Paul Bass Photo
Justin Elicker found himself performing “shuttle diplomacy” — between two members of a community garden.
One gradener had decorated the garden, in the Hill neighborhod, with a TV set that had stuffed animals impaled on the antennae.
Another gardener wanted the sculpture removed. She feared kids (not her own) might find it offensive.
Elicker eventually prevailed on the artist to put his artist statement elsewhere, and peace was restored among the eggplants.
Elicker performed that diplomacy in his role as executive director of the New Haven Land Trust, which runs 45 community gardens in New Haven neighborhoods like the Hill, Fair Haven and Newhallville. During an appearance on WNHH radio’s “Dateline New Haven” program, he talked about that and other experiences greening New Haven and helping to build community while resolving the occasional neighbor dispute.
New Haven State Sen. Gary Winfield (pictured) joined Elicker on the program. Like Elicker, Winfield ran for mayor two years ago, during the wild and wacky campaign of 2013. The two discussed the Land Trust’s work as well as the recent Democratic alder primaries in town (including the role that labor played) during the program.
Click on the sound file above to hear the full episode.
"So you're saying we'll have to kill all the beavers?"
"Um, it's a little more complicated than that, Paul."