nothin In Inaugural, Mayor Follows Labor’s Script | New Haven Independent

In Inaugural, Mayor Follows Labor’s Script

Melissa Bailey Photo

(Updated) As he began his 10th term Sunday, Mayor John DeStefano called for an inclusive prosperity” — the same phrase used by labor-backed candidates who beat his allies at the polls.

DeStefano issued the call Sunday as he and 30 aldermen were sworn into office for their new terms at Career High School on Legion Avenue.

The mayor took the oath of office administered by his longtime political ally, state Supreme Court Justice Lubbie Harper. Then he sought in his inaugural address to convey a sense of new momentum and challenge as he enters his 19th year in office — during which he is slated to break the record for New Haven’s longest mayoral tenure. (Read about that here.)

Click here to read the full prepared text of DeStefano’s inaugural address.

Brian Wingate, who ousted board President Carl Goldfield, hugs new colleague Migdalia Castro.

DeStefano enters the new term along with a new coalition of labor-backed candidates who beat his allies at the polls in an unprecedented year of vigorous campaigning. The coalition, which includes 14 first-time aldermen, forms a 20- to 21-person majority on the board.

Aldermen in that group have been involved in a grassroots campaign around a new agenda focused on jobs, community policing and youth. The campaign featured a new report from Connecticut Center For A New Economy (CCNE), a coalition of labor, clergy, and community activists titled: A Renaissance For All Of Us: Building an Inclusive Prosperity for New Haven.”

DeStefano lifted two words from that title, inclusive prosperity,” as he laid out his plans Sunday for 2012.

A banner behind the stage read: “Improving New Haven. Again.”

New Haven is growing,” he said from the stage. It is fair and right to ask whether that growth is, indeed, an inclusive prosperity for all New Haven.”

After he got down from the podium, DeStefano said he borrowed the phrase on purpose.”

A lot of people were elected to promote that concept,” he explained. It then becomes part of the agenda.”

It’s not just my inauguration,” he pointed out.

He again spoke from the coalition’s playbook when he called for a jobs pipeline” to promote the training and hiring of local employees.

I accept, let us all accept, the challenge to test the limits of what’s possible: in work training; at the community college; in technical school training; and with job pipelines to our major employers, developers and institutions,” he said.

Co-op freshman Donijah Collier belted out the national anthem.

After his speech, DeStefano said he aims to develop some kind of agreement with existing employers and/or developers of major projects in town to train and hire New Haveners. He said he’s going to study a similar initiative carried out in Newark, N.J., by Mayor Cory Booker.

The overt references to labor’s agenda were not lost on Adam Marchand, a union leader in Yale’s Local 34 who took office Sunday as Westville’s new alderman.

I credit the mayor for paying attention to what people are saying,” Marchand said. He noted that the concerns about unequal prosperity could be heard across the city during the election, as well as currently from those who are occupying the New Haven Green.

In response to criticisms raised during the election by mayoral and aldermanic challengers, DeStefano vowed Sunday to improve the relationship between civilians and cops.

New alderwoman applauded DeStefano’s vow to restore community policing.

Central to our efforts will be community policing,” DeStefano declared as he laid out the broad outlines of his 2012 agenda. And good community policing means police should use face to face interactions, relationships to connect to neighborhoods. If the police fear the neighborhoods, and if the neighborhood fears the police, we will not reduce violence.”

After the election, DeStefano reversed course and embraced walking beat-style community policing, among other responses to outrage over violence in a year that saw 34 homicides.

We will do better in 2012. How much so will be up to us,” DeStefano told the Career crowd Sunday, emphasizing a theme of public responsibility for helping to solve communal problems.

DeStefano called community development the twin” of community policing. He called for making more of an effort to tie the city’s so-called eds and meds” (higher education and medical and biotech industries) economic growth to jobs for New Haveners hard hit by the recession.

He closed by quoting the late Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as usual.

His olive branch was well-received by aldermen in the new ruling coalition.

Westville Alderman Adam Marchand snapped photos of new colleague Alderman Sergio Rodriguez.

I’m glad he’s sounding themes that are resonating throughout the city,” Marchand said. I think this is a hopeful moment for the city. We’re going to find out how we can work together” toward shared goals.

Hill Alderwoman Jackie James, who has remained independent of the mayor and has worked closely with CCNE, welcomed the mayor’s inaugural remarks.

He obviously wants to work with CCNE,” she observed. She called the speech a great sign” that DeStefano is willing to sit down and work with everybody.”

We’re willing to work with him,” too, she added.

Fair Haven Alderman Ernie Santiago, Jr. processed down the aisle with his son, Ernie Santiago III.

Wooster Square Alderman Mike Smart sounded more skeptical. It sounds good, but let’s see what happens. Action to me is most important,” not speeches, he said.

Hill Alderman Jorge Perez, who’s set to be elected as board president on Tuesday, said he’s glad the mayor is acknowledging ideas that came up during the election — not just from CCNE but from other candidates.

I’m happy that he’s talking the same talk as many of the colleagues” on the board about jobs, youth and community policing, Perez said.

If that’s the agenda, we’re going to have a great two years.”

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