Yale Unions Endorse 15

Simple question that every union candidate has dodged: What should happen with the property tax?

If you aren't willing to take a stand on that issue, we should assume that you stand for what all unionsdo. Higher taxes and more government employment.

If they are "just talking to the people around them" why is it that last night I was canvased by two people who did not live in my ward. One, a Yale grad student "working as a union organizer this summer" The other, a union organizer. "I used to be an AFSME member".

This was the most bias of interviews. What these unions did was copy statements and campaign ideas and then re-create their campaign brochures for their union candidates. I ask that everyone looks at the candidates individually to better understand what they have done for their respective wards before voting. Also, these union backed candidates filed as unaffiliated when they lose the primary. You cannot be unaffiliated and accept union money and support. Unfortunately the unions do not negotiate for all citizens of New Haven just their own members.

-Wolves masquerading as sheep. So many union resources being dumped into these campaigns- if they win in my ward it will cost me dearly in so many ways.

As I've been saying, New Haven needs change. And the City Hall machine, after 20 years of having the reins, isn't going to do that. I don't know many of the candidates that the union endorsed because they're not in my neighborhood. But if they can run good campaigns and get people excited - the voters will decide. So what if the unions help them?

I find this quite odd,
I received a call from my Alderman about a month ago about this and he explained that the unions sent out letters to him and his colleagues, but were already backing(managing their campaigns) the union picked candidates. Why would they waste time and try to act like they want to endorse a candidate that wasn't with the unions?
A very good friend of mine works for Yale and tells me everyday that she is harassed by union officials that tell her that she has to vote for the union candidate and walk with them. I didn't know that paying union dues forces you to do what the unions say at all times. And then if you don't do what they say, they won't back you when you need them. How is that legal? These are dues paying union people.
Talk about the machine, Destefano isn't the biggest machine in New Haven, its these darn unions.

when i read about the press conference, i see a group of people that is highlighting everything i'm worried about in the community - particularly jobs and violence. if the unions are assisting candidates that are willing to ask some tough questions about what our city is actually doing on those issues -- i'm for it.

The unions at Yale have a history of supporting the people in New Haven, they have fought many fights alongside residents against the powerful forces in this city that are more worry about building expensive condos rather than helping people out of poverty. I don't buy the scare tactics, I don't believe unions are the enemy and I welcome the effort to help fixed the democratic system in our town. We have a Mayor with too much power that has been in office too long, if we don't have an independent BOA then he just does whatever he wants (and he has) and that cannot keep happening.
Regarding the tax issue, I doubt any of this candidates is pro raising taxes, people through the "t" word around every time they want to scare people.

With all this violence, the disenfranchised black and Latino communities, the mayor's blatant pandering to Yale and with so many aldermen in the mayor's pocket, FINALLY it looks like there'll be some actual democracy in this "Democratic" city.

This is simply a fight on who will pay for Johnny Boy's 18 years of fiscal mismanagement. He has blood sucked the tax payers and now wants to blood suck the people that do the work. Something has to give. If there's any justice it should be the citizens that were stupid enough to keep him in power all these years. So, property owners, it's time to open your wallets to pay for all those grandiose but empty schools and our super efficient police department. It's too late now. Whoever you vote for your taxes will be going through the roof. Let's hope our next Mayor will look at all legal ways to get retribution from Johnny Boy.

I think this would be a refreshing change for New Haven and I wish all of these candidates luck! Everyone knows that Destefano is in bed with Yale, and that their main aim is to stay in power and line their own pockets. I don't see anything wrong with these candidates being union-backed; after all, union members are just working people. They have a right to back candidates who they think will fight for the needs of working families and people looking for work.

FINALLY. Seems like these are some folks who have actually noticed that our city is falling apart and are trying to make a change. More power to them.

While New Haven definitely needs an alternative to the Democratic machine of Destefano, I don't think the unions are the answer.

Having worked on an aldermanic political campaign with them, I found they did not care about neighborhood issues. They basically wanted better wages and benefits for their members and for municipal public employees. They knew they wanted Yale union and city union allies on the board. That's all. That is often not in citizens' best interests.

Worse, their canvasing methods were simple: tell members living in the ward how to vote and harass them with phone calls until they went to the polls. There was no voter/member education, no discussion, no exchange of ideas. No, it was all very old-school, 19th century identity politics. They had no respect for their members being able to reason and decide for themselves about candidates or issues. Disgusting.

These unions are starting negotiations with Yale right about now. The union bosses want power and serve their own interests. Been script always. They use "allies" and talk a good game, then drop them when they get what they want. They got a one-way going when it comes to loyalty - loyal only to themselves. How come 34 & 35 & their graduate students only come knocking at certain times??? They only activate when they need stuff, otherwise nowhere to be found.

The Yale Unions do not need to control the board of alderman to work towards accomplishing their stated goals of fixing jobs, youth and violence in the city.

Goal 1: Jobs in New Haven

The Local 34 and Local 35 job search team at 425 College Street shall adopt the policy of placing ONLY New Haven residential union members into new or open positions. Outside of New Haven will not get to jockey for positions.

Further, the union could create a "hiring hall" similar to those in Providence, RI and Las Vegas, NV. These banquet training facilities offer skill development and job placement at hotels and restaurants.

In the next Yale contract re-establish more full-time jobs as opposed to the last two contracts of downsizing and the creation of casual pools of part-time employees. At the current rate the largest employer in the city will have a majority part-time work force within the next decade. This was done to preserve the retirements of longstanding members at the expense of younger or future employees at Yale.

Goal 2: Youth

UNITE HERE owns a bank in New York called the Amalgamated Bank (aka "America's Labor Bank). If youth is a goal the union should finance the purchase of either the Q-House or the Goffe Street Armory for use as a youth recreation center.

http://www.amalgamatedbank.com/home/aboutus/communitydev/contributions

Goal 3: Violence

The yale unions have a spin-off community organizing group known as Connecticut Center for a New Economy or better known round these parts as "CCNE." http://www.ctneweconomy.org/ccne_staff.html

CCNE works closely with the pastors, their churches and their congregations throughout the city. Having churches adopt "at risk teens" and mentoring them should not be a problem for a community organizing group that can turnout thousands to march with Rev. Al Sharpton.

Having CCNE work with churches to put male role models in front of troubled teen boys will go further to helping quell violence on the streets than having aldermanic decisions being made by a union president that resides in East Haven.

None of these simple and quick answers offered above require a special interest take-over of the legislative body. Rather, they simply require the will and focus of a robustly funded organization which owns its own bank and has several thousand members residing in the city already.

This supposed endorsement is a sham and should be reported as such. There were no surprises here. I hope that the candidates that did not get the endorsement did not waste their time meeting with these people. For as one of the other cementers noted, the folks that were endorsed are having their campaigns run by the Unions.

I am frightened to think what would happen if this slate gets elected. Our current 44mil rate would be looked at fondly and remembered as the good old times.

Also Paul, who is running against Jackie James in ward 3? I didn't see anything about this reported.

Annie Mouse,

In my Ward(23), I have had campaigners knock on my door several times in support of union-endorsed Tyisha Walker (who I do support).

When I asked the canvassers if they lived in the neighborhood, they indicated that they lived in East Rock. When I asked them if Tyisha was a union-endorsed candidate, I got an empty doe-eyed, "I don't know" as a response.

So in my eyes, these campaigners get a +3 for community engagement, and a -1 for political naivete.

Aside from being Union Endorsed, Ms. Walker was also endorsed by the Ward Committee, sending incumbent ... Shah to run as an Independent at DestefaNO's behest.

When young Yale Students show up at my doorstep canvassing for the mayor is when I will start to get worried.

ps. I know a couple of these 'Union-types', and you know what??
They are friends who legitimately care about the State of the City.

BEAVERHILLSJOHN,

If by "expensive condos", you mean the 360 State Street project, that was mainly funded by the union pension fund MEPT with the caveat that it be union built.

New Haven needs a change--and I think these candidates have got the right idea. Annie Mouse: I think it's FANTASTIC that people are out talking with our neighbors in this city and it's a real testament to their commitment that they are brave and intellectually curious enough to knock in a neighborhood where they don't live. It's also great that union workers are getting out to talk with folks that are skeptical about their motives. We should take the opportunity to discuss our concerns about the unions openly. This is an opportunity to engage in dialogue rarely possible in our segregated city. This is democracy.