New Haven Independent

Not that long ago (2007?) the idea of same-sex couples getting legally married in Connecticut seemed like a distant dream. Peg Oliveira and Jen Vickery became the first New Haven couple to do just that, outside City Hall, on Nov. 12. Click on the play arrow to watch their loving exchange of vows — and wonder how such events could ever have been seen as a threat.

Yes, it was a hard year in many ways. A recession slammed the city. And we’ve seen only the beginning of it.

But 2008 was also a year when New Haveners dared to dream, and made a difference. Love triumphed; so did hope.

The election of a black president? From the beginning of the year New Haveners traveled to New Hampshire, organized neighbors in town, bused it to Hartford to watch their candidate in person, manned phone banks to lure Midwesterners to the polls. They stood for as long as hours to cast historic votes. An Ecuadorian-born eighth grader in Fair Haven mastered the program of the man who gave him hope for the future of his new country, and delivered a powerful Election Eve debate performance. In the end, two-thirds of New Haven’s registered voters made it to the polls. Barack Obama captured 86.6 percent of the city vote — and became the next U.S. president. Alderwoman Migdalia Castro’s victory dance (in video) at the post-election party at the Playwright said it all.

A grassroots movement to “calm” city streets swept New Haven neighborhoods, from Westville to East Rock to Fair Haven, following the tragic deaths of two pedestrians, 11 year-old Gabrielle Lee and medical student Mila Rainof. Cyclists also organized to claim their right to the road in the face of drivers (such as the woman in this video) determined to consign them (illegally) to the sidewalk.

The cops responded with a traffic crackdown. And City Hall responded with a “Street Smarts” initiative, launched with a celebration in Edgewood Park that featured a killer performance by Shellye Valaukas’s band.

As the recession tightened its grip, four entrepreneurs opened businesses along Grand Avenue in Fair Haven. Another would-be entrepreneur (in video) pushed a different dream for the neighborhood: a new hush-hush plastic-surgery center for celebs. Laid off from two jobs, Richard Bonilla pulled a truck up to Criscuolo Park and opened La Tropical Express.

Angelo Reyes and others who have laid the groundwork for the area’s revival got to make their pitch directly to U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, who has much to say in D.C. about whether bailout billions will trickle down to cities.

Ecuadorians pursuing the American dream, cashed out of Danbury by a Fox News-celebrated mayor, came to Fair Haven. With them came a consulate, new businesses, and soccer matches. (Click on arrow to see a slide show.)

The dreams of an ever-more vibrant and visible Muslim-American community were on display as hundreds from around the world prayed at Coxe Cage, then partook of the Eid fast at Masjid al-Islam on George Street. (Click arrow for slide show.)

Would-be Kate Smiths 12 and under sang their hearts out at the Shubert for the chance to perform the national anthem at the Pilot Pen tennis tournament.

Even those tired of favoritism and insider hanky-panky dreamed of more accountable government — and found some results. Embarrassing revelations about the city’s towing and marshal systems led to City Hall reforms, new legislation, and state action.

Will the ticketers’ day come next? From parking justice to jobs, prison reform and universal health care, plenty of dreams remain to be pursued in 2009.