beautiful number.” But because of a shortage, the number rises to 27 in another class, which makes it “hard to manage” at the students’ varying levels. Wilbur Cross currently has 12 teacher vacancies, representing 10 percent of the budgeted positions.

“It felt like home,” Negrón said after leaving the classroom, thinking back to when she was 10 years old. Her family had moved to Willimantic from Puerto Rico. She spoke only Spanish. She, too, found herself in an English learners’ class. Only that one was “down in the basement by the boiler.” And once she advanced to mainstream classes, without the continuing support and integrated curricula found at Cross.

In the second “sheltered content” room, a science class taught by Andrennecka Daley, Negrón chatted with junior Lunaa

Omar (pictured), who was excited to learn that he and the superintendent hailed from nearby municipalities of Puerto Rico: His family from Toa Baja, hers from San Lorenzo.

Negrón began the morning greeting preK-8 students arriving at Lincoln Bassett. Elected officials (including Alder Richard Furlow, pictured) above … and presidents of the three public schools unions teachers’ rep Leslie Blatteau, administrators’ rep Sequella Coleman, and paraprofessionals’ Hyclis Williams showed up, too. They pledged to work with Negrón to improve public education. “We are all rooting for Dr. Negrón’s success,” Mayor Justin Elicker declared. “We are all united. New Haven’s coming together because we care about our children.”

Negrón spoke with second-grader Diane Flucker while making the rounds of Mercedes Ellis’s second-grade classroom … then sat in on a “school quality review” held in a different classroom. Principals had gathered there from schools across town. They heard how test scores have risen dramatically thanks to extra efforts made to help students who had fallen behind; how out-of-school suspensions have dropped to 15 this year; how 70 students are showing up for after-school ballet, zumba, robotics and other activities that last until 5 p.m. Principal Rosalind Garcia (at right in photo) said a looming challenge now is figuring out how to help students already performing at grade level; their scores have not shown the same improvements. The principals prepared to observe several classes, then return to the room to share observations about how to make that happen. In between, they were treated to a batch of Lincoln-Bassett music teacher Kevin Farrell’s coveted homemade chocolate-chip cookies.

Such collaborative school quality reviews resumed last month in New Haven after a three-year pandemic pause. Negrón said she was glad to see them still going strong; she had helped organize some of the early ones when she served as principal of Hill Regional Career High School. Negrón, who is 50 and began her education career 28 years ago, worked as a teacher, principal, and district administrator in New Haven before moving five years ago to an assistant superintendent post in Hartford. She was asked if she had ideas about how to strengthen the “quality review” “instructional rounds.” At this point, as she returns to New Haven’s schools, she’s “listening,” not ordering changes.

On her way out the door, she watched high-energy parent involvement coordinator, Keith Young, teach Mayor Elicker the multi-step handshake patented by the “Batman Bunch,” an informal mentoring network he formed for the school’s young men. Negrón promised to give it a try, too in a future visit.

PAUL BASS PHOTO Schools Supt.-to-be Madeline Negrón greets Lincoln-Bassett students Thursday morning.

... current Supt. Iline Tracey ("I won't let Mrs. Tracey down!") ...

New Haven Independent

ECA Students Walk Out To Protest Budget Cuts

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

A screenwriting class at the Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) saved Isling Morris’ life. So when they heard that their department chair might not have a fulltime, benefitted job to come back to in the fall, they started organizing. Not just for him—but also for four of his colleagues who were in the same boat.

Now, they have an arts army of students, parents, former faculty members and alumni behind them. Will it be enough to save five full-time jobs that are on the line?

Monday, Morris joined over 100 of their peers to ask that question, as students walked out to protest budget cuts at the long-beloved Audubon Street arts magnet school. Speaking one after the other to eardrum-shattering cheers, young artists urged the administration to reconsider the proposed cuts, which will eliminate fulltime department chairs in dance, theater, music, creative writing, and visual arts. Those faculty members have the option of staying on part time, but will lose their health benefits. They have until April 27 to respond to the agreement with the Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) teachers’ union. More on that below.

The proposed cuts come from ACES, the parent agency for ECA, amidst shrinking enrollment and budget woes at the school. Since 2018, ECA has gone from 319 students to 266. The school will also be bringing on a new principal, Kevin Buno, in the fall of 2023. On April 5 of this year, the board of ACES voted to approve a smaller budget, but did not communicate that to parents at the time.

“Department heads are expensive for a reason,” Morris said in a Zoom interview Saturday, as they organized plans for the student walkout. “They do so much work. They have done so much for so long. These people are in it. They're like, ride or die. The fact that they are being viewed as replaceable or cuttable is honestly shocking.”

The cuts, which follow a study from Odyssey Associates and became public last Friday morning, propose dissolving ECA’s full-time (0.8 full-time equivalent, or FTE) department chairs in dance, theater, creative writing, music and visual arts as a cost-saving measure. Under this new model, all five departments would fall under the leadership of a single vice principal at the school.

Meanwhile, current full-time faculty are invited to stay on in a part-time capacity (0.5 FTE), but would no longer have their titles, their same salaries, or access to health benefits. Some of them are the primary health care providers for their families.

Department chairs include Saul Fussiner in Creative Writing, Amy Christman in Music, Johanna (Hanni) Bresnick in

Visual Arts, Mariane Banar-Fountain in Dance, and Ingrid Schaeffer in Theater. In their current roles, they are responsible for designing and implementing the curriculum, hiring part-time faculty and teaching artists, supervising and advising students, and managing the budgets of their respective departments.

Reached by phone and email, three of the five declined to comment.

The proposed cuts result in a net savings of $142,750 per year, according to ACES Executive Director Thomas Danehy. In an email Monday afternoon, Danehy said that the five department heads currently cost the school $528,089 for the 20222023 academic year. Reducing them from full- to part-time staff members, through which they would lose their health benefits, will cost the school $219,508. A new vice principal, meanwhile, will cost $165,831 in the next school year.

Danehy added that part-time staff will also be taking a pay cut: “The approved budget also has reductions of $89,150 for part-time instructors.”

The cuts come less than a full year after

ACES purchased a two-story building at 388 Orange St. for $975,000. So far, no classes are being taught in that building; its previous owners are currently leasing it through August of this year.

“Here, You Don’t Feel Like A Minority”

Monday, students gathered outside the school’s sliding doors on Audubon Street, carrying handmade signs that declared “S.O.S. Save Our Staff!,” “Budget Cuts Cut Opportunities” and “I’m Not Mad, Just Disappointed” among other slogans. For over an hour, close to a dozen of them spoke about the ways in which the school, and specifically its department heads, have supported them as young artists when they don’t always know where else to turn.

As they did, a handful of parent advocates and alumni cheered them on from nearby patio furniture that had been set out on the street. A few representatives of Long Wharf Theatre and Creative Arts Workshop trickled out of their offices to watch.

Students noted that ECA has a model unlike any other school in the state. Dur-

and excitement that I hadn’t felt in any of my sending school classes. He brought so much enthusiasm, even if all of the screens had their cameras off. Even if no one was commenting on workshop. He kept on trying to make the community a community, even in a time like that.”

For Borenstein—and with so many of her peers—Fussiner became so much more than an instructor. He was and is a tough but empathetic critic, a thoughtful advisor, and an educator who was willing to read and workshop drafts well beyond school hours. When Borenstein’s cat died her sophomore year, Fussiner checked in on her after getting a message that she would be absent from class. She was floored. That sense of community has carried her through, she said.

“Stuff like that really shows you how much these people care about us,” she said. “We’re not just students to them. We’re people. I also have friends who feel that Saul created this very accepting community for us … a lot of people here feel that this school is a safe haven from our sending schools.”

While she is sure that Buno is highly qualified, she added, she does not think he’s capable of replacing five people across five different disciplines. Instead of moving the positions to part-time, she proposed fundraising efforts at the school that will let the department chairs keep their positions and create a more financially stable school going forward.

ing the first half of the day, high schoolers from 24 regional districts attend their “sending schools,” or the public schools in the cities and towns that they are from. Then from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., they come to ECA for three hours of arts education, taught by professionals in the field.

All department heads are also certified educators. In New Haven, the only eligible sending schools are Wilbur Cross High School and James Hillhouse High School.

Junior Naomi Borenstein, one of Monday’s organizers who is studying creative writing, remembered starting high school in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, when it felt like the entire world had been flipped on its head. As a student at North Haven High School, she trudged through her virtual classes each day just to get to 1 p.m.

It was emotionally and mentally exhausting, she said. And then there was Fussiner, waiting at 1 p.m. to make her day that much better, even if the classroom was just a two-dimensional screen.

“I was just so beaten down,” she said. “And then I would get to Saul’s class. And he would bring energy and passion

For other students, ECA is the place that makes high school bearable. Freshman Gabby (he asked to use only their first name), who is studying visual arts, remembered feeling scared to express himself fully before getting to ECA. But when he stepped into the visual arts department, people could come as they were.

Before speaking Monday, he carefully put together an outfit that included ripped black stockings, short shorts, furry pink wristbands and a matching necklace, heavy eye shadow and a turmeric-colored beanie. “The school has made me so much more confident in my being,” he said. He later praised teacher Hanni Bresnick as “a boss, a beast.”

“Who here loves ECA?!” Gabby said to screams that made it feel more like a rock concert than a walkout. “If it wasn’t for ECA, I wouldn’t be dressed the way I am. I wouldn’t be expressing myself the way I am. I wouldn’t be as confident as I am today. And I think one of the reasons why is … we have such a great community that is fueled by our teachers.”

Viviana Rodriguez, who is a sophomore in the theater department, said she can’t imagine making it through high school without ECA. Each day, she begins classes at North Haven High School, where she feels out of place as one of the only non-white kids. Then she comes to ECA.

Lucy Gelman photos: Theater students Erin Palmer and Viviana Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who attends North Haven High School before getting to ECA at 1 p.m., started a petition to save the department chairs' full-time positions.

Arts Students Slam School Staff Cuts

by NORA GRACE-FLOOD

Roughly 100 students at an Audubon Street arts magnet school walked out of their classes and into the city’s public arts district to protest staffing cutbacks and to stand in solidarity with affected teachers. That mass student action took place on Monday afternoon on Audubon Street near Orange Street, right outside of the main building of Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) Educational Center for the Arts (ECA).

The protest followed news that ECA, a regional half-day high school arts program on Audubon Street, is overhauling the school’s department heads positions — currently filled by five teachers who double as broader liaisons and leaders for the program’s five divisions of study, including dance, visual arts, music, creative writing and theater — in order to reel in budget woes next school year. This restructuring is “deeply personal because we’re such a small school,” 16-yearold ECA student Naomi Borenstein said at the protest.

“A lot of the department heads have families,” she said, worrying that some of the school’s top teachers would be forced to find work elsewhere due to salary cuts. “If they abolish the department heads, that will ruin ECA.”

Enrollment Drop, $500K Deficit

ACES Executive Director Tom Danehy said the school’s board voted on April 5 in favor of a budget that would demote the department heads from full-time equivalent employees to part-time teachers (all of ECA’s other teachers, like the school’s students themselves, are part-time, since ECA serves as a supplemental arts program for kids who are dually enrolled in other schools) and hire a new assistant principal to take on their outstanding administrative responsibilities. He pointed to declining enrollment, a $500,000 operating budget deficit, and losses in funding as drivers of the staffing changes.

For example, he said that the student body has decreased from 319 students in 2018 to 266 today. That change, he said, may be due in large part to state rescission of funding back in 2018 which restricted New Haven youth already enrolled in magnet schools from attending ECA. In other words, the only New Haven students allowed to participate in ECA are those enrolled at Hillhouse and Wilbur Cross.

In all, the five department heads’ associated salaries and benefits came to a total of $548,098 this past year, according to Danehy. By concentrating administrative work between two people – the school’s principal, the newly hired Kevin Buno, and an upcoming associate principal –rather than five, Danehy said ECA will cut those salaries to $219,508 the following year and save a total of $142,750 (the yetto-be-hired associate principal’s salaries

and benefits will come to $165,831).

In a Friday letter to parents, Danehy further announced that, “Recently, ACES engaged Odyssey Associates to study the program at ECA. The full report should be available soon, and we will share it with all of you once it is available. So far, we know the study will document an array of positive and negative data points: students’ and parents’ overall high satisfaction with the programming at ECA;

rather than on administrative responsibilities.

Department heads are currently tasked with a combination of direct teaching and administrative duties. With next school year’s approved budget, those department heads will have the opportunity to stay on as teachers working on a half-time basis, while the additional .3 full-time equivalent roles they previously served as administrators will all be re-assigned to the principal and his associate. Danehy suggested that department heads were previously spending the majority of their time on administrative responsibilities rather than teaching; with the change, they will spend all of their hours in the classroom.

Danehy noted that those five teachers should be able to maintain full-time employment if desired by picking up additional teaching gigs with ACES’ other schools. He also said that none of the teachers should lose their benefits, but that if the teachers did not take on additional work moving forward, they will have to pay higher shares on their insurance premiums than they currently do. None of the five affected teachers responded to requests for comment from the Independent for this article. This restructuring comes less than a year after ACES purchased an adjacent law office building on Orange Street for $975,000 with plans to convert that site into ECA school “programmatic” spaces.

“Really Sad That This Is All Happening”

However, students — who have already been vocal alongside parents online in calling for greater transparency from school leadership and creating a petition to reverse the budget vote — spoke up in person and en masse about how the restructuring could impact what they described as a singular educational opportunity and student “safe space.”

Over the course of an hour on Monday, students took turns sharing stories of how their department heads have changed their lives, expressed their concerns that cutting back teacher salaries could lead to the departure of beloved staff, and mourned the stymieing of artistic development by monetary savings.

“My mom has been here for 20 years,” one ECA student named Joaquin, whose mother leads the visual arts department, told his peers. “She went here as a student. She’s an alumni and now she’s teaching here. Before that, my grandmother taught here.”

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blended elements of staff satisfaction and dissatisfaction; a large, unsustainable financial deficit to ACES due to declining enrollment from prior years; and supporting students as they navigate the increasing challenges of attending two schools.”

Danehy said that in addition to shaving some money from ECA’s budget, the restructuring would “prioritize teacher/student interactions” by granting department heads more time to work with students

“You’re next!” another student cheered from the audience.

That continuation of artistic education now feels uncertain, Joaquin responded, as he observes his mom and other artists struggle to provide for their students in the face of limited funding.

“All the other department chairs are feeling really bad,” he said. “It’s just really Con’t on page 10

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NORA GRACE-FLOOD PHOTO ECA students gathered on Audubon Street Monday.

Students took turns climbing onto a nearby windowsill to speak out against the restructure.

Students Phoenix Geyser, Emmy Rosario, and Oren Mendieta.

State Colleges and Universities Warn of Tuition Hikes, Layoffs

by Hugh McQuaid

Officials within Connecticut’s public college and university system warned Monday that a spending plan recently advanced by the state legislature would force layoffs and tuition hikes if it were approved without a boost in higher education funding.

Although the budget plan recommended last week by the Appropriations Committee includes $82 million more for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system than Gov. Ned Lamont’s twoyear plan, CSCU officials argued during a morning press conference that it would necessitate dire cuts.

“Students will get far less and they will pay much more,” CSCU President Terrence Cheng said during the event in Hartford’s Legislative Office Building. “The reduction in services will hurt our enrollment. The Board of Regents will need to evaluate which of our institutions and campuses have the resources to sustain these types of cuts and which campuses do not.”

The plan approved by the committee leaves the regional school system about $335 million short of its current services, according to Ben Barnes, CSCU’s chief financial officer. Under a “worst case

scenario” plan, Cheng said that funding shortfall would force mitigation strategies including 654 full time staff layoffs and the elimination of 2,914 part time positions.

Meanwhile, the system would attempt to raise nearly $35 million in tuition increases resulting in 10% tuition hikes over two years for community college students and a 5% increase for university students for the 2024-25 academic year.

John Maduko, president of the Connecticut State Community College, said a decrease in support for higher education represented a “deathblow” for the system’s administrators.

“We’re now asking the questions that as leaders, we don’t want to ever ask in higher education, in terms of who stays and who goes, in terms of what services can we maintain and what services have to go,” Maduko said.

Monday’s press conference was the latest in a string of media events by interest groups objecting to the budget proposal drafted by the legislature’s spending committee. Despite a projected budget surplus of roughly $3 billion, the state policymakers are constrained by recently re-approved fiscal guardrails including a spending cap designed to ensure that excess revenues are used to pay down un-

funded pension liabilities.

Faculty and staff from the University of Connecticut, which is separate from CSCU, rallied for more funding at the Capitol back in February, after the governor made his budget recommendations.

The governor’s administration has argued that the budget proposal actually represents an increase in baseline higher education funding. That funding has been supplemented in recent years by expiring federal pandemic relief and it is the evap-

oration of those funds that leaves colleges and universities with a shortfall.

Jeffrey Beckham, secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and Lamont’s top budget advisor, issued a statement Monday reiterating that point.

“CSCU’s request for additional funding appears to be based on a belief that onetime federal funding to compensate for COVID-related costs should continue in perpetuity,” Beckham said. “Simply asking for ever-increasing operating subsidies is not sustainable.”

However, Barnes told reporters it was unreasonable to refer to the pandemic funds as “one-time” support because it had been used to fund ongoing costs including wages and benefits for employees under an agreement negotiated with the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition.

“They [the legislature] did not fully fund the SEBAC raises. Instead, they gave us one-time funds from [the federal American Rescue Plan Act] and carry forward and other sources and now, pretending that those can just go away without impacting our operation is not realistic,” Barnes said.

Read more by going to THE INNERCITY NEWS .COM

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Terrence Cheng warns of the impact of recent budget proposals Credit: Hugh McQuaid / CTNewsJunkie

Film, TV, and Broadway Stars Bring to Life New Play About a Family of Black Activists at Yale Rep

Special to The Inner-City News

Acclaimed playwright Christina Anderson, a recent Tony Award nominee as book writer for the Broadway musical Paradise Square, returns to New Haven with her newest work, the ripple, the wave that carried me home. A graduate of David Geffen School of Drama, Anderson was honored with the 2022 Horton Foote Prize, awarded to an American playwright for an original work of exceptional quality, for this play. the ripple, the wave that carried me home begins performances at Yale Repertory Theatre on April 28 and continues through May 20.

Yale Rep Resident Director Tamilla Woodard, who serves as Chair of the Acting program at David Geffen School of Drama (where she received her MFA), stages the production. Recently named one of the 50 Women to Watch on Broadway, Tamilla she was the Associate Director of the Tony Award-winning Hadestown. She is the co-founder of the site-specific international partnership, PopUP Theatrics, and served as the coArtistic Director of Working Theater in New York and the BOLD Associate Artistic Director at WP Theater.

The ripple, the wave that carried me home travels back and forth through decades of history as a woman named Janice reflects on her family’s legacy of activism, fighting for integration and teaching Black children how to swim during the Civil Rights Movement. The poignant, transporting, and quietly subversive story of justice, legacy, and forgiveness, features a cast of four actors familiar for their work in film, television, Broadway, and on stage in New Haven.

Jennean Farmer, who co-starred in the Netflix movie The Good Nurse with Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne and played a recurring role on the TV show Dead Ringers, portrays Janice. A U.S. Army Veteran, she received her M.F.A. in acting from the New School for Drama. Her theater credits include Cullud Water and Ain’t No Mo’ at The Public Theatre, Toni Stone at Roundabout Theatre Company, and Mima’s Tale at Westport

Country Playhouse. Her other film and TV credits include A Thousand and One, The Secret Art of Human Flight, How the Light Gets In, WuTang: An American Saga, Evil, That Damn Michael Che, New Amsterdam, and FBI.

Marcus Henderson plays Janice’s father, Edwin. A dynamic thespian from St. Louis, Missouri, Marcus started his drama journey after falling in love with theater at Alabama State University. He went on to graduate school to hone his craft at David Geffen School of Drama. Immediately recognized for his immense talent, he booked a role in Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, and has enjoyed a blossoming career ever since with roles in Whiplash, John Singleton’s

Snowfall, and Jordan Peele’s Get Out. He currently stars in the hilarious TV show Tacoma FD. He last appeared at Yale Rep in Romeo and Juliet in 2011.

Tony Award nominated for her role in Jeremy O. Harris’s Slave Play on Broadway, Chalia La Tour returns to Yale Rep to play Helen, Janice’s mother. She previously appeared at Yale Rep in Cadillac Crew by Tori Sampson and Shakespeare’s Cymbeline. La Tour received her M.F.A. in acting from David Geffen School of Drama and has appeared on the TV shows The Good Fight, The Code, and Elementary and in the films The Future is Bright, The Year Between, and Mother Melancholia. She maintains a commitment to storytelling that asks the questions of

humanity with the fullness of humanity. She has also worked with the anti-racism organization Broadway Advocacy Coalition as a consultant for their Artivism Fellowship.

Adrienne S. Wells, plays the roles of Gayle and Young Chipper Ambitious Black Woman. She recently appeared in the Tony Award winning production of The Skin of Our Teeth. In New Haven, she previously appeared in Girls by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins at Yale Rep; as well as Seven Spots On the Sun; Alice; How Black Girls Get Over Fuckbois, vol. 1; Marty and The Hands That Could; and School Girls: or The African Mean Girls Play at David Geffen School Drama, where she received her M.F.A.

The production features scenic design by Emmie Finckel, costume design by Aidan Griffiths, lighting design by Alan C. Edwards, sound design by Evdoxia Ragkou, wig design by Krystal Balleza/Wig Associates, projection design by Henry Rodriguez, production dramaturgy by Hannah Fennell Gellman and Eric M. Glover, technical direction by Nate Angrick, vocal coaching by Julie Foh, fight and intimacy coaching by Kelsey Rainwater, casting by Calleri Jensen Davis, and stage management by Andrew Petrick. Tickets begin at $15 for all performances and are available online at yalerep.org, by calling (203) 432-1234, and in person at the Yale Rep Box Office (1120 Chapel Street).

Sunday

April

Conducted by Dr. Felicia Barber

New Haven Independent

Finance Panel Advances Revenue Package, Including Tax Cuts

by Hugh McQuaid

The Connecticut legislature’s finance committee advanced a two-year tax plan on Wednesday that disqualifies some wealthier households from the income tax cuts proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont while broadening an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor. The legislative tax plan followed a spending plan released by the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee’s proposal remained under discussion until late Wednesday afternoon.

Together, the proposals represent a legislative response to a $50.5 billion budget plan recommended by the governor back in February. Lamont’s headline provision, a broad-based reduction in the state’s two lowest tax brackets, was slightly curtailed by the legislative tax-writing committee. The panel opted to scale back some of the tax relief for wealthier residents by including ceilings for the tax cuts, meaning single filers making more than $200,000 per year and joint filers making more than $400,000 per year would see

no reductions. Meanwhile, the committee preserved Lamont’s proposal to lower the 3% rate to 2% but chose to reduce the 5% rate to 4.75%, a smaller cut than the 4.5% proposed by the governor.

Lawmakers recommended strengthening tax relief for lower-income residents. The committee bolstered a contemplated expansion of the EITC. Where the governor had proposed to increase from 30.5% of the federal poverty rate to 40%, the legislative panel pushed the rate up to 45%.

Rep. Maria Horn, a Salisbury Democrat who co-chairs the committee, said that the panel was fortunate to be recommending a revenue plan focused largely on providing tax relief.

“Nearly this entire package is about reducing taxes,” Horn said. “What we have tried to do here is strike a balance that would help a variety of businesses, consumers, retired people, workers across the board… We are committed to returning taxes in a moment of fiscal health for the state of Connecticut.”

Despite calls from some legislative Democrats and progressive advocates, the revenue package did not include any

ongoing version of the child tax credit, which the state offered on a one-time basis last year.

The proposal did include a provision not present in the governor’s budget de-

signed to soften a tax credit “cliff” for retirees who currently become ineligible for pension and annuity as well as IRA income tax deductions if their incomes exceed $75,000 per year or $100,000

for households. Under the committee’s bill, eligibility for the deduction would be gradually reduced as income exceeds those thresholds.

“It is indeed a middle class tax cut,” Rep. Jason Doucette, D-Manchester, said. “A married couple with a couple of pensions and some social security income making $101,000 is certainly a middle class family and they are going to see some relief under this revenue package.”

Where the Appropriations Committee’s spending plan enjoyed bipartisan support, the finance package proved considerably more divisive. Rep. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme, said despite supporting elements of the bill, she viewed the overall package with disappointment because it did not offer enough tax relief.

“This does not even match what the governor was doing in terms of income tax relief for our residents and I thought that was pretty stingy,” she said.

Republicans also faulted the finance package for employing an accounting

Read more by going to THE INNERCITY NEWS .COM

Finance Committee co-chair Rep. Maria Horn talks with ranking Republican Rep. Holly Cheeseman prior to an April 19, 2023 meeting. Credit: Hugh McQuaid / CTNewsJunkie

Tiger Squad News Roars Back To Life

by MAYA MCFADDEN

The ink is dry on the first issue of the recently revived Tiger Squad News as Celentano School reporters-in-training Nima Safdari, Alae Aboutalib, and Shayla Black return to the beat for a second newsletter that they hope will inform their classmates about just how much work goes into being a student reporter.

In October, Celentano Biotech, Health and Medical Magnet School secondgrade teacher Fran Holzbar gathered with a group of first- through fourth-grade students to revive the 400 Canner St. school’s print newsletter.

The student newsie group meets twice a week after school to discuss the latest with school happenings.

With the help of the printing team at Wilbur Cross High School, a first issue of a reborn newsletter known as the “Tiger Squad News” was released in February.

That four-page, color-photo-rich first issue has an article on afterschool programs and fundraising efforts.

The Celentano news team plans to publish a second issue before the end of the school year. It’ll then begin releasing new issues on a quarterly schedule next school year.

This reporter recently caught up with a trio of the Tiger Squad News students to answer their questions about about reporting tips, lessons, and strategies.

To prepare for the half-hour conversation, the student-reporters attached their blue press passes onto their shirts, grabbed their composition notebooks and pencils, and prioritized their most pressing questions.

They also showed off their first newsletter issue that they worked on for several months to keep the middle school up to date on after school programs, fundraisers, and field trips. The student reporters took the pictures throughout the newsletter and used a Canva template to format the pages.

Also a part of the news team but who were not present at the time of this visit were student-reporters Charles Pablo Lopez, Zain Alqaysi, and Elijah Wagner. When asked what the staff hope to write more about in the second issue they agreed that they want to discuss the process of making the newsletter and what it’s like working as a team, listening to others’ opinions, and making group decisions.

“When we work as a team, we got it done quicker,” Shayla said.

“I want them to learn that doing this is not really that easy. You don’t just put any picture and some words; you have to take time to process it and write and think and print it out,” Alae said.

Fourth-grader Shayla joined the newspaper staff because of her love for writing which she does often in her free time.

When she has free time in class after finishing an assignment early she often writes up short stories on her favorite topics like fairytales and myths. One of her most recent stories was about a person who gossiped too much and

turned into a crab, she said.

She also writes about what vacations she hopes to go on one day.

“It’s quiet when I write and it calms

me,” she said. “When I write people know me better and know how I’m feeling.” She added that she loves to share her stories with her classmates, especially new students so they can get to know her better.

Her favorite part about reporting so far has been interviewing people and learning new things about them.

At the start of the year the students learned how to introduce themselves to a potential interviewee by looking them in their eyes, shaking their hand, and sharing their name and outlet.

Shayla added that she enjoys informing her school about what’s going on, the hard work of students, and extracurricular actives they can get involved with.

Third-grader Nima said he enjoys being a news staffer because he knows what’s going on

“During Covid news was important because we learned what Covid was and to not go outside too much,” he said. “And it makes us aware of our surroundings.” While on the news staff, Nima added that he’s learned that writing and taking pictures can be fun.

Read more by going to THE INNERCITY NEWS .COM

Tiger Squad News crew Alae Aboutalib, Shayla Black, and Nima Safdari, with the first issue of their school's reborn newsletter (below).

New Haven Independent

911 Crew Bulks Back Up

by PAUL BASS

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week came and passed and Joy Dunston and Justin Augustine and their colleagues continued answering the call day and night to keep New Haveners safe and alive, with more help than they had a year earlier.

Duston has worked for the past 12 years as a police and fire dispatcher at the city’s 911 call center, officially called the Public Service Answering Point (PSAP). Augustine, a fellow city native, has seven years on the job, where he currently works as a supervisor, helping everyone stay calm amid daily life-and-and death pressures. The two took some time out as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week ended to join their boss, PSAP chief Joe Vitale, to discuss how they keep their composure to get quick, essential information from people reporting shootings or assaults or in-progress burglaries in order to funnel it instantly to first responders. They spoke of the importance of patience, on their end and the concerned callers’ end, in order to get those basic questions answered in order for the right help to arrive at the right place.

They also urged people to remember to dial the main police number 203 – 9466316 rather than 911 for parking complaints or any other matter that fails to fall under the definition of “dire emergency.”

The center, based on the top floor of 1 Union Ave., is now handling 131,000 emergency calls a year; just two years ago officials put the annual number of calls at 100,000.

Amid the growing demand, PSAP has made strides in the past year since Vitale, a retired Yale police captain (who did a stint running that department’s emergency communications operation), took the helm. Thanks to the pandemic and a general labor shortage, PSAP was down

14 dispatchers out of the 55 budgeted positions. That meant that dispatchers like Dunston were regularly working two or three 16-hour shifts a week at a highpressure, high-stakes job.

Since then most of the slots have been filled, with the last bunch of needed hires currently undergoing training, Vitale reported. Dunston is back to working 40hour weeks at a job that she continues to see as a way to strengthen and give back to her community.

Ground Broken On 166 New Apartments

by THOMAS BREEN

One hundred and sixty-six new marketrate apartments and at least one sauna are en route for Chapel Street thanks to two new now-under-construction buildings slated for two long-vacant lots downtown.

City officials and representatives from the Chicago-based developer CA Ventures celebrated that latest example of New Haven’s market-rate apartment boom during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon outside of 808 and 842 – 848 Chapel St.

That’s where the general contractor Haynes Construction is busy building up a new five-story, 46-unit building with groundfloor retail at the southwest corner of Chapel and Orange Streets, as well as a new seven-story, 120-unit building with groundfloor retail on Chapel midway between Orange and Church Streets.

CA Ventures New Development Specialist Sarah Maxson and Executive Vice President of Development Brian Brodeur said that the new mixed-use buildings which have caused two eastbound lanes of Chapel to close to through traffic during construction will be called “The Archive.” They should be finished and open to resi-

dents in 16 months.

They said the two-building development should cost north of $50 million to build, and that all of the studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments will rent at market rates. What those rents will ultimately be should be determined later this year.

Maxson added that the new mid-block building will include a host of amenities open to residents in both the corner and mid-block structures. Those will include the sauna, a gym, and a rooftop courtyard.

“We are thrilled to be investing in this community,” Maxson said as she praised the development sites’ location as close to so many restaurants, shops, bus stops and train stations, and other cultural landmarks. This is a “vibrant and dynamic city,” she said.

City Economic Development Administrator Mike Piscitelli recalled working in the city’s transit department back in 2007 when a fire destroyed the Kresge department store that used to stand at this very Chapel Street site. He described the “anxiety that came with that and the uncertainty of what would come next” for this stretch of downtown.

Fast forward this decade and a half later, this project is now under construction and is one of four new housing proj-

ects within walking distance, including the ex-Coliseum site a few blocks south, that are bringing 550 new apartments to the area.

Piscitelli also spoke about a 2019 walking tour of the Ninth Square and downtown that his department led looking forward to so many of these new developments.

“How far we’ve come,” he said.

Devil’s Gear bike shop co-owner Johnny Brehon agreed. “It’s about time,” he said with a smile, alluding to the many years these properties sat vacant. The sites were long owned by local developer Paul Denz, who won various approvals from the City Plan Commission and the Board of Alders to build up the site before selling the various Chapel properties to CA Ventures for $6.75 million last year.

“We welcome you to the neighborhood,” Brehon added.

And, while the eastbound car lane and sidewalk closures on the block are an inconvenience, he’s not complaining too much. Because the sidewalk on the north side of the street where his and many other shops stand is still open. And he’s already seen a bump in foot traffic one that hopefully will be sustained when the lanes and sidewalk reopen, along with 166 new apartments and hundreds of new residents.

PAUL BASS PHOTO PSAP’s Joe Vitale, Joy Dunston and Justin Augustine at WNHH FM.

New Haven Independent

New Haven Independent

The Connecticut Hall of Change/The Great Eight/ Presents “One State One Film”

by Francette Carson, ICN Senior Correspondent

The Connecticut Hall of Change, Great 8 presents a stage production titled “One State One Film” a live performance and dialogue at Infinity Music Hall in Hartford, Connecticut. The Connecticut Hall of Change (CT HoC) is a groundbreaking re-entry program honoring and providing support to formerly incarcerated persons in the Connecticut state or federal systems. “The Hall of Change Great Eight is designed to recognize and memorialize formerly incarcerated men and women who have transformed their lives and have made outstanding achievements and substantial contributions to their communities.”

“One State One Film” is an emotionally riveting storytelling experience produced and directed by Charles Grady. Grady has a wealth of experience in law enforcement, as an actor, and writer in film, television, and theater. Grady is committed and dedicated to judicial reform and has merged his passion and experiences to produce a production that will change lives.

The CT Hall of Change presents a stage production each year to highlight issues associated with the disparities in race and the criminal justice system. The 2023 production raise awareness to the school to prison pipeline. The production presents the humbling and crippling effect of incarceration on individuals, families, and communities. The stage production was an intimate storytelling series highlighting the traumatic experiences of four heroic people that have overcome many obstacles. The stories told helps to raise awareness by humanizing previously incarcerated people, destigmatizing them as career criminals and seeing them as our neighbors, coworkers, and productive members of society, making positive changes and bringing hope to others.

The 2023 Journey of the Great 8 was comprised of four phenomenal Great 8’ers that chose to share their stories through an intimate storytelling experience on stage. Dr. Antoinette Glenn, Maggie Young, LaReese Harvey and Gordon Lyde. The four stories

Arts Students Slam

sad that this is all happening.”

He said he has watched his mom labor after hours to organize group field trips and art shows to help the school’s painters, photographers and other visual artists find ways to grow and share their artistic talent outside of the classroom.

“Why do we need to cut them in order to save just a little bit of change?” he inquired. Others, such a senior arts department student named Gabe, reiterated Joaquin’s point.

He pointed to “portfolio day,” an event arranged by his department chair which brings college representatives to school grounds to observe students’ portfolio of artwork.

were weaved together to show commonalities of their traumatic experiences resulting in incarceration and the challenges they faced upon reentry into their communities. They have worked hard, persevered and dedicated their lives to change. These four highly successful people are an inspiration and through their individual and collaborative efforts they give others hope with the aspirations for change.

Dr. Antoinette Glenn is using the platform to bring issues to the forefront and to give others hope. She wants to highlight the impact prison has on women and children. She is writing a book to shed the stigma of an ex-felon to help people understand there is a story before and a story after incarceration. Dr. Glenn emphasizes the importance of not focusing on the past and looking forward to a new day.

Maggie Young states the process is about growth and change. Young wants to tell people who she was, who she became and who she is today. She emphasizes that it’s never too late.

LaReese Harvey shares her story because she believes people need to be aware of the traumatic experiences that may have occurred prior to incarceration. She was a victim of sexual abuse and domestic violence and as a result was put into the school to prison pipeline. She was motived to push forward because she refused to be

a statistic. Harvey states “I’m a person. Harvey aspires to give people hope and to show them that anything is possible. Harvey is the author of “Buttons Journey” and is writing her second book “A Dating Guide for formerly incarcerated persons.” Gordon Lyde believes there is light at the end of the tunnel, and he shared his story to help someone and to give them hope. Lyde states he was initially motivated to change because he did not want to return to prison or die. During his journey of change he continued to push forward because he did not want to take himself away from his daughter. He identifies trauma as the commonality in their stories which pushed them into the school to prison pipeline. He believes in the urban community children are conditioned to transition to prison. The rules and regulations of school are similar to those in prisons and therefore it becomes an easy adjustment to the conditions. Lyde stated “the community must become more proactive rather than reactive in effort to prevent disparities within the judicial system.”

The Great 8er’s are on a journey together to inspire and to empower others. The process is transformative, and everyone learns from each other along the path of moving towards change. Charles Grady stated, “It’s a pilgrimage to bring people together and to remove the stigma placed upon in-

carcerated persons.” It’s about hope. It’s about change.

The Great 8er’s exude honesty and have authentic personas; a dramatic portrayal of the uncertainty, trauma, and accomplishments in the lives of four phenomenal people that have made significant changes in their lives and contributions to their communities. The moral obligation to help others and the innate desire to save oneself is evident in the stories told. The issues of self-identity, dedication, hard work, and change are realistically portrayed with conversations expressing their individual perspectives on life through their past and current circumstances. The commonality the Great 8’er’s share reflect us all. “He/ She is me. I am him/her.”

The Connecticut Hall of Change provides support to previously incarcerated persons through Hang Time/Her Time a community-based service providing a forum to foster community and “to give a voice to men and women ex-offenders returning citizens who have been silent or unheard for too long.” The Connecticut Hall of Change has received national recognition and there are plans to replicate the program in Maryland and other states throughout the country.

For more information: https://www. cthallofchange.org/ https://www.hangtimerealtalk.com

After hauling trash and cleaning dumpsters, Rehan Staton is set to graduate from Harvard

by Abu Mubarik Face2FaceAfrica.com

At the tender age of eight, Rehan Staton was abandoned by his mother and single-handedly raised by his father, who worked three jobs to take care of him and his brother, Reggie.

“I was probably too young to notice some of the things that happened, but I know it was bad,” the 24-year-old who grew up in Bowie, Md., told The Washington Post.

“Things just kept falling on us,” Rehan said. “My dad lost his job at one point and had to start working three jobs in order to provide for us. It got to the point where I barely got to see my father, and a lot of my childhood was very lonely.”

To support the family and their education, Rehan and his brother worked for

Bates Trucking & Trash Removal in Bladensburg, Md., where he hauled trash and cleaned dumpsters.

Staton recalled how they often went without food and how he received no support at school with his teachers showing little faith in his academic capabilities.

He began working at Bates Trucking & Trash Removal following his college rejections in 12th grade. Downhearted and disappointed, his colleagues at Bates encouraged him to keep applying; he did and got enrolled into Bowie State University with his brother, Reggie, 27, who later dropped out to support Rehan.

Rehan later transferred to the University of Maryland after two years at Bowie State to complete his undergraduate degree, graduating in December 2018.

In 2020, he got accepted into Harvard

Law School and credited his brother for every sacrifice he made to ensure he got a quality education. Three years down the lane, Rehan is preparing to graduate in May this year. After graduation, he will take the bar exams and start work at a New York City law firm.

He recently co-founded the non-profit called, The Reciprocity Effect, with a focus on giving back to support staffers in Harvard and other schools. According to him, the initiative became “they were not getting the recognition they deserved for helping the school to run smoothly.”

According to Essence, he has purchased 100 Amazon gift cards to give out to the school’s support staff, using his savings from his summer associate job at a law firm.

“That couldn’t occur without the organizational capacity of a department head,” Gabe said, but the event often helps students identify which colleges they’re interested in attending and helps them secure competitive scholarships that can make exorbitant tuition possible to pay.

“I don’t get why we don’t pay our artists,” another student named Maya questioned aloud to the crowd. “Because we kind of run the world!”

On and off Monday’s makeshift Audubon Street stage (a nearby windowsill on which students stood in search of a platform), students described the department head system as a key way to help students who often feel isolated by traditional educational pathways to find a means forward in the field of their choice.

Phoenix Geyser, a 17-year-old senior pianist at ECA, credited her department head with helping her navigate persistent health issues and the complexities of applying to college as a homeschooled student of a single mom.

“When I first came to ECA, I had post concussive syndrome. It’s ironic, because I’m a musician, but I couldn’t handle a lot of loud noise and had a lot of trouble navigating spaces with a lot of people.” Fortunately, one of her trusted teachers was also the head of her department. The department head helped her swap courses to accommodate her head injury, switching out percussion ensemble, for instance, for a choir class.

Later in her high school career, Geyser struggled with considering college applications as a homeschooled kid without a standard school advisor.

Her department head worked overtime to guide her through the process, Geyser said. Next year, Geyser will start studying piano at the Boston Conservatory. “It’s basically all because of her,” she said of her teacher.

Students repeatedly told stories of how the department heads faced with the administrative realities of persistently shrinking budgets brought their passion for both their students and their craft to create solutions, like meeting with teens one-on-one to personally connect kids who couldn’t afford supplies not provided by the school with materials from their own home.

Rehan Staton. Photo credit: Rehan Staton (Twitter handle)

Ralph Yarl: Over $3m raised for black teen who was shot by homeowner after going to wrong house

by Francis Akhalbey Face2FaceAfrica.com

More than $3 million has so far been raised for Ralph Yarl, the Black teen who was shot twice by a White homeowner after he went to the wrong home and rang the doorbell. Per The Hill, the GoFundMe was set up for the 16-year-old by his aunt after Andrew Lester, 85, opened fire on him on April 13.

As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, the shooting occurred as the Black teen was in the process of picking up his younger brothers. Yarl was later hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the head and arm.

The GoFundMe states that the funds raised will be used to cover Yarl’s medical bills and therapy. Any surplus funds will be invested into his college education at Texas A&M and also used to fa-

cilitate a trip to West Africa.

Yarl was outside Lester’s Kansas City home when the White man shot him from the inside. An attorney for Yarl’s family, Lee Merritt, said Yarl had gone to the supposed address to pick up his younger twin siblings after his mother asked him to. However, the teen mistook the 1100 block of Northeast 115th Street for a residence in Northeast 115th Terrace, police said, per NBC News.

Merritt also said Lester initially shot Yarl in the head before opening fire on him a second time as he was on the ground. The Black teen suffered a cracked skull and traumatic brain injury from the shot in his head.

After he was shot, Yarl’s aunt stated in the GoFundMe that the injured teen “had to run to 3 different homes before someone finally agreed to help him after he was told to lie on the ground with his

hands up.” She also said her nephew was without a phone.

Lester, who has since been charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action, turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday, and was later released on bond. Though Clay County Prosecuting Attorney, Zachary Thompson, said there was a “racial component to this case”, he did not provide further details on that.

In an update on the fundraiser, Yarl’s aunt said the Black teen is currently at home, adding that he can “ambulate and communicate.” “A true miracle considering what he survived,” she added. “Each day is different. He has a long road ahead. However, we are very thankful that he is still here with us.”

Marginalized groups face added barriers to rare disease treatment access

ties differently. Asian Americans, for example, are diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma at three times the rate of white Americans. One in 1,800 people of Puerto Rican descent lives with HermanskyPudlak syndrome, a skin pigmentation disorder.

clinical trial for a rare disease drug. Since then, the number of FDA-approved medications for rare diseases has increased by more than 2000%.

earlier than “biologic” drugs.

By Jenifer Ngo Waldrop

Members of marginalized communities struggle to navigate a health system plagued with inequities. These communities include not only racial and ethnic minorities but also less-visible groups such as disabled people and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Many members of these marginalized groups also suffer disproportionately from rare diseases -- defined as those that afflict fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.

Diseases can affect different communi-

There are more than 7,000 rare diseases. The vast majority have no cure.

Researchers have made incredible advances over the past few years. But marginalized groups are right to wonder if they’ll benefit from all this promise.

The limited number of patients with each rare condition often gives biotech companies pause, because a successful treatment might not recoup the cost of research and development. In 1983, lawmakers ameliorated this problem by establishing a tax credit to reduce the costs of running a

Unfortunately, lawmakers undermined the value of these tax credits in two provisions of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.

The first caps reimbursements for drugs that successfully treat multiple rare diseases. Already, at least one biotech company has canceled a late-stage clinical trial that would have tested whether one of its existing rare-disease drugs could also be effective against a second rare condition that causes blindness.

The second imposes a penalty on companies that develop so-called small-molecule drugs -- typically pills we keep in the medicine cabinet, from ibuprofen to antibiotics. The IRA subjects this class of medicines to price negotiations four years

Small-molecule drugs are important in rare disease treatment. But the penalty means drug companies might steer research dollars away from this medicine class and towards biologics. But biologics are usually administered in a clinical setting, so it’s more difficult for vulnerable groups to access them.

These two provisions threaten to rob millions of rare-disease patients of future breakthroughs.

What little federal funding goes toward rare-disease research often flows to conditions that primarily affect white Americans. For example, compare cystic fibrosis (CF), a lung disease with an outsized impact on white Americans, with sickle cell disease (SCD), which disproportionately affects Black Americans.

The overall number of Americans with SCD is three times higher than the number with CF. Yet a study found that government funding between 2008 and 2017 was nearly $2,000 higher per person for CF.

Even if researchers do have sufficient resources to develop a treatment for a rare disease, patients in marginalized communities face barriers to participating in clinical trials. Americans of color make up roughly 40% of the U.S. population. But estimates suggest they make up just 2% to 16% of patients in clinical trials.

We must unite against policies that disproportionately harm marginalized groups.

Jenifer Ngo Waldrop is the executive director of the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition. This piece was previously published in the Boston Herald.

Burden of medical debt forces Black Americans to make difficult choices

By Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Women’s Health Writer courtesy of the afro.com

Marie Crest is like many other Black people in the United States. She is 36-years-old. She’s a mother of two sons with a third on the way. Crest works full time as an account consultant specialist for a national payroll company, but somehow, she receives regular collection phone calls and letters about outstanding bills– medical bills, to be exact.

“I probably have roughly $4,000 or $5,000 in outstanding medical bills going [back] to 2019, mostly for my sons,” said Crest. “I had to take my oldest for a consultation with a dental specialist about a chipped tooth. My portion of the bill was $1,200 and that was after what my in-

network dental insurance provider paid.”

According to a report published by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) entitled “The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families,” medical debt “remains a looming crisis that disproportionately affects Black households and communities, despite the aims of the Affordable Care Act.”

The NCLC reports that “sixty-two percent of bankruptcies are related to medical debt, one in three Black adults have past due medical bills, compared to fewer than one in four White adults, and 17 percent of Black adults lack health insurance compared to 12 percent of White adults.”

An analysis performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation last year shows that

citizens who are chronically ill, lowincome, uninsured, Black or Hispanic or live in states that have not expanded Medicaid eligibility as allowed under the Affordable Care Act, bear the heaviest burdens of medical debt.

“The disproportionate amount of medical debt carried by Black Americans goes back to the systemic disparities that go back as far as this country’s existence,” said Berneta Haynes, a staff attorney at the NCLC and author of the above-mentioned report.

In 2022, the Federal Reserve reported Black households had an average net worth of $340,599 versus $1.3 million held by White households.

“Less wealthy households have less ability to weather an unexpected financial

crisis. A surprise $500 medical bill can send finances into a tailspin for someone living paycheck to paycheck,” said Haynes.

The history of Jim Crow segregation has a direct correlation to the racial health gap between Black and White people in America. Racist policies were embedded into all aspects of life and into every institution in the United States, including hospitals and health care.

“It looked different in the North and South. In the South, Black people had no access to hospitals while in the North, there may have been access– but the facilities and provided care were inferior,”

Read more by going to THE INNERCITY NEWS .COM

Photo via Ben Crump Law

Berneta Haynes is a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center and author of the report, “The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families.”

(Courtesy Photo)

Singer, Actor, & Activist Harry Belafonte Passes Away at 96

by Derrick Lane, BlackDoctor.org

The groundbreaking singer and actor who became a well-loved civil rights activist, Harry Belafonte has passed away, his publicist confirmed to CBS News. He was 96.

According to reports, Belafonte died Tuesday morning of congestive heart failure.

Belafonte was dubbed the “King of Calypso” after the groundbreaking success of his 1956 hit, “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O).” He also became a movie star after acting in the film adaption of the Broadway musical, “Carmen Jones.” He started his career in music as a club singer in New York to pay for his acting classes. The first time he appeared in front of an audience, he was backed by the Charlie Parker band, which included Charlie Parker himself, Max Roach and Miles Davis, among others. He launched his recording career as a pop singer on the Roost label in 1949, but quickly developed a keen interest in folk music, learning material through the Library of Congress’ American folk songs archives. With guitarist and friend Millard Thomas, Belafonte soon made his debut at the legendary jazz club The Village Vanguard.

Rest well, Mr. Belafonte.

He signed a contract with RCA Victor in 1953, recording regularly for the label until 1974.

Belafonte also performed during the Rat Pack era in Las Vegas. He and associated acts such as Liberace, Ray Vasquez, and Sammy Davis Jr. were featured at the

Belafonte became one of the first Black leading men in Hollywood. He later branched into production work on theatrical films and telepics.

Even though he was a handsome actor

with a smooth singing voice, Belafonte’s biggest contributions took place offstage. He was a key component of the civil rights movement. He continually risked his career, reputation, and his life – for his activism.

He became a close friend of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who often called on Belafonte to talk strategy or escape the pressures of leading the civil rights movement.

Belafonte’s political consciousness was shaped by the experience of growing up as the impoverished son of a poor Jamaican mother who worked as a domestic servant.

“I’ve often responded to queries that ask, ‘When as an artist did you decide to become an activist?’ ” he once said. “My response to the question is that I was an activist long before I became an artist. They both service each other, but the activism is first.”

One of Belafonte’s other biggest role models was the singer and activist Paul Roberson.

“He said, artists are the gatekeepers of truth. He said only through the world of the arts do we know who and what we are in the history of civilization,” Belafonte told CBS News. “Long before historians. Long before people ascribe themselves as the caretakers of life and culture. The song did that, and in the black community, it was our primary tool of communication.

So I saw the song as having something far more than something to delight audiences and people could dance and sing. It had content, and I began to see this content of black protest music.”

Belafonte received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994 and he won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. He performed sold-out concerts globally through the 1950s to the

2000s. Owing to illness, he was forced to cancel a reunion tour with Nana Mouskouri planned for the spring and summer of 2003 following a tour in Europe. His last concert was a benefit concert for the Atlanta Opera on October 25, 2003. In a 2007 interview, he stated that he had since retired from performing.

On January 29, 2013, Belafonte was the Keynote Speaker and 2013 Honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at the Rhode Island School of Design. Belafonte used his career and experiences with Dr. King to speak on the role of artists as activists.

Belafonte was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on January 11, 2014.

In March 2014, Belafonte was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston.

In 2017, Belafonte released When Colors Come Together, an anthology of some of Belafonte’s earlier recordings produced by his son David who wrote lyrics for an updated version of “Island In The Sun”, arranged by longtime Belafonte musical director Richard Cummings, and featuring Harry Belafonte’s grandchildren Sarafina and Amadeus and a children’s choir.

Throughout his career, Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy’s 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.

Job well done. Photos by Archive Photos/Getty Images Sands Hotel and Casino and the Dunes Hotel.

Jamie Foxx UPDATE: Still Hospitalized, But “Awake and Alert”

by Barry Anderson, BlackDoctor.org

t’s been nearly two weeks since the multi-talented actor, singer and comedian Jamie Foxx has been hospitalized due to a “medical complication.”

In a statement to NBC News, Foxx’s rep said the actor’s “condition was serious enough that Jamie’s family, some of whom were not in town, came to the hospital.”

“He is communicating now,” the representative added.

“He’s OK, thank God,” a source tells PEOPLE. “He’s still in the hospital and doctors are running tests but he’s awake and alert. They’re keeping him under observation.”

According to People.com, multiple sources say that the Oscar winner, 55, is steadily improving as he works toward recovery in a Georgia medical facility.

But the length of time he’s been in the hospital and the unknown cause of illness has people speculating on what the real issue is with his health.

In medicine, a “medical complication” occurs during a disease, or after a procedure or treatment. The complication may be caused by the disease, procedure, or treatment or may be unrelated to them.

Some are speculating that Foxx had a stroke.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a stroke , sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in

the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, longterm disability, or even death. There are health conditions and lifestyle habits that can increase your risk for stroke including hypertension.

Some of the symptoms of a stroke are:

– Face drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

– Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

– Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?

Other Stroke Symptoms include:

– NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

– CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech

– TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes

– TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

– SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause

Friends of Foxx have been stepping up and showing support online. Per ET

Online, longtime friend Nick Cannon offered some new information on Foxx’s current status during his new radio show

The Daily Cannon. For his part, Cannon isn’t saying what exactly is going on with Foxx, but notes how he’s been “praying” for his friend. Cannon refers back to an Instagram post he made shortly thereafter and comments on how he’s been continuing to pray ever since he started doing so on that day.

“Man, I’m praying,” Cannon said when asked about Foxx’s condition. “You see, I posted on Instagram. I literally have been saying prayers out loud. Words of affirmation for my big brother.”

In the post Cannon writes, “Prayer Changes Things! Living Testament! Let’s all speak complete and total recovery for the most talented human on earth with a Spirit bigger than this small planet!! @ iamjamiefoxx Gods power is working through you as we speak! Sickness, Low frequencies nor negativity have any authority over your life King! For he says he will take all sickness away in Exodus 23:25 We caste all our cares and infirmities upon him! 1 Peter 5:7! Amen! Continuing to send Prayers, healing energy and Love Frequencies your way Big Bro!! You know how much I love you Family” Another friend, Martin Lawrence, says Jamie Foxx is progressing amid his hospital stay for an undisclosed medical complication.

“I hear he’s doing better,” he said in an interview with Extra after receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame April 20.

“My prayers go out for him every night,” the “Martin” star said. “Just wishing the best for him. (He’s) one of the best that we got in Hollywood. Not only one of the best entertainers, but a good person.”

Jamie Foxx

Is Artificial Intelligence Becoming Smarter Than Humans?

Courtesy of Houston Forward Times.

More than 1,000 scientists, engineers, many of them leaders in the Big Tech industry, recently signed an open letter calling for a pause in the development of the newest artificial intelligence (AI) systems, suggesting some of their super intelligence machines could no longer be controlled by humans. They called for a slowdown in production of the more powerful AI tools, so potential risks can be studied—and researched. This letter set off tremendous alarm and scores of questions because it is AI that empowers much of our global defense, transportation, communications, and medical systems. Would out-of-control systems push us into war? Could selfdriving cars and planes deliberately break down? Could doctors and hospitals suddenly receive purposefully harmful instructions for patients. Are intelligent machines gaining control of humanity? In other words, in this revolution of both good and evil, which will prevail? And are there Frankensteins lurking among us?

Key lines from the letter are: Contemporary AI systems are now becoming human-competitive at general tasks, and we must ask ourselves: Should we let machines flood our information channels with propaganda and untruth? Should we automate away all the jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we develop nonhuman minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, make us obsolete, and replace us? Should we risk loss of control of our civilization?

A 60 Minutes expose on April 17 showed how some of the powerful new tools can summarize the New Testament of the Bible in five seconds, how Google has developed the world’s perfect search machine holding 100 percent of the world’s knowledge and that some systems can process information 100,000 times faster than the human brain, and how some AI’s programming can write a million short stories before a human writer can finish one.

Computer expert Stuart Russell pulled the curtain back in a CNN interview exposing the depth of what was troubling the scientists. He said, “I asked a Microsoft official that since the new tools had recently shown sparks of artificial general intelligence, being more intelligent than humans, were there internal codes of their own they could be pursuing? The answer was ‘We don’t have the faintest idea.’”

Russell also warned it was possible the new AI tools are not aligning with human values. That would mean “it could perform what it wanted and not what we want.”

Initially, the software, coding, and algorithms that program computers and robots drew excitement as they imitated human behavior, beating the best chess and Jeopardy players. But AI has grown leaps and bounds since the field was founded at a workshop on the campus of Dartmouth College, during the summer of 1956. By mastering huge data and improvements in AI, the tools became ubiquitous, able to write and record songs, provide health and financial analysis advice, command weapons of war, write and conduct symphonies.

This year, however, the playing field changed. Programmers noted that their robotic creations had created a language of their own that left humans out of the equation. Enter new powerful generative AI tools—Open AI’s ChatGPT—Microsoft’s Bing search engine and Google’s Bard. They simulated such human activities that shocked and astonished, but also delighted the public with Big Tech engaging in a billion-dollar race to dominate the field. The high-powered chatbots and search tools quickly earned criticism for emphasizing speed over safety.

The new tools could debug code, pass law and medical exams quicker and better than most humans, take a three-second recording of a person’s voice and convert the words into a speech that the person never spoke, and create Deepfakes—realistic, but false images or videos being used to harass people and spread lies.

One video showed a completely false

image of President Joe Biden condemning transgender people. Another showed former president Donald Trump running from police, handcuffed, and dragged to the ground, days before he was officially indicted.

Other anecdotal evidence and mishaps created a framework that major changes must be made.

For example, an AI chatbot suggested a man should commit suicide. And he did. A Belgian man reportedly killed himself after a series of increasingly worrying conversations with an AI chatbot, reported by the New York Post. Several cases of deep depression have been recorded by anti-suicide networks after humans were being rejected by chatbots they had relied upon.

Kevin Roose, a New York Times reporter, wrote a lengthy piece on how his artificial intelligence-powered chatbot called Sydney said it loved him, tried to convince him that he was unhappy in his marriage, and that he should leave his wife. There are other reports of robo-sex, where people have sex or marry their chatbots and personal assistants. In Japan there is a move to make such unions legal. Nevertheless, the overall question is will these new tools work for evil or good and can AI and humanity co-exist. or will super intelligent machines reduce humans to servitude or replace them altogether?

Elon Musk, who signed the letter, had previously predicted in a 2014 Washington Post interview that AI was summoning the demon.

Some of the scientists are pushing for new safeguards and government regulations to slow down the AI’s powerful tools, but can Big Tech or rogue groups resist the push to dominate the billiondollar lucrative field? Also, in this race to the future, God does not seem to be in the planning. History has proven when humans dishonor or dismiss God, things don’t end well.

The post Is Artificial Intelligence Becoming Smarter Than Humans? appeared first on Houston Forward Times.

Friday, May 12 7:30p.m.

Lyman Center for the Performing Arts

SCSU | New Haven, CT

New Haven Symphony Orchestra

Alasdair Neale, music director Michelle Cann, piano

Price, Bonds & Hagan

In 1912, a New Haven resident – the first Black woman to earn a degree from Yale University –took the stage with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to premiere her Piano Concerto. 111 years later, New Haven audiences will once again have the opportunity to experience Helen Hagan’s music live in a concert hall. This program will also include Florence Price’s stunning First Piano Concerto, Margaret Bonds’s Montgomery Variations - a musical depiction of the historic Civil Rights events of Montgomery, Alabama - and contemporary composer Quinn Mason’s A Joyous Trilogy

Price

Margaret Bonds

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

NOTICE

Town of Bloomfield

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Repairs

Request for Proposals Benefits Consultant

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Salary Range: $87,727 to $136,071

and Improvements at the Temple Medical Parking Garage New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven Parking Authority Project #18-008

Bids due May 12, 2023 at 3:00 PM

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking proposals for a benefits consultant. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 3:00PM.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME 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.

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

NOTICIA

Deputy Finance Director/Controller

Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE. For Details go to  www.bloomfieldct.org

Town of Bloomfield Finance Director

Bid Documents including Special Notice to Bidders for Community Subcontracting Opportunities, Project Manual, Drawings and Bid Forms will be available beginning Thursday, April 20, 2023 at no cost by downloading from the BuildingConnected FTP system website. Please contact Maryann Bigda of Turner Construction Company, which is the New Haven Parking Authority’s professional construction program manager, at (203) 712-6070 for BuildingConnected FTP system access information.

The Housing Authority of the City of Danbury (HACD) is seeking sealed bids for the following Project:

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 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

Salary Range - $101,455 to $156,599 (expected starting pay maximum is mid-range)

The New Haven Parking Authority will receive sealed bids for the Repairs & Improvements at the Temple Medical Parking Garage, NHPA Project #18-008, until 3:00 PM local time on Friday, May 12, 2023. All Bids shall be submitted through the BuildingConnected FTP system. Bids may be submitted at any time leading up to the specified due date and time and will remain sealed within the BuildingConnected FTP system until the specified due date and time. The New Haven Parking Authority will be conducting a virtual public bid opening using the Zoom Link provided in the Bid Documents.

Fully Benefited – 35 hours weekly Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website –www.bloomfieldct.org

Portland

Police Officer full-time

Go to www.portlandct.org for details

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave

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

PHA-Wide – Federal – Video Surveillance Systems. Bid Opening date is May 23, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Road, Danbury, CT 06811. All bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. A pre-bid walk thru will be held on May 09, 2023 at 10:00 am at 36 West Wooster Street, Danbury, CT. Contract documents including plans & specifications can be viewed on-line and purchased from DigiPrint’s website. Visit https://www.digiprintplanroom.com/jobs/public and select PHA-Wide – Federal – Video Surveillance Systems beginning on April 24, 2023. 5% Bid Security (Over $25K ONLY) and 100% Performance/Payment Bonds (Over $100K ONLY) are required. Bidders will note requirements of minimum wage rates, nondiscrimination/equal opportunity rules (Executive Order 11246) and related provisions in the General Conditions. No bid shall be withdrawn for ninety (90) days. Complete bidding requirements are noted in the Contract Documents. This project is federally assisted. Therefore, bidders must comply with the following requirements: Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968; Equal Opportunity provisions of Executive Order 11246; Non-Discrimination provision of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Labor Standards provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act and related acts and Contract Work Hours Standards Act; prevailing wage determinations as issued by the United States Department of Labor; and all applicable provisions under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. HACD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Section 3 businesses are encouraged to participate.

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

POLICE OFFICER

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

At this Zoom bid opening, all bids will be publicly opened and the name of the Bidder and its total Bid Price will be read aloud. Bids received after the time set for the opening will be rejected.

The work for this project includes, but is not limited to: concrete repairs (including partial/full depth, scaling, overhead, vertical, curbing, rib, CMU/masonry, decorative, and exterior brick repointing), waterproofing (including expansion joint replacement, cracks, control joints, construction joints, and cove joints), replacement of wood bumpers, cleaning of floor drains, miscellaneous coordination, together with all incidental work thereto and in accordance with the Bid Documents. This project is funded by the State through its Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and, as such, is subject to certain requirements of the State Grant.

Bidders will be responsible for the requirements of ALL documents made available and will not be relieved of responsibilities for requirements indicated in any bid documents not downloaded or viewed.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

APPLY NOW!

Bidders must submit with their Bid on forms provided a list of their Intended Subcontractors, together with CHRO contract compliance requirements, including:

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

a. the set-aside use of DAS-certified Small Business Enterprises (“SBE”) for a requirement of at least 30% of the Bidder’s entire contract value;

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

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

3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host,General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor ofPitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

The Wallingford Police Department is seeking qualified applicants for Police Officer. $ 1,301.20 weekly plus an excellent fringe benefit package to include a defined benefit pension plan. The written and oral exam processes will be administered by the South Central Criminal Justice Administration. To apply, candidates must register through the South Central Criminal Justice Administration webpage found under the “Associations” menu at www.policeapp.com by the registration deadline of Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The registration requires a fee of $ 85.00. EOE

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

Invitation for Bids TRASH REMOVAL ALL SITES

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

a. the set-aside use of DAS-certified Minority owned Business Enterprises (“MBE”), Women owned Business Enterprises (“WBE”) and/or Disabled owned Business Enterprises (“DisBE”) for a requirement of at least 25% of the Bidder’s entire contract value. Please note that the MBE, WBE, and/or DisBE are part of the SBE; and

a. Independent of the SBE/MBE/WBE/DisBE requirements herein, a minimum of 10% of the Bidder’s entire contract value must include businesses having a place of business within the City of New Haven limits.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

A satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder and acceptable surety in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the total bid shall be submitted with each bid.

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for trash removal services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Monday, March 20, 2023 at 3:00PM.

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

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal/Administrative Officer. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230309&R2=1308AR&R3=001

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Lowest Responsible and Qualified Bidder: As used in this section, “lowest responsible and qualified bidder” means the bidder whose bid is the lowest of those bidders possessing the skill, ability and integrity necessary to faithfully perform the work. As a prerequisite, all Bidders must be pre-qualified by DAS. Additionally, all subcontractors with a subcontract value in excess of $500,000 must be pre-qualified by DAS. Should the grantee reject the lowest bidder as not responsible and/or not qualified, the grantee shall immediately notify DECD of the reasons for the rejection and request DECD concurrence. The Commissioner of DECD shall at his/her discretion either approve or deny the grantee’s rejection. The grantee agrees to hold DECD harmless from any and all claims by rejected bidders.

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

New Haven Parking Authority is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minority/Women/Disabled Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply. This contract is subject to State set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Construction

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

NOTICE

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Contact: Tom Dunay

Phone: 860- 243-2300

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) 6211720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ELM CITY COMMUNITIES/HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) MOVING TO WORK (MTW) FY2024 ANNUAL PLAN

Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

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

PVC FENCE PRODUCTION

Section II (C) of the Authority's Moving to Work Agreement (the “Agreement") requires that ECC/HANH hold at least one public hearing per Annual MTW submission and make the Annual MTW Plan available for public comment for at least thirty (30) days. The Agency agrees to take into account public comments on the program design, including comments from current tenants/participants to the extent such comments are provided are provided.

Garrity

seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME 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.

Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc

NOTICIA

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300

Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Large CT Fence Company looking for an individual for our PVC Fence Production Shop. Experience preferred but will train the right person. Must be familiar with carpentry hand & power tools and be able to read a CAD drawing and tape measure. Use of CNC Router machine a plus but not required, will train the right person. This is an in-shop production position. Duties include building fence panels, posts, gates and more. Must have a valid CT driver’s license & be able to obtain a Drivers Medical Card. Must be able to pass a physical and drug test. Please email resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com.

The thirty (30) days comment period begins on Monday, April 17, 2023 and copies of the Moving to Work (MTW) FY2024 Plan, will be made available on the agency website www.elmcitycommunities.org or via Twitter, www.twitter.com/ ECCommunities or via Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities.

You are invited to provide written comments addressed to: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2024 Annual Plan, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 or via email to: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

Union Company seeks:

Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 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

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave

AA/EOE-MF

Full Time Administrative assistant position

for a steel & misc metals fabrication shop who will oversee the daily operations of clerical duties such as answering phones, accounts payable purchase orders/invoicing and certified payroll. Email resumes to jillherbert@gwfabrication.com

Pursuant to said Section II (C), a public hearing where public comments will be accepted and recorded is scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2023, at 4:00pm via: Teams Meeting ID: 246 405 833 591

Passcode: i82T6B

Any individual requiring a Reasonable Accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Reasonable Accommodation Manager (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 or at the TDD Number (203) 497-8434.

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARA

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

LAS COMUNIDADES DE LA CIUDAD DE ELM/AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA DE NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) MOVIMIENTO AL TRABAJO (MTW) PLAN ANUAL FY2024

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

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

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal and Program Policy Section Director. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230303&R2=1585MP&R3=001

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

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

La Sección II (C) del Acuerdo de Mudanza al Trabajo de la Autoridad (el "Acuerdo") requiere que ECC/HANH celebre al menos una audiencia pública por presentación de MTW anual y que el Plan de MTW anual esté disponible para comentario público durante al menos treinta (30) días. días La Agencia acuerda tener en cuenta los comentarios públicos sobre el diseño del programa, incluidos los comentarios de los inquilinos/participantes actuales en la medida en que se proporcionen dichos comentarios.

El período de comentarios de treinta (30) días comienza el lunes 17 de abril de 2023 y las copias del Plan Moving to Work (MTW) FY2024 estarán disponibles en el sitio web de la agencia www.elmcitycommunities.org o a través de Twitter, www.twitter. com/ECCommunities o a través de Facebook www.facebook.com/ ElmCityCommunities.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Lo invitamos a proporcionar comentarios por escrito dirigidos a: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2024 Annual Plan, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

De conformidad con dicha Sección II (C), se programa una audiencia pública donde se aceptarán y registrarán los comentarios del público para el lunes 15 de mayo de 2023 a las 4:00 p. m. a través de:

ID de reunión de equipos: 246 405 833 591

Código de acceso: i82T6B

Cualquier persona que requiera una Adaptación Razonable para participar en la audiencia puede llamar al Gerente de Adaptación Razonable (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 o al Número TDD (203) 497-8434.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

NOTICE

Request for Proposals

QSR STEEL CORPORATION APPLY NOW!

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

Fully Integrated Web Based Housing Authority Software

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals for a full integrated web-based housing authority software. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 3:00PM.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME 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.

NOTICIA

Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for an Information Technology Analyst 2 (Confidential) and a Grant Administration Lead Planning Analyst Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at:

https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/ bulpreview.asp?b=&R1=230414&R2=0007AR&R3=001 and

https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/ bulpreview.asp?b=&R1=230413&R2=7615CN&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.

Project Engineer job opening available for a growing / established Heavy Highway Construction Contractor based out of Avon, CT. Tasks include takeoffs, CAD drafting, computations, surveying, office engineering, submittals, other miscellaneous engineering tasks. Competitive compensation package based on experience. Many opportunities for growth for the right individual. We are an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer. Please email your resume to Dawn@ rothacontracting.com.

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Principal Labor Relations Specialist.

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 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

Request for Qualification (RFQ) IT and Computer Support Services The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol

NEW HAVEN

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230417&R2=6342MP&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.

POLICE OFFICER City of Bristol

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol Request for Proposals

Interior Painting Services

The Housing Authority City of Bristol (BHA) is seeking proposals for Vacant/Occupied Apartment Painting Services from qualified vendors for work throughout the Agency.

Bidder Information packets can be obtained by contacting Carl Johnson, Director of Capital Funds at 860-585-2028 or cjohnson@bristolhousing.org beginning Wed., April 26, 2023 through Fri., May 12, 2023 at 2:00pm. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held Fri., May 12, 2023 at 2:00pm at 164 Jerome Ave., Bristol, CT.

242-258 Fairmont Ave

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol is seeking a qualified company, firm or team to provide Information Technology and Computer Support Services throughout the Agency. Proposals due by May 18, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

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

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

$70,915 - $86,200/yr.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

All proposals should be clearly marked “RFP–Interior Painting,” and submitted to Mitzy Rowe, CEO, Housing Authority City of Bristol, 164 Jerome Ave., Bristol, CT 06010 no later than 2:00 pm, Fri., May 19, 2023 at the office of BHA in a sealed envelope with one original and 3 copies, each clearly identified as Proposal for Interior Painting Services.

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. SBE, MBE, W/DBE, and Section 3 businesses are encouraged to respond.

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

A copy of the Request for Qualifications can be obtained at the Bristol Housing Authority, 164 Jerome Ave., Bristol, CT 06010 during normal business hours or by contacting Yvonne Tirado, Director of Accounting & Special Projects, at ytirado@ bristolhousing.org, phone 860-585-2039 or Carl Johnson, Director of Capital Funds, at cjohnson@bristolhousing.org, phone 860-585-2028. Scope and proposal requirements will be available starting April 26, 2023.

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. (203) 996-4517 Host,General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor ofPitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. SBE, MBE, W/DBE, and Section 3 businesses are encouraged to respond.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

Request for Proposals Benefits Consultant

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking proposals for a benefits consultant. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 3:00PM.

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

Required testing, registration info, and apply online: www.bristolct.gov

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

DEADLINE: 05-04-23

Town of Bloomfield

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Invitation for Bids Landscaping Mill River

Assistant Building Official $39.80 hourly

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for landscaping services at Mill River. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway beginning on

Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE. For Details go to www.bloomfieldct.org

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Monday, March 20, 2023 at 3:00PM.

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

DRIVER CDL CLASS A

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Full Time – All Shifts Top Pay-Full Benefits

EOE Please apply in person: 1425 Honeyspot Rd. Ext. Stratford, CT 06615

The Guilford Housing Authority is currently accepting applications for one bedroom apartments at Sachem Hollow in Guilford, CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or federal disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262 EXT: 107. Applications will be accepted until end of business day or postmark of March 20, 2023 4PM. Credit, police, landlord checks are procured by the Authority. Smoking is prohibited in the units and building.

Sewer

NOTICE

Town of Bloomfield

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Laborer: Involves manual work in construction and general maintenance activities for The Town of Wallingford’s Sewer Division. Operates vehicles, trucks and a variety of power equipment. Must have a minimum of six (6) months experience in performing related manual work at the laborer level and a High School Diploma or G.E.D. Must also possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut motor vehicle operator’s license. Wages: $20.26 - $24.02 Hourly. Application Forms may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Fax: (203) 294-2084 Phone: (203) 294-2080. The closing date will be the date the 50th application or resume is received or May 2, 2023, whichever occurs first. EOE

Patrol Police Officer

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME 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 Request for Proposals

NOTICIA

Payroll Services & HR Management Systems

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals Payroll Services & HR Management Systems. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

$37.93 hourly ($78,885 annually) – full time, benefited Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website – www.bloomfieldct.org

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until position is filled

Town of Bloomfield Finance Director

Salary Range - $101,455 to $156,599 (expected starting pay maximum is mid-range)

Invitation for Bids

Agency Wide Key and Lock Services

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for agency wide key and lock services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 3:00PM.

PUBLIC WORKS

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 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

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 3:00PM.

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Invitation for Bids Door Repair Replacement Agency Wide

Fully Benefited – 35 hours weekly Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website –www.bloomfieldct.org

Portland

Police Officer full-time

MAINTAINER II - Performs a variety of semi-skilled tasks in road and grounds maintenance. Must possess 2 years’ experience as laborer in construction work involving operation and care of trucks and other mechanical equipment used in construction OR two (2) years training in one of the skilled trades and one (1) year of experience in construction operations OR an equivalent combination of experience and training. Must possess and maintain a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) Class B to operate equipment. (Provide a copy of your CDL license with your application) $23.73 - $27.82 Hourly. Applications may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, 45 S. Main Street, Room 301, Wallingford CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Fax (203)-294-2084 Phone: (203)-294-2080. The closing date will be the date the 50th application or resume is received or May 8, 2023, whichever occurs first. EOE

Public Health

NEW HAVEN

Go to www.portlandct.org for details

242-258 Fairmont Ave

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for door repair replacement agency wide. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https:// newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

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

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 3:00PM.

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

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bid (IFB)

Window Replacement PT Barnum and Stratford Ave.

Solicitation Number: 240-MD-23-S

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

APPLY NOW!

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

Sanitarian: Professional public health work in the enforcement of statutes and regulations relating to public and environmental health. Applicants should possess a bachelor’s degree in environmental health or closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting on a year for year basis. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. Must be able to obtain within 6 months CT certification as a food inspector. Salary: $63,116 - $80,755 annually plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone # (203) 294-2080, Fax #: (203)294-2084. The closing date will be May 8, 2023 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE.

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

THE GLENDOWER GROUP, INC.

Request for Qualifications

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is requesting sealed bids for Window Replacement at PT Barnum & Stratford Avenue Apartments. Solicitation package will be available on April 24, 2023. To obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A MANDATORY pre-bid conference will be held at 96 Bird Street, Bridgeport, CT 06605 on May 10, 2023 @ 2:00 p.m. Attendance is mandatory, submitting a bid for the project without attending conference will be REJECTED. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than May 17, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www.parkcitycommunities. org. Seal bids will be received until May 25, 2022 @ 2:00 p.m. at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

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

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

Architectural Service for the Rehabilitation of Eastview Terrace Phase 1

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

The Glendower Group, Inc. is currently seeking proposals for architectural services for the rehabilitation of Eastview Terrace Phase 1. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Glendower’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal/Administrative Officer. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230309&R2=1308AR&R3=001

beginning on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 3:00PM.

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483

AA/EEO EMPLOYER

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

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

3 black teenagers made history as they swept the podium at the U.S. Gymnastics Championship

by Ben Ebuka Face2FaceAfrica.com

Following the footsteps of black trailblazers like Diane Durham in the sport, Konnor McClain, Shilese Jones, and Jordan Chiles made history by winning the top three spots in the Senior all-around competition at the 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championship in Florida, displaying an overwhelming wave of girl power with great finesse.

The three gymnasts made history as the first three Black female gymnasts to sweep the podium. According to USA Gymnastics, “Konnor McClain captured the senior women’s all-around title at the Amalie Arena in a combined eight-rotation 112.750 to beat out all competition for the night’s grand prize, and she added balance beam gold (28.900) along the way. Shiles Jones finished a close second with 112.000, while Olympian Jordan Chiles finished third (111.900).

McClain returned from a stress fracture in each shin, a concussion and flu, and the

loss of her father to compete in the event. “It’s so unreal. I’m still in shock a little bit,” McClain said in an interview with NBC Sports. “I wish I could talk to my dad right now,” she added.

As expected, many fans on Twitter and other social media platforms reacted elatedly to the history-making moments that re-energized the enduring ‘Black Spirit.’

According to NBC Connecticut, “Gabby Douglas, was the first African American to become the Olympic individual all-around Champion and the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the 2012 Olympics. Simon Biles, with 25 World Championship titles, won a record of seven all-around Championships and tied with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast.”

“McClain is now one of the leading contenders to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics,” said Kristen Conti of NBC Connecticut.

IN MEMORIAM: Harry Belafonte, Entertainment Icon and Human Rights Activist , Dies at 96

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Renowned singer, actor, producer, and legendary civil rights trailblazer, Harry Belafonte has died at the age of 96. His publicist confirmed that the beloved icon died of congestive heart failure at his home in New York.

In addition to his children Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, Shari Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, David Belafonte and two stepchildren Sarah Frank and Lindsey Frank, Belafonte leaves behind eight grandchildren: Rachel Blue Biesemeyer, Brian Biesemeyer, Maria Belafonte McCray, Sarafina Belafonte, Amadeus Belafonte, Mateo Frank, Olive Scanga, and Zoe Frank.

Known globally for both for his artistic ingenuity and humanitarian ideals, Belafonte became an early, vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and financial backer of countless historic political and social causes and events, including the anti-Apartheid Movement, equal rights for women, juvenile justice, climate change and the decolonization of Africa.

He was one of the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington and led a delegation of Hollywood luminaries including his best friend Sidney Poitier, as well as Paul Newman, Sammy Davis, Jr, Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Tony Curtis, James Baldwin, Burt Lancaster, Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carrol, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis and Tony Curtis.

The following is from Belafonte’s bio on

the HistoryMakers:

Born to immigrant parents in Harlem on March 1, 1927, Harry Belafonte spent much of his youth in his mother’s home country of Jamaica.

Though difficult, life in Jamaica was full of rich cultural experiences that influenced Belafonte’s art.

At the beginning of World War II, Belafonte returned to Harlem with his mother and brother. He had trouble integrating into the new environment and later dropped out of high school to join the U.S. Navy.

After Belafonte was honorably discharged, he went back to New York, where he worked odd jobs until two free tickets to the American Negro Theatre (A.N.T.) changed his life.

Belafonte auditioned for the A.N.T. and earned his first leading role in Juno and the Paycock.

In 1953, he made his film debut opposite Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road. He won a Tony in 1954 for his performance in Almanac.

At the same time, Belafonte developed his singing talents, having parlayed a series of nightclub performances into a record contract.

His third album, Calypso, topped the charts for thirty-one consecutive weeks and was the first record to sell more than 1 million copies.

Belafonte also secured a television outlet with his hour-long special, Tonight with Belafonte, which won him an Emmy.

He became the first African American TV producer and his company, HarBel, went on to produce one Emmy nominee after another.

In the early 1950s, Belafonte developed a strong relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Belafonte worked tirelessly to mobilize artists in support of the civil rights movement.

In 1985, he again rallied the global artistic community to raise awareness of the famines, wars and droughts plaguing many African nations.

USA for Africa raised more than $60 million for this cause with “We Are the World” and Hands Across America.

A longtime anti-apartheid activist, Belafonte hosted former South African President Nelson Mandela on his triumphant visit to the United States.

Belafonte maintained his commitment to service as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

“The lifelong commitment, courage, global leadership, and legacy of The Honorable Harry Belafonte will always be cherished and remembered by billions of people throughout the world,” said NNPA President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. “Belafonte was a gifted, talented and transformative freedom fighter for all of humanity. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) salutes the memory of Harry Belafonte and recommits to the struggle for freedom, justice and equality that Belafonte so boldly epitomized and embodied. “

Photo credit: Konnor McClain, Instagram

Harry Belafonte at the Vienna International Film Festival 2011. Photo: Manfred Werner / Wikimedia Commons

New Haven Public Schools