New Haven Independent

Posted by: Wow | February 9, 2009 9:58 PM

Powerful speech.

Posted by: 2009 | February 9, 2009 10:30 PM

As Mayor, Bill Dyson will bring liberal politics and conservative spending and a fresh perspective to City Hall. As a Representative and a politician, he is not perfect, but John DeStefano is all about the machine. We need Change in our City.

Posted by: East Rock | February 10, 2009 7:37 AM

What a slap in the face John. Give yourself a hefty pay raise and then give back a paultry amount. You have no shame.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | February 10, 2009 8:32 AM

All king John did is sell snake oil and urinate on the people and the unions!!!Wake up people we must do like the people of France hit the streets
and start kicking out those in office who put us in this mess!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: tj | February 10, 2009 8:35 AM

...3 top officals pay cut comes to $10.890..what a slap in the face....give up your raises then you will be doing something..
John you made the city go to hell...do something right before you leave office..and that goes for Mayo and Ron Smith who only works part time.....

Posted by: dissed and missed | February 10, 2009 9:03 AM

Destefano had the nerve to bring up the bring up the New Haven 20's case in his state of the city address. A situation that he created, orchestrated and conspired among others to discriminate against the white and hispanic firefighters.

DeStefano should have called for the community to rally around the most qualified firefighters, who passed the test to be promoted in spite of race-baiting, vote-getting politicians like kimber.

Posted by: anon | February 10, 2009 9:53 AM

In addition to concessions on benefits and salaries, the Unions should agree to make large voluntary payments to the city coffers.

Most union members live outside of the city of New Haven, but if they are employed here, they should show some interest in keeping city finances afloat.

Also, New Haven should make even deeper cuts to the Unions (maybe cutting 300 jobs, not 240), and use that savings to fund a large homebuyer program like what Yale has, if not for all employees, then at least for city firefighters and police. Currently, a much higher percentage of Yale employees live in New Haven than city employees. Part of that is because Yale offers enormous financial benefits to employees who choose to buy a home and make a long-term investment in the place where they work.

Doing this, the city could balance the budget while also making a big down payment towards making New Haven a better place in the future.

Posted by: Divine Shabazz | February 10, 2009 10:15 AM

Calling all college students and all other great young minds in New Haven! The current system we have in New Haven is not working for us! If you are tired of the plantation politics and master slave relationship that John DeStefano has forged across the Elm City, then we need to do something about it! Let's come together and change the face of New Haven politics! Let's draft Bill Dyson to run for Mayor and finally put in one of our own to govern our beloved city! Holla Black!!

Posted by: JP | February 10, 2009 10:42 AM

I know its the cool thing to bash JD on the NHI but I thought I would put some stats out there
from 97' to 07' here's what changed downtown.
Total non-dining retailers up 61%
Total restaurants up 118%
Number of restaurant seats up 85%
Housing units within District up 204%
Cost of homes went from $70,000 to $190,000 up 171%

So its not like things arent much much much much better now then when the man took office.

Posted by: City Hall Watch | February 10, 2009 11:02 AM

A spending plan that requires less out of our bloated city payroll than it does out of taxpayers, is a pitiful and contempous attempt at budgeting. It was only a couple of years ago, the amount of inflationary increases to annual budgets was only $15 mil or so...now, it's double that. Got an answer to that Mayor?

Also..why not get rid of all the hangers on and double dippers who are supposed to be retired? Either you are retired or not. Is it true we have two people running the magnet schools now? Canelli can't handle it by himself? Probably making too many commercials. The city burns, the mayor tinkles. That's no way to run a city in crisis.

Posted by: Beansie's Mom | February 10, 2009 11:08 AM

Most of the speech was positive and hopeful which is what we need from a leader during tough times.

TEAM work. Teams need to all be rowing in the same direction. There were two officers injured in Sept 2008 at Chapel and East, one fatally. The NHFD came out that night. Where we live, NHFD usually gets to the scene of the accident well before NHPD.

I'm not rooting for the City to win that LAWSUIT, wonder why no New Haven law firms want to do it pro bono. BOSTON LAW with Denny Crane, et. al is over. Too bad that in Hollywood they thought you had to go to CANADA to get married.

In our home we are 140 percent behind the fire firefighters. Not just 110 but 140, one for every year our parish family has been behind the brave souls who fight the fires to keep the rest of us safe.

It is time for someone to go back to school. RESURRECTION. Mr. Kimbro didn't die when he committed that mortal sin. He wasn't brought back to life by anyone. He did get another chance to turn his life around and the city as a whole benefitted.

But the NHFD regularly does actually bring people back from the dead. How am I supposed to civilly disagree with his Honor, the Mayor.

If any one has thoughts on how to politely, respectfully, but firmly do this, please let me know.

Posted by: Sarah28 | February 10, 2009 11:21 AM

Hey John, Ron, can youse guys do 10?
Yeah 10% back at the very least!

Posted by: insider2 | February 10, 2009 11:46 AM

DeStefano, Mayo, Smith should all go. Dyson will not bring forth the change that this city needs. King John along with the financial meltdown of this country has only contributed to the fiscal burden that the city is now facing. Mayo has done nothing to educate the children of the school system. His only function has been is to carry King John's jock strap for the last 16yrs. Never once has Mayo stood up and thanked former Mayor John Daniels for appointing him to the position. In fact there were a number of people who were instrutmental in his being there starting with Wendell Harp and friends and let us not forget Greene who fought publicly for Mayo only to have Mayo give him his ass to kiss. In fact the last time I saw Greene he was still picking pieces of Mayo's ass from his teeth. I am sure that others are still picking their teeth as well. As for Smith who is a personable guy brings absolutely nothing to the table other than his dull wit and tight suits and a hat that does not fit. Then there is Dyson who has been invisible in the less affluent communities and it was not until his own personal family tragedy that he realized that he needed to do something for the black community. Dyson for the last 14 years has been a strong supporter of the plantation politics administered by the sitting mayor, along with Mayo, Smith, Kimber and others too many to mention. Dyson had ample opportunity to take a stand and say to all of the so-called leaders that business as usual is no longer an acceptable practice. However he could not. Why? Because Dyson had a no show job allowing him to spend over 90% of his time at the state while still collecting his hefty salary at the expense of the city taxpayers along with the blessings of King John and Mayo. While to some Dyson would be a breath of fresh air his politics are no different than the ones all ready in place. Dyson's run for mayor is not about guiding this city back on its feet. Its about settling a score with King John who he blames for his loss to Amann for Speaker of the House. Also lets not forget that Dyson along with Rell voted against wage increase for the working people. Yeah Dyson for the people. Dyson is a comfortable vote for the many in the City of New Haven because he speaks in a language that sounds extremely bright to the white community but says very little to the black community. Yes we all hear from former students that he was once a good teacher but ask them about his politics most can't tell you what he has done over the last 25-30 years. Again Dyson for Mayor. I think not. Anybody but Dyson or DeStefano.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | February 10, 2009 11:53 AM

Mayor DeStefano, for the first time, has made a strong statement about the direction that he wishes to take New Haven public schools.

Whether he feels political pressure, or whether he feels that he has recently gained a deeper knowledge of the core issues which drive district performance, it really doesn't matter where the motivation comes from.

The only thing that matters now is whether the actions will match the words. If so, the mayor has an amazing opportunity to transform his city.

Posted by: John John | February 10, 2009 12:18 PM

I watched his speech on CTV last night and threw my remote at the wall. That reggie mayo MUST go. of all the schools in new haven, of the $1.5+ BILLION spent on these buildings, ONE school got praise?
He took time to blast 20 people who passed a test o.k.'s by his people? Just Go Away.

Posted by: Alphonse Credenza | February 10, 2009 12:22 PM

Three percent? Laughable!

Posted by: jackie | February 10, 2009 12:33 PM

divine,
the racially motivated tone of your both post and your facebook page to draft dyson is so patent it disgusts. yet it is also typical of a blame-focused, mindset that offers nothing but demagoguery. you want to turn what could be a really exciting electoral contest into a racial thing? please. THAT'S plantation politics, my friend, just directed in a different direction. it's very untimely (incidentally, very un-Obama) and very unamerican.

we all suffer with bad leadership, and thrive on good leadership. that's what the democratic process and political dialogue should be about--not some pathetic and thinly veiled black supremacy BS.

in fact, a post like yours reveals a typical and toxic kind racism perpetrated *not least* by your own community in this city, and is (in my opinion) symptomatic of that community's failure to reap the benefits and opportunities that are available to it. learned victimhood is such a dangerous disease.

i'll take the high ground and spare a call to some kind of "rebel yell" to your "holla black," because unlike you, i believe that the "we" in "yes we can" is truly inclusive and a true call to unity -- which is far more than your racist rhetoric allows.

Posted by: lance | February 10, 2009 12:56 PM

New Haven has too many residents that don't pay a dime in taxes, collect section 8, welfare, food stamps, medicaid....and have three or four kids in school eating free lunch. They sap the crap out of city, state, and fed coffers- and then we wonder why we have budget issues. And Obama wants to throw MORE money at these people? These city workers are WORKING, and should be compensated. You want them to take a pay cut so some freeloader can get more free stuff? For the life of me I can't understand the liberal mentality.

Posted by: Lance | February 10, 2009 1:01 PM

one more thing......

JP, those are impressive stats. But want to see is an arena and a major league baseball minor league affiliate like we had back in 97, can you hook it up?

Posted by: James | February 10, 2009 1:21 PM

Better idea. Eliminate the position of the City Clerk all together and save $48,000/year. The clerk is a part-time job that is entirely ceremonial in nature. All of the work is done by the office staff who, insultingly enough, likely earn less than Smith. There are no real duties and requires no talent as evidenced by the fact that the position is held by Smith--a man of no special talent and little intelligence (have a chat with him and you'll instantly know what I mean).

I would like one of our aldermen to tell us why this position exists. Maybe there's a good reason. If not, it should be written out of the city charter and eliminated. Start there and finish when all patronage positions and redundancies are eliminated.

Posted by: City Hall Watch | February 10, 2009 1:58 PM

JP

It's not about bashing JD - it's about holding him accountable and not being seduced by beer goggles and lipstick on a pig. Most of the growth you reference, had very little if anything to do with City Hall. It's kind of funny to read this stuff, because Henry Gonzales makes the same claim in his bio. It actually started with Joel Schiavoni who saw promise in restoring College and Chapel and did it. Yale has now taken it. The Chapel Street Mall? It was all done with private money and initiative. Same with the Smoothie Building - those developments all created additional excitement for investors and spurred others to add to the movement. To some extent the small grants for facade improvements have helped too - that's a city hall program. I'm glad for all the restaurants - but restaurants are not a great harbinger of economic health and good jobs.

Let's also look at our debt - it's in excess of a billion dollars and it's sucking the cash out of the city - cash that could be used to keep taxes affordable and needed programs funded. That's JD's legacy and one we will be paying for through at least two generations. But let's be honest about what he's actually proactively caused to happen vs. what would have happened anyway, if you only had a large bunny rabbit parked there.

Posted by: wake up | February 10, 2009 2:23 PM

what plantation politics the mayor does more for the africanamerican people then his own people only to get votes.stop this nonsense a go to work

Posted by: LevelHeadedAndObjective | February 10, 2009 3:31 PM

The Mayor is doing a great job under some very difficult circumstances. Support him and support New Haven. And maybe just maybe we will all get through these tough times together.

Posted by: Me Bright Guy | February 10, 2009 3:45 PM

Me hate DeStefano.

Me hate DeStefano long talk in big room. Me hate ID card. Me hate taxes. Me hate ban the box but me not sure what ban or box is.

Me have no ideas of own. Me just hate. Me big man cuz me type words.

Me say New Haven better before DeStefano. Me know truth. Me not confused by facts. Me love boarded up buildings.

Me luv Independent. Independent make me big.

Me hate DeStefano.

Me find new story in Independent. Me use it to hate Destefano some more.

Me say bye. Me go type on Special Services District story. DeStefano like district? Then Me hate special services district.

What special services district?

Posted by: Alphonse Credenza | February 10, 2009 3:47 PM

Three percent? Unbelievable!

Posted by: JP | February 10, 2009 4:01 PM

City Hall Watch, I think its hard to pick and choose what is due to JD and what is not. I do agree that the school building program has put us in hot water. But i think hes done some things right that no one else would have had the CO Jones to do. One example is bulldozing the fire block between center and chapel. He saw an opportunity to rid downtown of one of the most unappealing blocks and got it done. Say what you will about the man but I believe he is largely responsible for the turnaround downtown over the last few years. If we elect someone else who knows what we will get maybe they will build a youth center or something else to bring the ghetto back. I'll stick with the devil I know.

Posted by: Research Assistant | February 10, 2009 4:20 PM

Here's a proposal: Larry, Moe and Curly agree to take a pay cut equal to increase in the average homeowner's taxes. My property taxes go up by 10% . . . these guys take a 10% pay cut. How's that for incentive-based compensation?

(Yes, of course, the City Clerk's job should go out the window entirely. If the Mayor's got to buy off the African-American community in this town in order to get elected he should do it on his dime, not mine.)

Posted by: Divine Shabazz | February 10, 2009 5:32 PM

Brothers and Sisters, what are we going to do? Poor and oppressed people and communities of color throughout New Haven have been crying out for help, and what do we get from our Mayor? More lip service and staggering statistics. It is clear that our communities are caught between a new police chief with a Los Angeles mentality and knee-jerking, buck-dancing house Negroe politicians who forgot where they came from. The cast of characters include Aunt Jemimah, Uncle Tom, and Uncle Ben (a few names have been changed to protect the innocent). In fact, New Haven is plantation politics at its best. Some of us are in the House and some of us are in the Field. Rise up New Haven! Wake up and smell the coffee of politrikks the current administration is serving up.

Without a doubt, John DeStefano is single handedly responsible for breaking our systems in New Haven. Now it is like beating a dead horse. Clearly, we are on a sinking ship. As President Obama has said, "We are headed off a cliff!" Despite our petty ideological differences in New Haven, one thing is for certain, city hall needs a transfusion fast! The Elm City needs to be resuscitated. A culture of fear and intimidation has been rampant in New Haven, to the point that people are fearful of losing what crumbs they may be receiving from the masters' table (City Hall). In addition, a foot has been on the neck of New Haven's Black community for over a decade. Even the Black churches fall under this yoke. Make no mistake, this form of leadership in New Haven has run its course. An uprising should have taken place in this city a long time ago. People Against Injustice can't bring about change alone. The Greater New Haven NAACP cannot bring about change to New Haven by themselves. Teach Our Children cannot do it alone either. In addition, the scores of unsung heroes, sheroes and grassroots organizations that remain unnamed in New Haven who champion the causes of the people cannot bring change to the system by themselves either. We need your help. They need your help. I say Let's Get Free New Haven! Let's draft Bill Dyson for Mayor of our City. Get Free or Die Trying-William R. Dyson for Mayor-The Movement.

Posted by: Research Assistant | February 10, 2009 5:40 PM

As the kids say, omg. I've got $10 that says Divine Shabazz is a plant for the DeStefano administration, out there to convince us that only a total loon (black, white, brown, purple, polka dot, whatever) would back Bill Dyson. Come to think of it, given Bill Dyson's (1) voting record, (2) juvenile antics, and (3) failure to represent the interests of New Haven'ers while he was in power, I think you would have to be a loon to back him.

Posted by: Hood Rebel | February 10, 2009 7:00 PM

City Hall Watch,
your posts, are filled with so much loathing and contempt it's just not convincing that you speak in the best interest of this community.

What misery and tumidity could possibly drive you to consistently rant and rage in such an unusual priggish and patronizing way!

The mayor made some very encouraging statements about education, particularly about ensuring great educators for our children and consistent growth in student academic performance. Although I would have liked to hear him say something about removing tenured low performing teachers and administrators.

The speech,nonetheless, was positive, hopeful and encouraging. As our community is confronted with so much bad news everyday it is important that leaders are both realistic and optimistic.

Posted by: kris | February 10, 2009 8:33 PM

Funny how he points to signs of new havens progress like the smilow cancer hospital.Hello John? Was it not you who held up the consruction of smilow and now you wanna call it new haven progress? Yea I think its time to call Marna and thank her for not putting up with your crap and fighting to build it anyway.Maybe had you not held up construction it could have been finished by now and some of the unemployed could have been working there.And remember John why you held it up?Oh yea,you wanted a union in there.Thank god that didnt happen,cause if it did maybe we would be having layoffs like the city and unionized st.raphs.Looks like the only place in the city getting raises not layoffs is NON UNION YNHH!!Thanks Marna for the new haven progress and thanks John for the new haven mess.

Posted by: k | February 10, 2009 8:48 PM

Hey Devine,come on with all that nonsense. Need help? People need to help themselves first! Stop blaming other people for all your mistakes in life. Stop telling your kids to blame other people.Be honest with the kids and say to them Dont make the mistakes that your parents have made or we will never end this cycle.We now have a black (well half black) president and people still use the race card. Remember jd couldnt become mayor without the black vote and obama couldnt be president without the white vote.

Posted by: Alex | February 10, 2009 8:55 PM

JP those downtown stats are misleading. Remember DeStefano was going to bring in a mall which would have made downtown a ghost town. He didn't realize he had a viable downtown business district until the merchants and restaurants formed an association to make him see there was a great base of merchants and that it could be even better. When the merchants formed the United Merchants Association things started getting a lot better. They began attacking the problems that were holding back development of a viable district and forced DeStefano and City Hall to work with the merchants rather than against them. That's when things started taking off and the idea of the mall became obsolete and folded. New malls were not successful at that time. It was not DeStefano's initiative to make the downtown business district better but some really brave merchants. Yale has since divided and conquered that organization but Town Green took up a lot of the initiatives and has kept the spirit alive. DeStefano should take a 50% pay cut if he wants to be a real leader.

Posted by: DETAILS? | February 10, 2009 10:14 PM

It is true that things have improved remarkably on many fronts during the last 15 years here in New Haven. It is also true that city employees have a vested interest in keeping the city healthy. I LOVE the homebuyers program suggestion. I live in NH and work for NH and am proud to do both, even though my property taxes and cost of living have shot up much faster than the 2.5% raises I've gotten. Most city workers are hardworking professionals who want to serve the city well.

So the mayor wants concessions. This article states that he has met with the unions. He has-BUT these have not been informative - NO specifics have been offered. Even now, he wants to meet with city workers tomorrow (on ONE day's notice) and has yet to offer ANYTHING beyond platitudes and vaguely defined threats. So we'll have x number of layoffs, or WHAT? What is the alternative? Give it to us specifically, in writing. Then we can read it, and have a rational conversation. Don't speak vaguely of concessions and then demand a "decision" less than a week from now. Tell us what you want!

Posted by: Lynda Faye Wilson | February 11, 2009 12:11 AM

Personally, I ditto practically all that I've read today. Mind you, I did say practically all. But what really ruffled my feathers, was when the mayor AKA King John, Got up in front of all those folks on yeaterday at Warren Kimbo's funeral (in his infamous reference)his description of a certain segment of our community as "those CREATURES" rather than more appropriate "GOD'S CREATION." Being a nearly life long resident (senior citizen) of this community/city, I'm appalled at the mayors' sentiments of parents' child as he himself is someones child. What happen to the golden rule? Do unto others as you would/should have them DO UNTO YOU.

Posted by: Ellis Copleland | February 11, 2009 7:30 AM

The best thing Johnny could do is resign and move to Mongolia. Ain't gonna happen. When Dyson made his little flirt move I was hopeful, but now I realize he is not serious and there is insufficient support. Johnny has got to GO along with his whole MOB, including Smith and Mayo. But those who understand that fact must come to realize that he will not be booted unless a strong candidate is willing to step forward. Maybe 240 people will wake up and realize that toadying for that miserable wretch just gets you stabbed in the back.

Posted by: iwasthere | February 11, 2009 6:25 PM

It is time for change. Time to break the leash from JD. The city is in a 25 million dollar hole. He needs to cut his pay more the 3000 dollars. Everyone in the city except for the union workers need to take a pay cuts. The trickle down effect for the upper management. The city needs to trim the fat from the top to make things work for the city. Not the union workers to take a pay cut or laying off workers. This does not do anything for you workers. It hurts their morale put your workers on edge. We need NEW leadership and stop the spending money that the city does not have.

Posted by: George and Dick | February 11, 2009 9:10 PM

Congratulations Comrade DeStefano for coming out of the closet and showing us all you are a true REPUBLICAN. Getting a 14% pay hike then giving back 3% is a real pay cut and not a 11% PAY HIKE.
That's up there with the best we could do like "Weapons of Mass Destruction", "The Economy Is Strong" and "Death Tax".

Posted by: toni | February 12, 2009 8:13 AM

Ellis Copeland
you are right Bill Dyson is not serious about this...the city is in big trouble.... $10.890 is nothing...they should give back the whole raise...as if they don;t have enough to live
on...they should do what ceo's in arkansa at walmart laying off all the big wigs....but king john is self-fish...

Posted by: fedupwithliberals | February 12, 2009 8:45 AM

Now if we can only put his armoire on eBay!

Posted by: Of the 06515 | February 12, 2009 11:38 PM

Wow - Mayor DeStefano took a $10 per day pay cut. How generous.

Posted by: Peter A | February 12, 2009 11:39 PM

You "Bright Guy",

Me like you much, very much too much!
You keep system in check good!
Me say you keep bright thinking!
Me say thank you!

Posted by: MSM | February 13, 2009 6:00 PM

In order to defeat DeStefano we need a viable Democratic candidate. Who is going to fill this void? If not now, two years from now. I have not lived in the city very long. I believe the Mayor has probably done a lot of good things for the city, but I also think the Board of Aldermen should seriously consider imposing a term limit. It is time for change. Who? Who? Who? Says the owl. It sounds like Dyson is not the direction we need to go. We need a younger candidate who is open to and has fresh ideas. Roland Lamar? Josiah Brown?