Natalie Kainz Photo
Walker-Myers: Boost community policing, face redlining legacy.
Focusing on jobs, housing, and public safety, 18 members of the Board of Alders gathered to jointly kick off their reelection campaigns.
They did so Thursday evening before a crowd of 40 people from a grassy slope on DeGale Field.
The group represented a majority of the Board of Alders, all 30 of whose members are Democrats. Almost all the 18 present so far do not face Democratic primary challengers or Republican opponents, although some competitive primary and general election races do loom in town.
Thursday’s event focused on the alders’ legislative agenda. Six of the alders — including board President Tyisha Walker-Myers, Ron Hurt, and Jeanette Morrison — made speeches promising to focus on community policing, affordable housing, employment, environmental justice, and health equity.
Alders gathered at DeGale Field for reelection announcement.
Walker-Myers told the crowd that many of the problems that the board is trying to address — from unemployment to food insecurity — coincide with the city’s legacy of redlining. Reversing that legacy is about creating policies for employment, public safety, affordable housing, environmental justice, and vibrant communities, she said.
“Now all of a sudden people are calling [redlined areas] the ‘neighborhoods of focus,’” said Walker-Myers. “I’m calling them the neighborhoods of need.”
Walker-Myers focused her speech on community policing. She said that although the new version of a Civilian Review Board is finally up and running, much more needs to be done to achieve progress. That includes enhancing neighborhood block watches and ensuring that police officers are involved in them, she said.
“We have the perfect opportunity to reimagine what community policing really means to people in this community,” said Walker-Myers. “We are going to continuously put things in place that will hold our cops accountable.”
She cited top Edgewood cop Lt. (soon to be promoted to Capt.) John Healy as an example of what building trust within the community should look like. Healy gets involved with neighborhood events and builds trust with residents, Walker-Myers said, adding that that’s a far cry from just “walking the beat.”
Jeanette Morrison: We’re making progress.
Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison provided her own example of good policing: when NHPD Officer Bryan Phillips bought skateboards, scooters, and helmets for children at the opening of Scantlebury Skate Park last year.
“When you have the same consistent officers in your neighborhood, you get to know them by name,” said Morrison. “It’s about accountability and being a part of this family.”
Morrison made her own speech about the progress that the Board of Alders made towards improving employment in the city. She mentioned three examples: making labor agreements with developers about hiring residents, putting pressure on Yale University to hire from local neighborhoods of need, and establishing the employment-placement agency New Haven Works, which has helped over 1,700 residents find jobs.
Ron C. Hurt: Jobs on the way.
Hill Alder Ron Hurt invited residents to a July 28 New Haven Works event at Career High School. At the event, which begins at 6 p.m., attendees will be able to register for New Haven Works and hear from some of the city’s employers.
Beaver Hills Alder Richard Furlow kept his speech short: “We need affordable housing, period.”
He said that he didn’t need to speak much longer about the topic, promising that the community will see the results of the board’s actions shortly.
Evelyn Rodriguez: Health equity on agenda.
Morris Cove Alder Salvatore DeCola and Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez also spoke. DeCola said progress has been made towards environmental justice in the form of new zero-carbon construction projects and improving resilience along shorelines. Rodriguez focused on how the board is working to improve health equity.
Hurt ended the event by encouraging attendees to go door-knocking with UNITE HERE and New Haven Rising. He said they have been door-knocking for the past four weeks to try and push the legislative agenda and find out what residents are most concerned about.
“Let’s talk to our community!” said Hurt. “Let’s see what they have to say because we know that when we work, we win.”
18 Alders in total kicked off their reelection campaigns at the event:
Ward 2: Frank Douglass
Ward 3: Ron C. Hurt
Ward 4: Evelyn Rodriguez
Ward 5: Kampton S. Singh
Ward 6: Carmen Rodriguez
Ward 7: Eli Sabin
Ward 8: Ellen Cupo
Ward 11: Renee Haywood
Ward 16: José Crespo
Ward 18: Salvatore DeCola
Ward 19: Kimberly Edwards
Ward 22: Jeanette Morrison
Ward 23: Tyisha Walker-Myers
Ward 24: Evette Hamilton
Ward 25: Adam Marchand
Ward 26: Darryl Brackeen
Ward 27: Richard Furlow
Ward 29: Brain Wingate
These are the individuals most responsible for the city's sad state of affairs; high crime, failing schools, poor city services, high taxes, zero transparency, and a municipality on the brink of bankruptcy. They "own it".
Good people. Bad leaders. Failed policies.