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Graves Filing Papers To Run For Mayor

by Paul Bass | Apr 18, 2011 1:11 pm

(32) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Politics, Campaign 2011

Paul Bass Photo As Clifton Graves prepared to jump into the mayor’s race, he was heartened to see Cross students march for better schools—and outraged to see officials try to silence them.

The episode, he said, symbolizes why he has decided to take on nine-term incumbent Mayor John DeStefano.

Graves, a Democrat, said he plans to file official papers Tuesday to form an exploratory committee for his campaign. That enables him to start collecting campaign donations. He said he expects to make a formal announcement of his candidacy before the weekend of the May 15 Freddy Fixer Parade and to open headquarters in the Whalley Avenue storefront traditionally used by State Sen. Toni Harp.

Former Hill Alderman Tony Dawson said Monday that he plans to announce within the next few weeks that he’s running, too.

Graves, who’s 58 and a longtime New Haven civil rights activist, said he congratulated a Wilbur Cross High School junior who last month led a student march on City Hall to protest education budget cuts and high administrative salaries. Then, Graves said, he was outraged to learn that school officials responded by disbanding the junior’s political action club on the pretext that a faculty adviser was no longer available to oversee it. Students say school officials have since reneged on a promise to meet with elected student council members. (Schools spokesman Chris Hoffman said, “There appears to be a misunderstanding. They can call [the superintendent] and set up a meeting.”)

“We have a national campaign against bullying. And here are the adults bullying these kids,” Graves said in an interview at the Athenian Diner Monday morning about his upcoming campaign.

“Bright, intelligent students want to get involved. They organized. They meet with the mayor and the budget director. Then we take the rug from under them and ban their organization on a pretense!

“You and I both know some phone calls were made. This is the arrogance and the short-sightedness of the administration.The mayor, then [schools Superintendent] Dr. [Reggie] Mayo made that decision. The principal of Cross did not make that decision on her own. You can be sure of that.

“These are students asking intelligent questions about their schools. They should be encouraged, not discouraged.”

DeStefano noted Monday that he sat down with the student protest leaders for an hour when they marched on City Hall.

“The best thing is to engage them. I’m not clear what the administration at Cross is doing about that,” DeStefano said. “I talked to the superintendent after they came up to the office.I directed them to go to a couple of places. It would be my hope that those places would engage those kids. This is the stuff of running high schools, with kids who are testing the limits. Anyone with adolescent kids knows that’s what an adolescent kid is supposed to do. They’re doing what they should be doing. They should be engaged.”

Democracy & Teens

In meeting with people around town about a possible mayoral run, Graves said, he has encountered many adults who feel the way those protesting students do: Shut out. And he said kids most of all need the city’s attention right now.

Graves praised Mayor DeStefano for much of what he has accomplished over his 17 years in office, including the construction of new school buildings and some of the initiatives of his nascent school reform drive.

But an “arrogance” has spread in government that “disrespects” and silences citizens who have criticisms or want to make the city better, Graves argued. He said he’s running to reinvigorate “participatory democracy” in order to improve New Haven—especially the prospects of young people growing up in neighborhoods like Dixwell, Newhallville, and the Hill.

“There’s a sense that decisions are being made in a vacuum,” he said. “There’s an arrogance emanating from City Hall that discourages true participatory democracy from the neighborhoods and even from other elected officials.”

Graves called for creating “blue-ribbon panels” to look at “tweaking” the school reform drive and to assess the city’s true financial condition. He spoke of how when the last long-serving mayor, Biagio DiLieto, stepped down, his successor, John Daniels, discovered a hidden structural deficit far larger than anyone had anticipated.

He said at this point he doesn’t have many specific examples of different ideas for running the schools or approaching the city’s budget crisis. Those will come as the campaign unfolds, he promised.

The city faces serious financial pressures requiring union concessions, Graves acknowledged. He criticized DeStefano for “demonizing” union leaders and seeking to drive down custodians’ wages while giving mayoral staffers raises.

He praised the creation of the new Engineering and Science University Magnet School and said the $1.5 billion citywide school rebuilding program produced beautiful buildings. The city did lose an opportunity to steer more young New Haveners into construction jobs in that rebuilding effort, he said; he called for the city to bring Yale and the Chamber of Commerce into a new apprenticeship effort. He also called for more schools to stay open at night and on weekend to house youth programs and for the creation of voluntary same-sex K-8 schools, saying that black males have performed better in such settings in other states.

DeStefano Monday said he “looks forward to debating” Graves “frequently.”

“I have no doubt that this is the union candidate who will not confront the reality of what taxpayers and families are facing, which is the need to reset health care and pension benefits,” DeStefano said. “Cliff clearly stood on the sidelines of this issue, does not want to engage it. New Haven needs to engage this issue of health care and pensions. I don’t think there’s been as difficult a time in the lives of America or the state of the city since the Great Depression. New Haven has posted dramatic population and grand list growth compared to most places in America. I think a diversion into unfocused set of directions is not going to serve the city.”

The mayor called Graves “a well-intentioned individual who has had lots of opportunities for leadership in the community and frankly has been nowhere on school reform, which is the preeminent issue in the city. He has missed the opportunity to be engaged and involved and has not uttered one word of support for [the reform] effort. It is the clear powerful issue to reduce violence and create wealth in the city. I have no doubt that school reform would wither and dry under his leadership.”

Graves said he has worked with the school system on contract to create the “Obama Initiative,” a mentoring program for sixth through eighth-grade boys at Roberto Clemente and Lincoln-Bassett schools. (The program’s emphasis on encouraging black kids to become “scholars” caught Glenn Beck’s attention.)

The stories boys tell in that program motivated Graves to run for mayor and find new ways to inspire them to chase constructive dreams, he said.

How many of you know someone who’s been shot? Graves asks the kids in the class. Most hands go up.

How many know someone in jail? All hands go up.

He asks them about their dreams. They say they want to become inventors, doctors, authors, auto mechanics. “Then you hear them talk about, ‘I can’t sleep at night because of the gunfire. I have fear of walking home and getting shot. This is the environment they’re growing up in.”

The New Haven Promise college scholarship program for higher-achieving students “offers promise. It’s a step in the right direction,” Graves said. “But what promise does it hold for these young boys?”  He spoke of one boy at Roberto Clemente who told him, “Mr. Graves, I just want to make it to 18.”

“If this is the mindset of our children,” Graves said, “that says to me, ‘We have to make some changes. This is not to put all this at the foot of the mayor. But you can shape priorities in the city.”

2 Challengers?

Graves said he hopes to have the support of half the state’s legislative delegation and a third of the Board of Aldermen by the time his campaign hits its stride. The primary takes place Sept. 13.

State Sen. Toni Harp said her husband, developer and architect Wendell Harp, who has backed several challengers to DeStefano over the years, is supporting Graves. (He was unavailable for comment Monday.) Toni Harp said she hasn’t made up her own mind yet on whom to endorse. “But people are happy there will be a race and a discussion of issues,” she said. “[Graves is] very well-respected in the community. He’s had a lot of experience. I think he can make the case, certainly.”

Former Alderman Dawson said that once he formally enters the race, he’ll make the case that his 16 years as an alderman give him more experience than Graves. Both Dawson and Graves are African-Americans with long-established ties to black organizations in town.

One DeStefano critic, West Rock Alderman Darnell Goldson, said he’ll support either Dawson or Graves. He said he hopes the two “come together” to decide that only one of them will run.

“But I don’t understand why either of them would want the job,” Goldson added. “With the economy the way it is and the city budget the way it is, it’s like a house of cards. I don’t know what’s in there. It’s one of those Biagio DiLieto things—when a new mayor comes in, you go from a balanced budget to a $17 million deficit. It’s like Obama becoming president. Everyone knows he didn’t create the problem. But once he’s in there, it’s his problem. I don’t want to see a second African-American mayor inherit the mess that John Daniels had to inherit and be the one responsible for cleaning up the mess.”

Graves currently works as a diversity consultant and as a sociology professor at Gateway Community College. His parents moved the family to New Haven in 1969; Graves’ mentor was the late Rev. Edwin Edmonds, a former Board of Education chairman and the city’s most politically powerful African-American minister. Graves attended Tufts University and Georgetown law school. He worked as deputy corporation counsel for the city under Mayor Daniels; he held a similar spot with the housing authority under then-Executive Director David Echols. He was an administrator for 12 years at Southern Connecticut State University. He has held leadership posts with the NAACP and was a founding board member of Amistad America.

As he prepared for his mayoral run, some supporters questioned whether he should continue to wear his trademark kufi. They suggested some voters might misunderstand the head covering as a sign that Graves, a lifelong Christian, is a Muslim, and draw negative conclusions.

Graves said he has to continue being who he is. He trusts voters to avoid such misconceptions, he said; he wears the covering as “an acknowledgment that there’s a power higher than you.”

“This is not the backwoods of Idaho. This is a progressive community,” Graves said. “I think people would be more concerned about what’s in my head that what’s on it.”

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posted by: The Count on April 18, 2011  1:40pm

Hmmm. “Graves.” Sounds like the perfect name for a New Haven mayoral candidate.

posted by: Atwater on April 18, 2011  2:14pm

Graves doesn’t seem to be much different than DeStefano. What the city needs is a fiscal conservative who is willing to drastically cut school funding, especially the funding of new school construction.

posted by: cba on April 18, 2011  2:19pm

king john should lose the condescending attitude, for he is not of divine right born.  keep it up johnny     ‘boy scout   ’ and you will be reworking your resume               1

posted by: robn on April 18, 2011  2:30pm

“New Haven has posted dramatic population and grand list growth compared to most places in America” mayor DeStefano

uhhhh…
census pop figures
1980 126,021
1990 130,474
2000 123,626
2006 124,001

posted by: Jonathan Hopkins on April 18, 2011  2:33pm

“Then you hear them talk about, ‘I can’t sleep at night because of the gunfire. I have fear of walking home and getting shot. This is the environment they’re growing up in.”

This is the largest obstacle in the way of school achievement for many students in the New Haven public school system. When kids are going home to deficient neighborhoods every evening that are not places that nurture childhood development and social skills, it doesn’t matter how much money you through at the schools - kids aren’t gunna learn. The people that have already been left behind by the school system, who are adults or drop outs and committing crimes and living dependently on public assistance need jobs for their skill level in their neighborhoods before the schools need another dime.

posted by: john on April 18, 2011  3:34pm

I want a law and order candidate.

posted by: Mark Oppenheimer on April 18, 2011  3:55pm

I would love to see where Atwater thinks school spending should be cut. Should teachers’ salaries be lower? Should we have fewer of them, and thus more kids per classroom? I bet he could find a couple front-office people who are unnecessary or overpaid, but cutting them or their salaries probably wouldn’t yield 1% savings on the budget as a whole. Yet Atwater wants to “drastically” cut school spending. I bet he has never looked at our city school budget, not even once.

posted by: What??? on April 18, 2011  4:06pm

Darnell Goldson for mayor!!!

posted by: ex-newhavenite on April 18, 2011  4:27pm

To RobN-
Those are very selective numbers - the ones you want (but are hard to get) are from 1994- till now.  Most estimates in 1994 have population around 124,000.  The recent release of 2010 data has us at about 130k.  Not huge growth at all, but most estimates had us bottom out in 1997 at about 121k.  Still not great and a poor measure by DeStefano

posted by: Threefifths on April 18, 2011  4:30pm

He lost already.Black and Latino Judas Goat leaders and Judas Goat Prechers have all ready sold Him and Tony Dawson out.King john will be back in.This is why you need term limits.

It’s like Obama becoming president. Everyone knows he didn’t create the problem. But once he’s in there, it’s his problem. I don’t want to see a second African-American mayor inherit the mess that John Daniels had to inherit and be the one responsible for cleaning up the mess.”

If this is a true statement,They why is Obama Hanging with these two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsHNStWwp9o

posted by: robn on April 18, 2011  4:59pm

EX-NEWHAVENITE,

The US Census says that our population was @130,000 in 1990 so if we’re back up to that number, there’s been no growth.

Not sayin its bad…just sayin.

If you’ve got a figure from 1994 and a confirmed figure from the 2010 census please give your source.

posted by: anon on April 18, 2011  5:09pm

Jonathan is correct that the New Haven “School Reform” initiative is largely ignoring the impact of real neighborhood issues.  These include constant gunfire in neighborhoods, dead bodies sitting on on porches, constant speeding and car crashes, decaying and abandoned buildings, families that can not afford their rent, businesses that leave (primarily due to safety issues), the fact that virtually all police officers and teachers live outside city limits (or at least, outside the neighborhoods where most NHPS children come from), etc. 

These types of violent incidents and abandonments all cause severe social and psychological trauma to students and make it virtually impossible for many of them to succeed.

Yes, it probably would be better to have large class sizes, or lower salaries combined with incentive programs to encourage police and teachers to live within city limits, if it meant that we could have neighborhoods free from constant gunfire.

Though most people are too afraid to point out the truth, the fact is that New Haven Promise is one good example of an effort that is unlikely to be effective on its own.  It may largely serve as a good marketing ploy, or even be counterproductive by diverting community resources away from the real needs, such as safety and security.  Currently, it is likely that only about 5% to 10% of students eventually graduate from college (ask the City for the exact figure).  What is the plan for the other 95%?  There is no evidence that New Haven Promise or other efforts, as currently constructed, will be able to put even a small dent in this figure.

The city and state are making good “baby” efforts towards addressing these issues, which will severely sap the vitality of our future workforce and will result in even more waste, inefficiency, and public debts.  But let’s stop pretending that they are anywhere near enough.

posted by: brutus2011 on April 18, 2011  5:23pm

I like the idea of Mr. Graves planning to run for mayor. While I am far from making any voting decisions, I look forward to the coming exchange between Mr. Graves and the Mayor. If the Mayor wants my vote, he needs to address the corruption and cronyism within NHPS. This is why school reform has not worked and won’t work.  The Mayor has an opportunity to make things right; it will be interesting to see the coming political calculus unfold.

posted by: Lincoln Robertson on April 18, 2011  7:54pm

Mr. Graves,

Thank you for stepping up to the plate to fight the DeStefano administration. You are a very brave man, and I thank you for trying. You’ve been taken out on day one. With Wendell Harp endorsing you, you are dead in the water.

Can’t you remember all the scandals he had with DeStefano in the 1990s that brought the FBI to town??? DeStefano has just cut your legs out beneath you in a few short hours. Memories are very short, but Wendell is a DeStefano man, and you better remember it.

DeStefano is playing both ends toward the middle. Get you and Dawson mixing it and he’s Supremo for another 2 years, and can cook the books for another 2 years. All the old and poor people getting reduced taxes is just smoke and mirrors. They have to sign away on their houses every year they can’t pay. The city will take their houses away in a few years to pay all DeStefano’s debts. That’s called communism. Only difference is in real communism the rich have their property taken over. With DeStefano it’s the poor people as they can’t fight back.

Come now. What have you got to offer. You were impressed by some uppity students. Really. Let’s have some real answers. What are yo going to do on these issues

Kids getting blown away in mid afternoon

Delivery men getting the crap kicked out of them when they are just doing their jobs

Community policing that cuts cops on the beat but gives big time pay to paper pushers

Crime not being solved

Taxation like it’s going out of style

A Board of Education that lets 30% of its students fail but tells us what a good job its doing for 18 years

You want New Haven to build schools in West Haven. Doesn’t educate our kids any better. There’s already more schools in Fair Haven than all of Queens

City closes down for a week as it can’t clear snow from the streets

Mr Graves, answer these questions and you might get some support. Good intentions will get you no where when you are up against a Tammany Hall type government. Please do not be upset or angry at my comments. Just get real on what you are up against. Darnell is right. We all bneed to fight together.

posted by: Fairhaven Dave on April 18, 2011  8:00pm

Does he have party backing?  Any party?  Surprised it was not mentioned… or am I missing something?  “Civil right activist” and pro student does not tell us much about his affiliations…  most people claim as much.  It’s a fairly safe stance.

posted by: Melissa Bailey on April 19, 2011  9:41am

Hi folks, Graves is a Democrat.

posted by: NH resident on April 19, 2011  1:05pm

The third sentence of this article states that Mr. Graves is a Democrat. 

I also like the idea of Mr. Graves running for office.  He is an intelligent and genuine person who - as a professor - is well informed of issues that the schools are facing.

As one of his former students, I never witnessed him pushing a personal agenda in the classroom.  He never showed anything but respect for other’s beliefs or opinions and made it clear when stating his own thoughts (never presented them as “facts”, unlike some of my other professors).  His wearing a “kufi” was never an issue and had had no influence on his quality of teaching.  As Mr. Graves stated, people ought to be more interested in what is below his hat.

In regards to the issue raised by Glenn Beck, I assume Obama was used as a reference because our president is a current political figure. (I know many 20-30 year olds who do not understand MLK’s significance because they can’t grasp the tumultuous political and social environment of the 1960s. This is probably why using Obama is a better example, especially with younger children.) This ground breaking president can be inspiring to kids in our community who see that skin color or ethnicity are not barriers to achievement.  In a case like this, what Obama has or has not accomplished is irrelevant.  Although I am not a big supporter of our president, I support encouraging our city’s children to believe in themselves and strive to be scholars.  These children shouldn’t feel constricted by stereotypes and doomed to follow in the criminal footsteps of older siblings and parents.

I look forward to seeing Mr. Graves’ campaign and wish him the best of luck.

posted by: Brian L. Jenkins on April 19, 2011  1:37pm

I marvel at the negative criticism Mr. Graves receives, because he wishes to unseat a Mayor who in my opinion should have been gone years ago. His campaign (Clifton) is in it’s infancy. Be patient and allow his campaign to unfold. For starters, send him a positive check, and not a negative comment.

I have known Mr. Graves for a very long time. He has always been in opinion an unflappable and impressive individual. Knowing Clifton as I do, I can assure you that his quest to be Mayor, isn’t based on any personal ideology. But based instead on a visceral belief in which he has in addressing the needs and many germane issues that are currently gripping the city. New Haven would would do well to elect this man.

His campaign if nothing else, will most assuredly weed out the sellouts, from the genuine.

In reference to Wendell Harp, there is absolutely no one or very few individuals with the credibility that he posses. Wendell would rather I not say this about him, but I am anyway. I have watched Wendell clothe people, feed households, put people in apartments who didn’t have enough resources, assist an individual in helping with his alcohol dependency and more importantly, encouraging people to develop a relationship with Jesus. All this under a level of anonymity.

Wendell Harp is a statesman. Wendell Harp is my friend. Wendell doesn’t have a history of any criminal activity. Are there those out there who would love to see him fail? Absolutely! I pray to God that he doesn’t.

Finally, it amazes me how people love to deride individuals based solely on what they read in the papers and never based on knowing a person. Jesus once said to those who questioned him about deeds He performed, “don’t ask me, asked those who witnessed/know me.”

posted by: Fairhaven Dave on April 19, 2011  2:56pm

NH Resident,

It did NOT say that yesterday when I submit my comment.  I read the article several times and did a page search for “Democrat” and “Republican”.  I am glad the clarification was made by the author and the article edited.  Now I’m wondering who the party thinks would be a better mayor, as I am under the impression J.Destefano is a line toting Dem, no?

Fairhaven Dave

posted by: Threefifths on April 19, 2011  5:20pm

King John is getting back in.!!!!!!!Wake up. Already Plantation Overseers on the town committees are at work to get King john back in. The only way you will get rid of king john and the rest of the crooked two party system judas goat politicians is to demand Term limits.

posted by: Sal Consiglio jr. on April 19, 2011  7:57pm

Mr Graves your first mistake is running as a democrat. I am a democrat but i am going to run as an independent the reason why old johnny boy wins is because he get’s the endorsement.Your fellow democrats never get beyond the primary.That is why I am running as an independent to get past the primary garbage and get right to election day. See you on the ballot -Maybe.If I get to election day I will be looking for your support and Idea’s and they would be welcome.If he get’s re- elected we should get the bulldozers and push New Haven into the harbor.His administration is going to do just that.Mayor you can give me a call any time you like. I will debate you anytime anywhere on the issues.You want to create jobs so you say and in he next breath you are laying people off ,so tell me what type of jobs are you looking to create.Low paying union less jobs it what it looks like to me. You give me a call I’ll be waiting .I am in the book.

posted by: streever on April 19, 2011  9:47pm

Why do I see so many people who hate the mayor trashing Mr. Graves?

The man has just announced his candidacy. I’m sure that many Ward Chairs will support the Mayor—after all, a lot of them work for the City—but there are many of us who are independent and interested in meeting with every candidate and having a strong understanding of their values and positions before we reach any decision.

It is bad form to dismiss someone before they’ve even entered the fray—why not keep an open mind?

As a Ward Chair, I am interested in meeting with anyone running for Mayor and hearing their ideas and their platform.

posted by: get your facts straight on April 20, 2011  7:30am

@Streever what makes up a “a lot” when you reference chairs working for the city? I know of only 6 out of 60 that are city employees and 1 alderperson.

posted by: Brian L. Jenkins on April 20, 2011  7:56am

Threefifths, it’s time for you to bring another argument to the game. You’ll never see term limits in local politics in our time. Moreover, if this is something you truly believe in, then why don’t you run for office and “term” yourself out?

posted by: notty on April 20, 2011  8:49am

Charter Revision, people, that is the constitution for the City of New Haven,  3fifths if you want term limits it can only happen by revising the charter. How does this sound.

•  Elected board of Education Commissioners. This will provide a more accountable system for the residents of the City of New Haven to assure that the Superintendent of Schools is providing an adequate education for our Children.

•  No Elected official for the City of New Haven work either for the Board of Education or any other department governed by the City of New Haven. This will ensure the elected officials can function in their elected positions to better serve the community, and making decisions for the community that elected them without any conflict of interest.

•  The CEO (EEOC) is a separate Entity from the City of New Haven. This will ensure better decision making without again conflicts of interest.

•  Create an oversight committee over the schools construction programs in the City of New Haven to ensure that New Haven City residents are not just getting employment in the construction trades but maintaining employment over the duration of the project.

posted by: streever on April 20, 2011  11:27am

@get your facts straight:
Can I assume you are leaving out people who volunteer for the Mayor or other politicians who are part of his slate?
What about the significant others of Alders/chairs? When you factor that in, the number jumps pretty quickly.

posted by: DMV on April 20, 2011  12:48pm

I would be so happy to vote for Mr. Graves. I have seen the work he has done at Roberto Clemente and in the community at large. Go Mr.Graves, go!

posted by: Threefifths on April 20, 2011  4:43pm

posted by: Brian L. Jenkins on April 20, 2011 7:56am
Threefifths, it’s time for you to bring another argument to the game. You’ll never see term limits in local politics in our time. Moreover, if this is something you truly believe in, then why don’t you run for office and “term” yourself out?

This is not a argument to the game my brother.This is a fact that across this country, Many states limit the terms of state politicians and many mayors and other local officials are also term limited. In fact a poll was just done and the major of the people in the all of the states Want term limits.As far as runing for office under the present system which is control by the crooked judas goat town committe bosses and the people who keep on voting these two party crooked career politicians.What chance would a person have.You was here when they sold out Shirley killings when she ran for mayor of New Haven.So I will keep on fighting for Term Limits and to get a system of proportional representation.In fact there are people right now that I work with on this.

posted by: Brian L. Jenkins on April 21, 2011  10:58am

Threefifths, though admire your passion to see your style of government gain a foot hole in today’s politics. Again I remind you, both you nor I will ever see that manifest in New Haven politics.

In regards to Sheree killings, she was indeed a very formidable challenge to DeStefano, however, it was Sheree herself who laid down near the end her campaign, for reasons unknowable. And no one has heard from her ever since.
So brother, my parting words for you are, keep fighting the good fight. But don’t allow yourself to become consumed by which style of politics should be apropos for the direction of the city. The real battle is trying to resurrect the lives of those young men that are wandering aimlessly on the city streets. That’s the real battle!

posted by: Threefifths on April 21, 2011  11:41am

posted by: Brian L. Jenkins on April 21, 2011 10:58am

Three-fifths, though admire your passion to see your style of government gain a foot hole in today’s politics. Again I remind you, both you nor I will ever see that manifest in New Haven politics.

You and I may never see that manifest in New Haven politics.But this is why I am working with the Younger Generation to make it happen.


In regards to Sheree killings, she was indeed a very formidable challenge to DeStefano, however, it was Sheree herself who laid down near the end her campaign, for reasons unknowable. And no one has heard from her ever since.

She works for Deval Patrick the governor of Massachusetts.As for her laying down,She was sold out.As I said the same will happen to Clifton Graves and Tony Dawson.

So brother, my parting words for you are, keep fighting the good fight. But don’t allow yourself to become consumed by which style of politics should be apropos for the direction of the city. The real battle is trying to resurrect the lives of those young men that are wandering aimlessly on the city streets. That’s the real battle!

We have to work on both politics and resurrect the lives of those young men that are wandering aimlessly on the city streets.And how you do it is this. For the young men that are wandering aimlessly on the city streets,We must use the Social Gospel movement as Dr.King did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Gospel


And for politics I use this as my guide.As Malcolm X said “I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.

posted by: What??? on April 21, 2011  1:56pm

I could be wrong, but…I’m starting to think that anon and Jonathon are one in the same? Not that it’s good or bad…just sayin”

posted by: Threefifths on April 21, 2011  4:18pm

posted by: notty on April 20, 2011 8:49am

Charter Revision, people, that is the constitution for the City of New Haven,  3fifths if you want term limits it can only happen by revising the charter.

I agree.But we must also have a system of proportional representation so the people will have more of a voice.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/BeginnningReading/howprwor.htm

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