Isaac Yu Photos
Crowd Saturday outside Elicker HQ.
Touting results and warning against complacency, federal, state, and local Democratic officials descended upon New Haven on a crisp fall Saturday to boost the mayor’s campaign in the final stretch leading up to the Nov. 2 general election.
The event took place Saturday, when more than 50 Democratic leaders and constituents gathered outside Mayor Justin Elicker’s campaign headquarters on Whalley Avenue.
With Election Day just 10 days away and a Republican challenging for the seat for the first time in 14 years, official after official praised Elicker’s leadership, specifically noting his handling of Covid-19 and that state’s decision to double the amount it reimburses New Haven for lost revenue through the Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.
“We have a new appreciation for municipal leadership having gone through the pandemic together,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz told the crowd. “Mayor Elicker stood out: You are the best-vaccinated city in our state. And because of the amazing leadership at the General Assembly … and the entire New Haven delegation, the mayor was able to get $90 million for New Haven. It matters.”
DeLauro, dubbed the “fairy godmother of federal funding”
“Justin Elicker has led over and over again from the day he walked into that office,” U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro said, fist pumped in the air.
Elicker, a Democrat, is running for a second two-year term. John Carlson, the first Republican mayoral candidate in 14 years, is running an active campaign against him.
“We got it done,” Elicker led the crowd in a chant, adding “We don’t need to just win this election. We need to crush the opposition.”
“There cannot be any slacking off because not every race is hotly contested,” State. Sen. Martin Looney warned. “We need to make sure that our operation is functioning on every cylinder this year. and we have to keep up a full court press from now until Election Day.”
Gov. Ned Lamont addresses rally as State Sen. Martin Looney, Alder Ron Hurt look on.
Also in attendance on Saturday were Gov. Ned Lamont and more than half of the Democrats’ slate of 30 alder candidates. Three Democrats exploring runs for the 2022 secretary of the state race were there, too: Hamden State Rep. Joshua Elliott, State Sen. Matt Lesser of Middletown, and Westville Alder Darryl Brackeen, who has earned Elicker’s endorsement.
Suzuki with Democratic Town Committee Chair Vin Mauro.
Labor was celebrating on Saturday, fresh off the ratification of five-year contracts between Yale and its two major unions, UNITE HERE Local 34 and Local 35. Ken Suzuki, treasurer of Local 34 and a Ward 9 Democratic Committee co-chair, thanked Democrats present for their support.
“Local 34 won one of the strongest local hiring agreements that we have ever been able to negotiate,” Suzuki said. “Our hiring agreements will continue to deliver tens of millions of dollars in wages and benefits into New Haven’s low income households and neighborhoods every year.”
Elicker, Alder Eli Sabin, State Sen. Matt Lesser, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, and Alders Evelyn Rodriguez and Ron Hurt at Saturday’s event.
Though the Nov. 2 elections are local, multiple speakers tied the races to larger national debates over the role of government in people’s lives.
“We are going to pass an infrastructure bill and an economic reconstruction bill as well,” DeLauro said, conceding that her brainchild, a permanent child tax credit, may not emerge fully intact into the final version of the latter. “We need to use this moment to reinforce for the American people at whatever level that government is there to help make a difference.”
SuBy and Lamont are members of the Yale Corporation. As members, and representatives of the state on the Corporation, what are they doing to improve relations between the city and the university? Do they share Elicker's belief that Yale should be giving much more money to the city? Do they even attend Corporation meetings to ensure that the state's voice is heard and considered?