THE INNER-CITY NEWS -NEWS October 24,27, 2018 - - October 30,2016 2018 INNER-CITY July 2016 August 02,
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
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The Comer Method Turns 50 THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
In a ballroom packed with acolytes who have taken the school-based model for child development that bears his name and spread the gospel from New Haven to the rest of the world, Dr. James Comer could see the fruits of five decades of labor. But he still had a question: Why isn’t it being used more? Comer was the guest of honor Monday night as more than 300 people gathered at the Omni Hotel Monday to celebrate his life’s work turning half a century old. He posed his question to let people know that he expects them to do more than celebrate. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Yale Child Study Center’s Comer School Development Program, which helps schools address children’s social and emotional needs, the challenges they bring into the classroom from outside school. Comer said that he expected his devotees to try to answer his question and to think about next steps. In addition to Monday night’s celebratory dinner, an all-day symposium entitled “Why Are We Still Waiting? The School Development Program: Looking Back, Looking Forward” will be held Tuesday. During the dinner educators and child advocates from Connecticut and around the country made it a point to stop Comer to pay homage to his work and to take pictures with the legendary child development thought leader. And they listened intently when he gave them their charge. “We’re looking back, we’re looking at the present, and we’re looking forward into the future at what needs to be done to give all children the opportunity to be successful in school and in life,” Comer said. For, in fact, that is what started it all for Comer. In 1968 he was just 34 years old. Though he wasn’t a trained educator he went on to pioneer an education model that centered on children’s social and emotional needs and prioritized creating a school culture that supports those needs rather than just focusing on improving their test scores. That work started out in two of the lowest performing schools at the time in New Haven; it is now used to varying degrees throughout the city’s public schools. Today, the “Comer Model” also is used in more than 1,000 schools across the nation and globally. In fact, the Comer model made it all the way to the White House during under President Barack Obama. Comer, who is trained in psychiatry and now 84 years old, said he didn’t know anything about education then but he knew about children. And he was struck by how people charged with the important task of educating children and ultimately helping them be successful in life had no background or training in child develop-
Timothy Shriver makes the case for “Comerizing the world” during his keynote address. MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO Comer
at Monday night’s Omni celebration.
… stopping him to talk …
Educators and child advocates packed the house to celebrate Comer …
Yale School of Medicine Dean Dr. Robert Alpern.
Mayor Harp announces that Comer will be honored in the city with a star …
Children’s Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman also was in the house.
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ment. He wanted to change that. That goal is what still motivates him five decades later. “We believe, we know, we’ve experienced that it can be done,” he said of creating an environment where the lowest performing students can achieve. “A lot of people know that it can be done. And so the question is: Why isn’t it being done and what actions can be taken to ensure that all children have the developmental experiences they all need?” One of Comer’s devotees, Timothy Shriver, had an idea for the next 50 years: Comerize the world. Make social and emotional development central in the upbringing of the next generation of citizens. Shriver (who began his career doing Comer work at Hillhouse High School) made the case Monday that, now more than ever, the United States needs people who have had the advantages of the kind of social and emotional skills that are the hallmark of the Comer Method. The country needs people who know how to form healthy relationships and solve problems. He said only then can the country solve what he noted Comer defined in his book Beyond Black and White as “an American problem.” “He writes that it is the pernicious quality in this country, despite all of its strengths, continually creating structures that marginalize children and make it difficult for families to grow up whole and healthy,” Shriver said. “And he points out ... that the problems you see in communities that have been marginalized excessively by racism or discrimination are the same problems that exist in the rest of the culture it’s just a matter of time. And aren’t we seeing that today?” Shriver said what Comer stands for isn’t partisan. It’s something that all people can support regardless of their political affiliation and it is one of the ways to bridge the divide and “create a common language.” In addition to giving Comer a proclamation from the City of New Haven declaring Tuesday “Comer School Development Program Day,” Mayor Toni Harp announced Monday night that Comer’s work will further be cemented in the Elm City with a star etched into city sidewalk. “Your work beginning in just a couple of schools has informed and transformed the accepted approach and standard practices now used district-wide here in New Haven and in more than 1,000 schools across the nation,” Harp said. “Your ambition on behalf of each child that you work with and his or her aspirations put New Haven at the cutting edge of child development and public education, and how one interacts with the other. “You’ve made New Haven proud these past 50 years,” she added.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
1,500 Affordable Units Down — 23,500 To Go by THOMAS BREEN
NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
New Haven’s region needs more than 25,000 new affordable housing units; 1,500 new units are on the way. Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of New Haven Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton and the city’s anti-blight Livable City Initiative (LCI) Executive Director Serena Neal-Sanjurjo offered those and other stark statistics Monday during the latest meeting of the city’s Affordable Housing Task Force in the Aldermanic Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. The task force aims to issue a suite of affordable housing-specific policy recommendations to the Board of Alders (BOA) by the end of the year. DuBois-Walton and Neal-Sanjurjo provided the task force and the 50 other members of the public who attended Monday’s meeting with a survey of New Haven’s current and latest affordable housing stock. Some of the units are rentals; some are designed for homeownership. Some are reserved for people earning less than 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), some for people earning up to 120 percent AMI. Some are funded through a mix of private, city, and state investment, some entirely through public dollars. All are geared towards broadening the number of people in this city who can afford a safe, stable, convenient place to live for 30 percent of less of their annual income. “We have put together just a sample of the development projects that we are currently working on,” said Neal-Sanjurjo at the top of the presentation, “with private and nonprofit developers to create opportunities to full that 25,000 number, in terms of creating units that folks can afford.” Apartments reserved for tenants earning 80 percent of the AMI, for example, would be reserved for tenants earning $70,480 out of an $88,100 benchmark for a family of four. DuBois-Walton said that, according to census data and survey information gathered by Elm City Communities and LCI, 34 percent of New Haven’s current housing options are “affordable.” With “affordable” meaning
that residents spend 30 percent or less of their annual income to live there. She said there are 57,000 total housing units in the city, 17,000 of which are made affordable through some form of government subsidy, including low-income public housing, housing choice vouchers, low-income housing tax credits, state Rental Assistance Program (RAP) vouchers, and other public subsidies. DuBois-Walton said that 6,000 of the city’s affordable units are operated by Elm City Communities, the city’s housing authority. Elm City Communities has a wait list of over 10,000 people, she said, and only around 400 families leave housing authority-operated units every year, whether voluntarily or because of eviction or death. “At that rate,” she said, “it would take us 25 years to get through the families on the wait list.” She said that 41 percent of the city’s households are housing burdened, meaning they pay more than 30 percent of their annual income on housing. Fifty-eight percent of city households rent for more than $1,000 per month, while only 22 percent rent for $750 per month or less. The median rent in the city is $1,090 per month. Based on the city’s median income of $37,000 per household, an actual affordable rent for a two-bedroom apartment would be closer to $750. DuBois-Walton said that of the city’s 25,062 housing-burdened low-income households, 10,700 families live at or below 30 percent AMI, 6,230 families live between 30 and 50 percent AMI, 5,212 live between 50 and 80 percent AMI, and 2,920 live at greater than 80 percent AMI. That 25,062-unit affordable housing need, she said, is independent of the 17,000 units currently rendered affordable through some kind of public subsidy. That’s where Neal-Sanjurjo stepped in, reviewing a dozen different projects that LCI has been working on since 2015 that have contributed nearly 1,500 new affordable units to city housing stock. Projects include: • Dwight Gardens at 115 Edgewood Ave,
THOMAS BREEN PHOTO
LCI’s Serena Neal-Sanjurjo at Monday’s meeting.
developed by NavCapMan LLC. With the help of $4.25 million in federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, $7.5 million private funding, and $400,000 from the city, this complex will bring another 80 affordable units online by next later this month. (The first phase of the project’s two phases is complete and occupied.) Twenty of those units will be reserved for tenants earning 50 percent AMI, 20 for tenants earning 60 percent AMI, and 20 for tenants earning 80 percent AMI. • Judith Terrace Development. “One of our strong mandates from the board [of alders] was to look at how some of the empty lots we have throughout the neighborhoods could be used for housing development for homeownership,” Neal-Sanjurjo said. At Judith Terrace in Fair Haven Heights, LCI is almost done building five new twofamily homes. She said LCI is working on putting together funding for a phase two of the project, which will include two more two-family homes. “It will completely transform the Judith Terrace avenue,” she said. “It has been pretty much sitting there empty and vacant for almost 15 years. Over the last two years, we were able to receive some state funding and
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some capital funding in order to build these homes.” • Thompson Street and Winchester Avenue. Neal-Sanjurjo said that the city has received state Department of Housing (DOH) funding to build 18 new units on city-owned vacant lots: nine units will be for homeowners, nine for rentals. “They are on 10 lots that were city-owned parcels sitting right in the middle of one of our more needy areas,” she said. “We’re trying to bring back some housing.” She said the project will use $2.3 million in state DOH money and $1.5 million in city capital funding. Construction, she said, should begin sometime early next year. • Union Square. Formerly the home of the 301-unit subsidized housing complex Church Street South, the new Union Square development, developed by Northland Investment Corp., would consist of five buildings, 25,000 square-feet of retail space, and 1,100 apartments. Neal-Sanjurjo
said that 398 of those units will be affordable, and that the city will be applying for a third time for federal Choice Neighborhood funding early next year. “We will be bringing back some of our project-based vouchers to the site,” NealSanjurjo said, “to ensure that we have a mix of income of families living there.” • 22 Gold St. Resulting from a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) between the city and Stamford developer Randy Salvatore’s RMS Properties, this nearly-finished new construction project will contain 2,400 square-feet of commercial space and 110 new apartments: 79 to be rented at market rates, and 31 affordable. • 49 Prince St. Another gut rehab developed by RMS Properties, the former Welsh Annex School site will contain 30 units of affordable rental housing. “It is in the process of finalizing the funding required to do the development,” NealSanjurjo said. She said the renovation of the property should be complete by next year. • 216 Congress Ave. A $19 million project by Salvatore’s RMS Properties that will have 90 units, including 30 affordable units. • 222 Lafayette. Yet another RMS project, this $21 million development will have 104 new units, including 32 affordable. • 596-598 George St. A brownstone and former medical office space at Orchard Street and George Street that LCI plants to convert into two two-family or threefamily homes, pending DOH homeownership funding approval. Neal-Sanjurjo said that LCI will sell the finished properties but place restrictions on the sales in regards to how much the owners will be allowed to charge to rent out the finished apartments. • 384 Blatchley Ave. A small, single-family property that LCI started building in May and expects to finish in December. “It will be sold to an affordable buyer through our Con’t on page 13
Hamden Middle School students to visit mock graveyard, bone excavation station at Quinnipiac University on Oct. 31
Hamden, Connecticut – Oct. 23, 2018 – Twenty-three students from Hamden Middle School will learn about and engage in anthropology through a mock graveyard and bone excavation station at Quinnipiac University on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon at Quinnipiac’s Center for Anthropological Research, Clarice L. Buckman Center, room 108, on the Mount Carmel Campus, 275 Mount Carmel Ave. Ten students from Quinnipiac are expected to participate, according to Julia Giblin, associate professor of anthropology. “We are introducing middle school students to anthropology,” Giblin added. “We think it is very important because it teaches lessons about what it means to be human and about human diversity, both biologically and culturally. We also have a lot of Quinnipiac students who are interested in becoming teachers.” Giblin, who developed the program with Jaime Ullinger, also an associate professor of anthropology, said the middle school
students will have an opportunity to study a mock 18th-century New England graveyard to learn about tombstones, symbolism, art and epitaphs. They also will work together to write an epitaph about someone they studied in school. The event will feature an anthropological dig for replica human and animal bones and skeletons and an examination of mummy X-rays. “We want the Hamden students to think about the way we use technology to understand biology and culture,” Ullinger said. The Bioanthropology Research Institute is an interdisciplinary hub linking the study of biology, anthropology, archaeology and paleontology. The institute encourages research on mummified humans, animals and ancient artifacts through applications such as diagnostic imaging, video endoscopy, photography and laboratory analysis. Giblin, Ullinger, Gerald Conlogue, professor emeritus of diagnostic imaging, and Ronald Beckett, professor emeritus of biomedical sciences, are the co-executive directors of the institute.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Will Shift In Public Opinion On Healthcare Impact 2018? by Christine Stuart |
NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
FARMINGTON, CT — A Maryland Congressman told a group of Connecticut residents last week that public opinion of the Affordable Care Act is changing. U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, who has been in Congress since 1966, said 2010 — a year after the Affordable Care Act was passed — “was the angriest election in which I’ve been involved. “ He said the public thought “we were taking something away from them and they would pay more for what they were getting.” Hoyer said the ACA was “underwater” right up until November 2016. He said people started looking at “what am I getting and what will I lose.” He said hopefully they’re going to send people to Congress who are willing to make sure it works for everybody. “The American public has come to the conclusion we need to fix this and make it work for us,” Hoyer said. Consumers weren’t able to purchase insurance as a result of the ACA until 2013 and those plans didn’t go into effect until 2014. After hundreds of attempts to repeal the legislation, and four years of plans being offered for purchase it seems things are beginning to change. A Morning Consult and Politico poll released in September found 81 percent of voters think it should be illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage to people
with pre-existing conditions. Hoyer doesn’t believe the Affordable Care Act is perfect, but they’ve been unable to fix it under a Republican majority. Jahana Hayes, the Democratic nominee in the 5th Congressional District, invited Hoyer to the University of Connecticut Health Center to discuss the issue of healthcare. Hayes said Hoyer offered to do a fundraiser for her, but she opted to hold the roundtable discussion instead. Hayes asked for help understanding comments from her Republican opponent, former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos, about former President Barack Obama’s statement that “If you like your health care, you can keep it.” The statement proved to be false. Under the ACA if the plan didn’t cover certain essential benefits or didn’t exist before 2010 then it could not be grandfathered in. Hoyer said Obama could have done a better job explaining it, but the reason those minimum standards existed was so that people couldn’t buy “junk policies.” During their first debate, Santos said Obamacare should be repealed. “The Affordable Care Act is a failure,’’ Santos said. “We were not able to keep our doctor and [healthcare] has not become more affordable.” Hoyer said they’ve been looking to fix some of the problems with the ACA since 2011 but control of the House and the Sen-
ate have been in the hands “of those who want to repeal it.” Where the candidates stand healthcare is the second most important thing voters want to know about, according to a September Kaiser Health Tracking poll. The first was corruption in Washington. State Comptroller Kevin Lembo said healthcare costs is one of the top two or three topics he hears about on the campaign trail. Lembo, who purchases health insurance for state employees and retirees, said the state is proving that by bringing people closer to care and treating their chronic conditions they are lowering costs and improving health outcomes. He said Connecticut’s medical trend grows about 5 percent each year, which is much lower than the medical trend in the private sector at large employers. Lembo said his colleagues in the private sector are seeing medical trends, which is the cost of medical care, increasing about 15 percent per year. He said they need a partner in Washington that will allow the state to continue to innovate with ways to keep costs down, especially in the area of pharmaceuticals. Connecticut was the first state in 2010 under former Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell to take advantage of Medicaid expansion. It’s also one of 14 states to set up its own health insurance exchange. T:9.25” There are two private insurance companies
CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE Jahana Hayes, State Comptroller Kevin Lembo and U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer discuss healthcare issues with Connecticut residents participating in Connecticut’s exchange. through their employers. They are still regulated by the Insurance Hoyer said they may not have an ACA plan, Department, which approves the rate inbut that doesn’t mean they didn’t benefit creases. from provisions that were part of the ACA. There are more than 100,000 people who Provisions such as no lifetime caps on inpurchase plans in the individual market. surance coverage and the inability to deny Most of Connecticut or 86 percent of the coverage for pre-existing conditions are just population is still covered by plans offered Con’t on page 12
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Health Insurance Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1; You Can Window Shop Starting Today Consumers will have the shortest open enrollment period yet to shop for 2019 health insurance plans – 45 days — but they can “window shop” and compare plans beginning today. Open enrollment for health plans effective Jan. 1, 2019, will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, giving consumers the least amount of time to enroll in or renew plans since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law. Last year, consumers had an additional week. As a result, Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s health insurance exchange, is broadening its outreach and marketing efforts and, for the first time, giving consumers a sneak peek at plans. “A lot of people want to see what options they have ahead of open enrollment,” said AHCT Marketing Director Andrea Ravitz. “Every year, we need to remind individuals that they have choices. We want to make sure they have access to as much information as possible to pick the right plan.” Consumers can browse plans starting today using a special tool at accesshealthct. com. In addition, AHCT is holding a series of events across the state and offering phone, online and in-person assistance to help individuals choose a plan. The average ACA monthly premium cost was $689 this year, but for 75 percent of enrollees the average subsidy was $600, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The marketplace has two insurance carriers, ConnectiCare and Anthem. Many plans offered for 2019 under both carriers will cost more, but in September state regulators drastically reduced the rate hikes both carriers had sought.
Anthem had proposed a 9.1 percent rate increase for 2019 plans, but regulators approved an average premium increase of 2.7 percent. ConnectiCare had sought a 13 percent increase, which was pared down to an average increase of 4 percent. As in the past, plans are organized into bronze, silver, gold and platinum categories, and consumers should compare plans to see what works best for them. Platinum plans, for instance, typically have higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs, whereas bronze plans have the lowest premiums but highest out-of-pocket costs. No ‘Opt Out’ Fines One big change consumers will notice for 2019: There will be no financial penalty for opting not to buy insurance.
In previous years, most consumers had to have insurance or face a fine. Those who had no insurance in 2018 will pay either 2.5 percent of their yearly household income or $695 per person ($347.50 per child), whichever is higher, when they file their 2018 tax returns in early 2019. Ravitz said AHCT conducted focused groups with about 60 individuals to gauge whether the absence of a penalty would impact enrollment trends for 2019. “The majority said, with or without the tax penalty, it wouldn’t affect their decision,” she said. The Marketplace AHCT is the online marketplace created by the ACA, sweeping health care reform legislation that requires most Americans to
State Representative for the 94th,Robyn Porter:
have health insurance. During open enrollment, people without coverage can shop for insurance plans and those with coverage can renew or change their plans. Ravitz said it is too soon to predict how many people will enroll in plans through the exchange this year, but 114,134 did last year, up more than 2 percent from the previous year. Of those, most—about 73 percent—enrolled in plans offered by ConnectiCare. Various improvements have been made to AHCT’s website, including enhanced live chat capabilities and a new “Compare Plans” link that will let consumers see various plans’ physician networks, prescription coverage, out-of-pocket expenses and other
benefits, Ravitz said. “This is going to allow people to make better, more informed choices,” she said of the comparison tool. While monthly premium costs often play major roles in which plans consumers choose, she added, “We want to make sure people are able to make better decisions rather than just looking at the price tag.” After open enrollment ends on Dec. 15, consumers can sign up for 2019 coverage only if they have a qualifying life event, such as loss of insurance, marriage or the birth of a child. New this year, pregnancy is now a qualifying life event. Consumers can apply online, call AHCT at 855-805-4325, get in-person help, or use AHCT’s free mobile app for smartphones or tablets. While most people have to wait until Nov.1 to enroll in plans, enrollment in Medicaid HUSKY and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) is open year-round to eligible people and families. AHCT, now in its sixth year, also will open seven enrollment centers statewide in early November where people can receive in-person help, and will host six enrollment fairs. In addition, it will host a traveling series of educational discussions called “Healthy Chats,” during which experts will speak to groups of people about enrollment options as well as answer questions. Usually, some people—about 15 percent of those who enroll in plans through AHCT— have trouble verifying the income or citizenship information they must submit once the open enrollment period ends, Ravitz said. AHCT is increasing efforts to reach and help those people too, she added.
MARTIN LOONEY, DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WE CAN TRUST.
A trusted, tried and true champion for Hamden and New Haven. ROBYN’S PRIORITIES: » » » » » » » » »
A balanced budget A sustainable minimum wage Paid family medical leave Urban workforce development Equitable education Ending hyper-mass incarceration Services for seniors and veterans Protecting our environment Affordable healthcare/college
VOTE LINE 4A ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH
• PROTECTED AGAINST PRICEGOUGING AT HOSPITALS AND PHARMACIES • CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR A $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE • SECURED $50 MILLION FOR APPRENTICESHIP AND JOB TRAINING TO PLACE 10,000 INDIVIDUALS IN GOOD JOBS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS
Vote Nov 6 - Democrat Robyn Porter www.porterforthepeople.com Paid for by Porter 2018, Christine Bartlett-Josie, Treasurer. Approved by Robyn Porter.
PAID FOR BY MARTIN LOONEY FOR STATE SENATE, TREASURER, ADAM JOSEPH. APPROVED BY MARTIN LOONEY.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Westville Crime Wave Riles Neighbors by MARKESHIA RICKS
The new top cop in Westville/West Hills is hearing from neighbors demanding solutions to an uptick of crime in the neighborhood. Lt. Rose Dell, the new top cop in the district, got an earful during the Westville/West Hills Community Management Team meeting at Mauro-Sheridan School Wednesday night from neighbors alarmed by recent muggings on McKinley Avenue, an attempted child abduction, numerous car break-ins, and yet another violent incident at Roosevelt’s Restaurant & Bar in Westville Village. Wednesday was Dell’s third day on the job. She assured neighbors that she asked for and received resources to help fight crime in the neighborhood. She told neighbors that there is a lead on the muggings; police were able to get the dropped cellphone of an assailant after a tussle with the neighbor he tried to mug. “We don’t think it’s one kid, but a ring of thieves,” Dell said. She told them that after spending a couple of weeks reading all the reports, she knows neighbors aren’t wrong in how they perceive what’s happening in the district, which includes Westville, Amity, West Hills, and West Rock. Crime is definitely up. Violent crime, in particular, is up about 43.8 percent over this time last year. Dell said detectives will come out to get
fingerprints from vehicle break-ins; she urged neighbors to remember to remove their valuables from their cars and lock their car doors, noting that most of the break-ins were in cars that had not been locked. She also said that the department has given her a D-squad officer, or an officer who works the 7 p.m. to 3 a.m shift. She said she hopes that will discourage some of the more violent patrons to stay away from Roosevelt’s. That officer is the only one who works that shift for the entire city. Around 1 a.m. Wednesday, police had responded to the third reported violent incident this year at Roosevelt’s: A man with a valid pistol permit fired at a car during an altercation with the driver, amid a crowd that was outside the bar. At closing time on Sept. 22, someone was shot in the leg. Click here to read about an incident in May and the owner’s promises to run a tighter ship. Dell told neighbors Monday night that officers have leads on the two Roosevelt patrons involved in Wednesday’s incident. No arrests have been made, but the 25-year-old Hamden man who fired the gun is cooperating with officers and told them that another man had attempted to run him over with his car. The shooter, a valid pistol permit holder, told police that he thought he was in danger and that’s why he shot at the other driver. Police have video evidence of the incident
Erica Garcia Young: What about the kids? that corroborates that story. The case remains under investigation. This is the third violent Roosevelt’s-related incident this year. Dell said that she and her predecessor Lt. Manmeet Colon, went to the state Liquor Commission in hopes of having the owner’s license non-renewed but were unsuccessful. She told neighbors that they could petition to have the license revoked. A neighbor who preferred not to be iden-
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tified circulated the petition at Wednesday meeting noting that he thought that the owner had done things to try curb the violence like instituting a no hoodies policy and hiring extra duty officers. But he said nothing has worked. Unlike New West Cafe, which is directly on Whalley Avenue, Roosevelt’s is tucked away in an area where there isn’t much light and where people can hang in the parking lot after the bar closes at 2 a.m. “It was the same problem with the Owl’s Nest,” he said. “The problem is it’s not safe for his patrons and it’s not safe for the neighborhood.” Just Brazen Neighbor Sheila Carmon said the rash of car break-ins and neighborhood muggings have been really scary. She has lived in her home for 20 years. She described recently seeing two people walking through her backyard, which she keeps “lit up like daytime.” She called it “pretty brazen.” Erica Garcia Young said brazen is exactly how she would describe the man and woman who approached a 10-year-old boy in what his parents believed was an attempted abduction. The boy’s mother was nearby when it happened and intervened. A similar report was made to police about a man approaching a 10-year-old girl at her bus stop on Lodge Street, according to police reports. “It’s scary,” Young said. “I have a daughter who walks home. How are kids sup-
posed to get home safe?” Young said the police response to this incident was pretty lackluster in her opinion. “The officer’s response was, ‘It’s a good thing you were there,’” she said. “Can you imagine a mom hearing that?” Neighbor Rosie Jacobs got a similar response from police after someone broke into her garage. She said it was her perception that the officer barely wanted to get out of the car to take the report. Dell apologized for the lackluster responses and tried to reassure neighbors that the police department is deploying as many resources as it can to address the problems that have come up. But she also urged neighbors to be vigilant. “The police can’t be everywhere,” she said. “You have to know who should be in your neighborhood. If you see someone suspicious, call us.” Other solutions offered by neighbors Wednesday night included installing blue light emergency boxes, more active block watches, and neighbors more proactively using their cell phones to capture video when they see suspicious activity. Neighbor Janis Underwood suggested that parents do what she did: trace the route to school and ask neighbors to be a safe stop that kids know and can immediately run to if they ever feel unsafe. Westville Alder Adam Marchand said he plans to host a forum for neighbors to talk specifically about crime soon.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Buy A Brick, Help Build The “Q” by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
With the construction of the Q House slated to start in coming months, a campaign has begun to raise $3 million to make sure that it never closes its doors again. The fund for the new Dixwell Community “Q” House has been established at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to “support the on-going programming and investment in the Q House after the initial construction to ensure its stability as an institution,” according to the foundation’s website. To that end, members of the community are being asked to buy a $100 engravable brick to help lay the foundation for a successful future Q House and have some “skin in the game,” as Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison likes to say. Engraved bricks will line the walkway to the main entrance of the Q House. “The Q House closed down because of fiscal issues,” Morison said. “The goal is to raise $3 million by the time the doors open so that never happens again.” The project has been a long time coming. The brick campaign is a chance for those like Morrison who grew up coming through the doors of the prior iterations of the Q House to memorialize what it means
to them and make sure that it stays open for future generations. The original Q dates back to 1924, when it operated as a settlement house for African Americans coming up from the South. The Q House remained a cornerstone of Dixwell’s predominantly African-American neighborhood until it closed in 2003. For years, state and local politicians and community activists lobbied for state support to bring back the Q House. Mayor Toni Harp, who pushed for state funding of the project as the co-chair of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee, made the rebuilding of the Q House a priority of her mayoral administration when she was first elected in 2013. In January 2016, the city secured over $15 million from the state to build a new Q House. That package included $1 million to build within the Q House a new home for the Stetson Library branch. The old Q House building was demolished in January 2016; over 300 people came out in November 2017 for the official groundbreaking for the new community center. City Engineer Giovanni Zinn said that that construction could start in the coming months, weather and time-consuming paperwork permitting. Some site work and “a few spots of remediation” need to hap-
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Christian Lewis/Current Affairs Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics KENNETH BOROSON ARCHITECTSA rendering of the future Q House. pen before bigger construction can begin. Construction is expected to take 12 to 15 months with the doors slated to open by the end of 2019. Morrison said she understands that $100 is a lot of money for some people but she doesn’t want that to discourage people
from supporting the endowment; she suggested that if need be people can pool their money to buy a brick. She also said there would eventually be a paper process for those who want to buy a brick but don’t have access to a computer.
Ninth Square Deal Gets FInal OK by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
The Board of Alders voted final approval Monday night a deal that aims to keep housing affordable in the Ninth Square. The alders voted unanimously to approve a 20-year tax abatement for the new owners of a complex of buildings along Orange Street from Center to George. The vote came during the alders bimonthly meeting at City Hall At least three alders expressed heartburn over the length of the abatement, but said they concluded the public benefits outweighed that loss of tax revenue. Boston-based real estate company Beacon Communities, LLC, plans to purchase the 335-unit apartment complex from the tax-credit partnership that currently owns it. The tax-credit partnership is controlled by McCormack Baron (which originally developed the mixed-income, mixed-use district in the 1990s) and the Related Companies, which announced back in 2013 that they had failed to refinance tens of millions of dollars of existing debt on the property, and was looking to sell. Earlier this year, Beacon Communities, which already manages the 339-unit Monterey Place in Newhallvile, beat out around 20 other competitors to purchase the building from the Ninth Square Partnership. It subsequently struck a deal with the city that would preserve the complex’s share of affordable units in exchange for a twodecade tax abatement.
John P. Thomas
TOM BREEN PHOTO The Ninth Square.
MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO Downton Alder Abby Roth with Hill Alder Dolores Colon after
Monday’s meeting.
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The deal includes the following: • Beacon will pay the city $660,000 per year in property taxes for the next 20 years, with a slight increase kicking in every five years by a percentage equal to the increase in adjusted gross revenue over that fiveyear period. • Beacon will reserve 56 percent of the housing units for tenants earning 60 percent or less of the region’s average median income, which is around $52,860 per year out of an $88,100 annual benchmark for a family of four. The rest of the units will be available for rent at market rates. • Beacon will pay the city $2 million in return for the forgiveness of over $5 million in debt that the Ninth Square Partnership owes the city. • Beacon will convey the 290-space parking garage at 270 State St. to the city in exchange for $3.6 million paid out over 30 years. • Beacon will deed the surface parking lots at 31 and 39 George St. to the city for $80,000. • Beacon will retain the complex’s current staff for a minimum of one year. Downtown Alder Abby Roth said she had to weigh the human and the financial costs to the city, noting that a failure to strike a deal could have meant that the 189 units of affordable housing would have been lost to market rate housing and the opportunity to recoup any of the debt to the government likely lost.
Contributing Writers David Asbery Tanisha Asbery Jerry Craft/Cartoons Barbara Fair
Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur Michelle Turner Smita Shrestha William Spivey Kam Williams Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Plans Afoot To Rebuild Dixwell Plaza by PAUL BASS
NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
The faded retail hub of the Dixwell neighborhood appears on the verge of entering the 21st century. Details to come, and be worked out. A subsidary of a local nonprofit has quietly begun buying portions of the hub, Dixwell Plaza, as the city looks to encourage the transformation of a 1960s-vintage brickand-concrete island in a sea of parking-lot asphalt into a busy combination of stores, community centers, and apartments. Dixwell Plaza occupies the blocks of Dixwell Avenue, the black community’s commercial core, between Webster and Charles streets. It has 11 contiguous storefronts in one- and two-story buildings on a 6.56-acre lot surrounded by surface parking. A condominium association with nine members owns the property. Many of the buildings remain occupied and busy, but some not for long: Two of the anchors, the Stetson Branch Library and Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, plan to move across the street to the new Dixwell Community “Q” House about to begin construction. Meanwhile, a for-profit subsidiary of the nonprofit Connecticut Center for Arts & Technology (ConnCAT) has begun negotiating with the nine separate condo owners to buy them out. It is conducting the negotiations and sales through a limitedliability corporation that it formed as a subsidiary in February. The subsidiary is called
ConnCORP. (ConnCORP in turn creates LLCs to conduct each property sale.) Earlier this year, ConnCORP purchased the 20,921-square-foot vacant former CTown supermarket building (pictured) for $800,000, according to city land records. (C-Town bought it in 2006 for $250,000; it’s appraised at $994,200.) Another ConnCORP-formed LLC purchased a 3,456-square-foot building in the plaza this month for $550,000. It houses a deli next to the now-closed Downtown Pizza and Fried Chicken restaurant. Some tough bargaining looms with other owners. Meanwhile, in neighborhood meetings, ConnCAT officials have hinted at some of the plans for the former C-Town building. The organization which runs acclaimed job-training and youth arts programs on Winchester Avenue is apparently looking to move its culinary training school there, open a related restaurant and community center, and perhaps incorporate a video/ media center. Officials said the plans are still in flux, both for the C-Town building as well as for the broader complex. Meanwhile, Mayor Toni Harp, whose administration has been working for four years on ideas for reviving Dixwell Plaza, welcomed the efforts to have a single private developer remake it as a denser mixed-use complex. The city would play a major role as one of the owners of one major condo (the soon-to-be-former Stetson
Plaza’s Clarke, Harp: Let’s see the plan. library space) and some of the parking arLooking at Dixwell Plaza today, you might not think that city planners once consideas, as well as the regulator of any needed zoning changes; the city would have some ered its design the cutting edge of urban leverage over plans as it sells those properrenewal. In New Haven, it was. ties to the developer. The plaza was built in the late 1960s as “We really want the plaza to be rebuilt part of New Haven’s broader redevelopand be reenergized,” Harp said on her most ment plan for the Dixwell neighborhood, recent appearance on WNHH FM’s “Mayhistorically the center of the city’s black community. New Haven received more or Monday” program. “It really is a time when we need to reimagine it. The difficult federal dollars per capita than any other part is there are so many owners.” American city to demolish entire blocks No More “Decaying Hand-Me-Downs” of old homes and stores in neighborhoods
PAUL BASS PHOTOS
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throughout town and replace them with these redevelopment projects. In Dixwell, that meant the loss of blocks worth of former stores and apartments. In their wake came a new home for the Dixwell Q House and, across the street, the retail Dixwell Plaza. (Original plans envisioned a footbridge connecting them; it was never built.) Both structures exemplified the thenmodern idea of how buildings should look and relate to their surroundings. At the time, urban planners believed in relegating separate uses for separate parcels of land. So the social-service and recreational activities would take place at the Q. Commercial activity would take place at the plaza. Behind the plaza, people would live in the Florence Virtue Homes, one of a series of federally-insured cooperative housing complexes cropping up around town. (At least four of the coop boards have since gone under and sold to corporate owners; Florence Virtue remains.) The greatest minds of the 1960s urban renewal also believed that declining cities like New Haven should redesign themselves to compete with suburbs for shoppers and residents and workers by making it easier to drive in and out and to park. Thus, Dixwell Plaza was built like a suburban shopping strip, with more land devoted to surface parking than to buildings or open space. One of the smart people who celebrated Con’t on page
Imagining A Less Incarcerated World THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
Venezia “Venice” Michalsen likes to imagine a world without incarceration, or at the very least, a world where incarceration has been reduced in the United States the world’s leading incarcerator. Michalsen is an associate professor of justice studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey who spends a lot of her days thinking about what such a system would look like particularly for women. She teaches about gender and crime, human trafficking, and victimology. She’s also the author of a new book “Mothering and Desistance in Reentry,” which just came out in September. On a recent episode of WNHH’s Criminal Justice Insider program with Babz RawlsIvy and Jeff Grant, the Hamden native said a system of less incarceration might look like one that has “gender-responsive programming.” “Gender-responsive programming acknowledges that gender makes a difference,” she said. “We have to respond to women’s needs and strengths differently than we do for men. And within the criminal justice system and re-entry ... we have to make it so that women’s needs are addressed differently.” Michalsen said that trauma plays an im-
portant role in the criminal activity of women because they are far more likely than men to have experienced trauma as children—sexual trauma in particular. They’re also are far more likely than men to have childcare responsibilities. The offenses committed by women tend to complicate the narrative around who is the victim and who is the criminal. “We dichotomize victims and criminals as two different things,” she said. “One is good and one is bad. The Survived and Punished project talks about this idea that there is no perfect victim. And to me what that means is we have to mesh together our idea of victim and criminal.” She said most incarcerated women have experienced some form of trauma and likely have experienced it because of things like sexual assault or domestic violence. That trauma, she said, feeds what has become known as the “trauma to prison pipeline.” Michalsen said that as stands now, the U.S. system of mass incarceration is one that further traumatizes people and not just the people who are locked up. “The system is a complete and utter failure to the people who are incarcerated within it, to the workers working within it, to our families,” she said. “Correctional officers have a very difficult job because we
have set up a system that traumatizes basically everyone. It dehumanizes the people incarcerated and it encourages people to dehumanize the people there.” She teaches students who want to be corrections officers and police officers but ... she thinks it is failing them too, especially those who go on to work in the private prison system where she said there is less training and less preparation. Michalsen said that results in more trauma for those who are incarcerated and those who work with the incarcerated. People who work in the criminal justice system correctional officers and police officers are more likely to be involved in domestic violence, to commit suicide, engage in substance abuse and develop all kinds of mental health problems, she said. “No one should be in a situation where they are dehumanizing someone else,” Michalsen said. “That doesn’t serve anyone.” The Criminalization of Survival Michalsen said that the Survived and Punished Project has found that as a society the girls’ survival strategies are criminalized. That means behaviors like running away or skipping school often introduce girls who are often traumatized when they are young into the criminal justice system. Such behaviors are often considered “status offenses” by the juvenile justice system.
HARRY DROZ PHOTO
Rawls Ivy and Venice Michalsen.
Instead of looking at this behavior as “these are bad kids” we should be recognizing that these children “are trying to survive in very, very difficult situations,” she said. “Right now what we choose to do is punish those survival strategies,” she added. “And what we could be doing is noticing those survival strategies and empowering these girls ...” “And then redirect that energy and put in
place at that entry point [an intervention] that can turn the tide,” Rawls Ivy finished. “They can use those skills in other ways because they’re good skills.” “And protect them because they’re our children,” Michalsen said. CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSIDER WITH BABZ RAWLS-IVY & JEFF GRANT | Venice Michalsen
Democratic Candidates: Stefanowski’s Position On Minimum Wage Is ‘Radical’ by Christine Stuart CT. NEWS JUNKIE
HARTFORD, CT — Democratic candidates say video they found of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski shows what he really thinks about the minimum wage. The video posted on YouTube from a period before the Republican primary shows Stefanowski in what looks to be an unscripted moment being asked questions by someone off-camera about the minimum wage. Stefanowski’s response: “Let the private sector decide what the right level of paying people is—not the government. We’ve gotta get the government out of our life.” The voice off-camera in the video says he thinks the New York Times was right when it said proper minimum wage should be “$0.” “Supply and demand,” Stefanowski says with a smile and a laugh. Susan Bysiewicz, who is running on the Democratic ticket with Ned Lamont, said bringing Connecticut’s minimum wage down to “zero” is “radical” and “would have a devastating impact on working families in our state.” A minimum wage employee who works 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, will earn just over $21,000. According to the Federal Reserve Bank, one-third of Connecticut workers earn less than $15 an hour. In Hartford more than half of workers earn less than $15 an hour. An estimated 32.7 percent of workers earn-
CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE Susan Bysiewicz, who is running for lieutenant governor, with Rep. Robyn Porter, Lindsay Farrell, executive director of the Working Families Party and Lori Pelletier, president of the AFL-CIO
ing less than $15 an hour are parents. More than one in five Connecticut children have a parent earning the minimum wage, Bysiewicz said citing the 2016 Federal Reserve Bank report. Bysiewicz said Stefanowski needs to be asked whether he also supports the elimination of the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage was last increased to $7.25 per hour in 2010. If Connecticut eliminated its minimum wage, an unlikely scenario because it would take legislative support, the federal minimum wage
would be in place for workers. Late Monday afternoon Stefanowski’s campaign emailed a response from the candidate. “Another day, another lie from the Lamont campaign,” Stefanowski said. “It’s a bit comical that Lamont would put out a video that actually debunks the claims he makes in his own press release.” Stefanowski told the Hartford Business Journal last week that he doesn’t support increasing the minimum wage from its current $10.10 an hour.
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“You cannot put a 50 percent increase on small business right now, it will break their back,” Stefanowski said, adding that he supports the concept of a minimum wage, and that it should perhaps be tied to inflation. “More businesses are going to leave, people are going to automate more, you’re going to see that pass through right into prices the consumer is going to pay.” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, a one-time gubernatorial candidate, said during a political campaign “you wonder what a candidate is saying or thinking in their private moments. Or what they are saying and thinking when they think no one is watching.” Bronin said this video shows exactly what Stefanowski is thinking. “This isn’t about Stefanowski saying we shouldn’t increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour,” Bronin added. “This isn’t even Bob Stefanowski saying we shouldn’t increase it to $12 an hour. This isn’t even Bob Stefanowski saying we should think about lowering it from where it is. Bob Stefanowski, the Republican nominee for governor, believes that there should be no minimum wage.” He said that’s radical even for the Republican Party. “This is not a person anywhere near the center of the political spectrum,” Bronin said. He said the video “tells us who Bob Stefanowski is and who Bob Stefanowski is is to the right of the vast majority of the Republican Party today.” The U.S. Census says Connecticut’s pov-
erty rate for 2017 is 9.6 percent. Many people working minimum wage jobs in Connecticut still qualify for government benefits, such as food stamps and Medicaid. Those programs are partly supported by the state budget. Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven, said without a minimum wage Connecticut would have to spend far more money on government subsidies. “You want to cut spending? Give people the money they need to take care of themselves so the state doesn’t have to take care of them,” Porter said. The General Assembly failed to increase the $10.10 minimum wage earlier this year with a closely divided House and an evenly divided Senate. When the legislative dust cleared, a proposal to increase Connecticut’s minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020 failed to gain any traction and never made it to a vote in either chamber. Lindsay Farrell, executive director of the Working Families Party, said New York and Massachusetts have already passed a $15 minimum wage, which will make Connecticut less competitive for those jobs. AFL-CIO President Lori Pelletier said “this is not Connecticut values.” She said there has been bipartisan support for increasing the minimum wage in the past, even though it’s stopped in recent years “because of the anger at workers.” She said eliminating the minimum wage would only build more poverty and homelessness.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
3rd Candidate Enters Teachers Union Race by CHRISTOPHER PEAK NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
At the last minute, another challenger emerged in the heated contest for the presidency of the teachers union. At a nomination meeting Tuesday evening at the union hall on Chapel Street, Tom Burns, the current executive vice-president, added his name to the two other candidates who are running to head the New Haven Federation of Teachers, the city’s largest public employees union. The election is shaping into a referendum on the union’s willingness to compromise with City Hall and the Board of Education’s central office. Dave Cicarella, the union president since 2006, has argued that collaborating with New Haven’s top officials has given teachers a seat at the table in setting their own working conditions. Working with thenMayor John DeStefano and then-Superintendent Reggie Mayo, Cicarella was able to negotiate a series of school reforms that garnered national attention, especially for teacher evaluations that balanced student test scores with teacher input. Amid school closures and teacher layoffs, the two challengers, Cameo Thorne and Tom Burns, both said that the union should be trying different tactics. Thorne said she wants to focus on building a grassroots network that can convince the public to stand up for public schools. Burns said he has the know-how to push administrators to offer more concessions. “Things aren’t heading in the right direction. With the disruptions layoffs, transfers, administrative leaves — there’s so much chaos that I felt I wanted to get involved,” Burns said. “In this moment, we need to stick up for our system, for what we believe in. That’s changed because somebody else has a vision for us, instead of us being a part of the vision-making in the past.” The campaign for the presidency of the New Haven Federation of Teachers will unfold in break rooms over the next two months. (Kirsten Hopes-McFadden, a teacher at Engineering & Science Univer-
CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO
Tom Burns announces prez run. sity Magnet School, has also announced a run for the vice-presidency.) Teachers will receive ballots at their home address in early November, which they must return within the month. The votes will be counted on Dec. 4. The election could have repercussions throughout the school system and labor force if the city’s largest public-employees union revisits those bargains and steps up other demands. A longtime school counselor, Burns got his start in union politics when he complained about class sizes. Two decades ago he won a spot on the union leadership. Since 2006, he has served as vice-president behind Cicarella. He focused on contract negotiations. Burns is now positioning himself between Cicarella and Thorne, saying he’s someone who will to take a tougher stance with the district’s new superintendent but who’’s also been inside the union leadership long
Potential union veeps Pat DeLucia, Jennifer Wells-Jackson, Kirsten Hopes-McFadden. enough to know how things work. He added that he wants to use what’s already in the contract to force changes, focusing in particular on utilizing the School Planning and Management Teams, which are supposed to drive decision-making in each building. “I’m running for president because I don’t believe our status quo is good enough,” Burns said. “I understand mediation because I’m a counselor. We start that way; we used to do that and we got results. But see, if you only have one method of doing things collaboration you don’t know that sometimes you have to turn that back.” Steve Mikolike, a special education teacher at Riverside Opportunity High School, said he agrees that Burns knows what teachers are looking for in their contract negotiations. Mikolike said he first met Buns almost two decades ago, as he was trying to transition back to his hometown from a teaching
job in Windham. At the time, the district’s health insurance plan didn’t cover families, he said, until Burns made it happen. “He asked, ‘How could this be?’ He stood for something,” Mikolike said. “He’s the kind of person you want in your circle.” He added, “He leads from the middle. He’s not afraid to have others be in the roles that need to be filled.” Brad Chernovetz, a math teacher at Hill Regional Career High School, also said that he knows from firsthand experience that Burns will stick up for union members. For almost two years now, Burns has argued on his behalf in a personnel dispute. “I think it’s time for a change in New Haven,” Chernovetz said. “He knows the contract back and forth, and he’s behind his teachers 100 percent. He’s been fighting for our rights for a long time. I think he’d be a strong leader for our union. I have nothing against Dave. I just think it’s time for a new voice to be heard.”
Burns said he wants to flip around the fear and anxiety that so many teachers are currently feeling. “You will be protected. You will work in a place that you will enjoy working,” he said. “I’ve got different tools than just collaboration.” Three candidates also joined the race for executive vice-president: Pat DeLucia, a special education teacher at Riverside Opportunity High School and the union’s current executive secretary; Kirsten HopesMcFadden, an eighth-grade history teacher at Engineering & Science University Magnet School and an active member of the watchdog group NHPS Advocates; and Jennifer Wells-Jackson, a literacy coach who previously worked at Bishop Woods Academy and the union’s current vicepresident for middle schools. All of the vice-presidential candidates are currently running independently, but later this week, they will decide whether they want to match up with the presidential candidates to run as a ticket. After their names were added to the whiteboard, all three sat down together and shared compliments. “I’m in great company,” Delucia said. Farther down-ballot, Marc Anthony Solli and Jennifer Chisholm-Emfinger are competing for executive secretary. Michael Pantaleo, the current treasurer, emerged as the only candidate who wanted to keep the position. David Low and Leslie Blatteau are facing off for vice-president of the high schools; Judith Leach, Delores Marshall, and Carolyn Streets are all in for vice-president of the middle schools; and Todney Harris and Tracy Paige-Harris are competing for vice-president of the elementary schools. Raymond Pompano was the only candidate nominated for vice-president of special services. Before the ballots are finalized later this week, officials will check the nominations to make sure that the teachers have proper credentials and good standing with the union. The election results will be tabulated on Dec. 4.
The Bicentennial of Connecticut’s 1818 Constitution: Robert Imholt Explores Origins and Implications New Haven, Conn. (October 17, 2018)— It’s common knowledge that Connecticut is the Constitution State. The General Assembly adopted it as the official motto in 1959, and the motto itself goes back to 1904 when it was adopted as the theme for the Connecticut Building at the St. Louis World’s Fair. But what does the moniker mean for its citizenry? And does Connecticut deserve to be called the Constitution State? Robert Imholt, Professor of History Emeritus at Albertus Magnus College, will examine these questions in a free presentation at the New Haven Museum at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2018. The Connecticut Colony’s Fundamental Orders of 1639 was hailed as the world’s first written constitution. It was the basis for the 1662 Connecticut charter and, according to some, the inspiration for the
United States Constitution of 1787. Imholt notes that in 1818, after almost two decades of debate over whether Connecticut had a constitution, the General Assembly approved a call for a constitutional convention. Voters in each town gathered on the Fourth of July to elect delegates. From late August to the middle of September, the delegates met at the Old State House in Hartford to draft a constitution. On the first Monday in October, by a small margin, voters approved Connecticut’s first Constitution. If histories say anything about the Constitution of 1818, it is that the Constitution ended the establishment of the Congregational Church in the state. But Imholt maintains that the standard interpretation overemphasizes the hold of congregationalism prior to 1818 and oversimplifies the evolu-
tion of church-state relations in Connecticut, both before and following the Constitution’s ratification. It also overstates the importance of the religious question in the debates on the 1818 Constitution itself. Imholt’s presentation will survey Connecticut’s constitutional history with particular attention to early-19th-century debates over whether Connecticut had a constitution, the forces that led to the convention, and what the Constitution of 1818 accomplished. The 1818 Constitution, though often amended, remained the state’s constitution until 1965. About Robert Imholt A native of the Midwest, Imholt received a southern education at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and the University of Kentucky. He believes some fit of divine
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whimsy sentenced him to life in New England as a member of the History Department at Albertus Magnus College for 46 years. Past president of the New England Historical Association, he has published numerous articles on Connecticut in the early republic, most recently “Connecticut Confronts the Guillotine: The French Revolution and the Land of Steady Habits,” The New England Quarterly, 90, no.3 (September 2017): 385-417. He recently completed an essay on religious disestablishment in Connecticut for a collective work to be published by the University of Missouri Press in January. His current project is a biographical study of Timothy Dwight, poet, preacher, and president of Yale from 1795 until his death in 1817. About the New Haven Museum
The New Haven Museum has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history and heritage of Greater New Haven since its inception as the New Haven Colony Historical Society in 1862. Located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue, the Museum brings more than 375 years of New Haven history to life through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach. As a designated Blue Star Museum, the New Haven Museum offers the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, free admission from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information visit www.newhavenmuseum. org or Facebook.com/NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Do children all need to succeed the same way?
By Dr. Elizabeth Primas, Program Manager, NNPA ESSA Public Awareness Campaign
1,500 Affordable Units Down —
homeownership programs that we have at LCI,” Neal-Sanjurjo said. • Hill Central Cooperative. An old co-op at 145 Dewitt St. that Westmount Development is redeveloping into 64 rental units, 100 percent of which will be retained as Section 8 affordable. • 201 Munson St. A very large development happening on the old Track C of Olin. Neal-Sanjurjo said that the finished project, developed by Eclipse Development, should have 395 rental units, 20 percent of which will be reserved for affordable and workforce housing. The developer is currently working on environmental remediation at the site. • 240 Winthrop Ave. A site that has been abandoned for two decades that the developer Gambardella is working on to build 145 new rental units, 30 percent of which will be reserved as affordable. “It has been sitting there abandoned for so many years,” Neal-Sanjurjo said. • West River Housing at 16 Miller St. A private-public partnership between West River Self Help Investment Plan (SHIP) and New York-based National Housing Partnership that will build 56 rental units on Rt. 34. “We’re trying to fill in where we can,” Neal-Sanjurjo said, “where thec ity has parcels available, looking at thoughtful development.” • The old Antillean Manor coops on Day Street, where developer Carabetta will be building 60 rental units, all of which will be affordable. “It will remain project-based,” Neal-Sanjurjo said. “Many of you know that New Haven is in a wave of having developers want to do business in this city around housing,” NealSanjurjo said. As far as existing projects with new owners, Neal-Sanjurjo said that the city is working to retain existing affordable housing levels at Beechwood Gardens, where there are 82 affordable units, Ninth Square Residences, where there are and will be 188 affordable units, and St. Martin Townhomes, where there are 63 affordable units. “For all of us its been a number one priority to retain those units,” she said. Neal-Sanjurjo said that, since 2015, the city has worked with private and public partners to retain, complete, and propose 1,464 new affordable units. And at Elm City Communities, DuBoisWalton said the local housing authority serves 6,000 families and 14,000 individuals in 1,849 low-income public housing units. She said that 95 percent of the families that the housing authority serves are at or below 50 percent AMI. The next Affordable Housing Task Force meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. Wooster Square Alder Aaron Greenberg, the non-voting facilitator of the task force, said that November’s meeting will focus on homelessness, housing insecurity, and rooming houses/SROs.
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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines standards as, “something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example. For example,” the Egyptians established the 365-day calendar, recording 4236 BC as the first year in recorded history. Around 1100 AD in England, it was determined that the length of King Henry Beauclerc’s foot would be used for the standard measurement of a linear foot. These standards of time and linear measurement are still widely used and accepted today. During the Civil War, America recognized a need for standardized gauges for the railroads so that parts were easily inter-changeable. Standards continue to remain essential aspects of organization as societies increase in size and complexity. The same concept applies to academic standards in education. In the mid-twentieth century, educators adopted academic standards. Those standards were designed to ensure that all students progressed at relatively the same pace while acquiring the skills necessary to become contributing members of society. One example of this is the adoption of a Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) by the District of Columbia in the 1980s. CBC consisted of a series of skill sets within a hierarchy. Students were required to demonstrate mastery of the skills at one level before progressing to the next. Teachers were required to teach/ test/reteach (if necessary) and then retest. Once students demonstrated mastery, they received a score that reflected such. The score did not entail how many times the teacher had to reteach and retest before the students acquired the intended skillset. A more recent example of academic standards is the 2009 states-focused effort to create clear, consistent, and competitive learning goals, resulting in the Common Core State Standards. Common
Core State Standards were adopted by 48 states, two territories and the District of Columbia. The federal government supported the validity of Common Core Standards by providing financial incentives for state adoption. Proponents of Common Core Standards argue that the standards provide students with the necessary knowledge to succeed in college and career regardless of geographical location. However, many critics have argued against this, emphasizing resulting ambiguity, lack of training, and lowered student expectations as the key points the identify a policy in need of revision. In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act, a re-authorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA), offered a resolution. Under ESSA, states have the option of keeping Common Core State Standards or creating their own state standards. The financial incentive to adopt Common Core by the federal government no longer exists and the option to work with a consortium of states to develop standards is also available to state educational leadership. Guidelines set by ESSA for state-developed academic standards is a step in the right direction. ESSA allows for states to decide how to best set goals and meet the needs of students. It is obvious from the widespread criticisms of Common Core that uniform education standards have not worked. As states continue to develop academic standards they must keep this in mind, understanding that every child does not learn and/or demonstrate knowledge in the same way. Unlike widgets, children will never fit perfectly into standardized molds. They learn to walk at different ages. They learn to talk at different ages. And each child has a different set of interests and learning style. Students’ ability to demonstrate mastery in one area over another has a lot to do with their previous knowledge and exposure to out-of-the-classroom experiences. As a mother to many children, I have observed that some of my children are good in math, while others are musically inclined. A select few demonstrate the ability to make fantastic meals out of simple ingredients, while others have a hard time boiling water. We must understand that every child is capable of achievement at high levels as long as we encourage their strengths. Whatever their gifts and talents, we need them all. Dr. Elizabeth Primas is an educator, who spent more than 40 years working towards improving education for children of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. Dr. Primas is the program manager for the NNPA’s Every Student Succeeds Act Public Awareness Campaign. Follow Dr. Primas on Twitter @elizabethprimas.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
South African Student Makes History by Using Official Language in Thesis
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When the time arrived for Nompumelelo Kapa to write her doctoral thesis at the University of Fort Hare in Eastern Cape, South Africa, she likely responded: Masambe – a word that, when translated in English, means “Let’s Go” in the original South African language of isiXhosa. The married mother of two and high school teacher made history by being the first person at the prestigious 102-year-old university to write her thesis in isiXhosa. The school, which in the mid-20th Century earned a reputation for creating a black African elite, offers a Western-style academic education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa. It has earned numerous academic awards and boasts many achievements. “This is indeed a beautiful experience. I love my language so much,” Kapa told London’s Daily Dispatch.
two of the benefits everyone has received as a result of the law. Connecticut passed a law earlier this year that requires plans to cover certain essential health benefits, but they didn’t pass legislation that required coverage of everyone regardless of their medical condition. Changes made by the Trump administration have impacted insurance rates offered through Access Health CT, Connecticut’s health insurance exchange. But the impact was much bigger for 2018 plans than it will be for 2019 plans. Anthem Health Plans had proposed a 9.1 percent rate increase for their 2019 plans. The department opted instead for a 2.7 percent premium reduction. ConnectiCare’s average rate increase was dropped from 13 percent to 4 percent. Last year the Insurance Department approved average rate increases of 31.7 percent and 27.7 percent. That was mostly due to the federal government’s decision to eliminate the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments to insurers. The two insurance carriers received about $50 million a year in CSRs for 46,000 of the 98,000 exchange customers. About 25 percent of the 98,000 exchange customers receive advanced premium tax credits and 25 percent receive no financial assistance. “While the federal government officially removed the individual mandate penalty for 2019, the Department and carriers accounted for this in the 2018 rates,” Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade has said.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia
For her efforts, Kapa received a doctorate in literature and philosophy. “We are talking about transforming and decolonizing Africa, so isiXhosa should be considered and we also want to produce more isiXhosa writers, journalists, translators and others,” Kapa told the Sowetan news organization in South Africa. The title of her thesis is, “Aspects of Culture and the Humor that Influence Naming in Selected IsiXhosa Texts: What’s in a Name?”
In explaining the reasons she wrote her thesis in her mother tongue, Kapa said isiXhosa had become stifled as a result of “people finding it fashionable to write and speak in other languages, especially English, and in the process losing their identity and roots and endangering our heritage.” Professor Nomsa Satyo called Kapa’s feat a milestone, a first of its kind.
There are 11 official languages in South Africa, of which Xhosa is one of the most widely spoken, according to South African tourism officials. Approximately 16 percent of South Africa’s population, or 8.3 million people, cite Xhosa as being their home language. Xhosa is characterized by a number of clicking sounds, which are formed by the tongue. These are represented by the letters c, x and q. Those that speak the Xhosa language are usually part of an ethnic group known as the amaXhosa. This language is officially referred to as isiXhosa. The word “Xhosa” is derived from the Khoisan language and means “angry men.” Most of the languages in South Africa that involve tongue-clicking originate from the indigenous Khoisan people, who included plenty of different clicks in their speech and language, according to the website, sa-venues.com. Xhosa falls under the umbrella of the Bantu languages and is a representative of the south-western Nguni family. As a result, South Africa is known to be the na-
tive land of the Xhosa folk. This is especially true of the Eastern Cape, where the language is spoken extensively and taught in the schools. The Zulu people of South Africa have their own name for the Xhosa people, the KwaXhosa. When translated, KwaXhosa simply means “land of Xhosa.” Some other isiXhosa translations include: • Ngubani ixesha?- What’s the time now? • Iphi? – Where is it? • Mamela – Listen (Mamela apha – Listen here) • Andazi – I don’t know Reportedly, it has been a milestone year
Find your [first step to your own front steps] place.
for South African languages with another student, Hleze Kunju, becoming the first PhD student at Rhodes University in South Africa to write his thesis in isiXhosa. “This study‚ on onomastics (the history and origin of a name) will contribute towards the development of the orthography (spellings) of isiXhosa so as to be on a par with that of languages that have been standardized,” Professor Satyo said. “[Kapa’s] thesis is … imperative as a furtherance of‚ and a contribution to the development‚ promotion and use of isiXhosa as an official language of South Africa.”
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
How Black Women Are Affected Differently by Ovarian Cancer by Jasmine Browley, BlackDoctor.org
Ovarian cancer is perhaps one of the most dangerous diseases because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body very quickly, often without the knowledge of the victim. It is also the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women, with more than 22,000 US women facing a potential diagnosis in the next few years, and around 15,000 dying from it. If it’s caught in an early stage (Stage 1-2), however, a woman has more than a 90 percent chance of long-term survival. Only about 20 percent of cases are caught in their early stage when the disease is most curable. While Black women have a lower incidence rate of ovarian cancer than their white counterparts, their 5-year survival rate is significantly lower because of late detection. Key signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer that women should be aware of include bloating, pelvic or stomach pain, backaches, changes in eating habits or feeling full quickly, constipation, menstrual changes and pain during sex, per The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. While these signs aren’t direct indicators of cancer, if they continue for more than 14 days, women should pay close attention to them and mention their concerns to an OB/GYN immediately. Since the symptoms of ovarian cancer are very unclear and could easily be conflated with other minor health issues, the fact still remains that these often overlooked symptoms contribute heavily to ovarian cancer’s high rate of diagnoses at advanced stage, thus requiring more aggressive, rigorous and invasive methods of treatment. Another contributing factor to the dispro-
portionate treatment in the Black community is that most African American patients aren’t aware of their family’s medical history. In an interview with Ebony Magazine, Dr. Lisa M. Johnson, founder of Ivy Obstetrics & Gynecology in New York City said, “a lot of the symptoms that women experience as they age are considered acceptable changes that come with life. They don’t necessarily talk to their daughters or granddaughters about what they’ve experienced because that’s not considered proper.” Johnson continued by saying that her young female patients say “‘Oh, my grandmother had a hysterectomy, but I don’t know why, or my cousin had cancer but no one will talk about it.’” She also said that this is often not the case when it comes to many of her white patients who come to her office with more than enough information about their family history, possibly because they feel more comfortable inquiring about the important information.
Dr. Johnson also suggested that Black women should get more comfortable researching their risk factors for developing ovarian cancer later in life. The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, states that genetic predisposition, personal or family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer, increasing age and undesired infertility all play into the susceptibility of developing ovarian cancer. While there is no screening test for early ovarian cancer available yet, you can work closely with your doctor to keep an eye on potential warning signs, dig deep into your family’s history for clues and stay informed about the disease overall. For more information, please visit www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer. Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Hyper-Masculinity: Shifting The Narrative by Abril Green, BlackDoctor.org
After the viral video that showed Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, sharing an intimate moment of affection, social media flipped with wavering opinions. While some people appreciated the display of tenderness from the two major league baseball players, others weren’t as open to the idea of two men, especially in sports, displaying this type of affection. According to reports, Albies comforted Acuna, whose mother passed away during the Game. Still, that wasn’t enough to get naysayers from poking “fun” at the two best friends’ consoling moment. Black social media couldn’t stop with their homophobic rave; frowning upon what was a naturally empathetic experience. Hypermasculinity, the term for the exaggeration of male stereotypical behavior, became a topic of discussion when it exposed the true feelings of how people expect men to show feelings, and affection, or not, especially toward their male counterparts. This idea of hypermasculinity paints this picture of our men to be these physically strong, aggressive and overly sexual beings and anything opposite of that, is wrong or abnormal. Hypermasculinity says that men shouldn’t cry, or be humanly sensitive even when life happens. It says men shouldn’t embrace other men in emotionally physically ways, or show compassion; empathy. It says that men must learn to hide their true feelings for the sake of appearing “manly” or masculine. We should be very careful when it comes to the messages we send to our boys; our black boys. So, It’s time we rewrite this narrative. The truth is, it is absolutely okay for men to cry. Crying is a very natural reaction to sadness, pain and even happiness. Telling our boys that crying is equated to weakness shuns out a side of them that is completely natural and human. Crying is our body’s way of dealing with grief. When we internalize our emotions, it makes the coping process harder; which means we never get to face it. What we’re teaching is backward. We openly express we want our men to be “men”; to be able to handle things as maturely as they can; to be able to communicate effectively. But on the other hand, we’ve taught them since birth that showing emotion physically, or verbally, is “gay”. The two can’t thrive together. Furthermore, Women, how can we expect our men to show us compassion, be understanding or empathetic to our needs, when we send so much backlash to them for wanting to experience that within themselves? The only time we want our men to cry is when they see us walk down the aisle to them on our
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wedding day? This is absurd. Male introversion is a real thing and it puts a real hindrance on the emotional intelligence of a person. For our community specifically, hypermasculinity dates back to slavery when our black men were seen as super strong–desired specifically for their strength to endure hard and strenuous labor. Slave owners desired these black men who didn’t show emotions because that meant that obeying “orders” and “commands” would be an easy task. It meant that owners wouldn’t have to sit through the heartbreak of cries when their slaves’ wives and children were being sold just a few feet from their eyes. It meant that they would internalize whatever they felt, and learn to “deal with it”, even when their insides were burning from agony, torture, and pure pain. And to think, we’ve somehow adopted this mentality and made it our own, even after it held such a huge negative stigma. Our very own oppression is tied to hypermasculinity and we’ve decided to carry this around in our pockets and purses and praise it to be true, without worry or disregard. It wasn’t until slaves began to rebel against their owners that the world started to view black men’s strength as a weapon. Now, they were suddenly viewed as dangerous beings. We see this today with how the police handle our black men, with so much aggression and force compared to our white counterparts. To them, a black man’s strength wasn’t the only thing that made them dangerous, but it was their lack of emotion as well. And this is something we want to agree with? We must show society that this is not our black man’s narrative. They should
not be defined by their strength, or ability to repress their emotions. So we must start to teach the opposite. It is okay for our black boys to cry without fear of being called gay. It’s okay for our black boys to identify with their sensitive side without being ridiculed by their peers. It’s okay for black boys to have joy. It’s okay for black boys to shine! It’s okay for our black men to show a woman affection without being labeled “corny” or “feminine”. We need to stop questioning their manhood when they decide to act outside of this hypermasculinity box. We need to allow our black men to hug other black men and feel embraced by their masculinity. We need to allow our black men to outwardly and openly grieve and be comforted. We need to allow our black men the right to tell another man, “I Love You” and mean it. We must allow our black fathers to kiss their black sons so that those black sons grow up to be responsible and loving black fathers. This hypermasculinity narrative was written about us, for THEM. It’s been time to write our own. We need to allow black men the freedom to be, Black. Because black is fearless. Black is brave. And black is the audacity to DREAM when the world expects us to be a nightmare. Abril Green (Edwards) is an author, spoken word artist & motivational speaker; founder of #BumpyButNotBlocked Ministries & Spoken WorDship where she spits “Poetry with A Purpose”. Currently a Literacy Interventionist at Chicago Public Schools, Abril believes “the greatest relationship outside of Man and His Higher Power, is between a Pen and HER Paper.”
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Japanese Drug Now Used To Slow Brain Shrinkage in Progressive MS HealthDay News
A preliminary trial has found a drug that has long been used in Japan for asthma may slow down brain shrinkage in people with advanced, progressive multiple sclerosis. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tested an oral drug called Ibudilast. It is not approved in the United States but has been used for years in Japan as a treatment for asthma and for vertigo in stroke survivors. Researchers found that the drug slowed brain shrinkage by 48 percent when compared with an inactive placebo among patients with progressive MS. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disorder caused by a misguided immune system attack on the protective sheath around nerve fibers in the spine and brain. Depending on where the damage occurs, symptoms include vision problems, muscle weakness, numbness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Most people with MS are initially diagnosed with the “relapsing-remitting” form, meaning that their symptoms flare up for a time and then ease. Patients in this trial had progressive MS, where the disease steadily worsens without periods of recovery. And while more than a dozen drugs are available to manage relapsing MS, there are few options for progressive forms of the disease, said Dr. Robert Fox, lead researcher on the new study. In general, the drugs for relapsing MS
do not work for people with progressive forms, said Fox, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic. The biology of progressive MS, Fox explained, seems to be “fundamentally different.” Inflammation drives relapsing MS, while the progressive forms seem to be driven by degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, following damage from the inflammatory phase. Ibudilast can suppress inflammation, and it was first tested against relapsing MS — where it failed to prevent relapses. But, Fox said, the drug did slow brain shrinkage (atrophy). And that led researchers to suspect it might help patients with progressive MS. Fox and his colleagues recruited 255 patients with progressive MS from 28 U.S. medical centers. Patients were randomly assigned to take either ibudilast or placebo pills every day for 96 weeks. In the end, patients on the drug showed, on average, 48 percent less atrophy in their brain tissue. The big question, Fox said, is whether that will slow patients’ progression to disability. “This is a proof-of-concept,” he said. “We’ve shown that this slows brain atrophy. We haven’t shown that it slows clinical progression.” Longer-term studies are needed to prove that. For now, Fox stressed, “this drug is not available in the U.S., and it will be some time before it is.” Bruce Bebo is executive vice president of
research for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society — which partly funded the trial. Bebo called the findings a “milestone,” but cautioned that the drug will have to show benefits against the disease’s course and not only brain shrinkage. “Those clinical benefits take a longer time to measure,” he said. For patients and families, though, this is one more positive step against progressive MS, he added. “This is one of a number of trials testing new therapies for progressive MS,” Bebo said. “It’s only a matter of time before we’ll have more and better treatments.” Ibudilast did have side effects: 92 percent of patients in the trial reported “adverse events,” though 88 percent of placebo patients did, too. Headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms — like abdominal pain and nausea — were the main problems tied to the drug. In addition, 9 percent of ibudilast patients developed depression, compared to 3 percent of placebo patients. Fox said, “That’s something we’ll want to watch very carefully going forward.” But overall, only 8 percent of ibudilast patients withdrew from the study because of a side effect. That suggests the drug was well-tolerated, Fox said. There are two forms of progressive MS: secondary, which develops after an initial diagnosis of relapsing MS; and primary, which means it progressively worsens from the start, with no periods of remission. About half of Americans with MS have a progressive form of the disease, ac-
cording to Bebo. Yet, Fox said, they’ve been “underserved” when it comes to research into new treatments. “Progressive MS has been the forgotten child,” Fox said. “I think this study can provide them with another chapter of hope.” To learn more information on multiple sclerosis. Visit our Health Conditions
tab on BlackDoctor.org. SOURCES: Robert Fox, M.D., vice chairman, research, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; Bruce Bebo, Ph.D., executive vice president, research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York; Aug. 30, 2018, New England Journal of Medicine
VOTE YES! STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT DILLON DILLON STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT DILLON FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT PROUDLY SERVINGNOVEMBER NEW HAVEN VOTE ROW A A TUESDAY, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH VOTE ROW 6TH. ASSISTANT MAJORITY WHIP VOTE DEMOCRAT! VOTE ROW A HAVEN NEW PROUDLY SERVING
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17
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Don’t Miss the Rear View in the Hitchcock Homage: By The Afro
New York, NY, October 8, 2018 – Dark Star Pictures is pleased to announce that it has secured a U.S. theatrical release for the suspense thriller Number 37, beginning Friday, November 2, 2018. In her debut feature film Number 37, South African director Nosipho Dumisa stages a classic Hitchcockian tale against the raw backdrop of slum life in a forgotten quadrant of Cape Town. In a gritty homage to perennial Alfred Hitchcock favorite Rear Window, the movie points a lens on the residents of a block of apartments in the down-andout Cape Flats neighborhood–which, with its petty thugs, crooked cops, violent loan sharks, and troubled pastors, soon reveals itself to be a very different place from Rear Window’s Greenwich Village of 1954. Building on her award-winning short film of the same name, Dumisa refreshes the classic suspense thriller—a genre characterized by edge-of-your-seat tension and plot twists—with this depiction of a lowlevel thief turned drug trafficker who loses the use of his legs in a deal gone bad. Like James Stewart in Rear Window, he passes his convalescence by gazing out at the world through his binoculars; but when he accidentally witnesses a crime, he seizes the moment as an opportunity to hatch an elaborate and risky blackmail scheme. Turning the plot of Rear Window on its head, the film asks the question: What hap-
pens when the innocent bystander is himself not that innocent? Brooding antihero Randal, played by Irshaad Ally—an actor who grew up in the district and intimately knows the grim corners of the Cape Flats—is matched by devoted girlfriend Pam, animated with both natural grace and fierce determination by Monique Rockman in her promising debut film lead. Together they radiate the undeniable James Stewart/Grace Kelly chemistry that also pays taut tribute to Hitchcock. One of South Africa’s first black female feature film directors, Dumisa won the Cheval Noir Best Director prize for Number 37 at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, just after the film’s world premiere at SXSW this past March. Dumisa also cowrote the script (alongside Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute), which brims both with sympathy for the hard-luck residents of the fictional Haven Mansions block of Cape Flats—the film was shot on location in the area, rendered in dusty, sunlit panoramas by celebrated cinematographer Zenn van Zyl and complemented by the stirring violins of James Mathes’s original score—and with the local details that keep the vigorous plot in motion until its inevitable end. Synopsis: Set in a rough section of Cape Town, Number 37 follows Randal Hendricks, a small-time crook who becomes wheelchair-bound in a drug deal gone wrong, and his hard-working girlfriend Pam Ismael. To distract Randal during his home-
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bound days of limited mobility, Pam gives him a pair of binoculars. While idly surveying his block, he accidentally witnesses a dirty cop being executed by his gangster neighbor Lawyer. With a loan shark breathing down his neck, Randal decides to blackmail Lawyer, and enlists the help of both his girlfriend and his friend Warren. When the plan goes horribly awry, Randal’s options get more and more restricted—and not even local detective Gail February, investigating the death of her partner, may be able to help
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18
NUMBER 37
him. Starring Irshaad Ally, Monique Rockman, Ephraim Gordon, Sandi Schultz, Danny Ross, David Manuel, Elton Landrew, and Deon Lotz, Number 37 is the debut feature of Nosipho Dumisa and has a script co-written by Dumisa, Travis Taute, and Daryne Joshua. Produced by Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer of South Africa’s Gambit Films, in association with kykNET Films, M-Net, XYZ Films and the DTI, and distributed by Ster-Kinekor Entertainment
and Dark Star Pictures. The full-length version of Dumisa’s short film of the same name, which made a splash as the winner of the prestigious SAFTA Award for Best Short Film in 2016, Number 37 received its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2018. RT: 110 minutes; Color; Language: Afrikaans, English; Rating: NR; Sound: Dolby 5.1 This article originally appeared in The Afro.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sister’s Journey Survivor Stories: Stacey Hobson, October 2018 Calendar Feature
Hi, my name is Stacey Hobson. I am the mother of one son, DaVonn, and grandmother to one special granddaughter, Keyani.
I started having mammograms in my late 20s at the request of my doctor due to another breast-related issue. In May 2006, I went to have my regularly scheduled mammogram. This time things were different. First, the technician told me not to get dressed; then she told me the mammogram was not clear and she needed to take another image. After the second mammogram, the technician told me she wanted to have the radiologist take a look at my mammogram results. Two hours and three mammograms later, I was told my mammogram results were abnormal and I needed a biopsy. At 35 years young I had to have a biopsy. A week later, I got the results that I had Stage 1 Breast Cancer and it was treatable. I scheduled a consultation to get all the information I could about Stage 1 Breast Cancer – surgery, treatment, pre- and postsurgery and any other information that was important to my health. I was in shock, scared and nervous, but I immediately told my son, my mother (Sharon), my sisters (Debbie, Adrienne, Erica, & Jonisha) and my friend (Marvina) who were all very supportive. Although it was Stage 1 Breast Cancer, it was detected early and it was invasive, but confined to the area where the abnormality began. It was successfully treated with surgery (a lumpectomy, removing the tumor and any adjacent tissue) and 16 weeks of radiation. Some days were better than others, but most importantly, I survived, and I’m here grateful and thankful. EARLY DETECTION IS THE BEST
PROTECTION!! Thanking God for his grace and mercy. Special thank you to my sister Debbie and good friend Marvina who were right there with me before and after surgery and then by my side at home while I was resting, relaxing and recuperating!!! Since becoming a Survivor, I have been a committee member with the American Cancer Society/Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. I started my own Team in 2007, Team F.A.C.E.D (Fighting Against Cancer Every Day). We started out with 10 team members and now we have over 40 walkers and supporters and we continue to
grow every year. I would like to thank all the walkers, and supporters. We will find a cure one step at a time! Stage 1 Breast Cancer! What does that mean for me? GOD IS BIGGER THAN ANY PAIN, PROBLEM OR PROCEDURE! God Bless all the survivors! Sisters’ Journey, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, seeks to aid and support women diagnosed with and who have survived breast cancer. Help us continue on our mission by making a charitable contribution. www.sistersjourney.org
19
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Denis Mukwege Inspired by the Women He Treats By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
Having treated more than 50,000 rape victims at Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Denis Mukwege is known as “the man who mends women.” “The strength of the women I have been treating for more than two decades is what inspires me,” the newly-minted Noble Peace Prize winner told NNPA Newswire in an exclusive interview this week. “Their resilience and their courage is a daily source of inspiration,” he said. Surprised by the Nobel Prize announcement earlier this month, Dr. Mukwege said he was performing surgery when he began hearing people yelling. “This is when I understood that this burst of enthusiasm from my colleagues was because I had just received the Nobel Peace Prize. I did not expect [to surgeon is the founder and medical di- serving that female patients at Lemera win] at all,” he said. rector at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. Hospital in the Congo suffered from “My first reaction was to think of all the As a young child, Dr. Mukwege ac- insufficient medical care, which caused women, rape victims around the world, companied his father, a Pentecostal complications during their deliveries. to whom I have dedicated my life for pastor, while visiting sick members of Working on issues of maternal health, the past 20 years, who finally received the community. He said that would later since 1999 Dr. Mukwege and his staff at the recognition they deserve,” Dr. Muk- inspire him to become a doctor. Panzi Hospital have helped to care for wege said. He made the decision to specialize more than 50,000 survivors of sexual Theinner world-renowned gynecological in gynecology and obstetrics 1:35 after PM ob- Page violence. RP city news 5.471 x 5.1. oct rev.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/18 1
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The hospital not only treats survivors with physical wounds, but also provides legal, and psycho-social services to its patients. Patients who cannot afford post-rape medical care are treated without charge at Panzi Hospital. “Many impacts are often ignored or forgotten. One of the first things that come to my mind is the deep psychological wounds suffered by victims, which – if not given the proper care – can last a lifetime,” Dr. Mukwege said. “These psychological consequences are often ignored, yet they have an impact not only on the survivors, but also their relations with their families and with society as a whole,” he said. “Broadly speaking, I think it is essential to listen to victims because they – more than anyone else – know what they want and what they need. Listening to survivors is also a way to empower them, which is an important step in their healing process,” he said. The birth of the #MeToo movement and the awarding of the Nobel Prize to he and Iraqi Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad, who has detailed her life as an ISIS sex slave, illustrate that mentalities are slowly beginning to change and that there’s a gradual evolu-
tion in mindset, Dr. Mukwege said. “However, I argue that rape is a weapon of mass destruction, cheaper than a gun and terribly effective, it is still widely used today in conflict zones to terrorize populations, not only in DRC, but also in Myanmar, South Sudan, Iraq, and other places,” he said. “When women’s sexual organs are used as battlefields, the social fabric of communities is destroyed, impacting the society as a whole. In Congo especially, as women are the heart of the household, the consequences of sexual violence are irreversible and transgenerational. “I do not think that governments are yet fully aware of the magnitude of this phenomenon and its consequences.” Dr. Mukwege said the Black Press should remain vigilant about allowing the voices of victims to be heard. “I believe that the voices of all minorities need to resonate strongly to complete and sometimes challenge the majority’s narrative,” he said. “This is of course the case of African American voices – illustrating the essential role of the Black Press – as well as the voices of all victims of sexual violence worldwide.”
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INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 -- August 02, 2016 THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 October 30, 2018
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
Dispatcher
ELM CITY COMMUNITIES
Request for Proposals NOTICE Master Lease Agreement Services
Galasso Materials is seeking a motivated, organized, detail-oriented candidate to join its truck dispatch office. Responsibilities include order entry and truck ticketing in a fast paced materials manufacturing and contracting company. You will have daily interaction with employees and customers The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Comas numerous truckloads of material cross our scales daily. We are willing munities is currently seeking Proposals for Master Lease Agreement to train the right individual that has a great attitude. NO PHONE CALLS Services. complete copy of of Columbus the requirement may be the obtained from Housing PLEASE.Authority, Reply to Hiring Manager, PO Box 1776, East Granby, CT 06026. HOMEAINC, on behalf House and New Haven Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. EOE/M/F/D/V.
VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this devel-
cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, October 15, opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations ap2018 at 3:00PM.
DELIVERY PERSON
ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have ELM CITY COMMUNITIES been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon rePart quest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed pre-Time Delivery Needed Invitation for Bid applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third One/Two Day a Week, Pest Control and Preventative Maintenance Services Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.
Must Have your Own Vehicle
The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for Pest Control and Preventative Maintenance Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway Monday, OcVALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DEbeginning ALQUILERonPRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES tober 15, 2018 at 3:00PM.
NOTICIA
If Interested call
(203) 435-1387
HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos esteCommunity desarrollo Foundation for Greater New Haven The Glendower Group, Inc de un dormitorio enThe ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos is seeking máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martesto25fill the position of Director of Gift Planning. Request for Proposals Please refer100) to our website for details: http://www.cfgnh.org/ julio,Market 2016 hastaResearch cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente and Brand Positioning About/ContactUs/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx. EOE. en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición Electronic submissions only. No phone calls Thellamando Glendower Group, Incal an affiliate of durante Housingesas Authority City of a HOME INC 203-562-4663 horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse New Haven d/b/adeElm city INC Communities is currently proposa las oficinas HOME en 171 Orange Street,seeking tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .
Request for Proposal (RFP) General Counsel Solicitation Number: 115-EO-18-S
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) seeks proposals from attorneys/law firms for the provision of a full cadre of legal services. Respondent(s) must have graduated from an accredited law school and be a member of the Connecticut Bar. A complete set of RFP documents will be available on September 24, 2018. To obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at PCC’s Administrative Offices at 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604 on October 11, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. All interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend the conference. Although not mandatory, all applicants are encouraged to attend to better understand the PCC’s requirements under this RFP. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than October 18, 2018 @ 3:00 p.m. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www.parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed or hand delivered by November 5, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Director of Procurement, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Late proposals will not be accepted.
Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
Request for Proposal (RFP) Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Management and Support Services Solicitation Number: 116-S8-18-S
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is seeking proposals from consulting/management firms to provide management and support services for our HCV Program. A complete set of RFP documents can be obtained on September 24, 2018 by emailing your request to bids@parkcitycommunities. org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at PCC’s Administrative Offices at 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 on October 10, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. All interested parties are strongly encouraged als for Market Research and Brand Positioning. A complete copy of to attend the conference. Although not mandatory, all applicants are encouraged to attend the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaborato better understand the PCC’s requirements under this RFP. Additional questions should tion Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway The Town of be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than October 18, 2018 @ 3:00 beginning on Monday, October 15, 2018 at 3:00PM Wallingford Electric Division is seeking a highly technical manp.m. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www.parkcitycomager with strong administrative skills to manage the construction, munities.org. Proposals shall be mailed or hand delivered by November 5, 2018 at 3:00 Public Notice maintenance and operation of the utility’s electric transmission and The Manchester Housing Authority will open the waiting list for distribution systems. The utility serves 24,700 customers in a 50+ p.m. to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Director of Procurement, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. to Bid: Late proposals will not be accepted. the Federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 130 MW.Invitation The Applications will be available at 8:00 AM Monday November 5th, position requires a B.S. degree in electrical engineering plus 8 years 2nd Notice 2018- Friday November 5th, 2018 at 4:00PM in person and on the of responsible experience in electric utility distribution, construction Listing: Retail Assistant MHA website at http://manchesterha.org and may be returned to maintenance and operations which must include 4 years of super24 Bluefi Drive Manchester, 06040 in person or by mail Alleld new apartments, newCTappliances, new carpet, close to I-91 experience, & I-95 visory or an equivalent combination of education Petroleum Oldand Saybrook, CT Company has an immediate full time opening. Previous experience helpful in 8:00AM Monday November 26th,near 2018bus - 4:00PM Novemanswering multiple telephone lines and in dealing with customers. Personable customer highways, stop &Friday shopping centerexperience substituting on a year-for year basis. Salary: $91,742 Buildings,service 17 Units) ber 30th, 2018. Important Information: This is not first come first $117,382 plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: (4 Human skills a must. Previous petroleum experience a plus. Applicant to also perform Pet MHA under will 40lbplace allowed. Interested parties Maria @ 860-985-8258 serve, The all applications into a contact lottery process Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, Tax 45 South Main Street, administrative tasks such as typing proposals, scheduling appointments and ordering parts that and select 400 applications to be placed on the waiting list. Wallingford, CT 06492. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will and materials. Please send resume to: H.R. Manager, Confidential, P O Box 388, Guilford Once the lottery is performed the 400 chosen applicants will re- be November 6, 2018 or the date the 50th application is received, CT 06437. CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castceive a letter informing them that they have been placed on the ********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer********** Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates HCV waiting list. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30Contact: Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., the3:30 MHA willChairman, not contact applicants who areB.S. not chosen. TheAppliances, Manchester Housing Authority will open the State of Connecticut Elderly Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Residential Casework, (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster . waiting list for Spencer Village I & II. The property consists of 80 studio units with a base Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. The Manchester St. New Haven, CT Housing Authority does not discriminate based upon race, Town of Greenwich rent of $425.00. 300 applicants chosen by lottery will be entered on the waiting list. Applicolor, disability, familial status, sex or national origin This contract is subject to state set-asidecations and contract compliance requirements. are available in person and on the MHA website at http://manchesterha.org and will Do You Want A Job That Makes A Difference? Become A Town be accepted by mail or in person at 24 Bluefield Drive Manchester, CT 06040. Applications of Greenwich Police Officer. To view detailed information and will be accepted October 1st 8AM – October 31st, 2018 4PM. Applicants must meet the Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 apply online visitwww.governmentjobs.com/careers/greenwichct income limits and the definition of an “elderly person”. An “elderly person” is 62 years of Public Notice Candidates must fulfill several basic requirements including: Anticipated Start: age August 15, 2016 or older, or a person who has been certified by the Social Security board as being totally The Manchester Housing Authority open the waiting list for Town of Seymour Sealed bids are invited by the will Housing Authority of the · Be a U.S. Citizen the Federal Low Income Public Housing (LIPH) program (Elderly/ Project documents available via ftp link below: at least 20 years of age until 3:00 pmunits on atTuesday, 2,1,2016 its office at ·28 Be Smith Street, Disabled) 2 BR 8:00 AMAugust November 2018.atApplications · Possess 45 college credits,http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage or 2 years of active military areSeymour, available in andfor on Concrete the MHA website at http://manchesCTperson 06483 Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the service or equivalent terha.org and may be returned to 24 BluefiFacility, eld Drive26 Manchester, Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Smith Street Seymour. Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com CT 06040 in person or by mail. HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses . The Town of Greenwich is dedicated to Diversity & Equal OpThe Manchester Housing Authority does not based Authority Office 28 Smith Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 A pre-bid conference will be held atdiscriminate the Housing portunity Employment; Town of Greenwich, HR Dept., 101 Field upon race, color, disability, familial status, sex or national origin AA/EEO EMPLOYER Point Rd, Greenwich, CT 06830 Close Date 4:00 PM 11/4/18. Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Electric
Distribution Superintendent –
NEW HAVEN
242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA
SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE
Police Officer
SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY
Current Salary: $64,552
Town of Bloomfield
ClassOf-A driver F/T Experienced Bidding documents areAssessor available fromhourly the Seymour Housing Authority Full Time Assistant $39.96 Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. Email-Hherbert@gwfabrication.com For details and how to apply go to www.bloomfieldct.org
The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any
21
Mechanical Insulator position Insulation company offering good pay and benefits. Please mail resume to above address.. MAIL ONLY This company is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.
July24, 27,2018 2016 - August THE INNER-CITY INNER-CITY NEWSNEWS - 0ctober October02, 30,2016 2018
ATTENTION GENERAL CONTRACTORS NOTICE ***INVITATION TO BID***
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM UPGRADES AT VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE KENNEDY, RIBICOFF & GRAHAM APARTMENTS HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations ap1. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY of the CITY OF NEW BRITAIN (Housing Authority) Pre-applications be availablefor from 5PM beginning Monday willply. receive sealed bids, inwill TRIPLICATE, the 9AM aboveTO referenced construction projectJu;y at its 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient (approximately 100) have development, known as Kennedy, Ribicoff &pre-applications Graham APARTMENTS, New Britain, CT. been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon re2. quest The work generally consists of at removal and replacement existing fire alarm system.preby calling HOME INC 203-562-4663 duringofthose hours. Completed applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third 3. Floor, All bids shallHaven, be clearly New CTmarked 06510.“Fire Alarm System Upgrades at Kennedy, Ribicoff and
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AREA
Graham Apartments”, delivered to the Authority Offices by mail or courier, and time and date stamped upon receipt. Bids will be received until December 6th, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at the office of the Housing Authority, 16 Armistice Street, New Britain, CT 06053, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud.
NOTICIA
VALENTINA DE November ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES 4. There will be MACRI a pre-bidVIVIENDAS walk thru on 8th, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at Kennedy Apartments 300 East Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051. Interested bidders should attend thisHOME meeting to understand the scope of ywork intent of bid documents. Anyestá bidINC, en nombreand de laclarify Columbus House de laand New Haven Housing Authority, der,aceptando who is notpre-solicitudes in attendance at thisestudios meeting,y will be held responsible for the en understanding and para apartamentos de un dormitorio este desarrollo extent of the scope of work and the contract. ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos estarán a.m.-5 p.m. 5. máximos. Bid forms Las and pre-solicitudes contract documents are disponibles on file as of09 November 1st,comenzando 2018 at 1:00Martes P.M at 25 the julio, 2016 hasta Offi cuando se han recibido (aproximadamente 100) Housing Authority ce. Copies of these suficientes documents pre-solicitudes may be obtained by depositing a $50.00 check (CHECK NO INC. CASH) payable toserán The Housing the City en las oficinasONLY, de HOME Lasmade pre-solicitudes enviadas Authority por correo of a petición of llamando New Britain for each documents so obtained. Such deposit will be deberán non-refundable. a HOME INCsetal of 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 . 6. Each bidder is required to submit with their bid, a bid guarantee of not less than 5% of the amount of the bid in the form of a certified check or bank draft, U.S. Government Bonds at par value, an irrevocable letter of credit or a bid bond secured by a surety company.
7. The successful bidder will be required to furnish a performance and payment bond for 100% of the contract price; or a 100% cash escrow; or a 25% irrevocable letter of credit. The surety must be a guarantee or surety company acceptable to the Housing Authority and licensed to provide sureties in the State of Connecticut. Individual sureties will not be considered.
NEW HAVEN
242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA
8. The Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informality in the bidding. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of 90 days subsequent to the opening of bids without the consent of the Housing Authority.
All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95
highways, neartobus stop the & shopping 9. It is the responsibility of the Bidder monitor nbhact.org center website for any notices and Addendum(s) that may be issued pertinent to the information being viewed. Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258
The Housing Authority of the City of New Britain is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative AcCT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s tion Employer and conducts business indesigned accordance with all intellectual Federal, State andofLocal laws, Certificate Program. This is a 10 its month program to assist in the formation Candidates regulations guidelines. Small, Minority, Business and 20, Disabled are in responseand to the Church’s Ministry needs. The costWomen is $125. Classes startEnterprises Saturday, August 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. encouraged toChairman, participate in this process. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT HOUSING AUTHORITY of
the CITY OF NEW BRITAIN
_______________________________ John T. Hamilton, Executive Director
SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY
Listing: Assistant - Immediate Sealed bidsTransportation are invited by the Housing Authority of the TownOpening of Seymour until 3:00 petroleum pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 its Transportation office at 28 Smith Street, High Volume oil company is seeking a fullat time Assistant. Work time begins atCT 6:00AM. petroleum oil, retail or commercial dispatching experiSeymour, 06483 Previous for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the ence a plus. MUST possess excellent attention to detail, manage multiple projSmithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 ability Smith toStreet Seymour. ects, excel proficiency and good computer skills required. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept., PO Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437. A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith ********An Action/Equal Opportunity Employer********** Street Seymour,Affi CTrmative at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Scale House Operator, Data Entry, Print, Copy & Scan Documents. Working knowl-
edge of Haz.documents Waste Regs.,are & Manifests. OSHA certification a +. Forward resumes Bidding availableDOT from&the Seymour Housing Authority Ofto fice, RED28 Technologies, LLC Fax 860-218-2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any
Field Engineer
State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for an Information Technology Analyst 1 position, a Municipal Assessment Professional position and a Research Analyst position.
BA/BS in Civil Engineering or Construction Management. 2-5 yrs. experience. OSHA Certified. Proficient in reading contract plans and specifications. Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002; Fax 860.218.2433; Email resumes to info@redtechllc.com. RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
Project Manager Environmental Remediation Division
For information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions, please visit https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT and click on:
3-5 years exp. and Bachelor’s Degree, 40-Hr. Hazwoper Training Req. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC,
Information Technology Analyst 1 (40 Hour) Recruitment #180815-7603FD-001
RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
Municipal Assessment Professional Recruitment #180817-5864AR-001 Research Analyst Recruitment #180822-6855AR-001 The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Administrative Assistant
10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002;
Fax 860.218.2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com
Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc
seeks: Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Dan Peterson Phone: 860- 243-2300 email: dpeterson@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer
Must have DOT Construction Exp. Involves traveling to Job Site for record keeping. Reliable transportation a must. NO PHONE CALLS EMAIL RESUME TO michelle@occllc.com EOE/AA Females and Minorities are encouraged to apply
Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc
seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com
Bridge Repair Crew Openings Invitation to Bid:
Operators, Foreman M/F. Drivers 2nd Notice CDL,Laborers,Excavation, Welders, Concrete Work SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE 860-664-8042, Fax 860-664-9175 michelle@occllc.com EOE CT Old Saybrook, Females and Minorities(4encouraged apply Buildings, 17toUnits)
Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer
Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project
Firefighter/ParamediC
Union Company seeks:
New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition,Tractor Site-work,Trailer Cast- Driver for Heavy & Highway ConThe Town of Wallingford currently Asphalt acceptingShingles, applications in-placeis Concrete, Vinylfor Siding, struction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, Firefighter/Paramedic. Applicants must have: a valid CPAT card, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, HS diploma/GED, valid driver’s license and hold a valid Paramedic equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Electrical, Plumbing Fire Protection. License that meetsMechanical, CT State Regulations. Copies ofand licenses and certifi cations must be submitted with application materials. The This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. Northeast & NY.
Town of Wallingford offers a competitive pay rate of $55,145.48 We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits to $71,095.44 annually. In addition, there is a $4,500 annual paraContact Dana at 860-243-2300. Bid Extended, Duet package. Date: August 5, 2016 medic bonus plus an excellent fringe benefi Application Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com deadline is November 13, 2018 or the date theAugust 75th application Anticipated Start: 15, 2016 is Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply received, whichever occurs first. Apply: Human Resources DepartProject documents available via ftp link below: Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer ment, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main St., Wallingford, CT. phone:http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage (203) 294-2080; fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE.
FENCE ERECTING SUBCONTRACTORS
Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com Town of Bloomfi eld S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 Large CT Fence & Guardrail Contractor is looking AA/EEO EMPLOYER for experienced, responsible commercial and resi-
Full Time Custodian $22.87 hourly
Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE For details and how to apply go to www.bloomfieldct.org
22
dential fence erectors and installers on a subcontractor basis. Earn from $750 to $2,000 per day. Email resume to pking@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016
Mall for Africa Sells U.S.
Full-Time Technician Wanted:
Must have mechanical ability, NOTICEtools along with electrical knowledge. Welding a Plus. Will train the knowledge of power right person. Must be able to lift 100 lbs. and work in some adverse weather conditions VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING APPLICATIONS AVAILABLEConnecticut driver’s license and be able to obtain a mediwhen needed. MustPRE-have a valid cal card. Must pass a physical exam and drug test. Compensation starts at $16.00 per hour HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, plus benefits for advancement. Please send resume to mcomo@atlasoutdoor. is accepting pre-applications forwith studio androom one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apcom AA/EOE/MF
Cars to Customers in Nigeria Plans Afoot
ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.
HazWaste Central NOTICIA
Last Collection of the Year
VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES
HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .
October 27, 2018 Working with Communities to Protect Our Water Sources
NEWSAFE HAVEN & FREE DISPOSAL OF Invitation to Bid: 2 Notice HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE
242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA
nd
SATURDAYS ONLY, 9 AM–NOON
All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 Old Saybrook, CT highways, near bus stop & shopping center (4 Buildings, 17 Units) is for residents of theseTaxparticipating Pet underHazWaste 40lb allowed. InterestedCentral parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 Exempt & Not Prevailing Wagetowns: Rate Project Bethany, Branford,
East Haven, Fairfield, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, New Construction,Wallingford, Wood Framed, Housing, SelWest ective DemolHaven, ition, Site-work, CastNorth Branford, North Haven, Orange, Woodbridge.
CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster
in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.
Residential Waste Only
St. New Haven, CT
PARTIAL LIST OF WHAT TO BRING TO HAZWASTE CENTRAL Visit www.rwater.com/hazwaste for a complete list. Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016
KITCHEN & BATHROOM Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour Project documents available via ftp link below: until 3:00 Aerosols pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Floor Care Products Nail Polish Remover http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Bathroom Cleaners Metal & Furniture Polish Oven, Drain, Tile Cleaners Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com GARAGE & WORKSHOP HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses
Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Antifreeze Brake & Transmission Fluid Paint Thinner & Stripper AA/EEO EMPLOYER Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Auto Batteries
Gasoline
Bidding documents availableRepair from the Seymour Housing AuthorityLatex Of- & Oil-Based Paints* Auto are Body Products fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.
Used Motor Oil* Varnish
GARDEN & MISCELLANEOUS
The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids,Herbicides, to Batteries* Fungicides reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any Chemical Fertilizer Insecticides, Pesticides informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Fluorescent Bulbs Mercury & MercuryHousing Authority.
(Including CFL type)*
Containing Items
Photographic Chemicals Propane Cylinders (Small 1 lb.) Swimming Pool Chemicals
POLICE NOOFFICER ELECTRONICS OR GAS GRILL-SIZE PROPANE TANKS
The Wallingford Police Department is seeking qualified applicants for PoDo not mix items or remove from their original package. lice Officer. $1137.20 weekly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. The physical performance, written and oral board exams willmay be adminis* Local disposal options be available. Please check with your public works tered by the South Central Criminal Justice Administration. Candidates must or the following resources: department, local transfer station register at: www.PoliceApp.com/WallingfordCT. Registration/ApplicaBatteries: call 1-800-8-BATTERY or log on to www.call2recycle.org (excluding tion deadline is Friday, August 19, 2016. The registration requires a fee alkaline and auto batteries). of $85.00. EOE
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs: call 1-800-CLEANUP or log on to www.earth911.com. 25 Paint: log on to www.paintcare.org and visit the Connecticut portion of the site to find a drop-off location for household paint.
Small Businesses: Call 203-401-2712 for Disposal Information For more information and to sign in early, visit:
www.rwater.com/hazwaste or call 203-401-2712. Located at the Regional Water Authority, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven, I-95 exit 46.
Con’t from page 9
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Mall for Africa, an award-winning patented e-commerce platform, announced that it will add cars from the United States the long list of items that it sells. The company said it will sell American made cars to its customers in Nigeria, effective immediately, with plans to expand to 16 additional countries over the next year. “Over the years, we have received tremendous interest from customers who have wanted to purchase cars,” Chris Folayan, CEO of Mall for Africa, said in a news release. “As a company we always strive to be the best and offer our customers items that would otherwise be unavailable. We are proud to say that our customers in Nigeria can now purchase cars, in any color, with any feature they desire,” Folayan said. Mall for Africa, also known as Africa’s largest online mall, currently offers millions of products from more than 250 leading retailers in the United States, United Kingdom and China. It handles every aspect of the order and return cycle, providing customers and retailers with an effortless, secure and accessible solution to online shopping. With a few simple clicks, customers can pick out their dream car and request a quote from a reputable dealer in the United States. Both standard and luxury cars will be available, including all makes and models from 2008 to present. The customer simply has to fill out a form with feature preferences and one of Mall for Africa’s USA-based expert car
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consultants will reply within one to two business days with a quote. In a 2015 profile on Folayan by CNN, it was noted that Africa’s population has steadily gained in financial affluence, with numbers of multimillionaires predicted to rise by 59 percent over the next decade. In spite of this news, many U.S. retailers don’t ship their wares to the continent, fearing fraud or cumbersome import procedures. That gave Folayan the idea to start Mall for Africa, an online platform through which shoppers in Nigeria and Kenya can buy products from America, Britain and, now, China. “The main problem is that many western companies don’t have much knowledge about Africa,” Folayan said. “When I talk to companies I tell them Africa is a huge market – they are probably not tapping into billions in profit. And Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy,” he said, something a delegation from the National Newspaper Publishers Association reported on during a recent pilgrimage to the African nation. Folayan, the U.S.-based entrepreneur, said he would regularly travel to his native Nigeria carrying several suitcases stuffed with American-branded clothes, sunglasses and makeup his friends and family asked him to bring. But it was when he wasn’t allowed to check in for a flight with 10 tightly packed bags, even while paying for the extra weight, that he knew he was onto a business idea. “That was a turning point. I realized that people knew exactly what they wanted, they could see a product online and had the money to buy it, but there was no one who would ship it to Nigeria,” Folayan said.
Dixwell Plaza’s design was Elizabeth Mills Brown. Here’s what she wrote about it in her 1976 book, New Haven: A Guide to Architecture and Urban Design: [T]his has been a program to rebuild a neighborhood completely, wiping out the memory of the past with its decaying hand-me-downs and creating an image of a brave new world ... [T]his transformation is whole enough to suggest the urban scene of the future. ... “The Plaza is the hub of the new community, pulling together shopping, institutional and cultural functions. ... The design attempts a difficult balance between the need for urban definition of the street and popular modern imagery of the highway, the shopping center, and the flat suburban skyline. Serena Neal-Sanjurjo was growing up in Florence Virtue Homes during the plaza’s heyday in the 1970s. Today she is overseeing the government’s planning for its transformation, as head of the Harp administration’s Livable City Initiative (LCI). “It was very vibrant in the day,” NealSanjurjo recalled. “We did everything there. We went to the doctor. We bought our groceries at the Capitol Market. Drycleaning. The drug store. There was a store that sold clothing—The Fair. We’d get our school clothes there. It was was a wonderful planned development.” Before long, though the complex was also plagued by “drinking, vandals and litter,” as one New Haven Register headline put it. The condo owners struggled at times to keep the place up, and solvent. Every decade or so a new effort was announced to restore the plaza. Meanwhile, the smartest minds in urban planning did a 180. They embraced a “new urbanism” that called for stressing cities’ strengths rather than seeking to emulate the suburbs. One that plans for pedestrians and mass transit rather than cars. One that favors dense mixtures of stores and offices and homes and community spaces over expanses of surface parking lots. A New Vision Dixwell Plaza needs that kind of vision now, Neal-Sanjurjo argued. “It has outlived its useful life” in its current form, she said. “We need to do 21stcentury development there.” At first, she thought the city would spearhead that effort. City planners drew up sketches for possible overhauls, some involving fixing and adding to the current property, others involving razing the lowlying concrete storefronts and rebuilding from scratch. The plans envisioned a mix of apartments, possibly townhouses, with stores. Retail is a key component, Neal-Sanjurjo said. Dixwell should again offer the wide range of goods and services that it did when she was growing up. In 2016, the city-allied Economic Development Corporation issued this request for proposals for private developers to submit plans for rebuilding. The city also started negotiating with Dixwell Plaza owners to sell their properties. Those negotiations
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Senators Urge Trump Administration to Halt Deportation of Mauritanians Harris, Thompson, Nadler, Lofgren, Beatty Lead Lawmakers in Letter to Urge Administration to Halt Deportation of Black Mauritanians
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representatives Bennie G. Thompson (DMS), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) led a group of lawmakers in a bicameral letter calling on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cease the deportation of Black Mauritanian nationals, who face the threat of race-based discrimination, violence, or slavery if forced to return to Mauritania. “Most Mauritanians in the United States arrived here seeking refuge from government-led racial and ethnic persecution and extreme violence,” wrote the lawmakers. “For the following two decades our government declined to deport Mauritanians because of the dangerous and potentially life-threatening conditions they would face if they were returned to their country of origin.” There are approximately 3,000 Black Mauritanians in the United States, most of whom arrived in the 1990s after their government forcibly expelled them and stripped them of their citizenship on the basis of their race and ethnicity. So far in fiscal year 2018, the Trump administration has deported 79 Mauritanians, up from eight in FY 2017. The lawmakers continued, “Mauritanians deported from the United States face unacceptable threats of racial and ethnic discrimination and slavery…We ask DHS and the State Department to jointly respond within 60 days to the following questions to clarify U.S. policies and practices regarding deportations of Mauritanians.” In addition to Senator Harris and Repre-
sentatives Thompson, Nadler, Lofgren, and Beatty, the letter was signed by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (DIL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (DNJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), John Lewis (D-GA), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Al Green (D-TX), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Albio Sires (D-NJ),
Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Keith Ellison (DMN), and David Cicilline (D-RI). October 12, 2018 The Honorable Kirstjen Nielsen Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 The Honorable Mike Pompeo Secretary U.S. Department of State Washington, D.Cl 20518 Dear Secretary Nielsen and Secretary Pompeo, We write to urge the immediate cessation of deportations of Mauritanian nationals to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Under the Trump Administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has abruptly abandoned its 20-year long practice of simply monitoring most Mauritanians eligible for removal and begun actively deporting
them. Most of the approximately 3,000 black Mauritanians in the United States have been here since the late 1990s, arriving after being violently expelled and stripped of citizenship by their government because of their race and ethnicity. It is unconscionable for the United States to deport these individuals back to Mauritania, where they will likely be denied basic human rights and possibly persecuted and enslaved. Most Mauritanians in the United States arrived here seeking refuge from government-led racial and ethnic persecution and extreme violence. Between 1989 and 1991, tensions between Arab-Berbers and black ethnic groups in Mauritania resulted in the government-led displacement, expulsion, and denationalization of over 70,000 black Mauritanians. According to Human Rights Watch, these injustices were also accompanied by a litany of other abuses, including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, torture, rape, property theft, and destruction of legal documents. Upon their arrival in the United States, many Mauritanians unfortunately failed to make successful asylum claims and became removable; some were apparently exploited by predatory immigration consultants who submitted shoddy or fraudulent materials to the U.S. government on their behalf. Nonetheless, for the following two decades our government declined to deport Mauritanians because of the dangerous and potentially life-threatening conditions they would face if they were returned to their country of origin. Those who lacked lawful status were simply required to periodically check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Alethia Barber, Letter to the Editor HBCUDigest.com
Following President Trump’s January 25, 2017 Executive Order “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” which suspended the issuance of visas to nationals from countries ICE identified as being “recalcitrant” to cooperate with U.S. repatriation efforts, the Mauritanian government began to issue travel documents (laissez-passer) to facilitate U.S. deportations. This shift fueled a significant escalation in Mauritanian deportations. While DHS deported just four Mauritanians in fiscal year 2015, ten in fiscal year 2016, and eight in fiscal year 2017—in contrast, seventy-nine Mauritanians have been deported in fiscal year 2018 thus far. Mauritanians deported from the United States face unacceptable threats of racial and ethnic discrimination and slavery. The slavery of individuals of black race and ethnicity remains rife in Mauritania, where the government only first abolished slavery in 1981, and only first criminalized it in 2007. The Central Intelligence Agency estimates that 20 percent of the Mauritanian population is enslaved, the highest rate worldwide. The International Labour Organization has “expressed deep concern over the persistence of slavery on a widespread scale” in Mauritania. The United Nations has noted that a “lack of access to basic services and alternative livelihoods for former black African and Haratine slaves serves to propagate the belief that former slaves are still inferior and will always be slaves.” The State Department has issued a level three (out of four) travel advisory for Mauritania, a designation reserved for countries whose governments do not fully meet the minimum standards Con’t on page 22
Does Grambling-Southern NFL Halftime Show Diminish HBCU Support for Colin Kaepernick? Last week, news broke about Rihanna turning down an opportunity to headline the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in Atlanta, with insiders saying her decision was based in large part on the NFL’s response to former quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest of police brutality during the national anthem. On Monday, we learned that Grambling State University’s World Famed Tiger Marching Band and Southern University’s Human Jukebox would battle at halftime of a Thanksgiving Day game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons, one of the most highly-watched and heavily marketed games of the year second only to the Super Bowl. Kaepernick is not an HBCU graduate, but his message has resonated with HBCU communities for several years. Many Americans have stood by his side and flooded social media with kneeling during the pledge of allegiance. HBCU athletes have been among those most noticed for their support of the movement. Should HBCU marching bands still participate in NFL events, given our near unanimous HBCU community support for
Kaepernick and disapproval of the NFL’s action against him? If HBCUs partner with the NFL, even by way of our marching bands, does it send the message that money and exposure is more important than Kaepernick’s efforts, or the issues to which he was trying to draw more attention? Yes, performing during an NFL halftime could bring in loads of funding. But are our schools being blinded by their own worth, while the NFL tries to make the controversy with Kaepernick go away at our expense? As students and graduates, we have discussions about police brutality on HBCU campuses and want to be the voice for black communities whose members feel they cannot speak for themselves. Many may take pride in the bands participating in this game, but what happens if many of our stakeholders react poorly, as we did when Talladega College’s marching band participated in the inaugural parade for Donald Trump? HBCUs have pushed the culture forward, encouraged students to have a voice, and listened to their needs for change in the community. HBCU students have always
been active in social change, many suffering brutal attacks and losing their lives for peacefully protesting as Kaepernick did. It is easy to understand why Grambling and Southern should play for the NFL. It’s just hard to understand, with all of our history, why they would actually do so. Alethia Barber is an alumna of the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore and Coppin State University.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
Black Women Voters Seek to Shake up Midterms By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., heralded 2018 as “payback year” for African Americans and other minorities who have suffered on the new presidential administration policies and it that seems Black women are in lock-step with Chavis. Two years into the presidency of Donald Trump – which has seen an onslaught of attacks on health care, reproductive and other rights – the stakes for Black women could not be higher this midterm cycle, according to many observers. Statistics reveal that Black women face disproportionate barriers to reproductive health care and are more likely to die after childbirth than their white or Latinx counterparts. Also, women of color are disproportionately impacted by bans on insurance coverage for abortion and at risk for criminalization should abortion be made illegal once again. “Black women in America face significant barriers to health care, including abortion. We are also three times more likely to die after childbirth than white women,” said La’Tasha D. Mayes, founder and executive director of New Voices for Reproductive Justice, a nonprofit that promotes the complete health and well-being of Black women and girls. “The Trump presidency has repeatedly undermined the Affordable Care Act and other health programs that benefit the health of
Black women. Black women will step up and vote for those who will work together with us to create health equity so that our families and communities can thrive,” Mayes said. The pain of Black women and their rising up as one has also been heard in the LGBTQ community, said Candace Bond-Theriault, a reproductive health, rights and justice policy counsel and democracy project director at the National LGBTQ Task Force. “We too are a part of the American body politic and though the system is broken, we demand a seat at the table so we can center our own experiences and stories and vote for candidates who are dedicated to our collective liberation,” Bond-Theriault said. “All of the issues that we care about – living in neighborhoods with safe drinking water, nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQIA folks, and access to safe, legal abortion – are always on the ballot because the legislators we elect will make decisions that affect our everyday lives.” In a series examining the role of women in the 2018 midterm elections, NPR noted that more than a year and a half ago, the day after Trump was inaugurated, millions of women worldwide took to the streets in fury over his election. It was a massive show of resistance. One of the biggest questions that loomed over the demonstrations that day: Could the energy last? Amy Chomsky, an ophthalmologist from Nashville, attended the demonstration in Washington, D.C., and she wanted to make it
NED LAMONT.
clear that she and her fellow marchers were serious in their anger. “We’re not just crazy protesters,” she said the day of the march. “It’s a shame that we have to still be fighting for women’s rights or saying that we have a right to decide on our own reproductive health. We have a right to equal pay. It’s a shame that we’re still doing this.” Already, a record number of women have run and won primaries for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and governorships this year, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, and a record number of women have also won nominations for state legislatures; the vast majority are Democrats. In particular, according to the NPR series, Black women have relatively high turnout rates, and they vote heavily Democratic. For instance, Black women in Alabama propelled Democrat Doug Jones to a Senate seat – a remarkable political upset – in a December special election, and they also helped push Ralph Northam to a win that was larger than predicted in most polls in his 2017 election for the Virginia governorship. In a feature on ‘How 2018 became the year of the Black Progressive,” Politico noted that 2018 may well be remembered as the political “Year of the Black Progressive,” much as 1992 was the “Year of the Woman.” The online publication noted that Black women are taking office as mayors in major cities such as San Francisco and New Orleans. Record-breaking numbers of black candidates are running for office at the state level.
No fewer than three black candidates are being seriously discussed as presidential nominees. And with gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Andrew Gillum in Florida and congressional candidate Ayanna Pressley in Boston, among others, Democrats have nominated young, black, progressives where they typically would nominate white moderates. “No matter the outcome, this election results will give us a taste of what to expect in the next presidential race,” Politico’s Theodore R.
Johnson wrote. “Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, as well as former Governor Deval Patrick, will be watching how black progressives fare this year very closely before making their decisions on whether (and how) to embark on a presidential run. “Trump and the Republican Party will be paying attention, too. The nation will be tuned in to see if this is truly the year of black progressives, or if they’re just the flavor of the month.”
HE LISTENS. HE HEARS. HE TAKES ACTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. NED’S PRIORITIES FOR CT Invest in public schools, expand vocational and apprenticeship programs, and make college affordable for all. Treat housing as a civil rights issue and provide affordable options to seniors, young people, and low and middleincome families. Stop Trump and his administration’s assault on women’s rights, immigrant families, and people of color.
“I’m so proud to endorse Ned Lamont for Governor. Ned will do what he’s done his whole life to turn the state around and ensure a more hopeful future.” — President Barack Obama
Fight for a $15 minimum wage and close the wage gap for women and people of color. /NedLamontCT
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
U.S. Gets Green Light to Boot Thousands of African Refugees By Global Information Network
A simmering dispute between the U.S. and Ghana appears to be resolved. Some 7,000 Ghanaians can now be deported from the U.S. and a key demand – that their Ghanaian citizenship be proven before deportation – has been dropped. The dispute was settled at the United Nations General Assembly meeting last month. Speaking with the press, Ambassador Baffour Adjei-Bawuah said there was no longer any dispute over the nationality of the affected persons which had been a bone of contention earlier. American immigration officials have every documentation and information that allows the person to be returned to Ghana so they do not need confirmation from the Ghanaian Embassy, he said. Adjei-Bawuah said the agreement had been held up pending “a certain fairness to be applied” and that the Embassy not be pressured to see some people deported. “This is where we had a difference of opinion with the US authorities,” he said.
It was a 180 degree turn for Dr. Adjei-Bawuah who initially refused to endorse the U.S. deportation forms despite the insistence of US authorities, explaining that he could not confirm that the person to be deported had a legitimate and fair trial. “The Americans say the trial was fair but you were not in the courtroom. You don’t know whether the person’s defense lawyer did seriously and adequately question the prosecution,” he said. “Our argument is that we don’t have to be the final arbiter in the execution of a deportation order because we don’t have the information,” he said last May. “I’ve been trying hard to explain this to the authorities.” Appalled by the Ambassador’s latest stance, the minority in parliament slammed the government for not telling the House about the development especially the Foreign Affairs Committee. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey was insisting as late as this week that Ghana will not facilitate the deportations despite
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Senators Urge Trump
weeks of diplomatic pressure from the US. “I don’t know of any understanding” she said, dismissing the report while she explained that any agreement would need the president’s approval. The U.S. wants an agreement to deport illegal immigrants within 24 hours on a chartered flight, but they also want the Ghana government to
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Ninth Square Deal Gets
She said she heard from constituents who impressed upon her the need to preserve affordable housing downtown and that the city couldn’t afford to replace the affordable Ninth Square units with new housing. She also heard from people who are staring down an 11 percent increase in their property taxes while developers come to the city looking for tax breaks. “So the question is: Does this deal give too much away?” Roth asked. She concluded she determined that it did not. She noted that although the city faces an estimated $94,000 in environmental cleanup needed on the surface lots it gets as part of the deal, it can still develop and make money on that land. Roth also pointed out that the garage that the city will get out of the deal is expected to generate about $360,000 a year, which would be a net positive against the $120,000 it is paying per year for the next 30 years. “I wish it weren’t 20 years,” Roth said of the abatement. “But there are 189 affordable housing units with people in them right now, and if we didn’t support this, people would be harmed.” Newhallville/Prospect Hill Alder Steve Winter expressed similar sentiments. He noted that Beacon plans to invest roughly $40,000 per unit in improvements. To construct a new building would cost about $200,000 per unit, he said. Like Roth, he criticized the 20-year abatement, pointing out that there had been no clear justification for it: Beacon had asked for a 30-year abatement; the city had settled on 20 years. “I’m not certain the proposed deal is the best the city could have gotten,” he said. “But I believe it is a reasonable one.” East Rock Alder Anna Festa said for her it came down to preserving those affordable units because the city needs more affordable housing, not less. She urged her colleagues not to forget that homeowners in town are facing an 11 percent increase in their taxes, but she urged them to support the deal. “I feared that if we denied this that I don’t know what happens after,” she said.
for elimination of trafficking in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and are not making significant efforts to do so. Political conditions in Mauritania also unacceptably threaten deportees’ civil liberties and safety. Since current Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz overthrew a democratically-elected president in 2008, Mauritanian authorities have denied the existence of slavery and begun aggressively cracking down on anti-slavery activists. They have prohibited their peaceful gatherings, broken up their protests with excessive force, and surveilled them. Human rights advocates have documented over 168 arbitrary arrests of activists by government authorities since 2014 – alleging that 20 suffered torture, including being beaten, chained, threatened with death, and deprived of food, water, and sleep. A recently deported Mauritanian alleges that he was immediately jailed by government authorities for 13 days before he was released and fled the country. The State Department broadly urges reconsideration of travel to Mauritania due to crime and terrorism, stating that “violent crimes, such as mugging, armed robbery, rape, and assault are common.” In light of the above facts, we ask DHS and the State Department to jointly respond within 60 days to the following questions to clarify U.S. policies and practices regarding deportations of Mauritanians, specifically: 1. Has the State Department’s assessment of conditions in Mauritania or of risks and dangers for deportees in Mauritania informed DHS deportations of Mauritanians? 2. Do DHS and the State Department have general policies and procedures regarding deportations of individuals to nations with governments that previously expelled such individuals on the basis of race or ethnicity? 3. Is there precedent for the United States to deport large numbers of individuals back to a country that has persecuted them on the basis of race or ethnicity and/or rescinded their citizenship? 4. How do DHS deportations of these individuals comply with international law and statutes pertaining to the treatment of stateless individuals and other individuals who are persecuted on the basis of their race and ethnicity? 5. Has DHS or the State Department coordinated with Mauritanian authorities to ensure fair and safe treatment of deportees? 6. What investigation, if any, has DHS or the State Department made into claims that black Mauritanians have been arbitrarily detained by Mauritanian authorities following their deportation? 7. Please provide all documentation of communications between DHS, the State Department, and/or the Mauritanian government regarding the deportation of Mauritanians since January 2017. We thank you for your attention to this matter.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018 Con’t from page 18
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - 0ctober 24, 2018 - October 30, 2018
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