New Haven Independent

Judge Stops Hooker School Plan

by Paul Bass | May 2, 2006 5:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“No group,” writes Judge Anthony DeMayo (pictured), is “more appealing than schoolchildren.” Yet, he continued, he believes New Haven improperly used “spot zoning” to plan a new K-8 Hooker School on Whitney Avenue. DeMayo’s ruling, released Tuesday, is a victory for neighbors trying to stop the school. Click here to read it. “The upshot of this ruling is that the city will not be able to build the school there,” said opponent Paulette Cohen of Everit Street. Said public school rebuilding chief Susan Weisselberg in a prepared statement: “We believe very strongly that the site we chose four years ago, with extensive neighborhood input, is the best location for the school. Our legal counsel advises us we have strong grounds to appeal. However, we want to hear from the parents and staff of the school before we proceed.” Hooker parents and staff get a chance to speak Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 7 p.m. (The general public does not; there were already public hearings.)