New Haven Independent

Posted by: Shirley Banks | June 26, 2009 9:13 AM

I remember coming to the Q House as a (very) young girl, I lived in Guilford,my parents,sister-in-law, aunts and other family members came to the Q House for different programs. I think we as parents should take responsiblity,for getting funding and setting programs for our kids. They are worth the effort.

Posted by: Seth P. | June 26, 2009 9:35 AM

It is good to see the light at the end of the tunnel with regards to the renaissance of the Q House.

The Concerned Citizens, Brother Abdussabur, and EVEN the city should be commended for their efforts on this issue. Now we must galvanize the community to rally in fund raising efforts.

Posted by: City Hall | June 26, 2009 9:51 AM

Roland,

Against City programs for our youth, Against the Q House; Whoops! I think you diverted from the City script, you're suppose to always support Youth programs publicly and do nothing in reality. Goof Lemar!

Posted by: Seriously? | June 26, 2009 10:16 AM

City Hall:

It's nice to see that "City Hall" is capable of such brilliant analysis. Lemar didn't say he was againt youth programs -- he said he didn't want to spend tax dollars on running an enormous youth center. And he's right, as is every other alder quoted in the article who said, we don't want the City running this thing. Watch how many taxpayers on Livingston Street, St. Ronan Street, Townsend Avenue, McKinley Avenue, etc. continue to provide social services for the rest of the City with their tax dollars when they could move out to Milford or Guilford, pay less in taxes, and not have to deal with constantly being harassed to provide more and more social services. The burden should fall on the region, the state, and charities (not to mention the parents and the delinquent kids who have "nothing to do" in a city full of natural and cultural amenities and therefore have to shoot people to pass the time -- I am so sick of hearing this over and over again), not your average middle-class taxpayer who chooses to live in a city.

Posted by: helloworld | June 26, 2009 11:44 AM

This article doesn't mention it, but Aldermen Charlie Blango, Greg Morehead, Migdalia Castro, and Katrina Jones all emphasized the historical importance of the Q house, and the wonderful role it can play in the community. I'm glad that our leaders can work together with the concerned citizens to make this project happen. Best of luck!

Posted by: Peace Frog | June 26, 2009 11:49 AM

It is crucial that the Q House have all the support it can get from the City and the community of New Haven. Meetings like this, bringing the community together with our elected representatives in order to solve difficult problems that we all face, are very heartening and leave me with a good feeling about the direction the city is headed in.

Posted by: anon | June 26, 2009 12:13 PM

Migdalia: "Make sure this works."

Agree. The institution is wonderful, but the building it was housed in has got to go. It simply isn't sustainable to repair or to operate - not now, and definitely not in the future. A new Q house could be combined with other community facilities and attached development (which could be the source of funding -- look at the changing federal landscape around this). How about an addition to the city's new field house?

Posted by: unprotected | June 26, 2009 1:19 PM

where did the "math" numbers come from?? the kids that go to the free programs are not the ones pulling the triggers. if they are going, its cuz court ordered them to attend. but the q house didn't have programs at 1:00 am did they? i would like to see a web link to the actual costs of an arrest or shooting.

Posted by: notimon | June 26, 2009 1:30 PM

Anon Writes "How about an addition to the city's new field house? I will go one further, How about the New Field House Period. What purpose Does the Field House serve to the community, most saturdays and sundays outsiders are using the Field House. Our kids are never in there except during track meets and Basketball games. How do an entire summer go by and not once do they provide any activities for the youth in the Field House. Canzanella is about one thing when it comes to using the field house and that is money...

Posted by: Alphonse Credenza | June 26, 2009 2:00 PM

"Such a plan would actually save the city money, Abdussabur told the committee."

Impossible. It is simply unreasonable to suggest that Q House will cut expenses in the long run, especially assuming an investment of $3M.

But this is nothing the city, which offers too MANY services to begin with, even need involve itself in. We, collectively, can NOT afford things like this anymore.

Posted by: Fred Johnson | June 26, 2009 2:37 PM

I have watched the Q House recent developments with both a sense of anticipation and a sense of dread. Anticipation for many of the good ideas for new programs and activities proposed and dread of the first gunshots in the plaza which will clear the building and all the promises forever. Looking back on my days at the old Q House I remember that if you were not good at basketball (which I wasn't) or made friends easily (which I did) your potential for any meaningful activity was very limited. The shy and the studious had very little reason to go there except to kill time and many were picked on and bullied, fond memories of old timers like Daniels to the contrary. At that time in the Dixwell community people were aiming to get out of the Dixwell area and move up in life and many did. Where does Daniels live now? Where do many of the so-called old timers live today? No one building or place is going to make that much of an impact unless it can become part of a much larger picture with focus on a better way of life for those living in Dixwell and Newhallville. This may become a one-time one shot effort which goes nowhere. I hope I'm wrong.

Posted by: anon | June 26, 2009 3:16 PM

Fred Johnson: Good point - the ideas are great and we all need to support the community's efforts to realize this dream, but we also eventually need some concrete and realistic plans for sustainability, value add, operational success and the like. I'd hate to see the building open, then close two years later when operating costs double or triple (like they did last summer), or open without the staff needed to make it a success.

If we can't get a viable plan together (e.g. one which attracts massive outside resources like federal grants or foundation endowments), perhaps the $5-10M that is realistically needed for a sustainable Q house would be better off funneled into midnight-3am basketball leagues, youth-run arts programs, chess clubs, public space improvements, etc (which are also all things that the youth have asked for in the past).

If we all work together, we can make something great happen -- but let's all keep our minds open and listen to the actual youth about what that might be.

Posted by: City Hall Watch | June 26, 2009 8:00 PM

There is nothing redeeming about Q House and it is a waste of taxpayer dollars. The committee just agreed to spend a quarter million dollars with no plan, no budget, no renovation money, no nothing. It's a pipe dream. Why don't you take this "plan" over to the new community bank and see if the president there will loan you the money with such a lame idea of what Q House will be and how it will be managed?

Secondly, Abdussabur needs to go back to school and take math. Those numbers are figures he pulls out of his back pocket. They don't add up and they don't even make sense. Even if the city did agree to fund the whole program for the next decade, like all the programs we fund now, there would be no drop in youth violence. None. That's because the 300 kids prone to violence are not going to Q House, or Open Schools or anywhere else. They're hanging with friends and terrorizing the city. It's a complete crock that we have violence because kids don't have something to do. There are already plenty of programs including solid educational ones, nearly free camps, golf and all kinds of other programs if parents will do a little planning.

Posted by: weblog1 | June 27, 2009 12:55 PM

The concerned citizens and Jacqueline Bracey should be commended for their effort to revitalize a community institution like the Q House. But think about this for a moment....
The ideals of the past, for example,"the Q House was the birthplace of the country's first black Girl Scout troop".... is it realistic to assume this wheel could be re-invented for today's young girls... I think not... there is no current family value system in place to support "girl building" as was the case in Jacquline Bracey's youth.

Step back and think out of the box... what is it that the youth are asking, and can it be accomplished with just the purchase of a building with no realistic plan beyond what it was in the past. Nostalgic, but it just won't play.

As a footnote, just look at the building as it now sits in the photo above, and tell us if the layout even satisfies the requirements of today.

Remember, when the Q house closed, under the direction of the then President and CEO Willie Green, and the lack of cooperation by DeStefano, the Q house served but a few after school programs, which were sparsely attended and also ran a senior meals program, as an adjunct.
The recent Q house did not serve the needs of youth, even then.

I too am shocked and surprised to learn that the timid BOA committees would cave-in and support a 225K purchase, with no plan for the future steps, and with no money allocated in the current budget.
Nor did the city's youth service director, Che Dawson offer a plan beyond saying.."The city recognizes that the building is a community asset" How trifling is that??

Abdussabur, did not present a plan either, he presented a threat, supported by fictitious fuzzy math that makes no logical sense.

The city and the concerned citizens should go back to the planning board and provide a realistic proposal which takes into consideration short and long term needs assessment, as well as, long term independent financial planing.