New Haven Independent

Blango, a Democrat running for state representative in the 94th district, was emcee at a grand opening Thursday for a new splash pad in his neighborhood, at the Lincoln-Basset School. Blango faces Gary Holder-Winfield in an Aug. 12 party primary in the race to replace State Rep. Bill Dyson, who’s retiring after 32 years in office. (Former Alderman Willie Greene is petitioning to run as an independent in November.)

Thursday’s event brought a throng of children, rushing between cascades of water with little squeals of joy. They kids were too young to vote, for now. Their adults were another story.

As the children cooled off from the muggy heat under a trio of brightly colored fountains, their guardians mingled over hot dogs and hamburgers.

David Moye (at right in picture), who lives right around the corner on Newhall Street, showed up with his 7-year-old granddaughter, Aiyana.

“It’s like Lighthouse!” said Aiyana, dripping with delight. She was referring to the far-off splash pad at East Shore’s beach-front park. Now kids like Aiyana had a place to play in their own neighborhood.

As Aiyana rushed through the sprinklers, Moye had a chat with Blango. The two are family friends.

“Did my wife talk to you?” Blango asked Moye. “I want to put a lawn sign in your yard.”

“OK,” said Moye, accepting the request with pleasure.

In an interview, Moye said he was glad to see the park reborn like it was “in the old days,” when kids swirled around a merry-go-round and swung from monkey bars.

“Kids need something to do,” Moye said. “A lot of these kids get lost, because they don’t have anything to grab onto.”

Nearby, a 12-year-old boy on probation pedaled up and down the street.

Blango said the splash pad had been three years in coming. The idea came from East Rock activist Debra Hauser and former Sgt. Romano Ratti, who used to be the district manager of the East Rock/Newhallville area. The summer oasis was one of several community service initiatives thought up by East Rock neighbors for Newhallville kids. The underlying philosophy: The well-being of people one side of Prospect Hill affects the well-being, and the crime rate, of those on the other. The city paid for the project through its capital budget.

The park, at Ivy and Butler Streets, is set to be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Blango said he was pleased that with the new water wonderland, kids can stay in the neighborhood to have their fun.

“Just look at their faces,” he said, beaming with joy.

The wet kids weren’t quite of voting age, but Blango said the setting perfectly demonstrated his campaign style and priorities.

“I haven’t been talking to the newspaper” about his campaign, he explained, because “campaigns are won on the ground.” Campaigning “is not about bashing a candidate,” he said — “it’s about yourself,” about people, about “making a connection” with constituents.

“Here’s a prime example,” he said, looking around the park. “It’s been my passion all along to help non-profits, to always help kids, to always help agencies” with funding for neighborhood projects, he said.

The tall man, with his smart suit, distinctive baritone and easy laugh, made his way through the crowd, doing what he does best.

Dennis Grimes, a Newhallville resident, approached his alderman to slap his hand.

“Good job, brother!” he said.

“Stand by me,” replied Blango. “I’ll be lookin’ for your support.”

Grimes said he’d stand behind him. He later affirmed that the canditate had his full support: “This man do great things!”

With five weeks left to go until an Aug. 12 Democratic primary, Blango said he’s been pounding the pavement non-stop, knocking on doors and dropping off campaign literature.

“I started off at 300 pounds,” he proudly told a trio of reporters. All the hard work has been paying off, he said: At a recent checkup, his doctor clocked him in at 290 pounds.

“I don’t know what you’re doing,” the doctor told him, “but keep doing it.”

Blango concluded he must be on the right path. “You don’t do this by standing still.”