THE INNER-CITY INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020 NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016
Connecticut To Provide Some ReliefatFor Undocumented Families Financial Justice a Key Focus 2016 NAACP Convention New Haven, Bridgeport
INNER-CITYNEWS
Standoff Volume 27 . No. 2390 Volume 21 No. 2194
As Protest Confronts Mayor, Cops
“DMC”
SAM GURWITT PHOTOS
Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:
Ignore Ignore“Tough “ToughOn OnCrime” Crime”
Mayor steps up to crowd at police headquarters.
Color Struck?
Snow in July? Racism And Police Brutality
Connecticut Residents Rally Against
Burgers Brought To Dixwell
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Justice Activists Look Beyond “Trauma Porn” by PAUL BASS
New Haven I ndependent
Instead of watching videos of police killing African-Americans, Ala Ochumare, Robyn Porter, and Addys Castillo would prefer to take action to stop more killings. Ochumare, leader of New Haven’s Black Lives Matter group; State Rep. Porter; and Castillo, who runs the Citywide Youth Coalition, offered that take Monday during a joint appearance on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven.” They appeared one day after they participated in a peaceful march of 1,000 protesters who occupied a portion of I-95 to demand police accountability. On the program, Ochumare, who led the march, described how she and fellow organizers kept the protest focused and nonviolent. Ochumare said she didn’t watch the video of a white Minneapolis police officer killing unarmed African-American George Floyd by pressing his knee into his neck for over eight minutes, an action captured by a bystander’s viral video. She has stopped viewing what she called “trauma porn,” Ochumare said. “Black people, we know what it looks like” when cops kill African-Americans.
“I encourage black and brown folks to be very mindful of what we ingest visually,” she said. “I don’t need to see a police murder to know it’s wrong. I don’t care if he had 20 forged $20 bills. We’ve been getting lynched for hundreds of years. White people are just catching up” with that face. “I’ve seen enough of these videos in my lifetime,” agreed Porter. “Seeing more of that video may send me over the edge.” She called these incidents “every black mother’s nightmare” — that her children won’t make it home alive. Castillo said she made it through a bit of the Floyd video before shutting it off. “I watched all I could take. I have three sons at home. I don’t want to watch people of color getting killed. We’re constantly being vicariously traumatized.” On the program, all three spoke of the work they’re doing to bring about change in policing, and the “living revolution” and “liberation” they experienced during Sunday’s I-95 occupation. Porter vowed to introduce legislation in an upcoming special session to increase criminal penalties for police misconduct. Castillo and Ochumare previewing upcoming street actions.
PAUL BASS PHOTO
Ala Ochumare of Black Lives Matter leading Sunday’s march.
Connecticut Residents Rally Against Racism And Police Brutality He said valuing some people over other people based on skin color is called “white supremacy.” Name by name, Selders listed the highprofile killings of black people by police. Michael Brown in Ferguson, Eric Garner in New York, Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Sandra Bland in Texas, Amaud Arbery in Georgia, Breyonna Taylor in Kentucky, and the list went on. Senate President Martin Looney, DNew Haven, said, “It’s a terrible tragedy that this has to be repeated, again, and again and again.” He said they can try to change things with legislation, “but what really has to change is the hearts and minds of many people in this country.” Janee Woods, a West Hartford resident who was a candidate for town council in 2019, said proclaiming the humanity of black people is not about politics. “It is not a political issue to demand that the police be held accountable to the community that they are supposed to serve and protect,” Woods said. “It is not a political issue. It is a moral issue.” She said she saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd Friday, but she also saw some “white elected officials who I’ve never seen at an action before.” Selders said that when a woman can call police and get them to respond to a man bird-watching in Central Park, “Something’s wrong with that kind of America.” Selders was referring to the widely publicized Memorial Day inci-
by Christine Stuart Ct. News Junkie
HARTFORD, CT — Legislative and community leaders were disgusted that they again had to rally following another police-involved murder of a black man. The rally, which was one of many held across the country, came the same day that murder and manslaughter charges were filed against the Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck until he was dead on Monday. Floyd’s name is now being added to a long list of black men killed by white police officers. Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism! The peaceful gathering of more than 300 at the state Capitol was organized by state Senate Democrats and was not directed against any specific group. It was a rally against police brutality and a showing of solidarity for individuals impacted by discrimination and violence. “Everyone in this country should be up in arms to say that there should not be violence by those that we entrust with a badge and a uniform and a weapon,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said. “Police are there to serve us. They’re not there to serve themselves.” He said even those in uniform should be held accountable for violence. The Rev. John Selders, a leader of the Moral Monday organization, said he’s tired of having to respond every time someone does something stupid. “Again we can’t breathe?” Selders said.
CTNEWSJUNKIE PHOTO Friday’s rally at the state Capitol in Hartford
CTNEWSJUNKIE PHOTO
The Rev. John Selders and his wife Pamela
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dent involving Christian Cooper, who asked a woman to leash her dog in Central Park while he was bird-watching. The woman then called police and claimed he was threatening her. She has since apologized. When it comes to police accountability in Connecticut, the legislature has had mixed results. State Rep. Joshua Hall, D-Hartford, said that when Rep. Robyn Porter tried to introduce legislation in 2017 that would hold police officers accountable for using deadly force, police departments in Connecticut came up to the state Capitol to “intimidate her and those who supported her.” “The question now is for my colleagues that are here today, is when we go back into session, what are we going to do?” Hall said. “Are we going to stand by and make sure it never happens again?” State Sen. Gary Winfield succeeded in passing legislation in 2019 that changed the way information is released following any incident involving a serious useof-force by police. The law reshapes the way police handle use-of-force incidents and fatalities by requiring certain details to be made public on request within a set period of time, and by prohibiting police from firing into fleeing vehicles. It also included the creation of a Police Transparency and Accountability Task Force that has so far met once, in January.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Bartlett Wins Unemployment Appeal by PAUL BASS
New Haven I ndependent
A state referee looked at the evidence — and decided that fired city youth chief Jason Bartlett deserves unemployment compensation. The referee, Kathleen Pashos of the state Employment Security Appeals Division, issued the decision on May 22. She overruled a previous decision that supported the Elicker Administration’s opposition to allowing Bartlett to receive unemployment benefits. Former Mayor Toni Harp placed Bartlett on leave as city youth director on June 27, 2019, pending into an investigation into his work. Twice the investigation ended with a recommendation of firing Bartlett; Harp declined both times to fire him. Then Mayor Justin Elicker took office. On Feb. 20, 2020, Elicker fired Bartlett for allegedly steering a city contract to a friend’s company to do work on the neverbuilt Escape youth center. Bartlett, arguing he was wrongly fired, filed for unemployment benefits. The Elicker administration argued to a hearing officer that Bartlett had been reasonably fired for “select[ing]” the friend, Maverick Jacobs, “as the contractor.” The hearing officer agreed and denied Bartlett the benefits. In reviewing the evidence on appeal, Pashos noted that in fact Jacobs was never selected as contractor for the job. Bartlett had forwarded a public request for proposals To Jacobs. Jacobs did not end up bidding on the project. A different company did, and won the contract. (Jacobs was
MARKESHIA RICKS FILE PHOTO Former city youth director Jason Bartlett.
already doing some work on the Escape inder a separate contract.) In the decision, Pashos noted that the employer needs to prove that the fired employee’s actions constituted “willful misconduct” under the law. The Elicker administration never did prove that point — and it failed to appear at an appeals hearing, Pashos wrote. Pashos also cited “inconsistencies in the information provided to [Bartlett] regarding its investigations into workplace actions.” Bartlett, meanwhile, has two complaints pending before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities related to his firing.
“I’m relieved that I won,” Bartlett told the Independent Wednesday. “They created a narrative to suit his earlier call for my firing. But none of it was true. The unemployment referee was able to determine that by looking at the documents and ruled in my favor. This ruling will be helpful in both of my CHRO cases as we go forward.” “The unemployment claim appeal will not affect Jason Bartlett’s termination with the City of New Haven,” stated mayoral spokesman Gage Frank. The city has until June 12 to appeal this decision. Asked if an appeal is in the works, Frank replied, “We are currently reviewing our options.”
DONT LET THEM COUNT YOU OUT!
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Burgers Brought To Dixwell, With Message by THOMAS BREEN
New Haven I ndependent
A Massachusetts-based burger restaurant, a Los Angeles-based investment firm, and the state treasurer’s office teamed up with local clergy, politicians, firefighters, and labor organizers to distribute 750 free hamburgers with a side order of Covid-19 racial consciousness in Dixwell, the Hill, and Fair Haven. That day-long food giveaway endeavor kicked off Thursday morning in the parking lot of Varick Memorial AME Zion Church at 242 Dixwell Ave. Wahlburgers head chef Paul Wahlberg and a half-dozen of his employees parked a school bus-sized van-turned-mobile kitchen in the historic African American church’s parking lot where they prepared and bagged 750 cheese burgers, bags of potato chips, and bottles of water. Wahlberg (pictured) said the food giveaway was a part of a national effort his restaurant has spearheaded with funding from the investment firm Crescent Capital to bring free warm meals to first responders, police officers and firefighters, and atrisk families in neighborhoods that have been hard hit by massive unemployment and limited access to food during the pandemic. “Everybody’s in this together,” Wahlberg said about why his restaurant has pushed to get the food out during the Covid-19 crisis. “There’s not one person in this country who hasn’t been affected by this.” But some, he continued, have clearly been hit harder than others—including families already on the razor’s edge of poverty who have been pushed into food insecurity by a lost job or by getting sick. “I know what it means to be hungry,” said the Dorchester native (and brother of actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg). “I know what it means to be looking for food.” Wahlberg’s Massachusetts-based company has a restaurant in Trumbull. He said he landed in New Haven Thursday because the event’s fiscal sponsor, Crescent Capital, works closely with the state treasurer’s office. Treasurer Shawn Wooden recommended that Wahlburgers’ bring its national #WhateverYouNeed campaign to the Elm City and helped coordinated the event. “We’re not completely out of the woods as of yet, and as we continue to get through this public health crisis, it’s important to reach out and support our most vulnerable populations,” Wooden (pictured) said in a press release sent out after the event. “Today, I know for certain we will touch the lives of families who are struggling with unemployment, seniors who are on their own, and individuals who are stranded in the middle of food deserts. Every little bit counts towards making a difference, and I’m grateful for partners like Crescent Capital, Wahlburgers, Mayor Elicker, New Haven Rising, Unite here, and Local 825 New Haven Firefighters for making today possible.”
THOMAS BREEN PHOTO
Wahlburgers chef Paul Wahlberg (right) and Crescent Capital’s Mark Devincentis at Thursday’s burger giveaway.
Roughly two dozen people turned out to the Dixwell Avenue church to pick up a free meal before the mobile burger joint moved on to its next step at Roberto Clemente Academy in the Hill, to be followed by a third stop for the day at Bregamos Community Theater in Fair Haven. Vicki Green said she’s a regular at Varick’s Wednesday food pantry, which is where she heard about Thursday morning’s event. “I love what is going on with the community,” she said. “I am so happy that finally we are all coming together as one community.” “Any act of generosity during this time is a great help,” said Michael Twitty (pictured), a New Haven Public Schools adult education staffer who lives on Park Street. He said he routinely hears from students he works with about their struggles to afford food, health care, and other basic needs during this crisis. He said food giveaways like Thursday’s help tide hungry families over until the next paycheck. Dixwell resident Kenneth Jones (pictured) agreed. “I just appreciate this,” he said about the event. He said Thursday’s
burger give-away is just the latest Varickhosted event looking out for the surrounding community. “This church is very active in the community,” he said. “They do a lot.” “A Moment Of The Great Reveal” Varick AME Church Pastor Kelcy Steele. Thursday’s event was more than just a free burger food pantry. It doubled as an impromptu political rally around the disproportionate impacts that Covid-19 has had on working class black and brown communities throughout the country, including in New Haven. Varick Pastor Kelcy Steele kicked off the press conference that preceded the food distribution by drawing a clear through line from redlining to the racial impact of Covid-19 to the death of a black man pinned to the ground with a white police officer’s knee pressed against his neck. “Racism” and “classism,” which have dominated American life for too long, he said, have reared their ugly heads yet again. “I am sick and tired of injustice and unjust systems,” he said. “I can’t stand
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here and not bring up the name of George Floyd. I would be a social justice champion accused of social malpractice.” Floyd was a 46-year-old African American man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis on Monday when that officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for five minutes as the latter lay pinned to the asphalt, pleading with the officer to let him go because he couldn’t breathe. A bystander took a video recording of Floyd’s death. Four city police officers in Minneapolis have subsequently been fired. And the city has been rocked by protests over the last two days as hundreds have taken to the streets to decry yet another unarmed black man killed by a white police officer. “Before he died, after being pinned for minutes beneath a police officer’s knee, George Floyd was suffering the same fate as millions of Americans during this coronavirus pandemic,” Steele said. “He was out of work and he was looking for a new job.” Floyd had worked as a bouncer at a restaurant, and had lost the job after the restaurant closed because of the governor’s pandemic-induced shutdown order. “This black unemployed man didn’t deserve to die,” Steele said. “The way he died was senseless. He begged for his life. He pleaded for his life.” Steele said that Floyd’s death, the economic crisis that led to his unemployment, as well as the disproportionate hurt felt by black and brown Americans throughout the country during this pandemic have only accelerated the need for the wealthiest institutions in town, Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital, to step up their local hiring goals and to contribute more financially to a strapped city budget. He said Varick has signed on to a petition circulated by a coalition of local activist organizations, including New Haven Rising, calling for just such an increased financial contribution from Yale and YNHH. “It’s sad that we have to beg Yale to respect New Haven,” he said. “With all that’s going on in the world, show a little bit more compassion in your own backyard. “Today we are not just giving out hamburgers,” he continued. “We are giving out hope. Because George Floyd could have been me. Because George Floyd could have been you.” New Haven Rising lead organizer Scott Marks agreed. He said watching a white police officer’s knee pressed against Floyd’s neck against the background of this entire pandemic represented for him “a moment of the great reveal. These are the conditions of black and brown folks, that same folks that are in that map that have been overlooked, that have been stepped on, that have been walked on. “Enough is enough,” he shouted. “Enough is enough. Enough is enough. This time is now for everyone to step up.”
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Honda Smith “Alder” Walks West Hills by MAYA MCFADDEN
New Haven I ndependent
The Covid-19 pandemic has not stopped West Hills Alder Honda Smith from connecting with residents, keeping her neighborhood cleaned up, and from going outside for a healthy walk around the neighborhood. Since the start of the pandemic, Smith has gone on twice to thrice-weekly “alder walks” in West Hills and West Rock to check in on neighbors and keep participants from being cooped up indoors. Smith (pictured) invited the Independent along on one recent “alder walk” she took with resident Chantel Whitehead. While walking, Smith chatted and caught up with neighbors, took note of city damages that need fixing, and called housing companies to have properties cleaned up. “I just want this community to come up to compliance,” she said. After the walk, Smith drove to the Westville Manor development to talk with Elizabeth Yarerough and Doreen Greenlee, members of the Parents, Partners, and Peers (PPP) program, about organizing a grab-and-go food delivery event. She also drove through the Rockview and Wilmont Crossing developments. While walking on Rock Creek Road, Smith took a picture and noted a trip hazard on the sidewalk to send to city officials to have fixed. On the walk Smith made calls to Mandy Management and the housing authority to report properties that needed grass cut or had liter on the front lawns. “A better environment helps the neighborhood feel and look better,” said Whitehead. Whitehead, 37, is a resident of McCo-
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naughy Terrace and has lived in New Haven for the past ten years. She joined Smith on her walk to better get to know her alder and get some exercise. While on Rock Creek Road, Smith and Whitehead ran into Diane Prince relaxing on her front porch. Prince asked Smith to get in contact with the city to have the street curb in front of her house repaired and the unpainted speed bumps on her street marked with signage. “I’ve had to have my $800 tires replaced multiple times because the curb is messed up. Honda has been helping me to let the city know,” Prince said. During one stop Smith signed up a neighbor, Eddie (above right), for weekly grocery deliveries for seniors in the neighborhood.
During the walk Smith also came across many young people assisting their elderly and disabled neighbors with their yard work and spring cleaning. Another neighbor, Shanetta Williams, ran into Smith and discussed her hope to sit down together again to plan youth activities for the West Hills Community Center. Williams grew up in West Hills. She has been working both independently and with Smith to keep the neighborhood kids active. One of Williams’s many ideas includes having young people host fundraisers through the community center for trips to waterparks in the summer. “Doing something like a car wash and using the money to rent a van to get to a water park would not only keep them active but teach them a lot about accountability,” she said.
“We Miss You” by STAFF
New Haven I ndependent
Families drove their kids back to Edgewood School Monday — honking their horns as they passed teachers and other staffers like social worker Rosalie Febus, special ed teacher Julia King, and Youth Development Coordinator Travis Jones (pictured). The staffers held signs with variations of the above sentiment about how they’ve felt since the Covid-19 shutdown began and schools closed. Assistant Principal Andrea Rizzo and Principal Nicholas Perrone were among the many sign-wavers ... ... as was first-grade teacher Tina Lonczak.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
1K Protesters Take Over I-95 by PAUL BASS & THOMAS BREEN New Haven I ndependent
One thousand Black Lives Matter protesters and their allies marched from Broadway to the Green and then on to the highway, with police standing back. No one got arrested. No one got hurt. Until, later at the police station, some protesters started throwing bottles at the cops. Others tried to enter the building, and cops sprayed mace to deter them. The protesters gathered at noon on Broadway; pretty much of all them wore masks to guard against the spread of Covid-19. Most said they had no idea who had called for the march. An anonymous person had put out the call on Facebook and Twitter. The call: Protest the death of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement, and take to the streets to demand change. The march came at the end of a week that has seen anti-police brutality protests across the nation, including on the mayor’s front lawn on Friday night. Sunday’s outpouring of people onto the streets to protest police violence represented just the most recent, and most local, instance of a nationwide phenomenon—with similar mass protests taking place in Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, Louisville, and elsewhere. The most immediate catalyst for these demonstrations was a viral video showing a white Minneapolis police officer killing a 46-year-old African American man, George Floyd, on Monday by pinning him to the ground and pressing his knee into his neck as Floyd pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” Black Lives Matters organizer Ala Ochumare said her group wanted to make sure this was a legitimate protest, and when it did, she and others decided to join in it. She emerged as the lead organizer of the event once it started, beginning with a speech in front of Campus Customs. “They have painted the concrete with our blood. I’m tired,” she said. “We didn’t organize this,” Ochumare told the crowd. “But it sounds like folks want to march!” March they did, first from Broadway onto Elm Street. No one was sure where the march would head next. Police on motorcycles kept a distance from the march, redirecting drivers from side streets. The protesters decided to go from the Green, then to the police station. Along the way, down Church Street, they passed without incidents past rows of officers and police cars blocking intersections. They crossed onto the Route 34 Connector mini-highway — away from the PD, toward the I-95/I-95 on-ramps. They needed to decide: Block the Q Bridge? Or I-95? A few motorocycle cops waited at the exchange, with back-up in the distance. Around 1:15, protesters stoppped on the mini-highway. The leaders prepared them for a possible confrontation, advising them to buddy up, share phone numbers, link
arms. They directed white protesters to the sides and front so police couldn’t just aim for black protesters. “White people, we need you on the outside. I don’t want you in the middle. We love you all. We need you,” said one of the leaders taking turns with the bullhorn, Ashleigh Huckabey. The march leaders, who hadn’t organized the protest in the first place but were now responsible for leading 1,000 people into a possible confrontation with potentially lethal consequences, were making decisions on the fly about where to move next, while keeping the crowd together and focused. “I know we angry. I know we mad. They want us to get crazy so they can shoot us, mace us. We’re gonna use our heads,” directed Ochumare (pictured above conferring with fellow march leader Amelia Sherwood). City police drove away and let the protesters onto I-95 South. The state police — who four years ago set a dog on some of these same unarmed protesters at a march that included the Route 34 Connector — watched as marchers poured onto I-95’s southbound lanes. Traffic soon stopped in both directions. An air of jubilation arose on the highway as the group spread out toward Exit 46. Organizers again asked the white allies to go to the front of the line. As an eerie standoff ensued with police. Then, with state police cruiser lights flashing down the road by the I-95/I-91 interchange, marchers sat and locked arms silently while Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” played. The state police officer lights flashed by the entrance to I-95. Protesters also formed a line blocking I-95 North. “This is what the road to liberation looks like,” Ala Ochumare said as people sat down on the highway and she stood up and gave a speech. Fellow march leader Sherwood said the plan was both to claim the highway — and leave at some point so as not to leave people in distress. “We’re taking up space and also recognizing the need of people. There are elderly in the cars,” said Sherwood, who lives in New Haven and works as dean of social and emotional learning at Elm City Montessori School. She, Ochumare, and Asheligh Huckabey took turns with the megaphone making sure the crowd stayed together, stayed determined to meet any police resistance, and remained peaceful. After a while, around 2:45 p.m., the march resumed back off I-95, past a line of state troopers. The marchers marched up to the cruisers, which the troopers then pulled back. A trooper told the Independent the plan was not to arrest anyone as long as the demonstrators remained nonviolent, which they did. On the way back on the Route 34 Connector, the march assumed a festive air again, of triumph. “I’m so proud of y’all. This is our city. We took the streets of New Haven,” Ochumare
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
PAUL BASS PHOTOS Black Lives Matters marchers occupy southbound I-95 lanes. Below: Ala Ochumare keeps protest on course.
THOMAS BREEN PHOTO Police, protesters at 1 Union Ave. after bottles were thrown at cops, who
sprayed mace…
declared to the marchers. “We fighting for black and brown bodies. This is our movement. These are our streets.” “This is what community looks like!” the marchers chanted. “The power of the people don’t stop!” The march proceeded to the police station, where officers stood at the top of the steps in a line and protesters amassed in front of them. Hundreds of protesters made their way off of the highway and over to Union Avenue, where they filled the steps and the street outside of police headquarters. “No justice, no peace!” they shouted. “No racist police!” Roughly 50 uniformed officers stood si-
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lently behind a yellow chainlink barrier separating the top of the steps and the entrance to the building. They wore masks, and tasers, and watched and listened as the protesters made their demands. People Against Police Brutality organizer Kerry Ellington led the crowd in a call and response recitation of the specific demands that the protest organizers want to see. This was not simply grieving over the killing of George Floyd. It was also not simply outrage over more local instances of police shootings, such as when Hamden and Yale police shot at Stephanie Washington and Paul Witherspoon in Newhallville. This was a set of demands: to end law enforcement as it currently exists in New
Haven. “The symbolism here is that there’s a barrier between the people, between the community, and the place we pay taxes for,” Ellington said into her megaphone. “New Haven prides itself, the police pride themselves, they brand themselves, as community police officers. Does this look like community policing? Does this look like community policing?!” “ No!!” the crowd thundered in response. Ellington said that the group’s first demand is that the mayor and the alders “work speedily, work fast, work expeditiously to end the triple occupation of policing in New Haven.” “Are you all with me?!” Ellington asked. “Yes!!” the crowd responded. That “triple occupation,” Ellington said, came from a memorandum of agreement between the city, Hamden, and Yale allowing the latter two police departments to patrol in New Haven. That’s what led to the shooting of Stephanie Washington, she said. “We need you to cancel the memorandum that allows Hamden to police in New Haven and that allows Yale to police New Haven residents!” The second demand, Ellington stressed, involved a 20-year effort spearheaded by her mentor in police accountability protesting: Emma Jones, the mother of Malik Jones. “Why do we not have a civilian review board?!” Ellington thundered. The alders passed legislation creating one in early 2019. That legislation allows for the board to have subpoena power. Over a year and a half later, she said, it’s still just an idea and not a reality. “We still don’t have that board operating because the city is taking its time!” Connecticut Bail Fund organizer Jeannia Fu urged the crowd in a chant of, “Defund the police!” The department has a budget of $43 million, she said. That’s nearly 10 times the budget for the city’s Health Department, she said. “And this is a pandemic!” Bottles Thrown; Mace Deployed After 6 pm the tone and temperature of the protest changed dramatically. The organizers called white protesters to come to the front of the line to form a sort of human shield between the uniformed police officers and the majority black crowd. After that shift, white protesters moved to the front, linked arms, and started screaming at the officers. Some from the back of the crowd started throwing water bottles and batteries at the police officers. The bottle-throwers, and some of the most verbally aggressive protesters, appeared to be white. The officers quickly put on face shields and took out full body plastic shield, forming a barricade between the protesters and the building. People started running from the front in panic.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Connecticut To Provide Some Relief For Undocumented Families by Christine Stuart Ct. News Junkie
HARTFORD, CT — The state of Connecticut will be giving $2.5 million to about 2,500 undocument families to help them pay their rent. The funding, along with another $1 million in small cash donations from the philanthropic organization 4-CT, was announced Wednesday morning outside the offices of Make the Road CT. Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism! The organization has been advocating for financial help for the state’s 120,000 undocumented residents who are excluded from receiving any federal emergency assistance even if they have children who are American citizens. Veronica Ubaldo, a Mexican immigrant who has been living in Connecticut for 25 years and became a U.S. citizen in 2015, said her community was “exploited by the government by this pandemic.” “People who contribute to this country every day, they were left out at the most tragic time,” Ubaldo said. She said many in the community have lost their jobs and they don’t have money to pay the rent or their bills. “We deserve more,” Ubaldo said. The rental assistance offered by the state will be doled out in $1,000 increments to about 2,500 families. She thanked Gov. Ned Lamont for the money, but said it was only the first step. “Even though it’s $2.5 million, it’s not enough,” Ubaldo said. Kica Matos, a New Haven immigrant
rights advocate, said the undocumented community contributes $125 million a year to Connecticut’s economy and they deserve much more than the $3.5 million in help announced Wednesday. “It is a good start, but let me just be clear: it is not enough,” Matos said. “The need is great and families are desperate.” Matos said she would continue to urge Lamont to get the state to contribute more money. Ubaldo said phase two of the state’s commitment should be $30 to $100 million. Lamont said he wants to wait and see if the federal government sends Connecticut any more money. He said he doesn’t expect that to happen until the end of June, at which point the state can determine how much money it will have to give this population knowing that federal funds cannot be used to help undocumented residents. Undocumented residents don’t qualify for government assistance programs like food stamps or Medicaid. They also don’t qualify for unemployment if they get laid off during this pandemic. “I think it’s a good investment by the state,” Lamont said. Ted Yang, co-founder and CEO of 4-CT, said he hopes the program can offer a bridge to these families to get on more stable footing. The program to distribute the $1 million will engage trusted community-based organizations as partners that will write “prescriptions” for cash assistance. Recipients will take these prescriptions to community health centers partnering with the program for validation, where they will
CTNEWSJUNKIE PHOTO
Kica Matos, a New Haven immigrant rights advocate
receive gift cards to help pay for expenses like food and clothing. The $2.5 million in rental assistance will be distributed by the state Department of Housing. “Housing is the single largest expense for most families in Connecticut,” Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno said. “ By providing rental support for families who are most in need and least able to access other forms of assistance, we can help them to stretch tight family budgets to afford other expenses including food, transportation to jobs, and other
necessities.” Some immigrant rights groups were more offended by the small amount of funding than others. “One million dollars is like giving a few coins to every immigrant in our state,” said Carmen Lanche, the coordinator of ULA in Norwalk, who had no income for nearly three months when her husband was laid off because of the pandemic. “What’s more, this $1 million does not even come out of the coffers of the state that swell every year with the hundreds of thousands of dollars contributed by our
community—the undocumented workers who are ‘essential’ and excluded,” said Lanche. “Why don’t they cut money from police departments and other institutions that commit violence against us?” said John Lugo, Community Organizing Director of ULA in New Haven. “Why don’t they collect the money from all the billionaires and millionaires in the state, and from those institutions that historically profited off of slavery like Yale University? This is a rich state, but our people are lining up at food banks getting crumbs.”
Breathing With
George Floyd by ALLAN APPEL
Rising early, the day still quiet After a night so stormy and fraught You can almost feel the earth breathing Yet what precisely is the meaning Of that—- one of us breathes and the other cannot? In the spring I was fearful of your breath and you of mine Now in the summer, the breathe-easier summer time Here’s a new thing each of us can no longer avoid Giving a little of our breath back to George Floyd You think if we all breathed at once beyond shouting and strife You think a new kind of breathing could bring him back to life? He was an ordinary man struggling to be good Through his last eight minutes we understand where we stood Inhale once for George Floyd, rescue him from the dead That’s all I’m saying, that’s all I’ve said. Share this story with others. 7
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Amid Rising Tensions, Mayor Vows Action by THOMAS BREEN
New Haven I ndependent
Standing with community leaders at one of two police substations that someone tried to burn down, Mayor Justin Elicker promised Monday afternoon to respond to demands to combat racism and excessive force by law enforcement. Meanwhile, less than a mile and a half away, a crew of construction contractors worked on boarding up the Apple Store on Broadway as part of a nationwide company effort to protect its consumer tech from looters. Elicker promised to move faster to appoint members in conjunction with the Board of Alders to the reconstituted Civilian Review Board to oversee allegations of police misconduct. He announced that he has nominated Tracey Meares, a national community policing expert who has helped reform departments across the country, for a seat on the Police Commission. He promised to review the city’s agreements with police forces at Yale and in neighboring communities setting rules for how their officers conduct themselves when dealing with citizens in new Haven. He made those vows at a press conference held at the Newhallville police substation in Newhallville. Someone threw a molotov cocktail at the substation at around 2 a.m. Monday, about an hour after the same thing happened to one of the two Hill neighborhood substations, on Howard Avenue. Neither station sustained extensive damage. Elicker made those promises Monday afternoon during a press conference held outside of the New Haven Police Department’s Newhallville substation at 596 Winchester Ave. The walling off of iPhones from the public, meanwhile, took place simultaneously at 65 Broadway. And Walmart temporarily closed its Route 80 store as part of a wave of nationwide outlet closings in the face of urban unrest. Standing beside Police Chief Otoniel Reyes, Assistant Chiefs Renee Dominguez and Karl Jacobson, and a dozen community leaders and politicians ranging from State Sen. Gary Winfield to State Rep. Robyn Porter to Newhallville management team chair Kim Harris to Dixwell small business contractor Rodney Williams, Elicker said he is proud of how overwhelmingly peaceful yesterday’s local anti-police brutality protests played out. He stressed his “deep frustration and anger” about the police killing of a 46-yearold African American man named George Floyd. A viral video of a white police officer murdering Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes served as the most immediate catalyst to nationwide outpourings of grief, anger, frustration, and outrage over a long history of police officers killing unarmed black people. He said he recognized that 1,000 people turned out to protest in New Haven yesterday not just because of George Floyd. “It is also about Connecticut,” he said. “It is also about New Haven. It is about us and
THOMAS BREEN PHOTOS
Mayor Justin Elicker at the Winchester Ave. presser.
Boarding up the Apple Store on Broadway.
the work that we must do.” He said he doesn’t have all the answers, and does not know what it is like to be black or brown. “But I care,” he said. “And I am deeply committed to doing the right thing, addressing police brutality and systemic racism. And I’m listening.” Elicker listed three actions he promised to take in the coming weeks and months of his administration to help address some of the concerns raised by protesters in New Ha-
ven and around the country this weekend. He said he will “finish the work around the decades-long battled to create a Civilian Review Board.” That means working closely with the alders to finish appointing the remaining members necessary for the board, which alders legally created in January 2019, to finally come into existence and start meeting. He also promised to review the agreements that the city currently has with the
8
Yale Police Department and the Hamden Police Department. He didn’t say he would necessarily scrap those agreements, as some of yesterday’s protesters called on him to do, but he said he would spend time reviewing and rethinking them “to ensure that those activities adhere to values we have in New Haven about our relatinship between the police and the community.” And Elicker said his administration would push to “deepen the conversation about community policing.” He said he recently submitted a request to the alders for Yale Law School Professor Tracey Meares to serve on the city’s Police Commission. Meares is a nationally influential criminal justice thinker whose research on “procedural justice,” which focuses more on building police-civilian trust than on punishment, helped lead to the creation of Project Longevity, among other community policing initiatives. She also served on then-President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing in 2014. Varick AME Church Pastor Kelcy Steele (pictured) stood up for Elicker, who was the subject of vocal criticism by some of the protesters who rallied late into the night outside of police headquarters Sunday. “Mayor Justin Elicker is not a white supremacist,” Steele said. “But he is a white man trying to ascertain the climate and the concerns of all our communities, black and brown. I am disappointed by how he and his family are being targeted. These problems ... were here before we elected this mayor.” Steele praised the overwhelming majority of protesters in New Haven and elsewhere in the country who “have been peaceful, courageous, responsible and inspiring. ... The small minority of folks who have resorted to violence in various forms ... are putting people at risk.” Former youth outreach worker Dougie Bethea (pictured) turned to the police and said, “You guys, your officers did a phenomenal job of holding your peace” on Sunday. “You guys did a hell of a job holding your ground and not being pushed to react the wrong way.” And Williams, who grew up in Newhallville, similarly praised city police and the Elicker administration. “Yesterday they took a little more than I feel they should have took,” he said about local police. He said they let the criticism roll right off their backs. “Yesterday community members protested, and that is their right,” Reyes said. “I am proud of the men and women of the New Haven Police Department who remained professional. We allowed people to protest. “It is a very difficult time in the country, because George Floyd died at the hands of a police officer. That is something that as a chief ... we must own. “We must understand that our role is to stop it. We’re committed to justice even if ... that injustice is at the hands of police.” Reyes said that at around 1 a.m. Monday, someone threw a molotov cocktail at the
police substation at 410 Howard Ave. in the Hill. At around 2 a.m., someone threw a molotov cocktail at the Newhallville substation. “Somebody tried to burn two community buildings,” he said. “These are community buildings. We will not allow these acts to come between the work that we intend to do as a community.” He said the department is working with the FBI to identify who threw those flaming bottles at the substations. “We realize this does not represent the sentiment of the community,” he said. “This community is committed to change. This community is commited to working with the police department. ... We are committed to working toward change.” When asked about the protesters who said the police pepper sprayed them Sunday as they tried to enter the police headquarters to talk with the mayor, Reyes said “some agitators in the group began to call out to storm into the police department. We did not want that to happen. They attempted to push through the officers and threw some projectiles—batteries, water bottles, which hit a supervisor in the face.” Officer put on safety gear in response, he said. “We held the line.” And officers used pepper spray to move the crowd back. “They did it quickly. They did it based on their training.” “We had a very long day yesterday,” he said. “There were no arrests. There were no injuries. We can build on that.” Boarding Up The Apple Store Down on Broadway at around 5:15 p.m., roughly 10 contractors worked on the finishing touches of boarding up the Apple Store. From New York City to Washington state, Apple has been boarding up some stores to protect its merchandisers from looting during the nationwide anti-police brutality protests. A roughly 15-foot-tall, 40-foot-wide set of wooden planks now cover the entirety of the consumer tech store’s glass facade at the heart of the Yale-adjacent, Yale-owned commercial district. One contractor dipped a paint roller into a tray of deep black paint and covered the light brown wood into darkness. “No comment. We have no comment,” the crew’s apparent supervisor said. When asked for a phone number for someone who might be able to comment, he said he didn’t have one. A representative from Apple did not respond to a request for comment by the publication time of this article. Apple is boarding up stores nationwide after two of its Boston outlets were looted. Neither did Lauren Zucker, Yale’s associate vice president for New Haven Affairs and University Properties. A passerby who first alerted the Independent as to the boarding up of the store earlier on Monday said that they saw the pictured Yale Properties staffers approach the contractors, urging them not to follow through on boarding up the store.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Cops & Muslims March Together by SAM GURWITT
New Haven I ndependent
Members of a Hamden mosque marched alongside police officers, shutting down a lane of Dixwell Avenue, to speak out against police brutality. A large detail of police participated, not in riot gear as at other marches, but walking next to protesters, on bicycles, and in cars directing traffic. Members of Hamden’s Abdul-Majid Karim Hasan Islamic Center organized Tuesday’s “walk for unity.” Remiey Shareef, one of the organizers, said the center had contacted the Hamden Police Department about the march and to extend an invitation to join. The department accepted the invitation. The walk began at the Islamic center on Dixwell just north of the border with New Haven at 2 p.m. Marchers walked all the way up Dixwell’s far-right lane to Hamden Town Hall, where they gathered on the steps and gave an hour and a half of speeches. As the march’s name would suggest, speakers stressed unity. “One of the biggest things missing in our communities is us knowing each other,” said Imam Saladin Hasan, who succeeded the center’s namesake, Abdul-Majid Karim Hasan, who died in November. “We are one human family,” he said. “Allah tells us in the Quran that we come from the seed of Adam and Hawa, but some of us call her Eve. We all come from the same parental situation.” Everyone needs to be held accountable, he said, both members of the community and police. Hasan and other speakers stressed that the event was meant to be entirely peaceful. “I know a lot of people expected us yelling and getting in faces and being nasty and evil. We’ve done that for 20, 30 years. What has it changed? What has come of it?” he asked. Shareef said the march was intended to stress the importance of unity, both with other members of the Hamden community as well as with the police. But he did not hold back from highlighting the centuries of brutality that have defined American history, and the pain they still cause. “We do not want to cause harm or loss of life to anyone,” he said. “But when you back a people in a corner for over 400 years with brutality, with terrorism, this is what it can come to. We have institutions that symbolize and that house criminals that they are burning to the ground.” He paused. “That they are burning to the ground,” he continued, letting each heavy word drop hard onto the pavement of Hamden’s Centerville neighborhood. “We understand that fire is not only a punishment, but is also a cleansing. Do we not see and understand that America needs a cleansing?” “There is no more ‘we have good cops,’” Shareef continued. “Don’t tell us. Show us
SAM GURWITT PHOTOS Davaul Amin, Chief John Cappiello, Imam Saladin Hasan.
Nadeen Shareef. you are a good cop.” Hamden has been roiled by protest over the last year after Hamden Officer Devin Eaton opened fire on an unarmed black couple in New Haven. Police Chief John Cappiello (pictured) has not usually spoken out publicly much about police brutality in the past. On Tuesday, after marching about three and a half miles, he too made a speech. “There is not a police officer in the state of Connecticut, or anywhere in the world, that should support what happened last week, and if they do … take the badge off. We don’t need you. We don’t want you,” he said to applause. “We really need the support,” he said of the people with whom he had just marched. “We need the community. We’re here for the community. We need to listen to the community. It’s not like we can do this alone. We understand that it’s the
community that’s going to lead us.” When a police officer holdes his knee on a man’s neck for eight minutes until he dies, it makes it hard for police officers all over the country to do their jobs. “When something like that happens, it erodes everything every other police officer has been building their entire career,” he said. “Mindful Of Language Is Not How I Feel” When the march began, it involved a small group of about 20 civilians, including Mayor Curt Leng (pictured above, right) and Legislative Councilman Justin Farmer. Aside from Leng, Farmer was the only other official there. The event was not publicized before it took place. There were about as many police officers as civilians at first. About half, including Cappiello and Deputy Chief John Sullivan, marched. The other half directed traf-
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fic on bikes and in cars. As the marchers walked up Dixwell, people came out of their houses and cheered and held signs. Cars honked. A few people began to join in. April Gimattei said she had seen a post about the walk on Facebook after it had started, and brought her whole family over to join. She arrived when the marchers had reached Hamden Plaza. She walked with her mother Patricia, her mother’s cousin Tammy, her daughters Nahgee and Jada, and her granddaughter Kaylee. She said she felt she had to find a time to get out and march. “How could I not? You see my family,” she said, noting that it is racially mixed. “This is something my mother dealt with for marrying my father.” Gimattei works in janitorial services for the East Haven Police Department. “I think the protests around the world speak volumes,” she said, stressing that she was talking about peaceful protests. “This is how your voices get heard. This is how you get positive attention.” By the time marchers approached Town Hall, their numbers had grown to about 30. During a rally there, the crowd grew to 60. Porsche Edmundson, a former New Haven schoolteacher in New Haven, was among them. She said a friend had seen the march go by on Dixwell and told her about it. After speeches had gone on for about an hour, the organizers opened up the floor. Edmundson walked up the steps and gripped the microphone the way Shareef told her to hold it so it would pick up her voice over the rush of traffic and honking cars. She began slowly, and paused for a few seconds to hold back tears. “How can we feel safe when nothing happens?” she said. “Name after name after name of people have been killed in the street by police officers ... What are we supposed to do? So that’s how people feel right now. If you’re not going to fucking listen to us, why should we just be peaceful?” Shareef cut in: “You got to be mindful about language please,” he said. “I apologize for that, but being mindful of my language is not how I feel right now,” Edmundson replied. After the last speech, the crowd thinned. Edmundson was the only one left on the corner of Whitney and Dixwell, where she said a cop once pulled her over and made her feel extremely uncomfortable. She said she had filed a complaint with the department. Perhaps, she said, police marching with protesters will help them hold themselves accountable. “Now you said that,” she said of officers marching and speaking out against the George Floyd murder, “so we expect not only you to hold yourself accountable but also everyone who looks like you.” That is, everyone in uniform. “If nothing comes of this, we will all know
I-95
Con’t from page
Meanwhile, some protesters tried to enter the building. The cops pushed them back, in part, by spraying mace. One of those sprayed was Derek Cote, 24, of Burlington, Connecticut. He said he came to the protest after attending a similar event earlier in the day in Shelton. “We expect we can enter a public building that we pay taxes to maintain,” Cote said. “It was called upon that we should enter the public because we have a right to. We started pushing on the line. They hit me with pepper spray. They pushed me against a railing. They pepper sprayed me again. It hurts fucking bad.” A fellow protester poured milk on his eyes to ease the pain. Cote had a rolling pin with him. Asked why, he responded, “Got to fight back, maybe?” Ellington said she got maced in the face for trying to walk through the front entrance to get inside the building. She said she wanted to talk directly with the mayor, whom she said was in the building. Instead, she said, she was greeted with mace to the face. A number of other protesters clutched their faces in pain as well. “This is not what deescalation looks like!” Hamden town council member Justin Farmer shouted through a megaphone. He implored Elicker to come out, and said he would be calling him tonight. “This is not us!” one protester shouted. They are violent, not we! There is one way to change the power dynamic between the people and police, she said. And it’s not through violence. “It’s by voting them out!” she shouted. “This Little Light Of Mine” As dusk approached, the crowd outside the police station dropped to around 150. Some of those who remained seemed less interested in the strategy and demands espoused by Ellington and the march’s chief organizers earlier in the day, and more interested in calling names. “Class traitors!” shouted one protester at the police. “Class traitors! Who do you work for? Who do you protect? You protect capital!” Another took the megaphone and leaned in as close as he could to the row of officers. “You’re gonna burn in hell with gasoline drawers!” he said. During one particularly heated moment, as the crowd braced for potential retaliation by the police, a diverse group from the back of the crowd started singing, “This little light of mine.” Around 20 people picked up the tune for the next minute or so. The song seemed to cool the temperature of the protest, if only temporarily. “I’m with it,” said one New Havener who stood in the middle of Union Avenue and wanted to remain anonymous for this article. “But if it becomes violent, that’s not what I’m about.”
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
COMMENTARY:
Obama’s Popularity Continues to Rise Amid Trump’s Rhetoric
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
With unrestrained vitriol and the stunning lack of leadership emanating from the White House on an almost daily basis, the ever-rising popularity of former President Barack Obama is unmistakable. The media and most of the American public hang on every word and watch every move Obama makes – many openly pining for the 44th president to “do something,” “do anything,” to provide some sense of normalcy and a renewed dignity to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. “Overall, most liberals I know loved President Obama because he was eloquent and thoughtful. I think he’s extremely popular right now because Trump has pretty much failed in every way possible – especially on the points where he said he could and would do things better than Obama did,” New York resident Alicia Butler told NNPA Newswire. “The inepter Trump becomes; the more people will forget what they didn’t like about Obama. And for those of us who loved Obama, seeing Trump mess up ten times a day really drives our appreciation for 44 home even further,” Butler stated. Many others expressed similar sentiments. In Obama’s first four years, he bailed out the auto industry saving several thousands
of jobs, and the auto industry repaid the loan. He tightened up credit requirements to curtail predatory lending practices, which was the main reason the country went into the Great Recession, stated Kevin Darné, an author whose books have included “My Cat Won’t Bark! (A Relationship Epiphany).” “Obama got the Affordable Care Act passed which brought the number of 46.5 million un-insureds down to 27 million by 2016, and the stock market rebounded, and job growth increased monthly, and he also won the Nobel Peace Prize,” Darné stated, adding that Obama repealed “Don’t ask don’t tell” in the military, supported federal recognition of same-sex marriage, and protected Dreamers from deportation. “His quick response to Hurricane Sandy drew praise from Republican governors, Chris Christie of New Jersey and Bob McDonnell of Virginia, who killed Osama Bin Laden, the person responsible for the 9-11 attacks in 2001.” Darné also pointed out that Obama effectively managed the Ebola crisis. At the same time, Trump has only repeated his mantra of building a wall, gutting Obamacare, and handling the COVID-19 crisis less than stellar, he said. “He routinely lies and blames the Obama administration for every issue that arises. The main goal of Donald Trump appears to be to dismantle every signature
achievement Barack Obama had,” Darné said of the impeached Trump. Obama’s popularity led his being named history’s most popular American president. Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee and former Obama Vice President Joe Biden have publicly stated that he would love to have former First Lady Michelle Obama as his running mate. The “Committee to Draft Michelle Obama for VP” is working to build “substantial grassroots support for a potential Michelle Obama candidacy and help garner media attention for a vice-presidential nominee who has the power to beat Donald Trump,” according to the group’s press release. “Ms. Obama, the most admired woman in America, will be a vital asset this November when Vice President Biden will face an uphill battle to combat the lies and deceit emanating from the White House,” said the statement released Monday. “Her credibility as a trusted leader and a strong symbol of unity within the Democratic Party would certainly help Democrats defeat Republicans up and down the ballot.” Tina Willis, a personal injury attorney at Tina Willis Law, said she cried when Obama left office. She said she didn’t agree with every decision Obama made while in office, but she never doubted that he held the best of intentions for all
Americans. “He was smart and empathetic, surrounded himself with the best advisors and team members, and always did his absolute best to both bring people together and do the right thing for everyone in the country,” Willis stated. “I would say that Trump is so awful, on every level, increased my appreciation for
Obama. But my feelings toward Trump didn’t increase my admiration of Obama. I always thought he was the best president that I’ve seen during my lifetime. I really wish Michelle Obama would become the vice president, although I definitely don’t blame her for not wanting to face all of the bad that comes with a high political office in this country.”
Dear White People: 3 Tips For You To Keep My Son From Being Murdered 1. Teach your kids that Black people are human and our lives matter. Not our lives matter, too. But our lives matter. Period. White people, teach your kids Black history. Not the white-washed history they teach in school. If you need help, here is a long list of books you can buy on amazon.
By The Police & Karen
By James Oliver, Entrepreneur, Author, Blogger, Dad. www.treplifedad.com Like many people, I’m pissed off about the senseless death of George Floyd. Today, in response to my frustration about not knowing how I can keep my Black son from getting senselessly murdered by the police, a white friend on Facebook asked me what she could do to help protect our children. I thought about this and I have three tips for white people that could help my Black son and Black boys and men everywhere from being brutalized and murdered by the police. I’m tired of crying The post I shared that inspired the woman’s question was a teary-eyed reading of an article I wrote in 2015 in response to the senseless killing of Eric Garner. I hate that this video is evergreen content, but I keep sharing it because I don’t know what else to do. I cried in this video, and I cried just now when I watched it again. I cried like a baby the other day when I watched a video of a Black man on the ground with his hands behind his back, while the police had their guns drawn on him. And his 90-year-old grandmother came outside in her nightgown to keep the police from shooting him. All because
2. In addition to books, you can buy Black dolls and Black action figures like Luke Cage and Black Panther for your kids. This viral video of a white woman talking about why her daughter, Sophia, wanted a Black doll makes my point brilliantly. The white cashier told Sophia she should get a doll that looked like her instead, but Sophia set her straight. he allegedly ran a stop sign. His grandma gets knocked to the ground while trying to protect her grandson, and this made me cry harder. We scream, “Black Lives Matter,” but they simply don’t in this America. I’m tired of crying. And I’m dreading “The talk” with my now 7-year-old son when he gets a little older. I see a lot of Black moms on social media saying you have to pray differently for your Black son. I believe all things are possible with God, but I don’t believe prayers alone will be sufficient to keep our Black boys and Black men from being murdered by the
police and Karen. And since I know many Black people are doing all they can to solve the problem, that leads me back to what white people can do to be part of the solution. 3 things white people can do to help The most obvious thing white people can do is STOP CALLING THE POLICE ON BLACK PEOPLE FOR NO REASON. This solution is so obvious I don’t think it’s necessary to include in the list of three tips. So, while not a comprehensive list, here are three things I think white people can do today to be part of the solution.
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“Love is love is love.” 3. Raise your kids to courageously stand up when they see injustice against a Black person. In the George Floyd video, I saw a Black person complaining to the police about what they saw. But Black people don’t have the same “privileges” as white people. So, maybe George Floyd would be alive today if one of those other white officers on the scene had a mother who taught her/him that Black people are human. This third option makes me feel powerless, but I already feel powerless, and no amount of praying, or protesting, or electing Black presidents seems to make a difference. So, we need white people to do
something when they see injustice against Black people. Yeah, I get it, the protesting and rioting in Minnesota caused the police officer to be arrested. That’s great. But I prefer an outcome where George Floyd didn’t die in the first place. I’m crying, but I’m also angry Perhaps these three tips will make a difference today, but I suspect it’s more of a long-term solution. So in the meantime, Black people have to protect ourselves and our families. This Instagram photo is a whole mood for me right now. I feel powerless to keep the police from killing my son and other Black men unnecessarily. And I feel powerless to keep people like Amy Cooper from calling the police on me for no reason. But maybe if more Black people exercised our second amendment right and everyone knew there was a high likelihood we would do so, everyone-the police, the Amy Coopers, and all the Karens of the world would think twice before they stepped to us the wrong way. If so, more Black lives would definitely be saved. Because Black Lives Matter. P.S., Vote for people who will help solve this problem. For more information on custom wall stickers www.wemontage.com
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
A tearful Lizzo speaks out about protests and the fight against racism
Lizzo broke down into floods of tears as she vented about “the real story not being told fully” amid the protests against racism. Since the death of unarmed Black man George Floyd in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, last week, protests have broken out across the globe. Policeman Derek Chauvin was shown in footage kneeling on the 46-year-old man’s neck, and the officer has since been arrested on charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and sacked from the force. And the “Truth Hurts” hitmaker — who has lived in Minneapolis — is among many celebrities using their platform to call out the injustice, and she has demanded the full picture to be told as she shared information from people actually
living in the state of Minnesota.
On an Instagram Live, she began: “What they just told me is at this point all the violence, the majority of the violence that’s happening in that city is coming from the KKK and the heavily militarized police. “There are people coming from the South, there are White supremacist terrorist groups coming from the South, patrolling the streets, shooting people. “Follow some people in Minneapolis. “‘Cause the real story is not being told fully.” The “Scuse Me” singer insisted that all people of color want is to be treated equally. In tears, she said: “It’s never Black
Lizzo at the 2019 American Music Awards / YouTube: The Best Outfits At The 2019 American Music Awards | Cosmopolitan UK / Wikimedia Commons
people, it’s always White people using the term ‘race war’ … We don’t want that s—. “We want what we’ve always wanted from the beginning of being in this f— ing country, the same right that all these other people have. It’s not this difficult.” After taking a moment, she said: “I’ve been trying to stay composed this entire time. I’m really working on it this entire time. Let me just gather myself… “It’s not that hard to see. The people that don’t see it don’t want to see it. “I don’t have sympathy for people who don’t see it anymore. “Black people are tired. We are so
tired.” The 32-year-old singer fumed that she is fed up of feeling her life is at “danger” because of “police who don’t value” her and the “White supremacist groups” who are shooting at and plowing into protesters with their cars. Lizzo also insisted that the problem lies in “racism running through the veins” of America. She continued: “I’m tired of putting myself in danger. “It’s not danger from the protesters, [it’s] danger from the police who don’t value me. “Danger of the white supremacist
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Date: Monday, June 15 Time: 5 - 7 pm Location: Children’s Hospital, 1 Park St., 1st Floor, Admitting Parking available (handicapped accessible) An appointment is necessary. Please call 203-688-2046. Spanish-speaking counselors available.
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St. Aedan Pre School 351 McKinley Avenue New Haven CT 06515
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groups who are shooting at people, who are running people over with their cars. How do we not see where the issue is? “Why is everyone being so — in the media — political? “This isn’t a political issue. The issue is in politics, but it’s not a political issue. It’s so much deeper than politics. It’s in the veins of this country … there is racism running through its veins.” Elsewhere, Lizzo spoke out on the Black Lives Matter campaign and said anyone using the term “all lives matter” is part of the problem. She explained: “If you believe that ‘all lives matter,’ then where is your outrage for Black lives? “To me, ‘all lives matter’ … ‘all lives matter’ is fake equality and full-on antiBlackness. “I still love my Blackness. I still love your Blackness. “I still believe that everybody’s life matters. “But until we start treating each life equally and respecting each life equally, we gotta say Black Lives Matter. “I hope that everybody can just really see this s— for what it is. “Open your mind, open your heart, listen, believe … When you see that vandalism, when you see that senseless violence, know that that ain’t us.” She ended the lengthy Live by warning those out on the streets partaking in mass protests to stay safe amid the coronavirus pandemic. \ She concluded: “Wear a mask, wear some gloves, wear some goggles. We’re still in a pandemic.” The post A tearful Lizzo speaks out about protests and the fight against racism appeared first on Rolling Out.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
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5/5/20 3:11 PM
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Black People, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the Risk of Death From Coronavirus (COVID-19)
sociated with a higher risk of death from COVID-19. The proposed association described here between PTSD-induced immunosuppression and increased risk of death from COVID-19 needs to be explored further and in addition, high PTSD rates in black people need to be recognised and treated as both a mental and physical health priority.
BlackNews.com
Nationwide — Here are some facts: Black people have been found to be more likely to die from COVID-19 infection than white people, both in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Black people also have a higher rate of PTSD diagnosis than white people. PTSD can result in suppression of the immune system. Immunosuppression is associated with a higher risk of death from COVID-19. It is thus not unreasonable to question whether PTSD-induced immunosuppression is contributing to the elevated risk of dying from COVID-19 amongst black people. Data reveals that Black people are more than four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white people in England and Wales and that even after adjusting for age, socioeconomic conditions and prior health, the figures show that Black people remain twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than white people in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics.1 Some suggest sickle cell disease is the explanation, however this is unlikely, being already in a shielded group they are likely to have little or no ongoing expo-sure to COVID-19. Other contributary factors which have been highlighted are obesity, over-crowding and frontline working, however these are likely to be already adjusted for within socioeconomic status. This article proposes that PTSD-induced immunosuppression contributes to raised mortality from COVID-19. PTSD is a condition which occurs after a traumatic experience where symptoms persist of reliving the distressing event and there is hypervigilance, numbing, mood changes including negativity about the self, the world and the future. There is avoidance of people and situations that act as reminders of the event and sleep and concentration
References
disturbance. Physical symptoms including Neurological, Respiratory and Cardiovascular symptoms also occur in PTSD.2 What is the evidence that Black people have higher rates of PTSD? The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2014 found doubling of the rate of PTSD amongst black adults at 8.3 per compared to white adults at 4.2 though assumed that the differences could not be relied on because of the small sizes involved.3 One study found that when PTSD affects US race/ethnic minorities, it is usually untreated and likely to become chronic and persistent and suggested that the large disparities in treatment indicate a need for
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investment in accessible and culturally sensitive treatment options.4 A separate two year follow up study found that African Americans with PTSD experience high number of traumas and most do not receive treatment.5 Findings from large-scale national studies suggest African Americans have a 9.1% prevalence rate for PTSD.6 This suggests that almost one in ten Black people becomes traumatized. This is an underestimate due to known under-diagnosis of PTSD in black people.7 Studies of racial discrimination and race-related stress have shown that when an individual reports psychological distress from racism, trauma was often not considered.8 Why would Black people be at increased risk of PTSD? In addition to traumatic experiences that a person of any race or ethnicity might face, race-specific traumas include microaggressions and the erosion of a fundamental requirement for human beings – a sense of belonging. A striking example of that undermining of belonging was witnessed by the Windrush generation in the UK. Black people face challenges to a sense of belonging to desirable social, housing, occupational groups and on a wider scale there are challenges to the black person’s right to belong in a country such as the UK, a crude example being the ‘go back to where you came from’ statement. A sense of belonging is an intrinsic human need. The psychologist Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs defined selfactualization and self-esteem as requiring the secure foundations created by a sense of belonging. Another often overlooked contributory factor to the large prevalence of traumas affecting Black people is Intergenerational transmission of trauma. Parent-child attachment patterns are known to replicate through generations within families. Go-
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ing back to slavery and post-slavery eras, forced black familial disruption was part of the mechanism that enabled forced labour and enrichment of slave owners and others and this involved brutal disregard for the integrity of the black family unit by white oppressors. Yet another overlooked factor is vicarious trauma and witnessing shootings of unarmed black people can give rise to a sense of threat to the black viewer’s sense of their own safety. What is the evidence that PTSD suppresses the immune system? A study of 1,550 male workers with a previous history of PTSD concluded that PTSD produces immunosuppression and has long-term implications for health.9 This finding is now widely accepted amongst mental health professionals and a questionnaire commonly used as a tool to diagnose PTSD is the IES-r.10 A cut-off point of 37 and above in the IES-r is commonly accepted by mental health workers as associated with immunosuppression. Treatment of PTSD PTSD in Black people is treatable with a growing number of psychotherapies including prolonged exposure therapy, EMDR, cognitive processing therapy, somatic experiencing, if delivered by psychotherapists with training and knowledge of diversity matters. Medication is sometimes but not always required. Conclusion There now exists evidence for higher death rates of Black people from COVID-19 compared to White people as well as evidence that Black people have a higher rate of PTSD diagnosis than White people and furthermore that PTSD is associated with immunosuppression and we know that immunosuppression is as-
1. Office of National Statistics. Release date: 7 May 2020. Coronavirus (COVID-19) related deaths by ethnic group, England and Wales: 2 March 2020 to 10 April 2020 obtained on 12 May 2020 2. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Publishing 3. Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. (2014) retrieved on 11 May 2020 from https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/mental-health/adultswith-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsdin-the-month-prior-to-survey/latest 4. Roberts, A.L., Gilman, S.E., Breslau, J.N., Breslau, N., & Koenen, K.C. (2011). Race/ethnic differences in exposure to traumatic events, development of posttraumatic stress disorder, and treatmentseeking for post-traumatic stress disorder in the United States. Psychol Med. 5. Pérez Benítez, C., Sibrava, N., KohnWood, L., Bjornsson, A., Zlotnick, C., Weisberg, R. & Keller, M. (2014). Posttraumatic stress disorder in African Americans: A two year follow-up study. Psychiatry Research-neuroimaging Volume: 220, Issue: 1, pp 376-383 6. Himle, J.A., Baser, R.E., Taylor, R.J., Campbell, R. D. & Jackson J.S. (2009). Anxiety disorders among African Americans, blacks of Caribbean descent, and non-Hispanic whites in the United States, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23(5): 578590. 7. Williams M., Malcoun E. & Bahojb Nouri L. (2015) Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with African Americans. In: Benuto L., Leany B. (eds) Guide to Psychological Assessment with African Americans. Springer, New York, NY 8. Carter, R. (2007). Racism and Psychological and Emotional Injury: Recognizing and Assessing Race-Based Traumatic Stress. The counselling psychologist Volume: 35 issue: 1, page(s): 13-105 9. Noriyuki Kawamura, Yoshiharu Kim & Nozomu Asukai (2001) Suppression of Cellular Immunity in Men with a past history of Posttraumatic stress disorder. Retrieved on 11 May 2020 from https:// ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/ appi.ajp.158.3.484 10. Weiss, D.S., & Marmar, C.R. (1997). The Impact of Event Scale-Revised. In J.P. Wilson, & T.M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing Psychological Trauma and PTSD: A Practitioner’s Handbook (pp. 399-411). New York: Guilford Press Source: Anne Coker
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
Attorney General Keith Ellison Takes Over George Floyd Murder Case By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has taken over the prosecution of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed and handcuffed African American who died because of the actions of Chauvin and other officers. “It is with a large degree of humility and great seriousness, I accept for my office, the responsibility for leadership in this critical case involving the killing of George Floyd,” Ellison said during a news conference in Minneapolis. “We are going to bring to bear all the
COMMENTARY:
By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Newswire Contributor There were 4623 incarcerated people over 65 in federal prisons during the first week of May. Until May 12, Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s one-time campaign manager, was one of them. The 71-year-old petitioned the court for release to home confinement because of his age, heart condition, and “fear of coronavirus.” Yet the federal correctional institution that housed Manafort had no coronavirus cases, and Manafort had served fewer than two years of his more than seven-year sentence. Recently developed federal guidelines suggest athome confinement for those at risk who have served more than half of their sentence or have less than eighteen months
resources necessary to achieve justice in this case,” he pronounced. Ellison’s appointment came following a telephone meeting between hip-hop icon Jay-Z and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. JAY-Z described the conversation as “very earnest” and thanked Governor Walz. “Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me – a dad and a black man in pain,” Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, wrote in a statement. “Yes, I am human, a father and a black man in pain, and I am not the only one. This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my
would-be oppressors may have.” Walz noted that the icon came to him “not as an international performer, but dad, stressing to me that justice needs to be served.” This week, Jay-Z’s superstar wife, Beyonce, also spoke out on Floyd’s death on a social media post. “We need justice for George Floyd,” she uttered. “We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We’re broken, and we’re disgusted. We cannot normalize this pain.” Walz’s selection of Ellison comes as uprisings are taking place around the country and abroad. It also comes as Floyd’s family and their attorney, Ben Crump, have demanded that the other three officers in-
volved face charges. The family remains outraged that Chauvin is the only officer arrested so far, and prosecutors have leveled just the relatively minor third-degree murder charge against the cop. Ellison, a former congressman from Minnesota who ran for chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2017, noted that he was accepting the lead on the case with “a large degree of humility and great seriousness.” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s appointment came following a telephone meeting between hip-hop icon Jay-Z and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
an old Black man get the Manafort treatment and serve the rest of his sentence in a cushy condo in Northern Virginia? Manafort had a lot less to fear, at his minimum-security prison, than a Black inmate might. Other countries have reacted to coronavirus crowding by releasing inmates in the tens of thousands. According to David Anderson of the International Legal Foundation, Iran released more than half of its prisoners – 100,000 of 189,000. Palestine is holding emergency court sessions to allow inmates to petition for release. Other countries seem to understand that COVID-19 and crowding don’t work and are releasing prisoners. Meanwhile, our country, in Anderson’s words, is “addicted to punishment.” In keeping nonviolent inmates incarcerated, we are “prioritizing punishment over public health.” The inmates aren’t the only ones at risk. Correctional officers, lawyers, and visiting family members are also vulnerable. We are so committed to getting a “pound of flesh” from those incarcerated that we refuse to consider the
high costs of incarceration. Consider the case of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice, and other crimes, Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years for his crimes. He is not scheduled to be released until 2037! While Kilpatrick certainly deserved to be convicted, a 28-year sentence is excessive. Recently an inmate at his Oakdale, Louisiana prison died from the coronavirus. I’m sure Kilpatrick is as frightened of the coronavirus as Manafort is. He is not likely to be allowed home confinement. Unless there is intervention, Kilpatrick will be eligible for Social Security before he is released! What is the purpose of such a long sentence? How much does it cost to incarcerate someone for 28 years? Is it worth it? The coronavirus magnified our nation’s inequality. Manafort is out after less than two years’ incarceration. Thousands who are old and poor remain incarcerated and vulnerable to coronavirus. Our criminal injustice system is in dire need of reform.
Old, Sick and Incarcerated of jail time left to serve. Manafort meets none of these criteria, but he apparently had enough high-priced lawyers to push his case aggressively. I’m not as outraged at Manafort’s early release as I am disturbed about the other 4622 elderly inmates, most who lack the resources and access that Manafort had. Nearly forty percent of those incarcerated in federal prisons are African American, many serving very long sentences for drug-related crimes. Many have some of the same underlying medical conditions and “fear of coronavirus” that Manafort had. How many of them will get an early release and the relative luxury of home confinement? The treatment of a wealthy, older white man and a poor, older Black man is vastly different. Prisons are a breeding ground for the coronavirus. Prisons are overcrowded with social distancing an impossibility since an average cell, about five feet by five, does not allow six feet of distancing. Recent studies show that the COVID-19 germs from a loud conversation or a cough linger for minutes, sufficient
time to infect another person. The notorious Riker’s Island prison has eight times the COVID-19 infection rate of the New York City rate. Infection is not a possibility, but a near-certainty. Prison infections are so widespread that some activists describe them as “death camps.” Older people don’t commit violent crimes (although they commit financial crimes and perjury). Releasing those over 65 who were convicted of drug crimes and other nonviolent crimes saves money and has little social cost. But incarceration is an economic driver for some communities. Federal prisons employ tens of thousands of people. In some isolated communities, these prisons are a significant source of employment. Releasing prisoners early may cause layoffs. Is this why we insist on keeping so many people locked up for such long periods? Parole was eliminated in federal prison in the mid-1980s, allowing “good behavior ” only after 85 percent of a sentence has been served. But Manafort, citing “fear of coronavirus,” ended up serving less than a quarter of his sentence. Can
Caption: Robert Yawson of Wallingford, associate professor of management at Quinnipiac University. Photo by Autumn Driscoll of Quinnipiac University.
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Robert’s commitment and passion for service, in my opinion, is in the top 1 percent of faculty,” Mattie said. “Robert sets an example for all of us and his ethical and moral commitment to service serves as an exemplar for the university. He is an asset to the university, school, department, students and profession.” Yawson has a doctorate degree in organizational leadership, policy and development and a master’s degree in science, technology and environmental policy from the University of Minnesota. He also has a master’s degree in biochemistry and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Ghana.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016
The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven is currently accepting applications for its Scattered Sites waitlist Located in established neighborhoods, our scattered sites units offer larger bedrooms and smaller communities. Two, three, and four bedrooms are available, all with convenient access to shopping centers, transportation, great and está restaurants. La Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad deschools New Haven actualmente Community features include 24-hour emergency maintenance, aceptando aplicaciones para la lista de espera de Sitios Dispersos washer/dryer hookup and playgrounds. This waitlist is always open Ubicadas en vecindarios establecidos, nuestras unidades de sitios dispersos ofrecen dormitorios for applicants.
ELM CITY COMMUNITIES NOTICE
Request for Proposals Indefinite Quantities Contract for Certified
VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
más grandes y comunidades más pequeñas. Dos, tres, y cuatros habitaciones están disponibles, todas con
Hazardous Materials Abatement & General Contractor Services
acceso conveniente a centros comerciales, transporte, excelentes escuelas y restaurantes. Las características REQUIREMENTS: de la comunidad incluyen mantenimiento de emergencia las 24 horas, conexión para lavadora / secadora y parques infantiles. Esta lista de espera siempre esta abierta para aplicantes.
HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Prois accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develposals for Indefinite Quantities Contract for Certified Hazardous Materials Abatement & General Contracopment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations aptor Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor ply.Collaboration Pre-applications willhttps://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y beginning on Portal 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have Monday, 11, 2020willatbe3:00PM. been received at the offices of HOMEMay INC. Applications 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.
Earnings must be between 50-80% of the Area Median Income REQUERIMIENTOS: (AMI). Please see the table below for specific income and Las ganancias deben estar entre el 50-80% del Ingreso Medio del Área (AMI). Consulte la tabla a continuhousehold requirements. Placement on the waitlist will be based ación para conocer los ingresos específicos y los requisitos del hogar. La colocación en la lista de espera se on the time the is received with para aplicaciones recibidas por basará en date la fechaand y hora en que seapplication recibe la solicitud con acomodaciones accommodations made for applications received by mail orreciban. hand correo o por mano. Las solicitudes se sellarán con la fecha y la hora a medida que se delivery to give fair access. Applications will be date and time stamped as they are received.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEW BRITAIN 16 ARMISTICE STREET * NEW BRITAIN, CT 06053
NOTICIA MAINTAINER I
# of people in household
VALENTINA MACRI DE ALQUILER DISPONIBLES The Housing Authority of VIVIENDAS the City of New Britain isPRE-SOLICITUDES seeking a highly motivated individual to become a member
of our team in our Operations Department as Maintainer I. For more detailed information and the complete job HOME INC, en nombre la Columbuswebsite House yatde la New Haven Housing Authority, está description, please visit thedeAuthority’s www.nbhact.org . The closing date for this positon is
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Minimum
$41,050
$46,200
$51,300
$55,450
$59,550
$63,650
$67,750
Maximum
$62,800
$70,650
$78,500
$84,800
$91,100
$97,350
$103,650
aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calleJune 109 Frank Street, New p.m. Haven. aplican limitaciones ingresos 12, 2020 at 2:30 NOSe PHONE CALLS WILL BEde ACCEPTED. máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 An09 EEO/AAA 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 enindividuals 171 Orange Street, New Haven , CTand 06510 . Seeking to employ experienced in the tercer labor,piso, foreman, operator teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce
• http://www.cthcvp.org/ Applications may be downloaded at: • http://www.elmcitycommunities.org • http://www.cthcvp.org/ • Para recibir una aplicación por correo por favor llamar al 475-355-7289 o envié una • http://www.elmcitycommunities.org petición por escrito con atención: Waitlist Coordinator, an application please 475-355-7289 or send • To receive Elm City Communities,by PO mail BOX 1912, Newcall Haven CT 06509 a written request to Attention: Waitlist Coordinator, Elm City Communities, PO 1912, New Haven, presentar: CT 06509 LasBox solicitudes se pueden
NEW HAVENof the City of Norwalk, CT The Housing Authority requesting proposals 242-258 isFairmont Ave for Construction/Permanent 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 levelLender. , 1BA Request for Proposal documents can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org under the Business sec-
• Online at https://ecc.myhousing.com/ llame al 203-498-8800 ext. 1507
Solicitevia a través de nuestro nuevo portal de de espera en https://ecc.myhousing.com/ Apply our new waitlist portal at lista https://ecc.myhousing.com/ or Las aplicaciones se pueden descargar en:
Construction
All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close Opportunity to I-91 & I-95Employer. tion RFP’s/RFQ’s. Norwalk Housing is an Equal highways, near bus stop & shopping center Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director. Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258
The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, CT
CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s proposals for is requesting Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Request for Proposal documents can Davis, be viewed andofprinted at www.norwalkha.org under (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah D.D. Pastor Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster
• En persona en 360 Orange St, New Haven, CT 06511(atreves de un buzón ubicado en la puerta principal)
Applications can be submitted: • Enviada por correo al PO Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509 • In person at 360 Orange • En línea a https://ecc.myhousing.com/ St, New Haven, CT 06511 (via the drop box Invitation to Bid: recibidas por correo serán basada en un sistema de lotería. locatedndAplicaciones at the front door 2 Notice • Mailed to PO Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509 Si usted necesita acomodación razonable para completar su aplicación SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE
Old Saybrook, CT
Las aplicaciones ya están disponibles
(4 Buildings, 17 Units) via mail will be based on a lottery process. Applications received
NOTICE OFaccommodation REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS If you need a reasonable to complete the application call 203-498-8800 ext. 1507 New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastHOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project
Modernization Management & Planning Services in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Applications are available now Flooring,secPainting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, RFP No. P20001 the Business SCOPE: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. St. New Haven, CTtion RFP’s/RFQ’s. Norwalk Housing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Housing Authority of the City of Danbury and its affiliates hereby issue this Request for Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.
Web Site Redevelopment and Rebranding.
Proposal from qualified Proposers to provide Modernization Management and Planning Services and act as the agency Modernization Specialist.
SEYMOUR HOUSINGMechanic AUTHORITY Diesel
Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Anticipated Start: AugustPROPOSAL 15, 2016 SUBMITTAL RETURN: Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour Project documents available via ftp of linkthebelow: Housing Authority City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Our team is currently looking for an experienced Mechanic keep upStreet, our level of commitment to until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 Diesel at its office at 28to Smith Envelope Must be Marked: RFP No. P20001 Modernization Management http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage safety and customer service. this role, Sidewalk the successful candidate will perform truck Seymour, CT 06483 forInConcrete Repairs and Replacement at therepair and maintenance work in accordance with factory and industry standards, run diagnostics on vehicles and work closely with Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com other team members to meet company goals. Responsibilities may include but not be limitedFax toorperform-
SUBMITTAL DEADLINE June 19, 2020 at 2:00pm (EST)
HCCservice encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses ing minor and major repairs on trucks and trailers, conduct regular preventative maintenance on Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 trucks, performconference regular diagnostic and maintain accurate records of each repair performed on A pre-bid will be tests heldon at trucks the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith AA/EEO EMPLOYER vehicles. ExperienceCT is aatplus, butam, willing to train the right Street Seymour, 10:00 on Wednesday, Julycandidates. 20, 2016. Apply in person or apply online at americanind.net. American Industries, Inc. is an AA/EOE. CONTACT PERSON FOR
RFP DOCUMENT: Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement,Telephone: 203-744-2500 x141 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org
Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfAmerican Industries, Inc. fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. 630 Plainfield Road, Jewett City, CT 06351 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
[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]
17
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016
Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:
The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven is currently accepting applications for its Scattered Sites waitlist
DELIVERY PERSON
Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Contact: Tom Dunay
NOTICE
NEEDED
Phone: 243-2300 HOME INC, on behalf of860Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develWomen Minority Applicants are New encouraged to apply income limitations apopment & located at 108 Frank Street, Haven. Maximum rmative Action/ Opportunity Employer ply.Affi Pre-applications willEqual be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME Reclaiming, INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preGarrity Asphalt Inc seeks: applications must be to HOMEwith INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Reclaimer Operators andreturned Milling Operators current licensing Haven, CTbe06510. andFloor, cleanNew driving record, willing to travel throughout the North-
Part Time Delivery Needed
east & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits
NOTICIA
Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300
One/Two Day a Week,
Must Have your Own Vehicle
Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/deEqual Opportunity Employer HOME INC, en nombre la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está
If Interested call
aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipjulio,Must 2016have hastaacuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes ment. CDL License, clean driving record, capable of(aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas operating heavydeequipment; be willing to travel throughout the por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CTQSR 06510 .STEEL
Union Company seeks:
(203) 387-0354
Contact Dana at 860-243-2300
Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer
HELP WANTED:
NEW HAVEN
Large CT guardrail company looking for Laborer/Driver with valid CT CDL Class A license and able to get a medical card. Must be able to pass a drug test and physical. Compensation based on experience. Email resume to dmastracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F
CORPORATION
APPLY NOW!
The Housing Authority of the of New Haven Located in established neighborhoods, our City scattered sites units is currently accepting for its Scattered waitlist offer larger bedrooms and applications smaller communities. Two,Sites three, and in established neighborhoods, our scatteredaccess sites units fourLocated bedrooms are available, all with convenient to offer larger bedrooms and smaller communities. Two, and and four restaurants. bedrooms are availshopping centers, transportation, greatthree, schools able, all with convenient access to24-hour shoppingemergency centers, transportation, great schools Community features include maintenance, and restaurants. Community features include 24-hour emergency maintenance, washer/dryer hookup and playgrounds. This waitlist is always open washer/dryer hookup and playgrounds. This waitlist is always open for applifor applicants. cants. REQUIREMENTS:
REQUIREMENTS: Earnings must be between 50-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Please
Earnings must be between 50-80% of the Area Median Income see thePlease table below fortable specifi c income and household Placement (AMI). see the below for specific incomerequirements. and on the waitlist will be based on the date and time the application is received with household requirements. Placement on the waitlist will be based accommodations made for applications received by mail or hand delivery to give on the date and time the application is received with fair access. Applications be date and time stamped they received. accommodations madewill for applications received by as mail or are hand delivery to give fair access. Applications will be date and time stamped as they are received.
# of people in household
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Minimum
$41,050
$46,200
$51,300
$55,450
$59,550
$63,650
$67,750
Maximum
$62,800
$70,650
$78,500
$84,800
$91,100
$97,350
$103,650
Applyvia viaour ournew newwaitlist waitlist portal https://ecc.myhousing.com/ Apply portal at at https://ecc.myhousing.com/ or or Applications may be downloaded at: • http://www.cthcvp.org/ Applications may be downloaded at: • http://www.elmcitycommunities.org • http://www.cthcvp.org/ • To receive an application by mail please call 475-355-7289 or • http://www.elmcitycommunities.org send a written request to Attention: Waitlist Coordinator, an application by mail please call 475-355-7289 or send • To receive Elm City Communities, PO Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509 a written request to Attention: Waitlist Coordinator, Elm City Communities, PO Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509
Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Invitation to Bid: Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. 2nd Notice
Applications can be submitted:
In person at 360 Orange St, New Haven, CT 06511 242-258 Fairmont Ave Applications• can be submitted: (via the drop box located at the front door • In person at 360 Orange St, New Haven, CT 06511 (via the drop box Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE • Mailed to PO Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
located at the front door
• Online at https://ecc.myhousing.com/ Old Saybrook, CT • Mailed to PO Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509 (4 Buildings, 17 Units) at https://ecc.myhousing.com/ • Online Applications Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Projectreceived via mail will be based on a lottery process. Seeking qualified condidates to fill numerous vacancies to include,
All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center
CITY OF MILFORD
If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application
call mail 203-498-8800 ext. 1507 Applications received via will be based on a lottery process. Director of Operations Milford Landing Marina, Recreation Director, and more. For CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Cast- are available now Applications Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates information and detailed application instructions, visit WWW.ci.milford.ct.us in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT
State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the
Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances,call Residential Casework, Equipment Operator Town of Groton Public Works, CDL-B application 203-498-8800 ext.-1507 Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Firetwo Protection. license, with years related experience in equipment operation. Full-time, 40 hours, at Groton Town Hall, Human Resources, 45 Fort Hill Road, This contract is subject to state set-aside$22.67/hour. and contractApplications compliance requirements. Applications are available now
Elm City Communities
Groton, CT 06340 or www.groton-ct.gov and must be returned by 6/16/20. EOE m/f
Request for Proposals Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY Asset Management Consulting Services Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Willard DiLoreto Parking Garage – CCSU – New Britain, CT
The State Connecticut, Office Sealed bidsofare invited by theofHousing Authority of the Town of Seymour Project documents available via ftp link below: Policy and Management is recruiting for The at Housing Authority the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 its office at 28 of Smith Street, a Lead Planning Analyst position. O&G Industries is looking for DAS-certified minorities to bid the http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage currently seeking Proposals for Asset Management Consulting Services. A complete Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Further information regarding the duties, Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the above-referenced project as a subcontractor or supplier of material. copy of the requirements may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration eligibility requirements application Smithfield Gardens and Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com Project will be bid to the State of Connecticut DAS Construction Serinstructions for this position is available at:
Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on encourages the participation of all Veteran,vices S/W/MBE Section 24, 3 Certified Businesses Wednesday, May 27, 2020 atHCC 3:00PM on& June 2020. Set Aside Requirements: 25% SBE Subcon-
Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith https://www.jobapscloud.com/ tractors &/or Suppliers; 6.25% MBE Subcontractors &/or Suppliers. AA/EEO EMPLOYER CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Centrally Located Construction Company in Connecticut has a position Please e-mail Mark Carroll markcarroll@ogind.com for more informa200521&R2=0007AR&R3=001
available for experienced Full-Time Office assistant / Bookkeeper. Job Support A/P,
The State of Connecticut equal Payroll. QuickBooks experience required, MS Office, Internet / Emails. Salary Bidding documents areis an available from A/R the Seymour Housing Authority Ofopportunity/affirmative action employer depending on experience. and strongly encourages applicationsCT 06483 (203) 888-4579. fice, 28 Smith Street,theSeymour, This company is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer M/F. Females of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. and Minorities are encouraged to apply.
The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject all bids, to Pleaseany faxor resume to ATTN: Mike to 860-669-7004. reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any 18 informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.
tion and to gain access to the plans.
O&G is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer seeking all subcontractors/suppliers/vendors - MBE/WBE/SBE/DBE/Veterans/Disabled.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - June - 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
VIRUS PREVENTION
AVOID
AVOID
COVER
close contact with people who are sick.
touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
CLEAN
WASH
STAY HOME
and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
19
when you are sick.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
June 03, 2020 - June 09, 2020
The power of community has never been stronger. During this unprecedented time, there is no end to the things that have surprised and humbled us. The most pleasant surprises have come from our community. The generous donations from so many citizens and businesses in the Greater New Haven area are astounding. At Yale New Haven Hospital, more than 21,300 meals were donated and across Yale New Haven Health, we received nearly 2 million donations of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) – some of which were handmade. From providing our staff with places for respite to the outpoauring displays of compassion, to the numerous donations received, we will forever be grateful. All of the first responders who came to Yale New Haven Hospital to demonstrate their support for our staff during this pandemic – not just once, but several times – brought tears to our eyes. Our community first responders are themselves impacted every day at work and at home by COVID-19, yet they took the time to organize uplifting parades of lights, sirens and cheers for our staff. The power of community has never been stronger. From the entire staff at Yale New Haven Hospital, thank you to everyone in this amazing community. It is an honor to care for you.
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