New Haven Independent: Elser Vows To Spread "Sunshine" In City Hall

Elser Vows To Spread “Sunshine” In City Hall

by Paul Bass | July 23, 2007 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)

Turn Tweed-New Haven Airport toward Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod, not Atlanta. Hold the schools superintendent “more accountable” for students’ performance. Replace a Democratic mayor who lost interest in the job with a Republican who can cast “sunshine into how” a one-party city operates and free intimidated aldermen and government workers to do their jobs better.
So suggests the latest, surprise entrant into this year’s mayor’s race, H. Richter Elser.

Elser didn’t plan to run for mayor. His beleaguered Republican Party talked him into it at the last minute, at its convention last Thursday night.

So Elser, when contacted Monday, said he hasn’t yet put together a campaign team — let alone prepared a thought-out agenda that would prepare him to conduct an interview on his positions on pressing city issues.

Then he proceeded to do just that.

Elser, who’s 48, has lived in New Haven since coming to Yale in 1977. He used to run Richter’s and Tibwin Grill as well as the New Haven Brewing Co. He also ran against Rosa DeLauro for Congress in 2002. He currently serves as controller for a human resources company in Seymour and consults with several New Haven private clubs.

Following are his responses to questions about where he’d like to take the city if he manages to become the Republicans’ first mayor in 54 years.

You probably read that Pan Am is dropping the flights it just started out of Tweed New Haven, one more airline to leave the airport. Should we keep subsidizing the airport? Or is this corporate welfare?

I’m not sure. I think Tweed can be a viable airport. I’m not sure if we have been looking at it in the right way. Instead of making it a regional airport, what can you do with a big commuter airport? To me some of the logical people to be approaching aren’t some of the upstart new regional airlines, but something like Cape Air, which specializes in short-call flights in New England. Their specialty is flights to Nantucket, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, summer vacation places. You could operate a shuttle from the train station to the airport. So instead of trying to keep throwing stuff out there for regional flights, we could have a small airport that caters to small planes. Where do small planes go in the summertime? Maybe the future of Tweed is a summertime airport. I think there are ways to think beyond what we are we doing with the airport.

Do you like the Becker and Becker plan for the Shartenberg site?

I can’t comment on that, because I’m voting on it this week on the Board of Zoning Appeals. In general, I have a real problem with downtown development plans where we keep saddling one piece of property with the deals that were made to facilitate something on another piece of property.

Do you mean, in this case, the parking for the Chase office tower?

That concerns me. And if the city wants to give money away to developers, you could give 1,000 homeowners $1,000 property tax breaks. It would make a big difference in a lot of neighborhoods in the city. You could do a program like that each year on a lottery system.

If downtown is truly worth developing, developers are going to come here on their own…We are still the ones doing the luring to get people here. I’m not sure we need to do that anymore.

How do you feel about the armed citizen patrol in Edgewood?

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand it doesn’t bother me that they’re there. On the other hand it does bother me that a group of New Haven residents are so concerned about the safety of their neighborhood and the unresponsiveness of City Hall and their police department, that they feel they have to go out and contact someone like the Guardian Angels.

Do you think community policing is dead or dying?

Community policing at the moment I think, I wouldn’t say it’s dead or dying. I think it’s just suffering from a lack of attention.

Is there anything you would do that they’re not doing?

That I can’t tell you. I have to think about that a little bit more. When I lived on Edgewood Avenue, I felt that was a safe neighborhood. I lived between Boulevard and Brownell. To me the biggest threat to my house was the college students renting on one side of me. I always felt safe.

Now I live on the other side of the park on Chapel Street. I consider that a very safe neighborhood. Like a lot of lot people, until you are personally affected by some of the issues, you think of them as issues you’ve read about it in the Independent or a week later in the Register.

What about youth violence? Anything we should be doing that we’re not?

I think we could do much more to promote athletic programs and activity programs in schools. You have to give kids something to do.

Should we be doing something differently on education?

I think there’s probably a lot we need to do. Just because we have new buildings doesn’t mean the system is working better.

Is it?

I don’t think it is. Every year when they publish New Haven’s test scores, the longer kids are in the system, the worse they’re doing. As much as people like to pick on school unions, I don’t think anybody deliberately goes to work wanting to do a bad job. I think people go to work and get frustrated at the system they’re working in. I think it’s very fair to hold Dr. [Reginald] Mayo [the schools superintendent] more accountable. Why aren’t we seeing more improvement in New Haven schools?

Going beyond that, why don’t parents in New Haven feel more connected to the school system?

What’s your favorite neighborhood in town?

I am a little partial to Westville because I live there. I like Fair Haven. If you go out along Grand Avenue and along Chapel Street in that area, it is a neighborhood that has stayed vibrant and active and gone throughout all sorts of cultural changes in its history. It stays active pretty much while being ignored by downtown New Haven.

Maybe there’s a connection? Maybe it’s better to be ignored?

It shows that the real vitality in this city is individuals and business owners taking an interest in their city. If you don’t get in their way, local people can do a very good job for New Haven.

What is DeStefano doing right?

Right now? That’s probably the hardest question to answer. I like the mayor. I consider myself friendly with the mayor. I don’t think he’s doing anything right anymore. I don’t think he’s paying attention to the city. That’s what bothers me.

Look at his new ID card system. If he thinks immigration is an important issue, he should be working with Rosa DeLauro. It’s a federal issue. I’d like to know how it’s going to help those of us who are taxpayers in the city. How is it going to help the school system? He is using the office to pursue projects that are of interest to him.

What about the argument that immigrants are here, and we should make it safer for them and welcome them?

If that is his motivation, he shouldn’t be afraid to be front and center every day explaining it.

He has been everywhere doing that…

He has carte blanche to speak to whoever he wants. He should call up WELI every morning and say, “You guys are putting the program in the wrong perspective. Here is why we’re doing it.”

He genuinely likes New Haven. For a longtime New Haven was first and foremost what governed his mayoralty. Maybe after 14 years, the job’s gotten boring. You’ve spent your entire life in the public sector. You’ve never worked a job where you don’t know where your next paycheck is coming form. You don’t know if you’ll meet payroll. Where do you go?

Short of becoming executive director of the American League of Cities, where do you go after a while? John is a smart guy. An ambitious guy.

Answer?

The answer is for him to become executive director of a nice think tank. Let somebody else be mayor.

Do you really want to be that somebody else?

I’m warming up to the idea.

I wouldn’t want that job.

The thing to think about is, realistically what can a Republican do at City Hall?

Michael Bloomberg did a lot.

He has a few more financial resources. Worst case scenario: What would a single two-year term do of having a Republican? It simply ends up letting a lot of sunshine into how the city operates. It also affords the opportunity for a lot of aldermen, rather than being afraid to challenge the mayor, to think about what benefits their neighborhood [and the city].

There aren’t enough Republicans in this city for there to be absolute wholesale change in city government. But I think it might provide the opportunity for people to do the job they’d like to do. Whether it is deserved or not, the mayor has a reputation of being a bully. I think there are a lot of city employees that are afraid to cross the mayor. There are a lot of city vendors that are afraid to cross the mayor…

I like New Haven. I think it is head and shoulders the best city in Connecticut. We have done a much better job of dealing with our urban issues. But I think we can keep moving forward.

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Comments

Posted by: Ralph Ferrucci | July 23, 2007 1:31 PM

In 2002, I ran against Rosa and Richter for US Congress.

Richter is a very warm and knowledgeable person. He will bring to this race issues that others will not bring up.

I would like to welcome him to the race and would love the chance to run against him once again.

I remember one speaking event we did at City Hall, we clashed on many issues and when this event was over we went out to temple street grill for a drink.

Good Luck Richter,
Mabe this year we can car pool to the events.
Ralph Ferrucci
Green Party Candidate for Mayor.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | July 23, 2007 3:52 PM

As the tree hugger hangs her head in shame and says..
This guy has caught my attention. If he has lived in New Haven all these years he can't be one of those scary Republicans.
The question is who is he going to run against...Johhny or Newton??
I think it is going to be Johnny. And I think he may stand a chance to win.
Say it ain't so!! A republican in New Haven.

Posted by: Hope | July 23, 2007 4:41 PM

Off the cuff, this interview gives me hope. I trust taxpayers will pay attention before automatically pulling a lever for King John. Elser has a good perspective -- through the eyes of a taxpayer and business owner/developer. It makes a difference. Where he had to earn it everyday, the mayor just had to take it. Interesting story.

Posted by: mindoflen | July 23, 2007 4:50 PM

Let me welcome the latest GOP sacrificial lamb to the mayoral race. He sounds like he's actually thought about some of these issues.
I think, however, he's dead wrong on the airport. Tweed could be a viable airport if the city took its foot of the airport's neck. Please see http://mindoflen.blogspot.com for further comments on the subject.

Posted by: East Rock Resident | July 23, 2007 5:42 PM

I read the interview and was very impressed with Mr. Elser. I then asked my alderman (Lemar) if he knew who Mr. Elser was and he said that he has met him a few times and was always impressed by him and thought that he was capable of engaging in a serious debate with Destefano. I asked him who he was voting for and he still said Destefano. Not a surprise I quess. I asked him who he would vote for if it were between Elser and Newton. He said Elser but asked me not to repeat that....oops. Sorry Roland! Welcome to the race Mr. Elser. You have my attention and if my liberal alderman would consider voting for you, you can't be one of those scary Republicans.

Posted by: toomanytaxes | July 23, 2007 7:21 PM

I'm not a republican. But I'm voting for him.

Posted by: robn | July 23, 2007 9:28 PM

Following my comments about the despicable national GOP rubbing off on local candidates, one reader asked what that has to do with local politics. Well, it has everything to do with local politics....all politics is local. If you've got someone running under the GOP banner then they have to either answer for the traitorous behavior of their national party or renounce them. When the stakes are this high you can't have it both ways. By the way...same goes for Democrats who voted for Republican-light Joe Lieberman...get out of the party folks...real Democrats don't want you.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | July 24, 2007 9:37 AM

robn
I think I was one of 2 that made that comment. I have never voted out of my party. Dedicated dem, I even go door to door to register people in my area, and educate people that there vote does count and make a difference. But when you live in an area that is not getting what they were promised what is the answer?? This is something they are starting to learn in my area. And this year due to my areas neglect we may finally have a record number of voters out this year. (They are coming to us now).
When your party candidate does not do there job are you expected to keep being there for them?? When they vote against what the people want ,are they truly doing what they were put in office for in the first place??
Don't get me wrong I am still a dem. And most of my vote is going to be for my party. Alot of us on this side of East Rock have been told I am working on it, there is nothing I can do, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" one to many times. (At least in my eyes and a lot of the new owner occupied houses in my area.)
Honestly I think John will be running on the Dem ticket. But can he promise what the voters in New Haven want???

LOWER OUR TAXES!!!

If the republican can promise that, and has a plan that will work to do that, he will win.

My only grip is on the aldermanic level.

Posted by: robn | July 24, 2007 1:40 PM

CHR,

I'm not asking you to vote for Mayor D. I'm asking everyone to face up to the fact that, no matter how attractive an opposing candidate seems, if that candidate isn't running as an independent then he sits in support of his national party.

Be aware that underneath the Republican platitudes urging you to hold onto your money is a philosophy of selfishness and exclusion. Republicans think that they earn their money in a vaccuum and that their businesses haven't been built on the foundations of great public works (electricity, water, ports, national defense).

Its a cruel worldview and, by the way, its a good part of the reason we're having city budget distress in the first place. The Bush White House has done everything it can to divert federal money to its voting base; away from the Northeast who with California, generate the highest proportions of tax revenues in the first place.

Connecticut is 49th out of 50th of federal spending for every tax dollar paid by the state.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/266.html

Also, its worth mentioning that 38% of your tax dollars was spent on military and interest on military. Only 4% was spent on education.

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/auxiliary/somePdfs/taxday2006/ctnh.pdf

So don't feel forced to vote for Mayor DeStefano, but you'd better strongly consider the recent history of the Republican party before you vote for one of them.

Lastly, if Mr. Elser is such a nice guys, he should strongly consider renouncing the Bush White House and running as an independent. Notwithstanding Ralph Ferrucci's generous encouragement, it will be hard to believe anything Mr. Elser says until he's come clean.

Posted by: Ben | July 24, 2007 2:18 PM

I dont live in New Haven. But maybe Ill move to vote for the clear, honest and straight forward thinking of Mr. Elser. Its refreshing to see someone disagree with, in this case the Mayor, without being disrespectful. Maybe its an idea that might catch on.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | July 24, 2007 4:58 PM

robn
I do fear the republican party (greatly fear). And I have never said that I would not end up voting for Johnny....but I am mad at him. I love this city! I grew up here. I moved to the suburbs and was board out of my mind. I came back so my kids could get a good education (yes people I did say that and I feel that they did). But I want him to know that he can be replaced! That he is not all that!! He is the mayor...the mayor of a people! And the people need a dang break!! He needs to stop the spending now!! And before election time he needs to have something to tell us about the budget being cut...and our taxes!!

We have no hope right now.
I spoke with someone recently (you know who you are) she has been a very active New Havener and she said what her taxes were going to be in 5 years my eyes popped out! And then she said she may have to think of moving! This woman has done a lot and for the city to lose such a resident is a tragedy! I have heard the same story from several others (not just talk, the taxes in 5 years will break the backs of many of the people that live here). That is a sin!! That is morally wrong!! We the owner occupied people are the virgins being thrown to the wolves. And I want a knight in shining armor to save us! omg I am regressing back into fairy tale mode again, hmmm worked with the street sweeping maybe a little fairy dust will work with the taxes :)

Posted by: Wait a second | July 24, 2007 8:40 PM

While probably a nice guy, Elser is not coincidentally a Republican. He was (and still may be) head of New Haven's Republican party. Granted this is almost certainly not like being head of the Republican party in many places, but it still reflects a choice. Not just a choice to belong but as a leader a choice to try to build the party at a time when many of its policies are anathema to a majority of the people of this city.

Posted by: Fedupwithliberals | July 24, 2007 10:43 PM

Hey Robn and Cedarhillresident! Time to cut back on the Kool Aid.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | July 25, 2007 8:46 AM

Fedupwithliberals
Traveled with the dead for a bit but never drank the kool aid :)

Posted by: Ned | July 25, 2007 10:42 AM

Well the Democrats used to be the party of segregation and terrorism in the South, so change is possible... As far as the Republicans being beholden to their "conservative" base - well that describes a lot of the "conservative", black, white, hispanic catholic, protestant, jewish, muslim homophobic religious people in New Haven. They wanted to basically "get the queers" and they got a holy war as a perk! All of the tax money flowing to religious organizations through the "faith based initiatives" is payback and pandering to the anti-Enlightenment Armageddon crowd.

"platitudes urging you to hold onto your money is a philosophy of selfishness and exclusion" as opposed to the platitudes of selfish people that want to take your money, because of course their motives are selfless and pure? Give me a break.

Posted by: charlie | July 25, 2007 11:23 AM

Richter is a great guy. However, the real answer for Tweed is that it is a critical asset for the whole region. Stop thinking about it as a New Haven issue and start thinking about how to get the other towns to pay their share for it, and also how to begin bulldozing East Haven so that it can be expanded slightly in order to accommodate regional flights. The section of East Haven that would be needed to be bulldozed to expand the airport is actually nothing -- the land already exists, it just needs to be approved -- the reason to bulldoze a section of that town would be to eliminate the incredibly shortsighted resistance to airport expansion, and to ultimately create a nice new public park. Hey, we could even put the new New Haven Cutters stadium there!

Posted by: life-long democrat | July 25, 2007 11:29 AM

I voted for Rosa for Congress in 2002 and against Elser because Rosa works hard for her district, even if I can never forgive her stand on the Defense of Marriage Act (she voted for it when there was no political pressure on her here to do so -- I guess she really believes gay people are expendable). And I voted against Elser because as a Republican in the U.S. Congress he would have had to go along with his party on a host of important issues. Democrats needed more numbers in Congress, not less.

But the mayor's race is a different kettle of fish. Destefano is a bully. The alderpeople are cowed and silenced. This is a one party town without room for dissent and real change from within the Democratic Party. Newton is not a viable candidate. Ralph Ferrucci isn't either (at least for me). I'm probably going to vote for Elser, the second time in my life I've ever voted for a Republican. I'm going to do so, because Elser can provide real leadership and a two-year window for other voices to participate in making policy. Elser is a realist. He also won't write a blank check for all the wonderful but expensive social programs that we taxpayers can't afford. As a city we have to live within our means. Elser will make responsible spending possible.

Posted by: Taxed To Death | July 25, 2007 12:12 PM

Responsible spending in New Haven?? Sunshine? Open government? Responsive government? Reasonable taxes? OMG - It's a revolution. I want a yard sign.

Posted by: M O | July 25, 2007 8:58 PM

I left New Haven 5 years ago because the mayor had no vision for the city, I loved New Haven, spent a lif time there was ig nores by MR D and his cronies hen the Edgewood Neighbor hood where I lived and invest a fortune was over run by drugs and prostittuion, the Police chief the mayor and all concerned turned their backs n Edgewood an evey other neighbor hood in town except DOWN TOWN Man people don't live D T they may shop or eat there, GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, Elser may be just the goy to do that

New Haven Independent

Elser Vows To Spread “Sunshine” In City Hall

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