As campaign season heats up, Alderman Allan Brison introduced his first piece of original legislation: A resolution calling on the state to put sound barriers in the Cedar Hill neighborhood.
Brison (pictured), a one-term alderman in East Rock’s Ward 10, is the board’s only Green Party member among 28 Democrats and one Republican. He’s fighting off a challenge from environmental activist and Democrat Justin Elicker.
Brison’s non-binding resolution, approved by unanimous consent at Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting, came three weeks after his challenger announced his candidacy in this Independent story. The bill was a sign that the competition may be a galvanizing force, and that Cedar Hill, an often-neglected, impoverished corner of the ward, may again prove a battleground in the campaign leading up to a November election.
Brison announced his proposal in an email sent Sunday by a campaign volunteer, Patricia Kane of Dwight Street. The resolution calls on the state Department of Transportation “to install an urgently needed sound barrier along the State Street entrance to highway I‑91 South and Warren Place.” (Click here to read the text.)
The resolution is not binding. It is meant to encourage state legislators to appropriate funds according to aldermen’s wishes.
After the vote, Brison explained that the I‑91 on-ramp is carved out of what used to be a two-way, residential street. A half-dozen houses on Warren Place lie uncomfortably close to the on-ramp. People who live there have long been complaining about the fumes and noises of the highway, not to mention the litter cast aside by motorists getting on the Interstate, he said.
Brison said he hoped to rush the proposal through unanimous consent so that the state legislature could see the resolution before their session ends in May. He said he has run the idea by one legislator, New Haven State Sen. Martin Looney.
“If this is something residents want, then the Senate Majority Leader will support it and bring his constituents’ concerns to DOT,” said Looney’s spokesman, Derek Slap, Tuesday. “Unfortunately in these difficult times it will be an uphill battle.”
Aldermen passed a similar, non-binding resolution last year to ask for noise barriers in the Hill, where the DOT tore down trees lining a park to make way for highway expansion. Those barriers remain years away from erection.
Would Brison’s bill have the power to spur action from the state? The alderman replied that the message would be sent to all state delegates. Brison said he has his sights set on money set aside for highway beautification.
“There’s a good chance that stimulus money might be available,” he added.
The proposal was Brison’s first piece of original legislation since he took office in January ’08.
“I have signed on to a few things,” he said, including a piece of green cleaning legislation. He said he played a pivotal role on that bill.
“It’s more of a question of having been around for a year and getting better advice on how to move [legislation] forward,” he said.
Brison’s proposal shows an effort to focus on the Cedar Hill neighborhood, an eight-street enclave inside Ward 10 that has historically felt short-changed on city services. Feeling underrepresented in City Hall, leaders from that neighborhood inserted themselves in the last Ward 10 race in 2007 in debates and on the door-knocking trail, supporting Brison.
This year, one vocal neighborhood activist, Rebecca Turcio, has switched her support from Brison to Elicker. Another vocal Cedar Hill activist, Betty Thompson, questioned what Brison has done for the neighborhood and announced her support for Elicker, too.
Brison said while some from that neighborhood have lined up behind his opponent, others, including activist Ted Gardner, are supporting him.
First piece of original legislation? I didn't realize that! And its a non-biinding resolution? Brison is a wasted opportunity, I'm listening to Roland this time and going with Justin Elicker! Go Justin go!