New Haven Independent

Posted by: Joe | September 11, 2006 5:50 PM

She's deciding whether to resign? Does the New Haven City Charter not give this kind of power to the full aldermanic board? Someone embezzles nearly 50 grand, targeted for poor people, and is deciding whether it's appropriate to serve the people? Amazing. And her remorse sounds a bit light. She did wrong but she deserves more chances. She wants to put this behind her. She sounds as sincere as Joe.

Posted by: H. Anderson | September 11, 2006 8:21 PM

Babz must resign her position as alderperson. I live in her ward and there is no way she should be representing anyone as an elected official. She can make amends through the court system and through personal actions, but she should not be a public servant. As an aside, when she ran for alderperson there was already good evidence (that she denied at the time) that she had embezzled federal funds. And it wasn't secret. I read about it in the newspaper on several occasions. Why she chose to run and why the democratic ward chairs in my neighborhood wanted her so badly, I'll never know. They sure as heck better call for her resignation at this point (and accept some of the responsibility for getting her elected). Stealing money from a government program intended to help the poorest of the poor is just plain disgusting as well as illegal. And note, she didn't come forward of her own accord and confess. There was a four year plus investigation that was funded with taxpayer money. Babz, resign.

Posted by: MRSK | September 11, 2006 9:42 PM

"You can say what you want, make all the necessary arguments, but at the end of the day, you and people like you fail children every single day. " ~Babz Rawls-Ivy

Babz had a lot to say about the way other readers ought to treat New Haven's youth when the issue of a curfew was being debated. \ Who has failed the children now, Babz?

Posted by: DFeder | September 11, 2006 9:52 PM

"...I did a bad thing. But I don't think I'm a bad person." -- Babz Rawls-Ivy....

A list of things I care about, in decreasing order of importance:

1) Is Babz Rawls-Ivy a good alder?
2) Is Letterman a re-run tonight?
3) Is Babz Rawls-Ivy a good person?
4) Does Babz Rawls-Ivy _think_ she's a good person?
5) Nothing.

Posted by: Daniel Sumrall | September 11, 2006 10:31 PM

The corruption in Connecticut is systemic. It is ridiculous how such mind-numbing dishonesty and thieving can get played off simply on the basis of an "I'm sorry" or the I'm-a-good-person-at-heart defense.

Rawls-Ivy failed as an alder and as an ethical human being. She should be forgiven because all people should be, but she (and I would go so far as to say her supporters as well) should never be trusted again.

We need to draw a line; demand and expect our elected officials to rise above such pitiful selfishness and greed.

But if that's too lofty--you know, to not steal--then let's just do business as usual and wait for Mayor DeStefano to put up another seat-filler.

Here’s a fact that is true now and will be true tomorrow—I’m not going to steal from you or anyone else. If we can’t expect our elected officials to say as much then every time you hear “The Great State of Connecticut� you know it’s a lie.

Posted by: Jay | September 11, 2006 10:36 PM

Babz is a good person who did a bad thing. I'm sorry to read of her misdeeds, but I know first hand that she has done tremendous good- for the four children she has adopted, and for her neighborhood and the city. I'm sure Babz will do the right thing now and resign, but our city will be the worse off for losing her as an Alder.

Posted by: Joe | September 11, 2006 10:52 PM

But the city coffers might be better off losing her as an Alder. "Good" people do bad things. Doesn't lessen their crimes.

Posted by: Bruce | September 12, 2006 8:38 AM

What sort of "good person" steals money from poor people? Keep her out of our government and keep her hands off my hard-earned money.

Unfortunately, she's right about this being the land of "second and third chances". Just follow the sagas of people like Sal Brancati and Boise Kimber.

Posted by: Ned | September 12, 2006 8:58 AM

What is wrong with you people? "Good people" don't lie, cheat and steal. Although I'm not too surprised at the calls for leniency given that a lot of people, in New Haven are apparently so morally bankrupt - feting alleged murderers at large public funerals: "Hundreds Pay Last Respects To 'Little Larry'."

Posted by: Willie Williams Jr | September 12, 2006 10:34 AM

I Once Knew A Man, A Long Time Ago...He Thought He Knew Everything, One Day He Got Lost and We Could Not Find Him. Alderwoman Babz Rawls Ivy Should Go To Jail Just Like Every One Else and Pay Back $49,000.00 Dollars. I Don't Sit On The Board of Directors of ANY! Black Comittee or The NAACP of Greater New Haven(I Have No Say So As To What Is What In Black New Haven Social, Religious, Political, Economic or Culture Affairs) Nor Was I On The Board of Directors of That FAKE Dixwell Q House(You Must Have A Masters Degree To Volunteer As A Tutor To Teach Basic Computer Trainning Skills Here). These Boards, Committees, Associations, Organizations Are Operated By Class and Status As In The Days of Antbellum 1865...Busuea Negros. [To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected]
Willie Williams Jr

Posted by: Richard F Jones | September 12, 2006 12:37 PM

BABZ!!!! YOU ARE DEAD WRONG FOR DOING WHAT YOU DID... YOU NEED TO GO ON PUBLIC TV,ADMIT YOUR GUILT,STEP DOWN FROM OFFICE(NEVER TO HOLD A PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE STATE OF CONN,OR ANYWHERE)RETURN THE MONEY,AND TAKE WHAT'S COMING TO YOU!!! HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ENTRUSTED YOU,AND WERE DEPENDING UPON YOU.

R. JONES
WASH D.C.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | September 12, 2006 3:59 PM

This Reminds of a Book Call Den Of Thieves. The Story of Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky,Why Is That
When Politicians Get Caught, They cry Redemption and Sometime Jesus? She States That This is a Dark Day
For the Board Of Alderman, What About The Dark Days And Hunger Nights Of The Poor Which The Money She Enron(Stole)From Them!!! Carl GoldField
States That She is a Colleague and He Feels Terrible. Again what about The Poor!!! This is why you have Vote apathy!!! I recommend The Follwing, Term Limits,Once a Year Polygraph Test,
Review Of Financial Records!!! For These Political Prostitutes And poverty Pimps!!! Also she should be give The Full Ten Years And Then When She Gets Out She Can Then open a Redemption Center With Enrest Newton And John Roland And The Rest Of These Crooked So Call Politicians Who will Be Caught At A Future Date!!!

Posted by: Anna Felder | September 12, 2006 7:08 PM

Why was Babz nominated by the democrats in her neighborhood to run for election in the first place when it was known that she was under investigation for embezzeling? Seriously, who was responsible for putting her up for election and why? Anyone actually from Beaver Hills know?

Posted by: sandstorm | September 13, 2006 1:17 PM

With the oath of office comes the obligation to keep the public trust. While the deeds are repugnant and despicable,the monetary damages are quantifiable, the erosion of that trust is far costlier to our society. The penalties for an elected or appointed public official should automatically double.

Posted by: Lou West | September 13, 2006 3:28 PM

Citizens of New Haven and surroundings areas have a very short memory or no memory at all. Or perhaps their only interest is in gossip. It is true that Babz broke the law and must be punished. However, there is more than one way of breaking the law. Babz moved from the Hill to Beaver Hill and imediately Challenged Brian Jenkins for his seat as Alderman, and she had the full support of the Democratic Party; and nothing happens in this town without the Mayor's approval. All the folks making comments about Babz need to read "WITNESS TO PATRONAGE" by Paul Bass in the New Haven Advocate, under the comlumn of "Hit and Run" and the year was 1997. The Alliance For Strong Communities was started with Housing Authority Drug Elimilation money ($600,000+), the Drug Elimilation Program no longer existed and the Commissioners didn't want to return the money to HUD. Babz was in the good graces of the Mayor as a Police Commissioner,so HANH created ALSC as a non-profit using the Drug Elimilation Program's remaining funds to replace HANH's Resident Services, the staff was distributed to other departments, and Babz was named Director. ALSC had a Board of Directors which was headed up HANH Commissioners and HANH staff.

Posted by: Sam S. | September 13, 2006 5:43 PM

In response to Lou West:
It will be interesting to see who the mayor picks as the next ward 28 alderperson. Maybe the democrats in charge of the ward won't run to the mayor asking whom to choose. Really, they should grow a spine and pick someone who doesn't have a history of corruption and close ties to city officials. The board of alders is dirty, dirty. Look how many are involved with shady non profits, many of which exist to pay salaries and give kickbacks. Ward 28 (which is my ward) should fly straight after this embarrassing incident.

Posted by: Truth Hurts | September 13, 2006 6:23 PM

Hey, I think Babz should get to keep her seat.

What she did was little different from that which Andrea Jackson-Brooks did during the loan scandals of 1998. If Ms. Brooks can cheat the system, yet avoid jail and stay on the board of aldermen, Ms. Rawls-Ivy should be accorded similar treatment. No?

Posted by: Jack Cohen | September 13, 2006 9:30 PM

Maybe now my ward can have a representative who isn't just a rubber stamper for the mayor. As if we need more of those in the city!

Posted by: Monica | September 18, 2006 2:58 AM

I must say because God prefers us not to judge I am not going to.

He is in control and will deal with all corruption and right now he is.

We must remember as humans no one is perfect we all make mistakes.

There is no such thing as a perfectionist in humans.