Malloy Hits Read Street

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by Melissa Bailey | Aug 6, 2010 7:55 am

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

Posted to: Politics, State, Newhallville, Campaign 2010

With momentum at his back, a gubernatorial candidate took his campaign into a neglected stretch of New Haven’s Newhallville neighborhood—and people unaccustomed to seeing politicians took notice.

Dan Malloy, who’s running against Ned Lamont for the Democratic nomination for governor in a primary next Tuesday, rolled into the heart of Newhallville, a low-turnout area that’s not exactly prime territory for statewide political campaigns, in a Vista Cruiser RV emblazoned with campaign signs.

He showed up Thursday afternoon as a new poll showed him closing within five points of Lamont, a self-financed candidate who’s outspending him two-to-one in the campaign. He was accompanied by black activists who in recent weeks coalesced a campaign that had once been considered a long shot in New Haven, where the Democratic machine has coalesced around his opponent. Malloy predicted on the stop that he’ll not only compete in the city, but win it.

Malloy, Stamford’s longtime mayor, and running mate Nancy Wyman, ventured onto Read Street—a street that’s been plagued with violence over the past year.

Sajib Mitchell, who’s 20, was hanging out on a porch near the intersection of Read and Newhall, deep in the city’s African-American community, when Malloy and Wyman came by.

“That’s different,” said Mitchell. He said he never sees politicians on the street, not even New Haven Mayor John DeStefano.

Melissa Bailey Photos Wanda Tyson (pictured), who was sitting near Mitchell, took a handful of pamphlets from Malloy. After he left, she kept them in her hand, using them to fan off the sticky heat. She said she still didn’t know whom she’d vote for, but Malloy just “took a step” up in her estimation—and improved his odds of getting her vote to “over 50 percent”—by showing up on her porch.

Nearby, a group of kids were dribbling a basketball in the street, and shooting it into two makeshift hoops—milk crates nailed to trees. Malloy caught a stray ball and bounced it back to them. He didn’t stay to play—“shooting hoops is not my strength,” he confessed.

He did say his ground game is getting stronger.

“I have great support here,” he said.

Malloy said while Lamont has the money, “I have great human capital,” built through visits like the one to Read Street. (He’s pictured explaining to a Read Street girl what the governor’s office is.)

“Some people say this is one of the toughest neighborhoods,” he said. “I came.”

Then he upped the ante: He laid claim to a city once considered his competitor’s territory.

“I have wider-spread support in New Haven than anybody else,” Malloy asserted.

Malloy made that claim on a day where a new Quinnipiac Poll showed momentum behind his campaign—he gained three points on Greenwich businessman Lamont, who after leading by double digits in past polls now was ahead 45 to 40 percent amongst likely Democratic primary voters.

Malloy made small inroads into the city over the past few months, culminating in a grand opening of a new regional headquarters on Whalley Avenue. While Lamont has snagged the endorsement of the state’s Hispanic caucus, Malloy has gained support from many (not all) the city’s African-American leaders, including those on the outs with City Hall.

“New Haven is an important town,” Malloy said as he walked down Read Street. “I got 35 percent of the vote here last time, and I’m trying to do better than that.”

Last time around, Malloy faced DeStefano in a 2006 gubernatorial primary. (DeStefano won, but lost the general election to Gov. M. Jodi Rell.) This time around, Mayor DeStefano came out early in support of Lamont, and helped deliver nearly all of New Haven’s 81 delegates to Lamont at the state party convention. Lamont set up his statewide headquarters downtown. Many considered New Haven to be his turf.

Malloy said Thursday that’s not the case. “The mayor doesn’t have a hood,” Malloy said. “The mayor has the right to support who he wants, and other people have the right to support who they want.”

The Lamont campaign dismissed Malloy’s claim to greater New Haven support.

“There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to comment on every ridiculous claim that Dan is making,” wrote Lamont campaign spokeswoman Justine Sessions in an email. “We have a robust field operation here in New Haven and across the state that has made more than two million phone calls and knocked more than 150,000 doors to get Ned’s message out, and we’re ready to get our voters to the polls on election day.”

Lamont canvassers swept through parts of New Haven Thursday, including East Rock, leaving behind more flyers in voters’ doors.

In Newhallville, Malloy was escorted by a local politician, State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield. Wyman followed a few steps behind, wearing three-inch heels.

Holder-Winfield said the Malloy campaign called him and said the candidate would like to walk through his district. So he sent them to Read Street. Along the path, the struggles in getting voter turnout were evident: One elderly couple said they were not registered to vote. Others said they didn’t know there was an election.

Holder-Winfield was one of many African-American leaders who helped welcome Malloy to the neighborhood. The candidate kicked off his hour-long visit with a rally at the Lincoln-Bassett School. Rev. Scott Marks led a call-and-response chant of “Can we? Yes we can!” then pushed Wyman up on the makeshift stage to dance to the beat set down by the Fusion drum squad.

The Fusion (formerly called the Soul-o-ettes) drill team then kicked in with a performance.

After they performed, Malloy gave a brief stump speech to the crowd of 75 people gathered outside the school. He stressed the bad economy, the need for jobs, and a plan to convert “brownfields,” or polluted sites, into developable land.

Click on the play arrow at the top of this story to watch his one-minute stump, as well as some coordinated drumming between candidate and teens.

Among the crowd of supporters were Aldermen Darnell Goldson, Jackie James-Evans and Charles Blango, Edgewood activist Eli Greer, former mayoral candidate Jim Newton, Dixwell activist Lisa Hopkins, and political powerbroker Rev. Boise Kimber (pictured). Malloy said he has visited Kimber’s church several times, and that Kimber is supporting his candidacy.

Holder-Winfield introduced the candidate to those who didn’t know him.

“We have a lot of people who talk to us about our community, but they never show up,” said Holder-Winfield. “Dan is coming today to talk to you and some other people in places where nobody ever goes.”

With those words, Holder-Winfield led him down Butler Street, where the candidate met a woman named Ramona Knox (pictured). The two chatted briefly.

After the candidate left, Knox said Holder-Winfield had swung by her house earlier that day to see if she’d be home, and asked if he could bring Malloy by.

“I don’t know who to vote for!” she recalled telling him. After that visit, she started to prepare. She went to the trash bin, where she had placed all the campaign literature that flowed in her mailbox over the past week. She took out a few pieces from Malloy.

“I went back in the trash and I got it out,” she said.

Now, she said, she’ll start figuring out whom to vote for on Tuesday.

Comments

posted by: ctkeith on August 6, 2010 8:39am

Did Dan Malloy inform the people he visited about his role in covering up the hate crime his son committed in Stamford?
http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/default/article/Racist-threats-case-filed-by-Stamford-High-107476.php

How about the reporter herself who new full well of the Hate crime.Why does the New Haven independent and every other newspaper think that the people of this state don’t deserve to know about what will be the number one issue should Malloy win the primary?

posted by: What Cover Up? on August 6, 2010 9:06am

CTKeith:

I read the article you referenced in your comment. What cover up are you referring to? His 14 yr old son was accused of committing a stupid crime, he went to juvenile court, done!

I hear you work for the Lamont campaign, is that true? Full disclosure would be appropriate.

posted by: Double Take on August 6, 2010 9:12am

Boise and Malloy together? Kiss of death for Malloy. I wonder what the cost of the Kimber endorsement was? I wonder what Danny promised Kimber and how much that will cost the City.

posted by: Threefifths on August 6, 2010 10:10am

Again Black Politician are In the colon of the crooked Two party system.You need to break away
and Start a party like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWdx0ND7L1Y&feature=player_embedded

posted by: ctkeith on August 6, 2010 10:17am

62,500 is taxpayer money was used to hush up the hate crime committed by Malloys youngest son and protect Dan Malloy from scrutiny and you ask “what Cover up”.The only reason we even know the is because Malloys attempt at covering that up was thwarted by a freedom of Information Ruling.

If my son or yours committed the exact same crime he would have been immediately arrested,instead of waiting a few months,and any money paid would have either come out of our pockets or we would have been sued to recover it.

PS- I’ve never been paid a single penny by any politician and never will be.

posted by: t on August 6, 2010 10:24am

Better that than calling me repeatedly on my private, unlisted cell phone….

posted by: Anderson Scooper on August 6, 2010 10:32am

Is Gary getting paid thousands of dollars like Darnell Goldson, (link upon request), to shill for Malloy in the Elm City?

Doubtful, but if Malloy somehow wins, Gary will be much better off, whereas New Haven will not be.

But what I’d like to hear from Gary is his opinion on Dan’s use onthe race card in his attack ads. You know where Malloy uses one discrimination suit against Lamont Digital Systems, filed by a disgruntled ex-employee, to go on TV and do his best to portray Ned as a potential closet racist.

Does Gary think Ned may be a racist? And does he condemn the ad and Malloy’s attempt to use race to divide us as Democrats?

In addition, what does think about Malloy using recycled attacks from the Lieberman campaign? (and no, I’m don’t need to hear false equivalencies about Lamont’s on attack ads, which were launched in retaliation, after Malloy went negative on TV first, two weeks ago).

posted by: Threefifths on August 6, 2010 10:52am

Wanda Tyson (pictured), who was sitting near Mitchell, took a handful of pamphlets from Malloy. After he left, she kept them in her hand, using them to fan off the sticky heat. She said she still didn’t know whom she’d vote for, but Malloy just “took a step” up in her estimation—and improved his odds of getting her vote to “over 50 percent”—by showing up on her porch

If anyone has any of the pamphlets and lawn signs from Lamont and Malloy,I will come and pick them up and give them to my neighbour who just got a Rottweiler pup and I told her she can use the pamphlets and lawn signs as training pads.

posted by: a scoop for scooper on August 6, 2010 10:52am

Use eCris to see who else is paying Darnell (or his alias) for his support.

posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield on August 6, 2010 11:07am

I am not getting paid a dime but then you knew that. I think this whole negative ad war is dumb - on both sides. I think the Malloy campaign wants to put as many doubts in the people’s mind as possible about Lamont and so they drag out this piece. Similarly Lamont wants to do the same and so they bring up an old case that is done and dead.
Both candidates have pluses and minuses. I think that Dan would be a better governor. For me none of this is ever personal. As far as whether or not Lamont is a racist or not I have not a single reason in the world to believe that. s a matter of fact when the charges first appeared in 2006 I was there at the press conference to call the charges ridiculous

I am not a part of the games of this campaign on either side. I supported Malloy at the convention. We have had a relationship for the last four years and I had the opportunity to have him walk in and speak to a largely neglected cconstituency I think that is the kind of thing I should use my position to facilitate.

posted by: To Anderson Pooper on August 6, 2010 11:15am

To Anderson Pooper:

Please provide the link alleging thousands of dollars to Mr. Goldson

posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield on August 6, 2010 11:16am

Also Anderson, I am not one who believes in this whole - well he did it so I had to thing. Either you are going to be negative or you are going to be positive in your approach. Both candidates have gotten in the mud. Both candidates have gotten dirty from it. Personally. I like positive campaigns. I think it is fair to draw contrasts but I am against negative ads wherever they originate from.

posted by: HewNaven?? on August 6, 2010 11:50am

This is such a hard decision. Let me see if I understand correctly:

On one ticket I have a middle-aged, wealthy, white man who thinks political leadership will somehow solve all our problems. On the other hand I have a middle-aged, wealthy, white man who thinks political leadership will somehow solve all our problems. And apparently, I can validate this notion of the “wise and just ruler” (i.e. savior) by ensuring that they are elected to public office.

I wonder why Newhallville has such low voter turnout. Maybe by coincidence, they have the most common sense and wisdom, and the greatest ability recognize a ruse when they see one.

I can just imagine what he said to that little girl,

“..so you see young lady, the governor is actually the wisest person in the state, and that’s why he’s been selected to have the most power. It’s not a matter of having money or winning political support, or building connections with big business or labor groups or anything like that. It’s just that we know what’s best for you and everyone else. Now go tell your mommy and daddy to vote for me.”

What we really need in all neighborhoods including Newhallville is a process that validates self-determination and autonomy within the community, instead of capitulation and surrender to forces outside the community.

As long as we hold minority status at the bargaining table, (working people, women, racial minorities, the poor, etc.) we will be forced to chose between the lesser of two evils, as is manifested in every election, year after year. None will stand for those who have been neglected and oppressed. They must stand up for themselves.

posted by: Double Take on August 6, 2010 11:56am

Yeah, didn’t Goldson say that he was not being paid by the Malloy campaign?

“Goldson said he is an unpaid volunteer for the campaign of Dan Malloy.” - NHI 6/7/10

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/campaign_signs_draw_fire/

What is his Malloy shill company name he is setting up so he doesn’t have to pay taxes? Oh, yeah its Campaign Management or something like that, right?

Goldson continues to prove he has a hard time being intellectually honest with anyone.

I guess Holder-Winfield and Boise Kimber will not be joining with Sen. Harp, Rep. Walker, Gwen Newton and Alderman Paca in the press event.

http://blog.ctnews.com/politicalcapitol/2010/08/05/from-the-can-this-democratic-primary-get-any-uglier-department/

posted by: Old Newhallville on August 6, 2010 11:57am

Kimber, Marks, Winfield. When are you people going to learn? Winfield knows just about as much about Newhallville as Malloy does. That’s nothing. Kimber and Marks… do nothing without getting the money upfront. Poor Gary is still trying to blend in and pretends he he knows Newhallville. This is so sad.

posted by: JosephCT on August 6, 2010 12:06pm

I think I am with Malloy. At least he worked and was raised middle class.

The last two times we elected someone born with a silver spoon in their mouths (like Lamont, who’s grandparents were hugely wealthy as is Lamont himself) were George HW and George W Bush. We can’t do that again.

How can the Greenwich millionare, Lamont understand our middle and lower class plight if he never had to worry about where his next dime or meal was coming from?

Rich folk don’t understand what it’s like. To be able to spend in the last 4 years, 25 million dollars of one’s own money to win an office, can’t relate to me or my kids plight. Sorry!

If Lamont really wants to help the people, don;t throw that money away on trying to get elected…give it to us people for heat, electric and food…now that would help.

posted by: Wants Real Answers on August 6, 2010 12:14pm

While all the pontificating is fine…and we know who thinks who is prettier…I WANT REAL ANSWERS FROM BOTH CAMPS…MALLOY SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO CLEAN UP ALL THESE PROPERTIES..HOW??? I want to hear a concrete plan…MALLOY SAYS HE IS GOING TO CREATE JOBS…HOW??? I want a concrete plan!!! I am NOT saying Lamont is any better but I want to know how it is u plan to turn CT into this Utopian paradise!!! I want to hear how u plan to get the money out of FAIRFIELD county where u both are from and into the pockets of the REAL working people of CT ???? Mary Glassman has a concrete plan ..but u 2..not so much!

posted by: Anderson Scooper on August 6, 2010 12:22pm

Goldson link:
http://seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/Data/Attachment/Unassigned/SEEC30_6th_Supplemental_Statement_Primary_6834.PDF
Check out page 27. According to the BoA home page, Goldson lives at 66 West Hills Road. And on the disclosure you can see a check for $2000 going to that address.

Gary—

Thanks for the honest response. I agree that when it comes to his contest, we’re all in the gutter. But I will insist that Dan Malloy is the one who “led” us there. And I don’t think you can equate Malloy’s use of the race card with the crap that Lamont is hurling back. One is way over the line, and the other is just negative campaigning.

Finally I want to note to everyone that Malloy is pretty much out of money. If he somehow wins the primary, Dan will only have $2-3 Million to spend against Tom Foley’s personal fortune. However if Lamont is the candidate, the Democratic side will not get out-spent.

Both Ned and Dan have position almost identical with each other. But shouldn’t we vote for the guy with the best chance of winning in he fall?

posted by: KeepLeft on August 6, 2010 1:20pm

ctkeith,
Should I should say you don’t really have to explain? Haven’t you done enough to hurt that underage kid?,

posted by: Anaximander on August 6, 2010 2:49pm

ROTFLMAO!

“Some people say this is one of the toughest neighborhoods,” he said. “I came.”

Yeah, that kid in the striped shirt looks real scary to me.

I wonder if Malloy has any idea how patronizing this sounds.

posted by: Truth Be Told on August 6, 2010 3:00pm

@ Anderson Sccoper & ctKeith

Hey guys don’t forget about DanPAC either. On 1/12/10 Malloy sent a $1000 check to the Ct State Missionary Baptist Association. They got not one $1000 contribution, two $1000 contributions from Danny boy.

http://seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/Data/Attachment/Unassigned/SEEC20_101283_1.pdf

http://seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/Data/Attachment/Unassigned/SEEC20_092188_1.pdf

I wonder who runs that organization? Let’s check the link.
http://www.ctbaptist.org/index.php?page=president-s-bio

Wow! Why its Rev. Dr. Boise Kimber!

Wait a second . . . . what was going on with the good reverend around Decemebr and January that he might have needed some cash from a slush fund? Lets check the link:

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/12/12/news/new_haven/a1-aldermen_1212.txt

Hhhmmmm . . . . makes you wonder. Do you think that Malloy was helping to funnel cash to Dr. Boise Kimber to help influence another City’s local legislative race for leadership?? Why Danny boy has no relationship to the Boise Kimber backed candidate-for-board-president Jackie James, right?

Lets check the link!

(page 23) http://seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/Data/Attachment/Unassigned/SEEC30_6th_Supplemental_Statement_Primary_6834.PDF

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/in_city_its_malloy_vs._destefano_redux/

So . . . Dan does know Jackie. In fact he pays her money. Makes sense. He supported her run for board president and she in turn supports him for governor. No big deal, right. It happens all the time.

But what if Dan got Boise money to help fund political calls from Jackson and Sharpton on a race that has nothing to do with governor or Stamford.

Pretty sleazy.

posted by: Threefifths on August 6, 2010 11:07pm

posted by: HewNaven?? on August 6, 2010 11:50am

It makes no difference who you vote for—the two parties are really one party representing 4 percent of the people. - Gore Vidal

posted by: Steve on August 7, 2010 9:14am

I’m not a politician, seek public office or even volunteer for a campaign.

I’m just a guy, who prior to being laid off back in 2009, worked for an RV company. You can imagine that times have been tough for our industry, that’s why I was really upset when I stumbled across this video posted on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvnXXF61_b8
I feel strongly politicians like Nancy Wyman should use Connecticut vendors when they spend taxpayer dollars campaigning for our highest elected offices.

posted by: Willy D. Greene on August 7, 2010 11:46am

Given the conduct of both candidates neither one them are deserving of our support nor are they fit to lead this state. I don’t care if Malloy lives in a 2 million dollar home or that Lamont paid himself a half million dollars. Should Lamont have disclosed the lawsuit? Yes most definitely. In his not doing so he left himself wide open for the attacks that he has received since the discovery. Often-times cases are settled out of court but that does not mean he was guilty.
In Malloy’s case their was nothing to disclose. His children are not running for Governor he is. Malloy did what any parent would have done stand by his children. Now this in no way means he condoned the action of his children.
However what we have witnessed from both camps is not leadership. Not the kind of leadership the people of this state deserves. Quite frankly people want to know what will the two men who aspire to lead. What will they do to jump-start this state to get us out the red, and provide jobs, stop the runaway train of the ever increasing taxes and address the needs of the educational system?
Now in the real world where many families awake to no job and the myriad of challenges to make it through the day in a state that is losing hundreds of jobs each month Malloy and Lamont negative/childish school yard fighting and the accusation being thrown back and forth by each camp should make all wonder are they fit to lead. Their personal issues with each other pales in comparison when a family is being foreclosed on because they can’t pay the taxes due to lack of or underemployment and no job prospects in sight.
During my canvass I sat with man who after 28 years lost his job due to downsizing. He went on to say its been 2 years of unemployment and if not been for his wife he would homeless. Thank God my children are grown and working he went on to say. He said that his wife had to put him on her health plan ( he could no longer afford the cobra) and she now has the responsibility of meeting all their monthly expenses. Mr. Greene do you know how I feel? Unable to support my family do my share is very depressing. Thank God for my wife he ended.
His unemployment benefits have expired and he didn’t qualify for the extension. He informed me that he was working two part-time jobs at minimum wage to help out at home but after taxes he brings home less than 200 dollars a week.
Now in all of this we have Malloy and Lamont asking this man and thousands like him along with the rest of us to come out and vote for them on primary day. The conduct displayed by both clearly gives us all hope. God help us.

posted by: davec on August 9, 2010 1:41pm

Stevie wrote a entire album about these guys coming round to the ghetto every four years.
See “Innervisions”

posted by: KeepLeft on August 9, 2010 4:55pm

In over 20 years, New Haven has not backed a man who could be elected Governor.

This is the year New Haven should support the guy who will be governor of all the folks in the state.
Dan Malloy has been the Mayor of a large city, almost as large as New Haven.

Look, It would have been great for New Haven if John had been elected 4 years ago.

Well that was then, now New Haven should support the man who understands the issues big cities have in this state.
DAN MALLOY.

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