New Haven Independent

Greer Resigns, Slams Party

by Paul Bass | December 23, 2009 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)

Eli%20Greer%20Oct%2029.jpg “Lockdown.” “Machinations and retaliations.” “Tainted” “democracy.” “Sowing discontent.” Those were some of Eli Greer’s parting depictions of the city’s Democratic Party leadership as he resigned as a ward co-chairman in the Edgewood neighborhood.

Greer decried the state of party leadership in a letter released late Tuesday announcing his resignation as 24th Ward co-chair.

He wrote that party leaders “blatantly ignore” and “silence” the 60 co-chairs from the city’s 30 wards.

“Party leadership has devalued and gutted the dialogue with the ward co-chairs, quashed our critical involvement and suffocated our voices and that of the voters we represent, disfiguring the Democratic process,” Greer wrote. “This has allowed for a lockdown mode in which individuals and various elected officials do not engage in dialogue, debate or discussion on vital matters of concern to all walks of life in this City.”

He described “a tainted version of democracy, trampling on the stated desires of voters and ignoring their democratically made choices and endorsements. It serves only limited special interests, therefore again and again eluding the hope for unity in the community and sowing discontent and division amongst the citizens of this City.”

Greer — a leading figure in neighborhood fights for more police protection and against slumlords, and laundromats — promised to remain active in civic affairs, “unfettered by mini-minded political machinations and retaliations.”

Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Voigt disagreed with Greer’s characterization of the party and its leadership.

She has “nothing but the utmost respect for all the town committee members who serve as co-chairs of their wards,” she said. “Each and every one of them make tremendous effort to ensure that their residents can exercise their right to vote. Each of them has demonstrated … they really do exercise their own opinions. They endorse the candidates they seek to endorse. They work hard for the candidates they want to work for. I will continue to respect them, including those who have supported me and those with whom I have had some differences.”

Voigt pointed to “vibrant aldermanic races” and party primaries as evidence of the fact that people exercise leadership in their neighborhoods and wards.”

The Letter

Following is the text of Greer’s letter.

Over the last four years I have served as the Democratic Co-chair for the 24th Ward in New Haven. It has been an honor and privilege to work alongside fellow Co-chair Hank Campbell and our Alderwoman of more than a score years, Elizabeth McCormack, as well as co-chairs and aldermen from throughout New Haven. The ongoing accomplishments in the neighborhood and the City speak for themselves.

As you well know, several years ago crime was skyrocketing in New Haven. We founded the Edgewood Park Defense Patrol, a diverse nightly citizen patrol to bring some sense of law and order to our beleaguered City. With the help of dedicated people from all over New Haven, and the assist of the Guardian Angels, we highlighted the city-wide crime spree, leading to a vital change in our Police administration and renewed hope for the urban neighborhoods across this City. The outstanding men and women in blue, under Chief Lewis’ administration caused crime to drop systematically in the last two years. Homicides are down 40% and in 2009 there were 1,000 fewer crime victims throughout New Haven. We all pray that this heartening trend continues city-wide.

Working in conjunction with multiple community and business groups, the Whalley Avenue Commercial District from Westville to Downtown is now positioned for a brighter future. Business leaders, neighborhood advocacy groups, non-profits and residents are coming together, challenging fellow business owners, landlords and the City to reawaken this vital artery of New Haven. A new Walgreen’s down the block, streetscape vision becoming tangible reality, problematic chain Laundromat blocked and a vibrant brand-name paint store in its stead, are some of our proud accomplishments. And now, efforts are underway to save our community Shaw’s shopping plaza. The stage is set for an invigorated business arena along Whalley Avenue corridor.

Meanwhile, the, so to speak, regular activities continue apace. Hand-in-hand with officials from LCI, Public Works and the Traffic Department we combat day-to-day nuisances in this district. Last summer we reached the milestone of the 500th tree planted in the Edgewood Park neighborhood during the last decade, and we are already selecting sites for the 2010 plantings. These trees, literally and figuratively, bring a feeling of growth and rejuvenation to the streets we live on and the sidewalks we walk. The neighborhood rehabilitation and revitalization program, which has increased home values and tax revenues across the Ward, continues to confront pockets of housing blight that still remain.

I enjoy working to better our city and will continue to do so. However, as of midnight tonight I will be resigning my post as Democratic Co-Chair of the 24th Ward, City of New Haven. The leadership of New Haven Democratic Party no longer serves the interests of the voters nor does it work with the local Co-chairs on a regular and consistent basis. The sixty ward co-chairs are generally blatantly ignored and only considered relevant selectively when City party leaders need them. The voices of loyal voters, our voices as hard-working co-chairs, are being silenced at the whim of party power-brokers, not based on rules, ethics or morals. Party leadership has devalued and gutted the dialogue with the ward co-chairs, quashed our critical involvement and suffocated our voices and that of the voters we represent, disfiguring the Democratic process. This has allowed for a lockdown mode in which individuals and various elected officials do not engage in dialogue, debate or discussion on vital matters of concern to all walks of life in this City.

The hard reality is that unfortunately Democratic Party Leadership now in New Haven acts on a tainted version of democracy, trampling on the stated desires of voters and ignoring their democratically made choices and endorsements. It serves only limited special interests, therefore again and again eluding the hope for unity in the community and sowing discontent and division amongst the citizens of this City.

Hence, currently, my ability to serve the City and seek our united goals cannot be optimally performed in the capacity of a Democratic Ward Co-Chair. Instead, given the present state of the local Democratic Party leadership, in order to proceed on these important ideals, I will better serve the greater cause of the people in New Haven as an active member of the public. I look forward to working tirelessly in the community and the city, unfettered by mini-minded political machinations and retaliations.

I have given a great deal of deliberation to this transition, listening to the different opinions and views offered by my constituency and colleagues; however, the moment has arrived for this recalibration. The residents and voters of Ward 24 and the City will remain a constant focus and on the forefront going forward. I will continue to vigorously and actively champion the citizens’ just causes for a brighter future for this great city of New Haven.

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Comments

Posted by: fedupwithliberals | December 23, 2009 7:43 AM

And this coming from a Democrat! You could imagine how disenfranchised city residents with conservative or independent political philosophies must be feeling.

Posted by: The Truth | December 23, 2009 8:07 AM

Who cares? Another 2 years of Johnny Boy and everyones giving up.

Posted by: Sunday | December 23, 2009 8:37 AM

Well written Eli and so truthful. We must continue to fight for our communites, because if we don't no one else cares.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | December 23, 2009 8:47 AM

Town committee members are noting more then train seals.They only follow the what Chairperson tells them what to do.

Posted by: jawbone | December 23, 2009 9:23 AM

This neatly sums up why I mourn the further loss of what little third-party leadership we have in this city.

Posted by: Jonathan Swift | December 23, 2009 9:25 AM

Yep.

Posted by: Darnell | December 23, 2009 9:35 AM

Eli,

Bravo. We are all as frustrated. Susie's response is ..., as witnessed in this last aldermanic election. In the primaries, she supported several candidates who were running against the LOCALLY ENDORSED CANDIDATES. In the general election, she and her folks actually fought against the party endorsed candidate in the 11th ward. This is her right as a voter, but not as the leader of the Democratic party. If she wants to support independents, she should have the courage to do what you have done, relinquish the leadership of the Democratic Party, and become a free agent.

Posted by: Hmmm. I don't get it | December 23, 2009 9:35 AM

Sorry, I have no idea what Greer is talking about. He might be right but he just goes on and on without a single clarifying example or explanation.

Without more information this just seems to be Greer complaining and dropping out because he supported a candidate and she lost. And this loss was despite the New Haven Independent slamming her opponent on a regular basis as well as Greer strategically using the ward chair seat to benefit McCormack.

If he is upset that DeStefano finally took on McCormack by supporting her opponent, does he really think that Liz's continually opposing DeStefano would go unnoticed?

As much as people here like to grumble about DeStefano, there's not a Mayor in America (at least not one who gets anything done or gets re-elected) who does not take on opponents in the city legislative body through elections. And all across America, aldermen (or city councilors) know that when they choose sides in a political fight, they are doing just that, choosing sides.

McCormack chose to support Jorge Perez who has chosen to oppose the Mayor. DeStefano thus supported her opponent. Same thing happened to Robert Lee. So why exactly is Greer complaining? Did he expect DeStefano to sit by while his opponents tried to knock out supporters of his on the board of aldermen, yet do nothing in return?

I've got no problem with Greer choosing sides or with Perez, McCormack, DeStefano, James, or Lee doing so. But it is disingenuous to then cry about the system when things don't turn out your way.

Greer does good work and has made a real difference in the city. So have a lot of people. It is a city after all.

But if you engage in electoral politics, you can't swim along forever without taking some losses. When you take those losses, its a bit odd to suddenly discover after several elections that the "system" is not fair.

The system indeed may not be fair, but when it's a system one has used to the fullest, the rest of us have to look on and wonder -- hey wasn't this the same guy who used the system quite well for some time?

Posted by: DK | December 23, 2009 1:00 PM

Actually, while I respect Eli for the non-DTC things he has done and hopefully will continue to do, he is just upset because his candidate lost, knows he will face a ward co-chair challenge, and doesn't think he can win in a ward with changing demographics. If anything, Ward 24 demonstrates how weak the party apparatus in all wards is -- when a strong challenger with talent, conviction and effort steps into the ring like Marcus Paca.

Posted by: JR | December 23, 2009 1:19 PM

I found this letter puzzling and couldn't understand it very well. Greer should have offered something more in the way of a concrete example or two of what he's talking about.

Absent that, it really does sound to me like a long rant by somebody who is mad that the political side that he supported in an intra-Democratic-party fight lost. So, now he's quitting. That's fine, but it hardly makes me think the state of democracy in New Haven is any worse now that it was before.

Posted by: BA | December 23, 2009 3:35 PM

Well, sour grapes aside, it appears he may have actually learned something. Hardly surprising that, having become frustrated with the process, he has resigned; this is the man who helped form armed vigilante squads when he became frustrated with the police. The question now is: will our new champion of democracy try to change the system by running for office, or will he organize a coup d'etat?

Posted by: curious | December 23, 2009 6:40 PM

This is not a question of "sour grapes", but one of frustration. The sole function of the ward committee is to nominate a candidate for alderperson from that ward. That person then, is the party endorsed candidate. For the leadership of the Democratic party to ignore the wishes of the Ward Committee in favor or hers or the Mayor's choice is beyond frustrating. What is the point of nominating anyone. Why not let Susie and the Mayor just pick and choose whoever they can totally control because that's what it's all about. That is what is meant by the "arrogance of power". It's so time for a change in leadership.

Posted by: streever | December 23, 2009 7:08 PM

It's disappointing that Greer gave up. To say that the city is a fractured system and then to retreat & say you won't work to fix it is disappointing.

I also think it's disappointing the way that all aldermanic races were characterized. Many aldermen support the mayor on issues where it makes sense to, but still work to improve the checks & balances. I think that's the most sensible position for anyone in city government to take.

Posted by: Boy Johnny | December 23, 2009 7:34 PM

Pacman 97 Greer 0.

Posted by: bil | December 23, 2009 8:34 PM

Tell me, why even have a board of alderman? The charter apparently favors a very strong mayor and this particular mayor appears very harsh, keeping several committees under his thumb, pushing hard on every aldermanic race, neutering the board of alderman.

Why bother under this charter, which apparently has spawned the possibility for this kind of control?

And with such a weak local press? Even the Independent doesn't have half the guts New Haven's daily paper had before JRC bought it, as recently as the early 80s its reporters were printing stuff that Bass won't even allow in his reader comments, never mind in stories.

Posted by: Ura | December 24, 2009 12:49 AM

I am so thankful that Eli helped organize armed security forces in the Westville area. We were, and still are terrified of those who seek to rob and harm us. I am so thankful that even in a very liberal culture like CT, we have good Democrats who will rise up and exercise the right of every American to bear arms and keep his or her neighborhood safe. As a mother of three precious children, I am so thankful for you Eli. Keep up the great work!

Posted by: The Professor | December 24, 2009 6:09 AM

Greer's just upset because his candidate got absolutely trounced at the polls. The funny thing is that the stuff he's accusing the DTC of is stuff that he actually did himself--have we all forgotten then-candidate Marcus Paca's efforts to get a list of ward committee members? Greer basically completely froze him out of the process and tried to turn the endorsement "vote" into a coronation of McCormack. Yet now he's ranting about being "frozen out" of the political process and feeling "disenfranchised." NHI, you just gave this guy a pass on his blatant hypocrisy.
...

Posted by: Susie Voigt | December 24, 2009 2:15 PM

Today's victory for everyone in our great country - the historic vote for healthcare - is a moment to celebrate. We have our differences in the city and that's a sign of the health of our politics. Now is the time to come together - please join with me and the New Haven Democratic Town Committee in thanking Senator Dodd and Rosa this coming Tuesday, Dec 29 at 6:00, at the Shubert Theatre for leading the fight in Washington!

Posted by: Zalman Alpert | December 24, 2009 4:38 PM

As early as elementary school we were taught that a priamry reason for the greatness of the American political system was not only our governement of checks and balances but also the 2 party system. In recent years most of our large urban centers have become 1 party zones. The only electoral expression permitted is the Democratic Party. Instinctively Democrats, Special nterest groups and other professional liberals label the GOP as fascist etc etc.If they had ever lived in real totalitarian regimes as my parents did , they would chose their language much more carefully.

What you get is govt by 1 party with elected oficials serivng for years on end and real decsiions being made far from the ballot bos.
Lets either make the New haven govt non partisan , or lets start a serious alternative to the Democrat party. Term limits on the mayorality office would also be adviseable, after all only Joseph Stalin was not replaceable. After all they the Democrats have governed NH for years and well to say the least the city still has some serious problems does it not. I strongly urge a revival of a serious Republican alternative.
The Greers have accomplished much in NH , perhaps they can give us back a form of the 2 party political system.

Greer Resigns, Slams Party

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