THE
New Haven, Bridgeport
NEWS
Volume 21 No. 2192
Whose Streets?
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
We Must Continue to Build Trust Between Law Enforcement And Our Communities
The “Rosa Parks
of Wall Street”
Our Streets! 1
We Need Narcan $$ FOLLOW US ON
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016 2
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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We Must Continue to Build Trust Between Law Enforcement And Our Communities Americans stood up to demand change, to seek action, and to raise broader awareness about a critical issue in a largely peaceful way.
by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy CT. News Junkie
Over the last week, the nation has witnessed horror. The events have shocked our collective soul. They have been jolts to our conscience both in Connecticut and across the country that require a moment of mass reflection.
Then Dallas happened.
Our emotions might be raw, but our resolve to end this senseless violence must remain strong. We might all have a different reaction based on the events of this last week, as well as different ideas on how we can solve our nation’s problems. But one thing is absolutely clear: As a nation, we must look in the mirror and ask very simple questions that don’t always have easy answers. Is the horror we’ve witnessed over the last week really who we are and is it who we want to be? How is it that violence in our society has become so profoundly pervasive? What’s more, how is it that we are watching weekly if not daily tragedy occur? And of course, how do we honor and remember those
GOV. DANNEL P. MALLOY
who have suffered through needless violence, how do we heal together, and how do we move forward to prevent this senselessness from occurring yet again? What we saw in Baton Rouge and St. Paul this week was painful to watch unfold. Lives were forever changed and, for some, tragically cut short. These events were heartbreaking, and seem to be part of a pattern that results in many
communities distrusting the law enforcement who are sworn to protect them. The events encapsulate the fact that while we have made some progress, we must strive to be better. Our prayers are with the victims’ loved ones. Our country has a proud tradition of peaceful protest, and yesterday, we saw that fundamental and fundamentally American right exercised in cities across the nation.
What we saw there was unAmerican, because it was police officers who sought to keep protesters safe as they attempted to exercise their right to freedom of expression and speech. The protesters’ message was one we should all support: We must be a fairer and more just nation. Yet, the events in Dallas twisted a proud tradition of protest and turned it into tragedy. What happened is as saddening as it is unacceptable. It was as gruesome as the acts that spawned the protests in the first place. Here in Connecticut, our officers and troopers are standing up to protect our residents every hour of every day. And every day, either at the state or local levels, we are making strides. Our officers and troopers should know just how much we value them, their sacrifice, and their hard work. Just as we should reflect on Baton
Rouge, St. Paul, and Dallas, we should think deeply about how much our officers at home give back to our state. At the same time, we should look to build upon the progress we have made in community policing and building trust between law enforcement and our community. All of the events we have seen over the last week have been heartbreaking. As the nation grieves, we here at home must continue to foster trust. We must continue to work together. And we must pause to reflect on these horrific incidents so we can learn from them, so that we ourselves can be better citizens and a better state. Let us take this moment to reflect, to take a collective breath, and to consider how we can do more individually so that we, together, can be a stronger, more peaceful, more unified state and nation. Dannel P. Malloy is Governor of the state of Connecticut and also chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
3rd Annual New York Black Expo to be Held at the Sheraton Times Square New York, NY — The Third Annual New York Black Expo will be held on Saturday, July 30th from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the prestigious Sheraton New York Times Square, located at 811 7th Avenue at 53rd Street in New York.
opportunities for entrepreneurs to network, exhibit and showcase their products, services and recycle their dollars at the expo. A broad variety of products, services, and exhibitors will be on display during the entire day at the expo.
Small business owners, professional service providers and consumers from the tri-state area will be converging on the 3rd Annual Black Expo in record numbers. New York City is one of the premier markets in the country to bring consumers together with Vendors comprising of a diverse set of products and services.
Call today at (917) 501-0614 or send an email to info@newyorkblackexpo.com to become a sponsor, for individual tickets, to purchase an exhibitor booth and/or to become a volunteer. You can also log on to www.newyorkblackexpo.com for the latest info and updates concerning the 2016 New York Black Expo.
A celebrity lineup of leaders across a wide sector of the power base of the Black community will be participating in this year’s business expo. Leaders in local chambers, regional chambers, corporate executives, civic leaders, community leaders and advocates supporting the “Buy Black Campaign” of the New York Black Expo. The expo will also provide an opportunity for
diverse segments of the community to do business with the Black community. A variety of business leaders will be facilitating seminars, workshops and panel discussions. Industry experts in the area of business, education, health, music,
entertainment and fashion will be providing pertinent information for consumers, professionals, service providers, and small business owners in attendance at the expo. The ultimate goal and mission of the New York Black Expo is to share, to educate and uplift one of
the most influential market segments in the country. The New York market has significant consumer power and buying power, and the expo is the bridge to Economic Power. This year’s celebrity line-up at the expo will attract greater
Consumers interested in registering for this year ’s conference can log onto www.newyorkblackexpo.com or call 917-501-0614 or email info@newyorkblackexpo.com “The New York Black Expo is a production of “Black Expo America, Inc.”
Author Inspires Third Grade Students at Brennan-Rogers Magnet School
Publisher / CEO Babz Rawls Ivy Managing Editor Liaison, Corporate Affairs Doreen Strong Advertising Director Sales Team Trenda Lucky Delores Alleyne John Thomas III Hilda Calvachi
Editorial Team Staff Writers Ratasha Smith / Current Affairs Anthony Scott / Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd / Politics Contributing Writers David Asbery Tanisha Asbery Jessica Carl Jerry Craft/Cartoons Barbara Fair Mubarakah Ibrahim Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur Michelle Turner Smita Shrestha Kam Williams Content Contributors At-Large Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass New Haven Independent www.newhavenindependent.org Dr. Fred McKinney Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council www.cmsdc.org Memberships National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
Cadet takes pride in her work and encourages others to do the same. Ms. Gay said she would like to thank Cadet for stopping by Brennan-Rogers to share her third book. The students enjoyed going on adventure with the characters. Eventually Cadet hopes to include a line of dolls and a TV series to go along with her books.
Nearly fifty third-graders sat in the Brennan-Rogers Magnet School library with smiles on their faces writing a short story after author, Cindy Cadet, challenged them to write their own story after listening to her read “The Brownie Squad” book. Ms. Cadet was invited to the school by Ms. Gay, Site Coordinator of the Family Resource Center at Brennan-Rogers Magnet School.
Over the summer, Cadet will be busy promoting her books. She has a book signing scheduled for July 2016 at the Bridgeport Public Library and will make appearances at various other libraries around New Haven. Her books are available online at Xlibris and Amazon.
The birth of Cadet’s daughter was the inspiration behind her children books. She published her first book in 2011, a year after her daughter was born. But the person that inspired her to read and write growing up was Maya Angelou. Cadet confessed that she has read most of her books and poems. Writing became a hobby of Cadet’s very early in her life. Cadet shared with Ms. Gay that she was born in Miami, FL but was raised in West Haven, CT. She and family have resided in New Ha-
A third grader inspired to write by a local children’s author(R to L): Tracy Hintz (Library, BrennanRogers), Cindy Cadet (author), and Ms. Gay (Site Coordinator, Family Resource Center, Brennan-Rogers)
Gay said, “I am so happy our students had a chance to get up close and personal with an author.” The students asked her a lot of questions and got Cadet’s autograph. Gay said her main purpose was to expose the students to another career option. It is possible that one student sitting in the room may be inspired to become an author one day.
Good Bye 2016, Hello 2017 by Christine Stuart New Haven Independent
Today is the start of the new fiscal year and state lawmakers are ready to leave the 2016 budget behind them. The state will still end the year with a $315.8 million budget deficit, according to state Comptroller Kevin Lembo. The legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis has projected a slightly higher $322.9 million deficit earlier this week, estimating a steeper drop in income tax revenue. The legislature’s budget analysts also predicted that the 2017 budget run a $22.7 million surplus, but history shows that could quickly change. In 2014, less than a week after the election, the budget was out of balance, forcing Gov. Dannel
P. Malloy to issue rescissions. That budget ended the year with a deficit as well and by September 2015, after the second largest tax increase in the state’s history, Connecticut was faced with yet another budget deficit. Lawmakers returned in December hoping to erase enough spending to keep the budget in balance. Two months later they were back faced with yet another deficit as revenues continued to drop. State officials have attributed the continual deficits to significant drops in revenue, especially from the personal income tax. “Connecticut’s income tax collections have been revised downward throughout this fiscal year as capital-gains-related income tax receipts were constrained by market volatility — prompted by global factors, including the Chi-
nese markets and now ‘Brexit’ — and payroll-related tax gains were hampered by lower than anticipated labor market activity,” Lembo said. Revenue projections fell during the year, but Lembo noted that cost-cutting measures were implemented by both the governor and legislature — the aggregate result of these actions reducing anticipating spending by $156.6 million. But the Malloy administration isn’t taking any chances in 2017 and announced Thursday that it is withholding $130 million from state agencies. The state still has until September to officially close the book on 2016, so it’s possible revenues could come in that offset the amount of the deficit. However, Republican lawmakers were not optimistic.
“When income tax receipts are down this significantly, at a time when sales tax receipts are also dropping, it’s not a good sign of things to come,” Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said earlier this week. “It has nothing to do with the stock market, and everything to do with our state’s financial policies. When Democrats continue to ignore the real reasons why we are facing these problems, it only moves our state further away from solutions.” According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, in 2014 more than 96,000 Connecticut residents moved out of the state. The leading destination was New York, followed by Massachusetts, Florida, California, and North Carolina. Con’t on page 11
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The Inner-City Newspaper is published weekly by Penfield Communications, Inc. from offices located at 50 Fitch Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06515. 203-387-0354 phone; 203-387-2684 fax. Subscriptions:$260 per year (does not include sales tax for the in State subscriptions). Send name, address, zip code with payment. Postmaster, send address changes to 50 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Display ad deadline Friday prior to insertion date at 5:00pm Advertisers are responsible for checking ads for error in publication. Penfield Communications, Inc d.b.a., “The Inner-City Newspaper” , shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors or errors in publication, except to the extent of the cost of the space in which actual error appeared in the first insertion. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The entire contents of The Inner-City Newspaper are copyright 2012, Penfield Communications, Inc. and no portion may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
ven since 2002.
by Lensley Gay Site Coordinator State Department of Education, Brennan-Rogers Family Resource Center
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
John P. Thomas Jr.
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Author’s Corner: Rocky Rose ship or situation where they are being abused they can get out and they don’t have to sacrifice their life to leave. I want them to know that they need to value themselves and know their worth.
By Christian Lewis Not sure how many of you that are reading this are familiar with New Haven Author Rocky Rose, but I must tell you this author has a God given talent to write and touch people with her words. I’ll introduce to some and present to others, Author Rocky Rose.
Q: If you had to choose, what author do you consider to be your mentor? A: I consider a few different author my mentors simply because they are willing to answer questions and help me with whatever I need, to name a few they are, Karen E. Quinones-Miller, Allison Grace, Treasure Blue and Wahida Clark.
Q: Where are you from? A: I was born and raised in New Haven, CT. Q: When and why did you begin writing? A: I began writing between 2000-2001, my sophomore year in high school when my English teacher, Mr. Nelken made our class write short stories. The outpour of love I got from my story let me know then that writing was my calling.
Q: Are there any new authors out that have grasped your interest? A: Ebony Simone –McMillan is a great new author, she’s from CT as well, her break out as an author came this year with the book Letters To A Little Black Girl (available on Amazon).
Q: When did you first consider yourself a writer? A: I first considered myself a writer when I was in junior high school, I used to keep notebooks in my room and write my feelings out, my high school assignment just solidified it for me.
Q: Do you see writing as a career? A: I eat, sleep and breathe writing, it’s definitely a career for me, I know sooner rather than later it will be a full-time career for me.
Q: What was the inspiration behind your first book?
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
A: Another author wanted to take the leap of faith to tap into the industry of writing, and being that we both were in relationships where we were abused, we brainstormed and came up with
the idea of writing a novella on Domestic Violence, that was when I Win You Lose was birthed, six short stories on different types of Domestic Violence. Q: Is there a message in any
of your books that you want readers to grasp? A: Both of my books that are currently out deal with Domestic Violence, I want my readers to know that if they are in a relation-
Q: What advice would you give up and coming writers? A: Write everyday, read, get connected with a veteran author to make them your mentor. Never doubt yourself, and ignore those that want to hate on you for fol-
lowing your dreams. Q: What are you currently working on now? A: I am currently working on four different books to be released on October 22, 2016, the two novels that follow my solo novel My Man My Abuser, which are Stirred & Shaken and Bruised Never Broken, also Pastors Kyd and Initiation. I took the last two years off from releasing anything to focus on my children but please believe these books are definitely worth the wait! Q: Where can interested readers purchase your books? A: My books are available through me, soon they will be available through my website (coming soon). Q: What is your preferred method for readers to get in contact with you or follow you? A: Email is the best way to contact me: authorrockyr@gmail.com and LIKE my page on facebook, Author Rocky Rose. Q: Are there any closing remarks you would like to make? A: I would like to thank my supporters both old and new. Also, please keep an ear out for my book launch party on October 22, 2016 for the four novels mentioned above, the location is still to be determined, but it’s an event you are not going to want to miss!!
15% of Husky Parents Get Insurance With One Month To Go Before Losing Temporary Coverage by Christine Stuart State officials announced Thursday that about 15 percent of the low-income parents who were about to lose their temporary insurance in July will continue to receive coverage. Last year, because of budget cuts, the state said it was kicking 17,688 low-income parents off the Husky A health insurance plan. They were then provided with a year of temporary insurance coverage, called TMA, or temporary medical assistance. As the deadline for the end of that
temporary insurance approaches, Access Health CT officials said this week that 2,134 of those parents have enrolled in private insurance plans or a different Medicaid plan.
dividuals could have gotten employer-sponsored insurance, or they could have moved out of state, or their family size could have changed.
State officials initially expected that 17,688 low-income parents would be impacted by the 2015 budget changes. However, as of Thursday, the state revised that original number down to 13,811.
There was no precise reason given for the decrease in the original estimate of parents impacted by the budget cut.
Officials with the Department of Social Services could not say what happened to the approximately 4,000 people it had initially estimated would fall into this category. A spokesman for the agency said in-
“We need better tracking to see what happens to thousands of working parents as they lose coverage,” Ellen Andrews, executive director of the Connecticut Health Policy Project, said. “It’s great that they’ve reached 15 percent of HUSKY parents at risk of uninsurance, but we
need to do much much more before the end of the month.” There are still 11,677 working adults who will still need to find coverage by the end of the month based on the budgetary change in the income eligibility for access to the Husky A. The threshold dropped from 201 percent to 155 percent of the federal poverty level — that’s an income range of $37,665 to $48,843 for a family of four. “These individuals who have not signed up need to do so as soon as possible,” Jim Wadleigh, CEO of Access Health CT, said. “Nearly 75 percent of those who have enrolled
in a QHP plan did so with a broker and roughly 80 percent had a past interaction with the call center.” Of the 2,134 adults who enrolled in coverage, 635 people have enrolled with a private insurance company and 1,499 have enrolled in a new Medicaid plan. Access Health CT, which has already sent letters and postcards to those impacted, will begin calling individuals who haven’t signed up for a new plan over the next two weeks. It has also expanded the hours of its enrollment fairs for the month of July.
by MARKESHIA RICKS
something different. I think we all agree that this is getting bigger and worse. It’s not going away.”
New Haven Independent
To stop people from dying from an overdose of a deadly opioid, New Haven will need more of the antidote that saves lives and a better coordination of health resources.
Other health officials in the room recommended getting people into treatment at the point that they enter the healthcare stream, but also better coordinating their efforts as they treat people. Police Chief Dean Esserman credited the swiftness of emergency responders in saving lives. He reminded the room that communities can’t arrest their way out of the drug addiction problem. “What doesn’t work is punishment,” Esserman said. “Punishment is not the cure.”
That is what city public safety and health officials told New Haven’s Congressional delegation during a roundtable held Friday morning at police headquarters. U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal along with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro stopped by 1 Union Ave. to hear what the city needs to fight an opioid crisis that has hit other parts of the country hard, and last week killed three overdose victims in New Haven and sent 17 others to the hospitals. Connecticut had 730 people die from overdoses last year; it is on pace to have even more this year.
YNNH’s Balcezak and Ulrich with New Haven police intelligence chief Karl Jacobson.
Rick Fontana, New Haven’s emergency management chief, put it bluntly: The city needs more Narcan.
Fontana said ithe kits that New Haven first responders are equipped with will expire in December.
Murphy said Congress had a better response to the threat of Ebola. It allocated $4 billion in emergency funding for a disease that only resulted in six cases nationwide.
“The kits are expensive,” he said. “They’re already over $100.”
Interim Fire Chief Ralph Black said that in the case of the New Haveners who overdosed after buying drugs that they thought were cocaine but in fact was the dangerous opiate fentanyl rescue personnel had to use up to four doses of Narcan to keep people from dying. “We need the supply to save lives,” he said. Balcezak,
chief
MARKESHIA RICIKS PHOTO Fontana: We need more of this.
medical officer for Yale-New Haven Hospital, said that about 25 percent of the people who come through the hospital’s emergency department are battling a long history of addiction. “This is different than anything we’ve ever seen before,” Balcezak said. “Opioid addiction has grown and the type of opioids on the street are different than what we’ve been seeing.”
Balcezak said that overdose kits need to be as common in public places as defibrillators are, and drug overdoses should have national measures for treatment the same way that other public health emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes. Andy Ulrich, vice chair for the YNHH’s emergency department, said that the volume and severity of the overdoses mean that New
Haven and other communities need to be ready with a different kind of response from typical cases. “Usually when they get to us and they’re still alive, they do fine,” Ulrich said. “We have other Narcan and other medications, but in this circumstance even the ones that got to us alive didn’t do well. That is what was unusual and this is why we knew this was
“That money went to good use, and [Ebola] did not ravage this country the way people thought it would,” he said. “But 730 people died in this tiny little state last year, and we’re on pace for 830 [to die] this year, and Congress hasn’t allocated one dime in emergency funding. You cannot manage a public health epidemic of this size without some resources from the federal government.” 7
Thomas
Murphy, Blumenthal and DeLauro, who are all Democrats, promised to pressure their colleagues in Congress, particularly the Republicans majority, to pass President Obama’s proposed $1.1 billion in new funding to fight the nation’s prescription opioid abuse and heroin crisis. DeLauro said that Congress has been silent about several public health crises including the opioid crisis, Zika and lead paint. She said her colleagues should approve the funding and do so on an emergency basis. Blumenthal said he wants hearings on why the cost of Narcan has risen so quickly and significantly, and called Congress’ inaction “shameful and a disgrace.”
“This expires in 18 months,” he said while holding up a red and white overdose kit containing the antidote that saved 17 lives last weekend. “It has to be purchased by municipalities, and they don’t have the budgets.”
“They used to be a quarter of that,” Blumenthal added.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
City To Feds: We Need Narcan $$
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Dozens “Die In” To Protest Killings by ALIYYA SWABY AND LUCY GELLMAN
Unlike Arouna, who joined in, most who came across the protest stayed on their feet. They took out smart phones and recorded videos of the “dead.” Others walked around with their hands in the air, during the chant, “Hands up, don’t shoot!”
New Haven Independent
Wilbur Cross High School student Cowiya Arouna was walking by the Green when she saw a dozen people lying down on the ground and chanting the names of black people killed by police.
Not everyone stayed on message. One protester led the chant, “When I say ‘black,’ you say ‘beautiful’!” A woman in the crowd changed the words to, “When I say ‘white is,’ you say ‘beautiful.’” Another woman passing the Green on Chapel Street threw her right fist up in protest and chanted “All lives matter!” back loudly. From the corner of the Green, a middle-aged white man seated on a bench added, “I didn’t hear ‘White lives matter,’” adding a small stream of expletives that did not dissuade those on the ground.
She grabbed an extra sign and lay down, too. Arouna, who is 16, was one of dozens of people who gathered around a “die-in” protest held at the corner of Chapel and Church Street Friday afternoon, following av=topnews&_r=0"two incidents of police officers killing black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. The die-in also came the afternoon after sniper attacks killed five police officers in Dallas at a demonstration against police brutality.
Sherwood’s mother, Alicia TysonSherwood, said she was proud of the protesters for pushing through tense moments like that one, which could have been “turning points” in the event.
Organizers said they wanted to stress the importance of “solidarity” at a time of strife, instead of separation.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Friday’s protest came out of a “therapeutic” meeting of about 45 people Thursday night who convened to “debrief” and talk about the emotional effects of the shootings, said Amelia Sherwood, one of the lead organizers. “We gave each other other a lot of self-care about what is going on,” she said. “I believe we were able to have a very therapeutic space to talk about it a way that other people can’t.” Sherwood said she thinks that if the Dallas snipers had a similar space, “I don’t believe they would have killed those people in Texas. It was a very unfortunate event right after” the police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota. Organizers decided to host a public event Friday afternoon, though they knew it would be small with a lot of people at work, Sherwood said. A larger rally, organized by the New Haven chapter of Black Lives Matter, is planned for 7:30 p.m. on the Green. A handful of people met at the fountain in the center of the New Haven Green at 1 p.m., notified by an event publicized on Facebook through activist group “The Narrative Project.” Sherwood and fellow organizer Mercy Quaye led the group to
“At any given point, it can go south,” she said. “We’re not trying to start a revolution. ... We want to make sure people understand that when [violence] happens to one, it happens to all.”
Chapel and Church Street corner. They handed out flyers with a list of demands. One flyers demands: “Stop Killing Us. Convict people who kill people. Discourage on the job discharges of firearms by implementing a mandatory investigation and unpaid leave. Dismantle White Supremacy. Don’t elect Trump.” Another flyer’s demands: “No racialized sentencing. Allow police to use force only when absolutely necessary not just when reasonable. Get police out of schools. Gun control. Sentencing reform. Prison reform.” They also handed out colored pieces of papers with the names of black people shot by police over the past several years. A few police officers stood on the corner just outside of the Green,
watching the peaceful event. In recent rallies against police brutality over the last couple of years, New Haven police officers have shut down traffic to clear the way for people marching through the streets of New Haven. There are usually no arrests. Friday morning, in the wake of the Dallas killings of police officers, New Haven department officials said they planned to have officers to patrol in pairs, instead of alone, to ensure their safety. “Michael Brown ...” Quaye yelled from the ground,ependent. referring to the unarmed teenager shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson in 2014. “... didn’t deserve to die,” the others chanted, finishing her sentence. At every silence, someone started a new chant that radiated down the line of people.
That sentiment flowed through the crowd as well. Several of the protesters said that they showed up because they could not stand to be silent, or were afraid for their lives and the lives of their families, friends and colleagues after this week. “There are a couple of things that are going through my head right now,” José Alfaro, Connecticut advocacy manager for the Northeast Charter Schools Network, said. “These are issues and problems that have been going on historically these aren’t new things, but with technology it’s allowed for a lot of exposure that hasn’t exactly been pleasing to watch. So I think the things that are going through my mind right now are ... making sure that the people that I love and care about, both black and brown, people of color and allies within the movement and around social issues are taking care of themselves. “I want to make sure that my people have the wherewithal to deal with the police if and when they are
stopped how and when they can prevent themselves from becoming targets, with the understanding that this can happen to any of us at any time, at any moment. As I become older and I think about having kids, my kids would by Afro-Latin American. What does that mean for the safety of our country? What does that mean for the safety of my kids? What does that mean to my god kids, to my parents, to all of the people within our communities? “For me, I have an array of different emotions from concern to anger to rage to sadness, and even sometimes numbness. I can’t feel like I process all of this hurt in one sitting, day after day after day. This becomes overwhelming to us. Sending a message to our people that we are invaluable is, I think, my duty to put that out there.” Eda Uca, a transplant from the New York area who moved to New Haven to attend Yale’s Divinity School, agreed. “I’m terrified for the life of my friends,” she said. “I’m not sure what it is that we ought to do next, but this is what it is that felt right to do now. My friends, particularly my black friends, are beautiful people. They have accomplished a lot with their lives. I’m thinking of my colleagues who are the future leaders in the academy and the church and in the world, and none of that matters when it comes to a police stop. None of it matters. I am terrified for their lives.” Chris Harrington, a D.C. native who moved to New Haven two years ago to work as a policy manager at the Northeast Charter School Network, expanded on her thought, saying that he feared for his friends and for himself, as a young man of color. “It’s scary. As a young person, as someone who spends time and enjoys living in a city, it’s disheartening. It’s scary when you’re driving and you have a police officer pull behind you just as a routine thing. Maybe they’re just trying to switch lanes, but you know your heart stops a little bit.” “Being pulled over hasn’t happened to me in New Haven,” he added. “But I’m originally from the D.C. area and I would say that it happened to me a lot there.”
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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170 To 42 Against Chief for not allowing him in a football game without a ticket. Mayor Toni Harp gave ands_warns_police_chief/»him a written reprimand for that incident and warned him not to repeat the behavior. Since then countless unreported incidents have occurred. One recent incident involved the chief allegedly ordering a former chief, William Farrell, out of a photo op at a ceremony honoring a fallen cop.
by MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent
Cops sent that message to Chief Dean Esserman in a 170 to 42 vote Thursday at police headquarters at 1 Union Ave. The results were announced just before 9 p.m. The turnout was not as high as previous such votes; the union estimates that it has more than 350 eligible voting members and 214 cast a vote Thursday. Two votes were tossed because both “yes” and “no” were checked on the ballot. But among the votes cast, those against the chief heavily outweighed those that expressed confidence in him. Sgt. Dave Guliuzza, the police union’s vice president, said the turnout might have been slightly suppressed because of summer vacations and retirements, but the message from city cops is clear.
Officer Ron Pressley and Lucas Guliuzza counted the votes.
But she also added that the ultimate decision on whether the chief stays or goes lies with her.
“It’s a pretty significant number in favor of no confidence,” he said.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Esserman, who was in Washington, D.C. when the vote took place, said as chief he can fight with his critics or listen. He said he wants to listen and work with them to make the department and the city a better place, but also the nation. “There are major national policing issues currently challenging America and more evidence of that in just the last two days,” he said referencing the recent police shootings in Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights, Minn. that have left two black men dead and a nation once again in turmoil. His comments were made before a protest in Dallas, Texas ended when five officers were shot and killed by a sniper. “The New Haven Police Department and its officers have much to contribute with their professionalism and commitment to community policing. This labor dispute, during this present period of labor negotiations for a new contract, is important and I will sit
Harp said in a statement that the city is grateful to the police department and the service it provides. “Crime statistics over the past five years and for the first half of this year underscore a steady, across-the-board decrease in the most serious forms of urban violence and for that I’m extremely proud of everyone responsible,” she said.
“In New Haven, the mayor is the appointing authority for the police chief, and the chief, like other administration officials, is subject to a performance evaluation each year and serves at the pleasure of the mayor,” Harp said.
down to listen and to work together toward a resolution,” he said. Previous New Haven police chiefs, including Frank Limon and Nicholas Pastore, faced noconfidence votes during their tenure. The vote against Limon in 2011 was 246-21. He left town soon after. Pastore, on the other hand, held on, and eventually built support through the department and in the community.
developed effective partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies to tackle gang and gun violence, and has won national accolades for its approach to community policing.
Thursday’s vote, however, comes amid broader pressures Esserman is facing. The idea of holding the vote was supported by different factions of the police department that at other times oppose one another.
But the reasons the union cited for holding the no-confidence vote included alleged favoritism by Esserman in promotions and discipline, as well as an accumulation over years of incidents in which Esserman lost his temper and insulted, humiliated, or otherwise verbally abused or made rude comments to both high-ranking and rank-andfile cops as well as members of the public.
Crime has steadily dropped over the nearly five years that Esserman has served as New Haven’s police chief. The department has
The best-known incident involved Esserman’s reaming out and threatening an elderly volunteer Yale Bowl usher in 2014
Esserman said no-confidence votes are not new, and happen as part of the “union vs. management landscape.” He credited rank-andfile police officers for the success that the city has seen in driving down crime and restoring the trust of city residents, and he said he wants to work with his critics to continue that track record. “Community policing is working in New Haven,” he said. “A very strong coalition of people and organizations working together with the police to reduce crime and save lives is working here. Our police play a crucial role and deserve great credit for our success. “Crime, all crime, is down five years in a row. Homicides, shootings, robberies, burglaries are all down in double digits. Walking beats have returned, a remarkable PAL children’s camp has been established. And new technology is
being used in patrol cars and police headquarters,” he added. “New Haven is growing safer, and trust and respect is growing every day between the police and citizens in every neighborhood. We’re all making it work in New Haven.” But the officers who helped create those successes are not happy with Esserman’s leadership and Union President Craig Miller said he believes it is why so many veteran and rookie cops have left the force. He pointed to the 15 new officers who left for greener pastures last year and the five that have moved on so far this year. “A lot of officers have left that we would have liked to keep,” he said. “Part of the reason for the vote is that nobody is staying more than 20 years and rookies are leaving for higher-paying jobs and better working conditions.” Guliuzza said that in a few days’ time the union’s board will meet and decide what next steps to take. One of those next steps could be the filing of a municipal prohibited practice complaint for what the union alleged were attempts by the chief to influence the vote by intimidation. Though Esserman was out of town Thursday, Miller said he received reports from members that an unnamed assistant chief allegedly made comments at the 3 p.m. line up that potentially influenced the vote, including comments about Esserman working with the union to get cops pay raises and better benefits. Those things are all the subject of current contract negotiations and the union says such comments violate the agreed-upon negotiation ground rules. The union also is suspicious of the timing of a memo sent Wednesday about cutting overtime, and a subsequent memo sent Thursday about covering overtime with SAVI summer violence reduction grant money. Esserman declined to comment on any allegations, as the complaint has not yet been filed.
many activities” provided by the program are what attracted her to sign up for the second consecutive year. At the table where she sat, other children nodded their heads in agreement.
by DANIELA BRIGHENTI New Haven Independent
Dalleona Parker did not always go swimming during her summer vacations. That changed when, last year, she participated for the first time in New Haven’s Police Activities League Summer Youth Camp.
Mykel Richardson and Kamariyah Caldwell are firsttimers to the camp this year, and said they had heard from friends about the PAL camp.
In an opening ceremony at Wilbur Cross High School’s gymnasium, a plethora of big adults and officials from around New Haven officially kicked off the fourth summer program that is all about children. Mayor Toni Harp, Police Chief Dean Esserman and Assistant Chief Archie Generoso were all among those present at the ceremony on early Tuesday morning. But the ones that really mattered were those crouching, sitting down on the hard gymnasium floor the children. The PAL camp, as it is affectionately referred to by organizers and children alike, offers daily activities for New Haven youth between the ages of
The two are not the only newcomers: this year’s camp is five times the size of the first camp. This year, 360 campers are signed up, an increase in 90 children from last year.
8 NHPD school resource officers help run the camp.
eight and 13 and lasts five weeks. Police officers from multiple institutions, such as the Yale Police Department and Southern Connecticut State University, assist New Haven officers in running the program.
As the nearly 20 speakers took their turn in addressing those present, one common theme rang out: a focus on the children.
productive,” Harp said. “They enjoy all good things about the summer, instead of [spending] a summer home alone.”
“[The program] provides hundreds of children with the chance to stay healthy, safe and
Yale Police Department’s Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Patten expressed similar sentiments, and said the program provides children the opportunity of interacting positively with police officers.
Con’t from page 5
Good Bye 2016, Hello 2017 Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Kevin Sullivan has said there is evidence that, on average, the state is losing about $21,000 per household on outmigration. Essentially, he said people with higher incomes have been leaving, and those who are arriving have adjusted gross incomes of about $21,000 less per household.
The number of state employees announcing their retirements has also increased over the past four months. In order to achieve the labor savings, Malloy said he would need to separate about 2,000 state employees from their jobs by June 10. “There is no specific target number,” Gian-Carl Casa, undersecretary for legislative affairs with the Office of Policy and Management, said Thursday. “We will continue to work with state agencies to achieve necessary savings while providing core services.” According to the Office of
Policy and Management, the state has laid off 749 executive branch employees and the Judicial Branch has laid off 300. That brings the total number of laid off employees up to around 1,049. The state is also seeing higherthan-anticipated retirement filings, with approximately 947 requests filed since April 1 on a total of 1,453 retirements so far this year. That means almost 1,996 state employees have left state service or about to leave state service and their positions are not being refilled. Overall, the pace of retirement filings by state employees is 29 percent more than it was in 2015 for the first six months of the year.
Harp also interacted with the children; she walked around the gymnasium upon arriving, bending down and personally saying good morning to the multiple groups of children who had been separated by their ages for the day’s activities. According to New Haven Police Department’s Sgt. Elisa Tuozzoli, typical camp activities include team sports, classes in arts and crafts, music, reading, language arts and mathematics and weekly field trips. Campers also participate in workshops on basic 911 emergency responses and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Parker, who recently completed sixth grade, noted that the “so, so
“We don’t believe in limits,” Esserman said. He added that any student that applies to the camp, which is completely free to all, is accepted. Breakfast and lunch are both included in the program, and free bus service is also available at local police substations. For Yale football head coach, Tony Reno, the program is all about “developing young people.” He was not just referring to the camp’s participants, but also to the incoming freshmen on the football team that volunteer as camp counselors each year. This year, between 15 to 20 freshmen are already on campus to participate in training. After their practices, the players will lead the children in various daily activities. “The kids just sort of naturally gravitate towards them,” Tuozzoli said, chuckling. “They see these big, nice, muscular guys. It’s been a great collaboration.” She added that members of Youth At Work also work as volunteers at the camp. Overall, nearly 30 community partners collaborate to help make the program a success, showing that sometimes, it really does take a village to raise a child. Or keep it occupied during the summer months. “People always ask me why we started this camp,” Esserman said. “Because we needed to. We needed to for the children.”
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Income replacement in general has not caught up yet, Sullivan has said, adding that it’s people who have reached retirement age who are moving, and Connecticut is a demographically older state. A lot of people are retiring, and they’re retiring at a relatively high income, compared to those coming into the state at lower income lev-
els.
“Kids are the future,” Patten said. “This is an investment for the future.”
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
It Takes A City To Set Up Camp
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Antunes Curbs Late Grant Apps pushes grants through by asking alders for unanimous consent.
by MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent
“Too many times department heads come claiming or requesting unanimous consent,” he said. “In some cases, the process just hasn’t been followed through by the departments and they’re looking to us to take up the slack.”
Bishop Woods Alder Gerald Antunes showed top officials at his former department that he still knows how to be a tough cop. The retired police officer told Police Chief Dean Esserman and Assistant Chief Anthony Campbell at a public caucus of the Board of Alders held Wednesday before its regular meeting that it would be his last time supporting unanimous consent for the acceptance of a grant that a department had won and needed quick approval to accept. And he doesn’t care if that means that the police department or any other city department for that matter loses out on free money. The police department drew the ire of Antunes and other alders over a $50,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) to pay for a citywide speed enforcement program starting July 4 through Sept 5. The department has already applied for the grant and the DOT approved the city’s application, making New Haven “eligible for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of police overtime and fringe costs for speed enforcement activities,” according to a letter from Esserman.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Campbell said in fact the depart-
ment was already spending money for speed enforcement with hopes that they can recoup some of their expenses with grant funds. Applying for the grant happened in the last 30 days and with the quick turnaround required, the department assumed that alders knowing that the grant goes to step up enforcement activities would understand the overtime issues and support accepting the grant. Alders said that’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this is supposed to work. “This puts us in a rough situation,” Antunes said. “We don’t have the opportunity to have a public hearing. The public is entitled to a hearing. This circumvents the whole process. And it doesn’t make us look good when we have to say, ‘You can’t do it.’
It makes us the bad guys when the bad guys are really sitting at 1 Union Ave.” Antunes said he told the board last month when a similar grant application for the police department showed up on a consent agenda that he didn’t want it to happen again. He said the department called his bluff. And he was not happy about it, though his colleagues persuaded him not to object and not to have the grant removed from the consent agenda this time. If Antunes had objected, as he said he will in the future, the grant would have had to go through the full board process of a public hearing and two readings which would have rendered it useless to the police. Annex Alder Alphonse Paolillo
Antunes said going forward, he will vote against any unanimous consent item for a grant that hasn’t received a public hearing. He said residents have a right to ask questions about how the grant money is going to be used, and even if they don’t exercise that right, alJr. offered a compromise that al- ders who represent those residents lowed the police department to have the right to ask questions too. accept the grant, but officials will “If you get grant paperwork late have to come back to the Public and you know you can’t get it Safety Committee, which Antunes passed in time, then you just chairs, for a public hearing. missed the grant,” he said. “I hate “It’s frustrating when they don’t to give up any money, but you have a process for a reason and take it serious,” Paolillo said. “They’re going to have to take they’re required to follow the proit serious because this is going to cess. “I was prepared to say no to be the last one,” Board President unanimous consent,” he added. Tyisha Walker said. “I hope you understand, we’re “They’ve already spent the money not going down this road again,” for a grant they don’t have. Some Walker said directly to Campbell people go jail for that kind of stuff. How do you spend money you and Esserman. don’t have? Fortunately, I think it “It’s crystal clear,” Campbell is a reimbursement, but they’ve alsaid. ready applied for it without apAntunes said while the police proval, already spent it without apdepartment bore the brunt of his proval. What good is having a and other alders’ frustrations, it board, having a guideline if you’re isn’t the only department that not going to follow it?”
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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Whose Streets? Our Streets! by LUCY GELLMAN AND MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent
Lia Miller-Granger took the bullhorn into her hand, lifted it to her lips and declared to hundreds gathered at the corner of Church and Chapel streets that they needed to occupy the streets.
“They don’t care. We have to care,” she said. “Let’s talk truth to power I’m sick and tired of my people being shot down like animals in the street. That child sat in the back of that car ... I did not watch those videos because I grew up in New York City. I had my brothers die in my arms, shot down by cops in the city. I don’t need to see a video. I want to know what we’re gonna do. I’m here to tell you you have a responsibility that far exceeds just going to the ballot. You gotta hold politicians’ feet to the fire.”
LUCY GELLMAN PHOTO
Lia Miller-Granger
“We are here as the power, the drive in our city. We are here to renew our strength,” MillerGranger, president of Black Lives Matter New Haven, said. “We have to occupy these streets. We have to call these civil servants and hold them accountable. This is the beginning. Do not let the fire inside of you dissipate.”
andhave
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Miller-Granger came out to the Green Friday to speak out against police brutality and two more names Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile that have been added to the long list of black men killed by police officers. The protest also was a show of solidarity for other marginalized people of color, particularly those in the Latino/Hispanic, LGBTQI and Muslim communities. Over the course of the peaceful but vociferous four-hour protest, she was joined by a crowd of about 300 people that swelled to an estimated 700 by the time protestors marched around the lower Green and then blocked traffic on Temple Street before moving methodically through parts of downtown. The protestors delayed the smattering of riders on the D4 Grand Avenue/Walmart bus and a few cars for about 10 minutes chanting “Whose streets? Our streets!” before marching against the one-way traffic on Temple and continuing on to Elm and Broadway, where they marched, accompanied by police who helped stop traffic, to Tower Parkway before turning around. There they delayed several cars, buses, and at least one Yale Shuttle.
Meanwhile, the Green remained a site where protestors could speak out, listen to each other, and respond, which many did with raised fists and deep murmurs and whoops of agreement.
LUCY GELLMAN PHOTO
Kermit Carolina.
“I have seven sons,” longtime activist Barbara Fair said. “We say we don’t know when the hour comes. The hour comes for me when one of them pigs do something to my child. I salute those mothers who can somehow carry on you take my child, and I want you to hear it around the world. You take mine and you will not sit around the station and tell your story. Because I’m gonna go completely off. You wanna take my child’s life? Your life is gone, too. You better believe. I mean it to the bottom of my heart, to my bones and my soul. And when I say my sons I mean my grandsons too. Don’t even try it.” State Rep. Robyn Porter told the crowd Friday that when she learned that she was going to become a grandmother, she was initially excited. But when she learned that the baby would be a boy, that excitement turned to fear.
Several men in the crowd came forward to speak. One said that he had been stopped 17 times by New Haven police officers. Another said that he was afraid as both a black man and a gay man, but believed firmly that protesters and allies had to stick together, and that this was the time for people of color to “remember that you are descended from kings and queens.” When counter-protestors attempted to break the rally’s peaceful atmosphere, protesters gathered to ensure that they would not succeed. People driving a pickup truck festooned with a Trump banner and two American flags repeatedly drove by the protestors and were greeted with unified chants of “Black Lives Matter.” A few counter-protestors who ventured closer, like Angel Morris, were made to stay on the periphery, where New Haven police officers patrolled the area. “All lives matter!” she shouted at a chain of attendees who had linked arms as to not let her go further into the rally. Police presence was heavy downtown Friday during the course of the protest, with police officers patrolling in pairs in response to the recent killings of five police officers in Dallas Thursday. Aside from the Con’t on page 23
by LUCY GELLMAN New Haven Independent
A violent week in America ended with a message of unity outside one of New Haven’s leading African-American churches: Black lives are an indispensible part of the city’s fabric. So are blue ones. And to prevent any more tragedy, the two need to work together. Political, religious and police officials delivered that message to hundreds of New Haveners Sunday afternoon at a rally outside Varick Memorial AME Zion Church on Dixwell Avenue. A week after police violence took the lives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and after gun violence left Dallas’ police community reeling from a shooting-micah-johnsonpolice.html?_r=0"sniper attack on five officers, the Varick message was clear: Violence from the police, especially when it results in the death of a compliant citizen, is wholly uncalled for. But so is violence against officers who have put on their uniforms to try to enforce the law. “Repeat after me: Black Lives Matter! Blue Lives Matter! Stand together!” the Rev. Eldren Morrison declared at the beginning of the rally, pumping his fist in the air as he urged the crowd, a mix of Varick parishioners and community leaders, to come closer. Behind him, a lineup that included Mayor Toni Harp, State Sen. Gary Winfield, longtime Jewish community leader Sydney Perry and St. Rose of Lima’s robe/ ”Father Jim Manship, nodded avidly.
added Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison. “At this time, this community has the least crime rate. One of the reasons that this happened is because of community policing ... the police officers in District 6, they are not just the police officers, they are a part of our families. When they come out, they talk to us. They make relationships with us. When things happen, they’re able to approach the situation as a family member. If they have to arrest you, they do have to arrest you but they don’t have to use force. ... We have to be an example, New Haven. “All lives matter. Black lives matter. Blue lives ... If we continue to say that and to own it, we will continue to be the great community we are.” Top black cops told the crowd about how the past week has been particularly difficult and emotionally trying for them, as they live both black and “blue” lives in New Haven. ” I grew up here in this city, I still live here in this city, and I get to see the perspective from both roles. ” said Lt. Sam Brown, also spoke candidly about his anxieties as a black male in and out of uniform at a Friday protest on the Green. “Being an AfricanAmerican male, which seems to be targeted by some police forces and some people ... and also being a law enforcement agent. I feel from both sides. I felt all the tragedy that happened over the past days from both angles. The way to stop it is ... keep fostering these relationships.
“This community at one time had the highest rate of crime,”
Top Dixwell cop Sgt. Jacqueline “Jackie” Hoyte told the
“I was born and raised in New Haven and I’m so proud of New Haven ... I am part of the community. I take pride in being a true New Havener. And at the same time I’m also proud to wear this badge and represent the New Haven Police Department. So help us help you. Help us protect you ... Let’s get together and join forces. We can overcome the tragedy that’s happened in this country.” Top Newhallville cop Sgt. Shafiq Abdussabur and Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins said the tension between police and community members has been especially hard for them to watch. “If anybody in the audience or anybody in America thinks that a police officer puts on this uniform, leaves their family, leaves their wives, their kids, not knowing they’re going to return home at the end of the day, and they walk out the door with the intention that they are going to kill a black man if anybody out there believes that, then you’ve lost your mind,” said Abdussabur. “That is not the mindset. But when it happens, not only as a community, it affects you it affects us as officers. We’re sad. We’re hurt. We’re upset. We’re scared. Because we don’t have a choice to come to work. We gotta show up. We have to show up. There’s no sick day for us right now. So we’re asking you ... We are gonna get the job done, and we must be mindful in New Haven. “This is not Minnesota. This is not Ferguson. This is not none of your police departments. This is the New Haven Police Department. We do not shoot unarmed black men in this city. We have not shot
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“We’ve seen the videos, we’ve seen the news, we’ve seen everything going on,” Morrison continued. “We know that what has happened in other places could happen here, but we’re being proactive and we are standing together. We are standing united. We are saying that we are one.”
“I want you to come out. When you see an officer, come up to an officer and say hi to an officer. You have no idea what our day is like. You have no idea how to change our perspective of everything when you speak to us ... and when we speak to you as well. Because we’re all human, this is our community. We’re not going anywhere. You’re not going anywhere. We might as well make it work.”
crowd that she has felt the same: “We’re truly sad to see what’s happening in our community with our brothers and sisters, and at the same time we’re truly sad to see what’s happening with our brothers and sisters in blue, because I represent both. It’s a unique thing to experience what’s going on, and I’m saddened and torn at the same time,
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Varick Call: Black & Blue Lives Matter
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Alders Override Mayor’s Veto by MARKESHIA RICKS
“Many of these MOUs have timing issues,” he pointed out during the public caucus of alders before the board meeting at City Hall.
New Haven Independent
Alders decided that when it comes to memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that impact the city’s budget, they know best.
“We think that the policy amendment with a little work, can work,” Rose said. “But I don’t think this board wants to get in a situation where it’s going to be summoned to Hartford.”
At a special meeting Wednesday, the Board of Alders voted 23-to-1 to override Mayor Toni Harp’s veto of a policy amendment that restricts city department heads from entering into MOUs with economic impact without its approval. Harp said in her June 29 veto message that the policy amendment “exceeds the authority of the Honorable Board of Alders; interferes with the operations of City Government; and may violate State law.”
MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO Paollilo
speaks from the floor.
not required sign off from the City Controller, Corporation Counsel or the Board of Alders. John Rose and the Harp Administration are fully aware of these facts and it’s truly unfortunate that they continue to attempt to pass the buck and deflect responsibility when faced with persistent conflict with the Board of Alders.”
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
City Corporation Counsel John Rose said the vaguely worded amendment has the potential to hurt the city’s relationship with labor unions. The Harp administration has already established a process to oversee department heads signing MOUs, Rose said. The issue came to the administration’s attention last December when it was discovered that former Labor Relations Director Marcus Paca had entered into agreements with labor unions without the benefit of review from city finance officials or legal counsel, according to Rose.
Rose said the administration has since required that MOUs receive extra scrutiny. He assured alders Wednesday that process is working and has been for months. Paca has since been fired. But Rose cautioned against overriding the mayor’s veto to keep the policy amendment in place because it could create unintended consequences and hamper city business.
Paca said in a statement provided Thursday that “MOUs between the city and labor unions are initiated by city coordinators and department heads, who have budgetary and operational control over their departments. “Labor Relations negotiates requested agreements and signs off if terms are arrived at that satisfy the interests of both . City officials and impacted labor unions,” Paca wrote. “Historically such agreements have
Annex Alder Alphonse Paolillo Jr. said that the policy amendment only clarifies existing policy policy that the Harp administration admitted was not being followed and that adding alders to the oversight function ensures that the policy is followed.
Rodriguez, the lone dissenting voice.
Rose said adding a requirement that the Board of Alders approve MOUs in addition to the city would unnecessarily extend the process. If labor unions believe officials are holding off on signing an MOU, the city could seem to be bargaining in bad faith potentially landing alders in a legal quagmire, he said.
“Given that this was not happening, the board took the responsible action and that action was to memorialize this requirement,” he said. “We did this in order to ensure compliance with the charter and ordinances. We felt this was the most effective way to protect our residents and the interest of the taxpayers.” Paolillo said that the policy amendment was not an overreach of the board’s authority because it votes on labor contracts, the approval of the transfer of appropriations, reclassifying of existing positions, and any increase over $15,000 of a previously approved total estimated salary. A lone alder disagreed with her colleagues. Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez said she was swayed by the administration’s argument that the board could be positioning itself to run afoul of state labor laws. “We should have given this some consideration,” she said. “We should have explored it more.”
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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Ed Board Approves Previously Rejected Hire New Haven Independent
position as principal of Career High School.
Two weeks after refusing to approve administrative hires, the Board of Education unanimously agreed to hire Madeline Negron as a new director of instruction for the district.
Martinez School gained a new principal in Menacho, who had been the school’s assistant principal under former Principal Myrna In the fall, Montalvo will lead the new Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School.
by ALIYYA SWABY
Negron was one of two administrative hires approved at the latest board meeting Monday night at L.W. Beecher School’s auditorium, along with Luis Menacho as the new principal of John S. Martinez School. Two administrators and one board member are also leaving New Haven this summer. The board was on its best behavior at the first full meeting following a heated retreat June 20 that featured a shouting match and left one member in tears. Board meetings since January have stretched from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. or later. Monday’s meeting ended at around 7 p.m.—a solid hour and a half, including public comment. At a board meeting two weeks ago, Superintendent Garth Harries had proposed Negron for director of instruction and Karen Lott for chief academic officer, expecting board members to approve them. At that meeting, board members Darnell Goldson and Ed Joyner pushed
“The message was very very very clear from that community” at Martinez that they wanted Menacho to take over as principal, Harries said. They told him, “‘We have the strength and leadership we need from within the building.’” His starting salary is $143,649. against hiring new central office staff, until they saw plans for reorganizing central office to account for necessary budget cuts. In the meantime, Lott withdrew her name for the chief academic officer position. Harries resubmitted Negron for director of instruction Monday night. This time, it passed— unanimously, with little discussion or debate. Directors of instruction supervise and coach school principals; each is assigned to a set of several schools. This year, five directors of instruction were assigned to support 42 schools. Board member Goldson said he
gave in and agreed to support approving the hire when other members assured him the reorganization of central office for the fall would remove another director of instruction, leaving the schools with four instead of five. “I never had a problem with the person,” he clarified after the vote. He just worried the position would bloat central office, he said. Harries said the appointment was approved this time because he and the board have “focused on having the discussions that we need to have,” about how to save money and reorganize central office. He said Negron’s appointment was necessary, in order to start the process of filling her former
Another school lost its principal, as the board approved the resignation of Nadine Gannon, principal of King/Robinson Magnet School. She will be the new principal of Hamden High School, according to this article in the New Haven Register. New Haven also lost its Broad Residency intern Siddhartha Chowdri, who has worked with Chief Financial Officer Victor De La Paz since 2014. De La Paz resigned this summer to take a job at Achievement First charter network. Chowdri’s internship is finished, and he is moving to work in the finance and operations department of South Carolina Public Charter School District.
He urged board members to consider hiring another intern through the Broad Residency, which he said is full of “committed, talented, passionate people” who decided to change their career paths and “commit to public education.” The board also lost one of its own as Kimberly Sullivan, a recent graduate of Sound School, ends her term as non-voting student member. Sullivan and Hillhouse High School rising senior Coral Ortiz were the first student members on the board, after a 2013 referendum amended the charter to design an ed board with elected and student members. Ortiz said she was “inspired by Kim’s insightful questions” and ability to “put away personal biases” and “think about what’s best for children.” Though the two didn’t always agree, Ortiz said, she valued Sullivan’s leadership. In her last student report to the board, Sullivan urged members to address all the students who “go missing” in New Haven. She held up a paper that listed Silver Alerts for 100 missing kids as young as 8years-old. Some of them are honors students, she said. “You may not know them, but they’re my friends.” Her main goals were honing mastery-based learning, addressing student drug use and enhancing college guidance for students. “After I graduate, I’m still going to fight for those things,” she said.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Sullivan will head to the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music for a double major in music education and trumpet performance. Board members took turns praising Sullivan’s maturity and outspoken nature. Mayor Toni Harp, president of the board, reminisced on the time before the student position was created, when Sullivan sat in the audience of board meetings and contributed opinions as public comments. Harp thanked her for using her voice even though “some things you brought to us were really difficult to hear.” Hyde School rising junior Jacob Spell will join the board in July, having won the high-school popular vote in April.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016 20
By Ruthie Hawkins, BlackDoctor.org Contributor
3. Picnic poisoning
Summer is here! Along with the sudden urge to be care free comes a lengthy list of health hazards — some self-inflicted, others simply Mother Nature’s way of reminding us to pay attention.
Food poisoning places about 300,000 people in the hospital each year. Avoid cramps, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or worse, dehydration due to restless potty breaks, with these steps provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
For a list of common health hazards and how to protect yourself, keep reading…
• Wash your hands as well as the surfaces where you’ll be preparing food. • Wrap raw meat and store it away from other items.
1. Dehydration You’ve spent the day poolside in the blistering heat. Suddenly you feel dizzy, lightheaded and your mouth tastes like cotton. You’re dehydrated — meaning you haven’t consumed the necessary fluids to replace those you’ve been sweating out. When you are active outdoors in the hot sun, you are at risk of dehydration and heatstroke. Avoid this by drinking plenty of water, take regular breaks in the shade, and try to schedule your most strenuous outdoor activities for early morning or evening hours. For persons suffering more
serious dehydration or heatstroke, get them indoors, have them put their feet up and cool off with a cool cloth or ice pack – frozen veggie packs will also do the trick. 2. Sunburn According to the CDC, “the percentage of adults nationwide who got at least one sunburn during the preceding year rose from 31.8% in 1999 to 33.7% in 2004. This of course, doubles your risk of developing melanoma if you’ve had just five sunburns in
your life. Wear sunscreen that protects against both UVB and UVA rays, protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and seek shelter from boiling midday rays. For those already suffering from sunburn, soak the burn in cool water for just a few minutes and take over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen. Itchy? Try a cream containing diphenhydramine (like Benadryl), which helps block the inflammatory reaction. Applying aloe vera will also soften and soothe the burned area.
• Have a meat thermometer on hand when grilling meat. Steaks should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees, ground beef and pork to 160 degrees and poultry to 165 degrees. • Refrigerate everything. Store perishable food items in a cooler packed with ice. Mild cases can be treated at home by avoiding solids foods and adopting a clear liquid diet to stay hydrated. Should symptoms persist for more than a few days — 24
hours for children — see a doctor. 4. Stings and bites Just recently, one of my loved ones was cleaning out their garage when he was bit by a copperhead snake. Fortunately, he made it to the ER in the nick time of time, where he received antivenin. If left unattended, many stings and bites can be life threatening. In fact, 3 in 100 adults in the United States — or nearly 7 million people — have lifethreatening allergies to insect stings, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Most Common Summer Health Hazards (And How To Protect Yourself)
Stay free of stinging insects by avoiding heavy perfumes and scents (like florals), wear lightcolored clothing and cover your food and sugary drinks like sodas. While most people only experience pain when stung, if you develop hives, itchiness, trouble breathing or swelling of the tongue or face, consult a doctor immediately. Of course those with a known insect allergy should always carry an EpiPen.
Tom Joyner Foundation Leads Delegation of HBCU Presidents on Mission to Havana, Cuba to Explore Global Exchange and Research impact of the trade embargo on the Cuban culture and lives of the Cuban people.” Shaw’s Dubroy said, “One of Shaw University’s goals is to strengthen the collegiate journey by exposing our students to the positive aspects of multi-cultural experiences. Partnering with countries like Cuba in a global exchange program will heighten the authenticity of our academic programs.”
Tom Joyner, chairman and founder of the Tom Joyner Foundation, and his son, Thomas Joyner, Jr., president and CEO, led a group of HBCU presidents to Havana, Cuba for a historic series of meetings. — Photo Credit: Maggie Kloss/Maggie Kloss Photography
“This trip was a major step forward in helping these HBCUs learn about how they could play a role in the new Cuba,” said Thomas Joyner, Jr., president and CEO of the Foundation. “I think the representatives of these schools picked up some very valuable information that they’ll be able to use to create some new opportunities for their students and faculty.”
Joyner said he is in the midst of planning a second mission to Cuba in the fall. The participants of the program said the experience offered them firsthand experience of what is going on in Cuba. “It’s important for us to partner with your education system, providing opportunities for student and faculty exchanges,” Jackson-
Hammond said. “The more knowledge we have about Cuba, the more we can build relationships. It is better when we personally try to understand each other rather than relying solely on the media or what we hear about Cuba.” Jarvis Christian’s Newman added, “This venture was truly a learning experience. It brought to light the
HBCU participants interested in traveling will have to pay their own round-trip airfare from Miami International Airport. Once in Havana, Joyner and Cuban experts lead the administrators and educators in a series of interactive discussions and tours. For media interviews, contact Neil Foote, media relations, Tom Joyner Foundation, neil.foote@tomjoynerfoundation.org. For more information about participating in the mission, email the Tom Joyner Foundation, tjf@tomjoynerfoundation.org, 972.789.1058.
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Joyner, the nationally syndicated radio personality, and his son, Thomas Joyner, Jr., the foundation’s president and CEO, lead the fourday mission that took place from May 28 to June 1. Presidents of the following HBCUs participated: John Rudley, Ph.D., Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas; Raymond Burse, Ph.D., Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Ky.; Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, Ph.D., Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio; Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D. Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C.; and Lester Newman, Jr., Ph.D., Jarvis Christian University, Hawkins, Texas. Michael O. Adams, Ph.D., director, Executive Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Administration also participated. Texas Sen. Royce West, a member of the Foundation’s board, also joined the delegation. During a series of presentations, conversations and meetings, the group visited with representatives from the Ministry of Education, the University of Havana and the Superior Polytechnic School Institute.
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Blackonomics: The Difference Between Jesse Williams’ BET Speech and What Comes Next
Our Streets!
By James Clingman, NNPA News Wire Columnist More than a couple of million folks have responded to the words spoken by Jesse Williams, which points out the fact that many Black people are mesmerized by words that excite us and stimulate our emotions. Rather than initiating practical and appropriate actions as a result of words that make us feel good, we usually end up celebrating, espousing, regurgitating, and discussing, ad nauseam, those words instead of implementing strategies that make us “do good.” The speech by Williams was important and relevant, especially to Black people. I appreciate his words and his willingness to make his statements on such a widely viewed stage. He used his fame and the very popular BET Awards Show to put forth a message that has been spoken and written by others before him, but also one that we need to hear over and over. Seems to me that when someone famous says the same things other non-famous folks have said, it takes hold quicker and our light bulbs come on faster. Questions: “How long will the message last, and will we act upon it?
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Jesse Williams’ background, political affiliations and motivations notwithstanding, his message was more important than the messenger. But since we are so attuned with what our celebrities say, he had instant credibility with many young and older folks alike. This is not to suggest that we discriminate against a message because of its messenger. A moron can bring a valid message. Suppose Clarence Thomas had said the same thing Williams said. Would we reject that message? My point is that Black folks should be able to discern a positive message that comes from any messenger, so that we can know “why” the message is being promulgated and be able to respond appropriately to that message. Emotional catchwords and phrases are fleeting and seldom cause any improvement in our well-being. Remember: “I have a dream!” “Down with dope – Up with hope!” “No justice, no peace!” “Yes we can!” and all the other words we have heard and chanted millions of times? I’d rather we follow words from Richard Allen, “To Seek for Ourselves,” Marcus Garvey, “One God, One Aim, One Destiny!” and Elijah Muhammad, “Do for Self.” I
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James Clingman says that fiery rhetoric, overwhelming applause, and two million “hits” and “tweets” are not enough to get the job done. We must have action.
chose to hear some of those words in Williams’ speech, and I give him credit for speaking on the subject. It’s on Mr. Williams now to show us what he meant by putting his words into action; and it’s up to the rest of us to develop strategies and initiatives that will move our people forward. Jesse Williams spoke on issues that I have written articles about as far back as 1994, more specifically, one titled, “The Young and the Relentless,” in which I described how many young Blacks were becoming entrepreneurs. Rather than falling for the okey-doke of buying and wearing someone else’s brand, they were developing, marketing, and selling their own brands. Unfortunately, as the article also cited, many of our young entertainers had succumbed to the lure of “OPS” (Other People’s Stuff) e.g. Adidas, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, etc. rather than “OPM” (Other People’s Money). It is ironic that, in April 1997, Forbes Magazine featured a frontpage article titled, “Badass Sells,” by Joshua Levine, which aptly illustrated much of the tremendous economic potential within the younger segment of Black America. It also described how the hip-hop culture had been co-opted by designers such as Hilfiger and manufacturing giants like Nike. Now in 2016, Alicia Keys is featured in a commercial for Levis jeans, in which she says, all women are “Badass,” so I guess it still sells. But I digress. Will Jesse Williams’
comments simply become last month’s shining moment for Black folks, or will his message finally be transformed into real economic progress for our people? Will his two minutes of enlightenment and inyour-face rejoinder to our plight make their way into the pantheon of speeches by our learned elders, or will they drift off into oblivion never having gained traction or made a significant difference in our lives? Will Jesse Williams’ one shining moment become activated within us to the degree that we begin to coalesce and collaborate to build an economic foundation from which we can truly have an impact on public policy? Fiery rhetoric, overwhelming applause, and two million “hits” and “tweets” are not enough to get the job done. We must have action. We must have a critical mass of Black people who are willing and able to work to make our economic and political empowerment a reality. Yes, we had yet another shining moment when Williams took the stage to accept his award. Will its sheen fade to black, or will that moment turn into momentum for Black progress? Remember: A moment is not a movement, but a moment can start a movement. James Clingman is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. His latest book, Black Dollars Matter! Teach your dollars how to make more sense, is available on his website, Blackonomics.com.
protesters’ act of civil disobedience in blocking the street, there was no altercations with police and no one was arrested.
acting accordingly and able to come out and demonstrate and protest injustice,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of faith about here because we know each other.”
Lt. Sam Brown, who serves as the deputy patrol commander for the police department, said coming to work was a little different after watching videos of two black men being killed by police officers and then learning that five police officers had been shot and killed in Dallas the night before.
New Haven resident Julius Dennis said though people were protesting on the Green he saw their anger as being directed at the behavior of officers in other parts of the country, not local cops.
“I was definitely looking around and up,” Brown said. “But you don’t let fear stop you from doing your job.” Brown said he is reserving judgement about the actions of the officers in the cases of the men killed in Louisiana and Minnesota. But, as an AfricanAmerican man and a father of an 18-year old son who has a physique that some might see as “imposing”, he’s worried. “I’m an African-American man first,” Brown said. “I’ve been on the job 20 years. I could retire. And when I one day take this title off, I’m going to be just an African-American man. And it hurt to hear those death moans. And what about that baby who witnessed that? As an officer I reserve my judgement, but my initial response as a black man is feeling angry and frustrated.” He said the death of the officers in Dallas was a huge and tragic incident, but officers also know at some level that every day they go to work that dying in the line of duty is a possibility. But as the native New Havener who grew up in the Hill section of the city looked out on the protestors gathered at the corner of Chapel and Church streets, he was still encouraged about community-police relations in New Haven. “I’m glad that everyone is
“I think that New Haven is a model police department in citizen relationships that other communities around the country should model after,” he said. “There’s very little friction between New Haven police officers and the common citizen. I think that has a lot to do with the dialogue we’ve established.” Chief Dean Esserman said it’s been a hard fought effort to develop that dialogue that Dennis referenced, and he thinks that officers are impacted by the back-to-back shootings, too. “I spent time with officers and I think they’re feeling their loved ones worried about them when they put their uniform on to come to work today,” he said. “I think all of us are overwhelmed with the visuals of the last week. There was someone being killed by a police officer or police officer being killed.” Esserman said people looking to New Haven as a model for other cities need to know that cops and neighbors didn’t build a better relationship overnight. “I think we often look for fast answers,” he said. “I know here in New Haven it took time. You’ve got to stay the course. I want people to feel the pride we have in wearing this uniform. We have to understand the pain that others feel when they see it. And we still have a long way to go to see each other in this community that we call America.”
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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Buffalo Soldiers Celebrate 150th Anniversary “Put aside your differences, go overseas, come back and be firstclass citizens.” The military has always been a very important component of the Black community. When I was growing up in La Marque, Texas, and we would go to church, World War II soldiers would come in and people would stand up. In the ‘60s when you graduated from high school it was either the Army or college. That’s the way it was. The military, other than the Vietnam era, was always extremely popular in the Black community.
By Marilyn Marshall (Houston Defender, NNPA Member) The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum has a reason to celebrate. A century and a half ago Black soldiers called “Buffalo Soldiers” first served in the American military. Beginning Monday, July 25 through Saturday, July 30, the museum will be the site of activities celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers, as part of the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association Annual Reunion.
HD: How would you describe the museum’s success?
In addition, the Houston museum has been chosen as national headquarters of the association, the umbrella organization of more than 40 Buffalo Soldiers’ chapters across the country. Founded in 2001 by Captain Paul J. Matthews, an Army Vietnam veteran and African-American military historian, the museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers. The exhibits cover seven wars, along with women in the military, chaplains in the military and astronauts. For more than 35 years, Matthews has collected military artifacts and has the largest collection of African-American military memorabilia in the world. The museum offers programs and projects that reach out to community members of all ages. Matthews said the upcoming anniversary marks a milestone in American history. “In 1866, the U.S. Army reorganized and established the first peacetime Army,” he said. “As a part of the reorganization they created six Black units. This July 28 will be the 150th anniversary of the formation of those segregated units. We’re very excited about that. We will have our headquarters at the Houston Marriott Westchase Hotel and related activities at the museum.” In a one-on-one interview, Matthews discussed the reunion celebration, the museum and the Buffalo Soldiers, brave AfricanAmerican men who served in a
CPM: We started out in my garage and on January 5, 2001 we moved to a building on Southmore Blvd. In November of 2012 we moved to a 35,000 square foot historic building that goes back to 1925. That’s a tribute to the board of directors, volunteers and troopers who helped us become who we are. We are the mothership of Buffalo Soldier museums. I don’t know of any other military museum that can compare to us and what we do. variety of posts in the 1800s. Houston Defender: What sparked your interest in the Buffalo Soldiers? Captain Paul J. Matthews: While I was an ROTC cadet at Prairie View A&M University I read two paragraphs in a military book about the Buffalo Soldiers and became intrigued by the Black men in blue uniforms…it was a story that needed to be told. HD: Why is it important for African-Americans to learn about the Buffalo Soldiers and Blacks in the military? CPM: I take them back to Frederick Douglass who said at the start of the Civil War, “Give the colored man a uniform, a buckle with the U.S. on it, a button with the eagle on it and a musket and you’ll make him a citizen but you’ll also make him a man.” He wanted to make sure the Civil War was being fought for freedom and not just to save the Union. The same thing occurred in World War I. W.E.B. DuBois said,
HD: What are some of the activities planned for the celebration? CPM: One of the highlights will be a parade that’s going to start at Emancipation Park and end up at the museum [located at 3816 Caroline]. We have 150 riders on horses that are going to come in. One group is coming from New Orleans, where the 9th Cavalry was formed. The other group is coming from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where the 10th Cavalry was formed. Events include a ceremonial ride-in on that Thursday, a session on the history of the Buffalo Soldiers on Friday, and a parade on Saturday. We are expecting over 2,000 people from all over the U.S. The Houston chapter is the host chapter along with the museum and I am the national chair for the reunion. Visit www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com or bsr150.com for more information.
Discover The Unexpected: NNPA Journalism Scholars Are Breaking News By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President of the NNPA
NNPA’s media impressions via social media.
Today, we are exposed to 10minute news segments six times per hour in a 24-hour news cycle on television and the radio. Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms are now used for instantaneous news, commentary, and the sharing of perspectives by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.
It should be noted here that President Barack Obama on the occasion of the White House observance of the 2016 Juneteenth Celebration commented on the importance of continuing the struggle against all the lingering vestiges of slavery, racism, injustice, and inequality. The Black Press is, today, the most capable and responsible vehicle to continue to strive toward fulfilling the goal of racial, social and economic equality.
Yet, Black-owned newspapers in the United States remain in high demand even amidst the growing digital age of communications and multimedia news services. Social media compliments and extends the reach of the Black Press.
President Obama stated, “Juneteenth is a time to recommit ourselves to the work that remains undone. We remember that even in the darkest hours, there is cause to hope for tomorrow’s light. Today, no matter our race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, we recommit ourselves to working to free modern-day slaves around the world and to honoring in our own time the efforts of those who fought so hard to steer our country truer to our highest ideals.”
Thanks to Chevrolet, the Discover The Unexpected (DTU) NNPA Journalism Fellows Program is giving undergraduate student scholars from the Howard University School of Communications the opportunity to “Break News” in Detroit, Chicago, Washington, DC, and in Atlanta. Tatyana Hopkins, Sidnee King, Briahnna Brown, McKenzie Marshall, Brandi Montgomery, Brelaun Douglas, Victoria Jones, and Rushawn Walters are all now working with NNPA member newspapers in the aforementioned markets. On the ground and in the streets, these gifted and talented young journalists are helping not only to bridge generations concerning vital news coverage, but they are also using multiple media platforms to help reach new readers across the nation and global community. As more young readers are now consuming their news, sports coverage, and cultural aspiration via the Black Press, the future sustainability of Black-owned newspapers is further assured. The point here is that the printed Black Press in America is content rich and therefore is invaluable in today’s context of national and international content distribution. There is a sub-
Learn more about the Discover The Unexpected (DTU) program at http:// www.nnpa.org/dtu/ and use the h a s h t a g #DiscoverTheUnexpected on Twitter and Instagram. Follow us on Twitter @BlackPressUSA and @NNPA_BlackPress and like our Facebook page at NNPA Black Press.
stantive difference between sensationalism to get media attention and good journalism that renders objective facts and that delineates informed opinions. For more than 189 years, the Black Press in America has represented the best in presenting the facts, news, struggles and triumphs of
program is offering to the NNPA family and community of publishers and media owners throughout the nation. Already some of our NNPA Fellows’ news entries have made the front pages of our newspapers. We are proud of the In addition, the published stories opportunity and the by the NNPA Fellows have engagement that the DTU significantly increased the African American life and empowerment. The baton is now being passed to a generation of journalists and publishers who are equally fearless, courageous, and articulate.
Denise Rolark Barnes (left), publisher of The Washington Informer and chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, D. Kevin McNeir (center), the editor of The Washington Informer, and Rushawn Walters, a NNPA/ DTU journalism fellow discuss upcoming story assignments and events at The Washington Informer office in Southeast, Washington, D.C. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016 26
Varick Call: unarmed black men in this city. We do not beat to death black men in this city. We work with the community.: Abdussabur said the cops “know people are upset. We’re upset. We all are grieving. But nothing is accomplished in America through violence, murder and mayhem. Nothing. I ... understand that black lives matter, but we must remember one thing. What we do in this life matters in the next life. So let’s just make sure that the actions that we’re doing today will benefit us in the next.” While standing together across racial and professional lines remained the afternoon’s cri de cœur, the sentiment did not extend to post-rally photo opportunities, leaving at least one community member with mixed emotions about the New Haven Police Department and its current leadership. Rally-goers were propelled inside Varick’s cozy Family Life Center by an afternoon downpour toward the end of the event. There, New Havener Catherine John asked Police Chief Dean Esserman to pose with her for a quick cell phone photo that would no doubt make its way onto Facebook, Instagram, and perhaps Twitter on his way out. Esserman obliged, joking that he’d try to “suck it in.” “Let’s hold this,” said John, motioning to a “Black Lives Matter” sign she’d maintained a firm grip on during the rally. “No, I think it should just be us,” said Esserman. “I’‘d like the sign,” said John. “Let’s have it ...” “Nah, let’s just do it like this,” Esserman said, smiling as he tossed his right arm around her shoulder.
“I know how important it is for white folks to talk to other white folks,” said event organizer Sam Mashaw. “To not stand for this. I do believe that white silence is violence, and it seemed important to me that there be ... that the burden of standing against this, and speaking against this, not fall squarely on the black community.” For three young protesters of color who had come to listen to what Mashaw and others had to say, those words were welcome in a week that has been emotionally exhausting. “What brings me out here today is the injustice I see going on with ... not all police, but certain police,” said 24-year-old Shannara Hanna. “There’s a lot of brutality going on that’s unjustified it’s not being spoken upon and it’s not being dealt with in a positive way ... It’s become a huge problem to us citizens. It’s a travesty, really.” “The unity out here, I think it’s amazing,” she continued. “I like that it’s different people, it’s not just all black people, or all white people, or all Hispanic people. It’s like a very diverse group of people to protest the same thing and bring attention to the same issue.” “It [police brutality] can happen anywhere,” agreed a 20-year-old who asked to be addressed only by his first name, Kevin. “I feel like the police use their badge to make theirselves look better than they are. They’re here to protect and serve, but all they do is make us feel like sheep being wrangled. I should never have to look over my shoulder and wonder if I’m going to get shot by a police officer. I’m so glad that people can get together and have a peaceful protest without causing a riot and making a big scene.”
and they felt their boy, their baby, their prize, would be happier and have less frustrations if he went to a predominantly Negro institution.”
By Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League
“Don’t just give us money, and don’t just show up for the Equal Opportunity Day dinner. That is not enough when you look at Black consumer power in this country. It’s not enough for you to come and shake our hands and be our friends. We want in.” — Vernon Jordan, National Urban League President 1971 -1981, on his message to corporate executives The National Urban League recently released our annual report on the social and economic status of people of color, the State of Black America®. This year’s edition, “Locked Out: Education, Jobs & Justice,” was especially significant because it marked the 40th anniversary of the report, first issued in 1976 by Vernon Jordan. In a video message Jordan recorded for the State of Black America® release, he recalled the tears he wept the night Barack Obama was elected President “It dawned on me that my tears were not really my tears, but they were the tears of my grandparents and my parents. They were the tears of all those black people who toted that cotton and lifted that bale,” said Jordan. “The notion that Obama was going to be President, or that any black person was going to be President, is stunning.” While we reflect this year on how far we’ve come since Jordan first issued the State of Black America®, Jordan’s own life is a vivid illustration of the progression of civil rights throughout the latter half of the 20th Century and into the 21st. “He is kind of the Rosa Parks of Wall Street,” Harvard historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., told Bloomberg. “He realized that the first phase of the modern civil rights movement was fighting legal segregation, but the roots of racism were fundamentally economic.”
But his parents came to realize the significance of Jordan’s choice the night a White classmate came to stay at the Jordans’ home. “In the middle of the night, my father got out of bed and came into my room and turned on the light and stood there with tears in his eyes, put the light out and went back to bed and said to my mother, ‘You know, this democracy thing is really here, and it’s right here in my house.’”
Vernon Jordan. Courtesy Black Enterprise
According to the Bloomberg profile, published on the occasion of his 80th birthday last year: “As a young man in Jim Crow Georgia, his first job was chauffeuring a White banker who was shocked that he could read. Now he counts some of America’s most wealthy and powerful citizens as friends and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are proud to call him a mentor.” Jordan himself often recounts what he calls his earliest political memory, listening to Georgia’s segregationist Governor Eugene Talmadge on the radio in 1943, when Mr. Jordan was only eight years old. “I have two planks in my platform,” Talmadge said. “N***rs and roads. I’m against the first and for the second.” Persuaded by a recruiter to apply to an integrated college in the north, Vernon enrolled at DePaw University in Indiana over his parents’ misgivings. “Here were Negro parents, both of whom had grandparents who were slaves, who to some extent were conditioned to the southern way of life,” Jordan told author Robert Penn Warren in 1964. “They could never quite adjust to the idea of their boy even being in Green Castle, Indiana, the only Negro in a class of 400 students,
Having struggled in college due to his sub-standard segregated education in Georgia, Jordan determined upon graduation to pursue a career in civil rights. After receiving his law degree at Howard University, he returned to Georgia where he successfully challenged the University of Georgia’s discriminatory admissions policy. Through the civil rights movement, he realized that economic empowerment would be the driving force for justice. “In the 1960s, we conferred and defined the right to check into a hotel,” he said. “The 1970s were about providing the wherewithal to check out.” In a commencement address at Stanford University last year he said, “It’s much easier to integrate a lunch counter than it is to guarantee a livable income and a good solid job. It is much easier to integrate a public park than it is to make genuine, quality, integrated education a reality. But that is the challenge at hand.” We are grateful that Vernon Jordan has dedicated his life to that challenge, and we are proud to continue his legacy. Marc H. Morial is the president and CEO of the National Urban League. You can follow Marc on Twitter @marcmorial. 27
John protested one more time. The sign remained on the nearly table. She and Esserman smiled for the quick flash of two cell phone pictures. Then he was gone,
and she picked the sign back up. A smaller group turned out earlier Sunday to the corner of Church and Chapel streets for a The event drew around 30 people.
To Be Equal: 5 Things You Need to Know about Vernon Jordan, the “Rosa Parks of Wall Street”
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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Contact Greg at 860-243-2300
HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses
We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits
Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483
Contact: Dana Briere
Phone: 860-243-2300
AA/EEO EMPLOYER
Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer
Immediate Full Time Openings Accounting Department
Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply
High Volume Petroleum Distributor experiencing company growth is seeking experienced Accounting professionals. Openings related to Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, General Ledger and Tax Preparation. Candidates must possess a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Petroleum and Propane industry experience a plus. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept. P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437.
Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employe
**An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**
Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Rick Tousignant
Phone: 860- 243-2300
Email: ailto:rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com”rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com
Welder-Exp. Welder for structural steel Misc shop. Send resume:gwf@snet.net
Connecticut’s First Choice For Urban News Since1990
PLACING AN AD EASY
Classifieds Classifieds 203 387-0354
BUSINESS HOURS - MONDAY FRIDAY 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM - 50 FITCH NEW HAVEN CT, 06515 - Career/Education/Training • Bid• L egal and Public Notices • Health Care • Real Estate • Professional
NEW HAVEN 242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA 3BR, 1 level , 1BA All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center
Pet under 40lb allowed.
Secretary III/Administrative Assistant: The Town of East Haven is currently conducting an examination for the position of Secretary III, Grade Level 13. Qualified candidates must possess a High School Diploma or GED and five (5) years of experience with secretarial and office operations or any equivalent combination of experience and training. The current opening is in the Human Services Department and experience dealing with clientele typical of that department would be preferred. The starting salary is $47,477 per year. The application is available at www.townofeasthavenct.org/civil-service-commission/pages/jobnotices-and-tests or the Civil Service Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven CT and the deadline to apply is July 20, 2016. The Town of East Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Females, Veterans and Handicapped are encouraged to apply.
FIREFIGHTER Town of Greenwich Applications are being accepted thru 7/21/16 4PM. Candidates must possess a H.S. diploma or G.E.D., valid driver’s license, & be at least 18 years of age & a US Citizen. Candidates must also possess CPAT certification (Candidate Physical Ability Test) issued 1/1/16 or after, or be registered for the fall CPAT with the CT Fire Academy by 7/21/16. For detailed information & to apply online visit www.greenwichct.org/jobs. Town of Greenwich, HR Dept., 101 Field Point Rd, Greenwich, CT EOE M/F/D/V
Public Health Sanitarian: Professional level work in the enforcement of statutes and regulations relating to public and environmental health. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in environmental health or closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education or experience on a year-for-year basis. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. Must be able to obtain within 6 months CT certification as a food inspector. Salary: $55,217 - $ 70,648 annually plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: Personnel Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be July 20, 2016 or the date the 75th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE.
Town of Bloomfield Entry Level Police Officer $66,657 For details and how to apply, go to www.bloomfieldct.org. Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE
Civil Engineer – Town of Manchester $65,486.53 – 40 hrs./wk. CLOSING DATE: Friday, July 1, 2016 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: http://hrd1.townofmanchester.org.
Director of Planning and Economic Development – Town of Manchester
$82,531.00 – $140,505.00 CLOSING DATE: Friday, July 15, 2016 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: http://hrd1.townofmanchester.org.
Environmental Cross-Connection Technician – Town of Manchester $54,278.21 Must obtain cert. as Backflow Preventer Tester and
Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.
Housing Authority of the City of New Haven
of employment. Some water utility exp.req.
CLOSING DATE: Friday, July 1, 2016 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: http://hrd1.townofmanchester.org.
Junior Construction Inspector – Town of Manchester Performs Call Before You Dig mark outs of Townowned water, sanitary sewer, traffic and electric facilities. $52,404.75 – 40 hrs./wk. CLOSING DATE: Friday, July 1, 2016
Water Treatment Plant Operator – Town of Manchester
$49,016.24 Applicants with water/sewer treatment, maintenance or
mechanical experience preferred. CLOSING DATE: July 1, 2016 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: LINK “http://hrd1.townofmanchester.org”http://hrd1.townofmanchester.org.
JOB OPENINGS AT COMMON GROUND! Please visit http://commongroundct.org/get-involved/join-our-staff.
Invitation for Bids Uniform Physical Conditions Standards Contractor (UPCS)
The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (HANH) is currently seeking Bids for Uniform Physical Conditions Standards Contractor (UPCS). A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https:// newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday. May 18, 2016 at 3:00PM
Glazier Apprentice Opportunity Well established Architectural Glazing Contractor doing business in CT and NY. We are looking for someone interested in building a career with our company in the glass and glazing industry. Ideal for someone in the construction industry looking to build a career in a licensed trade. Please call Sonya @ 1-203-748-8620 An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
SEMAC ELECTRIC III ELECTRICIANS Semac Electric is seeking Electricians (CT Licensed Journeymen & Foremen, E1 and E2) to join our team for medium & large commercial construction projects thru out the State of CT: Hartford, Fairfield & New Haven Counties. We have excellent wages and benefits. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications available at our main office at 45 Peter Court, New Britain, CT or send resume to P.O. Box 638, New Britain, CT 06050 or via fax to 860-229-0406 or email: mailto:careers@semacelectric.com”careers@semacelectric.com
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The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.
A luxurious new apartment complex, located in the foot hills of West Rock, Augustine St. These spacious and bright, one and two bedroom apartments start at $1,300 including utilities and include full size refrigerators, central air conditioning, garbage disposals, walk in closets and full size washer/dryer hook ups. Call the Property Management Office at 203-389-2100 or 203-410-9427 to schedule a viewing. Visit us at www.twinbrookproperties.com.
a Cross Connection Survey Inspector within 1 year
SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY
A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Un nuevo y lujoso complejo de apartamentos, situado en las faldas de la roca del oeste, Augustine St. Nuestros departamentos son amplias y luminosas de un y dos dormitorios .Comienzan desde de $ 1.300 incluyendo los servicios públicos y están equipadas con refrigerador de tamaño completo, aire acondicionado central, trituradores de basura, walk in closet y conexiones de lavadora/ secadora. Llame a la Oficina de Gestión de la Propiedad al 203-389-2100 o 203-410-9427 para programar una cita. Visítenos en www.twinbrookproperties.com.
Twin Brook Properties.
Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: http://hrd1.townofmanchester.org.
Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.
Twin Brook Properties.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
The
Inner-City Inner-City News
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The
Inner-City Inner-City News Connecticut’s First Choice For Urban News Since1990
PLACING AN AD EASY
Classifieds Classifieds 203 387-0354
BUSINESS HOURS - MONDAY FRIDAY 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM - 50 FITCH NEW HAVEN CT, 06515 - Career/Education/Training • Bid• L egal and Public Notices • Health Care • Real Estate • Professional
Legal Notice Request for Qualifications/ Proposals For Design Build Construct Services For Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) Early Head Start Program Playground 300 Washington St. Middletown, Ct. Issue date: 06/24/2016
ACES PROJECT NUMBER: Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is requesting Design-Build Proposals from Qualified Experienced Contractors to construct a new playground for Infant/Toddlers and a play area for ages 2- 6 at our Early Head Start facility located at 300 Washington Street, Middletown, Ct. The scope of services is to provide all design- build- construct services for a complete and functional age appropriate playground including all related administrative services for all aspects of this project. A pre-bid conference will be held at the site on June 29, 2016 at 2:30PM.
Copies of RFQ/P will be available June 24, 2016 The RFQ/P can be obtained at
http:1/www .aces.o rg/administration/ reguest-for-pro posa Is. or by calling in a request to Tim Gunn at 203-498-6839 ACES Proposals are to be submitted to: Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) 350 State Street North Haven, Connecticut 06473-3018 Attention: Timothy Gunn, Director of Facilities
All Proposals shall be delivered by 2:30pm July 13, 2016.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
Area Cooperative Educational Services is an equal opportunity employer who does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, marital status, disability or sexual orientation.
INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016
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INNER-CITY NEWS July 13, 2016 - July 19, 2016 32