INNER-CITY NEWS

Page 1

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

Harp: We’ll Back OnNAACP Immigration Financial Justice“Fight” a Key Focus at 2016 Convention New Haven, Bridgeport

INNER-CITYNEWS Volume 21 No. 2194 2207

Little Library

“DMC”

Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:

Color Struck?

Snow in July?

Ignore Ignore“Tough “ToughOn OnCrime” Crime” Men across the country are asked to share their experience

FOLLOW US ON

1

1


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS The Robert H. Saulsbury Scholarship Committee presents:

AND THE

AC E S B U S I N E S S A DV I S O RY C O U N C I L

17 Annual Employer Recognition Dinner th

Thanks to all of our business partners for their great teamwork and support of our vocational programs! TICKETSE ON SAL NOW!

BLACK ANGELS OVER TUSKEGEE

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen

Friday, November 4 - 8:00 p.m.

Southern Connecticut State University presents:

Grammy Winner RHONDA LARSON & VENTUS Saturday, November 12 - 8:00 p.m

The Amistad Committee Inc presents:

CALL MR. ROBESON: A Life with Songs Friday, December 2 - 7:30 p.m.

GET YOUR TICKETS AT

203-392-6154

LYMANCENTER.ORG

www.aces.org

Discover the Hopkins Community TOURS Wednesday, November 30, 2016 Wednesday, December 7, 2016 A coed, college preparatory day school for grades 7-12 203.397.1001 • New Haven, CT • hopkins.edu

2


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Fall in love with your future

Super Saturday One-Stop Registration - Dec. 3 & Jan. 7 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Accelerate your studies with Winter Intersession Dec. 27 - Jan. 13 Earn 3 credits in 3 weeks!

Spring semester starts

Visit GatewayCT.edu

Jan. 19.

$25 reserves your class with our new payment plan 3

20 Church St., New Haven, CT


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

4


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO

Babz Rawls Ivy

Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs

The Election is Over…What Now?

Babz@penfieldcomm.com

Advertising/Sales Team Trenda Lucky Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne John Thomas, III

Editorial Team Staff Writers

Christian Lewis/Current Affairs Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics

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

_______________________

Contributors At-Large

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass New Haven Independent www.newhavenindependent.org

Memberships

National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.

The Inner-City Newspaper is published weekly by Penfield Communications, Inc. from offices located at 50 Fitch Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06515. 203387-0354 phone; 203-387-2684 fax. Subscriptions:$260 per year (does not include sales tax for the in State subscriptions). Send name, address, zip code with payment. Postmaster, send address changes to 50 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Display ad deadline Friday prior to insertion date at 5:00pm Advertisers are responsible for checking ads for error in publication. Penfield Communications, Inc d.b.a., “The Inner-City Newspaper” , shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors or errors in publication, except to the extent of the cost of the space in which actual error appeared in the first insertion. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The entire contents of The InnerCity Newspaper are copyright 2012, Penfield Communications, Inc. and no portion may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

By Samuel T. Ross-Lee NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

I’m writing this article the day before the presidential election day, but it won’t appear until after the election. This is intentional. I have no intentions of trying to influence anyone’s vote, not even my own. Since I won’t be available to vote on election day, I have already cast my ballot. For

me it’s all over but the crying, no matter which candidate wins. What I’m fascinated in thinking about at this juncture is trying to determine what will happen to us when all the promises have been made, all the voting is completed, all the ballots have been counted, and the “winner” is declared. Presidential elections can be exciting in so many ways. Obama/ McCain was such an election. The possibility of the first African-American President who had served less than one term in the U.S. Senate was contested by a war hero to many and a for-

mer POW, who had served many years in the Senate. The electricity of that campaign could not be denied. But, presidential campaigns can also be tedious and irritating as Clinton/Trump has been. I don’t know how many times while watching the non-stop media coverage that I thought to myself: There are some 320 million people in American and we ended up with these two representing the major parties and the likely winners. Oh well. We got what we got, right? One of these candidates will

win. Either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump has been elected the 45th President of the United States. But, what will happen now that the decision has been made? It is almost universally agreed upon within the African-American community that Donald Trump will not be a good president for us. He started his campaign by putting down our Mexican sisters and brothers, and he didn’t let up until he had insulted virtually every group in America Con’t from page 8

Jewish Federation Condemns Trump’s Bannon Appointment by STAFF

The leaders of New Haven Jewish community Tuesday condemned President-Elect Donald Trump’s choice of Stephen Bannon, a man known for “racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic, and Islamaphobic views,” as a top adviser. The condemnation came in the form of a statement issued by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and its Jewish Community Relations Council. The statement follows: The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and its Jewish Community Relations Council believe and support the democratic values and ideals articulated by the constitution of the United States

of America and its history of supporting the freedoms enjoyed by the citizens of this country. We applaud the longstanding tradition of a peaceful transition of presidential leadership and congratulate Donald J. Trump on becoming president-elect. It is the responsibility of our Jewish Federation and its JCRC to support and defend the rights of the Jewish community and all minority communities against all forms of bigotry, hatred, racism and persecution. These ideals and our Jewish values guide us each and every day. We will remain vigilant. We call upon Presidentelect Trump to make appointments that are aligned with and are true to the values that we hold dear.

We condemn the appointment of Stephen K. Bannon as Chief White House Strategist and Senior Counselor. As the editor of the Breitbart website and as campaign manager for the Trump campaign, Mr. Bannon promoted and exploited racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic, and Islamaphobic views. President-elect Trump should reconsider his appointment of Mr. Bannon and demonstrate his commitment to the unity, pluralism, diversity and respect for all Americans he pledged in his victory speech on November 9, when he declared that he would strive to “bind the wounds of division” in America. While the rhetoric of the campaign season was often disturb-

ing and divisive, we call upon all our leaders to speak words of freedom, equality, kindness and respect. Constructive dialogue is called for and we hope that our elected officials and leaders will engage in discourse that will reassure our community that the great tenets of American society that enabled our community to find safety on America’s shores and the opportunity to thrive will continue unabated for all her citizens. Norman Ravski, President Judy Alperin Diamondstein, Chief Executive Officers Betty Levy, JCRC Chair Rabbi Joshua Ratner, JCRC Director

Pistol-Whipped Woman Gets Upper Hand by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

A 24-year-old New Haven woman was lucky to escape a more serious end to a domestic dispute over the weekend. Her quick thinking also probably saved her from further harm. At 1:22 a.m. Sunday, Officers Andrew Tomer, Omar Thomas and Michael Hinton were dispatched to investigate a reported domestic dispute at an apartment building in the 1100 block of Quinnipiac Avenue. Dispatchers reported a complaint of a man who had pistol-whipped his girlfriend, accord-

ing to a press release from police department spokesman Officer David Hartman. The victim met the officers at the front door. She told them that her assailant was asleep in an upstairs bedroom and that she’d taken his gun and hid it from him. Officers Thomas and Hinton went upstairs and handcuffed the suspect while Officer Tomer confiscated the gun. The victim said she had been visiting a friend when the gunman showed up. She said she didn’t want him causing trouble at her friend’s home, so the two went to her home. She said the 29-yearold man, who lives on East Rams-

5

dell Street in New Haven, was drunk. She said he pushed her several times, Hartman wrote in the release. The victim told officers that the man demanded she retrieve something for him from the refrigerator. When she went to get it, she said, he pointed a handgun to her head and threatened to kill her. She said when she turned around to face him, he pistol-whipped her in the forehead. She said the man told her to go upstairs. He followed. Soon after lying in the bed, the victim said, her assailant fell asleep. She said she seized the opportunity to take

his gun from him and call police. The victim has a restraining order against the man, according to Hartman. The gun, a Reck P8 KAL 6.35 mm, was loaded and reportedly stolen from Cedar Falls, Iowa. The alleged assailant is a convicted felon. He was charged with threatening in the second degree, assault in the second degree, breach of peace in the second degree, violation of a protection order, carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of a pistol and possession of a stolen firearm.


300 Marchers Vow Vigilance THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

“We’re not sitting still about this!” hundreds of post-election Donald Trump protesters declared. Then they took to their feet and the street. Three hundred protesters in all came out to the state courthouse on Elm Street Sunday afternoon to register their determination to fight back against the president-elect’s vows to round up immigrants, abandon efforts to contain climate change, and roll back women’s rights. It was the third such protest in four days in downtown New Haven, part of a wave of such protests in over three dozen cities nationwide as Trump opponents struggle to find a constructive outlet for their fears about the next four years. Sgt. Jackie Hoyte was pulling down her second straight protestoversight duty Sunday. This protest, like others, remained peaceful and went off without problems. Hoyte consulted with Mhaire Jenkins (in photo) at the 2 p.m. start of the event about plans to have the crowd chant and hold signs on the steps of the courthouse, then march through and around the Green with police helping by blocking traffic. Unlike the previous two antiTrump protests, this one wasn’t organized by a New Haven activist group. Jenkins, a Bridgeport Hospital nurse, put out a call on Facebook with her friend Yasmin Thornton an area interior designer, to have people gather. “People are feeling isolated, ostracized and terrified,” Thornton said. They wanted to give people an outlet and stress the importance of people getting involved at the local level of politics “where it starts” over the next four years. Stephanie Hill (at center in photo), a fellow Bridgeport Hospital nurse, joined them. Without the help of traditional organizing networks, the request went viral on Facebook. Over 1,000 people responded. Choate Rosemary Hall student Edie Conekin-Tooze’s mother, who lives in New Haven, found out

about it from a Facebook friend. She forwarded the message to Edie, who then spread the word among her fellow students. She and five other sophomores shared an Uber XL to the rally, toting signs like “Pussy Grabs Back,” which Laila Hawkins is holding in the photo at the top of this story; and a Trump quote (held aloft above by Angie Zho) uttered dur-

ing a campaign that he ended up winning in the electoral college but losing in the popular vote. The original Facebook call stresed repeatedly that this would be a peaceful protest. And it was. At 2:50, the cops closed off Elm to traffic. Thornton, Jenkins, and Hill led the demonstrators across the street onto the Green. They marched diagonally down

6

to Chapel and Temple, then on the sidewalk back around the Green. They passed a different, quieter line of hungry people picking up their weekly Sunday turkey or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches served by church volunteers. “Who are they? Yale?” Brian Aiken asked as the crowd streamed by. Informed of the rally’s purpose, Aiken offered no opinion on

the election turnout beyond saying he plans to “pray for peace.” “All that isn’t going to help. He’s still the president,” opined David Wilfong of Adeline Street, who had picked up a turkey sandwich. Wilfong said he disapproved of both Trump and Hillary Clinton: “I would much rather have seen Bush Sr. in office than those two.”


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Harp: We’ll “Fight” Back On Immigration

receives. “We can’t lose another $5 or $10 million,” she said. Harp attended a post-election meeting at the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities where her colleagues from other communities raised similar concerns. They discussed possible responses for the upcoming state legislative session. One idea is to ask for state permission to levy, say, a local sales tax. Another would be either to revisit the tax exemptions of large notfor-profits like hospitals and universities — or, Harp suggested, push those institutions to lobby the state to fully reimburses cities for tax revenue lost from mandated property tax exemptions. She said New Haven receives less than 40 percent reimbursement under the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.

by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Mayor Toni Harp has instructed the city’s top lawyer to prepare a legal challenge in case the incoming Trump administration seeks to punish New Haven for being a “sanctuary city.” She’s not expecting that to happen. But New Haven is prepared just in case, she said. “We’re going to fight,” Harp said. “And we’re going to challenge it” in court if necessary. Harp offered that perspective in a postelection debriefing on WNHH radio’s “Mayor Monday” program. She noted that President-Elect Donald Trump vowed at one point during this year’s campaign to remove federal funding from “sanctuary cities” cities that embrace immigrants, including those here without documentation as one of his first acts in office. Since then, Trump has modified his round-em-up stance on immmigration. And Harp did some poking around on the Internet to learn that hundreds of communities could qualify as “sanctuary cities” according to lists prepared by the federal government and immigration opponents. No “hard-and-fast” statuary definition exists of “sanctuary city,” noted Kica Matos, who lives in Fair Haven and is director of immigrant rights and racial justice at Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change (“CCC”). The term usually refers to “any comunity that refuses to carry out enforcement of immigration laws.” Connecticut as a whole has declined to detain arrestees or people stopped by police if their names appear on a federal database of wanted undocumented immigrants. That could be one criterion. The state also issues driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. New Haven has a general order directing police officers not to inquire into citizens’ immigration status when they stop them or interview them.

PAUL BASS PHOTO

Demonstrators at a Sunday anti-Trump rally downtown.

ALIYYA SWABY PHOTO

Harp affirming New Haven’s pro-immigrant policies at a January rally against planned federal raids.

Harp said Monday the city will continue with that approach, which she called crucial to community policing. The city will continue to “arrest criminals,” whether or not they’re immigrants, she added. Harp learned that it wasn’t the general order, but rather a policy that does not affect federal law or specifically deal with immigration that landed New Haven on lists of hundreds of “sanctuary cities”: the immigrant-

friendly municipal ID card, which since 2007 has been available to all residents. It enables people to get library cards. “New York City is a sanctuary city,” Harp noted —and observed that both Trump and top Trump adviser Rudolph Giuliani live there. She also noted that the entire “red” state of Utah declares itself a sanctuary state for immigrants. Harp said she doubts that the Trump administration will seek to re-

7

move federal funding from hundreds of cities and entire states. But if he picks the fight, she said, New Haven will be ready with a court challenge. She said she has asked her corporation counsel to prepare. New Haven Republican Town Chair Jonathan Wharton said Monday that if the Trump administration acts against the city, “our committee would stand behind the federal government as we have already. It’s just going to be one of these areas where there’s a possibility of lawsuits. Immigration is federal government responsibility.” The GOP took a similar stand in its newly released local issues platform. State Headaches One fallout Harp has not doubt about from last week’s election is the change in state government: Democrats lost their majority in the State Senate and saw their majority shrink in the state House Of Representatives. Add that to what’s already a $1.5 billion projected state budget deficit, and Harp concluded that New Haven can’t expect to see new funding out of Hartford this coming year. Instead, she’s focused on preserving what the city already

Local Headaches Harp also addressed the widespread failures in New Haven’s handling of last week’s election. Harp said she visited most of the city’s 40 voting precincts. “Almost every place I went to, there was a problem,” she said: Hours-long waits to vote, voting stations running out of ballots, confused poll workers. And, in the end, the Registrar of Voters office botched the votecounting. As of Monday morning, the city still didn’t have official ward-by-ward results in all the elections. Technically, Harp has no authority over this process. The registrars of voters are independently elected. In practice, her office sent reinforcement to help process the crush of last-minute voting registrants. Now, she said, the city needs to figure out, in advance, how to make the system work better next time. She recommended calling in a “LEAN” consultant — a reference to a process manufacturers use to make their systems more efficient. New Haven’s democracy could use the same help, she said.


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Little Library Lands In A Book Desert by MICHELLE LIU

Newhallville has no public libraries. Or bookstores. It does have a police substation which now has books. Local cops and other volunteers showed up on Saturday to re-landscape the neighborhood’s “book desert” with the launch of the neighborhood’s first “Little Free Library”: a box of rotating titles installed right in the front of the substation on 596 WInchester Ave. Adults and children in Newhall ville can now swap, borrow and read books from the box at their own leisure without library cards, due dates or late fees. These loweffort mini-libraries have popped up across the country in the past few years, no bigger than large birdhouses and frequently embedded amid residential streets and people’s front yards. Mikela Jones, a sixth-grader at Celentano Magnet School, had already picked out half a dozen books, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid and a biography on Tom Brady. “It’s awesome,” said Lateefah Williams, as her son Monecure, 3, flipped through his options. “It puts a focus on reading in Newhallville.” Along with boosting literacy,

MICHELLE LIU PHOTO

Avid reader Mikela Jones with her father Michael.

the books reflect the predominantly African-American community they have been placed in/ Scattered amid the offerings are biographies of African-American icons like Toni Morrison and Tyler Perry. Of the 3,000 or so books donated to the library so far, many are the “type of books I grew up on,” said Newhallville top cop Sgt. Shafiq Abdussabur. The library arose as a joint project between Jane Lewis, a former librarian at Hamden Hall Country Day School, and Abdussabur. Lewis donated the library box, which has been decorated with medallions painted by Abdussabur, who’s an artist and author. They’ve received help from notforprofits like New Haven Reads and the support of area alders like Anna Festa, Brenda FoskeyCyrus and Delphine Clyburn. For now, the Little Free Library has been placed in the hands of Abdussabur’s officers, who will maintain the boxes and swap out books in the library as necessary. But Abdussabur is also looking for other neighborhood stewards who who go out of their way to make sure the library is stocked and maintained. The Little Free Library serves as a “neighborhood water cool-

er,” Lewis said — a place to stop, chat and share lives and books. She anticipates that soon people will feel inclined to check in and take care of the library, whether that’s brushing leaves off or making sure the door is latched. It’s an act of good community policing, too, Abdussabur said, allowing him and his officers to serve the community as much as they protect it. These community libraries are in line with Mayor Toni Harp’s citywide initiatives to improve literacy and early childhood education, Abdussabur noted,the subject of a neighborhood canvass a year and a half ago. Abdussabur has plans for two more Little Free Libraries, one at the corner of Ivy and Butler Streets and another in Cedar Hill. He emphasized that the project will always need support to stay sustainable. A team of four bolted the box to the wall. Then, one by one, each community member present placed a book in the box. “This box is going to outlast my term,” Abdussabur said.

Election Revives Pot Legalization Quest by PAUL BASS

Two New Haven state lawmakers plan to reintroduce a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana use in Connecticut after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy put the question back on the table in the wake of Election Day results in Massachusetts. Malloy remains opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults in Connecticut. But, he told the Independent in an interview Thursday, the success of a referendum in Massachusetts to do just that may require Connecticut to reconsider the question.

For practical reasons. Massachusetts was one of four states to vote Tuesday to legalize recreational pot use. The others were Nevada, California, and Maine. Adults may also legally use marijuana for recreational purposes in Colorado, Oregon, Alasks, and Washington state. Voters in Arizona Tuesday voted down the measure. “We might have to reexamine our legal position, our position of enforcement, based on what some surrounding states are doing. It requires us to take a look at it,” Malloy said during a New Haven stop Thursday. “That changes everything,” said New Haven State

Rep. Juan Candelaria. Before, he noted, Malloy “didn’t want to have the conversation.” Both Candelaria and Lemar said they plan this coming year to reintroduce a version of a legalization bill that they’d introduced in the past. Malloy said he remains opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana use. He argued that Connecticut has already addressed the two compelling arguments for doing so. One argument is that criminalization leads to incarcerating many non-violent offenders, who end up with a criminal record while filling jails and cost-

8

ing the taxpayers a lot of money. Connecticut decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2011. It’s now a misdemeanor. People don’t go to jail for using small amounts anymore, Malloy argued. Another argument for legalization: People need marijuana for health reasons. Connecticut has legalized marijuana for medical use, for adults (in 2012) and then for children as well. “Personally I think Connecticut has done enough,” said Malloy, a former prosecutor. “We know that for a significant portion of our population this probably is not the right thing at the right time.

There appear to be people whose behaviors become interrupted, disturbed, particularly younger users. I’m not sure we need to add another product. Candelaria said Connecticut could use the money from taxation on legalized marijuana sales. This week the state upgraded the next two-year budget deficit to $1.5 billion. Candelaria said some of the new revenue could go toward drug treatment and prevention efforts targeting kids. Estimates of potential new annual state revenues from legalization have ranged from $10 to $20 milCon’t on page 12


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Black-ish available on XFINITY TV app.

Your all-access pass. This holiday season, enjoy the latest episodes of the top 100 shows instantly, personalized recommendations, smart search and more with XFINITY X1. You can also explore the Black Film & TV collection on XFINITY On Demand to quickly find the movies, TV shows and music you love. Plus, XFINITY Internet delivers the fastest, most reliable in-home WiFi and access to millions of hotspots nationwide. X1 will change the way you experience the holidays.

XFINITY X1 Double Play

79

$

99

a month for 24 months with a 2-year agreement

Upgrade to BLAST! Internet included for 12 months

Ask how to get a $400 Visa® Prepaid Card when you step up to a Complete HD Triple Play

Call 1-855-687-0624 or visit xfinity.com today.

Offer ends 11/29/16, and is limited to new residential customers. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Requires subscription with Digital Starter TV and Performance Internet services. Early termination fee applies if all XFINITY services are cancelled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including Broadcast TV Fee (up to $5.00/mo.), Regional Sports Network Fee (up to $3.00/mo.) and other applicable charges extra and subject to change during and after the promo. After promo, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for upgrading from Performance to Blast! service is $13.00 more/ mo. (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. XFINITY On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Internet: XFINITY WiFi hotspots included with Performance Internet or above only. Available in select areas. Requires WiFi-enabled device. Money-back guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service charge and standard installation charges up to $500. © 2016 Comcast. All rights reserved. © ABC. All rights reserved. NPA193531-0001 DIV16-4-203-AA-Holiday-A2

117091_NPA193531-0001 Simplify N ad_A2_9.25x10.5.indd 1

9

10/18/16 6:05 PM


Developer, Fair Haven Square Off THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

What’s an “affordable” onebedroom apartment in Fair Haven? Neighbors said: $600 a month. An out-of-town developer looking to turn to buy the old Strong School said: not a dollar less than $875. The debate over what is truly affordable housing in Fair Haven was just one of several flash points that arose Monday night during an occasionally tense three-hour meeting between 50 neighbors and Litchfield developer Ted Lazarus. Held at Fair Haven School, the meeting gave neighbors their first look at Lazarus’s proposal to buy the long vacant and dilapidated Strong School from the city for $500,000 and turn it into 37 studio and one-bedroom apartments, after feeling they had initially been shut out of the process. Lazurus’s was the lone respondent to a request for proposal from the city to resurrect the circa 1915 school at 69 Grand Ave. His proposal came after six years of the city trying to find someone to revive the 33,000 square-foot threestory former school. And after the city rejected a proposal from a coalition of Chatham Square neighbors who had come up with a plan to transform the school into a performing arts center. (Read more about the plan here.) The school is in the Chatham Square section of Fair Haven. A city committee will eventually review and vote on the Lazarus plan. Committee members include city economic development chief Matthew Nemerson, Alders Richard Furlow and David Reyes, architects Craig Newick and Ken Boroson, and Fair Haven Heights activist Jane Coppock. An additional neighbor, Tony Pellegrino, was added to the committee to provide an additional voice from the neighborhood. Lazarus has proposed spending $16.7 million converting it into apartments and a shared space for the future tenants and the community. The proposal calls for a historic renovation of the building using historic preservation tax credits.

Neighbor Paul Hammer presses a question. But instead of providing housing for seniors, as was initially reported, Lazarus unveiled a plan for apartments Monday evening aimed at millennials including those fresh out of college. In what would seem to be a nod to the working class make-up of the neighborhood Lazarus told the crowd that the apartments would be “workforce housing,” aimed mostly at people who earning up to 120 percent of the area median income. He also said that seven or eight of the proposed apartment complex’s units, or about 20 percent, would be preserved for earning 80 percent of the area median income (between $60,000 and $80,000 a year). Project architect Paul Santos who pointed out various aspects of the proposed project such as a rooftop with lounge chairs, a pool table and outdoor televisions, and a proposed community plaza out front as a place that would be “fun, imaginative and exciting” for young people interested in

simple, tiny house-like living. Though Lazarus came looking to collaborate on possible ideas for transforming the school gym, what he got was an earful from neighbors who were simultaneously baffled by how he had determined that he could build housing in predominately immigrant and working class Fair Haven that would appeal to millennials. They also panned what they saw as a token effort at creating affordable housing. Atwater Street resident Paul Hammer said an apartment complex aimed at people making between $60,000 and $80,000 a year might reflect what is possible in New Haven, or more realistically the Greater New Haven area. But at first blush, it didn’t seem to be based specifically on the demographics of Fair Haven. “Even the rent for the affordable units would be well above what the average New Havener could afford,” Hammer said. “My first impression is it is a wonderful project ... But

10

I think the demographic you’re talking about does not reflect the demographic of the surrounding community.” Lazarus responded that workforce housing is the minimum price-point that would support the capital investment that the building would need to undergo. As for “affordable” housing? That’s defined by the state. “At that level, I can’t fight against what’s given up there as true,” he said of the definition provided by the federal government. Neighbors continued to question whether the project is truly affordable and express doubt about whether Lazarus could attract the people to whom he proposes to market the project. Lazarus said that he was taken aback that the community might reject people who were not like those already living in the neighborhood. Neighbors called that a mischaracterization of what they were trying to convey about who has historically been attracted to Fair Haven.

Definitions of “affordable” housing often depend on which state or federal programs subsidize a project. Four-member households earning as high as 120 percent of New Haven’s $87,000 annual area median income can qualify for state programs, for instance.. Risky Business Neighbors were thirsty for details. Lazarus said it is too early in the process to share to share most of those details — such as whether or not he would include the cost of utilities in the rent price, and whether he’d done a detailed market analysis to determine whether his proposal is viable in Fair Haven. They also asked whether he had done similar projects in communities like Fair Haven and whether they had been financially successful, particularly given that his company is only five years old. “If your building fails here in five years because the rent is too high and we know the type of people


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

EVERYDAY SHOPPING CAN BE REWARDING!

Earn Plenti® points every day at Macy’s including 2X POINTS on Beauty and Fragrances! See a Sales Associate or visit macys.com/plenti to join for free and get more details. To be eligible to join Plenti, you must be at least 13 years of age and have a residence in the United States

or its territories, or Canada. Plenti is only available in the United States and its territories.Plenti points cannot be earned or used on fees & services or on some purchases such as at certain food establishments and leased departments within Macy’s stores. For complete terms and conditions, including a complete list of Macy’s exclusions, see a Sales Associate or visit macys.com/plentiinfo

BLACK FRIDAY

DOORBUSTERS 5PM THURSDAY! WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

START AT

SHOP 5PM THANKSGIVING DAY-2AM FRI 6AM-1PM FRI & 8AM-1PM SAT

HOURS VARY BY STORE. VISIT MACYS.COM & CLICK STORES FOR LOCAL INFORMATION.

TAKE AN E XT RA

2O% OFF

SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE CLOTHING EXTRA 10% OFF SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE JEWELRY, SHOES, COATS, SUITS, DRESSES, LINGERIE, SWIM FOR HER, MEN’S SUIT SEPARATES & SPORT COATS & HOME ITEMS MACYS.COM PROMO CODE: THANKS EXCLUSIONS MAY DIFFER ON MACYS.COM Excludes ALL: cosmetics/fragrances, Deals of the Day, Doorbusters/web busters, watches, electrics/electronics, Everyday Values (EDV), furniture/mattresses, Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, rugs, specials, Super Buys, Breville, Coach, Dyson, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors Studio, Michele watches, Natori, Sam Edelman, Samsung watches, Shun, Stuart Weitzman, The North Face, Theory, Tumi, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford, Wüsthof, Tory Burch, UGG, littleBits, 3Doodler, Movado Bold, M by Macy’s Marketplace, athletic clothing, shoes & accessories, designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, previous purchases, select licensed depts., services, special orders, special purchases, tech watches/jewelry/accessories; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: baby gear, kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Brahmin, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA, Tommy Bahama, toys. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Extra savings % applied to reduced prices.

VALID 11/25-11/26/2016

SAVINGS PASS DISCOUNT DOESN’T APPLY TO DOORBUSTERS

EXTRA DOLLARS OFF SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE CLOTHING & HOME ITEMS

$

1O OFF

PASS

OR, USE THIS SAVINGS PASS 5PM THURS-2AM FRI 6AM-1PM FRI & 8AM-1PM SAT

OR RD CA

PLUS, FREE RETURNS. EXCLUSIONS APPLY; SEE MACYS.COM/FREERETURNS

FF WITH YOU %O RM O -2 EXTRA AC O%

S Y’

FREE SHIPPING ONLINE AT $50 VALID 11/24-11/26/2016.

1

SHOP ALL DAY THURSDAY AT MACYS.COM/BLACKFRIDAY

EXTRA DOLLARS OFF SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE CLOTHING & HOME ITEMS

$

YOUR PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE.

2O OFF

YOUR PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE.

LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER. VALID 5PM 11/24 ’TIL 1PM 11/25 OR 11/26/16 ’TIL 1PM MACYS.COM PROMO CODE: FRIDAY50 EXCLUSIONS MAY DIFFER ON MACYS.COM

LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER. VALID 5PM 11/24 ’TIL 1PM 11/25 OR 11/26/16 ’TIL 1PM MACYS.COM PROMO CODE: FRIDAY50 EXCLUSIONS MAY DIFFER ON MACYS.COM

CANNOT BE USED ON DOORBUSTERS OR DEALS OF THE DAY Excludes ALL: cosmetics/fragrances, Deals of the Day, Doorbusters/web busters, watches, electrics/electronics, Everyday Values (EDV), furniture/mattresses, Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, rugs, specials, Super Buys, Breville, Coach, Dyson, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors Studio. Michele watches, Natori, Sam Edelman, Samsung watches, Shun, Stuart Weitzman, The North Face, Theory, Tumi, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford, Wüsthof, Tory Burch, UGG, littleBits, 3Doodler, Movado Bold, M by Macy’s Marketplace, athletic clothing, shoes & accessories, designer jewelry/ watches/accessories, designer sportswear, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, previous purchases, select licensed depts., services, special orders, special purchases, tech watches/jewelry/accessories; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: baby gear, kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Brahmin, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA, Tommy Bahama, toys. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash or applied as payment or credit to your account. Purchase must be $25 or $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.

THANKSGIVING SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 11/20-12/1/2016. MERCHANDISE WILL BE ON SALE AT THESE & OTHER SALE PRICES THROUGH 1/2/2017, EXCEPT AS NOTED. N6100014K.indd 1

11

11/15/16 3:31 PM


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

“We Reject The President-Elect” by MICHELLE LIU NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

In the wake of a stunning upset in the presidential election, 300 protesters gathered at the steps of the U.S. District Courthouse on Church Street Thursday evening in a demonstration of unity against President-Elect Donald Trump, then took to the streets. “We reject the presidentelect,” they chanted, marching around the New Haven Green. The rally, organized by the immigrants’ rights group Unidad Latina en Acción, drew a broad cross-section of New Haven residents who have now joined a string of national protests, such as those in Oakland, New York and Los Angeles, against the real-estate tycoon and reality star turned future president. Together, the protesters rallied for women, immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ people and people of color. They spoke up against a man they deemed xenophobic and racist who has “given his implicit permission to hate,” said organizer Jesus Abraham Morales Sanchez. ULA has had members report an uptick of racist comments and actions being made toward them since Trump secured victory early Wednesday morning, said Sanchez. Those gathered rejected the call President Barack Obama made for Americans to support Trump in his presidential endeavors. The city voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton, with only 11 percent of voters choosing her opponent. “I think Barack Obama is a hypocrite,” said Christoph Whitbeck, who voted for Clinton on Tuesday and carried a ukulele into the rally. (“I was going to bring a guitar,” he added, “but it seemed kind of cumbersome.”) Whitbeck said he is worried that Trump and the Republicans will gut and weaken the federal government. Others voiced a concern for the rights of immigrants especially the

2nd Annual Evening of Smooth Jazz Dressed in Denim and Pearls event at the Knickerbocker Golf Club for Greater New Haven Veterans. The New Haven Club, Inc. of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. held their 2nd Annual Evening of Smooth Jazz Dressed in Denim and Pearls event at the Knickerbocker Golf Club, 715 Sherman Avenue, New Haven, CT. on Friday, November 11, 2016. The focus for the evening was to provide information on the status of veterans in the Greater New Haven community. This informational program came under the guidelines of our National program (LETS) Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Service. Ms. Kyisha Velazquez, Associate Director of Community Programs for the Integrated Wellness Group was the guest speaker. She spoke to an audience of 100 or more on the need to assist our veterans and about the number of homeless veterans in our community. Three veterans, Ms. Demetria McMillan, Ms. Kim Chapman and Ms. Richella Rondon Smith, were also honored for their service to our country. Also on the program was Mr. Mark Brevard, Community Outreach Coordinator, New England Organ Bank, who impressed upon the audience the importance of being an organ donor. He was accompanied by Ms. Carolyn Fletcher, who provided her testimony of being an organ donor after the death of her son. The Knickerbocker Golf Club also received an award from The New Haven Club, Inc. and the audience had the pleasure of listening to the smooth jazz flowing from the saxophone of Mr. David Davis. Con’t from page 8

Election Revives Pot Legalization Quest

undocumented in the country. On the campaign trail, Trump called for mass deportations. Luis Ortega (pictured), a member of Connecticut Students for a Dream, described the results of the election as “devastating” for the city’s undocumented community. Released in October, Trump’s plan for his first 100 days in office includes cancelling all federal funding for sanctuary cities like New Haven, which passed

the country’s first municipal identification card program in 2007 and has a standing order against police inquiring into people’s immigration status. The marchers looped back in front of the courthouse. Ortega, perched atop a step, led the crowd in claps of unity. And as the crowd cleared out, Whitbeck could be heard, gently strumming on the ukulele.

12

lion. (Colorado generated $135 million in weed tax revenue in 2015.) Both Mallloy and Lemar argued that money shouldn’t drive the debate, that the issue should be decided solely on its merits. “Its not about revenue. It’s more about how you regulate appropriately and responsibly a substance that’s legal in numerous states across the country and has no more side effects than tobacco or alcohol,” Lemar said. “We are looking at numerous states across the country that have

had full recreational legalization without widespread nefarious negative impacts. I think it’s time we treat this the same way we treat alcohol and tobacco for recreational use for responsible adults. “I know the governor has been against it for a number of years. I do respect the steps he has taken to date. But it’s time to move forward.” A 2015 Quinnipiac University poll found that 63 percent of Connecticut respondents support legalization.


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Fall In Love With Your Future Accelerate your studies with

Winter Session:

December 27 through January 13

Registration begins November 1st

Spring 2017 classes start January 19 $25 reserves your class. Payments over five months!

Visit the GCC website for more information and see what’s in it for you!

GatewayCT.edu

SUPER SATURDAY OPEN REGISTRATION

20 Church Street, New Haven, CT

DECEMBER 3, 2016 & JANUARY 7, 2017 - FROM 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

13


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016 Con’t from page 8

The Election is Over…What Now?

to which he does not belong. But, for the Black community, Hillary Clinton is not the prize that she is trying to portray herself as. So, she partied with Beyonce and Jay-Z. Her husband played the saxophone on the now-defunct Arsenio Hall show while walking over the grave of severely mentally ill Black man on death row in Arkansas on Bill’s way to the White House. The man, Ricky Ray Rector, was so unaware of what was happening to him as the guards prepared to walk him to the death chamber that he left his pecan pie from his last meal in his cell, declaring that he would eat it later. Bill was afraid of the “soft on crime” moniker with which Michael Dukakis had been labeled, some said. But what was it that caused the first Clinton administration to institute a mass-incarceration policy that left some many African-American families decimated? Or what led to his now iconic statement that “The era of big government is over” in his 1996 State of the Union Address? Lest we forget, it was “big government” that had to step in often to rescue African-Americans from the extreme and intense racial bigotry and inequality that was so prevalent in the small towns both South and North where relief was not only improbable but often impossible. Bill Clinton’s end

of “big government” led to big problems for African-Americans when those places that had been stripped of their autocratic ability to oppress us were let loose with little or no federal oversight. The Clintons have shown that they are willing to say what they have to say and do what they have to do to get elected and to remain in power. Compromising away the protection and progress of African-Americans are not least on their agenda of doing what they “have to do.” So, the question peaks its head again to confront those who have campaigned for, voted for, and practically threatened others to vote for their candidates: What happens after the election? How will we ensure that we will not be disappointed with our choices this time? Can we ensure this? Do we have any control over what a president does after they are elected? Or are we resigned simply to trust them before we vote for them and pray that they will not betray us in office, and then frighten us to vote for them again by pointing out what a bogeyman their opponent is? It is my contention that the best control we have over a candidate or a party, any candidate or party, is before the vote, not after. It seemed to me impossible for voters to hear this before this present election, but now that it’s over

maybe we can “get out of our feelings” and get into our heads a bit more. We can control elections by whom we refuse to vote for as much, or probably more, as we can by whom we do. In fact, refusing to vote in some cases might be more powerful than voting. Think about it: If AfricanAmericans refused to vote for Hillary in record numbers this time, and for the stated reasons that we are dissatisfied with what the first Clinton administration did to us, when the Democrats run their next candidate for president, that candidate must play close attention to our concerns, our values, and our desired policies. Then they must act on those concerns, values, and policies if elected. This way, after the election for us, would be less of a guess and more of a certainty. We should stop giving away all of our political capital based on promises. We should only spend it when the candidates who seriously vie for it completely understand that they will win it if they protect our interest when they get it. An intelligent non-vote is better than an emotional “they died for you to have the right to vote” vote. For, the right to vote is also the right not to vote. And what is the use of voting if your influence evaporates after the election?

For more information on ACES schools, programs and services, please visit our website.

(203) 498-6800 | www.aces.org 14

Con’t from page 8

Developer, Fair Haven Square Off

who live here, we don’t want to have to clean up your eyesore,” one neighbor said. “That’s the risk the city will have to take,” he replied. “No, it’s the risk that you have to take,” another neighbor countered. “Normally, in this process a market study is what we do after we get control of the building,” Lazarus said. “We looked around, and based on what we believe the building could command, we looked at the neighborhood and beyond to tell us what rents could be based on the way that we’ve proposed to outfit it out.” A 9-year-old Samuel Heenan, a Columbus Academy student told Lazarus that he frequented the playground and wanted to know what were the plans for incorporating young people into any new development. Santos said the plan is to improve the playground, likely by replacing it. “This project is very much about community involvement,” he said. “Currently, you have a playground that is in pretty good shape, a little unsafe at times. We’re allocating an area to improve that play ground and give you possibly a new modern playground.” Olive Branches Skeptic neighbors challenged Lazarus not only about the affordability of his complex, but about his plan for a one-to-one parking scheme. They repeatedly spoke about the work that had already been invested by members of the community into a vision for the school, that emphasized extensive office and community space for not-for-profits over housing. Lazarus proposes a smaller amount of shared community space, in the current gym. Lazarus held firm to his proposed vision and tried to urge neighbors to provide input on the shared community space instead of continuing to criticize his overall idea which, as he pointed out, has not been selected. “There is all this space one of the most beautiful interiors in the state,” Lazarus said. “And all of it will be available to the community. What I need to hear about from people are really elegant, wonderful ideas as how that can be used both to your

benefit and the benefit of those who might ultimately live here. We’d like to hear what you have to propose for the use of that space.” Though lifelong Fair Havener Francisco Ortiz initially panned the affordability housing portion of the complex, he ultimately offered an idea: Allow young people can go to the shared space to play basketball and get help with homework. “We have a lot of kids who are dropping out,” he said. “That’s an excellent idea,” Lazarus said. Neighbors said they’d like another meeting with Lazarus to get more specific details about the project and to provide him with more information about the neighborhood. He was invited to the neighborhood “soup night” on Dec. 4. It is unclear whether Lazarus planned to take them up on that offer. But Deputy Economic Development Director Steve Fontana did commit to arranging another meeting with neighbors before the committee convenes to review the Lazarus proposal. Neighbor Carlos Galo pressed city officials for additional community members to be added to the committee that will review Lazarus’ plan. He said he was concerned that the city would make decisions about selecting Lazarus’ plan behind closed doors. He also was concerned that many of the people who would make the decision don’t live in Fair Haven. City development chief Matthew Nemerson said after the meeting that one of the reasons that the neighborhood was able to meet Lazarus this early is because he is the only applicant. Had there been multiple applicants to buy the property, the city would have had to keep some information about competing proposals, particularly any proprietary information, confidential. He said if the community had submitted a proposal of its own, no member of Fair Haven would have been able to vote on that proposal, though community members would and still can participate in the public meetings where the committee will meet. “We try to have a somewhat objective process,” he said.


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Free educational programs for New Haven residents •Free science, technology and engineering programs •Full college scholarships for hundreds of New Haven students •Tuition assistance for lower-income New Haven families nhy300.org

NEW HAVEN AND YALE: BUILDING THE FUTURE TOGETHER.

YUNI-0108 Print Ad InnerCityNews9.25x10.5.indd 1

15

10/10/16 3:15 PM


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

New Film Supports New Art For New Haven by DAVID SEPULVEDA NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

A new New Haven-based film, I Am Shakespeare (The Henry Green Story), not yet in its premiere phase, is slated to be screened at a Nov. 19 fundraiser. The audience will not only get to see the film and participate in a talk-back with the film’s subject, Henry Green, and director, Stephen Dest; it will also be contributing to an exciting light installation project in New Haven by world-renowned artist Sheila Levrant de Bretteville. The installation has been commissioned by Site Projects, the public arts nonprofit organization that has been creating meaningful public art throughout New Haven for the past 13 years. The project, entitled Way to Go, will illuminate part of the Route 34 underpass near Union Station. The installation is designed to remake a deteriorated urban space at one of New Haven’s busiest gateways, while helping to build on New Haven’s profile as a city that cares about art. For Dest, the decision to collaborate with Site Projects to help raise funds was not difficult. “Collaboration is so vital in the arts community, so working with Site Projects was an easy decision to make,” he said. “Filmmakers are so often left to their own devices (for better or worse), so when an opportunity to work with an organization like Site Projects comes along, it’s too good, and too important to pass up.” The film’s investors include the Pincus Family Foundation and private donors from the New Haven community. Neighborhood Music School served as the film’s fiscal sponsor. On I Am Shakespeare a little less than a year ago. Dest, the film’s award-winning director, was initially hoping to re-create the true New Haven story as a full-length feature drama, following the success three years ago of his psychological thriller My Brother Jack, a film he wrote and directed.

Director Stephen Dest.

I Am Shakespeare tells the story of gifted thespian Henry Green of Newhallville, whose remarkable talents made him a standout in the Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School theater program. He skillfully portrayed the role of Tybalt in

Romeo and Juliet for a Shakespeare in the Park production. The film tells Green’s comingof-age story as he channeled several identities and coped with the challenges of straddling two worlds: one that recognized his special talents on stage, the other a rough-and-tumble existence that played out on some of New Haven’s toughest streets. Green has admitted that he “was no angel.” His charisma and acting skills enabled a leadership position in his own gang. Green’s challenging socioeconomic circumstances were always waiting for him after the accolades of every stage performance. Under gang turf rules, getting off at the wrong bus stop in his own neighborhood could prove costly. His specially honed survival skills proved insufficient one fateful evening as he and his posse were confronted by hooded gang members wearing ski masks. Flight was not an option for Green as he stared into an assailant’s eyes. “The eyes of a lost child, con16

fused hurt and angry… I saw a mirror in his eyes,” Green said. Seconds later, he was shot pointblank. After much consideration by Dest and Green, it was decided that a documentary, told in Green’s own words, would be “far more honest and cinematic than what could’ve been recreated in a drama,” Dest said. Using Green’s insights into his own world, viewers could trace the story of his gritty journey from death’s door to a miraculous but protracted recovery, thanks to a rare small intestinal organ transplant, a strong support system, and Green’s own tenacious will. “Although it’s a documentary, there’s a real arc of a performance in the film,” Dest said. I Am Shakespeare represents the second in a trilogy of New Haven-based films for Dest. His third film, titled Grace, will look at the city’s architecture and city landscape as told through the fictional characters of architect Henry Cooper and his daughter Grace.

“It’s a story of one man’s obsession with design and legacy, but also the alienation of his own family,” Dest said. “My Brother Jack looked at the amazing and gifted arts community (with a psychological murder twist) and I Am Shakespeare looks at the inner-city community and its struggle with identity and salvation. Grace will look at the third piece of our unique city: the university and its historical significance to the world beyond the ivory towers.” I am Shakespeare will be screened at Common Ground Springside Center, an awardwinning architectural structure located at 385 Springside Ave. in New Haven, on Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. A dinner and cocktail hour for VIP and prime ticket fundraising tiers will precede the 81 minute screening, which will be followed by a moderated panel discussion with Dest and Green. Other activities include a fine art silent auction to benefit the Site Projects fund.


5 Weeks, 5 Teacher Resignations THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

address.

by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

The public schools are losing eight teachers to resignations and retirement in November and December — which raised the question of whether that’s a cause for concern. The question was raised at Monday night’s regular Board of Education meeting. Board member Darnell Goldson raised it right before the superintendent’s personnel report was unanimously approved. The report included notice of five teacher resignations effect Oct. 31-Dec. 5. The departing teachers have been working at Elm City Montessori, Mayo Early Childhood, Troup, Creed High, and Clemente schools. Another three teachers — William Dillon of Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School, Deborah Shindell of King-Robinson Magnet, and Janusz Stygares (who’s assigned to multiple buildings — put in for retirement effective November and December. Twelve other teachers have put in for family medical leave. The school system hired five new teachers, meanwhile, at Coop, Clinton Avenue, Metroplitan Business, and Wilbur Cross. Goldson confers with fellow board member Alicia Caraballo. “Teachers are leaving,” Goldson said. “We’re not even halfway through the year.” “Why are these people leaving a month after school started?” he asked. “... How do we slow this process down?” Reggie Mayo, who just began serving as interim superintendent while the district looks for a permanent replacement for Garth Harries (who left his job two months into the school year), promised to look into the question and provide answers. The Rev. Boise Kimber offered an answer. “They were going to get fired,” Kimber, who has been speaking up regularly on education issues at school board meetings, told Goldson during the public comment portion of Monday night’s meeting.

PAUL BASS PHOTO

Mayo (at right in photo) with board members Coral Ortiz and Che Dawson.

Asked afterwards who told him that, Kimber responded, “My sources.” (Kimber’s “sources” have provided him with good information in the past. For instance, in August 2015, when school officials claimed not to know the plans of Co-op’s principal for the coming year, Kimber revealed that that principal had in fact taken a job elsewhere and wasn’t returning; he was right, as officials were forced to acknowledge.) So far this school year, close to three dozen teachers have resigned, about the same number as at this point in the previous school year, according to district Talent Direct Mike Crocco. School officials can’t publicly discuss the reasons for individual teachers leaving. But “our attrition rate is about 10 percent, which is right where you want to be,” said school system spokeswoman Mercy Quaye. Teachers union President Dave Cicarella said in fact only one of the departing teachers is leaving

because of a poor recommendation. “On occasion there are some that choose to resign in lieu of termination or non-renewal. But they in no way comprise the bulk of the resignations,” he said. Under the evaluation system instituted under New Haven’s “school change” program, teachers with low scores receive extra help to try to improve their performance. Occasionally they are asked to leave, but the goal is to strengthen their skills instead. When Grants Run Out ... Goldson raised a second concern Monday night about the superintendent’s personnel report: The fact that it included switching the payment of eight Wilbur Cross High School teachers from various grant funds to the operating budget. Fellow board member Michael Nast echoed the concern, saying that many teachers are paid from grant funds, and those funds are running out — with an unclear

17

picture on whether the system can afford to pay them all through the regular operating budget. Goldson further expressed frustration that for “six months” district officials have not provided overall financial information to give a sense of how big a problem this will be. “I have nothing to do with six months. I’ve been here [as interim superintendent] for eight days,” Mayo responded. He promised to return to the board with more information. In the meantime, he said, he has asked his staff to keep paying those teachers through operating funds while looking for openings in other grant-funded positions in the district. Mayo agreed that this “is a problem” the district needs to

What They Make The personnel report also included the hiring of three new paraprofesionals, two at Jepson Magnet School, one at Mayo Early Childhood. Two of them start at $18,793, the third, who begins at one step higher in the pay scale, at $19,451. Paraprofessionals have been speaking out for higher pay, finding a sympathetic ear in the mayor; but a last-minute state budget cut quashed plans to deliver it for this academic year. Sixteen new cafeteria workers and “general workers” are on the job throughout the district as of this week. Most are being paid $17.79 an hour for between three and (in two cases) seven hours of work a day. Union representatives renewed calls at the meeting to increase the pay of paras, as well as of cafeteria and security workers. Board member Ed Joyner proposed voting to instruct Mayo to increase the salaries; Goldson added a friendly amendment to seek 15-25 percent raises. The board did not pass the proposal, but members agreed during discussion to encourage higher pay in general.

Questions about your bill? Yale New Haven Hospital is pleased to offer patients and their families financial counseling regarding their hospital bills or the availability of financial assistance, including free care funds. By appointment, patients can speak one-on-one with a financial counselor during regular business hours. For your convenience, extended hours are available once a month. Date: Monday, November 21, 2016 Time: 5 - 7 pm Location: Children’s Hospital, 1 Park St., 1st Floor, Admitting Parking available (handicapped accessible) An appointment is necessary. Please call 203-688-2046. Spanish-speaking counselors available.

10652 (06/16)


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

President Obama Congratulates Donald Trump and Invites Him to the White House for a Meeting

Washington, DC — Despite the fact that the democratic party has suffered a major surprise loss in the presidential election, President Obama is keeping it classy and has carried on with his presidential duty. The morning after the election, he congratulated Trump and invited him to the White House for a meeting. “We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country,” Obama said from the Rose Garden. He continued, “The presidency, the vice presidency is bigger than any of us. We’re actually all on one team. We’re not Democrats first. We’re not Republicans first. We’re patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country.” He also acknowledged that the

country has some healing to do, but added that he was heartened by the unifying nature of Trump’s

acceptance speech. “That’s what this country needs,” Obama said. “A sense of unity. A sense of in-

clusion.” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, says, “From the

White House residence, the president phoned Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory early this morning.” He continued, “The president invited the president-elect to meet with him at the White House on Thursday, November 10th, to update him on the transition planning his team has been working on for nearly a year.” Obama is also reportedly focused on ensuring a “smooth transition” as Trump enters the Oval Office. “Ensuring a smooth transition of power is one of the top priorities the president identified at the beginning of the year and a meeting with the president-elect is the next step,” Earnest said.

This Practice Against the Poor Puts Thousands of Innocent People in Prison Every Year

People who are charged with committing crimes and are sent to jail pending trial are usually offered bail bond. This allows them to pay to be released before their trial begins. Poor people, however, are at a huge disadvantage with this practice because they have no money to pay the bond. Some sit in jail for as much as two years before being released for a crime they never committed.

(about 800 days) in prison waiting for her trial. When the trial finally started, she was acquitted and has since been released. Thousands of others stuck in jail This happens to thousands of innocent people every year. According to ABC Eyewitness News in Chicago, as many as 15 million people are put in jail every year in the U.S., and those who cannot afford bail remain there.

Waiting for nearly 800 days

That was the situation with 25-year-old Bianca Young from the Chicago area. She was jailed for a shooting in Cook County back in August 2014, and her bail was first set at $1 million, then later reduced to $250,000.

Bail bondman fees, the price you actually pay to get a bond to let you out of jail, range from 8% to 15%, depending on the state.

But that is still about $25,000 way beyond any poor person’s ability to pay. So, although Bianca had no prior

18

convictions, she was still charged with murder, attempted murder, and disrupting the peace, and was forced to wait more than two years

About 92 percent of inmates in Cook County Jail have not yet been convicted of the crime that put them behind bars, compared with 60 percent nationally. Human activists say this is not justice.


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

19


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

20


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Petition Urges President Obama to Grant Clemency For Kwame Kilpatrick – The Former Mayor of Detroit Now Serving 28 years in Prison Nationwide — Despite being convicted and sentenced to jail for corruption, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has thousands of supporters that are determined to get him released from prison. Calling themselves “The People for the Release of Kwame Kilpatrick”, the supporters have started an online petition on Change.org urging President Obama to grant him clemency. Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison after being charged with bribery, extortion, fraud and racketeering. He appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in June for a new trial, but he was denied. His supporters say that they agree that he should be punished, but that his 28-year sentence is too excessive. In the petition, they say that Kilpatrick should not be allowed to “rot away in prison,” but instead, should be “given the opportunity to work for the State and City government to educate

young politicians on the slippery slope of corruption which every Senator, Congressmen, State Rep, Governor, Mayor, Aldermen and City Council member face everyday.” The person who started the petition comments, “Pull Kwame

out of prison and let him use his mind, his heart and his voice to shield other young politicians, black men and women away from the unfortunate trap he fell into. Yes people were hurt, yes people were mad but I have forgiven him and others will as

Black-Owned Restaurant Facing Boycott After Catering a Trump Event

Chef Don Studvent, a Black business owner in Detroit, Michigan, is under fire for catering an event for Donald Trump’s son. His 7-year old restaurant, the 1917 American Bistro, serves well-prepared dishes ranging from grilled shrimp, salmon and chicken to blackened or deep-fried catfish. But they are facing a potential boycott by other African Americans and others protestors against Donald Trump’s presidency. What’s the big deal?

Studvent was reportedly just returning to the event to pick up his pots and pans when he got caught in a photo-op. His picture taken with Trump’s son ended up all over Facebook, and people started reacting in a way that was never expected. People began accusing him of “selling out” and postings on Facebook started to appear calling for people to boycott his restaurant and catering service. Business is business... right?

Chef Don Studvent taking a photo with some customers in his restaurant Studvent believes that business is business and has nothing to do with politics, bu the public has turned the event into a political issue. They are saying that because of Trump’s rocky relationship with the Black community, no Black-owned business should do business with him or his family members. But Studvent has explained that he doesn’t take political sides when it comes to his business. “This is my living,” he said. “And

it’s not just my living, my employees as well.” The bad publicity has left Studvent’s restaurant almost empty lately. He is hoping it all blows over soon and he gets his customers back. He says that the whole thing is unfair, and very hurtful to his company and his employees. “I don’t deserve this crap,” Studvent told WYYZ.com.

21

well.” The petition continues, “Everyone deserves a second chance

and I believe the City of the Detroit will be a better place with OUR Son out of prison and back home doing the work to rebuild his family, city and his reputation. Kwame is just too smart to be in prison and it is a disservice and an atrocity to lock him away for that long. His wife and children are barely surviving. They are being watched and hunted down by the government for any money or help they receive. It’s wrong and it needs to be made right.” As of November 1, 2016, the petition had more than 22,000 signatures. To sign and/or view the petition, visit www.change.org/p/barackobama-clemency-for-kwamekilpatrick-he-was-wrong-but28-years-is-too-excessive


Loving

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

The Day After the Day Of

Film Review by Kam Williams

Poignant Period Piece Recounts the Forbidden Romance That Led to Landmark Supreme Court Decision Mildred Jeter (Ruth Negga) and Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton) committed a crime just by falling in love when they were in the bloom of youth back in 1958. That’s because she was black and he was white, and they were living in Virginia, one of the many Southern states with anti-miscegnation laws still on the books forbidding cohabitation, marriage, procreation or even sexual relations across racial lines. Nevertheless, Richard was so smitten he proposed and, after Mildred accepted, he purchased a vacant plot of land where he promised to build their dream home. However, when it came to time to wed, they had to travel north to Washington, DC, a city where they could secure a marriage license. Upon returning to their tiny hometown of Central Point, they were promptly arrested during a nighttime raid staged by policemen tipped off about the recent nuptials. They charged the couple with violating section 20-58 of Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act, a felony punishable with up to five years in prison. The Lovings were ultimately convicted, but fled to the District of Columbia rather than serve their sentences, especially since Mildred was expecting their first child by then. What a tragedy it was for them not only to be fugitives of justice, but to be forced to start their family in a strange big city, when they already had a place to live, if it weren’t for state-sanctioned racial intolerance. Five years later, their plight came to the attention of Bernie Cohen (Nick Kroll) and Phil Hirshkop (Jon Bass) attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union

(ACLU). The lawyers talked Mildred and Richard into lending their names as plaintiffs in a suit challenging the Constitutionality of Virginia’s longstanding statute prohibiting interracial marriage. The beleaguered couple agreed, and the appellate process worked its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court which agreed to hear the case. “Tell the judge I love my wife,” Richard implored the ACLU legal team preparing the oral argument. On June 12, 1967, the Court announced that it had arrived at a unanimous decision written by Chief Justice Earl Warren. He declared that Virginia had violated the Lovings’ rights to both Equal Protection and Due Process as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.

Directed by Jeff Nichols (Mud), Loving carefully chronicles the life and times of an unassuming couple reluctantly thrust into the national limelight by a landmark legal case. The production features endearing performances by leads Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton who generate a quiet, yet convincing screen chemistry portraying Mildred and Richard as modest working-class heroes. A poignant period piece about a pair of practically-saintly role models well-deserving of their iconic status in the annals of American jurisprudence. Excellent (4 stars) Rated PG-13 for mature themes and ethnic slurs Running time: 123 minutes Studio: Big Beach Films Distributor: Focus Features

22

by Paul Ilechko The sky sheds its tears. This morning is the morning of the day after. The day of mourning, the day after the day of. I beseech the sky to shed tears in order to wash away the tears on my face. This is the first day of the time after. This is the beginning of a new time, the days of pain, the days of sorrow. We are in mourning. The sky looks down and sheds its tears for us. We are the sad and mournful people under the sky. Under the sky, the rain washes away the muddy streaks left by our tears, the dirty streaks of sadness displayed on the cheeks of our desperate faces. We are grateful to the sky. We are grateful for the cleansing rain. The horizontal rain lashes our weary bodies. The sharp needles of the rain tear into our soft and needy flesh. This is the time of a new cruelty. The rain is in the service of the new age. The rain is a tool of hate and cruelty. The rage of the new day. The anger and hate turning rain into blood. This is the morning, the morning after. This is the beginning of the age of suffering. We beseech the rain to leave us in peace. The rain laughs in our filthy faces. The rain laughs in our blood-stained faces. We are the people of the days before. We are under the influence of the rain, the rain of the day after the day of. We are overwhelmed by the rage, the hate, the pain, of the day after the day of. Paul Ilechko was born in England but has lived most of his life in the USA. He currently lives in Lambertville, NJ with his girlfriend and a cat. He has at various times been a visual artist (painting and photography) and a writer of short fiction, with some level of success in both fields. Paul has had poetry accepted by Ibis Head Review and the Peacock Journal and short fiction works by Grab-a-Nickel and Xelas magazines. In competitions, he was a finalist at Glimmer Train, and a semi-finalist at both the St Lawrence Book Award and Narrative Magazine. He has participated in group art shows in London, England, as well as in Princeton, New Brunswick and Metuchen (all NJ) Contact info: Paul Ilechko, 114 North Main St, Lambertville NJ. email: pilechko@gmail.com


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Darrell Jones:

Friday, November 18, 8pm Saturday, November 19 2pm & 8pm

Hoo-Ha

World Music Hall 40 Wyllys Avenue Middletown

The New England debut of choreographer Darrell Jones’ Hoo-Ha in a salon format merges voguing and postmodern dance to express the release of the oppressed feminine in the male body.

New England Debut

Join us beginning 30 minutes prior to the performance to learn more about Mr. Jones’ work. Please note the venue features non-Western seating (visit website to see photos of space).

PERFORMING ARTS SERIES

Tickets on sale now! $28 general public; $26 senior citizens,

Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; $6 Wesleyan students

860-685-3355 www.wesleyan.edu/cfa CENTER FOR THE ARTS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT

Media Sponsor:

ACT JAMS PRODUCTIONS presents

Soulful Sounds of Christmas

RP inner city news oct.qxp_Layout 1 10/11/16 10:56 AM Page 1

THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE for movies and the performing arts

OCTOBER 19 Boney James

DON’T MISS THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC AND COMEDY!

DECEMBER 16 | 8pm

NOVEMBER 19 Comedian JB Smoove

with a post-show old school holiday dance party hosted by Al Taylor

20 Chita Rivera: A Ledgendary Celebration

Come experience some of the most stellar artists of our time on one stage and usher in the spirit of the holiday season!

DECEMBER 7 Tiempo Libre: A Cuban Holiday! 8 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Home for the Holidays Special Guest Saun and Starr

203.346.2000 | PALACETHEATERCT.ORG 100 EAST MAIN STREET, WATERBURY, CT

203.438.5795 • RIDGEFIELDPLAYHOUSE.ORG

23


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

These PTSD Signs Are Commonly Overlooked In Children By HealthDay News

Parents often fail to recognize post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) in young children, a new British study says. “When people talk about PTSD they often think about soldiers returning from war zones. But children who experience traumatic events such as car accidents, assaults and natural disasters are also at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder,” said lead researcher Richard Meiser-Stedman, from Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia. “Symptoms can include traumatic memories and nightmares, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and feeling like the world is very unsafe,” he explained in a university news release. Researchers followed more than 100 children aged 2 to 10 who had been in a road collision involving a car crash, or being hit while walking, or getting knocked off their

bicycle. All had been taken to the hospital with injuries such as bruising, fractures or loss of consciousness They were assessed for PTSD two to four weeks after the incident, and again at six months and then three years later.

The researchers found that those who showed signs of stress soon after the incident didn’t necessarily go on to suffer PTSD after three years, And, while some developed PTSD that persisted for years, this occurred only in a minority of cases. Most “bounce back” naturally

With Allah’s Name, the Merciful Benefactor, the Merciful Redeemer

Abdul-Majid Karim Hasan Islamic Center

Invite you to attend our Thirteenth Annual Leadership Awards & Fund Raising Dinner

Saturday, November 12, 2016 Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Individual Tickets: $50.00

BEST WESTERN HOTEL 201 WASHINGTON AVE., NORTH HAVEN, CT 06473 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS CONTACT Yusuf Ibn Shah (203) 804-5600 or Michael Hasan (860) 818-9980 Imam Dr. Abdul-Majid Karim Hasan (203) 996-5078 Carrie & Tisa Ahmed (203) 676-4574

24

in time, the study authors said. Injury severity was associated with PTSD incidence up to six months after an incident, but not three years after. However, the researchers added, most parents of children who still had PTSD after three years didn’t recognize their child’s symptoms. This finding suggests that relying on parent reports of PTSD in their children may not be adequate for identifying chronic PTSD in young children, the researchers said. The researchers also found that children were more likely to suffer PTSD if their parents also suffered PTSD in the short- or long-term. But even these parents may not recognize their child’s PTSD. “This study reveals some really interesting links between how children and their parents respond to a trauma,” Meiser-Stedman said. Children may experience PTSD for years without their parents being aware of it. The researchers

also found a strong link between parents having PTSD and their children having it as well, even years after the traumatic event. “This could be because parental stress early on is worsened by their children’s symptoms, or because the child’s responses are shaped by their parents’ initial reactions — or a bit of both, leading to an amplification of symptoms for both parties,” he said. “Interestingly, even in these cases, the parents were still unlikely to acknowledge their children’s suffering,” Meiser-Stedman added. “This study strengthens the case for considering parental mental health, and providing support for both children and their parents in the aftermath of a trauma to reduce the long-term effects for both,” he concluded. The study was published Nov. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

549,804 BREAST EXAMS

IS PLANNED PARENTHOOD

GET TO KNOW PLANNED PARENTHOOD WHERE YOUR VOICE GETS STRONGER BY THE NUMBERS FIND OUT MORE TODAY @ PPSNE.ORG ∙ 800.230.PLAN (7526)

All-Day Rides, Waterpark Less Than $30! That’s Affordable Family Fun At Quassy!

The Zoo just got a little cooler!

Birthday Party Packages Start At Only $310

2016 SPECIAL FEATURE AFRICAN PENGUINS ICNEWS516

50% OFF BEARDSLEY ZOO

CHILD ADMISSION (ages 3-11)

with purchase of adult ticket and this coupon. Limit 1 free ticket per household. May not be combined with other offers. EXPIRES: 12/31/16

25

Purchase Daily & Season Passes Online www.quassy.com

Family Night Specials * 50-Cent Fabulous Fridays

Rides * Hot Dogs * Pepsi - 50 Cents Each

* $45 Saturday Night Carload

Wristbands For Up 10 Persons In One Car (These specials offered after 5 p.m.)

2132 Middlebury Road, Middlebury CT

1-800-FOR-PARK


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

“Movember” Prompts Clark Atlanta University to Ask Prostate Cancer Survivors Across the Nation to Share Their Experience This Month and Every Month Men across the country are asked to share their experience on the Prostate Cancer Registry in order to help save more lives from the disease —

Atlanta, GA — As the country focuses on men’s health by growing facial hair to draw attention to health issues during the month of November, also known as “Movember”, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) announces a nationwide expansion of its Prostate Cancer Registry. The registry galvanizes prostate cancer survivors to share their stories in an effort to reduce health disparities and improve the treatment, care and long term quality of life issues that affect African-American prostate cancer survivors most. According the Centers for Disease Control, one in five AfricanAmerican men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It is the second most common cancer in American men and the second most common cause of death from cancer among most racial and ethnic groups. “We are asking African-American men from around the nation to sign up with our Prostate Cancer Registry at pcregistry.cau.edu,” said Shafiq A. Khan, Ph.D., director of CCRTD, CAU. “While the causes of the health disparity for prostate cancer in African-American men remains unclear, we know for sure that early detection saves lives. The information privately gathered in the registry will help us learn from vast experiences, and develop better interventions earlier in order to help save more lives from the disease.” Beginning this month, the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD) at CAU, the largest cancer center fo-

cused on prostate cancer research within a historically black college or university, will begin collecting data from prostate cancer survivors from across the nation. Data collected through the Prostate Cancer Registry will capture relevant treatments, procedures, and interventions most commonly experienced throughout the prostate cancer continuum of care. Ultimately, the private insights and data will help guide early detection strategies, clinical practices and processes; and improve quality of patient care for AfricanAmerican men, who face a disproportionately higher rate of prostate cancer incidence and mortality compared to other races. “By December 2018, we are hoping to have more than 500 men

enrolled in the registry, and we hope by getting the word out, people will register and share,” said Kimberly E. Davis, Ph.D., senior research scientist and community outreach director, CCRTD, CAU. “By sharing their experiences, we envision prostate cancer survivors working as one to build knowledge about the challenges they have faced. Our hope is that, through new research, individuals affected by prostate cancer can become more informed and active in making decisions. We hope to play a part in forming a supportive community that may possibly lead to improved quality of life and enhanced possibilities in survivorship.” To learn more or to sign up for

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

2016 Annual Meeting The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 5 p.m., College Street Music Hall

Music by St. Luke’s Steel Band Refreshments by Geronimo

RSVP: 203-777-7098 26

the Prostate Cancer Registry, prostate cancer survivors should visit www.pcregistry.cau.edu or click here. Participants will be asked to fill out a questionnaire chronicling their experience as a survivor. The questionnaire takes less than an hour to complete. The registry is open to any prostate cancer survivor over the age of 18. For more information, call CAU’s CCRTD

at 404-880-6763 or e-mail ccrtd@ cau.edu. “If you are a survivor or know of a survivor, please consider sharing and registering. Your input could help save a life, and at the very least, help improve the quality of life for future prostate cancer survivors,” said Davis. nThe Prostate Cancer registry at Clark Atlanta University is a project of The Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD), the largest cancer center focused on prostate cancer research within a historically black college or university. Established in 1999 with funds from the National Institutes of Health, the center’s mission is to alleviate health disparities among prostate cancer patients and survivors from racial and ethnic groups throughout the nation to today the Center continues to receive federal dollars, as well as funding from the Georgia Research Alliance, private sectors and Clark Atlanta University. Named a University Center of Excellence at Clark Atlanta University, CCRTD is now recognized as one of the nation’s top academic cancer research centers.

Gwen Ifill, Award-Winning Political Reporter and Author, Dies at 61 By Sam Roberts, nytimes.com Gwen Ifill, an award-winning television journalist for NBC and PBS, former reporter for The New York Times and author who moderated vice-presidential debates in 2004 and 2008, died on Monday in Washington. She was 61. Her death, at a hospice facility, was announced by Sara Just, executive producer of “PBS NewsHour.” The cause was cancer, PBS said. Ms. Ifill was the moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and the co-anchor and co-managing editor, with Judy Woodruff, of PBS NewsHour, the culmination of a career that began in 1981 at The Baltimore Evening Sun. Both she and Ms. Woodruff moderated a Democratic debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in February.

Gwen Ifill,

Ms. Ifill later reported for The Washington Post and The Times, covering Congress, presidential campaigns and national political conventions. She is also the author of “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” which was published on inauguration day in 2009.


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY Inventory Consultant RFQ No. RQ16001 CONTACT PERSON

Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement Telephone: 203-744-2500 x141 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org Contact Ms. Devin Marra, via phone or email. Housing Authority of the City of Danbury 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: RFQ No. RQ16001 Inventory Consultant October 31, 2016 – 10:00 am (EST)

HOW TO OBTAIN THE RFQ DOCUMENTS: SUBMITTAL RETURN

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]

The Glendower Group, Inc Request for Proposals

CO-DEVELOPER FOR ROCKVIEW PHASE II The Glendower Group, Inc an affiliate of Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking Proposals for CO-Developer for Rockview Phase II A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Friday, October 7, 2016 at 3:00 PM. NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR BID HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY Landscaping/Glen Apartments IFB No. B16003

CONTACT PERSON HOW TO OBTAIN THE IFB DOCUMENTS:

BID SUBMITTAL RETURN PRE-BID WALK THROUGH BID SUBMITTAL DEADLINE/BID OPENING

Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement Telephone: 203-744-2500 x141 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org Contact Ms. Devin Marra, via phone or email. Housing Authority of the City of Danbury 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No. B16003 Landscaping Glen Apartments 25 Memorial Drive, Danbury, CT 06811 November 3, 2016 by 2:00pm EST November 09, 2016 at 10:00am EST

[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]

NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR BID HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY Snow Removal/Glen Apartments IFB No. B16004

CONTACT PERSON HOW TO OBTAIN THE IFB DOCUMENTS:

BID SUBMITTAL RETURN PRE-BID WALK THROUGH BID SUBMITTAL DEADLINE/BID OPENING

Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement Telephone: 203-744-2500 x141 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org Contact Ms. Devin Marra, via phone or email. Housing Authority of the City of Danbury 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No. B16004 Snow Removal Glen Apartments 25 Memorial Drive, Danbury, CT 06811 November 3, 2016 by 2:00pm EST November 09, 2016 at 10:15am EST

[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]

The GUILFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY is currently accepting applications for COUPLES ONLY for its one bedroom apartments at Guilford Court and Boston Terrace in Guilford CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or federal disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262, ext.107. An information packet will also be provided with the application. Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2017. Credit, police and landlord checks are procured by the authority. Smoke free housing. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING

The Glendower Group, Inc

Request for Proposals Master Planner for the Redevelopment of Westville Manor and Surrounding Area The Glendower Group, Inc an affiliate of Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Master Planner for the Redevelopment of Westville Manor and Surrounding Area. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Thursday, November 17, 2016 @ 9:00 AM.

ELECTRICIANS

JOB FAIR CONSTRUCTION POSITIONS PROJECT: FARNAM COURTS SPONSORED BY: HAYNES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN COMMISSION ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PLACE: FARNAM COMMUNITY ROOM/ADMIN. BLDG 177 FRANKLIN STREET NEW HAVEN, CT DATE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 TIME: 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - Portland Proficient in Microsoft Office. Knowledge of Haz. Waste Regs., & Manifests a +. RED Technologies, LLC, 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480; Fax 860.342.1042; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Class A Driver

Class A CDL Driver with 3 years min. exp. HAZMAT Endorsed. (Tractor/Triaxle/Roll-off) Some overnights may be required. FAX resumes to RED Technologies, at 860.342-1042; Email: HR@redtechllc.com Mail or in person: 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480. RED Technologies, LLC is An EOE.

Semac Electric is seeking Electricians (CT Licensed Journeymen & Foremen, E1 and E2) to join our team for medium & large commercial construction projects thru out the State of CT: Hartford, Fairfield & New Haven Counties. We have excellent wages and benefits. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications available at our main office at 45 Peter Court, New Britain, CT or send resume to P.O. Box 638, New Britain, CT 06050 or via fax to 860-229-0406 or email: careers@semacelectric.com

Dispatcher - Portland Candidate must have 2-5 years relevant experience in hazardous waste transportation. Must have completed 40 HAZWOPER Certification, Asbestos Awareness Certification a plus. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480; Fax 860.342.1042; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Project Manager Environmental Remediation Division 3-5 years exp. and Bachelor’s Degree, 40-Hr. Hazwoper Training Req. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002; Fax 860.218.2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED Technologies, LLC is an

EOE.

Elm City Communities Request for Proposals

Lenders or Investors for Selected RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) Projects Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Lenders or Investors for Selected RAD Projects. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, October 31, 2016 @ 9:00 AM.

27


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Elm City Communities

Union Company seeks:

Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. Contact Greg at 860-243-2300. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Dana Briere Phone: 860-243-2300 Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

INVITATION TO BID

DAS Certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Subcontractors are invited to bid on the Abatement Package at the Sono Life Center located at 2 Merritt Place, Norwalk, CT 06854 This Package will be awarded to DAS Certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontractor as part of the Set-Aside Contractor Program. BIDS DUE 12:00 PM, November 4, 2016. Send Email to ngorneault@pacgroupllc.com for electronic access to the bid package.

PAC Group LLC, the Construction Manager and the owner reserve the rights: to accept any, all, or any part of bids; to reject any, all, or any part of bids; to waive any nonmaterial deficiencies in bid responses; and to award the bid that in its judgment will be in the best interests of the owner. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Request for Proposals

Lenders or Investors for Selected RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) Projects Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Lenders or Investors for Selected RAD Projects. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, October 31, 2016 @ 9:00 AM.

Mechanical Insulator Insulation Company offering good pay and benefits. Please forward resume to P.O. Box 475, North Haven, CT 06473 This company is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

STATE OF CONNECTICUT OFFICE OF THE TREASURER SECURITIES ANALYST DEBT MANAGEMENT DIVISION Applications are being accepted for the above full-time SECURITIES ANALYST position. Job specific information and application instructions can be found at http://www.state.ct.us/ott/employmentopportunities.htm

Application Deadline is November 25, 2016

Public Notice

The Manchester Housing Authority will close the waiting list for the Federal Low Income Public Housing (LIPH) program (Elderly/Disabled, 0/1 BR units) at 4:00 PM October 31, 2016. Applications are available in person and on the MHA website at http://manchesterha.org and will be accepted until 4:00 PM October 31, 2016. There is no scheduled date to re-open the waiting list. When the MHA is prepared to re-open the waiting list a public notice will be issued in order to give proper notice to interested parties. The Manchester Housing Authority does not discriminate based upon race, color, disability, familial status, sex or national origin. Maintainer II Must have 2 yrs. exp. as laborer in field of construction work involving the operation and care of mechanical equipment or 2 yrs. in a skilled trade and 1 yr. exp. in construction operations or and equiv combination of experience and training. A valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B and a clean driving record. Pay rate: $21.33 to $25.00 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply Personnel Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. The closing date will be that date the 50th application form/resume is received, or August 17, 2016, whichever occurs first. Candidates without a valid CDL should not apply. A copy of your license will be required when applying. EOE

Town of Bloomfield Town Assessor - Reposted $77,881 - $120,209

For details and how to apply, go to www.bloomfieldct.org. Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE

The Office of the Treasurer is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages the application of women, minorities, and disabled persons.

ELECTRICIANS

Semac Electric is seeking Electricians (CT Licensed Journeymen & Foremen, E1 and E2) to join our team for medium & large commercial construction projects thru out the State of CT: Hartford, Fairfield & New Haven Counties. We have excellent wages and benefits. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications available at our main office at 45 Peter Court, New Britain, CT or send resume to P.O. Box 638, New Britain, CT 06050 or via fax to 860-229-0406 or email: careers@semacelectric.com

Special Projects Manager Immediate opening in a fast-paced petroleum environment For a degreed manager with a BA Degree required, MBA Preferred with 5+ years of oil industry experience. Proficient in oil, logistics software and solutions, IT Knowledge needed with assistance managing network and System projects. Strong Excel and analytical skills a must. Candidate must possess a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Petroleum and energy industry knowledge experience a plus. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept., P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437. **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**

Welder: Large CT fence & guardrail contractor looking for a shop welder. Duties include welding & fabricating chain link gates, steel gates and aluminum; some welding on road and equipment repair work. Must be able to weld steel and aluminum. All necessary equipment provided. Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to get a DOT medical card. Required to pass a physical and drug test. Medical, vacation & other benefits included.

28

Please email resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Will HBCUs Survive a Donald Trump Presidency? By Jarrett Carter Sr. Founding Editor, @HBCUDigest Welcome to the new post-racial America; the one where it’s not people being colorblind, but blinded by color. There’s reason for rage in the hours after Donald Trump’s historic election as an apolitical, angstdriven candidate on the “mad white folks” platform. Politics as we knew them, have been completely obliterated. Trump defied pollsters, odds, conventional wisdom, common sense and the Scooby Doo Detective Agency in winning the highest seat in governance, and the uncertain aim of both houses comprising its congress. Black people are scared, and those of us running historically black colleges should be absolutely frightened. There is a prevailing sense among some leaders that we’ll be able to do what only Russia has successfully done with Trump as a political figure: get him to listen to and facilitate our interests. But given Trump’s victory without the agony of having to meet demands and concerns of black people, there’s no room to assume that we’ll have an easier time under President Trump than we did under President Obama, whose policies decimated HBCU enrollment and were designed to punish HBCUs for serving underserved populations. Trump has pledged to dismantle the Department of Education, which is highly unlikely to happen. But short of that, what steps could Trump take to marginalize support structures for all of America’s students? What programs could be first on the chopping block for a president who has already said he will undo more than 20 of Obama’s executive orders on Day One? Fortunately, we can learn a lot about what exactly we should fear under a Trump presidency from the GOP playbook on higher education, as outlined in its 2016 Republican policy platform. Student Financial Aid

The federal government should not be in the business of originating student loans. In order to bring down college costs and give students access to a multitude of financing options, private sector participation in student financing should be restored. Any regulation that increases college costs must be challenged to balance its worth against its negative economic impact on students and their families. What happens if Trump eliminates federal oversight of student lending, and allows or requires banks oversight on lending decisions based upon future job prospects? Could Trump and a supportive House and Senate reduce key programs like the federal Pell Grant financial aid packages, in order to put the burden of financing education on school endowments? Trump hits the right notes on student repayment plans, but at what costs will tuition reduction impact smaller state and private HBCUs? Will there be pressure on states to help institutions cut tuition rates, and if they do, how much of that will be distributed to HBCUs? How much will be dictated by performance-based funding metrics, or federal rules constructed around similar concepts? International Development What will Trump’s immigration reform proposals look like? While he is unlikely to pass a ban on Muslims, what impact could

his administration have on F1 visa programs? Will articulation agreements with Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, China and other countries, which have been a boon to enrollment strategy at HBCUs nationwide, be canceled or negatively compromised? What happens to the historic HBCU recruitment pipeline for students from the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and other Caribbean nations? What happens with career development programming for international relations, like the State Department’s recruitment initiatives with historically black colleges, like Howard University’s Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program? If new restrictions are levied, what becomes of international research and development hubs at HBCUs, like Confucius Institutes at Xavier University and Texas Southern University? Deregulation In order to encourage new modes of higher education delivery to enter the market, accreditation should be decoupled from federal financing, and states should be empowered to allow a wide array of accrediting and credentialing bodies to operate. This model would foster innovation, bring private industry into the credentialing market, and give students the ability to customize their college

29

experience. No one knows what the future of accreditation will look like under Trump, but we do know that his school was not accredited, and his remarks on reducing compliance costs for institutions could be a back door into limiting the value of accreditation in federal aid or assessment initiatives. And then there’s the GOP’s take on for-profit institutions. We need new systems of learning to compete with traditional four-year schools: Technical institutions, online universities, life-long learning, and workbased learning in the private sector. Public policy should advance their affordability, innovation, and transparency and should recognize that a four-year degree from a brickand-mortar institution is not the only path toward a prosperous and fulfilling career. If Trump maintains support for for-profit institutions, could we see a resurgence in these schools being established, recruiting millions of students nationwide, and siphoning from the HBCU and community college student pool? Federal Funding and Advocacy Trump has positions on environmental preservation, climate change, alternative energy and homeland security — and each of these areas present opportunities for funding from federal

agencies. What happens to grantmaking opportunities from the agencies which fund the largest share of HBCU research - which outside of defense and homeland security leaves the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Transportation - if Trump’s budgeting priorities take away from these areas? Will programs like the US Department of Education’s HBCU Capital Financing Improvement Act and efforts to preserve historic buildings on HBCU campuses remain under Trump? Will there continue to be a federal initiative with specific support to HBCUs? And if there is, will it report to the Secretary of Education or directly to the president? Will it be staffed by personnel with knowledge of and connections to HBCUs? Or someone like Omarosa Manigault, the Howard alumna other Howard alums don’t hardly want to claim? These are just a few of the questions, in addition to possible ramifications that may come from repeal of the Affordable Care Act, funding for Planned Parenthood, and other key areas for minority support and associated research funding. We all should be scared, and not just because the nation endorses a xenophobic demagogue, but because some of the stuff he believes, members of Congress will be willing to pass in the new conservative manifest destiny.


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Toddler Special Mon-Thurs 10-12 • 1 Parent 1 Toddler • Only $15 1 hr $20 2 hr

$60

off

frequent jumper

10 1-hour jump/play passes reg. $150 now $90 Complete coupon must be presented at time of purchase. One coupon per person. These coupons are only valid in park, in person, and not valid for online purchases. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Exp: 9/30/16

FREE

buy 1 hour, get second hour free buy 1 hour and jump/play for two hours Mon-Thurs only. Not to be combined with any other offer or promotion. Not valid online. Does not include required jump socks. Exp: 9/30/16

$20

HOURS: 10AM TO 10PM • 7 DAYS A WEEK

off

any Birthday Party booked Monday - Friday Coupon MUST be mentioned when booking. Coupon must be redeemed at time of party to receive discount. Exp: 9/30/16

203-989-3357 • jumpoffct.com 27

30


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

T:7.5”

TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF WHAT CONNECTICUT HAS TO OFFER.

We’re right beside you helping you get the most out of life. It’s why we’re connecting with you at fun, free and discounted events right here in our community. Come to a free cooking class or movie premiere. Or enjoy discounted admission to local perennial gardens, aquariums, zoos and more. Plus, we’re helping people like you achieve their goals and dreams with free tools and resources. Whether it’s starting or growing a small business, navigating career changes or planning your future, we can help you along your journey. Hey, if you don’t think “this is right for me” when you think AARP, then you don’t know “aarp.” Get to know us at aarp.org/ct /aarpct @aarpct

31

Connecticut


THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 16, 2016 - November 22, 2016

Get tickets at jccnh.org/rsvp Fried Chicken and Latkes by Rain Pryor

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 Pre-Show Reception at 6 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. • Show at 8 p.m. JCC of Greater New Haven

FREE for Cultural Arts patrons and subscribers JCC Members $18 General Public $25 Reception $15 Reception is free to Cultural Arts subscribers and includes cocktails, fried chicken, latkes, and more. 01


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.