INNER-CITY NEWS

INNER-CITY NEWS

27, 2016 - August 02, 2016 THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAYJuly 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

Financial Justice a Key Focus at NAACPImpact Convention Family ReEntry's Hodges To Receive Top2016 Community Award New Haven, Bridgeport

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Harp Passes Reins Of Mayors Group THE INNER-CITY NEWS

by PAUL BASS

New Haven Independent

With a last blast of New Haven policy talk, Toni Harp completed her term as president of the African American Mayors Association.

The group elected a new president, Mayor Oliver Gilbert of Miami Gardens, Florida, at a conference this past weekend at a Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C. A year ago the group elected Harp, New Haven’s first-ever female mayor, its first-ever female president. Harp invited New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell and Project Longevity coordinator Stacy Spell to the conference to address a session on public safety.

They spoke about successes New Haven has had with community policing, YouthStat, and Project Longevity, which targets the small number of most violent offenders in organized groups, then offers them a choice between help in going straight or help in going to jail for a long time.

Harp said New Haven’s policy experience contributed much to the association’s work over the past year. She said she also benefited from getting

to know mayors from other cities and attended events like a “Light Up The City” conference in Baltimore at the invitation of that city’s mayor, Catherine Pugh. Harp spoke of how former Mayor John DeStefano made New Haven an “early adopter” in installing LED lights throughout the city; in Baltimore she picked up ideas about how new technology can improve the lights’ operation, including dimming or brightening based on when sensors detect approaching cars.

During Harp’s tenure, the association also took a stand in support of sanctuary city policies. The topic did not prove controversial among members, she reported during her latest appearance on WNHH FM’s “Mayor Monday” program.

“We’re not just mayors of AfricanAmericans. We’re mayors of all people.

We understand the difficulties newcomers have in this country, especially when [the president] has such unusual and outlandish views about immigration,” Harp said. “Most people in America are not indigenous.”

Harp also noticed during her tenure the growing numbers of women seek-

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ing elected office, including AfricanAmerican women; in April Essence magazine declared 2018 “The Year Of The Black Woman Mayor.” She welcomed the trend.

“What you see in particularly African-American women candidates, and women period, [are people] who are qualified, who come with a lot of knowledge to the job, come with some moral standing. But we are so used to electing men who don’t have all those qualifications. At some point we’ve got to say to the men, ‘Look, if you can’t be as qualified as we are and have the same sense of ethics, have the same experience so you can move our areas forward, just stay at home. We’re going to do it.”

Brooklyn U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke inspired the group at one gathering, Harp said, with a call “not to lose heart” in these tough political times.

“Yes, we are in currently in a difficult time,” Harp said. “Our leadership has unearthed a lot of racism and other kinds of negatives around race and around sexism. But it’s important that those things be unearthed so we can address them.”

ESSENCE Mayor Harp with other female African-American mayors highlighted in April Essence magazine feature.

Senate Moves to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence, Sends Primary Aggressor Bill To House

by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News

HARTFORD, CT — The Senate unanimously passed legislation Tuesday that would require police officers to determine the primary aggressor when they respond to a domestic violence call.

Connecticut police officers arrest both parties involved in a domestic violence incident 20 percent of the time, according to a report by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. That’s more than double the national average and it means that the victim is being arrested along with the abuser.

The bill now heads to the House.

Sen. Mae Flexer, a Killingly Democrat who championed the legislation, said the primary aggressor language is “national best practice.”

She said it’s the best way for law enforcement to protect the victim and themselves.

“This legislation will empower more victims to become survivors,” Flexer said.

She said they don’t want domestic violence victims to be afraid to call police because they will also be arrested if they do.

CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE

Sen. Mae Flexer

Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said this legislation was a bipartisan effort and will make Connecticut’s domestic violence laws better.

He said they know there are hundreds of law enforcement officers who need to be trained, but they understand that.

“We don’t want to create a situation

where law enforcement is not physically capable of complying with the law,” Kissel said. “But this will create far less victimization and far more stable families.”

Sen. Kevin Witkos, a Canton Republican and former police officer, said this is good legislation because

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it empowers police officers, too.

Currently, the law essentially requires police to make an arrest in cases of domestic violence if they find sufficient evidence that an incident occurred.

They are not authorized to make a judgment call about which party is the aggressor or victim. Police have to arrest the person or persons believed to have committed the violence and charge them with the applicable crime.

They are required to do this regardless of whether the victim wishes to press charges.

Witkos said the law passed in 1987 took away an officer’s discretion.

While Witkos supported the legislation he also expressed concerns about the effective dates in the legislation.

The bill expands certain police and state’s attorneys’ training programs to include training on the factors for determining a primary aggressor by Jan. 1, 2019.

Witkos said it may take longer than Jan. 1, 2019 to get everyone trained, but he doesn’t believe that it’s an impediment to accomplishing the intent of the legislation.

The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association has not been enthusiastic about the legislation and has been trying to

create doubts about implementation, while supporting the underlying bill.

Lobbyists for the police chiefs emailed members of the Judiciary Committee last week to warn them that not all police officers can be trained before Jan. 1, 2019.

“The public will expect that the officers are trained once the bill takes effect, and that is simply not the case,” Jean Cronin, a lobbyist for the police chiefs, wrote in an email last week.

“We do not want officers or towns getting sued because they don’t know the rules.”

Karen Jarmoc, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said a January start date is not outside of the norm.

In 2017, 17 of the 40 public acts impacting law enforcement were related to their daily activities, according to Jarmoc. There was also no additional appropriation needed for the training requirements in those public acts.

She said the Police Officers Standards and Training Council has 92 domestic violence certified instructors, who are capable of training police officers. She doesn’t anticipate there’s any additional funds needed to implement this training.

High Lead Levels Stall Eviction THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

by THOMAS BREEN New Haven Independent

A New Haven housing court judge ordered the landlord of a two-family house in the West River neighborhood to temporarily relocate the first-floor tenants he is trying to evict until he can prove that the high lead levels on the walls, doors, windows, and floors of his building are not unduly toxic for the young parents and their four young children.

Judge Anthony Avallone issued that ruling during a hearing in the thirdfloor housing court at the Connecticut Superior Court building at 121 Elm St. He decided to continue for another week the eviction suit of landlord Abdullah Soliman against tenant Maajid Muhammad.

The case, in which Soliman is trying to evict Muhammad and his family for nonpayment of rent, pits tenant versus landlord expectations. It also deals with the legal rights of tenants who live in a city with an aging housing stock where many homes still contain lead paint.

How quickly should landlords work to abate the lead? And what are the rights and duties of the tenants while the landlords are in the process of abatement?

Soliman, a 35-year-old software engineer who lives in Manhattan, owns the two-family home at 75 Sherman Ave. in West River. He owns one other prop-

erty in the city, a three-family home at 270 Edgewood Ave. Soliman bought the Sherman Avenue property in late 2013. Outside the hearing on Thursday, he told the Independent that he has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating the house.

“There’s brand new vinyl replacement windows,” he said. “Basically every single part of this house has been renovated.”

Muhammad and his family of six have been living in the three-bedroom, ground floor apartment at 75 Sherman Ave. since April 2017.

Muhammad, a 25-year-old Hillhouse graduate who runs a used car dealership in Atlantic City, N.J., and his wife Raihana Akhdar, a 24-year-old Hillhouse grad, moved into the apartment because they needed more space for their young children, ages 1 through 5, they said. They said they also figured that Soliman would treat the family well because landlord and tenants alike are Muslim.

Akhdar said that she immediately started noticing problems with the apartment after moving in. She said that the family had to spend four weeks out of the home last spring because of a carbon monoxide leak. She and Muhammad reported consistent problems with a broken sink and defunct heaters.

“The last straw for me was when we

THOMAS BREEN PHOTO

Tenants Muhammad (right), his wife Akhdar, and their four children.

didn’t have heat,” Akhdar said. “He [Soliman] really didn’t care. We said, ‘We need you to fix things now, because our son got sick with pneumonia.’ He was like, ‘If this isn’t working for you, then you can go.’”

According to city records, a Feb. 23 inspection by local government’s antiblight agency, the Livable City Initiative (LCI), found that the ground floor was missing carbon monoxide detectors, that the heating level in the apartment was consistently under 65 degrees, and that the kitchen sink was missing base drawers.

But what drove Muhammad and Akhdar to stop paying rent in February 2018, according to the tenants, was a regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment for their 1-year-old son Malik in November, which revealed that he had a blood lead level of 11 micrograms per deciliter. In 2012, the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) defined a blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter in children as “elevated.”

According to court records, Muhammad stopped paying rent in February.

Soliman filed for an eviction on Feb. 22, with a mandated move-out date of Feb. 26. In a March 12 answer, which included a filing with the city’s Fair Rent Commission, Muhammad wrote that he and his family had no heat in

Family ReEntry's Hodges To Receive Top Community Impact Award

Bridgeport, CT - Family ReEntry, Inc. proudly announces that Fred Hodges, Family ReEntry’s Director of Community Affairs, will receive the 2018 Urdang-Torres Community Impact Award at the Annual Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative Ceremony, held on Friday, May 4th at Housatonic Community College. Hodges is a lifelong resident of Bridgeport.

The Urdang-Torres Community Impact Award, the top award of the night, was created to honor the memory of Stephanie Urdang (Career Resources, Inc.) and Jose Torres (CASA, Inc.), who dedicated their lives to reentry issues by providing compassion and second chances to returning citizens in our community. Each year the award is presented to the person, agency, or advocate who has worked tirelessly to promote the betterment of those reentering society. Past winners include Michael Askew, Dan Braccio, John Santa, Steve Lanza, Scott Wilderman, the Jay Brothers ReEntry Center and

the book, The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration has Hijacked the American Dream.

“It’s humbling to have been selected from among so many individuals and organizations. We all work so hard to make a difference in our community,” Hodges said. “It’s a tremendous honor.”

Through his work with Family ReEntry as well as volunteering, mentoring and service commitments throughout the state of Connecticut, Hodges is recognized as the individual who is making a significant, positive difference in helping to better the lives of individuals and their families who are navigating the criminal justice system.

Invited speakers at this year’s event include Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, CT Undersecretary for Criminal Justice Michael Lawlor, CT State Senators Ed Gomes (D-Bridgeport) and Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), and CT Department of Correction Commis-

sioner Scott Semple, and others.

The prestigious award will be presented to Hodges by Family ReEntry’s Executive Director Jeff Grant. “Fred and I have been friends and colleagues for almost ten years,” Grant said. “In that time, I’ve seen Fred help and change the lives of literally hundreds of families suffering from criminal justice issues. He’s a gift to our community.”

The Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative, founded in 2007, brings together the many local agencies that provide diverse reentry services to the men and women returning from incarceration.

The Annual Ceremony celebrates the collective success of former offenders, advocates, and businesses who have demonstrated their commitment to effective reintegration. For award ceremony seating, please contact Rob Hebert: hebert@careerresources.org.

About Family ReEntry: Family ReEntry is a 501c3 nonprofit, that has served the Connecticut justice com-

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Fred Hodges

munity since 1984. It has grown to become one of the most respected criminal justice nonprofits in the country, known for impactful intervention, prevention, in-prison, reentry, fatherhood and youth & family programs and advocacy. Over the past 33 years, effective advocacy efforts and communitybased programs developed by Family ReEntry have significantly reduced the likelihood that clients will re-offend,

be re-arrested, or be re-incarcerated.

Its programs provide a spectrum of services designed to disrupt the intergenerational cycle of incarceration.

Family ReEntry addresses the specific needs of each client and their families through individualized case management and support services. It works to create a positive social network for each client, helping make their transition from prison back into the community a successful, self-sufficient one, while strengthening their families and the community. Approximately, sixtypercent of those served by Family ReEntry are from the greater Bridgeport area – Connecticut’s largest city. The organization has offices or programs in eight Connecticut cities including Bridgeport, New Haven, Norwalk, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Derby, New London and Norwich.

More information is available at www.familyreentry.org and on its social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

Teachers Seek Inclusion For Special Ed Kids

by CHRISTOPHER PEAK New Haven Independent

Nearly 600 teachers, parents and students showed up at school sporting blue T-shirts Friday in support for the hundreds of Elm City kids with autism.

The vibrant display grew out of a yearslong efforts by a handful of special education teachers to draw attention to the students in their classes.

Six years ago, two teachers at BrennanRogers School started fundraising for an autism advocacy organization. Since then, they’ve raised $45,000. This year, they hope to pull together $10,000 a record they’ve gotten close to but never broken.

The money will go to Autism Services & Resources (ASRC), a Wallingford-based nonprofit that provides training and support for Connecticut children with autism. ASRC hosts an annual walk, which will take place this year on Sunday, May 6. The Elm City Dream Team, a group of New Haven teachers and parents walking together, expects to have a contingent of 150 people participating.

“Every year that we’re able to do it, we’re able to push a message of inclusivity and recognition of a significant population across the district,” said Mallory Bogart, the original organizer who now teaches at Lincoln-Bassett. “This is not something that’s going away, and it’s not something to shy away from either.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: Clinton Avenue, Lincoln-Bassett, West Rock STREAM Academy and Brennan-Rogers.

This school year, almost 3,100 students in New Haven have been placed in special education programs, representing 15 percent of the district.

Brennan-Roger’s special education team: Kimberly Tucker, Shyanne Myers, Jessica Trochsler, Diamondlie Rodriguez, Mary Walters.

Within that group, 40 percent have been diagnosed with a specific learning disability like dyslexia or dyscalculia. More than 20 percent have a health impediment like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Just over 10 percent of children are autistic.

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can encompass a wide range of behaviors. Most often autism is associated with difficulty with social situations, nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.

The ultimate goal for New Haven’s special education program is to move kids out of self-contained classrooms into general education programs. In inclusive classrooms, students’ academic performance improves as they see each other

as “peer models,” Bogart explained.

“If you’re facing a challenge, you’re going to be more motivated by seeing a peer meet that challenge and wanting to be like them, rather than being taken out in a quiet, sterile environment,” Bogart said. “It’s not what every student needs at every time, but it’s what we hope to achieve.”

She said that she still often has to explain the differences in autistic students’ behavior. For instance, when a reporter walked into a specialized classroom at Brennan-Rogers on Friday morning, a middle-schooler started flapping her arms. That “self-stimulating” behavior might seem disruptive to some educators, Bogart said. But it’s actually a “selfsoothing technique” to manage new sen-

sory experiences.

“Every behavior has a motivation, and it’s important to try and figure that out,” Bogart said. “Because only then can you work to change a behavior or maximize that behavior for student learning. That sometimes can be a puzzle to really dig deep and figure it out. It’s looking at things through different lenses, especially when it comes to behavior.”

Bogart said that she’s been able to spread messages like that on a wider scale by organizing for the walk each April, which is Autism Awareness Month.

Six years ago, she got her start with advocacy at Brennan Rogers, a combined elementary and middle school in West Rock that used to have all the district’s specialized classrooms for autism. The effort went district-wide when one of the specialized classes moved over to Strong School, and Bogart asked other schools to join in their fundraising for ASRC. This year, the staff at 13 schools and administrators from central office are participating in the walk, doubling the number of volunteers just in the past year. At some schools, staff are buying $10 blue shirts, inscribed with a Helen Keller quote; at others, they’re buying $1 puzzle pieces to decorate the team’s banner.

Bogart said the wide support has allowed them to have a larger conversation about students’ needs.

“In the way education is going — as it should — it’s important that we recognize every student brings something to the table, regardless of what they might see as an identifiable disability or a need.

It doesn’t take away from the fact that

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

Hill To Downtown Phase 1 Breaks Ground two, and three-bedroom apartments.

There will be an estimated 2,350 square feet of retail space on the first floor of the building at the corner of Gold Street and Washington Avenue.

Salvatore said the first phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. He recently received site plan approvals for the planned second and third phases of the project which will build a total of 194 apartments on the other two parcels covered under the land disposition agreement he has with the city. He said if all goes well he will break ground later this summer with completion of those apartments set for sometime next year.

“I think with the completion of these three buildings we will have the foundations of a real neighborhood,” Salvatore said.

Thirty-three of the first 110 apartments will be rented to people who make no more than 80 percent of the area median income, or $70,480 out of an $88,100 benchmark for a family of four. The apartments were able to be subsidized thanks to $5 million from the Just in Time fund, a state housing fund designed to enable developers to include lower-income housing in new market-rate complexes.

Nick Lundgren, deputy commissioner for the state housing department, said the first phase of Hill to Downtown was chosen because it met all the requirements of being a private development that had nearly all of its local approvals and a developer who wanted to provide affordable within

by MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent

Hardhats were donned and hands were put to shovel by a Stamford developer and Mayor Toni Harp on a bright Tuesday to officially mark the start of construction for the first phase of the Hill to Downtown Project.

That happened at 22 Gold St., home of the former Prince Street School in a section of the Hill neighborhood that was destroyed during the construction of the Route 34/Oak Street Connector during the urban renewal era.

The city has worked with a number of developers since the late 1980s to develop 11.6 acres of long-neglected properties between Union Station, the Hill neighborhood, and Downtown. About two years ago, Mayor Toni Harp’s administration and the Board of Alders were able to strike a deal with developer Randy Salvatore, CEO and president of RMS Companies, to allow him to redevelop the parcels of land.

“New Haven is a great city,” Harp said Tuesday. “New Haven is a relatively small city and we have to do all we can with what there is to maximize it’s potential. These planned improvements bring to life the latest evidence how this is happening in New Haven.”

The first phase calls for a four-story, 110-apartment, mixed-use development at Gold Street. the building, which is expected to stretch more than a city block will include one,

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

City, state officials join Salvatore and Harp for groundbreaking.

Harp: Sometimes optimism is better than money.

Nemerson, at right, and Nick Lundgren, center, survey the site.

what was a market rate project.

“In this case, it was a natural fit,” Lundgren said. “We’re glad to be a part of this project. Investing in our urban centers is an important part of economic development. Connecting the Hill neighborhood to Downtown will be transformative, spurring what we hope will be a new wave of investments in the coming months and years.”

Matthew Nemerson, city economic development administrator, noted that many other mayors had put together concepts to try to get the 11.6 acres of property developed that simply didn’t pan out. But he said it was a top priority for Mayor Harp. He along with several of the day’s speakers heaped praise on Serena Neal-Sanjurjo, the executive director of the city’s antiblight agency, for her role in making sure there was community input before any deals were signed. A number of stalled development projects have shown signs of coming to fruition since Neale-Sanjurjo returned to the city three years ago to lead LCI. Hill Alder David Reyes said that he believed that many of his constituents felt heard through their management teams and the Hill to Downtown steering committee as the plans for the development were coming to fruition.

“This is a very important step toward making this plan a reality,” he said.

Ganim Will Collect Signatures For Ballot Access

by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News

HARTFORD, CT — Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim isn’t leaving anything to chance when it comes to winning ballot access for his Democratic bid for governor.

The ex-convict mayor said in a press release that he would petition his way onto the ballot by collecting the signatures of more than 15,500 registered Democrats in Connecticut.

Ganim will also pursue winning 15 percent of the 1,999 delegates and superdelegates to the May 18 Democratic convention.

Ganim seems to be worried that party insiders are beginning to coalesce around one or two candidates.

Jonathan Harris and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin recently dropped out of the race.

Harris endorsed Ned Lamont last week as he announced the end to his campaign. Lamont, who lost the Democratic primary for governor to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in 2010, is trying again this year.

Former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Sean Connolly, are also vying for the nomination at the convention. Guy Smith called the convention system rigged and also is attempting to petition his way onto the ballot.

“We are confident of obtaining 15 percent of the delegates at the state convention,” Ganim said. “But as

CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE

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Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim

[is] widely reported, certain Democratic party insiders are trying to select the party’s gubernatorial candidate, rather than leaving it up to Democratic voters. By obtaining the petition signatures we are building a statewide grassroots organization for the primary that will be inclusive and diverse. By collecting petition signatures, we will insure our place on the primary ballot if certain party insiders manipulate the convention rules.”

Ganim can collect signatures between May 1 and June 12.

Ganim, who is not allowed to use the public financing system, had about $335,000 in cash on hand at the end of March. That’s a healthy amount to mount a petition drive.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

Malloy Signs Financial Aid For Dreamers Into Law

by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News

HARTFORD, CT — Building on legislation he signed early in his tenure as governor, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed legislation Friday that allows undocumented student to apply for financial aid at Connecticut public colleges and universities.

At a signing ceremony in his state Capitol office, Malloy said the legislation “makes sure all of our students who are admitted are treated fairly with respect.”

He said it’s probably even more important in a society “that has taken a turn for the worse.” He said the president’s comments have “sought to demonize the battle we’re in over DACA” and “punish children.”

He said he hopes the message is that “there is another way. We can treat people fairly and honestly and we can do that in their best interests and our

own best interest.”

Previously, state law denied access to the financial aid system for these students, despite the fact that they were required to pay into it through their existing tuition.

“The bottom line of what we are doing here is not controversial – it allows students who are already attending our colleges and universities and already paying into our financial aid system with the ability to access that very system for which they are currently ineligible through no fault of their own,” Malloy said.

The bill passed the House 91-59 and the Senate 30-5 with bipartisan support.

Those who opposed it tried to argue that somehow state tax dollars were being used, but the governor’s office said state tax dollars are not used for the financial aid system – it is funded through a need and merit-based pool

CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE Gov.

Dannel P. Malloy signs SB 4

that students attending the schools are required to pay into through their tuition. Federal Pell grants and state aid provided through the Roberta Willis

Scholarship will still be unavailable to this group of students.

Malloy signed a bill that gave undocumented students who live and go

to high school in Connecticut the ability to pay in-state tuition rates his first year in office.

Progressives Form A Caucus, Get Ready To Challenge Opposing Views

by Jack Kramer CT. Junkie News

HARTFORD, CT—Thirty-one House Democrats formed a caucus Wednesday and announced their intention to push a progressive agenda for social, economic, educational and criminal justice for all.

The press conference, organized by Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, was held at the state Capitol.

Elliott started the year off by asking all of his Democratic colleagues where they stood on a number of issues. If they weren’t deemed progressive enough he was going to find a challenger who was more progressive to challenge them in a primary.

“We are going to be fighting for what is right for working families in Connecticut,” Elliott said Wednesday, to cheers.

Elliott said the goal of the group was to not just talk about the issues that are important middle and lower middle class residents, but to take legislative action.

“We are going to be talking and fighting over the issues that matter, yes,” Elliott said. “But we as a group also intend to get the issues that matter to us up on the board and get a vote on them,” he added to head shakes and applause from his fellow Democrats and those in the audience.

The group, Elliott said, has formed to build solidarity driving key issues for working people and families across the state.

Elliott said he hasn’t polled his colleagues about where they stand on issues since the beginning of the year, but plans to do it after the 2018 election.

He said he wants to make sure people who aren’t afraid to take a vote on an is-

sue are elected.

Elliott has been critical of his own Democratic leadership for debating and tabling issues last year.

Lindsay Farrell, executive director of the Connecticut Working Families Party, said they’ve seen recently that “there’s a handful of corporate Democrats that can be obstructionists.”

She said for whatever reasons there’s a handful of Democrats who are perceived to be in the middle who are controlling the agenda.

“To solve some of the challenges facing the state we need progressives to be organized and working together in a strategic way.” Farrell said.

One of Elliott’s allies in this mission is Rep. Robyn Porter of New Haven, who co-chairs the Labor and Public Employees Committee.

“We will be fighting for working families in this building,” Porter said. “We just got a pay equity bill out of the House and we are expecting it to land on the governor’s desk.”

The pay equity bill easily passed through the House with 142 in favor and only four Republicans in opposition.

The bill, which would simply prohibit employers from asking about a person’s salary history, now goes to the Senate. If the Senate approves it and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs it Connecticut will become the 5th state in the country to pass legislation.

Porter said while the pay equity bill was a big step forward there is much more to be done - and much more the “Progressive Democrats” can and will be lobbying for in the future.

JACK KRAMER / CTNEWSJUNKIE

Rep. Robyn Porter

She said one of the first things the new group should get behind is legislation to raise the minimum wage in Connecticut to $15.

The legislature’s Appropriations Committee forwarded a minimum wage increase to the House, but it’s full passage is questionable because it only passed by a 27-24 vote.

The committee was largely divided along party lines with Democrats supporting an increase and Republicans opposing it.

The bill would raise the state minimum hourly wage from $10.10 to $12 on Jan. 1, 2019; from $12 to $13.50 on Jan. 1, 2020; and from $13.50 to $15 on Jan. 1, 2021. Once the minimum wage reaches $15 in 2022, the bill indexes any future

7

increases to annual increases in the consumer price index.

“We need to call this bill,” Porter said to more cheers. “It’ll help elevate the working people in this state. Is $15 enough?

No, but it’s a start,” Porter said.

Another legislator who was with the “Progressive Democrats” was James Albis, D-East Haven, who said he wanted to be part of the group “to combat inequality in our state.”

Albis said study after study shows that families making lower incomes in the state paying a higher percentage of taxes than wealthier families.

He called that fundamentally unfair.

Albis said the “Progressive Democrats” will work with all other legislators in the General Assembly. “We want to work

with everybody to make Connecticut a better state,” Albis said.

Another member, Bob Godfrey, D- Danbury, said: “The fight for working families, students, senior citizens, and children, and the fight for social equality, equal justice, and sympathetic care are being renewed. This is a fight sweeping the country and energizing our state.”

Rep. Chris Rosario, D-Bridgeport, told his fellow Democrats who stood with him at the press conference that their job won’t be easy but the goal is doable.

“We need to work in concert,” Rosario said. “Let’s keep fighting.”

Members of the “Progressive Democrats” are: Reps. Terry Adams, James Albis, Juan Candelaria, Mike D’Agostino, Joe de la Cruz, Michael DiMassa, Josh Elliott, Andy Fleischmann, Bobby Gibson, Bob Godfrey, Gregg Haddad, Joshua Hall, Jack Hennessy, Susan Johnson, Roland Lemar, Matt Lesser, Rick Lopes, Brandon McGee, Russ Morin, Robyn Porter, Geraldo Reyes Jr., Kim Rose, Robert Sanchez, Ezequiel Santiago, Hilda Santiago, Chris Soto, Peter Tercyak, Ed Vargas, Toni Walker, Kevin Ryan, and Mike Winkler.

Democrats have lost seats in the House since 2008, the first year former President Barack Obama was elected. They went from having a super majority of 114 members that year down to their current 79 members.

Elliott believes this happened because they failed to make the hard decisions and force votes on issues like Paid Family Medical Leave, equitable taxation, and a $15 minimum wage.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

Justice Robinson Sails Through House, Republicans Pan Other Nominations

by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News

HARTFORD, CT — In a brisk five minutes, the House voted 146-0 to elevate Justice Richard Robinson to chief justice of the State Supreme Court, while Republicans voted against some of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s new nominations to the Superior Court bench.

Robinson is an associate justice on the Supreme Court who was nominated after Justice Andrew McDonald failed to win confirmation. If the Senate confirms his nomination, he will become the first African-American chief justice of Connecticut’s Supreme Court.

The House also took the first of many party line votes on 31 of Malloy’s Superior Court nominees Monday.

“It has nothing to do with their qualifications,” House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said. “I am sure they are all very qualified to sit on the bench.”

However, “we have a much bigger concern the budget of the state of Connecticut,” Klarides said.

She said the Judicial Branch has told them they can only fund about half of the judges. Not only can’t they afford them, but they don’t even need them, Republicans argued.

“We don’t need to find the money somewhere because we don’t need all these judges,” Klarides said.

Rep. Tom O’Dea, R-New Canaan, a practicing attorney, said he’s been in court rooms that are so poorly staffed a judge has to wait a long time for a marshal to respond to an emergency alert call.

He said even if these judges are appointed there are still not going to be enough judicial marshals to keep them safe or court reporters and clerks to staff their courtrooms.

Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, said just because there are not enough staff doesn’t mean there are enough judges.

“We are at an all-time low,” Tong, cochairman of the Judiciary Committee, said.

He said there will be 11 retirements on top of 28 existing vacancies.

Even if Malloy filled all the vacancies, there are still fewer judges now than there were at the end of former Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s term in 2010, Tong said.

Still, Republicans voted against every one of the new nominees Monday.

According to information provided by Klarides, the cost of a Superior Court judge, excluding fringe benefits but including salary and essential support staff, is around $291,410 per year.

That means for all 31 Superior Court nominees it would cost about $9.03 million. An estimated 11 judges will retire before June 30, 2019, saving about $3.2 million, which means the cost to the judicial branch will jump about $5.8 million if all 31 are confirmed.

Malloy has previously nominated 30, but one withdrew his name and the governor announced two more last week.

Norma I. Sanchez-Figueroa of South Windsor and Jennifer Macierowski of Windsor will receive a public hearing on their nominations Wednesday.

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CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE

Justice Richard Robinson

THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

Bereavement Care Celebrates 5 Years High Lead Levels Stall Eviction Con’t on from page 3

by THOMAS BREEN

New Haven Independent

A local nonprofit that supports families of homicide victims celebrated its fifth anniversary by inducting the manager of a juvenile offender diversion program onto its advisory board and by recognizing a local funeral director for his empathy and collaboration.

The nonprofit, Bereavement Care Network Inc., held its annual meet and greet and award ceremony Friday evening outside of the mayor’s office on the second floor of City Hall.

Around 60 people showed up to watch and participate in the hour-long ceremony.

Founded by Nakia Dawson-Douglas in June 2013, Bereavement Care offers financial and emotional support to New Haveners who have lost a family member or friend to homicide.

Dawson-Douglas, a clinical secretary for palliative care service at the Smilow Cancer Center and a former bereavement coordinator with the local anti-violence group Ice the Beef, founded the group soon after her best friend was killed in 2011.

She said that her friend’s family was fortunate to be able to cover most of the cost of the funeral with life insurance. She knew that too many people in New Haven who lost loved ones to violence did not have the financial means to pay for a funeral. She recognized just how important it was to her friend’s mother that Dawson-Douglas showed up not only for the funeral and the burial, but for the months and years following her friend’s death.

In June 2013 she founded Bereavement Care with six other New Haveners who had also lost someone to homicide. The group now has 18 members, almost all African American women.

Their primary work involves reaching out to every New Haven family that loses a family member to homicide over the course of the year. If the family consents, Bereavement Care gathers donations and helps coordinate between the victim’s family and local funeral homes, flower shops, grocery stores, and cemeteries. They’ll arrange for everything from a dove release at a funeral to bouquets of donated flowers.

After the funeral and burial, Bereavement Care follows up with each victim’s family once per month for as long as the family is interested in staying in touch.

“You have so many people there when the passing takes place,” Dawson-Douglas said.

But those people are not always there, or at least there as regularly, one month, two months, or two years later. That’s where Bereavement Care comes in: offering financial support at the time of loss, and then ongoing emotional support and a sense of community in the months and years after.

According to Bereavement Care member Nitchka Little, the group has worked with 42 different New Haven families throughout the nonprofit’s nearly five years of existence.

Dawson-Douglas said that she has noticed that homicides in New Haven are on the decline, with last year’s count at a decades-low number of seven, compared to 34 homicides just eight years ago.

But, Little said, the decrease in crime does not reduce the pain for those who still experience it.

“After a family loses a relative to homicide,” she said, “that pain never goes away.”

Bereavement Care Secretary Talisha Jackson

Con’t on page 16

THOMAS BREEN PHOTO Some

of the members of Bereavement Care Network with new advisory council memberShirley Ellis-West (in white).

Nakia Dawson-Douglas.

The crowd at City Hall.

Ellis-West (right) and the Community Foundation’s Jackie Downing.

9

the house, the stove did not work, and his whole family was sick. He said that he wanted the problems with his home to be fixed up to code for him and his family of five.

Soliman said that a subsequent LCI inspection found that the apartment was up to city code. He said that, after Muhammad called the city’s Health Department and asked for a lead inspection of the apartment, Soliman spoke with the lead inspector about how, even after remediation, many thousands of houses in New Haven will still bear some traces of lead.

Since 2013, New Haven’s Health Department has opened 1,183 new lead poisoning cases, the Independent found by analyzing state and city records. Four hundred sixty child-poisonings have been reported in the past two years.

“Any house built before 1978 will contain lead unless you’ve stripped that house down to the bones,” Soliman told the Independent. “The lead inspector basically told me, ‘We don’t test for lead on the surface. We’re testing lead for 1/8th of an inch past the surface.

We’re going all the way down to the bare wood.’”

The lead inspector did the inspection and found high lead levels. But that the paint was largely intact, Soliman said, and the inspector told him that he has to undertake lead abatement efforts under city watch in order to get the apartment certified for rental.

“Here’s the point: That [led abatement] is precautionary,” he said. “It’s not proving causation. It doesn’t say, ‘Oh, this apartment is responsible for that.’”

Instead, he said, the lead abatement process is just to show that the landlord is taking the necessary precautions to remediate the home according to city standards.”

Soliman argued that Muhammad and his family were using complaints about lead to get out of their obligation to pay rent.

“They’re not actually interested in resolving this case,” he said. He stated that he had applied for federal subsidies for lead abatement for the property but that Muhammad had not yet submitted requisite tenant financial information in order for those subsidies to go through.

“They are essentially trying to live in the apartment without paying rent.”

Akhdar told the Independent that her husband was aware of the financial disclosure required for Soliman’s application for federal assistance for lead abatement. She said that Muhammad had reached out to the necessary federal contact with his financial information, but that she was not aware of the latest in that conversation. (Muhammad could not be reached for a follow-up comment

on this issue before the publication of this article.)

Soliman also said that, after reviewing a database of lead-abated houses in New Haven that he found in a recent article in the Independent, he learned that a small fraction of mid-20th century housing stock in this city has been deemed lead-safe. According to newhavenlead. com, only 1,114 apartments have been certified by the city as lead-safe. The total number of rental apartments in the city is 33,176, according to the site, and those apartments have a median year of construction of 1955.

This abundance of lead-affected apartments that have not been abated, Soliman said as he prepared for a negative ruling from the judge, “makes the judge’s assertion that the apartment is uninhabitable basically untenable, because that would render almost every single apartment in New Haven uninhabitable.”

Err On The Side Of Safety Soliman and Muhammad both chose to represent themselves without outside legal counsel in court Thursday.

Judge Avallone did not have to decide the case based only on testimony and allegations of foul play coming from both landlord and tenant. He also got to review as evidence a copy of a letter brought by Muhammad that the city’s Health Department sent to Soliman on April 16. It detailed the findings of the city’s lead inspection of 75 Sherman Ave. The letter noted that Glenda Buenaventura of the Health Department conduced the inspection of Muhammad’s apartment on April 10.

“Said inspection revealed the presence of toxic levels of lead in paint (intact and defective),” the letter read, “i.e., paint containing more than 0.50 percent lead by dry weight…or lead at or above 1.0 milligrams per square centimeter of surface.”

The report found lead levels in the high teens and twenties in every room in the apartment. A lower wall side in the kitchen had paint with a lead rating of 14.9. A closet door in the rear room had paint with a lead level of 20.8. A bedroom window sill side had a lead rating of 25.1.

“The Director of Health has determined that the presence of such lead-based paint and chipped and flaking pain constitutes health hazards,” the letter read.

“Since there are one or more children with an elevated blood lead level residing on the premises, the aforementioned conditions constitute grounds for issuance of this order.”

The inspection letter ordered Soliman to submit to the department a lead abatement plan to be undertaken under super-

A&I Draws Strength From City THE INNER-CITY NEWS

by BRIAN SLATTERY

New Haven Independent

Jazz heavyweights and artistic emissaries from Africa will mix with New Haven’s finest talent at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas this year. That’s just the way Chad Herzog, co-executive director of the festival and director of programming, wants it, as the festival continues to deal with a tighter state budget by sinking its roots deeper into the Elm City.

Given the wrangling over the state budget and particularly arts funding in the past year, “we’re very grateful that we’re a line item,” said Herzog. “There have been times when we’ve been lined out, and we’ve had to work with our local legislators to get back in.”

In 2016 the festival operated on revenues of $4,205,352, of which $705,431 of that came from government grants. The festival now falls under the state’s Office of Tourism.

Part of the reason for the continued support, Herzog believes, is that “we have 22 years of economic impact surveys” showing how many people the festival draws and where they’re from. It turns out that half of festival participants come from the greater New Haven area — the city proper and surrounding towns. The other half come from not only over 100 towns across the state, but half the states in the country, and two dozen foreign countries.

It also means the festival organizers can track the effects of programming choices.

“Last year we cut a week off the Green programming,” Herzog said. The decision was reflected in the survey results, which

MAY 02, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

Elon Trotman.

showed that the festival had drawn 85,000 to New Haven in the summer of 2017 as opposed to about 100,000 in 2016. The number 15,000 felt about right as the number of one successful concert on the Green.

In response, A&I shifted its programming to get four headlining acts onto the Green instead of three. Jazz heavies Elan Trotman with Rohn Lawrence and Special Guests, along with the Rahsaan Langley Project, will kick off those concerts on June 9 at 6 p.m. The all-female nueva-mariachi Flor de Toloache and Las Cafeteras follow the next day, June 10, also at 6 p.m. Hip hop/R&B mixologists Whodini appear on June 13 at

6:30 p.m. And singer-songwriter Ruth B closes it out on June 16 at 7 p.m.

This shift in programming also means that the festival doesn’t officially close after Ruth B’s Green concert. Programming from Congolese artist Toto Kisaku’s harrowing theater piece Requiem for an Electric Chair to Iraqi-American trumpeter Amir ElSaffar’s collaboration with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to Mark Morris Dance Group’s new piece Pepperland to numerous tours and lectures — continue through June 23.

“It is a different way of thinking about the

festival,” Herzog said, “that’s different from running a typical performing arts season.” By that Herzog means the kind of season that an arts organization might schedule when they have a single site — a theater, a festival grounds — that they own.

“What’s great is about us being able to remain nimble,” Herzog said. “Had we been stuck owning a performing arts center and building, we wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

As the festival gears up for June while plotting its course for the next couple years, facing a fiscal environment that seems sure to stay lean, it also means strengthening its bonds with the institutions in town that make the festival possible, from the city, to Yale, to the churches on the Green — where A&I’s Altar’d concert series will take place again — to community organizations across New Haven.

The first year of the Altar’d series, “we didn’t know how to measure success,” Herzog said. It was an experiment. The series learned the hard way that dance pieces don’t work as well as they could, as the people in the pews are too much at the same level as the church altars themselves. But music and theater performances worked great — as did “the sense of ownership that the churches took for the work itself.”

For the Altar’d series, acts apply to be considered. Who gets to perform where is left up to church leaders. This year, as church leaders reviewed some of the applicants, they talked among themselves about which acts would work better at which church. “This really is a partnership between the artists, the church, and festival,”

Herzog said. As a result — among other shows — Elegant Primates, which infuse pop with Latin, African, and Caribbean elements, appears June 12 at 8:45 p.m. at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church.

Ugandan fusion group Zikina performs at Trinity Church on the Green on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. Jazz and R&B band The Recess Bureau grooves on June 19 at 7 p.m. at First and Summerfield. And improv project Carte Noire plays on June 19 at 8 p.m. at United Church on the Green.

In that Altar’d program, the artist gets a third of the gate. The church gets another third. The Festival gets the final third to defray the costs of production and ticketing. As we were talking the nuts and bolts of how the concerts are financed, Herzog pointed out that the $10 ticket price doesn’t cover the festival’s expenses. The goal is to make the ticket affordable, not to cover costs.

Even after the state and institutional support the festival receives, “it’s the individual donors that make the Festival work. It’s the individual donors that make it possible for us to offer $10 tickets,” Herzog said. “There are some performances where it may cost us $130 for each person to witness something, and we’re charging $25.” It’s not about Con’t on page 18

Cosby Un-Honored

The Music Makes The Crown At Long Wharf

by JASON FITZGERALD New Haven Independent

It’s not only Latice Crawford’s powerhouse vocals, athletic melisma, and seemingly bottomless reserves of soul that are bringing audiences to their feet at the Long Wharf Theatre. The force of her rendition of the gospel classic “His Eye is On the Sparrow” is sustained by its dramatic context.

Crawford is not just singing her heart out; she’s struggling to reach an angry and emotionally closed teenage girl, wounded by violence and betrayal, who can’t imagine that gospel music might have something to say to her. The girl’s reluctant opening to her heritage is the thin but effective plot of Crowns, the musical written and directed by Regina Taylor now being revived in a spirited and talent-riddled production co-presented with the McCarter Theatre.

Crowns runs at Long Wharf through May 13.The plot is thin in that it barely holds together a string of performances — mostly gospel but also including hip hop, African tribal music, and even a

T. CHARLES ERICKSON PHOTOS

Pope, Thomas, Covington, and Crawford.

dash of the Broadway-style show tune — that make Crowns feel more like a concert than a musical play. But it’s effective in that it grounds those performances in a necessary and surprisingly unsentimental message.

The premise is this: Yolanda (Gabrielle

Beckford), a high schooler and aspiring rapper from Englewood, Chicago, is sent to South Carolina to live with her grandmother, Mother Shaw (Shari Addison), after Yolanda’s brother is killed in a drug-related conflict. The crowns of the title are the decorative hats worn

10

by Shaw and her fellow church ladies — a chorus of four played by Rebecca E. Covington, Stephanie Pope, Danielle K. Thomas, and Crawford — whose colorful gospel culture feels worlds away from the streets of Englewood.

You will not be surprised to learn that Yolanda, after resisting every effort at warmth, charm, and musical solace from her grandmother and her friends, finally comes to appreciate gospel’s lessons of resilience. But what makes Crowns more than bromidic claptrap is the dignity with which Taylor has written Yolanda, and the depth of Beckford’s interpretation of the part. Although Crowns has been widely produced since it first premiered in 2002, Taylor has revisited the play and expanded Yolanda’s role for this production, and her efforts imbue the evening with a weight it might otherwise lack.

Not just a brat or a facile stereotype of disaffected urban youth, Yolanda is a poet who has no illusions about the place of black women in America (“My school looks like a prison,” she tells us), and

Yale University has taken back the honorary degree it gave actor Bill Cosby following his conviction for rape.

The university Monday issued the following statement about it: Today the Yale University board of trustees voted to rescind the honorary degree awarded to William H. Cosby Jr. in 2003.

The decision is based on a court record providing clear and convincing evidence of conduct that violates fundamental standards of decency shared by all members of the Yale community, conduct that was unknown to the board at the time the degree was awarded. The board took this decision following Mr. Cosby’s criminal conviction after he was afforded due process.

Yale is committed to both the elimination of sexual misconduct and the adherence to due process. We reaffirm that commitment with our action today.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

“Healthy From Day One” Gains Momentum

by ALLAN APPEL

New Haven Independent

You’ve heard of dialing 9-1-1 in a police emergency.

And there used to be, in New Haven, a 3-1-1 non-emergency number for city services from fixing potholes to figuring out the mystery of an abandoned boat beside the roadway. Now there’s 2-1-1 to provide new streamlined access, resources, and connecting young parents to what they specifically need for kids — and their families to be healthy in the developmentally crucial early years of life.

That’s because the state’s exisiting Department of Children and Famiies (DCF) 2-1-1 child development infoline has been upgraded and better integrated with statewide services, It also now hosts Healthy From Day One’s site.

The Healthy From Day One program is funded by a five-year $4 million federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

Its purpose: To bring physical and emotional wellness to the state’s young families in a more coordinated

way by pulling together community resources and training both parents and pediatric practitioners to intervene early, especially among very young children in vulnerable communities.

“Eighty percent of brain development happens before the age of 8,” cautioned state Commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood David Wilkinson, who was on hand at a press conference Tuesday at New Haven City Hall to publicize the program and announce upcoming events.

United Way Marketing Coordinator Jeanette Baker noted that the 2-1-1 Child Development Infoline contains 4,000 agencies that collectively offer count ‘em 40,000 individual programs and services.

On a local level the grant has permitted local partnering organizations, primarily the Clifford Beers Clinic to take what the organization’s Vice President Christine Montgomery called “a deeper dive” in serving children up to age eight.

Through hiring an additional clinician and a coordinator, the group has been able to go to pediatric practices

in poorly served communities, as well as into shelters housing families, and similar organizations to screen young kids for issues such as whether the children are hitting their developmental benchmarks regarding crawling, walking, and speech.

Over the past two years of the program’s operation, Montgomery and the Clifford Beers Manger of Community and Family Engagement Tirzah Kemp reported about 400 kids were screened in those settings who showed signs of concern about developmental benchmarks, and also issues of childhood depression, among others.

Of those 400 needing services, 75 percent found it, in many cases with the Healthy From Day One and other staffers, bringing the young families hand-in-hand to providers. In many instances, the Clifford Beers clinicians embedded with pediatric practices, training staffers there into how to identify issues and then connect young families to get what they need.

One of the additional features of the work and a goal of the Healthy From Day One effort has also been to es-

Clifford Beers Clinic VP Christine Montgomery speaks, with United Way’s Tanya Barrett in back.

ALLAN APPEL PHOTO

tablish a council of parents to spread the word, to advocate, and to keep the effort alive after the grant dollars are expended, reported Montgomery.

The word is going to be spread in a day long event on May 19 at the Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School (formerly Helene Grant School) at 185 Goffe St. There will be info, events for kids, and also clini-

cians providing screenings on site.

In addition to Clifford Beers, other local groups participating include the Early Childhood Consultation Partnership, the Yale School of Medicine, and the New Haven MOMS Partnership.

An additional way to access services is through an old-fashioned phone call, at 1-800-505-7000.

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MAY 02, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

Period Piece Features Halle Berry Stars as Mom Frantically Searching for Kids During Rodney King Riots Film Review by Kam Williams

On March 3, 1991, five LAPD officers were caught on camera beating an unarmed black man who had led them on a high-speed chase instead of pulling over as directed. That driver, Rodney King suffered a broken ankle, a broken cheekbone, and numerous skull fractures and chipped teeth in the assault by billy clubs.

A year later, riots broke out all over South Central L.A. after a jury acquitted all the officers involved in the arrest. By the time the dust had settled a half-dozen days later, 63 people had died and thousands of businesses had been looted and burned to the ground, resulting in over a billion dollars in damages.

What was it like in the midst of the chaos and conflagration? That was the challenge accepted by Deniz Gamze Erguven in mounting Kings, a surreal saga chronicling a foster-mom’s frantic search for her missing kids at the height of the Rodney King riots.

You may remember that the talented Turkish writer/director made a spec-

tacular debut a couple of years ago with Mustang, a female-centric, coming-of-age adventure which landed an Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Film category. So, Kings is just Ms. Erguven’s second feature-length movie, and her first in English.

While the ambitious offering earns an A for the convincing way in which it recreates pandemonium, it only gets a C for coherency. For, the film unfolds less like a traditional narrative than a series of loosely-connected, impressionistic vignettes.

It stars Academy Award-winner Halle Berry (for Monster’s Ball) as Millie Dunbar, an overworked single-mom with 8 foster kids. When civil unrest breaks out, she embarks on a quest to round them up with the help of her agoraphobic next-door neighbor, Obie, the last white guy living in the ‘hood.

The hunky shut-in, played by Daniel “007” Craig, summons up the courage to get out of the house for the sake of Millie’s missing brood.

The plot thickens when the two are mistaken for looters by a gruff cop (Kirk Baltz) too overwhelmed by the

situation to listen to any explanations.

Millie and Obie end up handcuffed to each other which might not be entirely bad, since the close quarters affords them an opportunity to get better acquainted. So who knows, the old maid might even find a man in the midst of the mayhem.

This otherwise grim period piece ar-

rives blessed with a retro soundtrack featuring James Brown’s AfricanAmerican anthem “Say It Loud, I’m Black & I’m Proud,” Bill Withers’ haunting, R&B classic “City of the Angels,” and Nina Simone’s searing rendition of “Ooh Child.” Nevertheless, consider Kings a harrowing descent into depravity that makes The

Florida Project look like Leave It to Beaver.

Very Good (3 stars) Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity Running time: 92 minutes Production Studios: Bliss Media/ CG Cinema / Maven Pictures Distributor: The Orchard Company

Wells Fargo Increases Its Commitment to Black Homebuyers

By Stacy M. Brown The Washington Informer/NNPA Member

In 2017, Wells Fargo announced a commitment to create 250,000 African American homeowners by 2027.

In addition to lending $60 billion for home purchases over that 10-year period, the banking giant has committed to increase the diversity of its sales team, particularly African American home mortgage consultants.

Further, bank officials said they’ve dedicated $15 million for initiatives focused on homebuyer education and counseling for Black families.

This commitment is only part of the evidence that Wells Fargo has made over the past year to show that it values customers of color, said Cerita Battles, the senior vice president and head of retail diverse segments at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

“It is really important to understand that, as we made our intentions public, we did so with some of the country’s largest and most influential African American organizations standing by our side,” she said, noting that those organizations included the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the National Urban

League (NUL) and the NAACP. “Their support not only added a measure of accountability and a great deal of legitimacy to this commitment, but also the power and scope of their collective constituent networks,” Battles said.

NAREB and affiliates of NUL currently are engaged in homebuyer education and counseling to help African Americans prepare for homeownership while the NAACP’s Economic Development arm assists constituents with financial preparedness, which is a key component to being ready to purchase a home, she said.

“And, our commitment aligns very well with NAREB’s ‘2 million in 5 years’ initiative which is aimed at creating 2 million new African American homeowners in five years,” Battles said.

The commitment appears headed in a positive direction.

By the end of 2017, Wells Fargo reported that it helped 23,161 African American families with $5.7 billion in home loan originations which was a significant increase over the previous year and 99.7 percent of the bank’s first-year goal despite a fall-

ing mortgage market, Battles said.

The bank also dedicated more than $1.8 million in grants to support homebuyer education and counseling for African American audiences, exceeding its first-year goal.

Battles said the majority of support from that work comes primarily from three areas of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, including the National Housing Grant Program, the Homeownership Counseling Grant Program, and down payment assistance grants through Neighborhood-

12

LIFT. “We are also supporting new initiatives like HomeFree-USA’s Center for Financial Advancement Program which will offer financial education and expose students to the mortgage industry as a career option on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),” Battles said. “And, the future holds great promise as we have several improvements that have been put in place for 2018 including doubling the amount of money dedicated to

NeighborhoodLIFT.” Battles said that Wells Fargo also plans to pilot new pricing models for home mortgages under $175,000 and to launch a national housing counseling program that the company can share across the entire mortgage industry.

The company’s homeownership commitment to African Americans has allowed them to also look inward.

“There is no doubt the mortgage industry lacks diversity, especially when it comes to the sales force. So, for us, one of the important pieces to this puzzle is to begin building a pipeline of new, young, energetic, bright minds who might not normally consider mortgage lending as a career choice,” Battles said. “We hope to achieve this through partnerships with organizations that can help get the word out to young African Americans as they grow and shape their thoughts and plans about the future.”

For instance, Wells Fargo is partnering with the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America which has built connections to HBCUs. Battles said that those connections Con’t on page 14

THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

www.newhavenindependent.org

IN THE MORNING Weekdays 6-9 a.m.

THE TOM FICKLIN SHOW Mondays 10 a.m.

MAYOR MONDAY!

MERCY QUAYE

Mondays 11 a.m.

Mondays 1 p.m.

“THE SHOW”

MICHELLE TURNER Tuesdays 9 a.m.

“WERK IT OUT”

“DJ REL”

ELVERT EDEN Tuesdays at 2 p.m.

MORNINGS WITH MUBARAKAH

“JAZZ HAVEN”

Wednesdays 9 a.m.

Wednesdays 2 p.m.

STANLEY WELCH

“TALK-SIP”

LOVEBABZ LOVETALK

Thursdays 1 p.m.

Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.

ALISA BOWENSMERCADO

MAY 09, 2018

High Lead Levels Stall Eviction

NEW HAVEN’S GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY RADIO STATION!

JOE UGLY

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FRIDAY PUNDITS Fridays 11 a.m.

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vision of the city. It called on Soliman to repair all holes and cracks in the walls and ceiling; to scrape and remove all chipped and flaking paint; and to strip to the base surface all doors, door jambs, baseboards, and walls which contain a lead hazard.

“Any children who occupy the apartment in question are to be excluded from the work-site/apartment while the lead paint abatement efforts are being performed,” the report read, “and are not to re-enter the site until all paint chips, dust, and debris have been completely and safely cleaned from the area.”

“It is imperative,” the report continued, “that the health of the child not be further jeopardized by allowing access to lead paint chips, lead containing dust, and/or lead paint fumes.”

Soliman said that he had not yet received the report by mail, and requested that it not be admitted as evidence until he could subpoena the health inspector and bring her in to testify on the substance of its contents.

Avallone overruled his objection based on the weight of the evidence.

“Clearly the children cannot stay in the conditions that are found,” Avallone said after reading the inspection’s findings.

Soliman argued that the tenant’s child first presented a lead levels of 11 in November, and that a subsequent blood lead level exam in March found that that child was still at 11. He said the fact that the child’s blood lead levels had not changed from November to March suggested that the Sherman Avenue apartment was not responsible for the lead poisoning.

“My first concern is for the welfare of those children,” Soliman said. “But if the tenant was concerned about lead levels, why is the tenant still living in the apartment?” He asked why the tenant had not sought out a new place to live.

“Those are wonderful questions,” Avallone replied.

“Except they’re not relevant to the safety of the children in this apartment.”

After the court case had ended, Akhdar told the Independent that she and Muhammad stayed as long as they could at the apartment despite the dangerous conditions because they hoped they could convince the landlord to fix up the apartment. She said that she and her family have spent a significant amount of time staying with her mother in Hamden over the past few months.

She also said that, by the time that she and Muhammad firmly resolved to leave the apartment earlier this year, after their child got pneumonia, the eviction process had already started. She said that they applied for new housing but were denied by a prospective landlord because they were in the process of being evicted from Sherman Avenue.

Avallone said that he will give Soliman time to subpoena the city lead inspector and collect information supporting his claim that Muhammad and his family could reasonably remain in the Sherman Avenue apartment during the process of lead abatement.

“But right now, I have amply evidence to believe there is lead in that apartment,” he said. “The children should not be in this apartment.”

The judge ordered the case to be continued for another week, and for the parties to reconvene at the

courthouse on Thursday, May 3. In the interim, Avallone said, Soliman must at his own expense relocate Muhammad and his family to comparable, safe accommodations for the week.

“I’d rather err on the side of safety than otherwise,” Avallone said. He also ordered Muhammad to cooperate with Soliman during the temporary relocation process.

After the hearing, Muhammad said that he looks forward to winning the case and finding a new place to live for him and his family.

“But my child has high levels of lead,” he said, “and he’s got to deal with that for the rest of his life. Whatever the ruling, it’ll be over, but I have to deal with that for the rest of my life.”

One day after the hearing, Akhdar told the Independent that Soliman had reached out to her family with a deal: if they agreed to drop their complaints about lead and other problems with the apartment, he would return their latest month’s rent, he would pay them $1,000, and he would terminate the eviction proceeding. Akhdar said that she and her family are not interested in taking the proposed settlement.

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Wells Fargo Increases Its Commitment to Black Homebuyers

were great conduits for Wells Fargo to provide information either with materials or by showing up in person for events.

Comparably, HomeFree-USA’s Center for Financial Advancement Symposium is just beginning a program that Wells Fargo is supporting that works with similar intent.

“In fact, I recently had an opportunity to speak at their first event at Fisk University, a historically Black university located in Nashville, Tennessee,” Battles said, noting that she was counted among the 10 Black women executives from the mortgage industry who had the opportunity to speak from the heart about their personal and professional journeys.

“We described the attributes needed to be successful in life in front of 31 young women and faculty members,” Battles said. “We know that we can’t just depend on the coming workforce of the future. We also do our best to add seasoned veterans to our sales force.

And this is really foundational; we leverage our relationships with realtors, builders and nonprofits to ensure that folks who are already in the market know that Wells Fargo is not only a viable option, but also has a program going that focuses on African American borrowers and their communities.”

The approach is two-pronged, Battles continued.

“We are engaging and attracting current experts while inspiring new generations to consider [the mortgage industry] as a career possibility for their future,” Battles said.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

Black Men and Healthcare–A Broken Relationship

by Abdris Elba, BlackDoctor.org

Every year my mother texts or calls to check whether I’ve completed my annual physical, dental cleaning and vision test. Going to the dentist and optometrist has always been easy to complete, but going to the doctor for routine check-ups and blood tests haven’t been. In my case, accessibility to a network of providers is easy because of the health benefits associated with past and current jobs.

With access to such good healthcare, why am I so reticent to regularly go to the doctor?

Why are black men so hesitant to regularly visit their doctors?

I’ve asked myself this question a multitude of times. The answer is layered and nuanced.

There’s a naivety that comes with being young, a black man or both. It’s almost a feeling of invincibility – a false sense of healthiness that’s based off an unprofessional self-assessment consisting of an “I’m okay. I feel good.” If there’s no sharp pain or glaring signs of a problem then there’s no need to go to the doctor. “I know my body” is often our sole justification. Obviously, this is a dangerous way of thinking that positions us to be reactive rather than proactive.

With youth and/or being a black man also comes the blissfulness of ignorance. Being unaware of your current state of health is more soothing than finding out something may actually be wrong. Living in the unknown doesn’t force us to face past actions that may have triggered health issues: whether its sexual activity, substance abuse, diet, etc. Here is when you realize how much we believe in the age-old axiom, “out of sight, out of mind.”

Black men’s subscriptions to flawed

notions of masculinity only compound the issue. Our definitions of what it means to be a “real” man are generally shaped by societal and traditional masculine norms, which condition us to be self-reliant and conceal any sort of weakness. Revealing health issues to our closest friends and families puts us in a vulnerable state that jeopardizes our “manhood.” In a sense, black men feel there’s a stigma and embarrassment associated with sickness when in actuality it’s just being human in its most rudimentary form.

Another layer we must analyze is black men’s mistrust of the healthcare system. The lack of trust is rooted in racial and prejudice undertones.

The relationship between patient and physician is just that – a relationship – and the foundation of trust is broken within the black community. One must look at the historical contexts of blacks and the health care system to truly understand.

Historically, black bodies have been the victim of forced medical and surgical experimentations only to have the results used as justification of their oppression and exploitation.

Dr. J. Corey Williams explained, “In the Antebellum period, blacks were forced to participate in dissections and medical examinations. The psychiatric diagnosis of drapetomania, or “runaway slave syndrome,” was created to diagnose and pathologize African slaves who fled their vicious slave owners. To run away from slavery was considered a disease. The treatment was often amputation of extremities.”

He continued, “Later during Reconstruction Era, white American doctors argued that former slaves would not thrive in a free society because their minds could not cope psychologically with freedom. In the Civil Rights

era, psychiatrists used the concept of schizophrenia to portray black activists as violent, hostile, and paranoid because they threatened the racist status quo.”

The infamous Tuskegee Experiment entailed the purposeful injection of hundreds of black men with syphilis and denial of treatment in order to study how the disease affected the hu-

man body. With these daunting events in mind, it’s easy to see how the mistrust of the healthcare system was inherited.

Though today’s world is much better, racial prejudice still plays a role in the treatment of blacks in contemporary medicine and public health. Black men are sometimes treated with different medication compared to whites

with the same condition. Older medications with worse side effects are prescribed to black men over newer medications with fewer side effects.

Stereotypes of black men lead to longer wait times and doctors’ mistrust of their described symptoms as well. It’s been noted that physicians spend less time with black men as well. Again, the relationship between doctor and patient lacks the empathy and ingenuous nature needed for a patient to feel a particular treatment and prescription is the true solution to a health issue.

On another note, it can’t go without saying that the socioeconomic issues that continue to cripple black communities play a major factor as well.

Everything from poor school systems and minimal job opportunities to food deserts and lack of resources accentuate the mistrust as well. The absence of dietary and lifestyle education coupled with a culture of unhealthy eating accentuates the very ailments black men are resistant to addressing with physicians. Adding the reality of jobs without sufficient medical benefits only forces black families to choose between going untreated and expensive medical bills.

The resolution to this generational problem is quite robust, to say the least. It’s not only a change of mindset, but also a change of culture that persists in America. We are more than aware of the systematic oppression and exploitation of black people and a collective effort is needed to alleviate the sickness of mind, body, and spirit on all sides.

Abdris Elba, B.S. in Advertising – University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, Ph.D. in Trolling is a SQL/BI developer, aspiring voiceover actor and living proof that the chicken indeed comes before the egg.

Three LA Fitness Employees in New Jersey Reportedly Fired for Racial Profiling

Nationwide — Three employees at a Secaucus, New Jersey-based LA Fitness gym have reportedly been fired for racially profiling against at least two of their Black customers. In several Facebook videos that were uploaded and went viral, two black men can be seen being asked to leave the gym after an employee apparently called police.

Tshyrad Oates, who posted the videos on his account, said he was visiting on a four-day guest pass. His friend, however, had been a longtime member at the gym.

He wrote on his Facebook page, “After about a half hour I was approached by this same employee telling me that I

had to leave or pay and I explained to her that I just signed in with her with the guest pass.”

He added, “She stated that it was my friend who did not pay (unaware that her manager had already signed him in with his membership pass). My friend stated to her that he is an active and current member and that his gym tag was in his locker. He felt racially profiled and embarrassed by the harassment of this LA Fitness employee in front of other members at the gym.”

Oates continues, “We explained to them about our guest pass and rescanned my friend’s member tag and it resulted in current active statues. (The LA Fit-

ness employee did look at the computer screen that showed current member status and said nothing). We again started our workout and 10 mins later an LA Fitness manager told us to leave. We stated that we did not do anything wrong and have active current memberships. 2 mins later, 5 police men show up asking us to leave.”

He then says that the manager terminated their gym memberships, but LA Fitness has since released a statement saying their membership had not been terminated.

The three employees involved, however, have reportedly been fired.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

Bill Cosby Isn’t a Victim

by Khalilah L. Brown-Dean, DiverseEducation.com

April is replete with monthly observances that range from the mundane to the profound. April is National Straw Hat Month and National Soft Pretzel Month.

We celebrate diversity via Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, National Thai Month and Black Women’s History Month. We promote awareness via National Donate Life Awareness Month, National Mental Health Month and National Autism Awareness Month. April is also National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

Six months after the viral hashtag #MeToo ignited national interest in the movement founded by Tarana Burke some 10 years ago, I expected a more vigorous public investment in Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

I anticipated intense debates over the need to affirm victims whose experiences don’t make headlines. Of the challenges to women and men who labor in the hospitality industry, on farms and as home health aides where speaking out can lead to more violence and even threats of deportation. For young women whose early physical development leads adults to accuse them of inviting unwanted attention.

For young men who were shamed and their masculinity questioned.

I needed a more dedicated indictment of how the exclusive focus on firing perpetrators doesn’t address the multilayered needs of victims. I longed for legislators to leverage the public mood by convening local providers and social service organizations working to address human trafficking that targets young women and young men. I needed college campuses to seriously interrogate the fallacy of efforts to teach young people how to avoid being a victim, while neglecting the need to train people not to be perpetrators. A dedicated emphasis on affirmative consent that isn’t obfuscated by intoxication, time of day or attire.

To be sure, some of these things happened. But certainly not to the level and degree I and many others expected or needed. What I did not expect was that we would come to the close of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with protracted debates over whether Bill Cosby’s conviction rings hollow because other high-profile perpetrators remain free.

Cosby’s conviction on three counts of sexual assault launched a firestorm of political punditry, social media commentary and scholarly analysis of longstanding issues of power, access and vulnerability. A plethora of memes comparing the

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lack of criminal charges levied against high-profile White figures such as Matt Lauer, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Roman Polanski and even President Donald Trump have been used to indict racial privilege in the criminal justice system.

Vigorous, and at times vicious, exchanges abound about a mythical plan to purchase a major news network alongside allegations of an illuminati effort to take down a powerful Black man. Calls for racial solidarity can’t be built on the silencing and subjugation of women in order to protect abusers. It’s akin to those who defend Trump’s behavior under the guise of party and ideological solidarity.

Imagine if a person of color was killed by another person of color. The perpetrator was tried and convicted for taking the life of another. The harm and pain of that loss isn’t dampened by the realization that White officers who kill unarmed people of color are rarely held accountable for their actions. Instead, we are able to call for accountability in both situations while still acknowledging that privilege based on race, class, celebrity status and gender persistently shape the administration of justice.

Indeed, the Black Lives Matter movement was born out of a demand for accountability that isn’t contingent upon occupation and job title. Indicting White privilege doesn’t require dismissing culpability for the commission of harm.

Rather ,two things can be true at once: Bill Cosby’s commission of sexual assaults is worthy of punishment. And, White perpetrators treated as social pariah also deserve to be held legally accountable.

In 1991, scholar Kimberle Crenshaw published her now-seminal work, “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color.” The premise was deceptively simple: Various systems, institutional structures, nodes of power and cultural norms intersect to make certain groups and identities more vulnerable.

The focus on intersectionality isn’t just about the groups to which we are born into or choose to belong. Rather, it is a recognition that policy and practice can both stigmatize and pathologize multiple constituencies at once.

According to data from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Black women are disproportionately affected by various forms of violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking and homicide. Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 38% of Black women experience some form of sexual violence during their lifetime.

Bringing legal action against the people responsible for this violence is often conditioned upon access to affordable legal representation, social standing of the accused and victim and statutory definitions of assault and consent.

These intersections highlight the comCon’t on page 18

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Celebrates 5 Years

later described the group’s slogan as “Stop the crying, stop the tears.” New member Beverly Richardson perhaps summed up the unique role this group plays for New Haven families who have lost loved ones to homicide when she said, “They follow the families. They don’t just visit them once.”

Friday night’s ceremony, packed with celebrations of the organization as a whole and individual members’ accomplishments, pivoted around the induction of Shirley EllisWest as a new member of the group’s advisory council and around the formal recognition of Hamden funeral director Peter Moraski for his open collaboration with the group.

Ellis-West, a former Quinnipiac Meadows alder, is currently the manager of the New Haven Family Alliance’s Juvenile Review Board. Her group runs a criminal justice diversion program for New Haven youth, aged 8 to 17, who have been referred to her by the police, the juvenile court, and the school system. Her group works with 200 New Haven youth each year, providing six months of case management services and a promise that their records will be wiped clean if they complete the program.

“So many families find themselves with very limited resources when they lose a loved one,” Ellis-West said about what drew her to get involved with Bereavement Care. “This group provides truly personal support and love in the community that these families might not otherwise get.”

As a new member of the group’s advisory council, Ellis-West said that she hopes to introduce the concept of “communities of care” to Bereavement Care, by which the nonprofit will cultivate a network of pastors, counselors, and trauma experts to keep on call to provide psychological affirmation and support along with the financial and emotional support the group already specializes in.

Bereavement Care bestowed its Community Service Award on Peter Moraski, the 33-yearold director of Colonial Funeral Home and Hamden Memorial Funeral Home.

Moraski said that he received his first homicide victim at his Hamden funeral home around four years ago. He prepares the burials for around 10 homicide victims each year, mostly from New Haven.

He said that when a family reaches out to him about hosting a funeral for a homicide victim, he goes through all the usual funeral arrangements. He also reaches out to Dawson-Douglas and makes sure that Bereavement Care is in touch with the victim’s family. DawsonDouglas then shepherds her group’s resources to help pay for the funeral and flowers and anything else the family might need.

“I’m complete humbled to receive this award,” Moraski said with a smile. He said that he’s in the funeral business not to make a lot of money, but to help serve the community in which he lives.

“We started our meetings in my dining room and in my living room,” Douglas-Dawson said at the end of the night. “Now we’re in City Hall. We started with 7 members. Now we’re 18. And we’re here to stay.”

Bereavement Care will host its annual march and rally in support of families of homicide victims in September. The march will start at the Charles Street police substation, and will go Downtown and conclude at Goffe Street Park. The guest speaker will be Officer Tommy Norman from Little Rock, Arkansas.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 - MAY 09, 2018

Stetson Library: The Next Chapter HELP STETSON LIBRARY MOVE INTO THE NEW Q HOUSE “We don’t just need a place for books—we need a space for people to learn, to be challenged, to come together.

A library is not just a home for books, it’s a home for the community.” - Diane Brown, Stetson Branch Manager

Thanks to a generous challenge grant from the Seedlings Foundation, you can double the impact of your donation. All gifts between $50 - $10,000 will be matched dollar for dollar!

Donate online at nextstetson.org or by check to: NHFPL Foundation - Stetson Library, 133 Elm St, New Haven, CT 06510 The NHFPL Foundation is a 501(c)(3) exempt organization; gifts are fully deductible under federal tax regulations.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

Black-Owned Natural Haircare Subscription Box, CurlKit, Collaborates With Shea Moisture to Release Their New Red Palm Oil Collection

Nationwide — This month, Curlkit has collaborated with Shea Moisture and the top hair care brand is exclusively taking over Curlkit’s April 2018 subscription box with its new Red Palm Oil Collection. Shea Moisture is known for its commitment to ethical sourcing and the Community Commerce Program which creates opportunities for social and economic empowerment of the communities that they are involved in. Their program focuses on and encourages entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, education, and wellness.

Shea Moisture released the Red Palm Oil collection to help give length and volume to healthy afros and curlycoily hair, which are more prone to shrinkage. The revolutionary products in this line combine effective, powerful and soothing natural essential oils and ingredients such as Red Palm Oil, Cocoa Butter, and Flax Seed – promise to “transform shrinkage-prone hair into luxurious, elongated locks.”

Like the other products from the Shea Moisture brand, the new Red Palm

Oil collection is chemical free with no parabens, sulfates or animal testing and offers top quality ingredients to promote healthy and great-looking hair.

Curlkit members will receive Red Palm Oil Detangling Shampoo, Red Palm Oil Leave-In Or Rinse Out Conditioner, Red Palm Oil Styling Gelee, Red Palm Oil Curl Stretch Pudding and the Red Palm Oil Reshaping Shine Butter.

The Shea Moisture Red Palm Oil Takeover Curlkit box is available exclusively this month only! For more information on CurlKit and to sign up for a subscription, please visit www. curlkitshop.com.

About CurlKit CurlKit is a complete solution for women with naturally curly hair of various textures. They provide exclusive services, products, tutorials, videos, how-to manuals and information to help lifelong naturals, as well as, women who are choosing a newly natural hairstyle. CurlKit had their premier launch in March 2012,

Shea Moisture Red Palm Oil Is Taking Over Curlkit’s April 2018 Subscription Box

opening Curlkit.com to customers in United States, Canada, Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands. In September 2012, they expanded their market share to

HBCUs Are Producing a New Generation of Young Women

By N. Joyce Payne, Special to the AFRO Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are commonly credited as the primary training grounds for African-American talent in higher education. You cannot matriculate at public HBCUs without feeling the presence of great leaders who gave wings to the aspirations of young scientists, political leaders and civil rights advocates who changed the suffocating policies and practices of exclusion.

Today, public HBCUs continue to produce talent for the 21st Century with a disproportionate number being young women. As recently reported in Women@Forbes, “Women currently earn the majority of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees.” The same is true for Black women.

While exploring issues of gender equity for black women, it appears that the role of HBCUs and their impact across higher education

and the business sector is too frequently overlooked. In an industry dominated by White males, Black women have shattered stereotypes and excelled in key campus leadership positions across the academic enterprise. Among the nation’s 101 HBCUs, 22 Black women are serving as either interim or permanent presidents of these institutions.

However, there are still areas where opportunities for Black women are scarce. Only one Black woman made Forbes Magazine’s recent list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. There are no Black women running a Fortune 500 company and less than two percent occupy middle-management positions, which is the pathway to the C-Suite executive level. When it comes to the sports enterprise, there is only one African-American woman serving as a league commissioner in the entirety of the NCAA, Jacqie McWilliams of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Fortunately, HBCUs are well positioned to elevate Black women and to give them the tools to find their voice. Young women are driving a new narrative around gender equity, working to eliminate harmful elements of patriarchy and sexism from our classrooms, research labs and

centers, residence halls and trustee boards. Advocacy for equity along the lines of gender and sexual orientation continue to resonate throughout HBCUs, forcing administrators, faculty and students to consider ways in which they can promote a more progressive culture and a safer, more vibrant environment for women.

HBCUs are producing a new generation of young women who view the attainment of knowledge as a liberating force, as a foundation for democracy, and as an essential imperative for defining the role of women as citizens of the world.

Black women are graduating in record numbers and entering careers traditionally dominated by their male peers. Change is clearly in the wind.

Dr. N. Joyce Payne founded the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Public Black College Community, in 1987. She currently serves as the Sr. International Affairs and STEM Advisor to the TMCF President & CEO. Dr. N. Joyce Payne (Courtesy Photo/www.tmcf.org)

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over 30 countries worldwide accomplishing one of their first-year goals ahead of schedule.

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plicated nature of pursuing justice for victims of sexual violence. What’s particularly troubling is that most of the people vigorously defending celebrities like Bill Cosby and R. Kelly have never met these people in person. They’ve never had the opportunity to personally discern the public persona from the private disposition.

And yet the data on the prevalence of sexual assault and violence illustrate that most of us know someone who has been a victim. Sometimes the hypothetical “well what abouts” and “what ifs” support people we don’t know, at the expense of those we do. To quote Pulitzer Prizewinning griot Kendrick Lamar, “tell me who ya loyal to?”

On this the last day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let’s stand in solidarity with victims of sexual violence across the markers of race, gender identity, sexual orientation and age to create communities that are healthy and safe. Let’s invest in scholarship that examines the collection of policies and laws that produce new chasms and deepen existing fault lines.

Let’s also recognize that attempts to build group solidarity predicated on respectability politics are fragile and ephemeral.

And finally, let’s address the privilege that exists in multiple spheres to define whose pain deserves our collective support.

Dr. Khalilah L. Brown-Dean is an associate professor of Political Science at Quinnipiac University, where she writes about American politics, political psychology and public policy. You can follow her on Twitter @KBDPHD. Printed with permission from DiverseEducation.com April 29, 2018

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Strength From City

breaking even. It’s not even close to it. “But that’s not how we’re set up.”

In keeping with reaching out to more of New Haven, A&I continues to strengthen its neighborhood festivals thanks to a new energy coming from the neighborhoods themselves.

“This is the sixth year of us doing the festivals,” Herzog said. “For the first five, we called them pop-up festivals.” Last year, on a Sunday afternoon midway through the festival, the festival organizers brought all the neighborhood organizers together. It was the first time all three neighborhoods had come together for one meeting. Ideas started flying.

“One of the big outcomes of that meeting was that they would like to meet again,” Herzog said. “It was kind of a facepalm thing.” They reconvened in October, “and the same energy was there.”

The first big change was to the name of the programming which suggested bigger changes to come.

“We’ve been popping up for five years,” Herzog recalled meeting participants saying. “We’re kind of here to stay. Can we drop the name?” Herzog agreed.

“A couple minutes later,” Herzog said, “people said, ‘now that we’re working together so well, what do you think would happen if we took the best of our neighborhoods to the Green?’”

Herzog agreed on the spot. “The looks I got were, ‘don’t you have to take that to someone?’” he said.

So on June 9, Herzog said, “we come together. We celebrate the city. We celebrate our neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is bringing one of their headlining acts to the Green.” The event is anchored by the concert on the Green that features Rohn Lawrence, a long-time staple of the New Haven music scene whose influence reaches well beyond it.

Meeting together more often has also meant more conversation among New Haven’s neighborhoods. “The invitiaton happened from each other,” Herzog said. “The Hill said to Dixwell, ‘you need to come to our festival.’ It happened back and forth.

That’s why that’s going to work.”

All three neighborhood festivals are moving locations because the neighborhood organizations felt the festivals would be better in other spots. The Hill’s festival, on May 19, is in the Cornell Scott Hill Medical Center parking lot on Columbua Avenue. Dixwell’s festival is happening right after the Freddy Fixer parade on May 20, in the parking lots behind Stetson Library on Dixwell Avenue.

Fair Haven’s festival lands in Criscuolo Park on May 26.

“Because the communities have organized their own festivals for five years, they’re experts,” Herzog said. “We’re there to support, but supporting is all we’re doing. These are the neighborhood’s festivals, and I think it’s pretty obvious from all the partnerships they’ve developed. And coming together on June 9 I can’t wait to have everybody celebrating together.”

The International Festival of Arts & Ideas runs June 9 to June 23 all over New Haven.

For more information and a full calendar of

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INNER-CITY NEWS July 2016 -- August THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 02,27, 2018 MAY 09, 02,2018 2016

CITY OF NEW HAVEN - BID NOTICE

Sealed bids, to purchase NOTICE the following, will be accepted by the Bureau of Purchases, Room 301, 200 Orange Street, New VALENTINA PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Haven, CT MACRI 06510RENTAL until HOUSING 3:00 P.M., local time, on the date shown, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, Bid forms pre-applications are availableforonline atone-bedroom www.cityofnewhaven.com/ is accepting studio and apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven.

Maximum income limitations appurchasing. ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have 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 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 .

NEW HAVEN 242-258 Fairmont Ave 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 &Company shopping center Centrally Located Construction in Connecticut Pet under 40lb allowed.

Interested parties contactproject Maria managers, @ 860-985-8258 has positions available for experienced laborers and truck drivers.

This company is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F. Females and Minorities CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s areprogram encouraged toassist apply.

Certificate Program. This is a 10 month designed to in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs.to The cost is $125.

Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30Please fax resume ATTN: Mike to 860-669-7004.

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

St. New Haven, CT CITY OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Facility Maintenance and Custodial Management Services for Board of Education #2019-04-1211

RFP due date: Tuesday June 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM EST. SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

RFP can be downloaded at http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/PurchasingBureauOnline

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour Michael V. Fumiatti Purchasing Agent 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.

CITY OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Custodial Cleaning and Other Services

#2019-04-1212 A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith RFP due Tuesday 15, 2018 at 11:00 EST. Street Seymour, CTdate: at 10:00 am, onMay Wednesday, July 20,AM 2016.

RFP can be downloaded at http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/PurchasingBureauOnline

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

Purchasing Agent 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

Large shoreline CT based construction company Large shoreline CT based construction company seeking full-time Accounting/Administrative Assistant for busy office environment. The position includes both accounting and customer service/administrative duties i.e. data entry in ERP system (Sage 100), reviewing and processing AP transactions, processing billing for over-the-counter sales orders, maintenance of W-9s and insurance certificates for vendors/ subcontractors and assisting with 1099/W2 preparation. Also includes answering phones with positive attitude, scheduling customer appointments for salespersons, filing and other general duties. Minimum 5 years’ experience in an office environment, strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to multi-task, working knowledge of basic accounting, strong Microsoft office (excel/word) skills. Sage 100 knowledge a major plus. Salary: $17.00 to $18.00 per hour. Email resume to Swilloughby@atlasoutdoor.com. AA/EOE/M-F

Large CT. Fenace Company Large CT. Fence Company is looking for an individual for our stock yard. Warehouse shipping and receiving and Forklift experience a must. Must have a minimum of 3 years’ material handling experience. Must be able to read and write English, and read a tape measure. Duties will include: Loading and unloading trucks, pulling orders for installation and retail counter sales, keeping the yard clean and organized at all times and inventory control. Welding experience a plus. Individual will also make deliveries of fence panels and products, must be able to lift at least 70lbs. Required to pass a Physical and Drug test, have a valid CT. Driver’s License and be able to obtain a Drivers Medical Card. Send resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE/MF

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bid (IFB) Full-Service Elevator Maintenance and Repair Solicitation Number: 106-AM-18-S

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 rateor& excellent benefits BA/BS in Civil Engineering Construction Management.

Contact: Dana Briere Phone: 2-5 yrs. experience.

OSHA Certified.

Email: Proficient 860-243-2300 in reading contract plans and specifications. dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Women & Minority Applicants are Bloomfield, CT 06002; Fax 860.218.2433; encouragedRED toTechnologies, apply LLC is an EOE. Email resumes to info@redtechllc.com.

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity EmployerRemediation Division Project Manager Environmental

Field Engineer

3-5 years exp. and Bachelor’s Degree, 40-Hr. Hazwoper Training Req. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002;

Fax 860.218.2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com

RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record.

We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860243-2300 Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming Inc Employer

seeks: Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training Asphalt on equipment we operate.

Garrity Reclaiming Inc Location: Bloomfield CT seeks: Construction Equipment Mechanic Contact: experienced James Burke Phone: 860preferably in Reclaiming and 243-2300 Road Milling Equipment.

We offer factory email: jim.burke@garrityasphalt.com training on equipment we operate.

Women & Minority Applicants are Location: Bloomfield CT Contact:encouraged James Burke Phone: 860to apply 243-2300 Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity email: jim.burke@garrityasphalt.com Employer We offer excellent hourly rate & Women excellent & Minoritybenefits Applicants are Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity The Housing Authority of theHousing, City of Selective Bridgeport New Construction, Wood Framed, Demolition, Site-work, Cast-We offer excellent hourly rate & Employer in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, excellent benefits Invitation for Bid (IFB)

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is currently seeking bids from qualified elevator companies to provide full-service elevator maintenance and repair Authoritywide, the is a mix of elevator types and locations. Solicitation package will be available on April 16, 2018. 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 pre-bid contoCT Bid:06604 on ference will be held at 150 Highland Ave,Invitation Bridgeport, May 2, 2018 @ 10:00 a.m. Although attendance is not mandatory, sub2nd Notice mitting a bid for the project without attending conference is not in the best interest of the Offeror. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than May 10, 2018. Answers OldWebsite: Saybrook, CT to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s www.parkcitycommunities.org. Seal bids will be received(4until May,17, 2018 @ 10:00 Buildings, 17 Units) at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Flooring, Painting, 10 Specialties, Refuse Division Removal Services Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

Solicitation Number: 107-AM-18-S This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Union Company seeks: Tractor Trailer The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Com-

Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction munities (PCC) is requesting sealed bids from qualified carting companies for rubbish removal services at Marina Due Village Apartments, Bid Extended, Date: AugustCharles 5, 2016 Equipment. Must have a CDL License, F. Greene Homes, Fireside/Forest Green Apartments, Harborview Towclean driving record, capable of operating Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Union Company seeks: Tractor Trailer ers, Trumbull Gardens, P.T. Barnum and Scattered Sites. Solicitation heavy equipment; be willing to travel Project documents ftp link below: Driver package will be available on April 16, 2018available to obtain via a copy of the for Heavy & Highway Construction throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycommunities. http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage Equipment. Must have a CDL License, excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A clean driving record, capable of operating pre-bid conference will be held at 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT Contact: Dana be Briere Phone: heavy equipment; willing to travel or Email Bids to: Dawn Lang @ attendance 203-881-8372is dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com 06604Fax on May 02,Questions 2018, @&11:00 a.m.

Although not man860-243-2300 Email: the Northeast & NY. We offer HCC encourages the the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Sectionis3 Certifiedthroughout Businesses datory, submitting a bid for project without attending conference dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com hourly rate & excellent benefits not in the best interest of the Offeror.Company, Additional questions be CT 06483excellent Haynes Construction 32 Progress Ave,should Seymour, Women & Minority Applicants are emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than May 10, Contact: Dana Briere Phone: AA/EEO EMPLOYER 2018. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: encouraged to apply 860-243-2300 Email: www.parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed or hand deAffirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com livered by May 17, 2016 at 11:00 AM, to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, ConEmployer Women & Minority Applicants are tract Specialist, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Late proposencouraged to apply als will not be accepted.

20

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016- - August 02, 2016 THE INNER-CITY NEWS MAY 03, 2018 MAY 09, 2018

Dispatcher

Boundaries LLC is a full-service Land Surveying Firm located in Griswold, CT. We are recruiting for these Materials is seeking a motivated, organized, detail-oriented candidate to join its NOTICE positions and are accepting resumes for Survey Field Galasso truck dispatch office. Responsibilities include order entry and truck ticketing in a fast Technicians, Survey Computer Technicians, Licensed paced materials manufacturing and contracting company. You will have daily interacwith employees and customers as numerous truckloads of material cross our scales Land Surveyors, Civil Engineers, from 4/9/2018 tion daily.AVAILABLE We are willing to train the right individual that has a great attitude. NO PHONE VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS through 12/31/2018. Interested parties can contact us CALLS PLEASE. Reply to Hiring Manager, PO Box 1776, East Granby, CT 06026.

EOE/M/F/D/V. at HOME 860-376-2006 or submit yourHouse resume INC, on behalf of Columbus andto theJfaulise@ New Haven Housing Authority, boundariesllc.net.

AA/EOEfor studio and one-bedroom apartments is accepting pre-applications at this develCommon Ground High School is seeking a passionate, creative, effective,limitations inclusive Environmental Leadership Manager. This is a unique opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income apopportunity to Ju;y work at a school that prioritizes leadership developply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday CARPENTER ment and experiential 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have learning focused on the environmental and justice. For a full job description and how to apply, please Large CTreceived Fence Company carpenterINC. for our Wood Fence Probeen at thelooking officesforofa HOME Applications will besocial mailied upon reduction Experience preferred will train the rightduring person.those Must hours. be visit http://www.commongroundct.org/2018/04/19180/. questShop. by calling HOME INC but at 203-562-4663 Completed prefamiliar with carpentry hand & power tools and be able to read a CAD drawmustThis beisreturned HOME INC’s offices 171 Orange Street, Third ingapplications and tape measure. an in-shoptoproduction position.

Dutiesatinclude Floor,fence Newpanels, Haven, CT gates 06510. building posts, and more. Some pickup & delivery of Common Ground High School is seeking a Special Education Teach-

ing Assistant (TA). The TA is responsible for supporting teachers in the classroom during the school day, providing targeted supports in academic labs both during and after school, and assisting with summer academic programs. For a full job decription and how to apply, visit http://commongroundct.org/2018/05/common-ground-isVALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDESplease DISPONIBLES seeking-a-special-education-teaching-assistant-ta/

materials may also be required. Must have a valid CT driver’s license and 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. AA/EOE

NOTICIA

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

HOME INC, en nombre de lafor Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está Request Proposals Payroll & Other Human Resource Management aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo Common Ground High School is seeking a passionate, creative, partSystems Services ubicado en la calle 109 Frankand Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos time science teacher, certified in biology and general science. For a full job description máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 and how to apply, please visit http://www.comThe Housing Authority of New Haven d/b/a Elm City (aproximadamente mongroundct.org/2018/05/common-ground-is-seeking-a-part-timejulio, 2016 hasta cuandoofsethe hanCity recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes 100) Communities is currently seeking Bids science-teacher/ en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición for Payroll & Other Human Resource Management Systems and llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained . a las Elm oficinas de Vendor HOME INC en 171 Orange tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510KMK Insulation Inc. from City’s Collaboration PortalStreet, https://newhaven-

housing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 9:00AM.

Welder:

1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473

Mechanical Insulator position.

Insulation company offering good pay and benefits.

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED Part Time Delivery Needed One/Two Day a Week, Must Have Own Vehicle If Interested call

(203) 435-1387

CITY OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Computer and Printer Support Solution #2019-04-1214

RFP due date: Tuesday May 15, 2018 at 11:00 AM EST. RFP can be downloaded at http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/PurchasingBureauOnline

Michael V. Fumiatti Purchasing Agent

CITY OF NEW HAVEN - BID NOTICE Sealed bids, to purchase the following, will be accepted by the Bureau of Purchases, Room 301, 200 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06510 until 3:00 P.M., local time, on the date shown, at which time they will be publicly opened and read. Bid forms are available online

Large CT fence & guardrail contractor looking Please mail resume to above address.. MAIL ONLY for a shop welder. Duties include but are not limited to welding & at www.cityofnewhaven.com/purchasing.

This company is an Affirmative Action/ fabricating gates, plating posts, truck and trailer repairs. Must be Equal Opportunity Employer.

Invitation to Bid: School Calendars 70195042 May 9, 2018 able to weld steel and aluminum. Some road work may be required.

2nd Notice All necessary equipment provided. Must have a valid CT driver’s BOE license and be able to obtain a DOT medical card. Required to pass The GUILFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY a physical and drug test. Medical, vacation & other benefits in- is currently accepting applications for COUPLES ONLY for its one Electric All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 GuilSaybrook, CT cluded. Please email resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com AA/ bedroom apartments at Guilford Court and Boston Terrace inOld highways, near bus stop & shopping centerford, CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% EOE-MF (4 social Buildings, 17 Units)Lineman - Electric utility is seeking candidates for a paid training program leading Apprentice security or federal disability and over the age of 18. Applications Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 to qualification as aProject First Class Lineman. Applicants must be a H.S. graduate or an equivalent Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262, in experience and training. Also, must be in good physical condition to perform the duties ext. 107. An information packet will also be provided with the apof the position. Hourly rate: $24.39 to $35.03, plus an excellent fringe benefit package. The plication. Applications willNew be accepted until end of Framed, business Housing, day CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Construction, Wood Selective Cast-or the date the fiftieth (50) application is received, closing date forDemolition, applicationsSite-work, is May 9, 2018 on July of31, 2018. Credit, police, and landlord checks are procured whichever occurs first. Apply: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South with This 3 years min. exp.program HAZMAT Endorsed.

Certificate Program. is a 10 month designed to assist in the intellectual formation Candidates in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday,by August 20, 2016 1:30(Tractor/Triaxle/Roll-off) the authority.

Smoke free housing.

Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, (203) 294-2080. EOE. 3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S.

NEW HAVEN

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

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Class A CDL Driver

Some overnights may be required. FAX resumes to RED Technologies, at Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING 860.342-1042; Email: HR@redtechllc.com Mail or in person: 173 Pickering Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

St. NewStreet, Haven,Portland, CT CT 06480. RED Technologies, LLC is An EOE.

School Security

Casework,

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK- COUNTY OF NASSAU

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

NEW HAVEN EARLY CHILHDOOD COUNCIL REQUEST FOR QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROPOSALS

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Index No: 2009203371 Date Summons Filed December 10, 2009 Plaintiff designates

Nassau County as the Place of trial.-The Basis of venue is Plaintiff/Defendant Resides Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Greeter- Seeking qualified individuals to perform a variety of duties associat:436 Bedell Terrace West Hempstead, NY 11552.-SUMMONS WITH NOTICE Plainated with monitoring access to the building or assigned station, implementing August 15, 2016 The New Haven Early Childhood Council isAnticipated seeking toStart: tiff re- Sides at 436 Bedell Terrace West Hempstead, NY 11552,Timothy M Celenza security protocols as provided buildingAuthority level administrative Sealed bids are invitedbybydistrict the and Housing of the Town of quality Seymour fund enhancement (QE) projects for the period available Plaintiff Yulia Zorina, Defendant - ACTION FOR DIVORCE To the above Project documents via against ftp link below: staff. Requires graduation from high school, plus a minimum of one year exuntil working 3:00 pm August 2, 2016 at positions its office Smith Street, 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 for the following services: named Defendant: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to Serve a notice of appearance perience withon theTuesday, public. Individual considered for the willat 28July http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage beSeymour, required to beCT fingerprinted and Concrete undergo background checks.

Hourly and Rate:Replacement at the on the Plaintiff within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of 06483 for Sidewalk Repairs $10.23 - $10.56 plus benefit package. Apply to: Personnel Department, Town • on-site education consultation to prek programs the day of service (or within thirty(30) days after the service is complete if this summons, Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

• mental health resources for children and families in prek programs; of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Fax #: (203) Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com 294-2084. Closing date will be May 9, 2018 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE.

is not personally delivered to you with in the State of New York; and in the case of your

• professional development trainings related to CT Early Standards, HCC encourages theLearning participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Sectionjudgment 3 Certified Businesses failure to appear, will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded trauma informed care and topics required

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.

by School Readiness and NAEYC.

Haynes Construction Company, 32 in Progress Ave, Seymour, 06483 Dated: December 2, 2009 Timothy M Celenza, Plaintiff Pro the notice set forthCTbelow.

AA/EEO EMPLOYER Se 436 Bedell Terrace West Hempstead, NY 11552. NOTICE: The nature of this Action is to dissolve the marriage between the parties, on the grounds: DRL Section 170 subd. (2)Off load trailers, reload for trans/disp. Lift 50 lbs., operate industrial powered trucks and forklift.

An info session will be held Monday, May 12th from 2-3pm at 54 Meadow The Abandonment of the Plaintiff by the Defendant for a period of more than one year.

Asbestos Workerdocuments Handler Training aare +. Resumes to RED Technologies, 173 PickeringHousing St., Street, conference Ofroom 3B. To receive the RFP and for established rates for each Bidding available from theLLC, Seymour Authority The relief sought is A judgment of absolute divorce in favor of the Plaintiff dissolving Portland, CT 06480; Fax 860-342-1022; or service type, contact the School Readiness office Email to lkelly@redtransfer.com the marriage between the parties in this action. The nature of any ancillary or additional fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE. Denised@nhps.net 203-946-7875. relief demanded is:None

TRANSFER STATION LABORER

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

21

THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

-

MAY 09, 2018

Three African American Racial Justice Leaders Respond to Starbucks Effort to End Bias in its Company

New York, NY — Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative; Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; and Heather McGhee, president of Demos released a statement today regarding their participation on the Starbucks Advisory Committee, which is addressing the company’s efforts to prevent discrimination in its stores.

On April 12, two black men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, were arrested by police at a Starbucks location while merely waiting to meet with a business associate. A Starbucks manager had called the police because she said the men – who had only been in the store for a brief period – had yet to make a purchase.

The racial justice leaders issued the following statement: “The arrest of the two young men in Starbucks is a stark example of the ongoing struggle of African Americans for full citizenship and dignity in American life. Since last week, a num-

ber of other high-profile incidents involving discrimination against African Americans demonstrates the breadth and shameful persistence of this problem.”

“We were encouraged by the clear and unequivocal statements by Starbucks’ leadership, expressing their desire and intention to deal directly with the issue of racism. This is a rare phenomenon in corporate America.

We have pushed and will continue to work to ensure that this highly visible moment – for Starbucks’ 175,000 employees, the other major corporations who watch Starbucks, and the country – is done right. We have been clear from the start that the company must build a framework for anti-bias training that extends beyond the planned May 29th training and that becomes part of the company culture. In addition to the need for an anti-discrimination curriculum – which will consist of an ongoing education for all employees, with real measures for evaluation and monitoring – we made clear that a thorough review of the company policies, as well as consultation with local,

not just national leaders, is necessary as they move forward.”

“Even with these caveats and concerns – and, we imagine, there will be more as this process unfolds – we realize the extraordinary step that Starbucks is taking to do better on an issue that affects every workplace. Starbucks exists in 8,000 communities in our country. We see this effort as an opportunity for Starbucks to demonstrate leadership in advancing a commitment to equal treatment and opportunity in true partnership with the communities they serve. We expect to issue a report to Starbucks, with recommendations about the company’s policies, a multi-phase training framework, and the ongoing work they will need to undertake in order to really

move the ball.”

“We know that the problem of anti-Black bias and other forms of discrimination is not Starbucks’ problem alone; it’s a deeply American problem, made consequential and often lethal by the compounding force of unaccountable, discriminatory policing. A larger issue here is the mass criminalization of our people, and we each made it clear to Starbucks that they have the privilege and responsibility to influence not just employee practices, but police practices in Philadelphia and across the country. We will continue to advocate on that front, both with Starbucks and with the police, and welcome your thoughts about how we can make the greatest impact.”

Con’t from page 04

Teachers Seek

they’re children who can learn and contribute,” Bogart said. “It’s been nice to have that message concretely shown in so many different schools.”

For decades, students with disabilities were excluded from classrooms, judged too disruptive to other students or too expensive to educate alone. A shift finally came in 1975, when President Gerald Ford signed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which established that children with disabilities had a legal right to a “free, appropriate public education” in the “least restrictive environment.”

Yet, even through the early 1990s, children with disabilities were kept away from other students, Bogart recalled.

Those kids were “separate,” put down by “low expectations,” and “not really intermingled with the general population,” she said, as she saw with one of her siblings with a disability.

With more programming for special education these days, schools have become more adaptive to every students’ needs, said Typhanie Jackson, the district’s director of student services.

“We have a variety of students with different needs, whether it’s students that are in specialized programs or those who are in mainstream classrooms. For all of them to be exposed to learning differences is an awesome opportunity,” she said. “We feel like it’s a benefit to all students.”

Black Writers’ Conference Positions Authorpreneurs to Take Books From the Page to the Stage

Nationwide — The Red Ink Conference: The Premier Conference for Authors & Editors will empower attendees to write, edit and market their next bestseller – at a fraction of the cost. Many of the attendees will be indie authors who are just starting their publishing journey. They’re inviting aspiring bestsellers, as well as those who want to take their writing to the next level by editing for other indie authors, to join us in Troy, MI at the Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees can expect a time of quality information, food and fun as they experience on-screen editing tests, writing prompts, a photo booth, professional headshots and more!

The conference in Detroit will cap at 100 attendees, and is 70% sold out.

Collectively, conference speakers, Tenita “Bestseller” Johnson, Valerie J. Lewis-Coleman, Vanessa Lynn and Bro. Bedford have over 30 years of industry experience and run successful businesses that support indie authors nationwide. Together, they are deter-

22

mined to make a dent in the book publishing world and have attendees learn new, innovative information that will position them to build a solid platform as an authorpreneur and speaker.

Attendees can expect to glean information on marketing, crafting a solid book synopsis, as well as self-publishing industry secrets that will save them both time and money. In addition, authors and aspiring authors alike will learn how to take their manuscript

from the page to the theatre stage. The Red Ink Conference will also debut in Atlanta this year on September 15, 2018 for the first time.

General admission tickets for Detroit are $167, and early bird is open for Atlanta now! VIP attendees and vendors will receive an on-site professional photo shoot at the event. To purchase tickets, visit www.theredinkconference.com.

RP inner city news full page.qxp_Layout 1 3/19/18 2:49 PM Page THE1INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 03, 2018

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MAY 09, 2018

THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE LaKisha Jones: To Whitney, With Love

American idol finalist pays tribute to Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Tina Turner and Whitney Houston!

April 7

Fabulously Funny Females of Comedy

ft. Cory Kahaney, Karen Bergreen & Erin Jackson

April 20

Upright Citizens Brigade

Improv comedy from the troupe that launched Amy Poehler & more! Ft. SNL’s Sasheer Zamata

May 4

Ruben Studdard

Broadway Sings Stevie Wonder

Broadway’s hottest talents sing Stevie Wonder’s hits!

Ft. Kennedy Caughell (Beautiful), Corey Mach Kinky Boots), Austin Owen (Jersey Boys) & more!

May 14

Rhiannon Giddens

The Freedom Highway Tour

Co-founder of the Grammy-award winning bluegrass band, Carolina Chocolate Drops!

An Evening of Luther Vandross, Always & Forever

June 20

203.438.5795 • RIDGEFIELDPLAYHOUSE.ORG 23

May 3

THE INNER-CITY NEWS

MAY 02, 2018

-

MAY 09, 2018

You’re leaving here with a whole lot of awesome.

It starts with the fastest Internet, giving you all the speed you need and the best in-home WiFi experience. And when you get Internet, you can get up to five lines of Xfinity Mobile included – easily saving you money over the competition. Also, get the best in entertainment and even take your shows on-the-go with the X1 DVR included free for a year. Simple. Easy. Awesome.

AMAZING NEW PACKAGE

Get started with TV | Internet | Voice

79

$

99 a month

More speed.

Better entertainment.

Bigger value.

X1 DVR Service FREE for 1 year

FOR 2 YEARS with a 2-year agreement Equipment, taxes and fees extra, and subject to change.

See below for details.

This sale ends May 6th Go to xfinity.com, call 1-800-xfinity, or visit your local Xfinity Store today.

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to the Standard Triple Play with Limited Basic TV, Kids & Family, Entertainment, Sports & News, Performance Pro 150 Mbps Internet and Voice Unlimited services. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services (other than Xfinity Mobile) are cancelled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including regulatory recovery fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $8.00/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $6.75/mo.), and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after agreement term.

After term agreement, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for X1 DVR service (including HD Technology Fee) is $19.95 more/mo. (subject to change).

Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Internet: Fastest Internet claim based on Xfinity’s fastest available download speed. Best Internet service provider claim based on download speeds measured by over 111 million tests taken by consumers at Speedtest.net. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Voice: If there is a power outage or network issue, calling, including calls to 911 may be unavailable. Mobile: New Xfinity Internet customers limited to up to two lines pending activation of Internet service. Savings claim compares regular monthly charges for Comcast’s data options and weighted average prices of Verizon, AT&T®, T-Mobile® and Sprint® as of 12/17/17. Taxes/fees included with T-Mobile. Savings does not take into account Xfinity Mobile taxes/fees. Actual savings vary. NPA214184-0001 DIV18-2-AA-$79VA-A7

125959_NPA214184-0001_Q218 ACQ April Sale N_A7_9.25x10.5.indd 1

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