New Haven Independent

Posted by: JOSIAHBROWNFORMAYOR | June 22, 2009 5:50 PM

I, for one, find this exciting. I will be interested to hear about her plans for school reform in more explicit detail. Any ideas as to whether or not Ms. Watley is associated with a party or will be running as an independent?

Posted by: Westville Mom | June 22, 2009 5:52 PM

"Watley called for a shift back away from magnet schools to neighborhood schools. That would make schools more accountable to neighbors and parents, she argued. 'You'd save a whole lot in the budget right there in transportation. Kids can walk to school. Parents don't need to worry about getting to their kids' school across town.'
That would increase parent involvement, a key to improving schools, she said."

You go girl. You've got my vote already.

Posted by: Ellis Copleland | June 22, 2009 7:20 PM

I wish her well and will give money and time. However, this would be the longest of long shots. The schools are deplorable but no one seems to care. The machine has this town in lock down. The people here have proven over and over that they like being screwed by an inept and corrupt mob. Hard to fight that.

Posted by: Peace Frog | June 22, 2009 8:00 PM

I'll be interested to hear Mayor Destefano's position on the idea of supporting neighborhood schools. I know that the Mayor has spent a lot of time this year stressing school reform, advocating for increased community and parental involvement in afterschool and enrichment programs, and working to make youth issues a top priority, despite the economy. Hopefully, in addition to providing us with a competitive election, this race will provide New Haven with some good ideas about improving education.

Posted by: toomanytaxes | June 22, 2009 8:55 PM

Check out this site: They might support your campaign against the mayor. Anyone But DeStefano.

Posted by: Westie | June 22, 2009 11:16 PM

Paul, you could have left off the history of past challenges to the regime, and told us more about this challenger. Is Ms. Watley the product of NHPS? What occupational experience does she have before her NHPD job? Education? And, as others asked, under what party does she intend to run? In general, what is her plan to win?

[Note: The story mentions that she's running as an independent.]

Posted by: robn | June 23, 2009 8:38 AM

So the only person to step up and run is an assistant dispatcher with no political experience?!? What a bunch of wussies in this town!

Posted by: Education 4 all New Haven | June 23, 2009 9:02 AM

Has anyone been paying attention? Mayor DeStefano has been saying the most exciting things I have heard in a long time about education reform -- and more than just making noise on the issue, he's getting things done. He's hired a new right-hand man to the superintendent, he's taking his plans to the teachers for their insight and input, AND HE HAS FOUND A FUNDER TO PAY FOR THE NEW HAVEN PROMISE! That's college tuition for every graduate of NHPS! I'm voting for the guy who is actually taking steps to give my kids (and all kids) real opportunities.

Posted by: Bill | June 23, 2009 9:29 AM

The reason neighborhood schools were abandoned was due to civil rights activists who claimed they were trying to eliminate segregation and magically create equality. It always seemed to me that a goal of equal funding would have been a more practical goal.

Posted by: ED | June 23, 2009 9:42 AM

Ms. Watley seems to ignore the fact that New Haven, like many cities around the country, is already in the process of considering drastic changes in its educational system. What is more, her only suggestion thus far is to increase the number of neighborhood schools. Before she can be considered a legitimate candidate she will have to voice more detailed plans for the issues she sees facing the city of New Haven.

Posted by: East Shore Guy | June 23, 2009 9:57 AM

A new voice emerges! How interesting!

Now tell me about your platform and why I should I vote for you. Personally I am happy with the schools so far.

Tell me about your plans for expanding development downtown.
Tell me about your thoughts to increase jobs with citys two largest employers.
Tell me your plan to reduce violence in the city.
Tell me how you are going to make new haven a more bike friendly city.

Thanks.

Posted by: anon | June 23, 2009 10:13 AM

did education 4 all new haven just say that destefano found a funder to pay for the new haven promise? why haven't i heard of this?

i thought i paid attention to new haven, and especially to the new haven promise. do you inside knowledge of what's going on with the program?

Posted by: bravecat00 | June 23, 2009 10:17 AM

Paul, was it necessary to include the detail of the primary being held on 9/11? You're avoiding the real issues here! And trying to paint certain unecesarry pictures in readers' minds. Stick to actual history of the issues.

Posted by: Education 4 All New Haven | June 23, 2009 11:28 AM

Anon: I attended the Mothers for Justice meeting with the Mayor a few weeks ago (the Independent wrote an article about it) where he spoke about education reform and the Promise.

Posted by: anon2 | June 23, 2009 12:28 PM

Education 4 All New Haven:

thanks for the info! i wasn't in attendance at the meeting, but do remember the article you mention. i believe the link/article is here http://newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/05/mothers_for_jus_1.php

it appears that the mayor says that he is 'setting up a program, with an anonymous donor'

at the meeting, did the mayor say that he has the anonymous donor already? from the language in the article, it seems like he is trying to still find that anonymous donor.

while i applaud the program and love the concept, i have not heard definitively that there is a donor lined up and am less convinced it is going to happen than you seem to be. was there something said to definitively state that the program is coming online? i would be tickled pink if that were the case. i do so enjoy what the kalamazoo program has done for the community and the children in that school system.

sidebar:
i believe that part of a solution to our education system is a marketing solution to inspire the hope needed to stay in school and give the effort needed to continue on towards higher education - any higher education, be it bachelors/associates/trade/training. communities must own up to society's part in the education equation. by that i mean, if you (a child) performs, we (as a society) will get you the training you need to enter the work force successfully. thus honoring the american 'axioms' that you can be anything you want to be and achieve anything you put your mind to

Posted by: robn | June 23, 2009 12:46 PM

This article...
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/10/mayor_makes_a_t.php
..states the mayors desire for a "promise" program, but not that a funds are in place for it.

Posted by: Education 4 all new haven | June 23, 2009 3:16 PM

Anon: I left that meeting with the clear understanding that the Promise (and its funding) was a go, the only condition being that the city continue to pursue its plans for reform (grading schools, etc.).

With regards to your "sidebar" I agree! And I think that saying to our kids: if you take school seriously, we'll take YOU seriously, is just what our community needs. As the Mayor said in that same meeting: cities often decide they want to be great, but they go about it in different ways. Some build a sports arena. Others a convention center. In New Haven, we're going to send our kids to college. Its pretty amazing.

Posted by: stptia | June 23, 2009 10:18 PM

Robn - AGREED.

What we need is something people call

TERM LIMITS!!!

Posted by: YesWeCan | June 24, 2009 12:10 AM

Ms. Watley seems like she played a part in New Haven, but truly who has been more involved in working to solve New Haven's problems than our incumbent. DeStefano has been hard at work, from fighting up in Hartford to putting in real work down here in the Have.

I'm still curious to see what the others have mentioned though - what does her resume look like (what qualifies her to be our leader and what kind of experience does she have) and what does she propose we do about our existing problems?

Posted by: Get Real | June 24, 2009 7:21 AM

Education 4 All New Haven

Do the numbers. With 1000 seniors graduating a year at $15,000 tuition a year for a 4 year degree comes to $60,000,000 per graduating class.

Mayor DeStefano is to be congratulated for locating such a generous anonymous donor.

I'll zoom out and vote for him right now.

Posted by: Yul Watley | June 24, 2009 3:53 PM

To my sister, you have a fight on your hands, but a lot of poeple told me that I would never get the the type of contracts that I have received being a public housing resident.

With HIM, all things are posible. Good Luck!!

Posted by: angela watley | June 25, 2009 12:00 AM

Thank you my brother and oh check out the front pae of the nhr about the 40 inner city kids going out on the town after the big drug bust.woo

Posted by: Thomas Burns | June 26, 2009 11:03 PM

Why don't you run Robin?

Posted by: Stephen Caldwell | July 10, 2009 3:21 PM

Angie, I live in Washington, DC now but I'll do any thing I can to help. Let me know. Tell your mom I said Hello. Stevie

Posted by: yohance | July 11, 2009 5:35 AM

Who has "given up" on New Haven? Personally, I think the mayor has done a lot for the city and we should let him continue. Compared to twenty years ago, Yale teachers, graduates, and students are being encouraged, by both the university and the city, to live in New Haven instead of moving out to the shoreline suburbs. And it's done a lot for the city. Just look at pictures of New Haven from twenty years ago or so and compare them with the city today: MAJOR improvement, thanks in large part to Mayor DeStefano and President Levin.

I welcome another candidate on the ballot and I think it's good for the city and the democratic process, but seriously, why boot a mayor who has brought real, tangible improvement to the city?