Thomas MacMillan Photo
Nigretti preps a dog.
In a new bill to be introduced Tuesday, the mayor aims to help people like Jimmy Nigretti have an easier time getting into the hot dog business.
Mayor John DeStefano announced the news at a Friday afternoon press conference in City Hall, as he continued a quest to give ex-felons a fair shake as they try to build a life for themselves after prison.
The bill concerns the rules for getting some six to 10 permits issued by the city, said prison re-entry coordinator Amy Meek. That includes permissions to run billiards halls and sell antiques, but most significantly, it includes street vendors and food carts.
In the past year, the city denied one out of seven food cart or street vendor applicants on the basis of his or her criminal record, Meek said. The new ordinance aims to reduce that number.
The mayor proposes amending the city ordinances to clearly state that city has a policy to “encourage the employment of” people with criminal records. The bill directs the police chief to consider a range of factors — including how rehabilitated someone is — when considering an application from an ex-offender for a license or permit.
The proposal will appear on the agenda of the Jan. 17 meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
Mayor DeStefano and Amy Meek.
Selling hot dogs on the sidewalk or balloons at a parade are often jobs that are “within reach” of someone just emerging from prison, Meek said. Not only are the start-up costs low, but the job can be a good match, for someone like a convicted drug dealer who knows how to sell things on the street. “It’s the same set of skills essentially.”
The latest bill aims to build on the efforts begun with the “Ban The Box” legislation passed nearly three years ago.
That law banned the box on city job application that asked whether or not an applicant has a criminal history.
As individuals, people need to accept responsibility for their past actions, said DeStefano. As a community, the city should work on re-integrating people who have served their debt, he said. When that is not done well, it can lead to violence and further crime, he said.
Under the current ordinance on the issuance of permits, the chief of police can disqualify an applicant on the basis of his or her criminal record.
The current wording articulates a standard that is “rather strict,” DeStefano said. The proposed amendment would still require the city to take criminal record into consideration. But it would also require the chief to look at several specific factors, including: the nature of the offense, the age of the applicant at the time, the time elapsed since release, the “degree of rehabilitation” of the applicant, information produced by the applicant on his or her “good conduct,” and “the public policy of this city … to encourage the employment of persons previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses.”
Codifying these standards as part of the ordinance would make the process more transparent for applicants and help re-entering ex-prisoners to see more clearly what factors go into permitting decisions, Meek said.
As part of that same effort towards clarity and transparency, the ordinance amendment would require the city to compile and publish online all municipal laws regarding criminal convictions and employment, contracts, permits, licenses, and other benefits, Meek said.
Outside City Hall after the press conference, Nigretti, whom the mayor had mentioned in his remarks, held an impromptu press conference of his own.
He said he supports the proposed ordinance amendment as a way to help out people who have turned their lives around. “People change, you know?”
It is important to look into the backgrounds of aspiring vendors, because they’ll be “dealing with people and money,” Nigretti said.
Nigretti, who’s 49 and grew up in the Hill, said he’s been slinging dogs for nine years. Asked about his criminal history, he said, “When I was younger, I used to act up.”
He said he was in jail for 30 days once, and on probation for five years. That record did create obstacles when he was getting his vendor permit, he said. “A few times I’ve gotten denied. It took a little longer.”
In many ways Jimmy is the hardest working guy in New Haven. I watch this guy push his cart from Humphrey to the Green every morning, doesn't matter the weather.