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Senior Renters Form Tenants Union

by Abbey Kim

Elderly renters at a church-owned apartment complex on Goffe Street marched down their building’s hallway holding signs reading “Respect Seniors,” “Justice Matters,” and “Help Us Stay Safe.”

They then delivered a petition to the front office announcing their new status as a tenants union and demanded a collective bargaining agreement.

That took place Monday morning, soon after residents of St. Luke’s Senior Housing at 120 Goffe St. became the seventh officially recognized tenants union in New Haven.

Eight St. Luke’s renters from the 18-unit low-income senior housing complex first joined Connecticut Tenants Union (CTTU) President Hannah Srajer and Vice President Luke Melonakos-Harrison at City Hall to file for recognition with the city’s Fair Rent Commission office. They now join the broader CTTU network, which has 17 chapters across the state.

“We want unity,” resident Linda Talley said. “We want the board to come and sit down with us so that we can be in an agreement to get the things that we want done in our building for our safety, for our security. And we’re tired of broken promises.”

Fourteen of the 17 occupied units signed on to the union. The supermajority hopes to collectively bargain with both St. Luke’s Development Corporation, which owns the complex, and DeMarco Management Company, which manages the building.

“If you and your neighbors come together and form a tenants union, it signifies to your landlord and your management company that they can’t ignore you any longer,” Srajer said.

The union formation followed a series of complaints centering around security and communication with management.

At a community meeting in early February, residents expressed concern about the functionality of the building’s security cameras and back door. They

said they have been waiting for almost two years for a new back door that can securely lock.

Resident Susan Middleton recalled going downstairs to do laundry early one morning only to run into a woman who had entered uninvited. Other residents had similar stories of unhoused people coming inside seeking warmth in the winter, which made some residents worried about security and their own safety.

Residents also expressed concern about the lack of communication between management and residents. Some recalled calling the emergency maintenance number posted but finding no one on the other end. Another remembered a clogged kitchen sink that stayed broken for two weeks despite work orders requiring the resident to wash

dishes in the bathroom sink.

Resident Brenda Hammett had complained of noisy birds and squirrels in her wall since she moved into the complex a year ago, filing numerous work order requests. It was only this past week that a maintenance worker was able to find a potential source of the problem a fist-sized hole behind her window screen.

Beyond safety concerns, residents also talked about general upkeep uneven floors that pose a tripping hazard, paint peeling, doors not fitting their frames, pests.

“We are the people who live here, who pay our rent, who want to see our building succeed and be a better building,” Middleton said at the early February residential meeting.

In response to safety concerns raised at the residential meeting earlier this month, Daryl Huckaby sent a statement on behalf of the St. Luke’s Senior Housing Board of Directors: “We recognize that recent and ongoing maintenance needs have raised concerns among residents, and we want to assure the community that we hear and understand these concerns…. These maintenance needs reflect the natural aging of the property, and we are committed to proactive and responsive upkeep.”

Huckaby also said that the building’s rear door “is fully functional and secure. In alignment with our commitment to ongoing improvements, the Board voted in October to update and replace the door. The bidding process has been completed, and we are moving forward with the next steps.”

He said the building’s camera system is also “operational, but the Board has prioritized an upgrade to enhance security and monitoring capabilities. Bids have been accepted, and plans are underway for implementation.”

The delivered petition will be sent to Huckaby and DeMarco management. Residents will have a chance to begin conversations with the St. Luke’s board at their monthly meeting, set for March 3.

Residents along with CTTU President & VP at the Fair Rent Commission Office.

Linda Talley signing paperwork at the Fair Rent Commission office.

The New Haven independent

Trump fires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

By Jason Breslow

President Trump has fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., and announced he will nominate a retired threestar general to succeed him as the nation's top military officer.

Trump announced Brown's dismissal in a post Friday on TruthSocial, in which he thanked Brown "for his over 40 years of service to our country," and called him a "fine gentleman and an outstanding leader." Brown, a former combat pilot, rose to become the first Black man to lead a branch of the military as Air Force chief before he was nominated by former President Joe Biden as chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 2023.

ations experience," Trump wrote, adding that Caine "was instrumental in the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate."

Brown's ouster appeared increasingly likely following the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Prior to his nomination, Hegseth had called for Brown to be removed, alleging he supported a "woke" agenda that undermined military readiness.

"First of all, you've got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs," Hegseth said during an appearance in November on the Shawn Ryan Show.

Before becoming Joint Chiefs chairman, Brown pushed for the military to streamline its bureaucracy and also increase recruitment by attracting Americans from more diverse backgrounds.

In 2020 — as he was awaiting confirmation to serve as Air Force chief of staff — he gained national attention for a passionate video message about race that he shared as the nation was grappling with the police killing of George Floyd.

In an interview with NPR later that year, he explained the decision to post the video, saying, "It was my own personal experiences but thinking about our two sons and their experiences, [is] actually what got me to do it."

thoughtful adviser."

Other top officials were also let go

In the same statement, Hegseth said he would be replacing several additional top military officials, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the Navy as Chief of Naval Operations, and Gen. James Slife, the Air Force's vice chief of staff. The Navy said Adm. James Kilby, the vice chief of naval operations, had assumed the duties as the chief.

Committee, responded with a blistering statement expressing his concern over the firings.

"This appears to be part of a broader, premediated campaign by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to purge talented officers for politically charged reasons, which would undermine the professionalism of our military and send a chilling message through the ranks," Reed said.

A shake-up at the Pentagon

The staffing announcements come amid a broader shake-up underway at the Pentagon, part of a dramatic attempt by the Trump administration to restructure the federal workforce and slash government spending. The Pentagon announced Friday that it plans to fire approximately 5,400 probationary workers beginning next week.

"We anticipate reducing the Department's civilian workforce by 5-8% to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President's priorities and restoring readiness in the force," Darin Selnick, the acting defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness, said in a statement announcing the cuts.

P. Thomas

/ CEO

Rawls Ivy Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs Babz@penfieldcomm.com

"General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a 'warfighter' with significant interagency and special oper-

In a statement shared after Trump's announcement, Hegseth praised Brown for "four decades of honorable service," saying he has come to know him "as a

Sponsor Message

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Armed Services

The Pentagon has also proposed cutting 8% of its budget in each of the next five years — amounting to some $50 billion each year.

Make No Mistake, This Is Trump’s Worst Move Yet

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

General Charles Brown Jr. listens to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth answer reporters’ questions on February 5, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia.

In his last term, Donald Trump elevated a military leader with a macho, borderline-sadistic nickname: He made four-star Marine Gen. Jim “Mad Dog” Mattis his defense secretary. But Mattis, who was supremely qualified for the job, hated the nickname, and ultimately hated working with the lawbreaking Trump, and resigned.

Now Trump has chosen retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin’” Caine to head the joint chiefs of staff. “Razin’” Caine’s only qualification is that he is white. Also, he has embraced his nickname.

According to the Associated Press, he was “most recently the associate director for military affairs at the CIA.” Though since then he’s worked for crypto-affiliated hedge funds, which Trump adores.

The AP continues: “[Caine] has not had key assignments identified in law as prerequisites for the job, including serving as either the vice chairman, a combatant commander or a service chief.” Put another way, Caine is way underqualified. Perfect!

The Friday night massacre of top military leaders, including the second Black man (after Colin Powell) to run the Joint

Chiefs, four-star Air Force fighter pilot

Gen. Charles Q. Brown, and the first female Navy Secretary, Lisa Franchetti, after already firing Coast Guard Chief Linda Fagan, is said to be wrenching out “DEI.” In reality, it is wrenching out hardwon competence.

The sex-abusing drunkard who took over defense had written and spoken about his disdain for Brown earlier: “First of all, you gotta fire, you know, you gotta fire the chairman of Joint Chiefs,” he said in a podcast last year. In one of his books, he asked whether Brown got the job because he was Black.

“Was it because of his skin color? Or

his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt—which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter,” Hegseth wrote. Joint Chief chairs normally remain in place as administrations change. Not this administration.

I’m not a fangirl of the military. I don’t look to them as our guarantor of freedom. I am a left-wing journalist, after all. But let’s accept: These are some of the best. And Trump will replace them with some of the worst. Just like he chose Hegseth. Hegseth also fired the chief judges (JAGs) adjudicating misconduct in the

Navy, Army, and Air Force. That’s never been done before, either. Lest that seem like a minor bureaucratic move, they’re the ones who weigh in when military officers or personnel break US laws or rules of engagement. As Senator Jack Reed said, “firing the military’s most senior legal advisers is an unprecedented and explicit move to install officers who will yield to the president’s interpretation of the law, with the expectation they will be little more than yes men on the most consequential questions of military law.”

But Hegseth answered, “Ultimately, we want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don’t exist to attempt to be roadblocks to anything that happens.”

Of course, Hegseth isn’t noting (nor is Trump) that Trump nominated Brown to be the Air Force’s chief of staff. He hailed his own decision to appoint the “first-ever African American military service chief,” and called the general “a Patriot and Great Leader.”

That was then.

If you’re wondering where we’re going, obviously all the layoffs in all the agencies are bad. And all the pushback is wonderful.

But these firings are the actual worst.

If you had doubts that the Trump team is preparing for autocracy, please don’t anymore. Please prepare accordingly. This is very scary.

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

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass www.newhavenindependent.org

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Trump said he would be nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine to succeed Brown.

He fired qualified military leaders and hired lesser men who are loyal to him. If you’re wondering where all of this is going: Prepare for autocracy.

Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown Jr. listens to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth answer reporters’ questions on February 5, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

HONORING VOICES IN THE ARTS

We appreciate Muddy Waters’ blues music, which set the foundation for rock and roll; Beyoncé, one of pop music’s most celebrated artists; Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz; Octavia E. Butler, a trailblazer in science fiction; August Wilson, “theater’s poet of Black America”; Jean-Michel Basquiat, a boundary-breaking artist; Dorothy Dandridge, who lit up the silver screen; and Denzel Washington, who continues to light it up today. Boscov’s salutes these African-American artists for their contributions to the arts, their influence on pop culture, and their positive impact to our society.

Beyoncé KnowlesCarter

Dr. Shirley Jackson

Muddy Waters

Rosa Ella Fitzgerald

August Wilson

Denzel Washington

Dorothy Dandridge

Octavia E. Butler

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Opinion | Obsession With DEI Is Anger Over Possibility White Majority Status Will Disappear In America

by Bilal Dabir Sekou, Ph.D

Next year, the nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States. The American republic was founded based on an ideal that did not apply to everyone. The white men who drafted the Declaration did not intend for the words in the preamble – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” – to apply to women, Indigenous People, or African Americans.

The civil rights revolution of the 1960s forced America to hold up a mirror to itself, one with the words of the preamble of the Declaration inscribed in trans-

lucent letters. Prior to the 1960s, if you were Native American, African American, Latino, or LGBTQ, you struggled to see yourself in the mirror. However, when most white Americans – especially white men – held up the mirror, the only face they recognized was their own.

The activists who protested during the 1960s were determined to make the country live up to its founding creed, to bring into existence an inclusive society.

Inspired by the Declaration’s assumption of the equality of all people with rights impossible to be taken away or given up, they demanded that America become a country for everyone, not just white people.

The fight for equality during the 1960s led to landmark legislation, including the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Combined, these pieces of legislation intended to guarantee equal employment opportunity, end discrimination in public accommodations

and housing on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin, and banned literacy tests and poll taxes, and prevented states from adopting other voter suppression tactics.

An inclusive society is one that sets as a goal the respectful, equitable and full participation of every individual. An inclusive society is one in which every individual is not simply tolerated but is valued regardless of how different they are. In an inclusive society, diversity enriches the social fabric by expanding and ensuring access to opportunities in all aspects of life for everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical or mental impairment.

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has signed multiple executive orders with the goal of ending diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs in government and the private sector.

Trump obsessively attacks DEI, even when there is no clear link to the topic

being discussed. For example, without a shred of evidence during a hastily called press conference, he claimed diversity programs caused the collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet.

Despite the transparency of Trump’s grievance-fueled white identity politics, the mainstream media and leaders of the Democrat Party are sticking to their initial explanation for his return to the White House, one based largely on the idea that his supporters blamed the Democrat Party for the economic upheaval caused by post-pandemic inflation and the long-term effects of deindustrialization and globalization.

But the economic situation in America does not fully explain the outcome of the 2024 election or his popularity with a majority of white Americans.

In 2008, the U.S. Census bureau projected that by 2042, the United States would be a majority minority country. The press and Democrats continue to

underestimate the magnitude of the racial anxiety and anger generated by the possibility that a white majority would disappear in America.

The sense of loss and decline – that whites are being replaced – is palpable to many. The belief is that people of color can become the majority only at the expense of the white population.

The racial and social hierarchies that have characterized America since its founding gave many whites a sense of purpose and meaning. Now, it feels like that birthright has been stolen. MAGA’s response is, “take America back.”

Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion are the centerpiece of his agenda, not reducing the prices of eggs, gas, or rent.

Trump promised his supporters that he would take the country back for them. Erasing the social and racial progress of the last 60 years appears to be his number one priority, a way to fulfill a promise he plans to keep.”

Bipartisan Legislative Caucus Formed To End Homelessness In Connecticut

by Jamil Ragland

HARTFORD, CT – Legislative leaders and advocates for people experiencing homelessness announced the formation of a new legislative caucus Thursday morning with a mission of ending homelessness in Connecticut.

The newly formed caucus, which they call the “End Homelessness Caucus,” is chaired by Rep. Kadeem Roberts, D-Norwalk. Rep. Lauren Sweet, D-Hamden, will serve as the vice chair, and Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, is the caucus’ ranking member.

According to Roberts’ legislative page, the goal of the new caucus is to explore policies that will tackle the complex factors contributing to homelessness and work towards its hopeful eradication. The End Homelessness Caucus will work collaboratively with service providers and advocate for policies necessary to secure housing and life-changing services for those who are currently unhoused. The priorities announced by the End Homelessness Caucus include:

• Passage of House Bill 6894: An Act Establishing An Interagency Council On Homelessness;

• Passage of House Bill 7033: An Act

Prohibiting A Municipality From Imposing Any Penalty On Homeless Persons For Performing Life-Sustaining Activities on Public Land;

• Adding $33.5 million as an annual line item in the budget for homelessness services, and;

• Adding a $5 million annual line item in the budget to fully fund cold-weather services.

At the top of the news conference, Sarah Fox, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, laid out the challenges the state faces in terms of the

number of people seeking help.

According to Fox, in 2024 there were over 131 calls made to 211 for shelter, housing, and rental assistance. Over 21,000 people sought help through the state’s coordinated access networks, or CANs. Over 4,500 people were diverted from homelessness, preventing them from ever entering a shelter, and over 8,000 individuals were served by emergency shelters, transitional housing, and outreach. Some 6,000 individuals and families were successfully housed last year.

“But behind these numbers are real people, families, seniors, young people, and individuals who find themselves without a place to call home,” Fox said. “Parents choosing between rent and food, seniors who have worked their entire lives to keep a roof over their heads, and more and more of them are losing their homes after decades of stability, forced into shelters or worse because of rising rents.

And despite our best efforts, one in four people seeking life-saving shelter and housing services were turned away due to capacity constraints. That is unacceptable. No one should be denied shelter when their life is at risk, not because we lack solutions, but because we lack the resources to implement them at scale.”

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, has been a longtime voice for housing policy in the General Assembly, but he said that given the rise in homelessness in Connecticut and the stories of those who are unhoused, legislators haven’t done enough.

“I’ve been around a long time, but it’s great to have our newer colleagues taking a leadership position on this because this is a solvable challenge that we face,” Rojas said. “We’ve made a lot of progress in the time that I’ve been here in the legislature but we haven’t sustained it and that’s really what the issue is here. We claim victory on something, then we

pivot to other things and we move on, but then suddenly those issues come back. So it really takes dedicated effort, dedicated time, and to the point that Sarah made, dedicated resources to ensure that nobody has to confront homelessness.”

Roberts explained why the money to fight homelessness needs to be annualized

“When we were tasked to create this, we listened to the advocates who are actually, currently working on this,” he said. Some of the advocates are working on this, but we’re not committing any funding to the advocates themselves so that we can help them provide for their families. We understand $33.5 million is a lot of money, but there’s also 169 cities and a lot of people that need services.”

Scott said that it was the duty of the legislature to help those who are most in need and the most vulnerable.

“I’m very happy to be here and to be supportive,” Scott said. “And I want to be very clear. I might be the only Republican standing up here, but the Housing Committee last year passed $50 million out of the committee and it was unanimous. That’s every Republican, every Democrat. This is not a partisan issue. This is a Connecticut issue. An every citizen issue. There are over 3 million people in this state. Every one of us has a little bit of say with having the homeless out there. So I can tell you, we will have Republican support, we’ll have Democrat support. It doesn’t matter. We have a lot of support. We need as many voices as possible so we can send a message to the governor, we can send a message to the Appropriations Committee that this has to happen now and we don’t have to have another press conference next year to have the same situation.”

Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, D-Avon, spoke about how homelessness had become an issue in affluent communities as well.

“I hear about it all the time,” DeGraw said. “People think, ‘oh, you live in an affluent community, nobody cares about [homelessness].’ The number one thing I heard from knocking on doors this year, is ‘I care about the fact that you care about these people.’ We have to stop being so cynical to believe that people don’t care about this. We have to prioritize that line item, and we have to be here, standing on business, making sure that we are stopping any woman, any man from being in trauma, and especially our children. As a parent, I can’t imagine what it’s like to have to say, grab what you can, we’re going to be living in the car. Grab what you can, we’re going to find the nearest shelter. As a parent, it breaks me. And so that is why we’re here today.”

Rep. Kadeem Roberts, D-Norwalk, talks about the new End Homelessness Caucus during a news conference Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie

CTNewsJunkie

Democrats Announce Plan To Increase Special Education Funding By $40M

by Jamil Ragland

HARTFORD, CT – Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate announced Wednesday morning that they would seek to boost special education funding by at least $40 million during the current fiscal year.

“We all know that special education presents a challenge in equity for many towns, whether they be large or small, rich or poor, because we know that sometimes an expensive placement in a very complicated case can all of a sudden be the responsibility of a community that had not planned for it previously,” said Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven. “We know that the special education services are critical for students in order to get their footing and to be in a position to thrive. We know that all communities are challenged by this.”

The additional funds would be allocated through the Excess Cost grant program, which covers per-pupil expenses above 4.5 times the average to educate certain special education students in the state – a total of about 4,300 youngsters out of the 91,847 special needs students in Connecticut. The additional money will be distributed through a tiered system to prioritize the municipalities most in need.

Democrats said the $40 million will come from a surplus in the current state budget resulting from interest income earned on American Rescue Plan Act

funds.

Gov. Ned Lamont had previously said during his budget address to a joint session of the General Assembly that his new budget would also increase special education spending by $40 million. However, that funding would not kick in until the second year of the next biennium,

meaning that schools would not see any extra dollars until 2027.

Sen. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford, called the funding from Lamont too little, too late.

“This is going to impact every sin-

gle town and every single taxpayer all across the state of Connecticut,” he said.

“I think all legislators are hearing from their boards of education in the last few months. And the chorus of complaints, understandable as they are, have gotten louder and louder as the mid-year budgets have become more and more strained and

they’re looking ahead to gosh, how are we going to balance the budget? Nobody wants to raise the mill rate. And we cannot wait 18 months for an additional $40 million in special education funding.”

House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, agreed with Slap, saying that the additional funding this year is “an acknowledgment that we have fallen short on the excess cost grant” this year.

“This is a start, but it’s not necessarily how we’re going to do it forever,” Ritter said. “We hope we can make changes to better solidify the system, put more resources in, and also make it a little more equitable as [Sen. Looney] alluded to.”

Sen. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, co-chair of the new Special Education Committee, discussed the four listening sessions that the committee held to hear concerns from special educators around the state.

“We have a constitutional and a moral obligation to serve all of our students and to make sure that we’re meeting the needs, especially of our most vulnerable,” she said. “So one of the things I’ll just share that we’re looking at right now is the funding, of course. It’s one piece that you know is always requested but it’s not going to solve the systemic problems. So what we’re thinking about as a committee is what are some of those structures that are in place right now that are causing constraints that don’t work in the long run and how can we create a long-

Con’t on page 20

L to R: West Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Paul Vicinus, West Hartford Board of Education Chair Lorna Thomas-Farquharson, House Speaker Matt Ritter, and Senate Pro Tem Martin Looney listen to a question during their news conference announcing additional funding for special education in public schools. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie

HONORING

PIONEERS IN SCIENCE & MEDICINE

Today, we can thank leaders like inventor Lewis Howard Latimer, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, chemist Marie M. Daly, heart surgeon Daniel Hale Williams, doctor and astronaut Mae C. Jemison, and mathematician Katherine G. Johnson for their contributions to advancing science and medicine. Boscov’s celebrates African-American innovators who set the standard and pushed boundaries in their fields of science, technology, and beyond.

Lewis Howard Latimer

Mae C. Jemison

Marie M. Daly

Rosa

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams

Katherine G. Johnson

Sanctuary Suit Tests The 10th

by Nathaniel Rosenberg

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

That’s the text of the 10th Amendment, which according to local immigration law experts is the basis for New Haven’s lawsuit against the Trump administration to protect its “welcoming city” status for undocumented immigrants.

The city joined the suit, brought by municipalities including San Francisco and Portland, on Feb. 7. It challenges a day-one executive order issued by President Donald Trump that instructed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pause and possibly cancel funds for cities that have“sanctuary” protections for immigrants.

The lawsuit claims that under the 10th Amendment, the federal government is prohibited from “commandeering” state and local officials, including law enforcement, to help enforce federal law.

Two legal experts the Independent spoke with identified whether the Trump administration is attempting to “commandeer” New Haven city workers as the central dispute in the legal challenge.

“At the heart of the question is how much the federal government can impose its desired parts of immigration enforcement on the states,” Jon Bauer, a law professor at the University of Connecticut, said. “It really centers around questions of federalism.”

Bauer said that there is significant legal precedent supporting New Haven’s challenge, including several cases under the first Trump administration in which

courts blocked his attempts to punish sanctuary cities.

He noted that city and state workers are not allowed under federal law

to “impede” immigration enforcement actions by barring the door to raids or deportations, for example. However, Bauer said courts have repeatedly found

that the 10th Amendment protects states from having to assist in enforcement actions.

New Haven operates under a“Welcoming City” executive order that Mayor Justin Elicker signed in 2020. That order prohibits city employees from inquiring about someone’s immigration status, disclosing confidential information, or using city resources to assist in an investigation unless compelled by state or federal law. The city also does not coordinate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE).

Kica Matos, a New Haven-based national immigration rights advocate and president of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), described Trump’s executive order, titled“Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” as unconstitutional.

“This is a glaring example of the overreach and the disregard that this administration clearly has for the Constitution,” she said. “The 10th Amendment bans the federal government from forcing states to enact its laws, and that’s exactly what the Trump administration is trying to do.”

Both attorneys predicted that New Haven would win the legal challenge. Matos described the executive order as an “obvious violation” of the 10th Amendment, and Bauer said he thinks the city is on “firm ground” legally.

The Department of Justice did not respond to multiple requests for comment

Con’t on page 12

DeLauro Brings Back Ethan’s Law To Congress

by Jonathan D. Salant

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro on Tuesday launched a new effort to pass legislation requiring that guns be locked up in homes with kids.

The measure, modeled after a Connecticut law, is named Ethan’s Law after Ethan Song of Guilford, who at age 15 accidentally killed himself in 2018 while playing with a gun owned by a friend’s father. The gun was not secured.

Connecticut lawmakers responded to the shooting the following year by enacting requirements for the safe storage of firearms, and advocates have been pushing for a federal law as well.

“A child’s right to safety should not depend on a ZIP code,” said Ethan’s mother, Kristin Song, at a Capitol press conference alongside DeLauro; U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy; U.S. Rep. Jim Himes; and gun safety advocates. Blumenthal and Murphy are the lead sponsors in the Senate.

The gun used by Adam Lanza to kill his mother and then 26 students and adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in

Newtown also was unsecured.

“Owning a gun comes with an obligation to protect children,” said Po Murray, chair of the Newtown Action Alliance.

“We don’t have to accept this level of gun violence.”

For DeLauro, this is the fifth time she has introduced Ethan’s Law. It came close to success when it was part of the Protecting Our Kids Act, which passed the House in 2022 on an almost party-line vote but never was acted upon in the Senate.

“This is about children’s health and safety,” she said,

The law would require gun owners to store their firearms in a “secure gun storage or safety device” if a minor could get the weapon without permission, or if a resident of the house can’t legally possess a firearm.

There also would be incentives for states to pass their own storage laws, as Connecticut did.

DeLauro said that she will continue to push for the bill until it becomes law.

“Times change,” she said. “Members change. The environment changes. And you can pass laws you never thought you could.”

Blumenthal said that once-unthinkable changes eventually become law, like requiring seat belts in cars and banning

smoking on airplanes and in restaurants.

“History shows reform takes time,” he said. “The focus right now is on Donald Trump. It’s hard to get people to focus on gun violence. But the work that these groups are doing is moving forward. …

There comes a tipping point when the

whole country comes together and says,

‘Why hasn’t this happened?’”

Blumenthal said there are 4.6 million homes in the U.S. with loaded weapons that are unlocked. “They are suicides, gun deaths, gun injuries waiting to happen,” he said.

Murphy said the Connecticut law showed that such safety measures work without infringing on gun rights. He said Connecticut had one-third the gun violence as other states with weak gun laws. “We now have the benefit of experience to know that states that are smart about their gun laws save lives. We now have the experience to know when Congress gets serious about gun safety, we save lives,” Murphy said. “We respect the Second Amendment. We make sure that anybody who wants to buy a gun to protect themselves or hunt or shoot for sport can get one. But we have common sense restrictions. …Those common sense laws end up in thousands of lives being saved.”

Jonathan D. Salant photo DeLauro (center): “Times change. Members change. The environment changes. And you can pass laws you never thought you could.”

Christopher Peak file photo

The New Haven independent

The New Haven independent

WE WELCOME THE CURIOUS

Edward A. Bouchet was the valedictorian of the Hopkins class of 1870, the first African-American to graduate from Yale College, and the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. in physics. His intellectual drive and dedication to his studies remain hallmarks of a Hopkins student today.

Since 1660, Hopkins School has provided students with an exceptional education and the skills required to succeed in the world.

To learn more, please visit us at hopkins.edu.

CELEBRATING

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

HONORING VISIONARIES IN HUMANITY

From Booker T. Washington’s advances in education, to George Washington Carver’s inventions, to the scientific contributions of Dr. Patricia Bath and Dr. Shirley Jackson, to the pivotal role Rosa Parks played in the civil rights movement, and to Maya Angelou’s literature and social activism, Boscov’s celebrates courageous African-American humanitarians everywhere for their accomplishments and the lasting contributions they have made in education, science, and beyond.

Maya Angelou

Dr. Shirley Jackson

Booker T. Washington

Rosa

Dr. Patricia Bath

George Washington Carver

Rosa Parks

Inclusive Growth Center Plans For Plan

by Laura Glesby

Over 150 Yale and New Haven leaders gathered amid sparkling lamps and plant walls at Hotel Marcel to start thinking about what a plan for tackling poverty and economic exclusion might someday look like.

Mayor Justin Elicker, Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers, State Treasurer Erick Russell, and a host of alders, nonprofit leaders, city officials, and business owners convened for a morning of discussions about how New Haven can foster an “inclusive” economy.

The event was hosted by the Center for Inclusive Growth, a nonprofit announced in 2021 as part of a six-year agreement between Yale and the city.

Per that deal, which was approved by the Board of Alders in April 2022, the university agreed to supplement its annual $13.2 million voluntary contribution to the city by roughly $10 million a year for five years, and by $2 million in the sixth and final year of the accord. (Yale has a $41.1 billion endowment as of Fiscal Year 2024 and largely operates untaxed.)

The agreement also established the Center for Inclusive Growth technically an independent nonprofit with a $5 million, five-year budget contributed by Yale.

Since then, the Center for Inclusive Growth has hired a staff of three helmed by Executive Director Dawn Leaks Ragsdale. Leaks Ragsdale announced on Thursday that the organization intends to develop a “citywide strategic plan for inclusive growth,” informed in part by the input of participants at the morning’s meeting.

Asked whether the plan would put forward specific policy recommendations for the city, Leaks Ragsdale explained that it will focus more on “setting priorities for the next five to ten years.”

The goal of the plan is to “help everyone move in the same direction” when it comes to economic development and opportunity.

In a speech to the crowd, Leaks Ragsdale described the center’s mission as, in part, to “bridge the gap between Yale and the city, connecting the university’s expertise and resources to community needs.”

This is “probably the most important time in New Haven to talk about inclusivity,” said Mayor Justin Elicker, nodding to a rise in housing development and biotech industries in the city at a moment when “federal leadership” is “actively trying to dismantle efforts like this.”

Attendees enjoyed a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and orange juice as photographers and videographers documented the introductory remarks. Eventually, the group divided into several “breakout rooms” to discuss what economic opportunity and quality-of-life initiatives the center should prioritize.

In one meeting room, facilitator Frances Pollock of Midnight Oil Collective Innovations encouraged about 20 city and community leaders to pinpoint

“low-hanging fruit” for the Center for Inclusive Growth to tackle.

Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers called attention to residents in the most dire financial straits: people “well below the poverty line,” sometimes “working two to three jobs” at a time when the cost of “housing is high.” “How do we get revenue into under-resourced communities?” asked Pollock.

Cathy Graves, deputy director of economic development at the city, pointed out that of the aspiring small business owners her department assists, about three quarters are struggling with low credit scores that prevent them from securing loans, housing, and more.

Graves called for more financial literacy education for New Haveners at a young age, before they end up in a low-credit sinkhole. “We have to start at high school,” she said.

The Community Foundation’s Erica Bradley echoed this call for more financial skill-building opportunities especially more interactive and individualized courses that assist people beyond the confines of a handful of sessions.

The conversation also touched on the city ordinances requiring developers to make a “good faith effort” to hire a percentage of contracting companies owned by Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

Minority Construction Council member Henry Smith noted that there are many Black and Brown contractors who may be skilled enough to take on a given job, but may not qualify due to upfront bonding requirements.

“The city can help with that,” said Mark Wilson of the Housing and Development Administration, proposing that local government could step in with a bond matching program.

Parking Authority Director Doug Hausladen said that his organization has begun holding construction companies to account for hiring Black and Brown subcontractors beyond the “good faith effort” requirement. “We’ve thrown out contracts” that failed to meet the threshold, Hausladen said.

for this article and has not filed a response to the lawsuit, according to court records.

Defenders of the Trump administration’s orders centralizing power with the presidency have promoted the so-called “unitary executive theory,” which interprets the Constitution in such a way to bolster the president’s control over the shape, administration, and direction of government.

Bauer predicted that the DOJ will argue that the fact New Haven has “sanctuary” policies that prevent the city employees from actively cooperating with ICE, means the city is illegally harboring and shielding undocumented immigrants, which would be a violation of federal law.

“If a state official said, ‘ICE is coming, go out that secret back entrance so they won’t find you,’ that could be construed as concealing or harboring someone,” he said. “But just having a policy of not generally sharing information with federal authorities on certain subjects is really a stretch to say that’s concealing or harboring people”

Also at issue in the lawsuit is the threat that the DOJ will cut federal funds to New Haven, which Elicker has said would make the city less safe. According to the mayor, the city has received more than $6.4 million in DOJ grants in recent years, including for violence prevention programs and the COMPASS crisis response team.

Under the first Trump administration, Bauer noted there was some disagreement among federal appeals courts on the legality of the DOJ conditioning funds on compliance with immigration enforcement. The 7th Circuit and 9th Circuit (where New Haven’s lawsuit is being argued) both ruled that the DOJ could not withhold funds, while the 2nd Circuit ruled it could, albeit under narrow conditions for particular grant programs.

The law professor said the issue of conditioning funds would have to be sorted out in litigation, but that the “bulk of the precedent” indicated DOJ could not withhold grants.

Both Matos and Bauer emphasized that the reason the Trump administration is trying to, in their view, coerce cities like New Haven into assisting in immigration enforcement is that the federal government does not have the resources to carry out instant “mass deportations” without local collaboration.

With the $41.1 billion elephant in the room still unmentioned, Pollock promised to relay these ideas back to the Center for Inclusive Growth.

Soon, the group dispersed for a coffee break, with more brainstorming soon to follow.

“[Trump] has promised the nation that he will carry out the largest deportation effort in this nation’s history, and they do not have the people power to do that,” Matos said. “So this entire effort of coercion is about trying to see if they can carry out this mandate, relying on others to do it.”

City, state, and Yale leaders brainstorm "inclusive growth" over breakfast.

New Haven Land Bank Director Serena Neal-Sanjurjo and Board of Alders President T yisha Walker-Myers talk affordable housing, inclusive development

Mayor Justin Elicker: Now is a critical time for inclusivity.

The New Haven independent

Alvin Ailey (1931-1989)

Ailey was an acclaimed dancer and choreographer who earned global recognition for his impact on modern dance. After honing his technique at the Lester Horton Dance Theater—and acting as its director after Horton passed away—Ailey wished to choreograph his own ballets and works, which differed from the traditional pieces of the time. This inspired him to start the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, a multiracial troupe that provided a platform for talented Black dancers and traveled around the world. His most popular piece, "Revelations," is an ode to the Southern Black Church. Ailey died of AIDS at 58, but his company lives on in New York City.

Bayard Rustin (1912-1987)

Dr. King is usually credited for the March on Washington in August 1963. But it was Rustin who organized and strategized in the shadows. As a gay man who had controversial ties to Communism, he was considered too much of a liability to be on the front lines of the movement. Nonetheless, he was considered to be one of the most brilliant minds, and served his community tirelessly while pushing for more jobs and better wages.

1928—R&B

music legend Bo Did¬dley is born Ellas Bates on this day in McComb, Miss. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achieve¬ment Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and a Grammy Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He was known in particular for his technical innovations, including his trademark rectangular guitar.

1815—Abolitionist Henry Highland Garnet is born in Kent County, Md. Per¬haps second only to Frederick Doug¬lass, Garnet was the leading Black ab¬olitionist of the 1800s. He was known for his tremendous oratorical skills and being bold in expressing his opinions. After the Civil War, however, he became frustrated with the slow pace of Black progress in America and favored the establishment of an independent Black nation in Africa.

Annie Lee Cooper (1910-2010)

The Selma, Alabama, native played a crucial part in the 1965 Selma Voting Rights Movement. But it wasn't until Oprah played her in the 2014 Oscar-nominated film Selma that people really took notice of Cooper's activism. She is lauded for punching Alabama Sheriff Jim Clark in the face, but she really deserves to be celebrated for fighting to restore and protect voting rights.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Boscov’s celebrates Black History Month and salutes the men and women whose many accomplishments and contributions have transformed our society. Their impacts on athletics, entertainment, education, journalism, government, and industry continue to influence our lives. We look forward to the youth of today continuing to mold our world and its bright future.

Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston

Michael Jordan Harriet Tubman

Simone Biles

Aretha Franklin Nelson Mandela Martin Luther King Jr.

HARTFORD, CT – A bill that would fully fund the state’s Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program is being considered by the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.

As it currently stands, the need-based grant gives up to $4,500 per eligible student. The legislation, Senate Bill 5, would increase the award to $4,500 per eligible student, rather than “up to” that amount.

The bill has the backing of Senate Democrats.

“By failing to adequately fund the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program, we are missing out on the opportunity to create a more educated workforce here in Connecticut,” the Senate Democrats said in their written testimony.

Apart from obtaining a quality education, they said the additional funding will increase the chances a student stays in the state, contributing to the “state’s economic strength and health.”

The scholarship has two different programs, one based on merit and the other being need based. The state Office of Higher Education outlines the eligibility requirements for each.

To apply for either, you must be a state resident who is attending a four-year Connecticut public or non-profit private college, and you must have submitted a FAFSA application on time.

The merit-based scholarship provides up to $5,250 a year for full-time students in a four-year program, and $4,650 for full-time students in a two-year program.

To be eligible you must have a class rank of 20% or better, an SAT score of at least 1200, or an ACT score of at least 25.

The need-based grant requires the recipient to be a full-time student in a two or four-year program of study.

Nathan Fuerst, vice president for student life & enrollment at the University of Connecticut, supported the legislation during the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee public hearing on Thursday in the Legislative Office Building.

Fuerst said many UConn students benefit from the scholarship each year, with over 4,000 constituents receiving about

$15 million in funds in aid in Fiscal Year 2024. While this is beneficial, Fuerst said it is not nearly enough.

Among the state resident students that are enrolled at UConn in the current fiscal year, the total financial need amounted to over $300 million, according to Fuerst.

“Even when factoring in Roberta Willis, UConn’s institutional aid – which is substantial – there was only enough to cover half of that financial need,” Fuerst said, adding that a college board of education study ranked Connecticut 39th in the country for financial aid investment.

“The only states ranking lower had significantly lower costs of living and costs of attendance, meaning that when you adjust the costs, Connecticut may be at or near the bottom,” Fuerst said.

Sen. Derek Slap, a West Hartford Democrat and committee co-chair, added to Fuerst’s testimony saying the state falls short on scholarships. They noted that UConn has less money for financial aid than similar state universities. By fully funding the scholarship, Fuerst believes that it could ease some unmet financial aid needs.

Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Chancellor Terrence Cheng also testified in support of the bill. He said 5,700 students at CSCU receive the Roberta scholarship, which makes up 11% of CSCU students.

Cheng said they view financial aid as a direct correlation to enrollment.

“Any investment that the state makes in supporting students to access higher education is a direct investment that has a positive impact on enrollment and our fiscal bottom line,” Cheng said.

Sivan Hines, president of Hartford Promise – a college scholarship and success program for Hartford public schools students – testified in support stating this bill is not a matter of equity but economic survival.

“Without strong reliable programs like Roberta Willis, too many promising students are forced to abandon their higher education goals altogether,” Hines said. She said she believes that by expanding the Roberta Willis scholarship program, the state will secure a better economic future, allowing students to reach their full potential without any financial barriers.

Hartford Promise President Sivan Hines testifies in support of expanding funds for the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program during a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Credit: Coral Aponte / CTNewsJunkie by Coral Aponte

Youth Continuum Director Departs

by Laura Glesby

Tim Maguire is stepping down as executive director of Youth Continuum after helming the homelessness services organization for a year and a half.

His departure marks Youth Continuum’s third shift in leadership since the start of 2023. His last day on the job will be Feb. 28.

Board Chair Alison Cunningham announced the news in an email on Friday.

“Of course, this is a loss for Youth Continuum but perhaps will also be a time of new opportunities,” Cunningham wrote. “The Board of Directors is working diligently with senior leadership of the organization and the Board of Clifford Beers Community Health Partners to ensure a smooth transition.”

“Our priority as it always has been is to keep youth experiencing homelessness and those at-risk safe,” she wrote, “and we will continue to do so, providing vital food, shelter and programs that help them transition to independent adults.”

Neither Cunningham nor Maguire were available to comment by publication time of this article.

Maguire took the reins of Youth Continuum first as an interim director in the

summer of 2023 after the previous executive director, Mike Moynihan, passed away after only a handful of months in the role. Maguire was officially appointed executive director that autumn.

Maguire is departing for a soon-tobe-announced new job after 18 years in total at Youth Continuum. He started at the organization as a residential advisor at a group home and steadily rose to leadership positions, eventually obtaining his social work degree.

Youth Continuum was founded in 1966 and operates a spectrum of shelter, group

home, and housing services with additional supports for teens and young adults aged 14 to 24.

The organization is now an affiliate of Clifford Beers Community Health Partners.

Under Maguire’s leadership, Youth Continuum opened a warming center for young adults aged 18 to 24.

The organization also continued to fundraise and redesign a proposed peerled youth homeless shelter and social services hub at 924 Grand Ave.

Parents: No Teacher = Big Problem

Nathan Hale School is missing a certified second-grade teacher bringing eight parents to ring the alarm bell at the Board of Education about their students falling further and further behind thanks to the staffing shortage.

For the second school board meeting in a row, Nathan Hale parents spoke up about the instability the school’s vacant second-grade teacher position has brought. They did so at Monday’s online-only Board of Education meeting, as well as at a school board meeting hosted at John C. Daniels school in the Hill earlier this month.

“This was an unfortunate confluence of events,” city school district spokesperson Justin Harmon told the Independent about this situation at Nathan Hale. “When the original teacher left, the class was assigned another certified teacher. Unfortunately, the second teacher subsequently went out on leave. We are trying to find a permanent replacement. Though we have fewer vacancies than in recent years, every one of them matters.”

Gonzalez said that, at the start of the year last fall, she and other parents were notified that the second-grade classroom assigned to her student had a vacancy.

From having three recesses a day to watching tv and movies at school, Gonzalez said her child and the others in the class are falling behind academically and socially as a result. “The kids considered it chaos,” she told the board.

Gonzalez recalled attending the school’s

second marking period parent teacher conference and hearing from a long-term substitute teacher that, due to the lack of consistent certified instruction offered to the students, their winter assessment showed they are falling behind academically.

Since then the second-grade class has returned to having inconsistent substitutes. “We’re not sure when she’ll be back. We’re not sure if she’ll be back, but for the past two weeks our kids have had substitutes again and again and again,” she said.

While parents have been raising concerns about the vacancy since the start of the year, Gonzalez reported that only in recent weeks has her child’s class had a math tutor period to receive support in math, once a day.

“Kids themselves are reported as being unhappy, unsupported, and they’re feeling unsafe,” she concluded.

Fellow Nathan Hale parent Keniel McLennon added that the vacancy has impacted not just students’ academics: He said he also sees the lack of support and stability in the classroom negatively affecting students’ confidence and social skills.

“Truly I’m really surprised in regards to how the lack of vacancies that are filled in the beginning of the year have tickled down to the point where it is now on the students and reflective of their poor test taking,” he said.

He called for the school board to support Nathan Hale’s administration in hiring a

second-grade teacher before the impacts on the children are even more costly.

Kim Steele, a grandmother of a Nathan Hale second grader, also testified at Monday’s board meeting that this month was the first time her grandchild was sent home with a homework packet all school year. She was also notified by the school that her grandchild would likely need to be put in summer school to catch up due to this year’s lack of learning. She described the situation as insulting, unacceptable, and astounding because “you can see the slide.”

Paul Gonzalez testified Monday that his daughter Sofia’s confidence has been impacted by the lack of stability and support by an adult during the school day at Nathan Hale. He said while she is currently on grade level academically, he worries about “how much more could she have learned” and how much more confidence she could’ve gained with a stable certified teacher. He said that his child has also reported that during the school day the class is typically disregulated and rowdy. They pleaded for the district to get creative to support the students impacted by staff vacancies “before it’s too late.”

Corrected: This story has been corrected to reflect that there was a second-grade teacher vacancy at Nathan Hale at the start of this school year. That vacancy was filled by a new teacher in September, and that teacher has been out on sick leave since late January.

Laura Glesby Photo Tim Maguire at a fall Board of Alders meeting.

The New Haven independent

FEDERAL WORKERS FACE UNPRECEDENTED ULTIMATUM AS ELON MUSK WIELDS TRUMP’S GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AGENDA

Data from Pew Research shows that Black Americans represent 18.6% of federal employees compared to 12.8% in the private sector.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Federal employees have been instructed to justify their work over the past week or risk being deemed as having resigned, according to a directive issued by the White House’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The mandate, which demands responses by 11:59 p.m. ET Monday, was reinforced by Elon Musk, head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who stated on X that noncompliance would result in termination.

The move has triggered widespread alarm and resistance within federal agencies. Major unions representing government workers, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), have advised members to proceed with caution or outright refuse to respond. “AFGE will challenge any unlawful terminations of our members and federal employees across the country,” union president Everett Kelley said in a statement.

OPM’s directive followed Trump's post on Truth Social urging Musk to intensify his efforts to streamline the federal workforce. While the official OPM email did not include Musk’s explicit threat, agencies and unions have reacted with sharp opposition. Kelley formally demanded that OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell rescind the directive, calling for clarity on its legal basis.

Federal agencies quickly responded. The Department of Defense instructed employees to disregard the OPM email, stating that performance reviews remain under its jurisdiction. New FBI Director

Kash Patel issued similar guidance to bureau employees. According to multiple reports, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Security Agency (NSA), and the State Department also instructed staff not to comply. Homeland Security employees received a directive from Deputy Under Secretary for Management R.D. “Tex” Alles advising them to ignore Musk’s demand.

Conflicting messages have caused

confusion within agencies. Some Department of Homeland Security workers received an earlier email outlining how to respond while safeguarding classified information, but subsequent guidance directed them to disregard the request entirely. Axios obtained examples of sarcastic responses mocking Musk’s directive, including one claiming to have drafted an imaginary “Martian Exclusion Act” and another joking about planning an ICE raid on Mars.

The National Weather Service told staff to coordinate with supervisors regarding the OPM request. An OPM spokesperson said the agency issued the email as a request, with individual agencies determining how to proceed. The White House has not clarified whether employees who do not respond will face immediate dismissal.

Legal action is likely as unions prepare to challenge potential mass firings. Concerns have also emerged over how the

government will process potentially millions of email submissions from federal workers.

Conservatives seeking to reduce government operations have long targeted the federal workforce. Data from Pew Research shows that Black Americans represent 18.6% of federal employees compared to 12.8% in the private sector. Historically, the federal government has been a key source of stable employment for Black workers. In 2022, the Government Accountability Office reported that over half of the U.S. Postal Service workforce came from historically disadvantaged racial or ethnic groups, with nearly half being women.

Jarvis DeBerry, MSNBC Opinion Editor, wrote that efforts to diminish the federal workforce disproportionately affect Black employees. “Trump tying the hands of federal workers, essentially criminalizing the work they’ve been doing, or planning to lay them off will have disastrous consequences for Americans throughout the country,” DeBerry stated. “Millions outside the government will soon learn in the worst ways how much they’ve relied on the work federal employees do every day. But the devastation for the workers themselves cannot be forgotten.”

DeBerry said that reducing the federal workforce aligns with Trump’s rollback of civil rights and diversity initiatives. “It’s impossible to separate conservative hostility toward the federal government from conservatives’ history of opposing integration and Black progress,” he wrote. “Trump attacking the federal workforce as he rolls back civil rights edicts and DEI initiatives shows these actions are connected.”

HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET PLAN TARGETS VITAL SERVICES, HITS BLACK AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES HARDEST

The cuts include $880 billion from Medicaid, $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and $330 billion from student loan programs through 2034.

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

The House Republican budget passed Tuesday proposes sweeping cuts to health care, food assistance, and education programs, aiming to fund $4.5 trillion in tax breaks over the next decade. The cuts include $880 billion from Medicaid, $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and $330 billion from student loan programs through 2034. These reductions come amid a push to extend the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts and other tax relief measures benefiting wealthy households and corporations.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the cost of extending tax breaks for the top 1% of earners—amounting to $1.1 trillion through 2034—mirrors the proposed Medicaid and SNAP cuts. Wealthy households

making $743,000 or more annually would receive an average tax cut of $62,000, exceeding the median income of most of the 72 million people covered by Medicaid.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) criticized the proposal, stating, “The House Republican budget resolution will set in motion the largest Medicaid cut in American history.” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) called the plan “a blueprint for American decline” that prioritizes billionaires over working families.

The proposed cuts would disproportionately affect Black, Latino, Indigenous, and rural communities, which have higher rates of poverty and reliance on programs like Medicaid and SNAP. The Kaiser Family Foundation states that over 80 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Cuts to these programs could force states to shoulder more costs, leaving millions

uninsured.

The budget would also end enhancements to the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits, raising health care premiums for more than 20 million people. Student loan borrowers face higher repayment costs, further burdening low-income families.

While the House plan calls for increased border security and military spending, its projected tax cuts—renewing the Trump tax cuts and implementing no taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security—would swell the federal deficit. Despite these cuts, the budget projects the national debt limit will be reached by November 2026.

Only Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voted against the budget, citing concerns over worsening deficits. “If the Republican budget passes, the deficit gets worse, not better,” Massie posted on social media. Billionaire Elon Musk responded, “That sounds bad.”

BLACK JOURNALISTS, ACTIVISTS CONDEMN MSNBC FOR FIRING JOY REID

Reid’s departure has

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

MSNBC has parted ways with Joy Reid, marking the departure of another prominent Black woman from the network. Reid joins Rashida Jones, the first Black woman to head a major cable news network, along with Melissa Harris-Perry and Tiffany Cross. All four women brought critical, unapologetic perspectives on race, politics, and power—voices that many believe are being systematically eliminated.

Bobby Henry, chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), called Reid’s removal unacceptable and urged immediate action.

“As Chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), I stand in unwavering solidarity with Joy Reid and the impactful legacy of The Reid Out,” Henry said. “Joy’s voice has been a beacon of truth, justice, and empowerment for our community, and now is the time for us to show up for her. I urge you to join us—together, we will lift our voices, strategize, and continue to support those who champion our stories. Our collective strength is our greatest asset—let’s stand united for Joy and for

the future of Black journalism. The Black Press of America and Black-owned media is needed now just as we were almost 200 years ago.”

Reid’s departure has drawn immediate criticism from viewers, journalists, and activists. Kevin Simmons, a supporter of The ReidOut, wrote on X, formerly

known as Twitter, “The racists are rejoicing” after MSNBC announced the show’s cancellation. “The ReidOut had a great run. Joy will be okay. Crazy this announcement comes after she just won two NAACP awards last night.”

Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal called Reid irreplaceable.

“I owe the television part of my career to Joy Reid, as do so many other Black voices y’all never would have heard of if not for her,” Mystal wrote. “And that’s why she’s gone. They can treat Black folks as interchangeable, but everybody Black knows that Joy was indispensable.”

Many have pointed out that while MSN-

BC cuts ties with Reid, the network keeps shows like Morning Joe, whose hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski reportedly visited Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his 2016 victory. The decision to retain programming aligned with political power while eliminating Black voices critical of that power is being viewed as deliberate.

MSNBC’s move comes as Trump continues targeting the press. He has filed a lawsuit against 60 Minutes, claiming the program manipulated an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump also ordered federal agencies to cancel subscriptions to major outlets, including The New York Times, Politico, and Reuters, cutting public employees off from independent news sources. He has praised Fox News as his administration's “official” media outlet, further tightening control over the information pipeline. Trump has declared that only the president can decide what is lawful—a statement more in line with authoritarianism than constitutional democracy.

Henry, the NNPA chairman, said the Black community must remain vigilant. “Our collective strength is our greatest asset,” he said. “Let’s stand united for Joy and for the future of Black journalism.”

Top Row (L To R): Malik James, Edoardo Benzoni, John Evans Reese, Grayson Richmond, Brandon E. Burton, Darius Sakui, Whitney Andrews; Bottom Row (L To R): Chinna Palmer, Elizabeth Stahlmann, Samuel Douglas, Nomè SiDone, and Annelise Lawson.

Photo By Thomas Mundell, 2025. Design by Paul Evan Jeffrey | Passage Design

Exonerated Five’ Member Raymond Santana Launches Bid for New York City Council

For Santana, the campaign is personal. “To have a community that stood by me when Donald Trump and the rest of the world attacked us—they always had my back,” he said. “So, I have to have theirs.”

‘By Stacy M. Brown NNPA National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Raymond Santana, wrongfully convicted as a teenager in the 1989 Central Park jogger case, has announced his candidacy for the New York City Council. Santana, 50, is running as a Democrat to represent parts of East Harlem and the Bronx, the same neighborhoods where he grew up and was falsely arrested more than three decades ago.

Santana’s campaign focuses on criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and addressing what he described as the deterioration of neighborhoods plagued by drugs, rats, and soaring rents. “You look around and see the normal stuff isn’t working,” Santana told the New York Times. “That’s why we need someone who’s outside the system, who can come with a different lens.”

Santana and four other Black and Latino teenagers were accused of the brutal rape of a white female jogger in Central Park in 1989. The case captivated the nation, fueled by sensational media coverage and demands for harsh punishment. Donald Trump, then a New York real estate developer, took out full-page newspaper ads calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty, stating, “Bring back the death penalty. Bring back our police.” Despite the group’s exoneration in 2002—after a convicted rapist confessed to acting alone and DNA evidence confirmed his guilt—Trump has never apologized. As recently as his 2016 pres-

idential campaign, he continued to insist on their guilt.

“The damage he did with those ads can’t be undone,” Santana said. “Even after we were proven innocent, he kept coming after us.”

Santana spent roughly five years in prison before being released on parole. In 2014, New York City agreed to a $41 million settlement with Santana and the other four men—often referred to as the Exonerated Five—awarding them about $1 million for each year they were incarcerated.

Since his release, Santana has become a national advocate for criminal justice reform. He traveled as a motivational speaker, started a clothing line, and worked with lawmakers to pass legislation to prevent wrongful convictions. His policy priorities include requiring minors to consult with attorneys before waiving their Miranda rights and banning deceptive police interrogation tactics.

If elected, Santana would join fellow Exonerated Five member Yusef Salaam, who won a City Council seat in Harlem in 2023. The two men have remained close, often collaborating on advocacy efforts. “I’ve always said those who have been closest to the pain should have a seat at the table,” Salaam said. “Raymond is living proof of why that’s important.”

For Santana, the campaign is personal. “To have a community that stood by me when Donald Trump and the rest of the world attacked us—they always had my back,” he said. “So, I have to have theirs.”

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHUTS DOWN FEDERAL POLICE MISCONDUCT DATABASE FOLLOWING TRUMP’S REVOCATION OF BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDER

The database’s shutdown was quietly announced via an online statement that provided no explanation for the decision.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

With the continued chaos from the Trump administration’s attacks on civil rights, liberties, and specifically, diversity, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has quietly decommissioned the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), a tool created to track federal law enforcement misconduct. The database’s shutdown was quietly announced via an online statement that provided no explanation for the decision. Agencies can no longer access or update the system, which previously allowed law enforcement departments to check officers’ records for violations, including excessive force.

The closure follows President Donald Trump’s decision in January to rescind 78 executive orders issued under President Joe Biden’s administration, including Executive Order 14074. Signed in 2022, Biden’s order was part of a broader initiative to enhance police accountability after the murder of George Floyd. In addition to establishing the NLEAD, the order banned chokeholds and em-

phasized de-escalation tactics within federal agencies.

While the NLEAD was not publicly accessible, it was a critical tool for law enforcement agencies to evaluate officers’ histories before hiring or promotions. Since its launch in December 2023, the database has been searched nearly 10,000 times, with only 25 cases resulting in cross-agency matches, allowing departments to investigate candidates’ backgrounds further. The DOJ has claimed that most federal officers have no recorded instances of misconduct.

Interestingly, Trump himself initially proposed the concept of a national police accountability database. In June 2020, one month after Floyd’s death, Trump signed Executive Order 12939, titled “Safe Policing for Safe Communities.” That order directed the Attorney General to develop a system for law enforcement agencies to share information regarding excessive force and misconduct.

Despite the NLEAD’s elimination, the DOJ stated that its Bureau of Justice Statistics published its first public report on the database in December 2024,

providing anonymized and aggregated data on officer misconduct. All 90 Executive Branch agencies employing law enforcement officers, covering approx-

imately 150,000 personnel, submitted records as required under the executive order.

In an effort to maintain some level

of accountability, the DOJ announced that it had partnered with the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) and the International Justice and Public Safety Network (Nlets) to enhance access to the National Decertification Index (NDI), a national registry of officer decertifications used by all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The Biden administration wanted the NDI’s to include expanded categories of misconduct information.

With the NLEAD now offline, law enforcement accountability returns to a patchwork of state and federal efforts— leaving some experts questioning how agencies will prevent officers with histories of misconduct from moving between jurisdictions undetected.

“The NLEAD allowed law enforcement agencies to make informed decisions by providing transparency in officer hiring processes,” said Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, when the database was first introduced.

“Agencies will now lose an important tool that prevented officers with histories of abuse from moving undetected between departments.”

Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam , Kevin Richardson, convicted in the Central Park jogger case,

The Courage to be Curious: A Head Start Success Story

By National Head Start Association

Dr. Eric Motley worked as a special assistant to President George W. Bush. He was director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office. He served as executive vice president at the Aspen Institute. In 2017, Dr. Motley published Madison Park, A Place of Hope, adding the author to his resume. Most recently, he joined the National Gallery of Art as deputy director. In an interview with the National Head Start Association (NHSA), Dr. Motley attributed the courage to be curious about his experience at Head Start.

NHSA: When and where did you attend Head Start?

Dr. Motley: I attended Madison Park Head Start in Montgomery, Alabama, in a little African American community called Madison Park. Madison Park might not easily be found on a GPS, but it is there, like so many other small towns that are home to people across the country. Madison Park is in the city limits of Montgomery, but barely. It is an African American community that was founded in 1880 by a group of freed slaves, and my grandfather’s grandfather was one of those founders. It is my legacy. It remains the place that I call home.

NHSA: Is there anything you remember from your time at Head Start?

Dr. Motley: I remember all the kids at the Head Start program were the kids that I grew up within the community. Some kids lived across the street, there were kids that I went to church with, so they were all familiar. I remember the bus driver who picked us up. I remember the school principal Mrs. Shirley Peevey, who was a very rotund, Rubenesque-framed woman who was very demanding and always serious. I remember that she had a wide smile with a tooth missing. I remember two teachers that I had: one was Mrs. Womack and the other was Mrs. Lee. Mrs. Womack and Mrs. Lee were two of the kindest most thoughtful and nurturing women. I think they knew they were transporting precious cargo to some great destination, and so they cared for us with such love, tenderness, and concern. I remember them being ever-present and teaching us our alphabet. I remember playtime, nap time, and I remember our break time where they would bring out celery sticks, carrots, and apple slices. I think it was my first discovery that I did not like celery. And I realized then that it was probably some of the only juice or fruit that some of these kids ever got. But what I most fondly remember is reading time - hearing the stories and all the characters coming alive right before our very eyes.

NHSA: Dr. Motley, how do you think your early learning experience may have impacted your preparedness for school or your experiences beyond?

Dr. Motley: Another quality that my teachers possessed was patience. They were remarkably patient because I was very precocious, and I always had a lot of questions to ask, always. They never hushed me. They encouraged my inquisitiveness and always sought to address all the ques-

tions that I had. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a really curious person. I always have a lot of questions and a lot of thoughts about things. Even then, I was unafraid to inquire, to reflect, and to share my thoughts. A large portion of that courage was inspired by those teachers that I interacted with in Head Start.

In the Head Start program, I found a community of my peers, where we learned civility, courtesy, kindness, and sharing. I learned to share and to compromise; to accommodate and to push back; and to be sensitive and kind to others in the daily exercise of dealing with other people. I went on to university, and then I went on to Scotland, where I received a master’s degree and a Ph.D. Those early foundation stones were laid by Head Start, and to a very large degree, propelled me for a lifelong pursuit of reflection, learning, asking questions, and engaging with others.

NHSA: Is there any advice you have for current Head Start children and families or any other wisdom you have to impart?

Dr. Motley: Head Start is rightly called Head Start since it is about the head — the cultivation of the mind — but it is also about giving kids who might not have access or means to get a Head Start, to get a little extra push. So that they, like others who may have the means for other educational alternatives, can compete.

I do think it is critical that parents demonstrate their concern and interest as their kids are going through Head Start…that they be present and that they become a part of that learning experience with their children. It is a reminder to both students and parents of the importance of learning. The students, like I do, will forever recognize the importance of the early investment made in them. The last thing I would say is to teachers: should you lose hope and faith, remember that you never know how the seed that you are planting is going to grow and develop. Most teachers will never have the opportunity to see the materialization and maturity of their students throughout an extended period. And sometimes it takes many years for an idea or a lesson to materialize in a person’s mind and heart, so don’t lose hope. You’re in it for the long game, realizing that the investment you are making will one day make great returns.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie, A Man for All Seasons, captures a moment when a young, ambitious man wonders, “What should I do with my life?” The admirable Sir Thomas More replies, “You are smart, thoughtful, and caring you should become a teacher.” The young man refutes the suggestion by asking, “But who would know?” Only to have Sir Thomas respond, “Who would know? The children you teach would know; their children would know; God would know. Not a bad audience!” And such is the influence of a teacher upon generations.

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TRAIN LIVE

Non-residential Job Corps students have the flexibility to live at home while receiving the same career training and education as those who live on campus.

term, sustainable solution.”

She said that some of the things the committee heard were the need for more support for the teacher pipeline, noting that Connecticut is facing a crisis right now in terms of a shortage of teachers, especially in special education certification programs. She also said there needs to be more support for paraprofessionals, as they’re part of the entire support team that schools need to think about as essential for special education.

West Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Paul Vicinus described how the extra money would be used this school year.

“This bill will support specialized transportation for special education students,” Vicinus said. “It will support programs in the schools to support those individuals with significant cognitive impairments. It will support student behavioral needs. It’ll support with assistive technology and residential therapeutic placements.” Asked why there were no Republicans present during the announcement, the Democratic leadership assured those in attendance that the bill would receive support from the Republican caucus.

“A number of meetings are happening right now, but I can tell you the committee’s operating in a very committed bipartisan fashion,” Gadkar-Wilcox said. “I did talk to Representative Candelora about this multiple times, and I know he’ll be supporting it,” Ritter said.

Tuition-free career training and education

Earn your high school diploma or the equivalent

Train in high-growth industries

Gain hands-on work experience

Take community college classes

Participate in clubs and sports

Get involved with community projects

Develop friendships and connections

Receive nutritious meals and basic medical care

Non-res might be for you if you are:

– 16–24 years old

– enrolling at a Job Corps center in your hometown

– responsible for taking care of children or other family members

– motivated to train for a career during the day, Monday through Friday

Later Wednesday, Candelora, Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, a ranking member on the Education Committee, and Rep. Tina Courpas, a ranking member of the Select Committee on Special Education, issued a joint statement reminding Democrats that they had raised the alarm about special education funding last spring.

“There’s no doubt that cities and towns – including our own – will welcome additional special education funding. But let’s be clear: the severe budgetary challenges municipalities now face could have been mitigated if majority party Democrats had acted last spring,” they wrote.

“House Republicans sounded the alarm, proposing full funding of the special education excess cost grant to ease the growing burden on local property taxpayers.

Instead, Democrats chose to ignore this urgent need, diverting millions to higher education – a decision with lasting consequences as we shape the next two-year state budget. While today’s announcement of gap funding is a step in the right direction, it’s far from a solution, and falls short of what is needed. The special education funding crisis persists, and Republicans remain committed to delivering overdue structural changes.”

Six bills received the committee’s approval, including one that would begin to address the issue of disconnected youth in the state. Connecticut has 119,000 teenagers and young adults who are either not working or attending classes. The report, Young People First, supported by Dalio Education, lays out several strategies for helping to reconnect young people to ed-

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Request for Proposals Elevator Consultant

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking proposals from a qualified Elevator Consultant. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 3:00PM.

The Glendower Group, Inc

Request for Qualifications Interior Design

The Glendower Group, Inc., is currently seeking proposals from qualified firms for Interior Design Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 3:00PM.

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Invitation for Bids Fire Panel System Repair & Service

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking a qualified contractor to provide Fire Panel System Repair & Service. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, March 3, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Listing: Facility & Inventory Assistant

Opening for a part-time Facility & Inventory Assistant in a HVAC department. Some heavy lifting required. Computer knowledge a plus. Valid Driver’s License required. Organizational skills needed. Send resume to HR Department, hrdept@eastriverenergy.com, 401 Soundview Road, Guilford, CT 06437.

**An Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Veterans *

360 Management GROUP

Request for BID Marshal Services

360 Management Group is currently seeking proposals from qualified firm for Marshall Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 3:00PM.

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal/Administrative Officer in the Intergovernmental Policy and Planning Division.

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/ sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 250213&R2=1308AR&R3=002

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Labor Relations Associate Trainee (Leadership Associate (Confidential)) in the Office of Labor Relations.

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/ sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 250211&R2=5989VR&R3=001

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Architectural Repairs and Improvements at Union Station Building New Haven, Connecticut New Haven Parking Authority Project #23-020

Bids due March 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT

Bid Documents including Special Notice to Bidders for Community Subcontracting Opportunities, Project Manual, Drawings and Bid Forms will be available beginning Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at no cost to you by downloading from the BuildingConnected FTP system website. Please contact Maryann Bigda of Turner Construction Company, which is the New Haven Parking Authority’s professional construction program manager, at (203) 712-6070 for BuildingConnected FTP system access information.

The New Haven Parking Authority will receive sealed bids for Architectural Repairs and Improvements at Union Station Building, NHPA Project #23-020, until 3:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. All Bids shall be submitted through the BuildingConnected FTP system. Bids may be submitted at any time leading up to the specified due date and time and will remain sealed within the BuildingConnected FTP system until the specified due date and time. The New Haven Parking Authority will be conducting a virtual public bid opening using the Zoom Link provided in the Bid Documents. At this Zoom bid opening, all bids will be publicly opened and the name of the Bidder and its total Bid Price will be read aloud. Bids received after the time set for the opening will be rejected.

The work for this project includes, but is not limited to: main & anterior lobby refinishing, upper floor common area interior repairs, stairwell repairs & improvements (including miscellaneous metals), floor & tile repairs, cleaning of limestone & marble walls, cleaning of main waiting room lights, replacement of brass door assemblies, miscellaneous tenant space repairs, exterior repairs (including masonry & waterproofing repairs), terracotta cornice cleaning and repairs, hazardous building materials abatement, miscellaneous coordination, together with all incidental work thereto and in accordance with the Bid Documents. This project is funded through the State Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and, as such, is subject to certain requirements of the State Capital Funding Agreement.

Bidders will be responsible for the requirements of ALL documents made available and will not be relieved of responsibilities for requirements indicated in any bid documents not downloaded or viewed.

Bidders must submit with their Bid on forms provided a list of their Intended Subcontractors, together with CHRO contract compliance requirements, including:

a. the utilization of DAS-certified Small Business Enterprises (“SBE”) for a requirement of at least 30% of the Bidder’s entire contract value;

b. the utilization of DAS-certified Minority owned Business Enterprises (“MBE”), Women owned Business Enterprises (“WBE”) and/or Disabled owned Business Enterprises (“DisBE”) for a requirement of at least 25% of the Bidder’s entire contract value. Please note that the MBE, WBE, and/or DisBE are part of the SBE; and

c. Independent of the SBE/MBE/WBE/DisBE requirements herein, a minimum of 10% of the Bidder’s entire contract value must include businesses having a place of business within the City of New Haven limits.

A satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder and acceptable surety in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid shall be submitted with each bid.

Lowest Responsible and Qualified Bidder: As used in this section, “lowest responsible and qualified bidder” means the bidder whose bid is the lowest of those bidders possessing the skill, ability and integrity necessary to faithfully perform the work. As a prerequisite, all Bidders with a contract value in excess of $1,000,000 must be pre-qualified by DAS. Additionally, all subcontractors with a subcontract value in excess of $1,000,000 must be pre-qualified by DAS.

The New Haven Parking Authority is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minority/Women/Disabled Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply.

CLERK TYPIST

Performs a wide variety of routine clerical duties requiring excellent computer and interpersonal skills. This position requires 1 year of office work experience of a responsible nature and a H.S., GED, or business diploma. Wages: $22.88 to $27.70 hourly. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. The closing date will be March 10, 2025 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. To apply online, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/ government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Computer Technician I

The Town of Wallingford Public Schools is seeking a qualified individual to provide technical assistance in the setup, installation, and maintenance of computers, peripherals, and software for the school district. The position requires an A.S. degree in computer technology or related field, plus 3 years’ experience troubleshooting and repairing PC/Windows compatible computers, printers and related peripherals. CompTIA Network+ certification, Microsoft MCP, or similar certification preferred. Experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis. Wages: $24.11 hourly. Plus, an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, and paid holidays. The closing date will be March 7, 2025 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. To apply online, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

The Town of Wallingford Electric Division is seeking qualified applicants for the highly technical position of Distribution Engineer. Successful applicants will work in the design and development of overhead and underground power distribution lines. This highly reliable municipal-owned electric utility located 10 miles from New Haven, CT, serves 25,000 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 130 MW with an excellent rate structure. Applicants should possess 2 years of responsible experience in utility engineering and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Annual Salary: $111,293 to $139,116 PLUS on-call stipend when assigned. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of March 19, 2025, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/ government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - REVISED

The Proposal due date and time has been extended to March 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT, via Addendum #2.

Proposal Documents and Addenda are available at no cost on the New Haven Parking Authority/Park New Haven website at https://parknewhaven.com/request-for-bids/ .

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ELM CITY COMMUNITIES/HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) FLAT RENT SCHEDULE 2025

According to (24 CFR 960.253(b) Notice PIH 2021-27, and Section 6 III (D) - Flat Rent of ECC/HANH’s Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) ECC/HANH must establish a schedule of flat rents annually give a family of a choice of flat rent or income-based rent and provide families with the information on how to choose the rent.

The thirty (30) days comment period begins on Monday, February 24, 2025, and ends on Monday, March 24, 2025. Copies of the Flat Rent schedule 2025 will be made available on the agency website www.elmcitycommunities.org or via Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities and all Property Management offices.

You are invited to provide written comments to: ECC/HANH Flat Rent Schedule 2025, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 or via email to: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

A public hearing where public comments will also be accepted and recorded is scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM via RingCentral: https://v.ringcentral.com/join/324785192?pw=ec70759479fa8ec2d9d921d7fe08c6d5

Meeting ID: 324785192 Password: 2y2hnScDHi

Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Reasonable Accommodation Manager at (203) 4988800 ext. 1507 or TDD (203) 497-8434.

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARA LAS COMUNIDADES DE LA CIUDAD

ELM/AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA DE NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) LISTA

DE ALQUILER FIJO 2025

De acuerdo con (24 CFR 960.253(b) Aviso PIH 2021-27 y la Sección 6 III (D) - Alquiler Fijo de la Política de Admisiones y Ocupación Continua (ACOP) de ECC/HANH, ECC/HANH debe establecer una lista de alquileres fijos anualmente para darle a las familias la opción de alquiler fijo o alquiler basado en los ingresos y brindarles información sobre cómo elegir el alquiler.

El período de comentarios de treinta (30) días comienza el lunes 24 de febrero de 2025 y finaliza el lunes 24 de marzo de 2025. Se pondrán a disposición copias de la lista de alquileres fijos 2025 en el sitio web de la agencia www. elmcitycommunities.org o a través de Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities y todas las oficinas de administración de propiedades.

Se le invita a enviar comentarios por escrito a: ECC/HANH Flat Rent Schedule 2025, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

Se ha programado una audiencia pública en la que también se aceptarán y registrarán comentarios públicos para el lunes 17 de marzo de 2025 a las 3:00 p. m. a través de RingCentral:

https://v.ringcentral.com/join/324785192?pw=ec70759479fa8ec2d9d921d7fe08c6d5

ID de la reunión: 324785192

Contraseña: 2y2hnScDHi

Cualquier persona que requiera una adaptación razonable para participar en la audiencia puede llamar al Gerente de Adaptaciones Razonables al (203) 498-8800 ext. 1507 o TDD (203) 497-8434.

NAACP Sues Trump Administration Over Dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The civil rights organization argues that the move undermines protections for Black, elderly, and vulnerable consumers, leaving them exposed to financial exploitation. NAACP

President and CEO Derrick Johnson condemned the administration’s actions, calling them a reckless assault on consumer protections. “Once again, we are witnessing the dangerous impacts of an overreaching executive office. The Trump Administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opens the floodgates for unethical and predatory practices to run rampant,” Johnson stated. “We refuse to stand idly by as our most vulnerable communities are left unprotected due to irresponsible leaders. From seniors and retirees, disabled people, and victims of disaster to so many more, our nation stands to face immense financial hardship and adversity as a result of the elimination of the CFPB. If our President refuses to put people over profit, the NAACP will use every tool possible to put Americans first.”

The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and

ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease. Vought also suspended all investigations, rulemaking, public communications, and enforcement actions. Keisha D. Bross, NAACP Director of Opportunity, Race, and Justice, said the organization maintains its commitment to restoring the bureau’s critical role in protecting consumers. “The CFPB is an agency of the people. From the protection from junk fees to fighting excessive overdraft fees, providing assistance to impacted victims

of natural disasters, and holding predatory practices accountable, the NAACP stands firm in bringing back the CFPB,” Bross said. “The NAACP will fight to hold financial entities responsible for the years of inequitable practices from big banks and lenders.”

The lawsuit, filed alongside the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the National Consumer Law Center, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the CFPB Employee Association, argues that the administration’s actions violate the

Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. According to the complaint, the Trump administration has taken deliberate steps to dismantle the CFPB, including firing 70 employees via form email, canceling over $100 million in vendor contracts, and shutting down the agency’s consumer complaint system, which processes hundreds of thousands of cases monthly. The plaintiffs warn that these actions will leave millions of Americans defenseless against financial fraud and predatory lending practices. The

lawsuit details the harm already inflicted by the agency’s closure. Among those affected is Rev. Eva Steege, an 83-year-old pastor with a terminal illness who was seeking student loan forgiveness through a CFPB-facilitated program. Her meeting with CFPB staff was abruptly canceled, leaving her without recourse to resolve her debt before passing.

The NAACP and other plaintiffs seek an immediate injunction to halt the administration’s actions and restore the CFPB’s operations. The legal challenge argues that the President has no unilateral authority to dismantle an agency created by Congress and that Vought’s appointment as acting director is unlawful. President Trump has made no secret of his desire to eliminate the CFPB, confirming last week that his administration was working to “totally eliminate” the agency. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a key player in Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” celebrated the move with a social media post reading “CFPB RIP.”

If successful, the lawsuit could force the administration to reinstate the agency and resume its enforcement actions against financial institutions accused of predatory practices. “Neither the President nor the head of the CFPB has the power to dismantle an agency that Congress established,” the plaintiffs argue. “With each day the agency remains shut down, financial institutions that seek to prey on consumers are emboldened— harming their law-abiding competitors and the consumers who fall victim to them.”

HBO’s Eyes on the Prize III Revisits Black America’s Modern Civil Rights Struggles

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

HBO is set to debut Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest (1977-2015), the latest chapter of the groundbreaking documentary series that has long served as a definitive account of the fight for racial justice in America. The six-part series, executive produced by Dawn Porter, premieres Tuesday, February 25, with two episodes airing backto-back on HBO. All six episodes will be available to stream on Max. Building on the foundation of Henry Hampton’s 1987 documentary Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Movement, this new installment shifts the timeline beyond the traditional civil rights era, highlighting the continued struggle for justice from the late 1970s through 2015. The series captures pivotal moments in Black activism through archival footage and firsthand accounts, from grassroots battles over housing and healthcare to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., who appears in multiple episodes, played a key role in the history explored in the series. As a leader in the fight for racial equity,

Dr. Chavis was the principal national organizer of the Million Man March in 1995 and the environmental justice movement in 1982 that challenged corporate and government negligence in Black communities. The series revisits both turning points, featuring voices from the front lines who fought for justice in the face of systemic resistance. The first episode, America, Don’t Look Away (1977-1988), explores community activism in New York’s South Bronx and Philadelphia. Local leaders took on fair housing and healthcare inequities during the final

years of the Carter administration and the onset of Reaganomics. The episode includes former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer, public health officials, and activists who fought for Black communities amid the AIDS crisis.

As the series progresses, it turns to the criminal justice system’s impact on Black communities. Trapped (1989-1995) follows public defenders in Washington, D.C., and organizers in South Central Los Angeles who took on policies that disproportionately targeted Black residents. The documentary highlights the work of

figures such as Congresswoman Maxine Waters and former U.S. attorney Robert Wilkins. The third episode focuses on one of the most defining moments of modern Black activism—the Million Man March.

The 1995 gathering in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 1995, drew over one million Black men to assemble in the daylong gathering in a call for unity, responsibility, and community upliftment. Chavis, who was the National Director and a key organizer of the march, is featured alongside Rev. Al Sharpton, journalist Michael Cottman, and Professor Emerita Angela

Davis. The episode details both the controversy and the lasting impact of the historic event.

Environmental justice takes center stage in the fourth installment, which examines the fight against industrial pollution and toxic waste in Black communities. Activists in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Florida battled corporations and government agencies that failed to protect Black neighborhoods from environmental hazards. Dr. Chavis, Deputy Executive Director of the Commission for Racial Justice of the United Church of Christ at the time, is featured along with Dr. Robert Bullard, widely regarded as one of the founders of the Environmental Justice Movement (EJM) along with Chavis, and former Vice President Al Gore. The final two episodes focus on legal and political battles over race in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. One installment looks at affirmative action and the shifting landscape of school desegregation, featuring UCLA law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw and civil rights leader Dr. William J. Barber II. The last episode explores the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement during the Obama years, as police killings of unarmed Black citizens galvanized a new Con’t on page 26

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HYPERLOCAL

SOUL AND R&B MOURN LOSS OF ROBERTA FLACK. GWEN MCCRAE AND JERRY BUTLER

Flack revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which had taken away her ability to sing.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose smooth vocals and intimate style made her a defining artist of the 1970s, died Monday at her home surrounded by family. She was 88. Her publicist, Elaine Schock, confirmed the news in a statement. Flack revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which had taken away her ability to sing.

Her death came just one day after the passing of soul-funk singer Gwen McCrae, who died Sunday at 81. McCrae, best known for hits like “Rockin’ Chair” and “Funky Sensation,” was celebrated for her enduring influence on soul and disco music. It also came just days after three-time Grammy nominee and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Butler, a premier soul singer of the 1960s, died at 85.

Butler, known as "Ice Man," had numerous hits including "For Your Precious Love," and "Make It Easy on Yourself."

Butler’s niece, Yolanda Goff, told The Associated Press that Butler died of Parkinson’s disease at his home in Chicago.

Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she was raised in Arlington, Virginia, where her musical roots were cultivated at the Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Flack began piano lessons at nine and earned a full scholarship to Howard University at 15. She initially studied piano before switching to voice. She graduated at 19 and later taught music and English in North Carolina after her father’s death.

In Washington, D.C., Flack balanced

Mattel Celebrates 45

Nationwide — In celebration of Black History Month and the 45th anniversary of Black Barbie, Mattel has partnered with the Black In Fashion Council (BIFC). The collaboration honors Kitty Black Perkins, the creator and designer of the very first Black Barbie, with the release of a limited-edition Black Barbie, a 1980s-themed collection, and a Black History Month apparel line.

The partnership with BIFC, announced on February 19, aims to inspire young Black girls to explore careers in fashion and design, according to BET. In an Instagram post, Mattel Mattel paid tribute to Black Barbie’s creator, Kitty Black Perkins, who was the Chief Designer for Barbie and worked at Mattel for 28 years.

“Among her many contributions, showing the true power of representation in toys was perhaps her most impactful. Our anniversary tribute stuns in a scarlet look inspired by the original

teaching with nightclub performances, captivating audiences at local venues like Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill. Her breakthrough came when jazz pianist Les McCann discovered her and arranged an audition with Atlantic Records. Her 1969 debut album First Take initially received little attention until Clint Eastwood featured her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. Released as a single in 1972, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and earned Flack her first Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

Flack’s success soared with her 1973 recording of “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” which became her signature hit.

The song spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her two Grammys: Record of the Year and Best

Female Pop Vocal Performance. With the win, Flack became the first artist to earn consecutive Record of the Year awards. Her partnership with Donny Hathaway produced hits like “Where Is the Love,” which won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. She continued her chart success with “Feel Like Makin’ Love” in 1974, making her the first female vocalist to top the Hot 100 in three consecutive years. Flack’s later collaborations with Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest yielded popular tracks like “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” and “Set the Night to Music.”

Throughout her career, Flack advocated for artist rights and founded the Roberta Flack School of Music, providing free music education to underprivileged youth. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999 and per-

by artists including Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and the Pet Shop Boys.

Her biggest commercial success came in 1975 with “Rockin’ Chair,” which topped the R&B chart and reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. While the single remains her most widely recognized hit, many fans and DJs remember her for the 1981 club favorite “Funky Sensation,” which has endured as a dancefloor staple.

McCrae’s career spanned decades, and her other notable songs included “Keep the Fire Burning.” Despite her accomplishments, she often spoke about the lack of recognition and fair compensation for Black artists of her era.

After suffering a stroke in 2012 that left her partially paralyzed, McCrae retired from performing. Her daughter, Leah McCrae, carries on the family’s musical legacy as a solo artist and member of the group Daughters of Soul.

Con’t from page 24

Gwen McCrae: Soul and Disco Legacy Gwen McCrae, celebrated for her rich voice and lasting impact on the disco and soul music scenes, died Sunday at 81. A statement from her official brand account called her passing “more bad news” for the music world and acknowledged how fans “are still jamming to ‘Rockin’ Chair’ all these years later.”

Born Gwen Mosley in Pensacola, Florida, McCrae began singing in church choirs before meeting George McCrae, whom she married in 1963. The couple performed as a duo and signed with Henry Stone’s Alston label. By 1970, McCrae had achieved early success with “Lead Me On.” In 1972, she released “Always On My Mind,” a song later popularized

Years of Black Barbie and Black History Month with

Limited-Edition

1980s doll and is bound to be the showstopper of any collection,” it stated.

Lindsay Peoples, co-founder of BIFC, shared her excitement about the partnership, saying, “It has been so rewarding to witness our organization Black in Fashion Council drive long-lasting change in the fashion industry. Now we can add Barbie to our list of partners who share our commitment to breaking down barriers and creating more opportunities for future generations of Black designers.”

To mark Black History Month, the partnership highlights a group of influential designers, including Larissa Muehleder, Nia Thomas, and Fumi Egbon, each known for their unique contributions to fashion.

The limited-edition Black Barbie, along with the 1980s-themed collection and Black History Month apparel, is now available on Amazon.

generation of activists. It includes BLM co-founders Alicia Garza and Patrisse Cullors, as well as Rev. Al Sharpton.

The series arrives at a time when the fight for racial justice remains urgent, and the Black Press continues to document these struggles as it has been for nearly two centuries. Founded in 1827 with Freedom’s Journal, the Black Press of America was created to give Black communities a voice when mainstream media ignored or distorted their stories. That mission continues today through the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing over 230 Black-owned newspapers nationwide. Chavis, who leads the NNPA, has also co-authored a new book with NNPA Senior National Correspondent Stacy M. Brown. The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500-Year Legacy is a deep examination of the lasting impact of one of history’s greatest atrocities. Covering the period from 1500 to 2024, the book details how the forced removal and brutal exploitation of millions of Africans laid the foundation for the systemic racism that persists today.

“The transatlantic slave trade isn’t just history—it is the root of the struggles we continue to face,” Chavis said. “To understand the present, we must confront the past.” Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D wrote the book’s foreword, recognizing its role in providing historical context for the challenges Black Americans still endure. With the release of Eyes on the Prize III and The Transatlantic Slave Trade, the importance of truth-telling remains clear. “For 198 years, the Black Press has ensured that our history is recorded accurately,” Chavis said. “We must continue to tell our own stories and ensure the truth is never erased.”

formed for Nelson Mandela that same year. Flack is survived by her son, musician Bernard Wright.