New Haven Independent

Posted by: In The Hood | June 26, 2008 12:59 PM

Gary you had better start identifying some specific state-level legislative issues that matter to this community and make them part of your campaign message.

Otherwise voters in this district will get very tired of hearing just rhetoric.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 26, 2008 2:29 PM

Wow Gary great endorsement to have!! Impressive that Dyson himself feels that your The "capable person". Which is what we want in hartford.

Posted by: RELAX | June 26, 2008 4:20 PM

"Bill [Dyson] has really been great in giving a voice to people who have none."

Willie, if Rep. Dyson feels Gary will do the same and you respect Rep. Dyson SO MUCH then you should do what he did, endorse Gary.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | June 26, 2008 5:02 PM

Gary, As a Rep., your most important contribution will be to try to close Connecticut's achievment gap. As Chris Bruehl from SACIA said last night on a CPTV special about CTs gap "CT. does a terrible job of educating minorities, but a great job of jailing them."

Bill Dyson knew this and focused on the back end of the problem - the prison issue. But we also need to stop the pipeline to prison, which starts with a great education. Gary, reading your bio, no one has to tell you how important knowledge is these days. Insist that this state take urgent steps to prepare ALL of its children for a successful future.

A strong voice for equal education is missing up in Hartford right now.

Try to get on the education committee and or approps. Work with Toni Harp and Marty Looney to pass legislation where MONEY FOLLOWS THE CHILD when children transfer to charter schools.

Were you aware that now when a child transfers to Amistad, Elm City, or Common Ground, that the charter school receives only 75% of what the New Haven district receives from the state? And even after a child transfers from a district run school to a charter school, the district still retains full funding for that child!! Low income kids of color aren't the only ones getting screwed!

Help fix the public school system, Gary. Fund public school models that work and de-fund those that fail kids year after year after year...

Posted by: Edge | June 26, 2008 5:28 PM

I wonder if Gary agrees with Rep. Dyson regarding the minimum raise increase that Dyson voted against in the special session? Its sad to see that a number of Dyson's constituents are part of the thousands that try to live on minimum wage everyday. Was he out of touch with his constituents or did he just think that since he was leaving nobody would notice his vote?

Posted by: outcast | June 26, 2008 7:35 PM

PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT GARY IS THE ONE THAT THEY NEED TO PUT IN OFFICE JUST LOOK AT YOUR TAXES FOR JULY, BLANGO SIGNED TO INCREASE THE TAXES. NOW DO YOU WANT THIS TO HAPPEN ON THE STATE LEVEL.

YOU WANT SOMEONE IN OFFICE THAT CAN ARTITCULATE WORDS BETTER YET CAN SPELL AND MAKE SENSE AT SPEAKING PROFESSIONALLY.

APPARENTLY BLANGO DO NOT HOLD THOSE TRATS AND HIS FRIEND SERGIO CAN'T HELP HIM SPEAK.

IT TIME TO GET RIDE OF THE OLD WASTE AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES WITH THE NEW. BETTER YET GET BLANGO'S REPORT CARD FOR THE BOA AND SEE WHAT HE VOTED FOR AND THEN CHECK ALL OF THE MAYOR'S PIS BOYS CARDS AND YOU WILL FIND THAT NON OF THEM HOLDS THE TRUMP CARD BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT INTELLINGENT ENOUGH TO CALL THE MAYOR OUT.

GARY GET OUT ON THE STREETS AND LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK.

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | June 26, 2008 9:13 PM

Issues:
Fixtheschools I agree that the issue of education is important. I have been working on the issue. I have been in Hartford talking about the achievement gap and its impact on our state. In fact, I have keyed in on the changing demographics to get people to listen. The Connecticut 2020 report (and others) indicates that by the year 2020 half of the workforce age 24-29 will be minority. This is the age of the entering college educated. With the achievement gap being what it is this may have a devastating effect on the state's ability to remain competitive. By advancing this argument we have been able to get some who don't care when it is a Black of Latino issue to see that not focusing on early childhood education, the conditions of our schools and the myriad of issues that make up the problem produces a problem for all of CT.

On taxes my belief is simple: taxes are a tool best used cautiously. Anyone who is an advocate of always raising or always lowering taxes in my opinion is wrong. It isn't my money to use indiscriminately.

As for the minimum wage issue I tend to think that I would have voted differently. Perhaps though there is something that neither I nor you know that was the impetus for Bill's action. I don't know I will ask.

If you want to know anything else my cell is 687-1582

Posted by: Greg | June 27, 2008 8:36 AM

How can Charlie Blango do anything at a state level when he doesnt do anything in his own ward. Shooting after shooting occur in his ward and not once will he come outside to see what is going on. ... People are tired of most of the aldermen in this city and to think that someone like Blango would replace Dyson is tragic. Charlie is interested in one thing, power, prestige and nothing more.

Posted by: bfair | June 27, 2008 11:42 AM

Gary is most defintely an agent of change. he was nurtured by the best of them (Dyson). As a member of People Against Injustice he gives voice to those who have long been silenced in our communities. He did so when other "leaders" were silent.He attended many protests and legislative hearings relative to the injustice of the criminal justice system, demanding restoration of humanity within the prison system and reentry assistance for formerly incarcerated. He does not need to live in New Haven long to see the lack of REAL attention being given CERTAIN residents of this city. If you really want to make changes you have to begin with getting rid of the "old, useless stuff). I agree Gary will make a GOOD alderman but he will also make a GREAT state legislator.He has walked the walk while others talked the talk. The fact that he is not the choice of the party indicates that he is REALLY about change. Not taking anything from Blango or Green but if you want a REAL "fighter" (like Dyson) in Hartford cast that vote for Gary and I hope he will be able to do as Obama did; bring out a record number of new voters with a new sense of hope for the future.

Posted by: Charlie | June 30, 2008 11:30 AM

The community better come out for this young man becuase if Blango wins, it's another vote for City Hall and the same old crap! I don't know why anyone would consider voting for Willie Greene once they take into account his very questionable past! Blango, on the other hand doesn't have much of a past becasue as many have already noted, he doesn't have much of a record to run on. He's a yes man from the word go. Vote for Gary and begin to move the black community in the right direction for once.